The complexing of an antibody-antigen binding pair is determined by observing the change in fluorescence of a pH-sensitive fluorochrome attached to one of the members of the binding pair. When the binding is conducted in a solution having a pH other than the isoelectric point of the antibody, there will be a change in the pH of the microenviromnent surrounding the fluorochrome. This change will correspond to a change in the observed fluorescent intensity. Either member of the binding pair can be labeled, and combined with that member whose presence is suspect, in an immunoassay.

The identification, analysis and monitoring of biological compounds, most importantly proteins, polysaccharides and the like, has become increasingly important for research and industrial applications, as well as health care fields, demographic analysis and the like. Conventionally, biological analyte detection systems are based on detection of an antibody binding to the suspected antigen in the analyte, or vice-versa, and somehow determining the (1) event of binding and (2) Mount of binding between antigen and antibody occurring. In general, the specific binding pair (wherein the antibody is specific for the antigen, and will not bind to non-antigen mimics) is referred to as an antibody-antigen complex, or immunocomplex. If the occurrence of binding per se, is all that is measured, the assay is qualitative in nature. Increasingly, however, quantitative measuring, i.e., the amount of binding, is of concern. Such quantitative analysis requires enhanced sensitivity as well specificity.
One dominant form of immunoassay providing information of this type is the sandwich ELISA, wherein an antibody, bound to a stable support surface, is admixed with the analyte, and antigen present in the analyte is bound to the previously bound antibody. The surface binding the antibody is then washed to remove debris. Thereafter, the bound antigen is contacted with a preparation of another antibody, this second antibody bearing a reporter molecule or label of some sort which can be detected. The second antibody will bind to the exposed and bound antigen, and after a second washing, the Mount of second antibody bound can be detected, by determining the label concentration. The sandwich assays can be competitive or non-competitive in form. They require, however, at a minimum, the preparation of two different antibodies, several wash steps, and introduce a series of reactions which must be detected, and thus, the reliability and sensitivity of the assay is dependent upon repeated complexing events.
In response to these difficulties, a variety of more direct assays to detect the formation of the immunocomplex have been developed. Thus, a variety of assays have been developed to measure the specific binding of an antigen-antibody specific binding pair, by attaching a fluorescent label, such as fhorescence to one element of the binding pair, and attaching a quenching particle, that is, a molecule or molecular fragment which quenches the fhorescent activity of the fhorescent label, to the other binding pair. The fluorescence of the fluorescent-label-bound element is monitored as it is added to the second element. The binding of the antibody and the antigen brings the quenching moiety in close proximity to the fluorescent label, extinguishing or reducing the degree of fluorescence. Thus, a reduction in detected fhorescence is indicative of binding, and the degree of reduction is indicative of the degree or amount of binding. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,996,345, Ullman et al, 4,650,770, LiU et al, 4,351,760, Khanna, 3,998,943, Ullman and 4,806,488, Berger et al, all describe variations on this theme. In an alternative, but related format, one of the antibody or antigen ligand is labeled with a reporter molecule, and the complexing of the antibody and antigen inhibits the attack on the label, by some subsequently added agent. Thus, U.S. Pat. No. 4,208,479, Zuk et al, adds a modifying agent after formation of the immunocomplex, which modifying agent may be light. Unbound label will be altered by the modifying agent, to fluoresce at a different wave length, or give off a different degree of fluorescence, allowing distinction between bound and unbound label. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,419, Halfman, calls for the addition of a surfactant to a immunocomplex-containing preparation. Either the antigen or the antibody of the complex is labeled with a fluorescent dye. The surfactant forms micelles awhich sequester unbound label material, thereby quenching the label, while bound label will continue to fluoresce. In a third alternative, various dye sequences, or selective dyes, are used, the spectral absorbance of the dye shifting upon formation of the immunocomplex. Assays of this type are addressed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,568,647, Sanford, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,166,105, Hirschfeld.
All of the above direct assays are characterized by the need to interact the fluorescent label with a second molecule or moiety of some type, which alters the degree of fhorescence. This requires additional complexing, which may be difficult when the antigen is not readily identifiable. Further, most of these sequences require additional washes, where an agent is added to the complex, to alter the characteristics of the fluorescence.
Accordingly, it remains a goal of those of ordinary skill in the art to provide a direct, homogeneous assay for antigen-antibody specific binding, which allows both qualitative and quantitative determination of the presence of the antigen-antibody complex.

Direct immunoassay using pH-sensitive fluorochromes


A string clamping device includes a base with two first sidewalls and a movable unit is located between the two first sidewalls and a guide member is connected to an end of the movable unit. A pair of clamping members are pivotably connected between two second sidewalls of the movable unit so as to clamp a string which is guided by the guide member. Each of the two first sidewalls has a first slot and a second slot defined in an inside thereof. The first slots are close to the guide member and inclined to a horizontal plane. Two bearings are connected to the two second sidewalls and movably received in the first and second slots. The movable unit together with the clamping members is pivoted along the inclined first slots when pulling the string such that the string needs not to be bent.

Conventional strings for sport rackets are arranged in altitude and longitude directions in the racket head and the strings are pulled to have proper tension such that when the racket hits the ball, the ball flies powerfully and quickly. The strings are pulled by string clamping device while the racket head is securely positioned. The string clamping device is located lower than the racket head so that the racket head does not hit the string clamping device when the racket head rotates in order to string the strings in different directions. However, the lower positioned string clamping device is located lower than the string holes in the racket head pulls the string an angle so that the string is bent at the periphery of the opening of the string hole in the outer side of the racket head. The string might be damaged at the bending point and the periphery of the string holes at the bending point of the string generates a force which may affect the value of tension of the strings.
The present invention intends to provide a string clamping device which pulls the strings straight without any bending points so that the tension of the string is precisely set.


A dual-stage fixture for a circuit tester includes a slide plate that can be slid between at least a first position and a second position. In the first position, an upper stripper plate is spring-loaded, and a full set of test probes, including both long-stroke and short-stroke probes, can contact the circuit board or UUT (unit under test). In the second position, the upper stripper plate becomes fixed in position, and only the long-stroke probes can contact the circuit board. The fixed positioning of the upper stripper plate prevents the short-stroke probes from contacting the circuit board even when there is unbalanced loading of probe pressure between the top and bottom of the circuit board, thereby preventing transient signals from interfering with testing. In addition, a vacuum is applied in this position during a non-powered test.

Circuit board testers are used for testing a variety of circuit boards or UUT (unit under test which may be something other than a circuit board—the terms will be used interchangeably to refer to all possibilities) or similar devices to assure that the circuit boards operate as intended. In at least one type of circuit board tester, such as Agilent Model No. 3070, Series 3, a separate device, referred to as a fixture, is used to position the circuit board such that a plurality of electrically conductive probes (which are part of, or coupled to, the tester) contact predetermined components or positions of the circuit board. The particular components or positions that are contacted by the test or probes depend on the tests that are desired. When the probes are in contact with the desired locations on the circuit board, electrical signals with predetermined parameters (e.g., predetermined magnitudes or patterns of current, voltage frequency, phase, and the like) are applied by the tester, typically under control of a computer, to certain of the probes. Some or all of the probes are used to measure the performance or response of the circuit board (i.e., to measure electrical parameters at some or all of the probes contacting the circuit board). In this way, it is possible to rapidly perform a number of tests or measurements characterizing the performance of the circuit board while simulating the conditions the circuit board would have, or could have, during actual use. Although it is possible to use these types of tests and testing devices for a variety of possible purposes (such as "spot checking" selected circuit boards at a production facility, testing circuit boards which may be malfunctioning, testing prototype circuit boards as part of a design program, and the like), in at least some applications, circuit board testing is used to provide quality assurance on all or substantially all products of a given type or class which are produced by a company.
Some circuit board testers use a vacuum fixture that uses atmospheric pressure, specifically a vacuum, to drive a platen with a combination of spring-loaded probes and circuit board push down features to press against the circuit board and press it against another platen with a field of spring-loaded test probes. In some circuit board testers, all of the probes contact the circuit board simultaneously. While vacuum systems are effective, they are quite complex and expensive to manufacture.
Some circuit board testers use what is known as a dual-stage test fixture. A dual-stage test fixture typically has spring-loaded test probes that are of two different lengths, known as long-stroke probes and short-stroke probes. As a result, different test cycles can involve different test probes contacting the circuit board. For example, during a powered in-circuit test, both the long- and short-stroke probes contact the circuit board being tested at the same time. On the other hand, during a non-powered test, only the long-stroke probes contact the circuit board. Contacting the circuit board with only the long-stroke probes allows different circuits on the circuit board to be tested without introducing electrical interference by contacting the circuit board with all of the probes.
In some conventional circuit board testers employing dual-stage test fixtures, however, during the non-powered test, both sides of the circuit board may not be fully supported. As a result, some of the short-stroke probes can contact the circuit board during the non-powered test, potentially inadequate contact force and poor signal quality and interference. This interference can cause the test to fail and may cause electrical damage to the electronic components of the circuit board. Failure to fully support the circuit board at all times may cause the circuit board to be subject to deformations typically caused by vacuum pressure differentials that can lead to stress fractures in the solder connections or in the electronic components on the circuit board. By fully supporting the board/UUT, and eliminating pressure stresses thereon, the quality of test is improved, while simultaneously reducing the complexity of the tester.

Dual stage vacuum chamber with full circuit board support


Disclosed are a user equipment of a wireless communication system and a wireless communication method using the same. More specifically, disclosed are a user equipment including a processor configured to receive DCI through a PDCCH indicating PDSCH scheduling information of each cell in one or more cell(s), identify a transmission scheme in each cell based on a DCI format of the DCI, receive a PDSCH of each cell in the one or more cell(s) based on the scheduling information of the PDCCH, generate a hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgment (HARQ-ACK) bit sequence for the one or more cell(s) based on the identified transmission scheme of each cell in response to receiving the PDSCH of each cell, and transmit the generated HARQ-ACK bit sequence and a wireless communication method using the same.

Since the commercialization of the 4th generation (4G) communication system, efforts have been made to develop a new 5th generation (5G) communication system to meet the increasing demand for wireless data traffic. The 5G communication system is called as a beyond 4G network communication system, a post LTE system, or a new radio (NR) system. In order to achieve high data rates, 5G communication systems include systems that operate using ultra-high frequency (e.g., mmWave) bands above 6 GHz, and include communication systems that operate using frequency bands below 6 GHz in terms of ensuring coverage, so that the implementation in the base station and the terminal is being considered.
The 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) NR system improves the spectral efficiency of the network, enabling operators to provide more data and voice services over a given bandwidth. As a result, the 3GPP NR system is designed to meet the demands for high-speed data and media transmissions in addition to supporting large volumes of voice. The advantages of the NR system are supports of high processing amount, low latency, frequency division duplex (FDD) and time division duplex (TDD) on the same platform, improved end user experience, and a simple architecture with low operating costs.
For more efficient data processing, a dynamic TDD of the NR system may use a method of varying the number of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols that can be used for uplink/downlink according to data traffic directions of users of a cell. For example, the base station may allocate a plurality of downlink OFDM symbols to a slot (or subframe) when a downlink traffic of the cell is larger than an uplink traffic. The information on the slot configuration should be transmitted to the terminals.
In order to alleviate the path loss of the radio wave and increase the transmission distance of the radio wave in the ultra-high frequency band, technologies such as beamforming, massive array multiple input/output (massive MIMO), full dimensional MIMO (FD-MIMO), array antenna, analog beamforming, hybrid beamforming combining an analog beamforming and a digital beamforming, and large scale antenna are discussed in the 5G communication system. In addition, in order to improve the network of the system, technologies such as evolved small cell, advanced small cell, cloud radio access network (cloud RAN), ultra-dense network, device to device communication (D2D), vehicle to everything communication (V2X), wireless backhaul, non-terrestrial network communication (NTN), mobile networks, moving networks, cooperative communication, coordinated multi-points (CoMP), and interference cancellation are being developed in the 5G communication system. In addition, in the 5G system, advanced coding modulation (ACM) schemes such as hybrid FSK and QAM modulation (FQAM) and sliding window superposition coding (SWSC), and advanced access technologies such as filter bank multi-carrier (FBMC), non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA), and sparse code multiple access (SCMA), and the like are being developed.
Meanwhile, the internet is evolving from a human-centered connection network that humans create and consume information, to an internet of things (IoT) network that distributed components such as objects exchange and process information. An internet of everything (IoE) technology, in which big data processing technology through connection with cloud servers and the like is combined to the IoT, is emerging. In order to implement the IoT, technical elements such as sensing technology, wired/wireless communication and network infrastructure, service interface technology, and security technology are required, and recently, technologies such as a sensor network, a machine to machine communication (M2M), machine type communication (MTC) for connection between objects have been studied. In the IoT environment, intelligent internet technology (IT) services that collect and analyze data generated from connected objects and create new value in human life may be provided. The IoT may be applied to the fields of smart home, smart building, smart city, smart car or connected car, smart grid, health care, smart home appliances, advanced medical services, and the like, through convergence and combination of existing information technology (IT) and various industries.
Accordingly, various attempts have been made to apply the 5G communication system to the IoT network. For example, technologies such as sensor networks, machine to machine communication (M2M), and machine type communication (MTC) have been implemented by schemes such as beamforming, MIMO, and array antennas, which are 5G communication technologies. As the big data processing technology described above, the cloud radio access network (cloud RAN) is an example of the convergence of 5G technology and IoT technology. In general, mobile communication systems have been developed to provide voice services while guaranteeing user activity.
However, mobile communication systems are gradually expanding to not only voice but also data services, and now they have been developed to the extent that they can provide high-speed data services. However, in the mobile communication system in which a service is currently provided, a more advanced mobile communication system is required due to a shortage of resources and high-speed service demands of users.

Method, apparatus, and system for transmitting or receiving data channel and control channel in wireless communication system

WILUS INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY INC.


A feedstock flexible process for converting feedstock into oil and gas includes (i) indirectly heated hydrous devolatilization of volatile feedstock components, (ii) indirectly heated thermochemical conversion of fixed carbon feedstock components, (iii) heat integration and recovery, (iv) vapor and gas pressurization, and (v) vapor and gas clean-up and product recovery. A system and method for feedstock conversion includes a thermochemical reactor integrated with one or more hydrous devolatilization and solids circulation subsystems configured to accept a feedstock mixture, comprised of volatile feedstock components and fixed carbon feedstock components, and continuously produce a volatile reaction product stream therefrom, while simultaneously and continuously capturing, transferring, and converting the fixed carbon feedstock components to syngas.

There are many biological and chemical platforms to convert biomass into valuable products; however, most of these technologies can only convert a narrow range of biomass types into a limited number of products. In contrast, the thermochemical platform can convert a broad spectrum of carbonaceous feedstock (biomass, energy crops, agri-waste, animal waste, refuse derived fuel or RDF, etc.) into a wide range of downstream value-added products. In the thermochemical domain, there exist many processes such as pyrolysis, thermal depolymerization, catalytic cracking, gasification, synthesis and upgrading and hybrid processes such as gasification and fermentation for converting feedstocks into fuels, power and chemicals. Scalability, feedstock flexibility, cost effectiveness (capital and operating and maintenance costs), catalyst type, integrity, cost and life (in case of catalytic processes), less than satisfactory product attributes (quality, stability, acidity and impurity, for example with some pyrolysis bio-oils) etc. are factors that hamper the commercialization and deployment of many of these technologies. To foster the development and growth of sustainable regional economies, there is a need for a process and apparatus that addresses the following:                Feedstock availability, variability, quality and cost—feedstock cost has a direct and significant impact on the return on investment (ROI) and so the higher this cost the lower the ROI. Higher capacity feedstock conversion systems tend to be generally more cost-effective due to scale but require access to large feedstock supply. Feedstock availability increases with distance from the site but transportation cost increases with distance as well resulting in higher feedstock cost for larger feedstock throughput units. Feedstocks of interest here (biomass, energy crops, agri-waste, animal waste, refuse derived fuel or RDF, etc.) tend to vary in quality, composition and availability with time (seasonally, monthly, weekly or daily depending upon the type) and this poses problems for systems designed for a specific feedstock. This renders it beneficial for a process or system that permits simultaneous processing of multiple feedstocks and also at smaller scales (say 20 to 250 ton per day feedstock throughput).        Simplicity of feed system—many thermochemical systems operate at elevated pressure and in some cases at elevated temperature as well and require a feed system that can provide a good seal against process gas backflow or leak into the ambient via the feed bin. This has implications for feed system selection, complexity, reliability, availability and cost. This renders it beneficial to operate at slightly below ambient pressure in the feed zone.        Continuous process—this is preferred to batch type process for improved economics.        Intermediates production—Fuel and/or chemical production systems generally are more cost effective at larger scale; however, feedstock availability and cost restrict the feedstock conversion system to smaller scale. A prudent approach then is to produce chemical intermediates of higher value than the feedstock in the front end for subsequent processing at larger scale to the final product.        Product attributes—the higher the quality, stability, integrity, and purity of the intermediates produced, the higher the marketability and revenue, and in turn the viability of the system.        Catalyst—catalysts facilitate process operation at milder conditions and improve process performance but are subject to degradation via poisoning, deactivation, attrition, pore plugging, etc. This affects catalyst integrity and life and in turn adds operating cost; disposal of the contaminant laden or spent catalyst can be an issue and can entail a disposal cost. The more exotic the catalyst, the higher the capital and operating costs. This renders it beneficial to operate without a catalyst or at best with a very inexpensive and disposable catalyst.

System and method for flexible conversion of feedstock to oil and gas


A method for generating rotational movement including supporting an output shaft for rotational movement wherein the output shaft includes at least two one-way clutch mechanisms attached thereat; positioning an infton assembly, having a weighted member and an inflatable bladder, in association with each one-way clutch mechanism such that each infton assembly is surrounded by a buoyancy fluid; and controlling inlet and outlet valves of the infton assembly such that each inlet valve is opened to facilitate flow of a filling fluid having a density less than that of the buoyancy fluid into the respective inflatable bladder as the respective weighted member reaches a lower limit of travel and each outlet valve is opened to facilitate exhausting of the filling fluid within the respective inflatable bladder as the respective weighted member reaches an upper limit of travel.

A rotating shaft is required for many activities inside and outside of industry. For example, rotating shafts may be used for transportation in ships, driving pumps, drilling and energy generation. The rotating shaft provides rotational movement as an input, either directly or through a gear box or the like, to the output device, for example, the ship propeller, the pump or drill input shaft, or in the case of energy generation, to a generator, for example, a three phase generator, which in turn utilizes the rotational movement to generate electricity.
In each of these and in other applications, an input force is required to rotate the shaft. The input force may be provided using a direct fuel source, e.g. gasoline engine, or electrical energy, e.g. electric motor. In the case of energy generation, there are various methods to generate electric energy, for example, renewable energy sources including biofuel, biomas, geothermal, hydro power; solar power; tidal power; wave power; and wind power and non-renewable energy sources including thermal power plants (burning different fuels like: charcoal, coal, diesel, gasoline, etc.) and nuclear power plants.
Only a few countries in the world have rivers large enough to construct hydropower plants and some that do are not ready to construct hydropower plants. Similarly, only a few countries have the technology to install nuclear power plants. The availability of coal, petroleum and other fuels varies geographically. The needs are different in different countries, and the solutions vary from country to country.
In addition, the price of oil is growing very rapidly (today price USD 120/barrel). In less than twenty years, the price grew more than 900%. In addition, if the consumption of the oil in the world continues at current rates, the supply will be depleted relatively quickly, with some speculation that supply would be exhausted before the end of the twenty-first century.
In addition to the above concerns, current energy sources have varying degrees of negative environmental impacts (e.g. the April 1986 disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, disaster in Fukushima—Japan March 2011, Gulf oil spill—April 2010) and have been restricted regarding the various dangers. In view of the dangers and environmental impact, many energy generation facilities are located in remote locations, thereby requiring increased expense to transport the energy and energy loss during such transportation.
It is desirable to provide a system for rotating a shaft which minimizes danger, environmental impact, and is generally renewable.

Method for rotation of a shaft using the force of gravity


A tape guide post mechanism for guiding running of a tape is provided. The tape guide post mechanism includes a post arm, the post arm including a tape guide post, around which the tape is looped, and which guides running of the tape, and a hole. The tape guide post mechanism further includes an arm shaft which engages with the hole and rotatably supports the post arm. The arm shaft has an elastic portion which presses a portion of the post arm. As a result a small sized, inexpensive tape guide post mechanism, which has a simple structure, in which the slant of each element is accurately controlled, and which achieves decreases in size and cost of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, can be obtained.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tape guide post mechanism for use in a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, such as a videotape recorder (VTR).
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, there has been a growing demand for decreases in size and price of magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus, such as VTRs, camcorders, etc.
Hereinafter, a tape guide post mechanism for use in a conventional magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus is described.
FIG. 6 is a plan view of a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus which uses a conventional tape guide post mechanism. FIG. 6 shows that a tape 2 has been pulled out from a cassette 1 by tape guide posts 8, 9, 10, and 13, and looped around a rotatable head cylinder 6. In this state, recording/reproduction of data or information to/from the tape 2 can be performed. In FIG. 6, some parts are omitted (i.e., not shown) for clarity of illustration.
As shown in FIG. 6, reference numeral 2 denotes a tape, which is wound around an S-reel 4a and a T-reel 5a stored in the cassette 1. For clarity of illustration, the external shape of the cassette 1 is represented by a dashed line. Reference numeral 3 denotes a base of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, on which the cassette 1 is mounted. Reference numeral 4 denotes an S-reel bed, which is rotatably and axially supported on the base 3. The S-reel bed 4 is engaged, and rotates integrally, with the S-reel 4a.
Reference numeral 5 denotes a T-reel bed, which is rotatably and axially supported on the base 3. The T-reel bed 5 is engaged, and rotates integrally, with the T-reel 5a. Reference numeral 15 denotes a tension arm (post arm). The tension arm 15 has: a tension post 8, which is one of the tape guide posts, and which is one of the constituent elements of a tape running system; and a hole 15a. The base 3 has a tension arm shaft 14, which is provided so as to penetrate through the hole 15a, so that the tension arm shaft 14 rotatably supports the tension arm 15. Reference numeral 18 denotes a tension band, one end of which is supported by a shaft 15b formed in the tension arm 15, and the other end which is fixed to the base 3 with a band fixture screw 19. The intermediate portion of the tension band 18 is wound around a cylindrical portion 20 of the S-reel bed 4. The tension arm 15 is urged by an urging spring 15c around the tension arm shaft 14 in a counterclockwise direction.
Reference numeral 6 denotes a rotatable head cylinder provided on the base 3. The rotatable head cylinder 6 has a rotatable magnetic head, through which a signal is recorded in/reproduced from the tape 2 that is looped around the rotatable head cylinder 6. Reference numeral 7 denotes a S1-post, which is one of the tape guide posts. Reference numeral 11 denotes a T2-post, which is one of the tape guide posts. The S1-post 7 and the T2-post 11 are fixed to the base 3, and are constituent elements of the tape running system. Reference numeral 9 denotes a S2-post, which is one of the tape guide posts. Reference numeral 10 denotes a T1-post, which is one of the tape guide posts. The S2-post 9 and the T1-post 10 are constituent elements of the tape running system. Reference numeral 12 denotes a capstan shaft, and reference numeral 100 denotes a pinch roller. The tape 2 which is sandwiched by the capstan shaft 12 and the pinch roller 100 is driven in a forward/reverse direction by forward/reverse rotation of the capstan shaft 12. Reference numeral 13 denotes a T3-post, which is one of the tape guide posts, and is a constituent element of the tape running system. The T3-post 13 is formed in a T3-arm 17 which is a post arm. The T3-arm 17 has a hole 17a. A T3-arm shaft 23a which is formed on the base 3 is provided so as to penetrate through the hole 17a, so that the T3-arm shaft 23a rotatably supports the T3-arm 17. FIG. 6 shows that the tape 2 has been pulled out of the cassette 1 by the tension post 8, the S2-post 9, the T1-post 10, and the T3-post 13.
The tape running system shown in FIG. 6 is now described. The tape 2 pulled out from the S-reel 4a is first looped around the S1-post 7 on the base 3, and then, looped around the tension post 8 and the S2-post 9. Further, the tape 2 is looped around the rotatable head cylinder 6, and around the T1-posts 10 and the T2-posts 11. Thereafter, the tape 2 is looped around the capstan shaft 12 and the T3-post 13. Thereafter, the tape 2 is wound around the T-reel 5a.
Hereinafter, an operation of the tape guide post mechanism of the conventional magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus having the above described structure is described with reference to FIGS. 7 through 9.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the T3-arm 17 of the conventional tape guide post mechanism. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the state of the T3-arm 17 when a tape tension is applied to the T3-arm 17. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the details about engagement between the hole 17a of the T3-arm 17 and the T3-arm shaft 23a.
In FIG. 7, the tape 2 is not looped around the T3-post 13. The hole 17a of the T3-arm 17 is rotatably engaged with the T3-arm shaft 23a formed on the base 3. The T3-arm 17 is prevented by a stoppage ring 21 from being upwardly disengaged from the T3-arm shaft 23a. Further, some space 22 is necessarily provided between the internal wall surface of the hole 17a and the external side surface of the T3-arm shaft 23a such that the T3-arm 17 is rotatable around the T3-arm shaft 23a.
When the tape 2 is looped around the T3-post 13 so as to have a predetermined contact area therebetween which corresponds to a predetermined angular distance around the T3-post 13 so that the tape 2 can run, tape tension Ta is applied to the T3-post 13 as shown in FIG. 8. Due to tape tension Ta, a rotation moment is caused in the T3-arm 17 and the T3-post 13 in the direction of arrow M. Accordingly, the T3-arm 17 slightly rotates in the direction of arrow M as shown in FIG. 8. As a result, the internal wall surface of the hole 17a of the T3-arm 17 is in contact with the external side surface of the T3-arm shaft 23a at an upper contact point 30 and a lower contact point 31 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.
FIG. 9 shows the slanted T3-arm 17 only in the vicinity of the T3-arm shaft 23a. As seen from FIG. 9, a hole center line 33 between the center of the upper opening of the hole 17a of the T3-arm 17 (xe2x80x9cupper hole center 32axe2x80x9d) and the center of the lower opening of the hole 17a of the T3-arm 17 (xe2x80x9clower hole center 32bxe2x80x9d) is slanted with respect to the longitudinal axis of the T3-arm shaft 23a.
However, the above conventional structure involves some problems as described below with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.
Since the T3-post 13 is a constituent element of the tape running system, the slant of the T3-post 13 must be accurately determined. However, due to small, external disturbing factors, such as a variation of tape tension Ta, a variation of friction force generated between the T3-post 13 and the tape 2, etc., the position of the upper contact point 30 unstably shifts in a direction indicated by arrow B of FIG. 9, and the position of the lower contact point 31 unstably shifts along a direction indicated by arrow C of FIG. 9. That is, the slant of the hole center line 33 with respect to the axis of the T3-arm shaft 23a is varied, and the amount and direction of slant of the T3-post 13 are unstable.
Further, in the case where tape tension Ta is not sufficiently large with respect to the weights of the T3-arm 17 and the T3-post 13, upper and lower contact points are sometimes formed at positions opposite to the upper contact point 30 and the lower contact point 31, respectively, with respect to the hole center line 33. That is, in some cases, the T3-arm shaft 23a comes in contact with the hole 17a at an upper contact point 30a and a lower contact point 31a, as shown in FIG. 9, according to the attitude of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus.
Furthermore, the magnitude and direction of the force applied to the T3-post 13 due to the tape tension are different between a case where the tape 2 runs in a forward direction and a case where the tape 2 runs in a reverse direction. Thus, when the running direction of the tape 2 changes between the forward and reverse directions, the positions of the upper contact point 30 and the lower contact point 31 shift, so that the amount and direction of slant of the T3-post 13 are unstable.
As described above, in the conventional structure, the amount and direction of slant of the T3-post 13 are essentially and necessarily unstable because of the attitude change or vibration of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, a change in the running state of the tape 2, such as the running direction of the tape 2, the tape tension, or the like. Thus, in the conventional tape guide mechanism, the variation of the slant of the tape guidepost (T3-post 13) cannot be decreased without decreasing the space 22 shown in FIG. 7.
For example, in a practical product design, the hole 17a of the T3-arm 17 is formed at high accuracy so as to have a diameter of xcfx863.015 mmxc2x10.005 mm, and the T3-arm shaft 23a is formed so as to have an outside diameter of xcfx863 mmxc2x10.005 mm, such that the space 22 is minimized. In this case, the minimum space is 0.005 mm, and the maximum space is 0.025 mm. The variation of the slant of the T3-post 13 can be minimized by minimizing the space 22 even in the case where the upper contact point 30 and the lower contact point 31 greatly shift. However, the hole 17a and the T3-arm shaft 23a have to be formed at such a high accuracy in order to minimize the space 22.
In FIG. 8, reference mark L denotes an effective shaft length of the T3-arm shaft 23a. In a general camcorder, effective shaft length L is about 4 mm. In the case where the maximum space of 0.025 mm is obtained, the maximum slant angle xcex8 is represented by the following expression:
xcex8=tanxe2x88x921(0.025/4)=0.36xc2x0
Thus, in this case, the slant of the T3-post 13 can vary by xc2x10.36xc2x0 at a maximum only for the reason of the largeness of the space 22. As a matter of course, the variation of the slant of the T3-post 13 can be reduced by increasing effective shaft length L, but in such a case, the size of the recording/reproducing apparatus increases.
The variation of the slant of the T3-post 13 with respect to the hole 17a, which is caused in a production process, is generally about xc2x10.16xc2x0 even in a product which has met the requirement for slant in a total inspection process. The variation of a slant of the T3-arm shaft 23a with respect to the base 3, which is caused in the production process, is also generally about xc2x10.16xc2x0 even in a product which has met the requirement for slant in a total inspection process. Thus, the maximum value of the sum of these variations caused in the production process and the variation of the slant of the T3-post 13, which is caused due to the space 22, is:
(xc2x10.36xc2x0)+(xc2x10.16xc2x0)+(xc2x10.16xc2x0)=xc2x10.68xc2x0.
Since a tape guide post of a VTR must generally be formed in an accurate fashion only with a small variation of about xc2x10.5xc2x0, each of the above tolerances cannot be increased any more. Thus, in addition to highly accurate production of each element, the total inspection must be performed solely for each element, while the total inspection must also be performed for each element in an assembled product in respect to the slant of the element.
In summary, in a conventional tape guide post mechanism, a hole of a post arm (in this conventional example, the hole 17a of the T3-arm 17) must be formed so as to have an accurate inner diameter; an arm shaft (the T3-arm shaft 23a) must be formed so as to have an accurate diameter; the slant of a tape guide post (the T3-post 13) with respect to the hole of the post arm must be accurately controlled; and the slant of the arm shaft with respect to the base (the base 3) must be accurately controlled. Accordingly, the production cost for each of these elements increases. Further, the total inspection must be performed in respect to accuracy of the slant of each element, the diameter of a hole, the diameter of a shaft, etc. As a result, the number of production steps increases, and the production cost further increases. Furthermore, the longitudinal length of the arm shaft (effective shaft length L) cannot be decreased, so that the size of the recording/reproducing apparatus cannot be decreased.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a tape guide post mechanism for guiding running of a tape includes: a post arm, the post arm including a tape guide post, around which the tape is looped, and which guides running of the tape, and a hole; an arm shaft which engages with the hole and rotatable supports the post arm, wherein the arm shaft has an elastic portion which presses a portion of the post arm.
In one embodiment of the present invention, an external surface of the arm shaft comes in contact with the hole of the post arm at two points in an upper opening of the hole and at two points in a lower opening of the hole.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the elastic portion and remainder of the arm shaft are made of different materials or parts.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a tape guide post mechanism for guiding running of a tape includes: a post arm, the post arm including a tape guide post, around which the tape is looped, and which guides running of the tape, and a hole; an arm shaft which engages with the hole and rotatably supports the post arm, wherein the post arm has an elastic portion which presses an external surface of the arm shaft.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the external surface of the arm shaft comes in contact with the hole of the post arm at two points in an upper opening of the hole and at two points in a lower opening of the hole.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the elastic portion and remainder of the post arm are made of different materials or parts.
According to the present invention, a small sized, inexpensive tape guide post mechanism, in which the slant of each element is accurately controlled, and which achieves a decrease in size of a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, can be obtained.
According to the present invention, an elastic portion of an arm shaft presses a portion of a post arm, whereby a constant rotational moment is caused in the post arm. Due to this constant rotational moment, variations in the amount and direction of the slant of the tape guide post can be reduced. As a result, a small sized, inexpensive tape guide post mechanism, which has a simple structure, in which the slant of each element is accurately controlled, and which achieves decreases in size and cost of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, can be obtained. Furthermore, if an elastic portion is formed in the arm shaft, it is not necessary to form an elastic portion in the post arm, and therefore, the post arm can be formed in a simple structure as can be in a conventional structure.
According to the present invention, an elastic portion of a post arm presses an external surface of an arm shaft, whereby a constant rotational moment is caused in the post arm. Due to this constant rotational moment, variations in the amount and direction of the slant of the tape guide post can be reduced. As a result, a small sized, inexpensive tape guide post mechanism, which has a simple structure, in which the slant of each element is accurately controlled, and which achieves decreases in size and cost of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, can be obtained. Furthermore, if an elastic portion is formed in the post arm, it is not necessary to form an elastic portion in the arm shaft, and therefore, an inexpensive, strong arm shaft can be formed from a simply structured shaft, such as a metal carved shaft or a header shaft.
According to the present invention, an arm shaft or a post arm has an elastic portion. In addition, the arm shaft comes in contact with a hole of the post arm at two contact points in an upper opening of the hole and at two contact points in a lower opening of the hole. In such a structure, the post arm is rotatable around the arm shaft, while a jolt between the arm shaft and the hole, and a variation in the relative angle between the elements, are rarely caused. As a result, a small sized, inexpensive tape guidepost mechanism, which has a simple structure, in which the slant of each element is more accurately controlled, and which achieves decreases in size and cost of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, can be obtained.
Thus, the invention described herein makes possible the advantages of providing a small sized, inexpensive tape guide post mechanism for use in a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, which has a simple structure, in which the slant of each element is accurately controlled, and which achieves decreases in size and cost of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus.
These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying figures.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


System and method for hybrid positioning using blended Wi-Fi and GNSS solution is presented, which provides an overall good positioning accuracy as compared to feed forward blending solution. Feeding back Wi-Fi and GNSS blended solutions to replace position states in GNSS enables blended solution to improve using past Wi-Fi information and also enables early correction of GPS drifts in urban canyons. Smart blending prevents early degradation of blended solution due to bad Wi-Fi information. Additionally, it gives good performance in open sky and mild urban canyons where GPS performance is generally quite good. Constrained blending enables good blending even with dependent or clustered Wi-Fi positions. It also keeps feedback loop stable by limiting changes to a blended solution.

The present invention relates to positioning technology, in particular, hybrid positioning with blending multiple location technologies.
Location based services are an emerging area of mobile applications that leverages the ability of new devices to calculate their current geographic position and report that to a user or to a service. Some examples of these services include identifying a location of a person or an object in the context of entertainment, work, health or personal life.
Location based services require instantaneous reliable positioning system that can work everywhere. Since no single positioning technology can meet such requirement, combining different positioning technologies to compensate for individual technology's own limitation can provide better results. Such combinations typically include Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) along with other non-GNSS positioning systems, such as Wi-Fi and/or cellular positioning technologies. A Hybrid Positioning Engine (HPE) utilizes multiple positioning technologies actively collaborating in order to provide highly accurate location estimation. The limitations of conventional hybrid positioning systems are discussed and a new algorithm for hybrid positioning with Wi-Fi and GPS blending is presented. Wi-Fi discussed herein includes any wireless local area network product that is based on the IEEE 802.11 standards. It should be noted that Wi-Fi is used herein as a non-limiting example of a wireless local area network product. GPS discussed herein includes any satellite positioning system operable to provide location and time information.
Global Positioning System (GPS) is a GNSS that provides autonomous geo-spatial positioning with global coverage using satellites. GNSS allows small electronic receivers to determine their location to within a few meters using time signals transmitted along a Line-Of-Sight (LOS) by radio from satellites. GPS provides highly accurate location results in "open sky" environments, like rural areas and on highways. GPS performs poorly in urban areas where buildings block the view of satellites, and it doesn't provide any coverage inside of buildings.
In indoor environments or in the dense urban canyons, where the low level satellite based signals are critically compromised by obscuration and environmental degradation, Wi-Fi based positioning systems provide better results. Wi-Fi positioning is rapidly gaining acceptance as a complement and supplement to GNSS positioning for outdoor and indoor environments. Wi-Fi hotspots are prevalent in the very areas where GNSS starts to struggle and many smart devices are already equipped with Wi-Fi technology that can support positioning applications.
Performance of GNSS receivers is often poor in deep urban canyons for a number of factors such as low number of visible satellites and heavy multipath caused by multiple high-rises. Wi-Fi positioning works well where GPS performs poorly by utilizing large installed user base of Wi-Fi Access Points (AP). Additionally, low range of Wi-Fi enables reasonable positioning accuracy. An AP or a hotspot has a range of about 20 meters indoors and a greater range outdoors. Hotspot coverage can comprise an area as small as a single room with walls that block radio signals or as large as many square miles, covered by multiple overlapping APs.
The end user needs to know their location awareness anywhere and everywhere, however, no one location technology provides adequate performance in all locations. Blending different technologies for positioning, for example, Wi-Fi and GPS, provides a solution for overall good positioning accuracy. However, for efficient blending certain key points need to be considered. Since GPS performance can degrade quite sharply in deep urban canyons, it's desirable to recognize this early and prevent large GPS drifts. If blending only kicks in when GPS has drifted too much, it will not help correct the UPS back to the right path. Also, blending should be performed to help GPS when GPS needs it, otherwise it may hurt GPS performance. In a situation, when GPS positioning is already good, blending with poor Wi-Fi positioning may result in overall poor hybrid positioning as compared to GPS only positioning. Lastly, Wi-Fi positioning accuracy needs to be assessed before blending with GPS. If Wi-Fi positioning itself is not good then blending it with GPS will not provide good results. Typically, GPS and Wi-Fi fixes are blended in a feed-forward fashion using a weighted sum of their fixes, which is further explained with the help of FIG. 1.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional positioning system 100 using feed forward blending.
As illustrated in the figure, conventional positioning system 100 includes an AP database 102, a Wi-Fi Position Engine (PE) 104, a Wi-Fi scan module 106, a hybrid PE 108 and a GNSS PE 110. For illustrative purposes, AP database 102. Wi-Fi PE 104, Wi-Fi scan module 106, hybrid PE 108 and GNSS PE 110 are shown as distinct elements, however, in some cases, at least two of AP database 102, Wi-Fi PE 104, Wi-Fi scan module 106, hybrid PE 108 and GNSS PE 110 may be combined as a unitary element.
AP database 102 contains the location of APs and is managed by a database vendor such as Google or Navizon. Generally, a database vendor collects the location of APs by "wardriving" efforts and/or crowd sourced using mobile phones such as the iPhone and the Android phone. Wardrivers use a Wi-Fi equipped device together with a GPS device to record the location of wireless networks. When a street driver finds a good GPS location, he determines that at that GPS location, there are certain number of APs and reports those APS with their respective signal strength to the database vendor. Database vendors collect this information from multiple users at different times to build up their database. AP database 102 is operable to bi-directionally communicate with Wi-Fi PE 104 via a signal 112.
Wi-Fi scan module 106 is operable to receive the scan parameters from Wi-Fi PE 104 via a signal 114 for scanning the APs and to provide the scan results back to Wi-Fi PE 104 via a signal 116. Wi-Fi scan module 106 performs the scan by sending probe requests to all the APs in the vicinity. Typically, an AP will respond with a probe response, which includes the Basic Service Set Identifier (BSSID) and Receive Signal Strength (RSS) of each AP. BSSID refers to Media Access Control (MAC) address for an AP, which uniquely identifies that AP. The scan results from APs include BSSIDs and RSSs for all the APs, which are forwarded to Wi-Fi PE 104 via signal 116. In one example, Wi-Fi scan module 106 communicates with a Wireless Local Area Network chipset (WLAN) and receives the list of scanned APs. In particular, the WLAN chipset executes the scan, wherein Wi-Fi scan module 106 sends a request and gets a response from the WLAN chipset.
Wi-Fi PE 104 is operable to provide Wi-Fi positioning based on the inputs from AP database 102, and Wi-Fi scan module 106. Wi-Fi PE 104 is operable to receive AP locations from AP database 102 based on the AP list provided as a result of Wi-Fi scan. Wi-Fi PE 104 is further operable to determine the user location based on the AP locations. Wi-Fi PE 104 provides a Wi-Fi only output via a signal 118 and also a Wi-Fi positioning report to hybrid PE 108 via a signal 120.
GNSS PE 110 is operable to receive the satellite measurements (not shown) and compute the location of a GNSS receiver. GNSS PE 110 provides a GNSS report to hybrid PE 108 via a signal 124. GNSS PE 110 triangulates the position based on a pseudo-range that indicates how far the user is from the satellites and the user velocity, GNSS PE 110 may include a Kalman filter, which filters this information across time. Kalman filter algorithm is an optimized method of determine the best estimation of a system's current state. The algorithm works in a two-step process. In the prediction step, the Kalman filter produces estimates of the true unknown values, along with their uncertainties. Once the outcome of the next measurement is observed, these estimates are updated using a weighted average, with more weight being given to estimates with higher certainty. The Kalman filter keeps track of the estimated state of the system and the variance or uncertainty of the estimate. The estimate is updated using a state transition model and measurements. Kalman filter receives measurements from multiple satellites and determines the effective current location based on the past as well as the new measurements from the satellites.
Hybrid PE 108 is operable to perform blending of Wi-Fi fix and GNSS fix for a user location based on the Wi-Fi positioning report received from Wi-Fi PE 104 and the GNSS report received from GNSS PE 110. Typically, for conventional positioning system 100, GPS and Wi-Fi fixes are blended in a feed-forward fashion using a weighted sum of their fixes. Generally, the weights are based on the uncertainties in the measurement. If the GPS solution is good and the Wi-Fi solution is not as good, more weightage is given to the GPS solution. Alternatively, if the Wi-Fi solution is good and the GPS solution is not as good, more weightage is given to the Wi-Fi solution.
This method has few limitations, which are discussed below. When good Wi-Fi fixes are available only for a short time, blended solution will improve only during that time and will not improve for the later fixes. Since Wi-Fi fix is good only for a short time, more weightage is given to the Wi-Fi solution. If Wi-Fi solution is not good thereafter and the GPS solution was not good throughout, then the blended solution will not improve in the latter part. Additionally, if Wi-Fi and GPS uncertainty estimates are already inaccurate, they will result in poor blending performance. It is possible to give unnecessary weightage to one solution thinking that the fix is good but that may be inaccurate. Errors in GPS or Wi-Fi fix, not reflected in the uncertainty metric will cause deviations in the blended fix.
Additionally Wi-Fi and GPS fixes are typically colored by the past and do not represent independent information, therefore, using a weighted sum is decidedly non-optimal in such cases. Wi-Fi fixes, which is computed based on the visible APs may be more clustered. Using this information multiple times in blending will cause clustering of the blended fixes as well.
What is needed is a blending method for Wi-Fi and GPS that overcomes the problems present in the feed-forward blending method and additionally provides an overall good positioning accuracy.

System and method for hybrid positioning using Wi-Fi and GNSS blending


A ground fault sensing device for a drive system that converts direct current electrical power from a direct current power supply into alternating current electrical power and drives an electric motor with that alternating current electrical power, comprises: an extraction circuit that is connected to a power supply line of the direct current power supply via a coupling capacitor, that detects an amplitude wave that is generated when an alternating current side including the electric motor is suffering a ground fault, and that extracts the envelope of the amplitude wave; a measurement circuit that measures the voltage level of the envelope; and a determination circuit that makes a decision as to whether or not a ground fault has occurred on the alternating current side by comparing together the voltage level measured by the measurement circuit and a ground fault decision value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a ground fault sensing device.
2. Description of Related Art
Since, in an electric vehicle or a hybrid electric vehicle, a high voltage battery is provided for operating devices such as an electric motor and an inverter, accordingly it is necessary to provide a ground fault sensing means for protecting the personnel riding in the vehicle from this high voltage. Due to this, technical standards have been determined for protecting the personnel riding in the vehicle from high voltage. For example, it has been made a requirement to install a device that monitors the insulation resistance between the active electrode and the electrical chassis, and that issues a warning to the driver when the value of this insulation resistance drops to 100 Ω per one volt of operating voltage.
With a prior art ground fault sensing device, principally, what is detected is the occurrence of a ground fault on the direct current side of the high voltage battery (for example, refer to Patent Document #1). Thus, with the ground fault sensing method described in Patent Document #1, a ground fault sensing signal is supplied to a direct current power supply circuit via a detection resistor and a coupling capacitor. And the amplitude of the voltage at a ground fault sensing point, which is the point of connection between the detection resistor and the coupling capacitor, is sampled at a sampling cycle that is ½ of the cycle of this periodic waveform (i.e. of the ground fault sensing signal), and determination of whether or not a ground fault is occurring is made by obtaining the difference between the voltage amplitude values detected during odd numbered sampling cycles and even numbered sampling cycles.
Patent Document #1: Japanese Patent Publication No. 3678151.
However since, with the method disclosed in Patent Document #1, it is arranged to detect the occurrence of a ground fault on the battery side (i.e. the direct current side), accordingly it is difficult to detect the occurrence of a ground fault on the electric motor side (i.e. the alternating current side). Furthermore, sometimes it may happen that the ground fault determination described above becomes difficult if a ground fault has occurred upon the alternating current side, because an amplitude wave corresponding to the rotation speed of the electric motor is superimposed via the Y-capacitor upon the periodic waveform.


A gas removal filter has an ion exchanger for adsorbing a gas and at least a pair of electric resistance measuring electrodes disposed on the ion exchanger. By measuring a change in the electric resistance between at least the pair of electric resistance measuring electrodes disposed on the ion exchanger, it is possible to estimate an ion exchange group consumption ratio of the ion exchanger. The ion exchange group consumption ratio of the ion exchanger can be detected in a short period of time, and a remaining adsorption capability of the ion exchanger can be known with ease.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a gas removal filter, and more particularly to an apparatus for and a method of estimating the ion exchange group consumption ratio of an ion exchanger for use in gas adsorption applications.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, the service life of an ionic gas adsorption filter has been managed by any one of the following processes:
(1) The total amount of a gas adsorbed by the filter is periodically integrated from the concentration of the gas on the inlet side of the filter and the rate of air flowing through the filter, and then compared with a known absorption limitation for judging the service life of the filter.
(2) The concentration of the gas on the inlet side of the filter and the concentration of the gas on the outlet side of the filter are periodically measured to confirm a reduction in the gas removal capability of the filter.
(3) It is confirmed whether or not the concentration of the gas on the outlet side of the filter is of a management value or lower.
The concentration of a gas is generally measured by an analyzer such as an ion chromatograph, a monitor for detecting a pH change, or a glass tube (detecting tube) filled with a detecting agent. While all the above processes for managing the service life of a gas removal filter are based on the measurement of the concentration of a gas, if the concentration of a gas to be measured is lower than 10 xcexcg/m3, then the measurement needs to rely on an analyzer which is capable of analyzing a trace amount of gas. However, such an analyzer is expensive and requires an operator who is knowledgeable in analytic processes for its operation though the analyzer is characterized by high analyzing accuracy.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a gas removal filter which is capable of detecting the ion exchange group consumption ratio of an ion exchanger without a short period of time and easily detecting a remaining adsorption capability without the need for measuring a gas concentration.
A gas removal filter according to the present invention has an ion exchanger for adsorbing a gas and at least a pair of electric resistance measuring electrodes disposed on the ion exchanger.
By measuring a change in the electric resistance between at least the pair of electric resistance measuring electrodes disposed on the ion exchanger, it is possible to estimate an ion exchange group comsumption ratio of the ion exchanger. The ion exchange group consumption ratio of the ion exchanger can be detected in a short period of time, and a remaining adsorption capablility of the ion exchanger can be known with ease.
A removal method according to the present invention comprises the steps of placing at least a pair of electrodes on a gas removal filter having an ion exchanger for measuring the electric resistance of the ion exchanger, measuring the electric resistance between the electrodes with electric resistance measuring means, and estimating an ion exchange group consumption ratio of the ion exchanger from a change in the electric resistance to manage a consumed quantity of an ion exchange group.
With the above method, it is possible to manage the service life of the gas removal filter easily withing a short period of time without the need for a gas analyzer for analyzing a trace amount of gas, such as an ion chromatograph, a gas chromatograph or the like. Thus, the cleanness of a clean room or the like can be managed with ease.
In the method of using a gas removal filter according to the present invention, it is preferable to adjust the humidity around the ion exchanger when the electric resistance of the ion exchanger is to be measured. Particularly when the humidity around the ion exchanger is adjusted to be low, the ion exchanger is not affected by moisture, and hence the ion exchange group consumption ratio of the ion exchanger can be estimated accurately.
The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention by way of example.

Gas removal method and gas removal filter


The present invention provides a solid golf ball comprising a hot-molded product of a rubber composition comprising (a) 100 parts by weight of a polybutadiene synthesized using a rare-earth catalyst and having a cis-1,4 content of at least 60% and a 1,2 vinyl content of at most 2%, having a viscosity η at 25° C. as a 5 wt % solution in toluene of up to 600 mPa·s, and having Mooney viscosity (ML1+4 (100° C.)) of more than 30, (b) 0.01 to 0.5 parts by weight of a sulfur, (c) 10 to 60 parts by weight of an unsaturated carboxylic acid and/or a metal salt thereof, (d) 0.1 to 5 parts by weight of an organosulfur compound, (e) 5 to 80 parts by weight of an inorganic filler, and (f) 0.1 to 5 parts by weight of an organic peroxide, wherein the hot-molded product has a difference in JIS-C hardness between the center and surface thereof of more than 20 and up to 40. The solid golf balls of the invention have a soft feel upon impact and excellent rebound characteristics. Moreover, the solid golf balls are improved in flight performance by making its spin rate reduced when shot with a driver.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a solid golf ball having a soft feel when hit with a golf club and good rebound characteristics.
2. Prior Art
Various improvements are being made in formulating the polybutadiene used as the base rubber in golf balls so as to confer the balls with outstanding rebound characteristics.
For example, JP-A 62-89750 describes rubber compositions for use as the base rubber in solid golf balls, which compositions are arrived at by blending a polybutadiene having a Mooney viscosity of 70 to 100 and synthesized using a nickel or cobalt catalyst with another polybutadiene having a Mooney viscosity of 30 to 90 and synthesized using a lanthanide catalyst or polybutadiene having a Mooney viscosity of 20 to 50 and synthesized using a nickel or cobalt catalyst.
However, further improvements are required in the above art to achieve solid golf balls endowed with a sufficiently soft feel and excellent rebound.
JP-A 2-268778 describes golf balls molded using a blend composed of a polybutadiene having a Mooney viscosity of less than 50 and synthesized using a Group VIII catalyst in combination with a polybutadiene having a Mooney viscosity of less than 50 and synthesized with a lanthanide catalyst. However, golf balls having both a soft feel and excellent rebound cannot be obtained in this way.
The existing art also teaches multi-piece solid golf balls in which an intermediate layer is molded of a low-Mooney viscosity polybutadiene (JP-A 11-70187), solid golf balls molded from rubber compositions comprising a polybutadiene having a Mooney viscosity of 50 to 69 and synthesized using a nickel or cobalt catalyst in combination with a polybutadiene having a Mooney viscosity of 20 to 90 and synthesized using a lanthanide catalyst (JP-A 11-319148), solid golf balls molded from compositions based on a rubber having a 1,2 vinyl content of at most 2.0% and a weight-average molecular weight to number-average molecular weight ratio Mw/Mn of not more than 3.5 (JP-A 11-164912), golf balls molded from rubber compositions containing a high Mooney viscosity polybutadiene (JP-A 63-275356), and golf balls molded from rubber compositions comprising polybutadiene having a high number-average molecular weight in admixture with polybutadiene having a low number-average molecular weight (JP-A 3-151985). Furthermore, JP-A 2002-355341 describes golf ball formed from rubber compositions wherein a sulfur are compounded into a rubber base together with a sulfur compound.
However, none of these prior-art golf balls truly achieve both a soft feel upon impact and excellent rebound characteristics.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A pressure transducer system for developing accurate pressure measurements with a torque driven pressure transducer where the transducer has dual capacitor devices in tandem and mechanically coupled to permit relative displacement along a elongated axis in response to temperature and where the devices are displacable by angular torque about the elongated axis to obtain independent correlatable measurements from the dual capacitor devices.

While the present invention finds particular usefulness in the oil industry, it has particular application in other hostile pressure and temperature environments where size of the transducer and accuracy of the measurements are important.
In an oil well pressure transducer, it is common to size a sensor unit to go into a small diameter metal pressure housing for measurement of pressures up to 20,000 psi and even more and which can be subjected to downhole temperatures up to 400.degree. F. or more. The pressure housing must have a wall thickness sufficient to withstand the downhole pressures so that the O.D. of the internal pressure transducer or sensor is in the neighborhood of one inch in diameter.
A downhole oil well transducer or pressure gauge can be transported by a wireline, cable or pipe string to one or more levels of interest in a well bore where both temperature and pressure are sensed over a period of time. Typically, pressure measurements are repeatedly sampled and recorded over a period of time at a sampling rate determined by down hole electronics and may be stored in a downhole memory for subsequent replay or sent to the surface of analysis. Alternately, sometime pressure gauges are attached to production strings or other downhole equipment for measurements over extended periods of time or "permanently". In both uses of a pressure gauge, sudden downhole pressure changes can also typically accompanied by a temperature change in a relatively short period of time. It is also important for the accuracy of the pressure sensor to not change its calibration over a period of time in the borehole in response to pressure or temperature effects in the boreholes. Thus, there is a need for a pressure gauge for high pressure measurements which is also insensitive to sudden changes in temperature or effects of pressure. The present invention relates to high pressure transducers which can accurately measure high pressure changes under transient temperature conditions independently of the temperature changes.
Under the combined effect of high temperature and pressure conditions, the typical pressure sensor structure is subjected to high stress by the applied high pressure and subjected to high temperature both of which cause creep in the materials of the sensor structure. Creep in materials tends to be exponentially related to both temperature and stress levels. The effect of creep or permanent deformation in materials is to alter the calibration or measurement characteristics of a sensor and cause the sensor to obtain inaccurate measurements from its calibration standard over a period of time.
Heretofore, capacitance type transducers have been utilized for pressure measurements where a downhole oil well pressure varies an electrical capacitance as a function of pressure. The pressure is translated to a capacitance measurement by a pressure diaphragm moving parallel arranged capacitance plates toward and away from one another. An example of the kind of device is shown in U. S. Pat. No. 4,322,775.
I have also coupled a Bourdon tube to a capacitance type of sensor such as disclosed in U. S. Pat. No. 4,873,870 in which the pressure in the bourdon tube generates a directional linear force to displace quartz supported parallel arranged capacitor elements toward and away from one another. While this device is satisfactory for a number of applications, it is a difficult unit to manufacture.
One of the major concerns in utilizing downhole pressure sensors is that a downhole transducer malfunction can lose data or require re-running the downhole testing program with a different transducer. This can involve considerable expense and lost time. Another concern with the type of transducer disclosed herein is temperature sensitivity of different materials which can cause a drift of the measured pressure values over a period of time.
In the present invention, I have developed a capacitor device which has a unique relationship of capacitors that can be constructed from metals to respond to low force inputs and be relatively insensitive to temperature changes and has a redundancy feature to avoid abortion of a pressure testing program because of a malfunction. The capacitor device is particularly adaptable to measurement of high pressure with a high degree of accuracy and repeatability over a period of time.
As an example of probabilities of malfunctions, if one hundred single pressure sensors have a 5% failure rate then one unit out of every 20 units would fail in use. On the other hand if you have one hundred tandem connected pressure sensors with the same failure rate per unit, the probability that both sensors of a tandem unit will simultaneously fail is one out of 400 units. Thus, redundancy by use of tandem transducers can build substantial reliability into a downhole pressure sensor. Redundancy, however, also creates temperature problems since a transducer is matched to a base support with respect temperature expansion characteristics and separately mounted transducers can have different temperature expansion characteristics. The present invention provides for both redundancy and temperature compensation.


The present invention provides an image information compressing apparatus of high coding efficiency with little deterioration in picture quality, capable of effectively extracting feature components from an image in an image information feature-extraction and coding method. An image information compressing apparatus 1 for performing feature extraction and coding on an original image includes a pseudo-Hilbert scanning means (5) for converting a two-dimensional or three-dimensional original image into one-dimensional original data by pseudo-Hilbert scan, a first feature information extracting means (6) for extracting first feature information by generating first feature data by approximating the one-dimensional original data by a predetermined function having redundancy larger than that of the one-dimensional original data, a first coding means (7) for coding the first feature information, thereby generating first feature coded data, a second feature information extracting means (8) for extracting second feature information by subtracting the first feature information from the original image, and a second coding means (9) for generating second feature coded data by coding the second feature information.

Hitherto, as an image information compressing method, a feature extracting and coding method of separating image information every pattern included in the image information into two pieces of feature data, and encoding each feature data, thereby compressing the image information is known. An example of the image information compressing method using the feature extraction and coding is disclosed by Johnson K. Yan and David J. Sakrison, "Encoding of Images Based on a Two-component Source Model", IEEE Transaction on Communications, Vol. COM-25, No. 11 (1977). According to the method, first, cubic root intensity u(x, y)=[i(x, y)]1/3 is obtained from one-dimensional original data i(x, y) converting from original image data by raster scan. The cubic root intensity u(x, y) is separated to a non-continuous component d(x, y) and the remaining component r(x, y) by smoothing, and each of the components is encoded.
In this case, an edge component and a contrast component of the image are included in the non-continuous component d(x, y), and a texture component of the image is included in the remaining component r(x, y), so that the original image is separated into feature components, and each of the feature components is optimally encoded.
However, in the conventional image information compressing method, a spectrum of the one-dimensional original data obtained by raster scan includes many high frequency components. Consequently, at the time of smoothing the one-dimensional original data, the edge component and the contrast component are not sufficiently converted by a smoothing function, but remain as the remaining components. Therefore, sufficiently high coding efficiency cannot be obtained. If the information of the remaining components is reduced in order to increase the coding efficiency, a problem occurs such that deterioration on an image increases.
An object of the present invention is to provide an image information compressing method capable of effectively separating an image into feature components and achieving higher coding efficiency with little deterioration in picture quality in an image information feature separating and coding method.

Image information compressing method, image information compressing device and image information compressing program


The present invention relates to a magnetic card lock with key card which can be inserted into an insertion shaft with gripping opening, the key card being first insertable up to a first stop position, and in which position the key code is requested, and thereupon displaceable by an actuation distance up into the second stop position; in order to obtain a solution which is particularly easily manipulated, it proposes that the broad surface of the key card on its end facing away from the direction of insertion have a visibly differentiated first partial surface (100) which fills up the surface of the gripping opening (107) and is visible in the second stop position.

The present invention relates to a magnetic card lock with key card in accordance with the preamble to the main claim.
Magnetic card locks with key cards have been known for a long time. Thus, Federal Republic of Germany OS 37 02 730 discloses a magnetic card lock having permanent magnets which are arranged in the key card and the position and polarization of which form the key code. The basic construction of a magnetic card lock can be noted from European Patent Application 242 142, the lock having an insertion slot for a key card which is developed as a magnetic card. The lock has a displaceable slide into which the magnetic card can be inserted up to a first stop position. If the coding of the magnetic key card is correct, this slide can be displaced along an actuation path up into a second stop position by pushing the magnetic card further into the lock housing. This displacement effects the release of the closing device. In the first stop position, the inquiry position, magnetic tumbler pins of the inner mechanism are moved by interaction with the permanent magnets of the key card which are associated with them. A key card bearing the correct key code can then be moved up into a second stop position, the position of release.
In order to avoid erroneous switchings and provide assurance as to whether a correctly coded key or an incorrectly coded key has been inserted, it is therefore desirable to obtain from the lock information as to which closure position it is in.


A tool for correcting pelvic misalignment includes a generally elongated body with handles at each end, and leg rest portions formed between the handles. The leg rest portions are configured to receive a user's legs at the upper leg/thigh, and to allow the user to isometrically urge their legs in opposite directions, forward and backward, while grasping the handles to hold the tool in place, statically. As a result, a force result on the user's pelvis, creating a rotation that can re-align the user's pelvis with their lumbar spine, and reduce lower back pain.

Lower back pain is a chronic condition experienced by many people. A common cause of lower back pain is a misalignment of the pelvis with the lower lumbar spine. Misalignment can occur in a number of ways, such as injury due to twisting, standing on uneven surfaces, or sitting in uneven positions, to name a few common causes. A person who develops initial pain may then favor one side of their body over another, which can lead to a muscle imbalance, joint malalignment, further aggravating the problem.
Currently there are many products that address non-specific lower back pain using "traction force," which involves applying a force in an attempt to separate joint surfaces from one another. Many products that are currently available help to facilitate/cause separation in the lumbar and thoracic spine between vertebrae to elevate pressure on the intervertebral discs thus reducing lower back pain. One type of device that is used to generate traction force is a straight bar, like a broomstick, that the user, while lying on their back with their knees raised equally, lays across their thigs and pushes against their legs to exert force in the opposite direction. The disadvantage using a traction force device is that it is not a long term solution for remedying lower back pain. Scientific studies support that while a person is using traction it does alleviate pain and the effects may last for minutes to hours after performed. However it is far more common that when a person stops using a traction force device the pain relieving effect also stops. Typically, within minutes to hours, the pressure relieved while using a traction force device returns, along with pain. These devices do not realign, stabilize, or strengthen the pelvis, lower back, and associated muscle groups, which is what is required for lasting relief and rehabilitation.
Therefore, a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above.

Physical therapy device for pelvic realignment and reducing lower back pain


Local histogram-based filters may create non-photorealistic computer graphics effects. An edge-preserving smoothing filter processes a source image to generate a smoothed image. An orientation filter processes the source image to generate a smoothed orientation image. At least one of the orientation filter and the edge-preserving smoothing filter include a local histogram-based filter. The non-photorealistic effect filter may generate a fine detail image from the smoothed image and the source image. The fine detail image may be diffused according to the smoothed orientation image to generate a brush stroke image. The brush stroke image is combined with a base image to create a non-photorealistic image. Local histogram-based filters include a closest mode, a local median, and a dominant mode filter. Local histogram-based filters are determined by convolving a neighborhood filter with one or more offset-kernel images, each based on the application of a shifted tonal filter kernel to the source image.

The present invention relates to the field of computer graphics, and in particular to methods and apparatus for analyzing and filtering of still images, video, and other one-dimensional, two-dimensional, three-dimensional, four-dimensional, and higher-dimensional data sets to produce visual effects.
Traditional computer graphics applications, such as renderers have often focused on generating photorealistic images and animation. However, there are a wide variety of uses for non-photorealistic images and animation. Non-photorealistic computer graphics can be used to apply artistically expressive styles to two-dimensional images and three-dimensional graphics data. For example, non-photorealistic computer graphics techniques can be used to simulate the look of traditional artistic media, such as pen and ink drawings, oil paints, watercolors, or hand-drawn cel animation. Similarly, non-photorealistic computer graphics techniques may be used to mimic a particular artistic style, such as impressionism or pointillism. Additionally, non-photorealistic computer graphics techniques can be used to highlight areas of interest or improve the legibility
Many prior non-photorealistic computer graphics techniques are computationally expensive and time consuming to apply. Additionally, prior non-photorealistic computer graphics techniques can produce visual artifacts, such as halos, that may need to be corrected by hand or additional processing. Furthermore, typical prior non-photorealistic computer graphics techniques are not time coherent. This means that stylistic elements, such as brush strokes or cross-hatching lines, may change abruptly and discontinuously between successive frames of video or animation. This lack of time-coherence can be visually jarring and makes the underlying animation of objects appear disconnected from the simulated artistic medium.


A golf club head includes: a head main body formed with a hosel column inserting hole; a hosel column which is formed with a shaft inserting hole and is installed on the hosel column inserting hole; a bolt inserting hole penetrating from a sole side of the head main body to the hosel column inserting hole; and a bolt which is inserted into the bolt inserting hole and is screwed into the hosel column, wherein: the hosel column includes a trunk portion provided with a shaft inserting hole, and a leg portion which protrudes from a lower end surface of the trunk portion and is inserted into the hosel column inserting hole; and at least a lower end side of the leg portion and an inner portion of the hosel column inserting hole are polygonal sectional shape portions and are engaged with each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a golf club and a head thereof. Particularly, the present invention relates to a golf club and a head thereof capable of easily performing control of properties such as a lie angle, a slice angle and a goose neck shape.
2. Description of the Related Art
A golf club has a head attached to a front end portion of a shaft. A grip is installed in a proximal end side of the shaft.
In a general golf club head of the related art, a hosel port is directly provided on a hosel portion of the head, and a shaft is inserted into the hosel port and is fixed by an adhesive. In addition, as the adhesive, an epoxy-based adhesive is generally used. When the shaft is exchanged, the shaft is pulled out by heating the hosel portion to destroy a structure formed of an epoxy resin hardening product.
In JP-A-2000-5349, there is described a golf club in which a hosel joint is bonded to a front end of the shaft, the hosel joint is inserted into the hosel hole of the golf club head, and the hosel joint is fixed to the golf club head by a bolt inserted from a sole side. JP-A-2000-5349 shows a golf club head in which a loft angle and a lie angle can be adjusted by slightly tilting the shaft with respect to the hosel joint.
In the golf club head of JP-A-2000-5349, a cross section, which is perpendicular to an axis center of the hosel joint and the hosel hole, has a circular shape. For that reason, a direction (hereinafter called "phase") of the hosel joint in a circumferential direction can be arbitrarily controlled. However, when the phase has changed, an original phase becomes unknown, whereby, even if it is thought that a control of a direction of the original phase is satisfactory, it is difficult to accurately return to (reproduce) the original phase. Furthermore, since the golf club head has a configuration in which the overall hosel joint is fitted into the hosel, the diameter of the hosel increases, which makes the weight of the head on the heel side become excessive.


An explosive material container (1) for a block of explosive material (7), in particular comprising a protective film (8), is described in which an inflow protection element in the form of a cover (2) with integrated protection, support, guiding and/or positioning functions is provided. The inflow protection cover (2) is, preferably, provided with sealing and/or adhesive material and is placed on two or more edge profiles (3, 4, 5, 6) of the explosive material container (1), on the firing side, on the explosive material block (7) packed in the protective film (8). Positioning tips (9, 9.1) of the inflow protection cover (2) and the explosive material container (1) assume the positioning function.

Submunitions that are composed of such explosive material containers are known, inter alia, from DE 601 19 735 T2.
A method and an apparatus for decoying IR, RF and dual-mode-guided missiles with these submunitions is disclosed in WO 2007/012371 A1; and dual-mode decoys are disclosed in DE 199 51 767 C2. A firing apparatus in a firing chain for a submunition body is disclosed in DE 690 15 046 T2.
The protective film on the explosive material block is often torn off prematurely by the forces that occur on ejection in flight conditions (i.e., by incident flow, in other words, by the airstream).
The object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a variant of explosive material container that prevents tearing off prematurely of the protective film of the explosive material block by incident flow (i.e., by the airstream) when ejected during flight.