There are provided a recording head capable of reduction of variations in heat-generating temperature among heat-generating elements constituting a heat-generating-element array, and a recording device including the recording head. A recording head includes a heat radiator; a head base body having a substrate placed on or above the heat radiator and a heat-generating-element array composed of a plurality of heat-generating elements arranged on or above the substrate; a bonding layer that is interposed between the heat radiator and the substrate and bonds the heat radiator with the substrate; and a plurality of spacer particles arranged within the bonding layer so as to abut on both of the heat radiator and the substrate. The bonding layer includes a first region situated immediately below the heat-generating-element array and a second region extending in parallel with the first region. The spacer particles are arranged in the second region.

A variety of recording heads such as a thermal head have been proposed to date as printing devices for use in facsimiles, video printers, and so forth. For example, a thermal head (thermal print head) disclosed in Patent Literature 1 is constructed by placing a support substrate, which bears an array of a plurality of heat-generating elements on its upper face, on a heat radiator plate via a heat-radiative adhesive and a double-sided tape. A layer of the heat-radiative adhesive (hereafter referred to as "adhesive layer") contains powder made of alumina ceramics or the like, the particle size of which is substantially the same as the thickness of the adhesive layer.

Recording head and recording device comprising same


Provided is an inorganic thin film electroluminescent device including a lower electrode, a lower insulating layer, a phosphor, an upper insulating layer, and an upper electrode, and the method for manufacturing the same, whereby it is possible to obtain the inorganic thin film electroluminescent device capable of realizing high brightness, excellent luminescence efficiency, and low breakdown field.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an inorganic thin film electroluminescent device and a method for manufacturing the same and, more specifically, to an inorganic thin film electroluminescent device having a multi-layered insulating layer and a method for manufacturing the same.
2. Discussion of Related Art
An inorganic thin film electroluminescent device is such a device that an electron accelerated by high electric field collides with a phosphor to excite it, thereby inducing luminescence. While the inorganic thin film electroluminescent device has merits of high brightness, long life time, high resolving power, or the like, it has demerits of high driving voltage and a lack of a stable blue phosphor. It has been disclosed in "Journal of Applied Physics, 71, pp 1509, 1992".
Meanwhile, the inorganic thin film electroluminescent device is composed of the phosphor for luminescence, an insulating layer for protecting the phosphor, and an electrode. Particularly, the insulating layer contributes to stabilize a device by protecting the device from dielectric breakdown and outer impurities, and to determine luminescent efficiency and luminance characteristic depending on an interface state between the phosphor and the insulating layer as well. It has been disclosed in "Applied Optics, 36, pp 545, 1997". Therefore, the insulating layer should have a high breakdown field to contribute a stability of a device, and a high dielectric constant enough to lower a threshold voltage and to implement a device having a high brightness. In other words, a performance of the insulating layer is determined by figure of merit, which is obtained by multiplying a dielectric constant and a breakdown field. It has been disclosed in "Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, 36, pp 5696 1997".
As the insulating layer for the inorganic thin film electroluminescent device, a low dielectric constant film (hereinafter, referred to as low-k film) such as a silicon oxide (SiO2), a silicon nitride (SiN), or the lime, which is focused on a stability of a device, was used in the beginning stage. Thereafter, an aluminum oxide (Al2O3) thin film having a relative dielectric constant of 8 to 10 was employed. Particularly, in the case of using a thin film deposited by an atomic layer deposition (ALD) method, figure of merit was the highest level of approximately 4 to 6 μC/cm2.
Then, a number of studies for enhancing breakdown field were performed by introducing a high dielectric constant film (hereinafter, referred to as high-k film). In the case of a titanium oxide (TiO2), it was obtained an improved value of 3.5 μC/cm2 from 1 μC/cm2, by doping cerium (Ce). It has been disclosed in "Japanese Journal of Applied Physics part 1, 36, pp 5696, 1997". However, there was a problem from the point of view of a device stability, and a thickness of an insulating layer, i.e. approximately 270 nm, was thick relatively. Besides, many attempts to use a high-k film such as an yttrium oxide (Y2O3), a tantalum oxide (Ta2O5), a barium titanate (BaTiO3), etc. have been tried. However, there was a difficulty in insuring a stability and high performance of a device, in spite of its high figure of merit. Here, the high-k film refers to a thin film having a relatively high dielectric constant of 10 or more, and the low-k film refers to a thin film having a relatively low dielectric constant.
Meanwhile, in order to satisfy the aforementioned two contrary conditions, that is, high stability and high dielectricity, multi structures of Al2O3 and TiO2, or Al2O3 and Ta2O5 have been tried. The present inventors insured the high stability in the device, by employing an aluminum oxynitride (AlON) thin film. Here, the AlON thin film has a little bit improved permittivity and breakdown characteristic of approximately 10 MV/cm as compared with the conventional Al2O3, by using a plasma atomic layer deposition method. It has been disclosed in "Japanese Journal of Applied Physics part 2, 42, pp L663, 2003". It may be a significant technology in that dielectric characteristics would be enhanced without lowering permittivity in the same material, by employing a new deposition method. However, it has been still required higher stability and permittivity in the device.

Inorganic thin film electroluminescent device and method for manufacturing the same

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


An adjustable well screen assembly having a pipe which is connectable to a production pipe, wherein the pipe comprises a hole extending from the ID of the pipe to the OD of the pipe; a screen connected to the pipe adjacent the hole of the pipe; a valve connected to the pipe, wherein the valve controls fluid flow through the hole of the pipe; a valve motor mechanically connected to the valve, wherein the valve motor opens and closes the valve; and a valve controller communicatively connected to the valve motor, wherein the valve controller instructs the valve motor as to a configuration of the valve.

The art of completing wells to exclude solids particles produced by well fluids is commonly known in the literature as gravel packing.
It is common practice in the construction of wells bored into the earth to dispose steel casing or other tubular conduits inside of the well. In some well constructions the casing is grouted into the bore by placing Portland cement in the annular space between the casing and the well bore. The casing can be deployed through the depth where the productive subterranean formation or plurality of formations is encountered below the surface. In the former the well completion is referred to those familiar with the art of well completions as open hole completions, whereas those well completions where the casing and cement is run through or past the depth of the productive formation is known to those familiar with the art of well completions as cased holes. In either case of open hole completions or cased hole completions it is well practiced art to dispose across the production formation depths sand screens, slotted pipes, or pipes with holes pre-perforated at surface into the well casing on a second continuous tube known in the literature as production tubing.
Production tubing is disposed inside of the casing extending from the surface to a depth closer to the production formation. It is often desirable to place a packer on the end of the production tubing to force well fluids up the tubing and avoid fluids being produced up the casing. The production tubing is then a removable pipe that is disposed in wells generally in jointed lengths of 40 feet (about 12 m), but can be deployed as a continuous tubing string in what is commonly known in the oil and gas industry as continuous tubing. It is common practice to deploy in production tubing string various apparatus to allow for well fluid control. It is also common to control such devices from surface using electrical and hydraulic tubes disposed simultaneously with the production tubing and connected to the outer diameter of the production tubing. These hydraulic tubes are known to those familiars with the art of well completions as control lines.
In the cased hole completions it is common practice to run explosive charges into the well after the casing is cemented across the productive formation depths and perforate holes through the casing and cement into the productive formation to create a path for fluid flow into the well.
In many wells either in cased or open hole completions unwanted formation solids are produced into the well along with the production fluids. These solids are often undesirable and many methods of stopping these solids from flowing into the well whilst producing the fluids are well defined in the literature as the art sand control. One of the more familiar methods of stopping solid flow is to perform a gravel pack.
A gravel pack is performed by placing a known size of sand, which is referred to as the gravel, into the well across the production formation to create a filter medium to stop or reduce the flow of solid materials from the formation into the well. The gravel is most commonly prohibited from flowing into the well by a device commonly know as a well screen. The well screens are designed to keep the specialized sand mesh, known as the gravel, in place in the annular space between the casing or well bore outside of the screens forming the filter media.
The current methods of placing a gravel pack is requires that the screens be deployed in the well on a tubing string from surface until the screens are at the depth of the producing formation. At this point sand is placed around the screens by various methods of pumping, circulating, and other wise dispose sand around the screens. Once the sand is placed around the screens the tubing string is detached from the screens and extracted from the well. Thereafter the production tubing with packers, control lines, sliding sleeves, and packers are disposed in the well above the screens. Hence the screens are detached from the production string in the common known methods of the industry.
It is current practice to build the well screens out of wire wrap welded to bars running parallel to the screen axis and the bars are placed around a base pipe extending the length of the screen with holes through the base pipe. This base pipe forms the structure to which the wire wrap and welded bars are attached. Hence the commonly known well screen consists of wire wrap helically wrapped around the circumference of the screen attached to welded bars that are fitted onto the outer diameter of base pipe. In other designs of sand screens the screen is manufactured with sintered materials located between. The wire wrap or in some cases outside of the wire wrap. In all cases the screen has an inner pipe base with holes or other geometric penetrations to allow fluids to flow into the screen's inner diameter.
The well screen lengths disposed in wells vary in length to accommodate the depth and heights of production zones. To accommodate deployment of screens they are run in sections and connected on surface to match the height of the production zones.
In many wells there exists in one common well bore multiple production formations that are perforated or otherwise left open hole to allow simultaneous production from several formations at varying depths into the well bore and up the production casing. Often in these multiple production formations wells the different formations in the earth are separated by lithology that does not have productive fluids often times due to lower permeability and porosity. With the current art these varying production formations are completed simultaneously and flow into a common production tubing to surface. It often occurs that one productive formation will produce less fluids, or unwanted fluids, or for resource management reasons the varying formations may be more desirably produced at different flow rates or be produced at different times. In the case of gravel packed wells the methods to shut of production from a formation in a well with multiple production formations producing simultaneously into a common well bore requires mechanical well intervention techniques known to those familiar to the art. These intervention techniques can include, squeeze cementing, the setting of plugs via wireline and rig methods, and the pulling of production tubing, control lines, electrical cable, packers, sleeves and other disposed subterranean devices in the well. The above prior art techniques require mechanical intervention into the well with pipes, wireline, or pumped chemicals into the well bore to affect the inflow of fluids into and through screen systems.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,447,201 discloses an adjustable fluid inflow assembly for an oil or gas well where the influx of fluids from a plurality of annular inflow zones is controlled by a series of annular disk shaped valves which are each arranged between a downstream end of each inflow zone and a production tubing passing there through.
A disadvantage of the known assembly is that all fluid entering an annular inflow zone needs to be discharged through an annular disk shaped valve and the fluid flow rate in each valve is therefore high which causes a high rate of wear of the valve. The current invention aims to alleviate this and other disadvantages of the known well inflow control assembly such that production formations can be shut off or their fluid production reduced from production zones by non-intervention methods from surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,397,949 discloses a pressure actuated valve for use in well completion assemblies. The valve is operable by pressure between three configurations. In a first configuration, the valve is in a locked-closed configuration. In a second configuration, the valve remains closed but is unlocked. In a third configuration, the valve is open. Also disclosed is a method of installing and operating a three pressure actuated valve in a well completion operation. Once this valve is opened, it requires mechanical intervention to close it.
GB 2,325,949A discloses a well screen assembly that includes sensors and multiple valves to control inflow into the screen from different sections of the wellbore.
Further, modular flow detection and flow regulations systems are currently on the market. Conventional flow detection and flow control technology is modular, and is placed inside a production zone, or well screen after the screen is installed into the well. Conventional, existing modular systems, due to their physical size and flow considerations, can place undue flow restrictions on a producer or injector well, particularly if placed within a conventional well screen. Also, existing systems would not be ideally placed to detect certain well flow phenomenon which an integral screen system could reliably detect, measure, characterize, and flow regulate.

Surface flow controlled valve and screen


A network access method includes: learning, by a first RN, that a site type of a first communications site is an RN; and sending, by the first RN, first indication information to the first communications site, so that the first RN accesses the first communications site, where the first indication information carries information indicating that a site type of the first RN is an RN.

Development of technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and internet of things brings more terminal devices in a future network and continuously increasing network data usage. To cooperate with more terminal devices and adapt to rapidly increasing network data usage in the market, currently, a higher requirement is imposed on a capacity of a fifth-generation (5G) wireless communications system.

Methods of multi-hop relay node access, and apparatus therefor


Provided are an antenna for a communication terminal, and a method of manufacturing the same, the antenna including: a communication terminal case; and a radiator layer formed of a metal material in an inner curved surface part of the communication terminal case.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an antenna for a communication terminal and a method of manufacturing the same, and more specifically, to an antenna for a communication terminal, which is formed in an inner curved surface part of a communication terminal case, and a method of manufacturing the same.
Description of the Related Arts
In general, a communication terminal has an antenna for communication. According to a function of the communication terminal, various antennas such as a DMB antenna, a navigation antenna and the like are provided in the communication terminal.
Among these antennas, a communication antenna is embedded in an inner part of the communication terminal, and a DMB or navigation antenna is installed to protrude to the outside or is configured to be fixed to the body of a cellular phone in a separate accessory form.
Recently, an antenna mounted to a rear surface of a communication terminal case rather than a separate antenna module has been widely used. It is problematic that since a curved surface is present in an antenna installation part of the rear surface of the case, it would be difficult to form a conductor.
Accordingly, in order to mount the antenna to the rear surface of the case, an in-mold injection technology or an LDS (laser direct structuring) technology has been used.
The in-mold injection technology is a technology including a part which prints a surface of an injection molding product by transferring a transfer film such as a printed circuit board on the surface of the injection molding product during an injection molding process of the product, namely, a technology for printing and controlling the transfer film in the molding product to be molded. The LDS (Laser Direct Structuring) technology is a technology for producing a circuit capable of performing a function of the antenna by forming a pattern on resin using a laser, and thereafter, plating the pattern with Cu, Ni or Au.
However, when the antenna is produced using the in-mold injection method or LDS (Laser Direct Structuring) method, in spite of high manufacturing costs, it is problematic that mechanical strength of the antenna is low and a defective rate is high.


A power conversion apparatus of an electric vehicle includes: a power converter for driving an induction machine based on arbitrary d- and q-axis voltage commands Vd* and Vq*, and a control unit for controlling the power converter based on a power running command P and a brake command B from outside. The control unit includes: a dq/three-phase conversion unit for converting phase current information iu, iv, and iw detected from the induction machine into d- and q-axis current detection values id and iq on orthogonal rotating coordinates; a speed determination unit for computing d- and q-axis voltage commands Vd* and Vq* for the power converter and determines that speed of the induction machine is zero based on the power running command P, the brake command B, and the d- and q-axis current detection values id and iq; and a resistance computing unit for computing a resistance value of the induction machine based on the power running command P, the d-axis current detection value id, and the d-axis voltage command Vd* when the brake command B is changed to the power running command P and the speed determination unit determines that the speed of the induction machine is zero.

In recent years, speed-sensorless control has been commonly used for induction machines, and position-sensorless control has been commonly used for synchronous machines. For speed-sensorless control, it is important to grasp resistance values of an induction machine or synchronous machine. In particular, the resistance values of a motor (alternating-current rotating machine) vary with temperature. If errors occur between resistance values set by the control side and actual resistance values, desired output torque may fail to be obtained or the electric vehicle may fail to be activated.
As means for solving such a problem, for example, the following Patent Literature 1 describes a method for detecting the applied voltage and the input current to an induction machine for driving an electric vehicle, and estimating a primary resistance and a secondary resistance of the induction machine between when the electric vehicle is activated and when the speed of the electric vehicle is in a low speed range. The following Patent Literature 2 describes a method for temporarily applying a direct-current voltage or pulsating voltage to an induction machine for a certain period immediately after an operation command rises from zero, and estimating the primary resistance and secondary resistance of the induction machine.

Power conversion apparatus of electric vehicle


A buffer circuit may include an amplification circuit, a main load circuit, and a sub-load circuit. The amplification circuit and the main load circuit may generate first and second output signals by amplifying first and second input signals. The sub-load circuit may compensate mismatch between rising timing and falling timing of the first output signal based on the first input signal.

Technical Field
Various embodiments generally relate to a semiconductor apparatus, and more particularly, to a buffer circuit capable of receiving a signal, and a receiver and a system using the same.
Related Art
A personal electronic device such as a personal computer, a tablet PC, a laptop computer, and a smartphone may comprise various electronic elements. Two of the electronic elements in the electronic device may communicate with each other at a high speed in order to process a great deal of data in short time. Semiconductor apparatuses among the electronic elements exchange signals with each other thorough a transmitter and a receiver included therein.
The semiconductor apparatuses exchange signals with each other through a signal transmission line such as a bus electrically coupled thereto. As performance of the semiconductor apparatuses improves, a semiconductor apparatus capable of high speed operation with reduced power consumption is possible. Accordingly, levels or amplitudes of the signals transmitted through the bus become reduced. Therefore, there is a need for an improved receiver capable of precisely receiving signals transmitted through the signal transmission line.

Buffer circuit, receiver and system using the same


In one aspect, the invention is directed to a twist beam axle for a vehicle. The twist beam axle includes a twist beam and a reinforcement member. The twist beam has a longitudinal axis and has a generally concave cross-sectional shape. The reinforcement member extends longitudinally and is connected to the twist beam to form a longitudinally extending tubular form therewith. The twist beam has first and second side walls. At least one of the side walls extends outside of the tubular form. The tubular form has cross-sectional dimensions that are selected based on the vehicle on which the twist beam axle is to be used.

Twist beam axles are used on some vehicles, typically as a means of packaging a suspension while minimizing intrusion into the passenger compartment. A typical application of a twist beam axle is on the rear wheels of a vehicle. The twist beam axle typically includes a U-shaped or V-shaped bar that extends between the control arm for the driver's side rear wheel to the control arm for the passenger's side rear wheel. A typical twist beam axle is shown at 100 in FIG. 1. The twist beam axle 100 is shown connected between two control arms 101a and 101b. The twist beam axle 100 includes a twist beam 102 that is V-shaped in cross-section and a stabilizer bar 104 in the interior of the V of the twist beam 102. The stabilizer bar 104 may be welded to the interior of the V.
The properties of the stabilizer bar 104 are typically selected to provide the twist axle 100 with a selected torsional stiffness to 'tune' the twist axle 10 for use on a particular model of vehicle. In some cases, the stabilizer bar is made from solid bar material. In other cases, the stabilizer bar 104 is made from hollow tubing. In either case, the resultant twist axle is relatively heavy, and is relatively expensive to manufacture.


A display device for the interior of a vehicle includes a display unit designed to optically display information, and a movement mechanism designed to transfer the display unit, controllably, between a non-usage position parallel to a roof liner of the vehicle and a usage position, swivelled away from the roof liner of the vehicle, and to retain the display unit, controllably, in the non-usage position and/or in the usage position. The movement mechanism is attached to the display unit: by first guide elements in order to define a swivel axis for swivelling the display unit at least between the non-usage position and the usage position; by second guide elements, each of which is or can be coupled to the display unit in a mechanical operative connection via a coupling lever of the display device; and by guide rails for attaching to the roof liner. The rails have a guide track for receiving the guide elements and for moving same therein along the guide track.

The present invention relates to a display device for the interior of a vehicle, and to a vehicle as such.
It is known practice, for the purpose of visually displaying information associated with a seat in a vehicle, and in particular in a general motor vehicle or passenger car, to mount a display device on the inside of the vehicle roof, for example on the roof liner. It is also known practice for such display devices, in the rear region of a vehicle, to be integrated into the rear side of a driver's seat or passenger seat, for example in the region of the head restraint.
On the one hand, such known displays are of comparatively small spatial dimensions, this also being due to the fact that masses associated with larger displays cannot be handled in a reliable manner, in particular when mounted inside the roof.
The invention is based on the object of creating a display device for the interior of a vehicle, and a vehicle as such, in which even large and heavy display units can be handled reliably and easily by simple means.
The object on which the invention is based is achieved, in the case of a display device according to the invention and in the case of a vehicle according to the invention, by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous developments are provided in each case by the dependent claims.
Created according to a first aspect of the present invention is a display device for the interior of a vehicle, and in particular of a motor vehicle or passenger car, that is realized comprising a display unit designed to visually display information, and comprising a movement mechanism designed to transfer the display unit, in particular controllably, between a position of non-use parallel to a roof liner of the vehicle, and a position of use, in particular swiveled away from the roof liner of the vehicle, and to hold it, in particular controllably, in the position of non-use and/or in the position of use.
The movement mechanism in this case:
(i) is attached to the display unit by first guide elements for the purpose of defining a pivot for swiveling the display unit at least between the position of non-use and the position of use,
(ii) realized with second guide elements, each of which is or can be coupled to the display unit in a mechanical operative connection via a coupling lever of the display device, and
(iii) realized with guide rails, for attaching to the roof liner, which have a guideway for receiving the guide elements and for moving them therein along the guideway.
These measures, and in particular the action of the first guide elements and the second guide elements in combination with a coupling lever in the guide rails, make it possible in the interior of a vehicle to easily and reliably handle display devices having a larger, and therefore heavier, display unit, that hitherto have been difficult to handle because of their greater mass, it being possible, for example, to use the inertia of the display device, in conjunction with the movement capabilities resulting from the guide elements in the guide rails acting in combination with the coupling lever, for passive, inertia-driven deflection of the display unit out of the passenger compartment.
In the case of an advantageous embodiment of the display unit according to the invention, the coupling levers are realized separately or combined as a pair, identical or substantially identical to each other, of equal length, linear or substantially linear, aligned parallel to each other, aligned flush with each other and/or each realized with a first end and a second end. These measures, individually or in combination, result in a high degree of flexibility due to adaptability to the respective geometric conditions in the vehicle interior, also commensurate with a respective embodiment of the particular display unit in respect of geometry and weight.
It may be provided in this case, according to another advantageous development of the display device according to the invention, that a respective first end of a coupling lever is attached in a rotatably mounted manner to the display unit, and/or that a respective second end of a coupling lever is attached in a rotatably mounted manner to an associated second guide element. By means of these measures, a swiveling mechanism for swiveling the display unit between the position of non-use and the position of use—in particular continuously—can be realized in a reliable and stable manner by the first guide elements and the second guide elements acting in combination with the coupling lever, by means of the movement capability and the engagement in the guide rails.
It is additionally advantageous in this case if, according to another embodiment of the display device according to the invention, a position of a mounting point of a first end of a coupling lever on the display unit is in each case spatially spaced apart from a position of a mounting point of an associated first guide element and/or is arranged on or in the region of a longitudinal edge of the display unit. With these measures it is possible to achieve a reliable balancing of even relatively large display units.
With regard to the design of the first and second guide elements, there are numerous possibilities for adaptation to the conditions of the vehicle interior and/or of the display unit.
It is thus contemplated that, alternatively or in any combination, the first guide elements and/or the second guide elements are:                identical or substantially identical amongst each other or as a whole,        realized as sliders, and/or        configured for sliding movement in a respective guide rail.
It is also alternatively or additionally contemplated that the first guide elements are attached to, or in the region of, a first transverse edge and/or a longitudinal edge of the display unit.
In this case, when the display device has been mounted in the associated vehicle, the first transverse edge, in particular together with the pivot, may be aligned parallel to a direction of transverse extent of the vehicle. This makes it possible to conveniently create in the vehicle interior, for example, a common alignment of the display unit of the display device that is suitable for the entire rear region.
In principle, the display unit on which a display unit is based may be of any geometrical configuration.
However, particularly simple ratios are obtained if, according to another advantageous embodiment of the display device according to the invention, the display unit is realized with a substantially rectangular shape, with transverse edges aligned parallel to a direction of transverse extent of the vehicle when the display device has been mounted on the associated vehicle, and/or with longitudinal edges aligned parallel to a direction of longitudinal extent of the associated vehicle when the display device has been mounted on the associated vehicle. This also facilitates an orientation of the display unit of the display device that is favorable for the rear region.
There are also numerous variation possibilities for the guide rails used.
It is thus contemplated for the guide rails on which a display device is based are:                realized as a pair,        identical or substantially identically to each other,        linear or substantially linear,        curved or portionally curved,        aligned parallel to each other,        aligned flush with each other, in particular in respect of their respective first and second ends,        attached to, or in the region of, a roof liner when the display device has been mounted on the associated vehicle, and/or        aligned parallel to a direction of longitudinal extent of the vehicle when the display device has been mounted on the associated vehicle.
Aspects of greater ease of operation and movement are particularly important in the use of display units that project into the passenger compartment of the interior of the vehicle when a position of use is assumed, in particular when large or bulky display units are used.
In order to achieve this, according to another aspect of the present invention there may be incorporated into the display device according to the invention certain mechanisms that provide a greater degree of passive movement of a display unit.
It is thus contemplated, according to an advantageous development of the display device according to the invention, to realize a specified buckling point, having a predefined breakaway force as a specified buckling force, on or in a respective coupling lever in such a manner that, upon the specified buckling force being exceeded, the coupling lever buckles inward at the specified buckling point and thereby changes from a non-buckled normal shape into a buckled safety shape. The buckled safety shape of the coupling lever is associated with a corresponding swiveling of the display unit within the interior of the vehicle, for example from a position of use of the display unit in the direction of the position of non-use and, in particular, parallel to the roof liner, resulting in clearing of the interior of the vehicle. The accordingly necessary breakaway force as a specified buckling force is generated, for example, when a deceleration exceeds a predefined minimum magnitude due to the inertia of the mass of the display unit upon motional deceleration.
It is thereby possible, depending on the orientation of the swivel axis and/or the first guide elements defining it in relation to the coupling lever and its mounting points on the display unit and the position of the second guide elements, to make use of an inertia-driven deflection of the display unit upon the occurrence of deceleration forces that exceed a predefined minimum magnitude.
Alternatively or additionally, it is contemplated as a measure to realize a slip clutch and/or a brake, in particular in each case having a return stop, on or in a first guide element or between a first guide element and an associated guide rail, and having a predetermined holding force as a specified holding force, in such a manner that, upon the specified holding force being exceeded, a respective first guide element moves—in response to the acting force—in a respectively associated guide rail. This means that, in a case with a deceleration exceeding a predefined minimum magnitude, due to the inertia, the maximum holding force or braking force of the clutch or brake is exceeded, such that first guide elements are unlocked and move along the guideways of the guide rails and thus, by means of the mechanical coupling to the display unit, cause the latter to deflect out of the passenger compartment, i.e. out of the interior of the vehicle, from a position of use into a position of non-use, and thereby to clear the interior of the vehicle.
The specified buckling force and/or the specified holding force in this case may have a value that is in a range corresponding to an acceleration in the range of 5 g or more.
In principle, it is contemplated to realize the guide elements, the coupling lever and the guide rails in such a manner that, by means of corresponding catches, folding out and in and/or positioning of the display unit of the display device according to the invention can be effected manually.
Realized in the case of a particularly advantageous embodiment of the display device according to the invention, however, is a drive unit that is designed to drive the first guide elements and/or the second guide elements, and for moving the first guide elements and the second guide elements separately and/or jointly and in particular equally in a respective guide rail.
Additionally or alternatively, it is contemplated for the drive unit to be realized with one or more controllable drives, and with drive means that are or can be mechanically coupled to them and that are assigned to respective guide elements, in particular in the form of brush cables or helical cables that are designed for engagement, in particular meshing engagement, by first and/or second guide elements for the purpose of moving them.
It is then thus possible, in particular, to use a drive such as that also used for sliding roofs, to drive the corresponding roof elements in a corresponding frame.
Different modes of movement of the display unit of the display device can be realized by moving the guide elements independently or jointly.
Moving the guide elements jointly and equally in the guide rail along the guideway, i.e. with equal speed in the same direction, causes the display unit to be displaced along the guideway of the guide rails and, for example, parallel to the direction of longitudinal extent of the vehicle in the interior of the vehicle, namely without changing the inclination of the display unit.
By contrast, a relative movement between the first and second guide elements, with the guide elements and the coupling levers being arranged accordingly with respect to each other and in relation to the display unit and to the guide rails, provides a swiveling movement, namely with translation of the pivot that is defined, for example, by the first guide elements, when the first guide elements are moved, and with a fixed pivot when the first guide elements are not moved and only the second guide elements move.
By appropriate coordination of the movement of the first and second guide elements, it is therefore possible to move the display unit, swivel the display unit or combine these forms of movement, in a manner controlled by open-loop or closed-loop control, in the interior of an associated vehicle.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle is also correspondingly created. It comprises a vehicle body, an interior that is formed by the vehicle body and has a roof liner, and a display device attached on or in the roof liner and designed according to the invention.
In the case of a particularly preferred embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, two guide rails of the display device are attached on or in the roof liner in such a manner that they extend with equal length flush and parallel to each other in a direction of longitudinal extent of the vehicle, in particular on or—with respect to a direction of transverse extent of the vehicle—in outer regions of the roof liner.
Furthermore, additionally or alternatively, two first guide elements of the display device are received in or into the guide rails in such a manner that a corresponding first transverse edge of the display unit of the display device, to the region of which the first guide elements are attached, is arranged parallel to the direction of transverse extent of the vehicle and, with respect to the direction of longitudinal extent of the vehicle, in the direction of a side that faces toward the rear of the vehicle.
It is also additionally or alternatively provided that two second guide elements of the display device are received in the guide rails in such a manner that a second transverse edge of the display unit of the display device that is opposite the first transverse edge is arranged in the direction of a side that faces away from the rear of the vehicle.
Further details, features and advantages of the invention are given by the following description and the figures.
Exemplary embodiments and the technical background of the invention are described in detail in the following with reference to FIGS. 1 to 18. Elements and components that are identical and equivalent, and elements and components that are identical or equivalent in their effect, are denoted by the same references. The detailed description of the denoted elements and components is not repeated in each instance of their occurrence.
The features and other characteristics represented may be isolated from each other in any manner and combined with each other in any manner without departure from the core of the invention.

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft


Provided is a linear polarization array antenna device for vehicle that is low-cost and has a high gain, by forming an array antenna and a transmission line by conductor patterns on a substrate. The present invention is provided with: a dipole antenna array in which a plurality of dipole antennas formed by the conductor patterns provided on a dielectric substrate are arranged; and two parallel transmission lines formed by the conductor patterns provided on the dielectric substrate, wherein power is supplied to the dipole antennas via the transmission lines. The two parallel transmission lines have a structure in which a pair of conductor patterns face each other across the dielectric substrate interposed between the pair of the conductor patterns.

In the past, monopole antennae and sleeve antennae have been considered as V2X antennae. In FIG. 22 to FIG. 26, the configuration, VSWR (Voltage Standing Wave Ratio), and gain in horizontal plane (X-Y plane) of a monopole antenna are shown, and in FIGS. 27A and 27B to FIG. 31, the configuration, VSWR, and gain in horizontal plane of a sleeve antenna are shown.
With reference to FIG. 22 to FIG. 26, a monopole antenna will be described. FIG. 22 shows the case where a monopole antenna 1 is installed vertically on a circular ground plate 5 (a circular conductor plate having a diameter of 1 m), and as shown in FIG. 23, the VSWR in this case is 1.4209 at a frequency of 5850 MHz, and is 1.4076 at a frequency of 5887.5 MHz, and is 1.4045 at a frequency of 5925 MHz. In the case where orthogonal coordinates X, Y, and Z are defined as shown in FIG. 22, the gain in horizontal plane of vertical polarized wave (Vertical Polarization) at 5850 MHz is shown in FIG. 24, and the average gain is −0.87 dBi. Also, the gain in horizontal plane of vertical polarized wave at 5887.5 MHz is shown in FIG. 25, and the average gain is −0.86 dBi, and the gain in horizontal plane of vertical polarized wave at 5925 MHz is shown in FIG. 26, and the average gain is −0.85 dBi. Like this, the monopole antenna (in the case where the monopole antenna is installed vertically on a circular ground plate having a diameter of 1 m, the average gain of vertical polarized wave is about −0.9 dBi) has the disadvantage that when the monopole antenna is installed on the roof of a vehicle body or the like, it cannot satisfy specifications required for V2X communication.
With reference to FIGS. 27A and 27B to FIG. 31, a sleeve antenna will be described. In the case where a sleeve antenna 2 shown in the front view of FIG. 27A and the cross-sectional view of FIG. 27B is installed vertically on a circular ground plate 5, as shown in FIG. 28, the VSWR is 1.0771 at the frequency of 5850 MHz, and is 1.0577 at the frequency of 5887.5 MHz, and is 1.0839 at the frequency of 5925 MHz. In the case where orthogonal coordinates X, Y. and Z are defined as shown in FIG. 27A, the gain in horizontal plane of vertical polarized wave at 5850 MHz is shown in FIG. 29, and the average gain is 2.27 dBi. Also, the gain in horizontal plane of vertical polarized wave at 5887.5 MHz is shown in FIG. 30, and the average gain is 2.35 dBi, and the gain in horizontal plane of vertical polarized wave at 5925 MHz is shown in FIG. 31, and the average gain is 2.38 dBi. Like this, the sleeve antenna has higher gain as compared to the monopole antenna, but has the disadvantage that mechanism design becomes difficult and the cost increases since it is required to three-dimensionally configure a coaxial structure and a sleeve structure with high accuracy.
By the way, Patent Document 1 mentions about a monopole antenna for V2X communication.


A safety quick-hitch system for coupling over-the-road tractors to utility trailers. A rigid mounting plate is secured to the tow vehicle in place of a conventional pintle-hook hitch assembly. Outwardly flaring walls extend horizontally forwardly from the mounting plate to define a drawbar-receptive mouth. A dual-diameter piston is slidably disposed within a cylindrical bore which perpendicularly intersects the mouth and may be displaced between a clearance position clearing the mouth and a deployed position obstructing the mouth and engaging the drawbar gudgeon. A mechanical trigger assembly slidably disposed within the mouth controls a slidable planar retainer. The retainer engages the piston and selectively activates it in response to deflection of the trigger by the entering drawbar gudgeon. As the drawbar gudgeon enters the hitch mouth, the gudgeon forcibly contacts the trigger and deflects it rearwardly a predetermined depth roughly equivalent to one-fourth the outer diameter of the gudgeon. At that point, the retainer is drawn back out of engagement with the piston, which drops into its deployed position and penetrates the gudgeon to lock the drawbar in position. A safety latch is automatically released when the piston body drops and locks the piston in its deployed position. Flexible cables link the safety latch and the piston to a remote control assembly to facilitate manual deactivation of the hitch from within the interior of the two vehicle.

The present invention relates generally to safety hitches for coupling conventional highway trailers to tractors or to one another in tandem. More specifically, the present invention is directed to an improved safety trailer hitch which facilitates automatic coupling of trailer and tractor by the driver without manual intervention and the resultant risk of human injury. The invention is believed best classified in U.S. utility class 213, subclass 86.
Trucking has become a major industry in the United States. As the industry has grown and developed, a great number of devices have been introduced for enhancing both the safety and the simplicity of tractor-trailer operation. It will be appreciated that the use of inadequate and unsure trailer hitches in the past has resulted in numerous serious and fatal accidents on our highways. In recent years, more complex hitching systems have been developed to overcome previous safety hazards, but their use typically requires increased manual intervention in the tractor-trailer coupling process. Consequently, labor costs and the frequency of personal injuries resulting from manual coupling operations increase. Hence, advances in safety have proved very costly to truckyard operators.
In the experience of those familiar with prior art pintle hitch systems for tractor-trailer coupling, it is usually necessary for the driver to carefully maneuver the tractor into straight alignment with the trailer hitch to effectuate a proper coupling The truck driver must back the tractor generally in the direction of the stationary trailer. It is thus very difficult to achieve satisfactory alignment of the hitch and the trailer. Proper alignment is even more difficult to obtain where two or more trailers are to be hooked in tandem. Because exact alignment is rarely accomplished in this manner, manual intervention in the hitching process is nearly always necessary. For example, time and motion analyses conducted with typical pintle-hook hitching systems indicated that a driver will need to dismount from the tractor on the average of eleven times in the process of coupling and uncoupling two trailers. Typical coupling time is estimated at roughly one hour, where numerous such attempts to achieve proper alignment are necessary. Uncoupling time typically runs thirty to fifty minutes with these systems.
It would thus seem desirable to provide a hitching system which would readily guide the driver to attain proper alignment of the trailer drawbar with the hitch as he maneuvers the vehicle. It is particularly desirable to provide a hitching system which can be safely connected entirely without or at least with minimal manual intervention by the driver or other truckyard workers.
To achieve drawbar-hitch alignment, commercial trucking operations typically use a trailer dolly associated with a tow vehicle known as a "yard-dog" which can move a trailer around the truckyard or loading area into relatively close alignment for connection to a desired tractor hitch. However, even with the aid of such tow devices, precise hitching alignment is difficult to achieve. Moreover, once the tow device is removed, the loaded dolly cannot be moved by a truckyard worker to perfect alignment.
As a result, truckyard workers will typically apply whatever tool or device is available to them to force the trailer tongue into the hitch. Hammering the hitch or pounding the tongue into position often results in permanent structural damage to the hitch which may affect the quality and safety of the connection. Moreover, such techniques greatly increase the likelihood of injury to the worker's hands and arms. Additionally, if the drawbar of a pintle-hook hitch system should drop during installation, for example, the operator's legs or feet may be seriously injured.
In the prior art, a wide variety of hitching devices have been developed to facilitate coupling of utility trailers to highway tractors for long distance hauling. Representative of prior art safety hitch technology presently in use are the hook hitches illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,279,431, issued on July 21, 1981 to Schott; and, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,492,386, issued to Roberts on Jan. 8, 1985. Such hitches typically comprise a rigid tongue-receptive jaw operatively associated with a lock mechanism which may be locked upon or about a trailer tongue.
For example, the Schott '431 trailer hook includes a spring-biased release latch which must be manually actuated by pressure applied by a truckyard worker. As will be appreciated, the release of the tensioned lock mechanism commonly results in injuries to the worker's hand either when the locking mechanism is pushed out of the interior of the trailer hook housing or when the latch rebounds back into its resting position.
The Roberts '386 device is a pintle hook hitch which includes a manually actuable pivotal locking mechanism. The locking mechanism comprises a retainer arm adapted to close the jaw of the trailer hook upon the hitch associated with a pivoting latch body. To prevent the worker's hands from contacting or interfering with the spring-biased retainer arm, the Roberts device includes an actuator latch positioned upon the lower portion of the hitch and spaced apart from the retainer arm. The free-swinging pivoting latch is adapted to automatically swing into locking position under the force of gravity when the worker releases the actuator latch.
Tractor-trailer hitches which embody the principles set forth in the aforementioned patents and which are presently available on the market include the Premier Model 270 Rear Hitch (Part No. 15-0-29); Holland Model T-60-AL Rear Hitch (Part No. 15-0-35); and, the Trailmobile Rear Hitch (Part No. 15-0-25).
One major disadvantage of such prior art locking hitch systems is that they require manual actuation by the driver or truckyard worker. There is also substantial risk with the use of such devices that the driver or worker will, through inadvertence, inattentiveness, or mere haste fail to secure the locking mechanism into position before driving the vehicle. Such failure is particularly likely where improper hitch alignment requires the worker to force the connection and makes locking extremely difficult or impossible. Without proper safety locking mechanisms deployed, even the most complex prior art hitches are unsafe. Hence it would seem desirable to provide an automatic coupling safety hitch assembly which automatically engages the safety locking mechanism when it is connected. None of the prior art hitches known to us employ such a safety feature.
Various types of automatic locking couplings have been known and used previously in the railroad industry. Typical of such couplings is U.S. Pat. No. 4,311,244, issued to Hindin et al. on Jan. 19, 1982. However, such technology finds little application in the trucking industry, since it is typically extremely complex and is not practical for adaptation to conventional tractor-trailer hitching systems. None of the prior art known to me has successfully incorporated or adapted the broad concepts applied in railroad coupling technology to tractor-trailer hitching systems. Hence it is desired to provide a tractor-trailer hitching system which incorporates some of the most advantageous safety features commonly used and known in the railroad industry.


A network slice controller obtains health information of an active network slice provided by a first vendor and health information of a set of backup network slices provided by a second vendor. The network slice controller evaluates, using a set of policies corresponding to management of the active network slice, the health information of the active network slice to determine whether the active network slice has failed. As a result of the failure of the active network slice, the network slice controller identifies one or more backup network slices of the set of backup network slices to serve as new active network slices. The network slice controller activates these one or more backup network slices to serve as the new active network slices for the network.

As wireless networks and technologies continue to evolve, operators of these wireless networks are deploying network slices to support various vertical industries with unique sets of service requirements. Operators of these wireless networks often deploy network slices from multiple vendors. These network slices can include all necessary functions: a session management function (SMF), a user plane function (UPF), a policy control function (PCF), a network repository function (NRF), and the like. In such a multi-vendor network slice deployment, the requirements are typically centered on providing failover support across the network slices provided by the different vendors.
The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has provided extensive support for node restoration procedures. For instance, the methods defined by the 3GPP are centered on node-level failures (e.g., UPF, SMF, or Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF)), with procedures for recovery after a node failure. However, no restoration procedures have been defined for restoring a network slice in the event of a network slice failure. Further, no rules have been defined that can be used to determine a network slice failure. Similarly, in the event of a network slice failure, no procedures have been defined for migrating network sessions to a different vendor network slice. Thus, in the event of a network slice failure, it is difficult for operators of these wireless networks to address the network slice failure efficiently and in a manner that results in restoration of network functionality.

Failover and management of multi-vendor network slices


A collimator is designed for use in rotational camera transaxial SPECT in which the camera head is inclined with respect to the axis of rotation. The principal ray of the collimator is offset so that the transaxial plane bisects the angle bounded by the radially outermost collimated rays (cone-beam case) or by the radially outermost fan strips (astigmatic and anamorphic cases.)

The invention relates to collimators, and more particularly relates to focussing collimators for use in single photon computerized tomography, or SPECT. In its most particular sense, the invention relates to focussing collimators for use in SPECT examinations of the head.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,670,657 discloses an astigmatic collimator which is well adapted to such examinations. Cone beam collimators are also well adapted to such examinations. However, as is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,670,657, it is advantageous to incline the sensitive crystal surface with respect to the axis of rotation during a SPECT (single photon emission computerized tomography) examination. This reduces the variation in the gap between the patient's brain and the sensitive crystal surface.
When the camera head is so tilted, and especially at inclinations of 25 to 30 degrees, it has been found that artifacts are introduced in the reconstructed tomographic image. These artifacts are undesirable.
One object of the invention is to provide a focussing collimator which may be inclined with respect to the axis of rotation during SPECT without causing excessive artifacts to arise in the reconstructed image.
Another object is to improve on existing cranial scanning techniques and apparatus.
In accordance with the invention, an astigmatic, cone-beam or anamorphic collimator is provided in which the principal ray is offset so that, during rotational camera transaxial SPECT in which the camera head is inclined with respect to the axis of rotation, the transaxial plane bisects the angle bounded by the two radially outermost fan strips (in the case of astigmatic and anamorphic collimators) and the angle bounded by the two radially outermost collimated rays (in the case of a cone-beam collimator).
This reduces the maximum inclination of a collimated ray with respect to the transaxial plane. As a result of this reduction, reconstruction artifacts are reduced to a level at which they are masked by the ambient noise level which is inherent in all scintillation camera systems.

Focussing collimators for use in rotational camera transaxial SPECT in which the camera head is inclined with respect to the axis of rotation


A curved panel assembly useful e.g. as a sign holder, has upper and lower elongate curved abutment members each with an elongate concave rear side, and backing sheet retainers extending rearwardly from the concave side at opposite ends of the concave side, the backing sheet retainers having a predetermined spacing from one another. A backing sheet has first opposite marginal edge portions facing and abutting the concave rear sides of the abutment members, the latter being rearwardly open behind the edge portions to allow the backing sheet to be displaced to and fro, and second opposite marginal edge portions retained by the backing sheet retainers. The first opposite marginal edge portions have a length greater than the predetermined spacing of the backing sheet retainers and the backing sheet is sprung into abutment against the rear sides of the abutment members with the second opposite marginal edge portions retained by the backing sheet retainers.

The present invention relates to curved panel assemblies and to methods of assembling curved panel assemblies, and is useful in particular, but not exclusively, for curved panel assemblies for use as sign holders which are self-supporting on the ground, arranged together in various groupings or mounted on a wall, post or other support.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,952,437, issued Apr. 27, 1976 to Robert W. Mitchell, there is disclosed a display frame for photographs or other displays which enables pictures to be displayed in a curved position. More particularly, the aforesaid patent discloses a display frame comprising spaced upper and lower plates having shaped edges formed with curved slots for receiving the picture and a backing sheet. Spacers are provided between the plates, and the plates are drawn towards one another by means of a rubber band or the like.
It is, however, a disadvantage of this prior display frame that the assembly of the frame is complicated, since the picture must somehow be inserted into the slots of the upper and lower plates, apparently while the latter are being drawn together by the rubber band or the like and while the spacers are also being fitted to the vertical edges of the picture.
According to the present invention, there is provided a curved panel assembly which has upper and lower elongate curved abutment members, each having an elongate curved rear side, with backing sheet retainers extending rearwardly from the concave side at opposite ends of the concave side, the backing sheet retainers having a predetermined spacing from one another. A backing sheet has first opposite marginal edge portions facing and abutting the concave rear sides of the abutment members, the latter being rearwardly open behind the first opposite marginal edge portions, and second opposite marginal edge portions retained by the backing sheet retainers. The first edge portions each have a length greater than the predetermined spacing of the backing sheet retainers.
In use, the second marginal edge portions of the backing sheet are inserted between the backing sheet retainers and the concave rear sides of the abutment members, with the backing sheet concavely curved at its side facing the abutment members and spaced from the concave rear sides of the abutment members. The backing sheet is then pressed towards the abutment members, to thereby spring the backing sheet into engagement into the backing sheet retainers and into abutment against the concave rear sides of the abutment members. The backing sheet then serves as a spacer for the abutment members.
The assembly and disassembly of the present curved panel assembly are thus effected by simply pressing the backing sheet towards or away from the concave rear sides of the abutment members, so that the present curved panel assembly can be easily and quickly assembled at the location at which it is to be used.

Curved panel assemblies and methods of assembly thereof


The present invention relates to a painless and patchless shooting microstructure, and a microstructure shooting device. According to the present invention, it is possible to inject a microstructure into the skin within the time of less than one second, and the inconvenience of waiting for the decomposition of a microstructure and removing a patch are completely overcome. A patch-type conventional technology has a problem wherein it is difficult to be applied to a region having hair, but the present invention completely overcomes this problem. According to the present invention, it is possible to precisely control the permeation depth of a microstructure into the skin by controlling discharge power.

A large number of drugs and therapeutic agents have been developed to treat diseases, but problems regarding the passage of drugs through biological barriers (for example, skin, oral mucosae and blood-brain barriers) and the efficiency of drug delivery remain to be solved for in vivo delivery of the drugs.
In general, drugs are orally administered as a tablet formulation or a capsule formulation, but a large number of drugs are not effectively delivered only by such administration method because the drugs are digested in or absorbed into the gastrointestinal tract or are destroyed by mechanisms in the liver, etc. In addition, some drugs cannot be effectively diffused through mucous membranes in the intestines. Also, the patient's compliance also has become a challenge (for example, in the case of critical patients who need to take medicine at certain intervals or cannot take medicine, etc.).
Another common technology for delivering drugs is to use a conventional injection needle. This technology is more effective than oral administration, but may cause pain in an injected area, local damage to skin, bleeding, and infections in the injected area.
To solve the above problems, various microstructures including microneedles have been developed. The microneedles currently developed have been generally used to deliver drugs to human bodies, collect blood, and detect analytes from the human bodies. The microneedles are characterized by piercing the skin in a minimally invasive manner. For painless piercing of the skin, it is important to determine the diameter of a top of the microneedle for the needle's minimum sharpness. Also, since the microneedle needs to pierce the 10 to 20-μm-thick stratum corneum, which is the most potent barrier of the skin, the microneedle needs to have a sufficient physical hardness. Further, a suitable length of the microneedle to deliver drugs to capillary vessels should be considered to enhance the efficiency of drug delivery.
Meanwhile, a microstructure is often fabricated in the form of a patch including a number of microneedles so as to inject the microneedles into the skin. However, the microneedles have a drawback in that, when they are applied to the skin in the form of a patch, a patient must wait until the microneedles are fully dissolved (for approximately 2 hours) before removing the patch. Also, the microneedles in the form of a patch have a limit in application to a hairy region. Further, some people frequently have an allergic reaction to glutinous substances present in the patch.
Dissolving microneedles (DMNs) of the present invention are microneedles obtained by polymer polymerization, and a drug is encapsulated in a matrix of each of the DMNs. Insertion of the DMNs into the skin catalyzes the decomposition of a polymeric compound, and thus the drug is systemically or locally delivered. Unlike a subcutaneous injection, the DMNs are biocompatible and do not produce biologically hazardous materials (3, 20). Also, the DMNs are more dose-efficient than immunization by subcutaneous injection (21-23). In recent years, various patches are being widely used to apply the DMNs, but the drug delivery efficiency is low due to a number of parameters regarding skin elasticity, etc., and the DMNs are not completely inserted into the skin (17, 24, and 25). Further, the compound used in the patch has problems in that it may cause various inflammations or allergic reactions in the skin, and lasting adhesion is difficult when it is applied to a joint area or hairy skin, and patients should wait for a long period of time until the drug is completely dissolved (26).
To solve the problems of the prior art regarding the recent DMN-mediated drug delivery, various methods have been designed (20, 24, 27, and 28). However, these methods have focused on improving the common delivery efficiency of DMNs, but there is no mention of a basic solution to problems regarding the incomplete insertion of the DMN patch.
Therefore, there has been a constant demand for novel microstructures capable of solving the above problems of the prior art.
Throughout this specification, a number of research papers and patent documents are cited and provided in parentheses. The disclosures of the cited research papers and patent documents are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety to more fully describe the state of the art to which the present invention pertains and the contents of the present invention.

Painless and patchless shooting microstructure


A tissue factor (TF)-targeted antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) and a method for preparing the ADC. The ADC is capable of binding to TF antigen with high specificity, and has high affinity, low immunogenicity, high cytotoxicity, and significant anti-tumor activity.

Tissue factor (TF) is a 47 kDa transmembrane glycoprotein. Under normal physiological conditions, TF expression is mainly sequestered in the layer of subendothelial cells; once the blood vessels are damaged in an organism, TF will be exposed to the blood stream, and initiate extrinsic coagulation by binding to and activating factor VII.
It has been found in studies that TF is abnormally activated and expressed in many tumor tissues, and plays an important role in the development and progression of tumors. Especially in advanced stage of cancer, most patients are accompanied by spontaneous thrombosis, such as Deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and Pulmonary embolism (PE) (Thrombosis research, 2013, 131: S59-S62; Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 2011, 9(s1): 306-315). The abnormal expression of TF in tumor cells is the main cause responsible for these symptoms. Analysis on clinical samples of many tumors shows that the expression level of TF directly affects the deterioration indexes such as metastasis of tumor and occurrence of thrombosis in patients, for example, the percentage of abnormal TF expression was 85.8% in breast cancer, 88.5% in pancreatic cancer, 83.6% in lung cancer, and 91.3% in esophageal cancer, etc. (Blood, 2012, 119: 924-932).
It has been shown in studies that firstly, a TF-FVIIa complex formed by TF and FVII can directly bind to and induce the activation of a transmembrane G protein-coupled receptor, i.e. protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2). PAR2 is an important signal pathway that regulates inflammatory response. Although there are few studies on PAR2 in the field of tumors, it is conceivable that TF can affect a series of tumor function signals in cells by virtue of PAR2. For example, TF-FVIIa-PAR2 promotes neovascularization, and provides adequate nutrients, energy and a suitable microenvironment for tumor growth by MAPK/ERK phosphorylation and inducing the gene expression of key growth factors, immunoregulators, and chemokines (e.g. VEGF, CSF1/2, IL8, CXCL1, etc.). Secondly, TF can also enhance the migration and adhesion of tumor cells by interaction with Rac1 and β1 family-related integrin, so as to enhance the hematogenous metastasis ability of tumor cells in general. Furthermore, TF-initiated coagulation is also an important cause of tumor thrombosis, and results in deterioration of a plurality of tumors. Meanwhile, TF-induced hypercoagulative state also directly helps tumor cells to evade the immune system in an organism and enhances the interaction between tumor cells and endothelial cells, resulting in an increase in the hematogenous metastasis ability. This is also an important reason why it is difficult to treat cancer.
By utilizing the characteristic that a monoclonal antibody specifically recognizes a specific antigen on the surface of tumor cells, an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) can accurately deliver an anti-tumor drug (such as a small-molecule chemotherapeutic drug) to tumor target cells and release the drug there, so as to achieve the purpose of accurately killing tumors. ADCs are also regarded as the most potential anti-tumor drugs due to their suitable molecular weights, high stability, strong targeting property, and low toxic side effects. However, with respect to successful development of ADCs, there are also many problems that have to be taken into account and have to be solved, for example, an antibody has to specifically recognize a lesion site, has a low immunosensitization, and can be efficiently and rapidly internalized by a cell; an antibody-drug linker has to be highly stable in blood and can be specifically activated and efficiently release the small-molecule drug in the targeted cell; the conjugated small-molecule drug has a strong ability of killing cells, and so on.
It can be concluded that TF plays an important role in the development and progress of tumor, and antibody-drug conjugates have their unique characteristics and advantages, however, there still lack antibody-drug conjugates highly specific for human TF.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Tissue factor-targeted antibody-drug conjugate

SHANGHAI INSTITUTE OF MATERIA MEDICA, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES


The invention relates to a method and an apparatus (22) for closing the top side of external cardboard packagings (1). The external cardboard packagings (1) comprise two top closing flaps (3, 4) located opposite each other. Side edges (42) of the closing flaps (3, 4) are connected to each other via two fold-in flaps (5, 6). During closing, at least two external cardboard packagings (1) are positioned in a group (50) contiguous to each other or slightly spaced apart. At least two folding devices (23) are advanceable toward each other to engage the fold-in flaps (5, 6) of each of the at least two external cardboard packagings (1), thus pressing the fold-in flaps (5, 6) toward each other and folding them over their particular second fold edges (60) and third fold edges (7), thereby folding down the top closing flaps (3, 4).

The invention relates to the closing of external cardboard packagings. Customarily known RSC boxes, that is, collapsible boxes with four closing flaps, are closed by first folding in the inside flaps with the aid of inside flap folding-in means or the like, and, subsequent thereto, likewise folding in the outside flaps with the aid of top flap folding-in means. Between the folding in of the inside flaps and the folding in of the outside flaps, an application of adhesive onto the outer sides of the inside flaps or onto the inner sides of the outside flaps can be carried out, for example, such that a fixing of the outer flaps to the inner flaps can additionally be performed when folding in the outer flaps. In order to securely close the external cardboard packaging, an adhesive strip, for example, can also be alternatively applied over the abutting edge between the two outside flaps subsequent to the procedure of folding in the outside flaps.
The invention relates, in particular, to the closing of external cardboard packagings that are specifically designed, in particular in the lower section, as customary RSC boxes. The upper section is by contrast designed as quick-closing system comprising two closing flaps connected to each other via fold-in flaps. Such an external cardboard packaging is described, for example, in patent document U.S. Pat. No. 6,668,525 B2 and illustrated in FIG. 1. The document also describes an apparatus used to close such external cardboard packagings. The apparatus comprises a V-shaped centering device above a conveyor apparatus for external cardboard packagings that are expanded and already closed in the bottom section. During transport via the conveyor apparatus, the external cardboard packagings first enter the central opening of the V formed between the arms of the centering device. During the further movement in conveying direction, the arms of the centering device contact the top flaps of the external cardboard packaging. By further approach of the arms of the V toward each other, the closing flaps of the external cardboard packaging are pressed downward, thereby causing the fold-in flaps to fold in.
The disadvantages are that both when closing the customary RSC boxes and when closing the specifically designed external cardboard packagings according to patent document U.S. Pat. No. 6,668,525 B2, it is only possible to process one external cardboard packaging per conveyor lane because the closing tools require a certain amount of space. In particular in the known apparatuses for closing customary RSC boxes, it is always only possible to process a defined size of boxes because the lane width and the arrangement of the folding-in tools have to be specifically adapted.
It is the object of the invention to provide an apparatus and a method with an improved performance to use for closing external cardboard packagings.
The above object is solved by an apparatus, in particular a folding apparatus, used to close external cardboard packagings and a method used to close external cardboard packagings, which apparatus and method comprise the features of the independent claims. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the subclaims.

Method and apparatus used to close external cardboard packagings


A wallbox dimmer switch includes an actuator mounting frame having a platform portion that is receivable in a rectangular wallplate opening having standard toggle-type dimensions. The dimmer switch includes a pushbutton actuator for a switch and an adjacently located dimmer actuator that extend substantially parallel to a first side of the platform portion. The pushbutton actuator includes a user-engageable portion having an outer surface of which at least the end portions are defined by a portion of a substantially prolate spheroid for minimization of undesirable coupling between the adjacent actuators during actuation by a user. The switch may also include an actuator for an airgap switch extending through the platform portion and an array of indicator lights that are displayed through openings extending to an actuator-presentation surface of the platform portion.

The present invention relates to a wallbox dimmer switch, and more particularly to a wallbox dimmer switch having a pushbutton on-off switch.
Wall mountable load control devices for controlling an electrical load, such as a lamp, are well known. Known devices include conventional toggle switches which provide basic on/off control of an electrical load. Known devices also include dimmers which provide variation in the power supplied to a lamp. Known devices also include dimmer switches which provide independent on/off control and variable powering of a lamp.
Known wall mountable load control devices are typically mounted in an electrical wallbox and covered by a wallplate. The wallplate includes an opening that provides access to the actuator, or actuators, of the load control device. The device may be adapted to be compatible with an industry standard wallplate or may require a customized wallplate. Adapting the device for use with a standard wallplate provides for more universal application of the device. Standards published by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), and approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), Publication No. ANSI/NEMA WD 6-2001, recognizes at least two principal standard wallplate dimensions for wall mounted switch devices. Arguably the most recognized of these are the wallplate dimensions for xe2x80x9ctoggle switch devicesxe2x80x9d (Page 7 of ANSI/NEMA WD 6-2001) that include a rectangular opening for a conventional on/off toggle switch. The NEMA standard also identifies dimensions of a wallplate for xe2x80x9crectangular face devicesxe2x80x9d (Page 5 of ANSI/NEMA WD 6-2001). The wallplate for xe2x80x9crectangular face devicesxe2x80x9d includes a much larger rectangular opening than the wallplate for xe2x80x9ctoggle switch devicesxe2x80x9d. This wallplate is also sometimes referred to in the art as a xe2x80x9cdesignerxe2x80x9d wallplate.
Examples of devices combining on/off and dimmer functions, commonly referred to as dimmer switches, are found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,939,383 to Tucker et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,359,231 to Flowers et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,248,919 to Hanna et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,637,930 to Rowen. Each of these patents is commonly assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The ""383 Tucker dimmer switch combines a dimmer slide with a pushbutton on/off switch. The dimmer slide operates in a relatively wide slot provided in a frame plate and is positioned vertically above the pushbutton actuator for the on/off switch. The pushbutton actuator extends through a second opening in the frame plate. The ""383 dimmer switch is adapted to be used with the NEMA standard wallplate for xe2x80x9crectangular face devicesxe2x80x9d.
The Flowers ""231 dimmer switch includes a toggle actuator for actuating an on/off switch. The toggle actuator is positioned beside a dimmer actuator in which variations of the dimmer actuator include a dimmer slide, a rotary member and dimmer up/down buttons. The ""231 dimmer switch is adapted to be used with the NEMA standard wallplate for xe2x80x9ctoggle switch devicesxe2x80x9d.
Hanna ""919 shows, in FIG. 1, a dimmer switch that is adapted for use with a wallplate having a large rectangular opening resembling the NEMA standard wallplate for xe2x80x9crectangular face devicesxe2x80x9d. The switch includes an on/off switch actuator that presents a planar outer surface to a user of the switch. The on/off actuator is positioned adjacent a rocker dimmer actuator. The on/off actuator of the Hanna ""919 dimmer switch is relatively large and occupies a substantial middle portion of the wallplate. The switch also includes an LED array that extends along one side of the on/off actuator opposite the rocker dimmer actuator.
Rowen ""930 shows, in FIG. 1, a dimmer switch that includes an actuator having a planar outer surface for controlling an electronic touch switch. The planar actuator is located beside a dimmer actuator. The planar actuator for the touch switch extends substantially the entire height of the wallplate opening and for a majority of the width. The dimmer actuator operates vertically in a very narrow slot adjacent the touch actuator. Rowen ""930 states that the dimmer switch of FIG. 1 could be adapted by scaling down the planar actuator for use with the NEMA standard wallplate for xe2x80x9ctoggle switch devicesxe2x80x9d (see col. 4, lines 20-22).
Rowen ""930 shows, in FIGS. 5 and 5A, embodiments of dimmer switches in which the planar actuator is adapted for a mechanical switch to be received in a standard toggle switch wallplate opening along with a dimmer slide. In FIG. 5 of Rowen ""930, the slide is located beside the planar actuator and moves in an out with the planar actuator. In FIG. 5A of Rowen ""930, the dimmer slide is located within the on/off actuator. There is no teaching or suggestion in Rowen ""930 that the actuator for the switch be modified to present a curved outer surface to the user.
According to the present invention there is provided an electrical load control device compatible with a wallplate having an opening that has standard dimensions for toggle-type switch devices. The electrical load control device includes an actuator mounting frame having a substantially rectangular platform dimensioned for receipt within the standard toggle-type wallplate opening. The device includes a dimmer actuator that extends in a direction that is substantially parallel with respect to a first side of the platform.
The device further includes a pushbutton actuator for a switch having a user-engageable portion that extends adjacent the dimmer actuator, the user-engageable portion defining a surface having opposite end portions that is presented to a user. At least the end portions of the surface of the user-engageable portion are defined by a portion of a substantially prolate spheroid to provide for minimization of undesirable coupling between the actuation of the adjacent actuators of the electrical load control device.

Wallbox dimmer switch having side-by-side pushbutton and dimmer actuators


A method for substantially contamination-free transport of pourable bulk product from a dosing unit into a container is proposed, wherein the dosing outlet of the dosing unit is connected in a detachable manner with the receiving inlet of the container, the dosing outlet and the receiving inlet are opened, and the bulk product is transported into the container from the dosing unit via its dosing outlet and via the receiving inlet of the container. The receiving inlet of the container is disposed at the dosing unit by means of an elastic joining element to prevent transfer of forces between the dosing unit and the container during the dosing process. A device for carrying out such a method is also proposed.

The invention concerns a method for substantially contamination-free transport of pourable bulk product from a dosing unit with a lidded dosing outlet into a container with a lidded receiving inlet, wherein the dosing outlet of the dosing unit is connected with the receiving inlet of the container in a detachable manner, the dosing outlet and the receiving inlet are opened and the bulk product is transported from the dosing unit to the container via the dosing outlet of the dosing unit and the receiving inlet of the container. The invention further concerns a device suitable for using such a method for substantially contamination-free transport of pourable bulk product, having a dosing unit with a lidded dosing outlet and having a container with a lidded receiving inlet, wherein the dosing outlet of the dosing unit is connected with the receiving inlet of the container in a detachable manner. Finally, the invention concerns a facility for substantially contamination-free, gravimetric combining of individual bulk product components from several reservoirs, each having a dosing unit with a lidded dosing outlet, into a container having a lidded receiving inlet, wherein a weighing device is associated with each reservoir which acts in combination with the container at least while bulk product is being dosed coming from the respective reservoir, wherein the container travels below the dosing units of the reservoirs and can be sequentially connected, in a detachable manner, to the dosing unit of the respective reservoir according to the desired mixture ratio.
When dosing fluid or pourable, primarily particulate bulk products, in particular when producing mixtures of different bulk products of such kind according to a desired mixture ratio, it is often desired that the respective bulk product does not come into contact with the surroundings during the dosing process to avoid contamination of the bulk product from the outside, but also—for example if bulk products are harmful to the health—to reliably prevent contamination of the surroundings. This applies particularly to products with increased hygiene and purity requirements, such as foodstuff, pharmaceuticals and the like. Furthermore, it must be ensured when producing mixtures of such—different—bulk products, which are, for example, stored in separate reservoirs and are to be fed to a mixing tank according to the desired recipe, that neither the dosing outlet of the respective dosing unit (for example the dosing unit of each reservoir) nor the receiving inlet of the container in which the bulk product components are to be combined are contaminated with foreign bulk product.
It is known to close each dosing outlet and/or receiving inlet by means of a slider to prevent contamination of the bulk product while the dosing unit is transported to the container as well as contamination of the surroundings with the bulk product. However, this necessitates frequent cleaning of such sliders if it must be ensured that residues of bulk products which cling to the sliders are not spread. Apart from this mechanism, further different closing mechanisms of the dosing outlets and/or receiving inlets are known, for example in the form of divisible shutters (EP 1 315 662 A1) or more or less conical plugs (EP 0 968 937 A1). One disadvantage of such closing mechanisms is the various substantial difficulties associated with their complex structure. This applies particularly to the closing shutters in accordance with the above-mentioned EP 1 315 662 A1. Another disadvantage consists in the fact that such closing mechanisms, such as the plugs in accordance with the above-mentioned EP 0 968 937 A1, are bound to result in sealing forces being transferred between the dosing unit and the container to be filled, so that gravimetric dosing, and in particular gravimetric measuring, of the bulk product poured into the container during the dosing process becomes very difficult or substantially impossible.
DE 603 10 369 T2 discloses a device for preferably contamination-free transport of bulk product from an upper container equipped with a dosing mechanism into a container disposed below it, wherein the upper container can be docked to the lower container. Gravimetric dosing, and in particular gravimetric measuring, of the bulk product poured into the lower container during the dosing process is also not possible in the device known from this publication. The same applies to a similar device according to EP 0 547 861 A1 and a device known from DE 295 03 812 U1 for preferably contamination-free transport of bulk product, whose dosing mechanism can be connected with the inlet of a receptacle by means of a collar.
DE 10 2005 014 930 A1 discloses a facility for gravimetric combining of individual bulk product components from several reservoirs, each with one respective dosing unit, into a transport container which travels between the reservoirs and receives the bulk product components from the respective reservoir according to the desired recipe. Each dosed amount of bulk product is gravimetrically measured by means of several weighing devices in the form of container scales disposed below the respective reservoir, onto which the transport container is placed by means of a lifting device. During the dosing process, the transport container, which rests on the weighing device, is lifted by means of the lifting devices of the weighing device to a level where its receiving inlet can be connected to the dosing outlet of the reservoir disposed above it, whereupon the bulk product component to be dosed is poured until the weighing device detects the desired weight. The container is subsequently lowered again, wherein its receiving inlet is decoupled from the dosing outlet, and the container is transported on to the next reservoir or towards an evacuation station.
Although this procedure has proven its worth in practice, the lifting devices of the weighing devices used, which have to shift the entire container between an upper docking position to the dosing unit of each reservoir and a lower transport position, cause considerable costs, which, for reasons of size, are higher the larger and heavier the container is configured.
The invention is based on the task of further developing a method and device of the above-mentioned kind while preferably avoiding the above-mentioned disadvantages in such a way that substantially contamination-free transport of the bulk product from the dosing unit to the container is possible while the amount of the bulk product dosed in each case is gravimetrically measured, wherein the transport can be carried out both using a simpler construction and in a more cost-effective manner than in prior art.

Method and device for contamination-free transport of pourable bulk product


A gas pressure regulator (100) includes a mechanical primary stage (102), preferably including a spring valve, and an electronic secondary stage (104), preferably including a micromachined pressure regulator, the combination of the mechanical primary stage and the electronic secondary stage suitable for relatively precise low pressure near zero flow rates with reasonable energy consumption rates, such as encountered when supplying fuel to a low power fuel cell system.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to gas pressure controllers and equipment, and more specifically to a two-stage hybrid gas pressure regulator suitable for use therein.
2. Description of the Related Art
Mechanical gas pressure regulators have been used for many years to reduce the pressure of a gas as the gas flows from a high-pressure fuel source to an end-use gas-consuming appliance. One gas-consuming appliance that is currently finding its way into portable electronic devices is the portable fuel cell. Fuel cells hold the promise of extending the operating time of portable electronic devices between charges, because of their high energy density—more than ten times that of conventional rechargeable batteries.
Unfortunately, fuel cells for portable applications can create some problems for conventional mechanical gas regulators. One problem is that such fuel cells require a precise, low gas pressure that must be maintained over a wide range of supply pressures. A second problem is that a fuel cell that is not under load can require near-zero gas flow, while the regulator still has to maintain the precise low pressure. Mechanical regulators do not lend themselves to great precision, particularly at near-zero gas flow. More recently, electronic regulators have been developed that can provide the precision and insensitivity to flow desirable for fuel cells. Electronic regulators, however, when used to reduce a typical high-pressure fuel source to the precise low pressure required for the fuel cell, require too much power for most portable electronic applications.