The present application relates to a fitting for insertion into a dental implant in an insertion orientation defining a central insertion axis (X) and an insertion direction (D) of the fitting. The fitting includes at least one resilient spring member being expandable perpendicularly to the insertion axis (X) of the fitting for impeding a movement of the fitting relative to the dental implant along the insertion axis (X) when inserted into the dental implant. It further includes an alignment feature for rotationally aligning the fitting relative to the dental implant about the insertion axis (X). The fitting is characterized in that the alignment feature extends further in the insertion direction (D) than the spring member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure pertains in general to the field of oral, dental or maxillofacial restorative medical procedures, and products related thereto. More particularly the present disclosure relates to devices and methods for facilitating determination of a position and orientation of components, like implants, involved in such procedures.
2. Description of the Related Art
A common fitting, also referred to as an abutment position locator, includes a friction fit connection. FIG. 4 shows an example of such a common fitting 100. The fitting 100 comprises an insertion portion 102 at a distal end of the fitting 100. This portion 102 has several springs 104 projecting in the insertion direction. These springs 104 are expandable perpendicularly to the insertion axis of the fitting 100, for impeding a movement of the fitting 100 relative to the dental implant along the insertion axis when inserted into the dental implant.
In order to achieve this, the dental implant is configured such that the springs 104 are expanded radially inwardly towards the central insertion axis of the fitting 100 upon insertion of the fitting 100 into the implant and, hence, frictionally engage the dental implant due to their constant pressure exerted on the implant. In some embodiments of the prior art, the dental implant comprises a groove or recesses into which projections on the springs 104 can engage in order to increase the impeding force against a movement of the fitting relative to the dental implant.
Further, the springs 104 are arranged in a manner such that the fitting 100 only fits into the dental implant in a certain alignment so that the springs 104, at the same time, form an alignment feature for rotationally aligning the fitting relative to the dental implant about the insertion axis. In other words, the fitting 100 cannot be inserted into the dental implant in a misaligned rotational position relative to the dental implant so that the arrangement of the springs 104 ensures a correct alignment of the fitting in the dental implant.
US 2009/0130629 A1, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, discloses a two-piece dental abutment system having similar springs projecting distally to be inserted into a dental implant. EP 1 419 746 A2, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, similarly discloses a dental implant system in which a separate abutment is not provided but the dental prosthesis itself is provided with respective fitting features such as resilient spring members and an alignment feature.
A problem with the prior art constructions disclosed above is that the fitting features lose their functionality if inserted in a misaligned position relative to the dental implant. With the prior art constructions, it easily happens that one or several of the springs 104 are plastically deformed upon insertion into the dental implant and the friction force to be provided by the springs is severely decreased or lost completely. As a consequence, the fitting does not work properly, if it was not inserted in the correct way.
Various optical scanning methods are known in the art, such as the method and apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,590,654, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.


An ophthalmologic apparatus includes: an objective lens that faces a subject's eye; a first illumination optical system that irradiates a cornea of the subject's eye with illumination light; and a corneal measurement optical system having an imaging element that takes an image of a corneal reflection light, which is a reflection of the illumination light, through the objective lens, and outputs an imaging signal. The corneal measurement optical system includes a first mirror arranged near the objective lens and a second mirror arranged near the imaging element. The first and second mirrors and are configured such that the corneal reflection light that enters and is reflected from the first mirror, and then enters and is reflected from the second mirror exits toward an incident side from which the corneal reflection light enters a reflection surface of the first mirror.

The present disclosure relates to an ophthalmologic apparatus, and more particularly, to an ophthalmologic apparatus that examines states of an anterior segment and tear fluid film of a subject's eye.
There has been known an ophthalmologic apparatus that irradiates a cornea of a subject's eye with illumination light, and observes a state of an anterior segment and an interference image formed by a tear fluid film of the cornea of the subject's eye to make a diagnosis of dry eye, for example.
Various types of arrangement of optical systems have been proposed as the ophthalmologic apparatus (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-11983).


Disclosed are a novel antibody specifically binding to the tumor-immunosuppressant, TIGIT (T cell immunoglobulin and immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif [ITIM] domain) or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, a nucleic acid encoding the antibody or the antigen-binding fragment thereof, a vector and a host cell including the nucleic acid, a method for producing the antibody or the antigen-binding fragment thereof, a pharmaceutical composition containing the antibody or the antigen-binding fragment thereof as an active ingredient, and uses of the pharmaceutical composition.

The human immune system functions to protect human bodies by attacking pathogens or viruses (antigens) that enter from the outside and abnormal cells such as cancer cells. That is, the main function of the human immune system is to distinguish between normal cells in the body and external invaders, abnormal cells such as cancer cells, and determine whether to attack the cells. Representative immune cells that can distinguish cancer cells in the human immune system are T-cells and healthy humans can effectively kill cancer cells through immune responses although the cancer cells grow in the body. Accordingly, the progression of cancer means that the immune system is abnormal.
The human immune system has an immune detection system to inhibit hyperimmune responses caused by hyperproliferation of T-cells. Such an immune detection system is referred to as "immune checkpoint" and the proteins involved in the immune checkpoint are referred to as "immune checkpoint proteins".
Essentially, the immune checkpoint functions to inhibit hyperimmune responses by hyperactivation and/or hyperproliferation of T-cells, but cancer cells abuse the immune checkpoint to prevent T-cells from attacking the cancer cells, ultimately resulting in progression of cancer.
It is already known in the art that diseases such as cancer can be treated using inhibitors of such immune checkpoint. Currently, antibody drugs targeting immune checkpoint proteins are commercially available and various immune checkpoint inhibitors are under development.
The first developed immune checkpoint inhibitor-type therapeutic agent is ipilimumab, which is a monoclonal antibody specific to CTLA-4 (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated antigen-4), the immune checkpoint receptor, and was shown to be effective in metastatic malignant melanoma. Subsequently, monoclonal antibodies specific to PD-1 (programmed cell death-1) and PD-L1 (programmed death ligand-1), which are ligands for PD-1, have been developed. Representative examples thereof include nivolumab, pembrolizumab, avelumab, atezolizumab and durvalumab. PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitors are effective in malignant melanomas as well as in a variety of tumors.
TIGIT (T-cell immunoglobulin and immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif [ITIM] domain) is a receptor expressed mainly in activated T cells and NK (natural killer) cells, and is included in immune checkpoint proteins in a broad sense.
TIGIT binds to ligands such as CD155 and CD112 on the surface of cancer cells to inhibit the activation of immune cells. Antibodies targeting TIGIT have been reported to induce activation of CD8+ T cells together with PD-1/PD-L1 blocking antibodies and thereby to effectively remove tumors or viruses.
Several anti-TIGIT antibodies have been reported to date (such as U.S. Pat. No. 9,713,641B, US 2016/0176963A, U.S. Pat. No. 9,499,596B), but research on specific mechanisms thereof is insufficient and an antibody having an efficacy practically applicable to therapeutic agents has not yet been developed. Thus, there is still an increasing need for TIGIT-specific antibodies having high efficacies.
Accordingly, as a result of intensive efforts to develop a novel antibody specifically binding to TIGIT, the present inventors have invented a novel anti-TIGIT antibody having high affinity for TIGIT overexpressed in cancer cells and identified the potential possibility of the antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof according to the present invention as an efficient anticancer drug, thus completing the present invention.

Abstract: The antibody specifically binding to TIGIT or the antigen-binding fragment thereof and the pharmaceutical composition containing the same as an active ingredient are preferably used for the treatment of cancer or tumors.


A first groove and a second groove are formed deep in the top surface of a stationary housing; the second groove being extended by a given angle circumferentially from both ends of the first groove. A lock screw is threadedly installed to a screw receiving portion of the movable housing, and the movable housing is rotatably connected to the center of the stationary housing. In the housing space defined between the two housings, a flexible cable is wound and housed. The movable housing is positioned in the neutral position of rotation with respect to the stationary housing. This state is kept by engaging the tip of the lock screw with the first groove. To perform rotation tests of the movable housing, the lock screw is turned back up to the position in which the lock screw contacts both ends of the second groove, and the movable housing can be turned within a range of less than .+-.180 degrees from the neutral position of rotation. After completion of the tests, the lock screw is engaged with the first groove to re-lock the movable housing in the neutral position of rotation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rotary connector for electrical connection to be performed by using a flexible cable between a pair of rotatably connected housings and, more particularly, to a locking mechanism for holding the housings in the neutral position of rotation until completion of installation of the rotary connector to a steering system of an automobile.
2. Description of Related Art
The rotary connector is roughly comprised of a pair of housing which are rotatably connected, and a flexible cable wound in an annular housing space defined between the housings; both ends of the flexible cable being fixed to the housing and, in this state, electrically led out. When the movable housing is turned clockwise or counterclockwise in relation to the stationary housing, the flexible cable is wound or unwound in the housing space in accordance with the direction of rotation, thereby, in both states, keeping electrical connection between these housings through the flexible cable.
In the rotary connector, the housing on the stationary side is attached to a combination switch which is a stator member of the steering system, and the housing on the movable side is attached to the steering wheel which is the rotor member of the steering system respectively. The rotary connector thus configured is used as a means of electrical connection for an air bag inflator, a horn switch, etc. In this case, the rotary connector is required to turn by about the same amount in either of the clockwise and counterclockwise directions from the neutral position of rotation of the steering wheel. Therefore, there has been known a locking mechanism so adapted as to hold the housing in the neutral position of rotation until installation of the rotary connector to the steering system is completed.
In a locking mechanism of a heretofore known conventional rotary connector, as disclosed in for example Japanese Utility Model Publication No. Hei 6-47882, the locking member made of a synthetic resin is formed unitarily with a remaining fixed portion, a pull-off portion, and a locking piece. Between the remaining fixed portion and the pull-off portion is formed a thin portion. Using this locking member, the housings are locked from free rotation. That is, at the final stage of the rotary connector assembling procedure, the remaining fixed portion of the lock member is held in an engaging hole of one of the housings which are aligned in the neutral position of rotation, and the locking piece of the locking member is locked to a rotation restricting portion of the other housing. Thus the housings are locked from free rotation by the locking member. This state is kept on until immediately before the installation of the rotary connector to the steering system. When the pull-off portion of the locking member is pulled off from the locking piece at the thin portion after the rotary connector is installed to the steering system, the housings are unlocked and the movable housing now becomes rotatable in synchronization with the turning of the steering wheel.
According to the conventional locking mechanism described above, the angle of rotation of the movable housing set in the neutral position of rotation is restricted to prevent free rotation of the housings, thereby holding the housing in the neutral position of rotation. If the angle of rotation of the movable housing thus restricted in the locked state increases large, the locking mechanism will fail to perform its inherent function. In the locked state, therefore, it is necessary to lock the movable housing from turning, or to restrict the angle of rotation to allow rotation only within a narrow range of play. If, in this case, the rotary connector is left as locked, various tests can not be conducted by turning the movable housing.
For example, there has recently been adopted such an operation procedure that, using the rotary connector and a combination switch which are integrally formed prior to installing these components to the steering system, a canceling mechanism of the combination switch is operated by means of the turning force of the movable housing of the rotary connector. In this case, if both housings of the rotary connector are held in the locked state by using the conventional locking mechanism previously stated, it will become impossible to test whether or not the canceling mechanism normally operates. The canceling mechanism functions to automatically return to the center position the operating lever of a headlamp switch provided in the combination switch. In the case when the canceling lever of the canceling mechanism is projected into the range of canceling turn provided in the movable housing, the canceling lever is driven with the rotation of the movable housing in interlock with the steering wheel, thereby allowing the operating lever to automatically return from the right or left position of operation to the center position when the steering wheel is turned to the neutral position.

Rotary connector capable of easy and reliable re-locking of movable housing in neutral position of rotation after rotation test


The present disclosure shows a superplastic-forming aluminum alloy plate that has excellent properties for superplastic-forming, such as blow forming, and that has excellent surface properties after forming. Shown is a superplastic-forming aluminum alloy plate and a production method therefor, the superplastic-forming aluminum alloy plate being characterized by comprising an aluminum alloy which contains 2.0 to 6.0 mass % Mg, 0.5 to 1.8 mass % Mn and 0.40 mass % or less Cr and in which the balance consists of Al and unavoidable impurities, wherein the unavoidable impurities are restricted to have 0.20 mass % or less Fe and 0.20 mass % or less Si, the 0.2% proof stress is 340 MPa or more, and the density of intermetallic compounds having an equivalent circular diameter of 5 to 15 μm at the RD-TD plane which extends along the center of the plate cross-section is 50 to 400 pieces/mm2.

It is known that when an aluminum alloy having fine crystal grains is deformed at a high temperature of 300 to 500° C. and at a low strain rate, superplasticity is observed, and high ductility of 150% or more is obtained. In general, superplastic deformation occurs more easily when the crystal grains are fine, and high ductility is exhibited. One of typical forming methods using superplastic deformation is blow molding. Blow molding is a molding method in which a material to be formed is held in a heated mold and heated and then the material to be formed is formed into the shape of the mold by applying pressure with high-pressure gas. Blow molding enables integral forming of a complicated part, which is difficult to achieve by cold press forming.
Al—Mg-based (5000 series) aluminum alloys have excellent corrosion resistance and excellent weldability and have moderate strength even without aging heat treatment. Thus, Al—Mg-based aluminum alloys are widely used as general structural materials, and some Al—Mg-based aluminum alloys having excellent superplastic-forming characteristics have been also proposed (for example, PTLs 1 to 3). To obtain these Al—Mg-based aluminum alloys, the distributions of a fine Mn-based intermetallic compound and a precipitate which are effective in obtaining fine crystal grains are regulated, and the crystal grains of the entire materials are made fine to improve the ductility at a high temperature.
When a conventional Al—Mg-based aluminum alloy plate is superplastically formed, the formed article sometimes becomes uneven along the rolling direction. The unevenness is a problem in a part which requires excellent appearance, and the part cannot be used in some cases. Also, when the unevenness is reduced to a not remarkable degree by post-treatment, an additional step is required, resulting in an increase in the costs.
PTLs 1 to 3 only prevent a relatively large intermetallic compound and regulate a fine intermetallic compound or a precipitate to obtain fine crystal grains, but PTLs 1 to 3 do not mention the problem of the surface properties after forming. Therefore, the problem of the surface properties after forming could not be solved yet by the conventional techniques.

Superplastic-forming aluminum alloy plate and production method therefor


Disclosed are various embodiments for determining a source of malware. At least one embodiment of a method includes receiving browsing data from a plurality of client devices, the data being sent by the plurality of client devices, in response to a determination of malware on the plurality of client devices and determining, from the browsing data, a source for the malware. Further, some embodiments include determining whether the source for the malware is associated with a predetermined network site and in response to determining that the source of the malware is associated with a predetermined network site, preventing download of at least a portion of the predetermined network site.

In the online retail market, retailers will often offer products from one or more manufacturers. Additionally, some online retailers may employ other vendors, such as advertisers, to provide goods and/or services to the online retailer. As a nonlimiting example, if a vendor wishes to place an advertisement on the network site of the online retailer (or otherwise conduct business with the online retailer), the vendor may contact the online retailer for this purpose. While the use of such vendors may generate additional revenue and/or provide additional goods and/or services for the online retailer, the online retailer or customer of the online retailer may be at risk for malware or other nefarious activity by the vendor. Such nefarious activity may reflect poorly on the online retailer, may damage network infrastructure of the online retailer, and/or may otherwise be detrimental to those associated with the online retailer.


A method for remotely controlling one or more vehicle components includes receiving over a telecommunications network signals originating from a remote terminal. The signals include remote operation instructions for remotely operating a vehicle entertainment system component. The remote operation instructions are executed. Operation status identifiers transmitted over a vehicle data bus are received from the vehicle entertainment system component. Based on the operation status identifiers, an operating status of the vehicle entertainment system component is determined. A return signal including an operation status message and an instruction for displaying the operation status message at the remote terminal is generated. The signal is transmitted to the remote terminal for display.

1. Technical Field
Various embodiments include a system and method for controlling one or more vehicle components from a nomadic communication device or computer.
2. Background
Using a vehicle key fob, users can lock or unlock a vehicle, open a trunk, or remotely start a vehicle. Some key fobs are increasingly becoming more advanced. Along with these traditional benefits, using a more advanced key fob, users can check if the vehicle's doors are locked or the window's are closed, confirm the alarm status, or obtain vehicle information such as odometer readings, fuel level and cabin temperature.
Traditional key fobs require a user to be within a certain distance of the vehicle generally about 300 feet. Furthermore, a key fob is yet another personal item that must be carried by a user along with wallets, mobile devices, briefcases, purses and other items.

System and method for remotely controlling vehicle components from a nomadic communication device or computer


The present invention provides a liquid crystal display, comprising a first circuit board and a second circuit board and a source driving circuit which are electrically coupled to the first circuit board, wherein the first circuit board comprises a sequence controller, and the sequence controller provides a control signal and codes the control signal, and transmits the coded control signal from the first circuit board to the source driving circuit through the second circuit board, and the sequence controller directly outputs the uncoded control signal through the first circuit board to ensure a phase delay relationship between the uncoded control signal and a control signal outputted by the source driving circuit. The present invention further provides a control signal debugging method applied with the aforesaid liquid crystal display.

As most of the liquid crystal display according to prior art utilizes signal transmission of Point to Point, the sequence controller (TCON) codes the control signal, such as the data source row latch signal (TP) and the signal (POL) controlling polarity reversal of the pixel voltage, and embeds the same in the differential signal to be transmitted from the first circuit board, such as C-board to the source driving circuit (source IC) through the second circuit board, such as X-board. The Source IC receives and decodes the differential signal and performs the subsequent signal process on demand. If it is going to measure the TP and POL signals after being decoded, the Source IC decodes and restores the control signal to be outputted to the second circuit board in a way of transistor-transistor logic voltage level for being employed to test the waveform and the sequence of the control signal.
However, after the control signal outputted by TCON has been through the subsequent code and decode processes, they cannot be directly measured on the first circuit board with the test apparatus. Thus, without the Source IC, the waveform and the sequence of the signal cannot be determined to be correct as modulating the initial control signal of TCON. Besides, as the image of the liquid crystal display appears to be abnormal, it is impossible to measure the waveform and the sequence of the control signal outputted by TCON in real time to determine whether they are correct, either. Certainly, there is no way to ensure whether the control signal outputted by TCON satisfies the requirement of the product or not.

Liquid crystal display and control signal debugging method thereof

Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd


A seat device which includes a seat cushion frame provided in a seat cushion, a seatback frame provided in a seatback, an upper arm connected to the seatback frame, a lower arm rotatably connected to the upper arm and connected to the seat cushion frame, a lock mechanism for locking a rotation of the upper arm relative to the lower arm, a reclining device for adjusting an angle of the seatback frame relative to the seat cushion frame, a locking portion provided either one of the upper arm and the lower arm, a reinforcement member provided either on the seatback frame or the seat cushion frame opposing to said either one of the upper arm or the lower arm provided with the locking portion, and a portion to be locked provided on the reinforcement member. The portion to be locked and the locking portion are connected.

The present invention relates to a seat device which includes a reclining device for adjusting an angle of a seatback fixed to a frame of a seat. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a connecting construction between the reclining device and the frame of the seat of the seat device.
A known seat device including a construction for connecting a seat frame and a reclining device is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. H10-276850. The reclining device provided on the seat device includes an upper arm, a lower arm, and a lock mechanism which can lock the relative rotation between the upper arm and the lower arm. A plurality of projections for locking are formed on a side face of the upper arm and the lower arm. A plurality of holes are formed on a seatback frame and a seat cushion frame for constructing the seat frame. The seat frame and the reclining device are connected by fitting the projections for locking into the holes respectively and by welding. An inner gear for lock mechanism is formed on either one of the upper arm or the lower arm of the reclining device so that the plural projections for locking are positioned approximate to the rotation center of the reclining device, that is the inside of the inner gear.
As shown in FIG. 4, with the known seat device having a construction that a retractor of a seatbelt is built in the seatback, the seat frame is applied with the excessive load via the seatbelt at the collision of the vehicle. Generally, the seat frame is made from the steal plate thinner than the arm of the reclining device. With the connecting construction of the seat frame and the reclining device in the known seat device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. H10-276850, the seat frame is likely to be deformed to be broken with a smaller load compared to the reclining device when the excessive load affects the seatback. Further, with the arm formed with the inner gear for the lock mechanism of the reclining device, the projections for locking are positioned approximate to the rotation center of the reclining device. Thus, particularly large load is applied to the portion of the seat frame contacting the projections for locking, which is a weakness for decreasing the strength of the device. Although the entire plate thickness of the seat frame may be increased in order to obviate the drawback in a known seat device, another drawback that the weight of the seat device is increased is generated with this method.
A need thus exists for a seat device which has high strength of connecting portions between a seat frame and a reclining device without increasing a weight of the seat device.
In light of the foregoing, the present invention provides a seat device which includes a seat cushion frame provided in a seat cushion, a seatback frame provided in a seatback, an upper arm connected to the seatback frame, a lower arm rotatably connected to the upper arm and connected to the seat cushion frame, a lock mechanism for locking a rotation of the upper arm relative to the lower arm, a reclining device for adjusting an angle of the seatback frame relative to the seat cushion frame, a locking portion provided either one of the upper arm and the lower arm, a reinforcement member provided either on the seatback frame or the seat cushion frame opposing to said either one of the upper arm or the lower arm provided with the locking portion, and a portion to be locked provided on the reinforcement member. The portion to be locked and the locking portion are connected.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a seat device includes a seat cushion frame provided in a seat cushion, a seatback frame provided in a seatback, an upper arm connected to the seatback frame, a lower arm rotatably connected to the upper arm and connected to the seat cushion frame, a lock mechanism for locking a rotation of the upper arm relative to the lower arm, a reclining device for adjusting an angle of the seatback frame relative to the seat cushion frame, a locking portion provided on the upper arm, a reinforcement member provided on the seatback frame opposing to the upper arm provided with the locking portion, and a portion to be locked provided on the reinforcement member. The portion to be locked and the locking portion are connected.


A housing including at least one flow path in fluid communication with a mixing chamber, a windshield air outlet, a windshield air flap, a dashboard air outlet, and a dashboard air flap. A bypass is in fluid communication with the dashboard outlet and configured to conduct a cool air flow around the at least one flow path and the mixing chamber. A flow conduit extends from the mixing chamber to the windshield air outlet. The flow conduit is constructed as one part and comprises a wall enclosing a circumference thereof. The flow conduit extends through the bypass, wherein the warm air flow is separated from a warm air flow through the flow conduit by the wall of the flow conduit. The bypass is formed in a bipartite manner around the flow conduit.

An optimization regarding the structural volume is required in motor vehicles on account of the increasing number of technological components in order to be able to ensure the desired plurality of functions provided by the components. For this reason, large-volume components for air conditioning, known from stationary air conditioning systems in the form of mixing chambers, flow guidance devices, and vortexing devices, cannot be used in motor vehicles on account of the low space conditions.
An additional requirement placed on an air conditioning system of a motor vehicle, which conditions a supplied flow of an air mass, optionally divides it and conducts the individual air mass flows to different areas of the vehicle, consists in loading different air outlets of the air conditioning system according to their position and their function with differently tempered air mass flows. The supplied air mass flow is conducted via the heat exchangers so that the air cools down and is dehumidified, as well as, if necessary, reheated before it is conducted into the passenger compartment. The air is blown in, for example, into the area as well as via openings in the dashboard into the passenger compartment and in addition conducted via outlets directly on the windshield in order to keep it free of condensation or to defrost it.
In generic air conditioning systems regulated on the air side, the air mass flow to be supplied to the passenger compartment is divided into two partial air flows by at least one flap, also designated as a temperature flap. The required temperatures of the air mass flows are adjusted with the aid of the temperature flaps and different regulating mechanisms. A warm air flow is conducted through a hot heat exchanger and heated. At the same time a cool air flow flows around the hot heat exchanger. Both differently tempered partial air flows are subsequently mixed in order to achieve the required target temperature.
In addition, it can be necessary in the air conditioning system of a motor vehicle to branch off a bypass air flow of cooled down and dehumidified, that is, cold, air in the direction of flow of the air to be conditioned after the heat exchanger operated as an evaporator, and to conduct it past the mixing chamber directly to the air outlets, in particular to the air outlets in the dashboard. The bypass air flow of the cold air mass flows through a cold air bypass as another additional flow path in order to cool down in a defined manner with the cold air the blowing-out temperature at the air outlets in the dashboard. This achieves a greater stratification of temperature in the passenger compartment, in particular between the air outlets in the dashboard and in the foot area. The temperatures of the air flows at the different outlets, such as the foot area, the dashboard and the pane ventilation, wherein temperatures deviate from each other, are designated as temperature stratification.
In a construction of the cold air bypass above, the mixing chamber of the air conditioning the cold air bypass should be arranged around the flow paths to the air outlets of the windshield. In order to distribute the cold air uniformly onto the air outlets in the dashboard, the air outlet to the windshield is constructed in two parts, a left and a right outlet, in traditional air conditioning systems. The cold air can be conducted to the two air outlets to the windshield as well as around the two flow conduits running to the air outlets to the windshield in order to make possible a good distribution of the cold air onto the air outlets in the dashboard. The systems known in the prior art have very expensive additional apparatus elements, such as the second air outlet to the windshield and the associated air flaps, as well as components for connection within the system, all of which require more space, expense and also an additional assembly expense, as well as a corresponding maintenance expense. The additional air flaps, as well as their associated drive technology also require an additional expense of the constructively very expensive control means of the air mass flows. Furthermore, the additional installations cause limitations and constrictions of the flow conduits and bring about elevated pressure losses in the air mass flow, which results in an elevated performance requirement, an elevated consumption of energy and a reduction of the efficiency of the air conditioning system, and therefore, of the entire motor vehicle. In addition, the additional installations along with the distinct flow losses also cause great flow noises.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an air conditioning system of a motor vehicle available which has a simple construction with a minimal number of required components in order to reduce the space requirement of the system, and to reduce the expenses of manufacture, the material cost, the assembly cost and the maintenance cost. In addition, the pressure losses of the air flows through the system, as well as the energy consumption of the system, are to be minimized while the air performance and the efficiency of the air conditioning system are to be increased. Moreover, the occurring flow noises are to be reduced.

Oval defrost outlet combined with cold air bypass channel


The invention provides compounds of formula I or a salt thereof as described herein. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound of formula I, processes for preparing compounds of formula I, intermediates useful for preparing compounds of formula I and therapeutic methods for inducing apoptosis or treating cancer using compounds of formula I.

Numerous advances have been made in both the classification and prognosis of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) based on recent molecular observations. While the inherent heterogenous nature of AML was initially described using the French-American-British classification, the discoveries of unique chromosomal translocations, gene amplification and mutations and their effects on prognosis and response to therapy have resulted in new and more clinically relevant classification systems. Despite these advances, the mainstay for AML treatment has remained chemotherapy. Targeted therapy has played a role in the treatment of selective AML subtypes. Treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) with pharmacologic concentrations of trans-retinoic acid (tRA) results in 90% of the patients achieving a complete remission. This dramatic response of APL cells to high concentrations of tRA is due to the presence of a unique t(15:17) reciprocal translocation resulting in the generation of a promyelocytic leukemia (PML)-retinoic acid nuclear receptor (RAR)α fusion product which, even in the presence of physiologic concentrations of tRA, displays increased binding to co-repressors and induces maturation arrest at the promyelocyte stage. Exposure of these cells to micromolar concentrations of tRA results in the disassociation of PML-RAR from the co-repressors, enhancing its binding by co-activators with the subsequent initiation of gene transcription. Unfortunately, tRA efficacy is restricted to APL with no activity demonstrated in the other AML subtypes. Moreover, with tRA inducing its own catabolism, maintenance therapy may be ineffective with time. New targeted agents including fms-related tyrosine kinase receptor (FLT-3) and farnesyltransferase inhibitors are being evaluated as potential therapeutic modalities for the treatment of AML.
Adamantyl-substituted retinoid-related (ARR) molecules are a unique class of compounds which have been found to induce apoptosis in a large number of tumor types, many of which display resistance to classical retinoids such as tRA. The mechanism(s) utilized by the ARRs in the induction of cell death is not clear. 6-[3-(1-Adamantyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl]-2-naphthalenecarboxylic acid (CD437/AHPN) while initially determined to be a selective activator of the retinoic acid receptors (RARs) β and γ, has been found in numerous studies to inhibit cell growth and induce apoptosis in a variety of malignant cell types utilizing a RAR and retinoid X receptor (RXR)-independent mechanism. In addition, 4-[3-(1-adamantyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl]-3-chlorocinnamic acid (3-Cl-AHPC) which binds to the RARs but does not activate the RARs or RXRs is a potent inducer of apoptosis of AML cells in vitro. Recent reports suggest that the novel nuclear receptor, the small nuclear heterodimer partner (SHP, NR0B2), is involved in the induction of apoptosis by the ARRs.
Despite the reports cited above there is currently a need for additional chemical agents that are useful for inducing apoptosis and/or for treating cancer and in particular for treating leukemias. There is also a need for apoptosis inducers and anticancer agents that have enhanced activity or that have improved pharmacologic properties such as increased solubility or better bioavailability. There is also a need for apoptosis inducers and/or anticancer agents that are less toxic or that have an enhanced therapeutic window.

Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute


This document relates to compounds as well as methods and materials involved in modulating neurotransmitter reuptake. For example, compounds, methods for synthesizing compounds, and methods for inhibiting neurotransmitter reuptake are provided. Specifically gamma-amino alcohol derivatives that inhibit the reuptake of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, epinephrine or norepinephrine are provided as therapeutic agents for the treatment of depression or anxiety in a mammalian subject.

1. Technical Field
This document relates to compounds as well as methods and materials involved in modulating neurotransmitter reuptake.
2. Background Information
Neuronal signals are transmitted from cell to cell at specialized sites of contact known as synapses. The usual mechanism of transmission is indirect. The cells are electrically isolated from one another, the pre-synaptic cell being separated from the postsynaptic cell by a narrow synaptic cleft. A change of electrical potential in the pre-synaptic cell triggers it to release signaling molecules known as neurotransmitters. The neurotransmitters rapidly diffuse across the synaptic cleft and provoke an electrical change in the postsynaptic cell by binding to neurotransmitter receptor-gated ion channels. After release, the excess neurotransmitters are rapidly removed, either by specific enzymes in the synaptic cleft or by reuptake into the pre-synaptic cell or surrounding glial cells. Reuptake is mediated by a variety of neurotransmitter transporters. Rapid removal ensures both spatial and temporal precision of signaling at a synapse. For example, rapid reuptake can prevent excess neurotransmitters from influencing neighboring cells and can clear the synaptic cleft before the next pulse of neurotransmitter release so that the timing of repeated, rapid signaling events is accurately communicated to the postsynaptic cell.
An imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain can occur when not enough neurotransmitter is made and released from pre-synaptic cells or the reuptake of neurotransmitters by pre-synaptic cells is too rapid. If neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, or dopamine are not made and released in effective amounts or are cleared from the synaptic cleft too quickly, then cell-to-cell communication can be affected. Clinical manifestations of such imbalances include depression and anxiety disorders. Serotonin-, norepinephrine-, dopamine-reuptake inhibitors (SNDRIs) represent a class of potent, wide-spectrum antidepressant medications that inhibit the reuptake of these neurotransmitters back into pre-synaptic cells. Inhibiting neurotransmitter reuptake can increase the amount of neurotransmitter present in the synapse, thus helping to normalize the transmission of neuronal signals and alleviate the symptoms of depression and anxiety disorders.

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.


A liquid crystal composition containing a polymerizable compound according to the present invention is used in a liquid crystal display element to which a liquid crystal alignment capability is provided by polymerization. The composition contains a polymerizable compound that polymerizes without a photopolymerization initiator or with only an extremely small amount of photopolymerization initiator. Therefore, the alignment after the polymerization becomes more stable and the display characteristics do not degrade. Thus, the polymerizable compound is suitable as a practical component of the liquid crystal composition. A liquid crystal display element that uses the liquid crystal composition containing a polymerizable compound according to the present invention can be suitably used for VA and IPS liquid crystal display elements.

In the production of MVA mode liquid crystal displays, there has been introduced a technology in which a liquid crystal material containing a polymerizable monomer is injected between substrates and the monomer is polymerized while applying a voltage so that the direction in which liquid crystal molecules are tilted is memorized. However, a polymerization initiator used for the polymerization of a monomer and a monomer that is left because of insufficient polymerization have caused a problem such as image sticking on liquid crystal display elements. Therefore, in the production of liquid crystal display elements to which a liquid crystal alignment capability is provided by polymerizing a monomer in such a liquid crystal material, the development of a liquid crystal composition that is polymerized without using a polymerization initiator and whose monomer is completely consumed through the polymerization process has been demanded. Furthermore, it has been demanded in the actual use that high compatibility between a monomer and a liquid crystal material is achieved and a required level of alignment after polymerization is satisfied.
Conventionally, an element (refer to PTL 1) produced using a compound having a structure such as a 1,4-phenylene group and an element (refer to PTL 2) that uses a compound having a biaryl structure have been proposed to prevent image sticking. However, the polymerizable compounds disclosed in PTLs 1 and 2 are not polymerized when a photopolymerization initiator is not contained, or an unpolymerized monomer is left and such a residual material may adversely affect liquid crystal display elements. Furthermore, a production method (refer to PTL 3) that prevents image sticking by polymerizing a polymerizable compound with energy rays and then performing a heat treatment has been proposed. However, also in this method, a polymerizable compound is not necessarily completely polymerized and thus an unpolymerized residual material may adversely affect liquid crystal display elements as in the methods described above.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Liquid crystal composition containing polymerizable compound and liquid crystal display element using the same


An angular momentum mass flowmeter for measuring the mass flowrate of a fluid stream includes a flowmeter housing having an inlet or upstream end for receiving the fluid stream and an outlet or downstream end for discharging the fluid stream. A rotatable impeller is provided for measuring the mass flowrate. A swirl cap is disposed downstream of the impeller for imparting angular momentum to the fluid stream passing thereover and for causing the angular momentum to rotate the impeller. A control valve, disposed intermediate the impeller and the swirl cap, modifies the flow area of the fluid stream passing over the swirl cap to regulate the angular momentum of the fluid stream.

The present invention relates to an angular momentum mass flowmeter (AMMF) and more particularly to a fluid-driven AMMF.
An angular momentum mass flowmeter (AMMF) employs a motor- or fluid-driven device to impart a known angular velocity (and hence angular momentum) to the fluid flow to be measured relative to a rotating spring-restrained impeller. As the fluid flow impinges on the vanes of the impeller, the relative angular momentum of the fluid flow produces a torque on the impeller which is proportional to the mass flowrate of the fluid and the angular speed of the impeller. This relative angular momentum sensed by the impeller is interpreted as an indication of the mass flow rate of the fluid.
In some of the AMMF's, the angular momentum is created by an electrically powered device which introduces an angular fluid-flow component to the fluid flow, thereby instilling angular momentum. The modern AMMF's more frequently utilize the momentum of the incoming fluid flow to mechanically introduce an angular fluid-flow component thereto. Since the fluid-driven device does not require an electrical power source, it is generally preferred over the electric motor-driven device because of its lower cost and lower weight. The present invention is directed to an AMMF utilizing a fluid-driven device to generate the angular momentum.
More particularly, in a fluid-driven device the angular momentum is developed by the combined functions of a flow control valve and a swirl generator (or swirl cap) downstream thereof. The swirl generator defines a series of helical grooves about its periphery in order to give the fluid stream passing thereby a swirl velocity (i.e., an angular momentum) as the fluid passes through the helical grooves. The control valve defines a plurality of spring fingers which restrain the fluid flow so that, at the lower flow rates, all of the fluid flow passes through the helical grooves of the swirl generator. As the fluid-flow rate is increased, however, the pressure drop through the helical grooves increases, thereby creating an outward force on the spring fingers. At some point (approximately 1,000 pounds per hour of fluid flow), the outward force developed on the spring fingers is sufficient to lift the spring fingers off and away from the grooved surface of the swirl generator so that not all of the fluid flow enters the helical grooves. As flow is increased beyond this point, the plurality of spring fingers continue to open, thereby allowing an increasing portion of the fluid flow to bypass the helical grooves of the swirl generator. Thus the plurality of spring fingers essentially constitute a pressure-operated valve which uses the pressure drop across the swirl generator to regulate the amount of swirl imparted by the swirl generator to the fluid stream.
The position of the swirl generator relative to the spring fingers and the tension of the spring fingers are among the variables which may be controlled in order to ultimately control speed and "start-up" rates. The position of the spring fingers relative to the swirl generator provides a controlled angular speed of the fluid flow which acts on the downstream turbine vanes and minimizes the level of pressure drop in the fluid-drive section of the flowmeter at the higher fluid-flow rates. In other words, the spring fingers act as a control valve to modify the flow area as a function of pressure drop in order to regulate the angular momentum of the fluid flow and the rate of rotation of the impeller.
The conventional AMMF produces the angular momentum in the fluid flow upstream of the torque-sensing element (i.e., the impeller). The drawback of the conventional AMMF which produces the angular momentum upstream of the torque-sensing element is that the changing flow-passage geometry (which is a function of the spacing between the spring fingers of the control valve and the swirl generator) alters the exit-flow profile from the swirl generator as a function of flow rate. The exit-flow profile can be described as having an average radius of gyration (r) about which fluid flows at a nominal rate and enters the passage of the impeller. The mass flow rate is directly related to the square of the average radius of gyration (r.sup.2) of the flow exiting the impeller. As a result, the accuracy of the flowmeter is dependent upon the stability of the flow-velocity profile of flow entering the impeller. Where the fluid-driven device is disposed upstream of the impeller, changes in the velocity profile of fluid exiting the fluid-driven device influence the impeller located downstream thereof.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an AMMF wherein the fluid-drive device (that is, the swirl generator) is disposed downstream of the torque-sensing element (that is, the impeller).
Another object is to provide such a flowmeter wherein the variable flow profile associated with the fluid stream exiting the helical grooves of the swirl generator over the wide range of possible flow rates does not negatively affect the radius of gyration of the fluid flow through the impeller.
A further object is to provide such a flowmeter wherein the torsion spring is positioned for easy accessibility for repair or replacement, and the skew vane and a sensing coil are easily accessible for calibration purposes.


A method for determining an operation to be performed for an object identified by a device, and an apparatus therefor are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes generating representative identification information of the terminal, transmitting, to a server, user information including the representative identification information of the terminal, and advertising the representative identification information of the terminal. According to another embodiment, a service receiver and a service provider can use all available services even while minimizing requirements that must be fulfilled. The present disclosure may be directed to a technology for a sensor network, machine to machine communication, machine type communication and Internet of things. The present disclosure may be applied to intelligent services (related to a smart home, a smart building, a smart city, a smart car or a connected car, healthcare, digital education, retail business, security, safety, and the like) on the basis of the technology.

The Internet has evolved from a human-based connection network, where humans create and consume information, to the Internet of Things (IoT) where distributed configurations, such as things, etc., exchange information with each other to process the information. The technology related to the IoT is starting to be combined with, for example, a technology for processing big data through connection with a cloud server, etc., and this is called an Internet of Everything (IoE) technology. In order to manifest the IoT, various technical components are required, such as, a sensing technology, wired/wireless communication and network infra technology, a service interfacing technology, a security technology, etc. In recent years, a sensor network for connecting things, Machine to Machine (M2M) communication, Machine Type Communication (MTC), etc. have been researched.
Under the IoT environment, intelligent Internet Technology (IT) services may be provided to collect and analyze data obtained from objects connected to each other and thus to create new value for human life. As existing information technologies are fused and combined with various industries, the IoT may also be applied within various fields, such as: smart homes, smart buildings, smart cities, smart cars or connected cars, smart grids, health care, smart home appliances, high quality medical services, etc.
Transmission is performed for the purpose of reception by as many objects as possible without designating a specific target is called 'to advertise.' In wireless communication, information whose amount is in generally not much and that is frequently advertised is called a beacon.
An apparatus for advertising a beacon is called a beacon apparatus. A beacon service is referred to as a task that is directly or indirectly indicated by an advertised beam and is performed by an apparatus that receiving the advertised beacon.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a beacon service.
A beacon service may be a service that: if an application (App) is installed that enables a user apparatus, such as a user terminal, user equipment (UE), etc. to recognize a beacon advertised by, e.g., a beacon apparatus, and to perform a specific task corresponding to the beacon, the service enables UE to perform the specific task; or a service that: if UE receives a beacon that the UE can recognize in its received first beacon state, the service enables the UE to performs a specific task according to the beacon.
The beacon apparatus is capable of including a service identifier in a beacon and advertising the beacon. For example, the service identifier may include parameters, such as, Unique User ID (UUID), Major, Minor, etc. UUID may be a unique identifier of a service that a beacon apparatus needs to provide. Major and Minor may be detailed identifiers of a corresponding service. That is, this scheme is a method that enables a beacon apparatus to provide UE with identification information. In this case, the identification information may be a service identifier. UE transmits identification information to a server containing information regarding a beacon, and receives information related to the identification information, so that the user can use the information as the need arises.
For example, when a user apparatus approaches a corner of specific goods in a shopping mall, if there is a beacon service to provide an online coupon to the user apparatus, UUID, Major, and Minor identifier included in a beacon advertised by a beacon apparatus may be 'a service for providing a shopping mall on-line couple', 'Gangnam branch', and '1st floor' respectively.
However, in the case of the beacon service described above, one or more UUIDs, which can be recognized in a state where user apparatus capable of a beacon service, such as UE, is first obtained, may be just default items provided by user apparatus manufacturers. That is, if a user needs to use, via a user apparatus, services provided by beacon apparatuses having different UUIDs provided by various 3rd-parties, Apps corresponding to UUIDs of beacon apparatuses must be installed respectively. Otherwise, the user apparatus cannot use a corresponding beacon service.
That is, an available beacon service is restricted to a beacon of UUID that can be recognized by a user apparatus. Although 100 beacon apparatuses having UUIDs that differ from each other near a user apparatus advertise beacons respectively, if the user apparatus is capable of recognizing only three UUIDs by default or via an App installed thereto, the user can use only three of the 100 beacon services via the corresponding user apparatus.
With reference to FIG. 1, the user apparatus 110 is capable of receiving beacons 113 and 115 from two beacon apparatuses, respectively. A first beacon 113 may have identifiers, such as UUID 1, Major 1, and Minor 1. A second beacon 115 may have identifiers, such as UUID 2, Major 2, and Minor 2. In this case, the user apparatus 110 may has an App capable of recognizing UUID1 of the first beacon 113, but may not have an App capable of recognizing UUID2 of the second beacon 115.
The user apparatus 110 may transmit, to the server 120, its recognized identification information (e.g., UUID 1, Major 1, and Minor 1) of the first beacon 113, and its identifier (e.g., UE ID, etc.). The server 120 may instruct a smart electric bulb server 130 corresponding to UUID1 to operate an electric bulb 135 corresponding to Major 1 and Minor 1. However, since the second beacon 115 cannot be recognized by the user apparatus 110, the server 120 does not instruct the operation of a smart Large Format Display (LFD) 145 corresponding to UUID of the second beacon 115.
As described above, if a user apparatus needs to use services provided by beacon apparatuses, it may have installed Apps corresponding to UUIDs of the beacon apparatuses or may be in a state where it is recognized by the beacon apparatuses. Otherwise, the user apparatus cannot use a corresponding beacon service.
In beacon services, the greater the number of beacon apparatuses that a user apparatus can use is near the user apparatus, the more frequently the user apparatus uses operation resources and connects to the Internet in order to perform a task to meet its received beacon. This lead to proportionally increase the current consumption in the user apparatus.
If UE receives a service identifier transmitted by a beacon apparatus, it may detect its current location via the communication with a server linking a service identifier to a place. UE provides information which can be used at the location, using its location information, or executes a location-related application, thereby providing the user with a service. In this case, the intention of a service provider who installed a beacon may be reflected larger than a user's intention. For example, if a user visits a store, UE receiving a service identifier of a beacon may receive a service introducing recent expensive goods according to the intention of the store owner. However, if the user visited the store with a purpose not to buy goods but to find his/her lost purse/wallet, the intention of the store owner does not fit with the user's intention, and thus the store owner may provide the user with an incorrect service.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a short-range user information providing system.
With reference to FIG. 2, in a short-range user information system, a client 210 detects nearby user apparatuses 220 and 225 in a short-range and is returned public information regarding the detected user apparatus 220.
In this case, if the client 210 detecting the short-range user apparatus 220 requests a corresponding user's public information from an information providing server 230, the information providing server 230 may provide, if it has published information regarding the corresponding user apparatus 220, the information to the client 210. In this case, in order to provide a customized service to the detected user apparatus 220, the client 210 receiving the published information needs to include an operation ability to determine a service suitable for the detected user 220 based on public information received from the information providing server 230.
Therefore, in order to provide a customized service, the client 210 needs a storage device, a controller with a relatively high performance of operation ability, such as an operational unit, etc. This causes the client 210 to consume additional energy, and also increases the unit cost of the client 210. It may not be efficient for a short-range user information system to apply an Internet of Thing (IoT) environment that enables various types of things to provide a highly favorable service to a target.
For example, although a Large Format Display (LFD), as one of things, provides customized advertisements based on a user's inclination and tendency, it needs a great effort to be developed to provide customized advertisement to a specific user, as a typical example of a detected user apparatus.
That is, after detecting a user apparatus 220, LFD 210 may request published information regarding the detected user apparatus 220 from the information providing server 230. In this case, although the LFD 210 obtains published information regarding the detected user apparatus 220 that needs to receive customized advertisement, if the published information does not include information indicating an advertisement to be displayed, the LFD 210 needs to: analyze its received published information regarding the corresponding user: and directly select an advertisement which can be likely to attract a user's goodwill among the advertisements the LFD 210 can display. To this end, each LFD 210 needs to further include an operational unit and a memory device, and requires much time and energy for a task to operate the added components and analyze the published information.

Method and apparatus for providing user adaptive service


Exemplary embodiments are provided of omnidirectional MIMO antennas with polarization diversity. In one exemplary embodiment, an omnidirectional MIMO antenna generally includes an array of radiating antenna elements having a linear horizontal polarization and radiating omnidirectionally in azimuth. The antenna also includes at least one radiating antenna element having a linear vertical polarization and radiating omnidirectionally in azimuth. The vertically polarized radiating antenna is spaced-apart from the array. The antenna is operable for producing omnidirectional, vertically polarized coverage for at least one port, as well as omnidirectional, horizontally polarized coverage for at least one other port.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
Generally, an omnidirectional antenna is an antenna that radiates power generally uniformly in one plane with a directive pattern shape in a perpendicular plane, where the pattern is often described as "donut shaped."
MIMO antennas generally use multiple antennas at both the transmitter and receiver to improve communication performance. MIMO antennas are commonly used in wireless communications, since MIMO antennas may offer significant increases in data throughput and link range without additional bandwidth or transmit power. Existing MIMO antennas provide linear vertical polarization on all ports.

Omnidirectional multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antennas with polarization diversity


The present invention relates to a cover cap for a connection of two electrically conductive interconnected ends of two winding bars of a stator of an electric machine. The cover cap includes an electrically insulating housing that surrounds and seals a circumference of the connection when mounted. The cover cap has a spring device disposed in an interior of the housing and configured to be clipped onto the connection so as to mount the housing and is supported on the connection on said housing when the housing is mounted so as to provide a force for fixing the housing to the connection.

In a stator of an electrical machine, particularly in the case of a generator or in the case of an electric motor, for example in a power station, a stator winding is formed from individual winding bars, so-called transposed conductors, which are passed out of the stator at its axial ends and are connected to one another in some suitable form, for example in order to form poles of the winding. For this purpose, two winding bars are in each case electrically conductively connected to one another at their ends, for example by being soldered to one another. The ends that are connected to one another in this case form an assembly, which must be externally protected and, in particular, electrically insulated. Cover caps of the type mentioned initially are used for this purpose, and are plugged onto the respective assembly for this purpose. A cover cap such as this comprises an electrically insulating housing which, in the installed state, sheaths the respective assembly such that its circumference is closed. Cover caps such as these may have a housing which is closed at one end, or a housing which is open at both ends. A cover cap with a housing which is closed at one end may, for example, be plugged onto the respective assembly and may then be encapsulated with an adhesive, in particular synthetic resin. In the case of a cover cap with a housing which is open at both ends, the assembly may have twine impregnated with an adhesive, in particular synthetic resin, wound around it before the cover cap is fitted. Both variants are extremely time-consuming and require careful handling in order to avoid contamination of the surrounding area, in particular of the stator, with the adhesive.


It is possible to establish an estimation method capable of logically and optimally deciding a forgetting coefficient and develop an estimation algorithm and a high-speed algorithm which are numerically stable. Firstly, a Processing section reads out or receives an upper limit value γf from a storage section or an input section (S101). The.processing section decides a forgetting coefficient ρ by equation (15) (S103). After this, according to the forgetting coefficient ρ, the processing section executes a hyper H∞ filter of equations (10-13) (S105). The processing section (101) calculates the existence condition of equation (17) (or equation (18) which will be given later) (S107). When the existence condition is satisfied at all the times (S109), γf is decreased by Δγ and the same processing is repeated (S111). On the other hand, when the existence condition is not satisfied by a certain γf (S109), the Δγ is added to the γf and the sum is output to an output section and/or stored in the storage section as an optimal value γfOP of the γf (S113).

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a system estimation method and program, a recording medium, and a system estimation device, and particularly to a system estimation method and program, a recording medium, and a system estimation device, in which the generation of robustness in state estimation and the optimization of a forgetting factor are simultaneously realized by using a fast H∞ filtering algorithm of a hyper H∞ filter developed on the basis of an H∞ evaluation criterion.
2. Background Art
In general, system estimation means estimating a parameter of a mathematical model (transfer function, impulse response, etc.) of an input/output relation of a system based on input/output data. Typical application examples include an echo canceller in international communication, an automatic equalizer in data communication, an echo canceller and sound field reproduction in a sound system, active noise control in a vehicle etc. and the like. For more information, see non-patent document 1: "DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSING HANDBOOK" 1993, The Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers, and the like.
(Basic Principle)
FIG. 8 shows an example of a structural view for system estimation (unknown system may be expressed by an IIR (Infinite Impulse Response) filter).
This system includes an unknown system 1 and an adaptive filter 2. The adaptive filter 2 includes an FIR digital filter 3 and an adaptive algorithm 4.
Hereinafter, an example of an output error method to identify the unknown system 1 will be described. Here, uk denotes an input of the unknown system 1, dk denotes an output of the system, which is a desired signal, and d^k denotes an output of the filter. (Incidentally, "^" means an estimated value and should be placed directly above a character, however, it is placed at the upper right of the character for input convenience. The same applies hereinafter.).
Since an impulse response is generally used as a parameter of an unknown system, the adaptive filter adjusts a coefficient of the FIR digital filter 3 by the adaptive algorithm so as to minimize an evaluation error ek=dk−d^k of the figure.
Besides, conventionally, a Kalman filter based on an update expression (Riccati equation) of an error covariance matrix has been widely used for the estimation of a parameter (state) of a system. The details are disclosed in non-patent document 2: S. Haykin: Adaptive filter theory, Prentice-Hall (1996) and the like.
Hereinafter, the basic principle of the Kalman filter will be described.
A minimum variance estimate x^k|k of a state xk of a linear system expressed in a state space model as indicated by the following expression:xk+1=ρ−1/2xk, yk=Hkxk+vk  (1)is obtained by using an error covariance matrix Σ^k|k−1 of the state as follows.
                                                        x              ^                                      k              |              k                                =                                                    x                ^                                            k                |                                  k                  -                  1                                                      +                                          K                k                                                          (                                                      y                    k                                    -                                                            H                      k                                                                                x                        ^                                                                    k                        |                                                  k                          -                          1                                                                                )                                                                                x              ^                                                      k                +                1                            |              k                                =                                    ρ                              -                                  1                  2                                                                                x                ^                                            k                |                k                                                                        (        2        )                                                      K            k                    =                                                    Σ                ^                                            k                |                                  k                  -                  1                                                                                H                  k                  T                                                                  (                                      ρ                    +                                                                  H                        k                                                                                Σ                          ^                                                                          k                          |                                                      k                            -                            1                                                                                H                        k                        T                                                                              )                                                            -                1                                                                                Σ              ^                                      k              |              k                                =                                                    Σ                ^                                            k                |                                  k                  -                  1                                                      -                                          K                k                                                          H                k                                                                            Σ                  ^                                                  k                  |                                      k                    -                    1                                                                                (        3        )                                                                    Σ              ^                                                      k                +                1                            |              k                                =                                                    Σ                ^                                            k                |                k                                      /            ρ                                                                              where          ,                                    (        4        )                                                                    x              ^                                      0              |                              -                1                                              =          0                ,                                                                              Σ              ^                                      0              |                              -                1                                              =                                    ɛ              0                                    I                          ,                                                                ɛ            0                    >          0                                    (        5        )                xk: State vector or simply a state; unknown and this is an object of estimation.    yk: Observation signal; input of a filter and known.    Hk: Observation matrix; known.    Vk: Observation noise; unknown.    ρ: Forgetting factor; generally determined by trial and error.    Kk: Filter gain; obtained from matrix Σ^k|k−1.    Σ^k|k: Corresponds to the covariance matrix of an error of x^k|k; obtained by a Riccati equation.    Σ^k+1|k: Corresponds to the covariance matrix of an error of    x^k+1|k; obtained by the Riccati equation.Σ^1|0: Corresponds to the covariance matrix in an initial state; although originally unknown, ε0I is used for convenience.
The present inventor has already proposed a system identification algorithm by a fast H∞ filter (see patent document 1). This is such that an H∞ evaluation criterion is newly determined for system identification, and a fast algorithm for the hyper H∞ filter based thereon is developed, while a fast time-varying system identification method based on this fast H∞ filtering algorithm is proposed. The fast H∞ filtering algorithm can track a time-varying system which changes rapidly with a computational complexity of O (N) per unit-time step. It matches perfectly with a fast Kalman filtering algorithm at the limit of the upper limit value. By the system identification as stated above, it is possible to realize the fast real-time identification and estimation of the time-invariant and time-varying systems.
Incidentally, with respect to methods normally known in the field of the system estimation, see, for example, non-patent documents 2 and 3.
(Applied Example to Echo Canceller)
In a long distance telephone circuit such as an international telephone, a four-wire circuit is used from the reason of signal amplification and the like. On the other hand, since a subscriber's circuit has a relatively short distance, a two-wire circuit is used.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory view concerning a communication system and an echo. A hybrid transformer as shown in the figure is introduced at a connection part between the two-wire circuit and the four-wire circuit, and impedance matching is performed. When the impedance matching is complete, a signal (sound) from a speaker B reaches only a speaker A. However, in general, it is difficult to realize the complete matching, and there occurs a phenomenon in which part of the received signal leaks to the four-wire circuit, and returns to the receiver (speaker A) after being amplified. This is an echo (echo). As a transmission distance becomes long (as a delay time becomes long), the influence of the echo becomes large, and the quality of a telephone call is remarkably deteriorated (in the pulse transmission, even in the case of short distance, the echo has a large influence on the deterioration of a telephone call).
FIG. 10 is a principle view of an echo canceller.
Then, as shown in the figure, the echo canceller (echo canceller) is introduced, an impulse response of an echo path is successively estimated by using a received signal which can be directly observed and an echo, and a pseudo-echo obtained by using it is subtracted from the actual echo to cancel the echo and to remove it.
The estimation of the impulse response of the echo path is performed so that the mean square error of a residual echo ek becomes minimum. At this time, elements to interfere with the estimation of the echo path are circuit noise and a signal (sound) from the speaker A. In general, when two speakers simultaneously start to speak (double talk), the estimation of the impulse response is suspended. Besides, since the impulse response length of the hybrid transformer is about 50 [ms], when the sampling period is made 125 [μs], the order of the impulse response of the echo path becomes actually about 400.
Non-patent document 1
"DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSING HANDBOOK" 1993 The Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers
Non-patent document 2
S. Haykin: Adaptive filter theory, Prentice-Hall (1996)
Non-patent document 3
B. Hassibi, A. H. Sayed, and T. Kailath: "Indefinite-Quadratic Estimation and Control", SIAM (1996)
Patent document 1
JP-A-2002-135171

System estimation method and program, recording medium, and system estimation device


A signal processing circuit of the present invention includes: a first input terminal; a second input terminal; a third input terminal; a first node; a second node; an output terminal; a resistor; a first signal generating section which (i) is connected to the first node, a third input terminal, and the output terminal and (ii) includes a bootstrap capacitor; and a second signal generating section which is connected to the second node, a first power supply, and the output terminal. The first node becomes active in a case where the first input terminal becomes active. The second node becomes active in a case where the second input terminal becomes active. The output terminal is connected to the first power supply via the resistor. With the configuration, it is possible to have an improvement in operational stability of the signal processing circuit.

Cited Document 1 discloses a configuration of a signal processing circuit constituted by N-channel transistors (see (B) of FIG. 19). The signal processing circuit includes a bootstrap circuit. In a case where a signal supplied to a terminal 2 becomes active (High), a signal (clock signal or power supply signal) supplied to a terminal 1 is outputted from a terminal 4 (output terminal) (because of a bootstrap effect, the signal processing circuit can output a signal which is not less than a threshold). In a case where a signal supplied to a terminal 3 becomes active (High), a VSS (Low) is outputted from the terminal 4 (output terminal).

Signal processing circuit, driver circuit, and display device


Nonwoven fibrous webs are formed including a first group and a second group of fibers, where fibers of the first group are imparted with a degree of shrinkage that differs from a degree of shrinkage imparted to fibers in the second group. During or after bonding of the web, the web may be subjected to heat treatment causing fibers in one of the groups to shrink a greater amount in comparison to fibers in the other group, resulting in nonwoven products with desired textures and other physical characteristics.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the production of nonwoven webs of fibers with varying degrees of shrinkage.
2. Description of the Related Art
One of the primary reasons that certain polymers such as polyester are not more widely used in spunbond fabrics is that, unless the spinning speed of the fibers is greater than about 3500 meters per minute (MPM), the fabric will shrink by 50% or more during "post-spun" heating processes. Typically, "post-spun" heating processes include, but are not limited to, processes involving fabric bonding with hot calender rolls or other heat bonding devices. Shrinkage of the fibers occurs because the fibers are not crystallized, but instead are relatively amorphous, when produced at these low spinning speeds. Upon heating, such fibers contract or shrink as crystals are formed in an unconstrained state in the fibers, becoming thermally stable only when heated to their full crystallization temperatures (e.g., above about 120° C. for polyester) for a sufficient period of time.
To rectify this problem, spun bond draw jets and spunbond processes have been developed to accelerate the fibers to speeds above 3500 MPM during spinning, causing the spun fibers to become relatively crystalline during fiber formation. However, many conventional spun bond machines do not utilize such draw jets and processing capabilities, as these draw jets and processes tend to be complex and expensive to implement and operate.
Other types of nonwoven fibrous web forming processes experience similar heat shrinkage problems with polyester or other related polymers that remain relatively amorphous after fiber extrusion. In particular, polymers such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) remain relatively amorphous when extruded using a meltblown process. A meltblown process differs from a spunbond process in that extruded polymer filaments, upon emerging from an extruder die, are immediately blown with a high velocity, heated medium (e.g., air) onto a suitable support surface. In contrast, extruded but substantially solidified filaments (e.g., solidified by a suitable quenching medium such as air) in a spunbond process are drawn and attenuated utilizing a suitable drawing unit (e.g., an aspirator or godet rolls) prior to being laid down on a support surface. Meltblown processes are typically utilized in forming fibers having diameters on a micron level, whereas spunbond processes are typically employed to produce fibers having normal textile dimensions.
Many attempts have been made to achieve heat stable and shrinkage controlled nonwoven fibrous webs of polyester utilizing a meltblown process. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,958,322 and 6,371,749 to Thompson et al., which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, disclose an apparatus and corresponding methods for making dimensionally stable nonwoven fibrous webs of polyester utilizing a meltblown process. In particular, the Thompson et al. patents disclose melt blowing polyester fibers and restraining a nonwoven web of the fibers on a tentering structure. The restrained fibers are then annealed or heatset in an oven to render the nonwoven web dimensionally stable up to at least the heatsetting temperature of the fibers.
The apparatus and corresponding methods described in the Thompson et al. patents require an excessive amount of fiber material to be wound around the tentering pins of the tentering structure in order to achieve a suitable restraining of the fibers during heat treatment. Depending upon the type of nonwoven fabric to be manufactured, the tentering process of Thompson et al. may result in a considerable amount of unnecessary or even undesirable fiber material in the fabric. This process would also not easily lend itself to operation at high fabric speeds as often used, e.g., in spunbond processes.
In addition, it is anticipated that a variety of unique nonwoven web products could be achieved by allowing fibers in a nonwoven web to shrink at varying degrees with respect to each other during web formation. However, previous attempts at controlling shrinkage of polymer fibers, such as PET fibers, during web formation have been primarily focused on limiting or preventing any shrinkage of the fibers. Thus, there has been very little effort in the art to produce nonwoven web products where shrinkage of fibers is encouraged to produce a desired physical result for the web product.
Accordingly, a process for manufacturing a variety of nonwoven webs of fibers with differing physical characteristics is desirable where the webs include fibers with varying degrees of shrinkage.

Production of nonwoven fibrous webs including fibers with varying degrees of shrinkage


A method for handling insulating materials used for storing snow, wherein the insulating materials covering a heap of snow stored through the summer are taken off the heap of snow before the snow in the heap of snow is transferred to a selected use. In the method, the insulating materials used for covering the heap of snow stored through the summer are transferred to such another use, in which the insulating materials have at least one function other than mere storage of the insulating materials.

Storing snow at ski resorts through the summer has been studied and developed in Finland, among other countries. At Ruka Ski Resort, the world's first test slope covered with snow stored through the summer was opened in the autumn of 2001. Sawdust was used as an insulating material applied on the snow. Subsequently, this method for storing snow has gained popularity particularly as a method for storing snow which is stored through the summer and used for making so-called first snow ski tracks. Sawdust is a good insulating material as such, but it involves the drawback of the large amount of sawdust needed in relation to the amount of snow to be stored, as well as the resulting difficulties relating to the transfer and storage of the insulating material. Therefore, particularly in the storage of snow for ski slopes, other insulating materials and insulating methods suitable for using them have become widely applied as well. One such method that has become common in addition to the application of sawdust for storing snow, is to use geotextile, normally having a colour as white as possible, spread on a heap of snow for insulation. Furthermore, insulating materials used in construction industry, such as insulating materials of polyurethane or polystyrene in the form of roll-up material or boards, have been considered and tested. Geotextile has poorer thermal insulation properties than insulating materials of polyurethane or polystyrene, but it has the advantage of breathability, allowing the geotextile and thereby the air underneath it to cool down as a result of a phase change of liquid when the moisture in the geotextile that has become wet evaporates. Thus, the effect of the geotextile to prevent snow from melting is also partly based on the natural cooling effect of wet geotextile when it dries in warm and dry ambient air.
Storing snow through the summer by present methods has been found successful and in many cases also economically viable, because it has made it possible to extend the lucrative downhill and/or cross-country skiing season at ski resorts. However, present methods generally involve the drawbacks of a large storage space required for the large amounts of insulating material, and the transport of the insulating materials after the snow storage season. Attempts have been made to solve this problem e.g. by developing different insulating materials and methods for installing them.
A known snow storages and methods for storing snow are described in the patent application publications JP 2005291605, JP 2008082592 and JP 09094318.

Method for handling insulation materials used for storing snow


My invention is an automated self-testing method utilizing binary choice, which is applicable to monocular and binocular eye tests and can be administered on computer, cellular phones, and other electronic devices. Binary choice of match or no match, yes or no, present or absence provides simple means of automated testing by stepwise progression through staircase algorisms. Necessary devices have been introduced in order to fully utilize the power of binary choice self testing, such as, (1) printed display overlays for testing fine visual acuity at near, (2) bright illuminator of printed overlays to allow automated potential vision testing, (3) the use of complementary color lenses and color test isopters for binocular perimetry. All the programs are linked together in a multifunction electronic program tailored for Internet applications

There are a number of vision test that are controlled by manual or computer driven means. Some vision tests are self-tests in that an operator is not interacting with the subject during testing and a good example of this type of vision test is the automated visual field examination. Currently, visual acuity and other eye tests require a test administor to record the receited answers. Personnel having special training in optics administer most vision tests. With automated testing, vision screening at the primary care level by technicians not specially trained could identify diseases at an early stage, particularly the diabetic patient who is prone to vision threatening complications, complications that can be prevented or ameliorated by early intervention through advance eye care. If acuity and other sensory test were automated, screening at the primary care level would be feasible.
Cellular devices now capable of processing complicated presentation programs such as Keynote for Apple and PowerPoint for Microsoft as well as retriving and sending program information via applications (apps), these can be programmed for automated vision testing utilizing staircase algorithms and binary choice coding. Game-like programs would make eye testing pleasurable for children. With appropriate internet apps, testing is possible around the world.