A device includes a governor for controlling the frequency of the generator of a private power generation equipment, function generating means having a function characteristic for detecting the frequency variation rate of the generator and outputting a large output to the value thereof, effective power adjusting means for outputting an output proportionate to the signal, and protective relays for sensing abnormality of the frequency variation rate of the generator, so that, by making the signal in which an output from the function generating means and an output from the effective power adjusting means are synthesized an instruction signal of the governor, and shifting the frequency variation rate of the generator to a level sensed by the protective relays by the function characteristic of the function generating means at the power outage on the alternating current power line side, to detect the power outage on the alternating current power line side.

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Applications No. 2000-283910, filed Sep. 19, 2000; No. 2000-284173, filed Sep. 19, 2000; and No. 2001-076843, filed Mar. 16, 2001, the entire contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a line linkage protective device for electricity generation equipment to be linked to an alternating current power line through a breaker, being equipped with an inverter for converting direct current power into alternating current power. More particularly, the invention relates to a line linkage protective device for an electricity generation equipment in which the sole operation of the electricity generation equipment in line linkage can be assuredly and readily detected, on the electricity generation equipment side, and protected at a low cost, without having to provide an expensive transfer breakage apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a line linkage protective device for electricity generation equipment is used for a high voltage consumer to make line linkage between the private power generation apparatus and the alternating current power line. Now, private power generation apparatuses include, for example, garbage-powered turbines or co-generation system. In recent years, there is used a small sized gas turbine electricity generation apparatus which is designed to provide an output of several tens of kilowatts by revolving a generator at high speed with a gas turbine.
In the line linkage protective device of this kind, a transfer breakage apparatus is provided, to protect a private power generation apparatus, based on the signal from a substation. However, as the transfer breakage apparatus of this kind necessitates use of the apparatus at both the substation and the private power generation apparatus ends of the transfer means, and use of an exclusive transfer channel (communication line), it inevitably becomes very expensive.
Also, as described above, in the line linkage protective device of the power generation equipment of this kind, if the output power of the synchronous generator and the required power of the load are approximately equal to the effective portion and the ineffective portion, then neither the frequency nor the voltage shows changes even slightly. Accordingly, in such a case, continuous operational state is maintained, upon non-operation of any of the protective relays. This is the so-called phenomenon of xe2x80x9csole operationxe2x80x9d (islanding), which prevents re-closing of the breaker channel.
Conventionally, therefore, in order to prevent such islanding, there is adopted a method of applying transfer breakage to the breaker by providing an exclusive line from the substation. Such a transfer breakage apparatus opens the breaker by sending a break signal to the breaker on detecting a signal in which the breaker of a superior substation is opened.
However, as the transfer breakage apparatus of this kind is extremely costly to private power generation companies of medium and small capacities of several hundred kW, and further, as it is necessary to install transfer means and a transmission channel, it is not possible to obtain the merit of energy cost reduction by the laying of the private power generation apparatus.
An object of the present invention is to provide a line linkage protective device for an electricity generation equipment in which the sole operation of the electricity generation equipment in line linkage can be assuredly and readily detected on the electricity generation equipment side and protected, without providing an expensive transfer breakage apparatus.
The above object can be attained by the following inventions:
According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a line linkage protective device of an electricity generation equipment equipped with an electric generator driven by a motor, and linked to an alternating current power line with an inverse current through a breaker, comprising a governor for controlling the frequency of the generator under an instruction signal from an external source, function generating means having a function characteristic of the frequency instruction for detecting the frequency variation rate of the generator and outputting a large output signal to the value of the frequency variation rate, effective power adjusting means for detecting the effective power of the generator and outputting the output signal proportionate to the detected signal, protective relay means for sensing abnormality of the frequency variation rate of the generator and outputting the breaking signal of the breaker, and an adder for synthesizing the output signal from the function generating means with the output signal from the effective power adjusting means and inputting the synthesized result to the governor as an instruction signal; wherein, at the time of a power outage on the alternating current power line side, the power outage on the alternating current power line side is detected by shifting the frequency variation rate of the generator to a level sensed by the protective relays by the function characteristic of the function generator.
By this step, there is used a signal made by synthesizing an output signal from the function generating means having a function characteristic of the frequency instruction for outputting a large output signal to the value of the variation rate of the frequency of the generator, with an output signal from the effective power adjusting means for outputting an output signal proportionate to the effective power of the generator, as an instruction signal of the governor for controlling the frequency of the generator. And, by shifting the frequency variation rate of the generator to a level which can be sensed by the protective relay means based on the function characteristic of the function generating means on a power supply outage on the alternating current power line, the power supply outage is detected. Furthermore, by shifting the slight frequency variations rate to the level sensed by the protective relay means, the islanding of the private power generation equipment in the line linkage is steadily and readily detected and protected on the private power generation equipment side at a low cost, without having to provide the expensive transfer breakage apparatus of the conventional case.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a line linkage protective device for electricity generation equipment equipped with an inverter for converting direct current power into alternating current power, linked to an alternating current power line through a breaker, comprising frequency detecting means for detecting the output frequency of the inverter, frequency variation rate detecting means for detecting the variation rate of the frequency detected by the frequency detecting means, power factor reference judging means for defining by function the relationship between the frequency variation rate and the power factor so that the power factor reference for promoting the variation of the frequency is outputted respectively to the inverter by varying the power factor of the inverter to the direction of advance when the frequency variation rate is positive and by varying the power factor of the inverter to the direction of delay when the frequency variation rate is negative, based on the frequency variation rate detected by the frequency variation rate detecting means, and protective means for detecting the frequency variation promoted according to the variation of the power factor of the inverter formed by giving the power factor reference outputted from the power factor reference judging means to the inverter, and opening the breaker to release the private power generation equipment from the alternating current power line.
By this step, the variation rate of the output frequency of the inverter is detected. And, when the frequency variation rate is positive, the power factor of the inverter is caused to vary in the direction of advance, and when the frequency variation rate is negative, the power factor reference for promoting the variation of the frequency is given to the inverter respectively by varying the power of the inverter in the direction of delay. In this manner, by varying the power factor of the inverter, the frequency variation can be enlarged. Accordingly, the islanding of the private power generation equipment in the line linkage is steadily and readily detected and protected on the private power generation equipment side at a low cost, without providing an expensive transfer breakage apparatus as required in the conventional case.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the device comprises the frequency detection means equipped with a synchronous generator driven by a motor, for detecting the frequency from the output of the synchronous generator of the private power generation equipment linked to the alternating current power line through the breaker, voltage variation detecting means having the output voltage of the alternating current power line as an input, for eliminating errors in the frequency generated by the voltage variation by locking the output from the frequency detection means when the input voltage varies, frequency variation rate detection means for detecting the variation rate of the frequency outputted from the voltage variation detecting means, voltage swinging signal generating means for operating the voltage swinging signal in a manner to promote the variation of frequency, based on the frequency variation rate detected by the frequency variation rate detection means, and giving the voltage swinging signal to the automatic voltage adjuster of the synchronous generator, and protecting means for detecting the frequency variation promoted by the voltage variation of the synchronous generator formed by giving the voltage swinging signal operated by the swinging signal generating means to the automatic voltage adjuster and opening the breaker to release the synchronous generator from the alternating current power line.
By this step, the variation rate of the frequency of the synchronous generator of the private power generation equipment is detected. And, when the frequency variation rate is positive, the voltage of the synchronous generator is caused to vary in the lowering direction, and when the frequency variation rate is negative, the voltage of the synchronous generator is caused to vary in the raising direction, to enlarge the frequency variation. Consequently, the islanding of the private power generation equipment in the line linkage is steadily and readily detected and protected on the private power generation equipment side, without providing an expensive transfer breakage apparatus as required in the conventional case.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.

Line linkage protective device for electricity generation equipment


A circuit breaker has a line terminal comprising a pair of vertically spaced resilient terminal strips which extend in the transverse horizontal direction out from the breaker's housing to free ends of the strips, and which strips have formed therein near those ends respective bends disposed opposite each other and vertically projecting away from each other to bound opposite sides of a circular cylindrical cavity defined between those strips. A horizontal rail for conducting current is aligned in its lengthwise direction normal to those strips, and the rail has a flange received in the cavity in electromechanical contact with the strips, and also, a web extending in the transverse horizontal direction from the front flange out beyond the terminal to a rear flange for the rail. The shape, size and mass of the rail promote reduction of the temperature generated at the line terminal by the inrush of current carried by the rail in the presence of a short circuit in the load served by the breaker.

In telephone network central offices and other places served by electricity, electric power is supplied to equipment energized thereby through circuit protection boards comprising circuit breakers and current conductors between which such circuit breakers are coupled to be interposed by such conductors between a power source and the electrical load provided by such equipment. Customarily, the circuit breakers were connected to such conductors by the time consuming and labor intensive (and thus costly) practice of bolting the terminals of the breakers and the conductors together. More recently, there have come into use circuit protection boards in which, as an alternative to bolting, the circuit breaker terminals and the mentioned conductors are cooperable to permit the incorporation of a circuit breaker into the board by, in effect, merely plugging in the breaker. Up to now, however, a problem in the use of such plug-in technique has been that, in the event of an inrush of current to the circuit breaker caused by a short circuit in the load, the heat generated at the place of contact between the circuit breaker and the input conductor has not been dissipated as efficiently as is desirable so as to cause an unduly high temperature at that place of contact.


A determination section 301 determines whether or not a DSCH has been assigned to the communication terminal apparatus in question, and outputs a signal indicating the result of that determination to a transmission controller 102, and the transmission controller 102 changes as appropriate the degree of frequency of transmission of a signal containing shared channel information according to the result of determination by the determination section 301. That is to say, the transmission controller 102 outputs a signal containing shared channel information to a modulator 103 with a high degree of frequency when the DSCH has been assigned to that terminal, and outputs a signal containing shared channel information to the modulator 103 with a low degree of frequency when the DSCH has not been assigned to that terminal.

The present invention relates to a communication terminal apparatus, base station apparatus, and radio communication method for use in high-speed data communication.
One multiple access method in a digital radio communication system is CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access). In a standard established by 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project), a standards body related to mobile radio communication systems, this CDMA method is used and a Downlink Shared Channel (DSCH) used for high-speed data communication in a downlink (a channel from a base station to a communication terminal) is stipulated as one channel shared by a plurality of communication terminals.
As this DSCH is used by being assigned to each communication terminal on a specified transmission unit basis (for example, on a frame-by-frame basis), its use is anticipated in downlink high-speed packet transmission, etc.
In high-speed packet transmission using a DSCH, a base station generally performs DSCH assignment to each communication terminal according to information indicating communication quality (such as the received SIR at each communication terminal, for example), information indicating the modulation/demodulation method, and so forth, in the event of DSCH assignment requests from communication terminals.
Also, since the above-described DSCH is assigned to communication terminals on a per-predetermined-transmission-unit basis, in high-speed packet transmission using a DSCH there are many cases in which packets to a particular communication terminal are transmitted dispersed time-wise.
A downlink channel for high-speed data communication shared by a plurality of communication terminals, as with a DSCH, is hereinafter referred to as a xe2x80x9cshared channelxe2x80x9d, and information required during assignment of this shared channel or during communication using a shared channel is hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9cshared channel informationxe2x80x9d.
However, in a conventional radio communication method, each communication terminal constantly transmits shared channel information to a base station regardless of whether or not there is a DSCH assignment request. Also, each communication terminal constantly transmits shared channel information to a base station even when the DSCH has not been assigned to that terminal.
When communication terminals constantly transmit shared channel information to a base station in this way, there are problems in that communication terminal power consumption increases, and in addition, interference imposed by a signal containing shared channel information on other signals increases in uplinks (channels from communication terminals to a base station). Moreover, the increase in interference results in a problem of reduced system capacity.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication terminal apparatus, base station apparatus, and radio communication method that enable communication terminal apparatus power consumption to be reduced, and also enable interference in uplinks to be reduced.
The present inventors arrived at the present invention by noting that there is a difference in the degree of frequency and content of shared channel information needed by a base station when a DSCH is either assigned or not.
That is to say, the present inventors arrived at the present invention by noting that a communication terminal to which a DSCH is assigned needs to constantly transmit shared channel information so that a base station can keep up with changes in propagation path conditions and changes in the modulation/demodulation method in real time and transmit the DSCH signal efficiently, whereas a communication terminal to which a DSCH is not assigned needs to only transmit shared channel information at the minimum degree of frequency necessary for DSCH assignment to be performed by the base station, and finding that a communication terminal to which the DSCH is not assigned can reduce the frequency of transmission of shared channel information.
Furthermore, the present inventors arrived at the present invention by noting that a communication terminal to which a DSCH is assigned needs to transmit all shared channel information including the modulation/demodulation method, and so forth, whereas a communication terminal to which a DSCH is not assigned needs to transmit, of shared channel information, only information necessary for DSCH assignment to be performed by the base station (information indicating communication quality, etc.), and finding that a communication terminal to which the DSCH is not assigned can reduce the amount of information in shared channel information.
Thus, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention changes as appropriate the degree of frequency of transmission and amount of information of shared channel information according to necessity at a base station, and transmits only the necessary amount of shared channel information according to the communication conditions between a communication terminal and a base station, thereby enabling the communication terminal power consumption to be reduced, and also enabling interference in uplinks to be reduced.

Communication terminal apparatus and transmission method of information necessary for communication using a downlink shared channel (DSCH)

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


The present invention relates to synergistic bioactive compositions for enhancing cellular energy in aerobic or anaerobic conditions. Particularly, the invention relates to a synergistic bioactive composition comprising specific combination of purine nucleoside and hydrophilic pyridinecarboxamide compound(s) which are present in the ratio of 1:0.1 to 1:1 along with pharmaceutically acceptable carriers/excipients, wherein ‘purine nucleoside’ is inosine adduct and the hydrophilic pyridinecarboxamide compound is selected from nicotinamide riboside or nicotinamide mononucleotide either alone or in combination thereof. Further, the present cellular energy enhancing bioactive compositions are useful for treating ATP deficiency conditions. Moreover, the composition is useful for treating hepatic dysfunctions.

The mitochondria is a double-membrane-bound organelle and is considered as the energy factory of cells Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the main energy carrying molecule and is produced in the mitochondria using energy stored in food. ATP is the key source of energy for most cellular processes. The building blocks of ATP are carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, and phosphorus.
ATP production by the mitochondria occurs via cellular respiration, which combines oxygen with nutrients/glucose from the food molecules to generate energy. The process can be represented as, glucose+oxygen→carbon dioxide+water. The energy derived from the breakdown of the chemical bonds in nutrients/glucose is ultimately conserved in the high energy phosphate bonds of ATP. When these bonds are broken, they provide accessible energy to cells, tissues, organs and organ systems. This is a very efficient process for using food energy to make ATP. ATP can be produced either aerobically through oxidative phosphorylation, with oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor and yielding carbon dioxide (CO2) and water as by-products, or anaerobically during glycolysis. While glycolysis can provide energy to cells, the supply is limited because the cellular environment becomes acidic, injuring the cell and inhibiting ATP production.
ATP plays a critical role in the transport of macromolecules such as proteins and lipids into and out of the cell. Because of the presence of unstable, high-energy bonds in ATP, it is readily hydrolyzed in reactions to release a large amount of energy. The hydrolysis of ATP provides the required energy for active transport mechanisms to carry such molecules across a concentration gradient. Transport of such molecules into the cell is called endocytosis whilst transport out of the cell is known as exocytosis.
Since ATP is a primary source of energy for cells, increased metabolic demand or deficit in the supply of ATP to cells can result in death of the cells if demand is not met quickly.
ATP deficit is related to various metabolic dysfunctions such as hemolytic anemia, sickle cell disease, pyruvate kinase deficiency, spherocytosis, elliptocytosis, stomatocytosis, thalassemia, nerve injury, oxidative stress, inflammation, muscle pain, hypoxia, cardiac cirrhosis, Ischemic hepatitis, fatty liver, liver cirrhosis, heart failure, ischemia-reperfusion insults, diabetic, stroke, spinal cord injury etc.
Additionally, intracellular ATP reduction is suggested as a mechanism of myocardial damage due to ischemic heart disease.
According to the research, an ATP enhancement therapy is likely to be effective for controlling muscle, brain, liver and heart related disorders. It can be expected that enhancing ATP through de novo or salvage pathway improves pathological conditions of diseases in which a decrease in ATP relates to the pathological conditions.
The nucleotide and nucleosides of a cell are continually in flux. DNA and RNA chains are being synthesized in the cell. Even though the overall DNA content of a cell is constant, small stretches are continually being repaired. Part of the repair process is the breakdown of one strand of the DNA double helix into nucleotides, nucleosides, and free bases. Free purines and pyrimidines are converted back into nucleoside triphosphate monomers to be reincorporated into DNA.
Purine nucleotides are involved in many cellular functions as components of DNA and RNA, sources of energy, enzyme cofactors in metabolic pathways, and components of signal transduction.
There are two principal routes for the synthesis of nucleotides (FIG. 1): the de novo and the salvage pathways. Using 5-phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophosphate (PRPP), the de novo pathway enzymes build purine and pyrimidine nucleotides from "scratch" using simple molecules such as CO2, amino acids and tetrahydrofolate. This route of nucleotide synthesis has a high requirement for energy as compared that of the salvage pathway. For example, five of the 12 steps of de novo purine synthesis require hydrolysis of ATP or GTP but only one salvage cycle reaction uses ATP. The enzymes of both of these biosynthetic routes are classified as "housekeeping" enzymes because they perform basic, cellular activities and are assumed to be present in low, constitutive levels in all cells. Whereas the de novo pathway is thought to reside in plastids, salvage cycle enzymes may be localized in more than one compartment [Barbara A. Moffatt et al. Apr. 4, 2002 The Arabidopsis Book—Purine and Pyrimidine Nucleotide Synthesis and Metabolism]. An increased level of PRPP is characterized by the overproduction and accumulation of uric acid leading to hyperuricemia and hyperuricosuria. It is one of the causes of gout.
Salvage pathways are used to recover bases and nucleosides that are formed during degradation of RNA and DNA. This is important in some organs because some tissues cannot undergo de novo synthesis. The de novo purine synthesis pathway requires several moles of ATP for generation of each mole of purine nucleotide product. It is observed that more cellular energy is conserved in the purine salvage in comparison with the de novo purine synthesis pathway and 90% of free purines generated during intracellular metabolism are recycled rather than degraded or excreted. Moreover, salvage pathways economize intracellular energy expenditure.
Further salvage pathways are considerably more energy-efficient than de novo pathways, which require less moles of ATP for each mole of nucleotide produced. Salvage pathways are integral to the cause or treatment of a number of human diseases related to purine or pyrimidine metabolism.
Kam Ming Ko (Chin Med. 2007; 2: 3) has reported that ATP generation and its antioxidant and/or immunomodulatory actions on the retardation of aging.
Further Frenguelli B G et al. (Neurochem Res. 2017 Oct. 25; 44(2): 507, 2017) discloses the combined effect of ribose, adenine (RibAde), and allopurinol, for accelerating ATP synthesis and increasing the reservoir of the neuroprotective metabolite, adenosine, that help to reduce the morbidity associated with stroke and traumatic brain injury.
'Inosine', also known as hypoxanthine riboside is produced in the human body, and its chemical structure is related to adenosine, which is included in adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is the energy source during the work done by each muscle.
It is observed that nucleotide biosynthesis carried out through salvage pathway is an energy saving route, where first purine nucleotide synthesized is inosinic acid (IMP), this nucleotide can serve as a precursor for both AMP and GMP synthesis. The synthesis of AMP from IMP and the salvage of IMP via AMP catabolism have the net effect of deaminating aspartate to fumarate. This process has been termed the purine nucleotide cycle. This cycle is very important in muscle cells. Increases in muscle activity create a demand for an increase in the TCA cycle, in order to generate more NADH for the production of ATP. However, muscle lacks most of the enzymes of the major anaplerotic reactions. Muscle replenishes TCA cycle intermediates in the form of fumarate generated by the purine nucleotide cycle.
Inosine, the primary byproduct of adenosine, which is considered as relatively either inactive or weak metabolite and hence has been somewhat "brushed aside," from last decades. Yet, it should be remembered that inosine has been used as an inotropic agent for more than 20 years in several countries (France, Germany, Japan, Russia) due to its capacity for increasing cardiac output without chronotropic effect and increase of myocardial oxygen consumption.
Inosine is known to have cell energizing activity. Due to its known medicinal benefits, the products containing inosine are marketed for, restoring nerve function, improving the heart's energy production and athletic performance and muscle development. These products include InoCare®, REMAXOL®, CYTOFLAVIN® Injections and RIBOXIN®, Novirin® Inosine Tablets.
Inosine combinations are also reported in some prior arts, like US20040192553A1 discloses Inosine and L-Arginine salt compositions for cell activation and/or plant growth promotion.
EP3342414A1 discloses human intracellular ATP enhancer comprising a combination of a xanthine oxidase/xanthine dehydrogenase inhibitor and inosine, inosinic acid, hypoxanthine, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
FR2518882A1 discloses therapeutic composition, based on inosine monophosphate, for the treatment of eye disorders such as strabismus, presbyopia, heterophoria etc.
CN103550242A mentions pharmaceutical oral composition containing pirfenidone and inosine for treating liver fibrosis, liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, liver cancer.
WO02017033963A1 reports intracellular ATP enhancer composition comprising a combination of a febuxostat and inosine, wherein the composition is useful to a patient with hemolytic anemia, ischemic heart disease, heart failure, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, or Adenylosuccinate lyase (ADSL) deficiency etc.
Furthermore, it is reported that administration of inosine alleviates symptoms of Parkinson's disease and Multiple sclerosis. It is believed that a decrease in serum uric acid value may be related to the diseases. Clinical trials have been conducted by administering inosine to raise the serum uric acid value and produce a therapeutic effect. It has been reported that intracellular ATP somewhat increases due to single administration of inosine. However, inosine is rapidly metabolized in human bodies through hypoxanthine and xanthine to uric acid. Therefore, inosine alone is insufficient to produce the sufficient ATP enhancing action.
However, higher dosages of inosine and its solubility in water limit the scope of inosine as a therapeutic agent.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art to develop inosine compositions that can enhance the production of ATP for accelerating rate of cellular growth. The present invention solves this problem and provides a stable and highly effective inosine composition by combining the moiety with pyridinecarboxamide compound which are hydrophilic nicotinamide derivatives to give synergistic effect that maintain intracellular ATP pool or energy pool at desired level.
It is further observed that decline in NAD+ level mediated by commensurate decline in sirtuin signaling can result in functional deficits, such as decreased respiratory capacity and reduced ATP production. Repletion of NAD+, via SIRT activators, can restore mitochondrial structure and protein ratios, leading to increased ATP production. Thus, a key type of age-dependent decline in mammalian tissues may be due to weakness in NAD+ mediated signaling through sirtuins, causing serious consequences in energy physiology and organism fitness.
Moreover, SIRT1 plays as an essential player in regulation of mitochondrial fitness, linked to normal but age-vulnerable NAD+ homeostasis [Progress in Molecular Biology and Translational Science, 154, 2018, 71-104].
There are certain prior arts which disclose the therapeutic role of SIRT1 activators particularly nicotinamide derivatives for improving NAD+ level.
US20180071273A1 discloses nutritional composition comprises a synergistically effective amount of a combination of a NAD+ precursor and an ATP booster for treating mitochondrial energy disorders or diseases, wherein the NAD+ precursor comprises at least one of nicotinamide riboside, NAD, nicotinic acid, nicotinamide, nicotinic acid mononucleotide, vitamin B3, nicotinamide mononucleotide or a combination thereof and ATP booster is derived from fruit or fungi source such as apple extract.
WO2017024255A1 relates to compositions of nicotinamide mononucleotide derivatives that promote the increase of intracellular levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) in cells and tissues for treating diseases and improving cell and tissue survival.
WO2006086454A2 discloses nicotinamide riboside or analogs or prodrugs thereof for treating or preventing a disorder associated with cell death or aging in a subject, comprising administering of nicotinamide riboside that increases the flux through the NAD+ salvage pathway or reduces nicotinamide levels in the cells susceptible to or subject to cell death or aging.
LEI LU (Exp Ther Med. 2014 September; 8(3): 943-950) has reported that nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) may attenuate apoptosis and improve energy metabolism in Parkinson's disease (PD)-like behavioral and neuropathological changes, and produce significant beneficial effects.
In the light of the above cited prior arts, limited work has been done for improvement of rate of cellular growth by ameliorating the production of intracellular ATP and recycling thereof.
The present inventors have performed rigorous experiments to enhance the production of ATP, wherein the active substances can easily generate ATP with less energy consumption. Accordingly, the inventors have developed a composition containing combination of purine nucleoside with GRAS listed, water soluble, pyridinecarboxamide compounds. Interestingly, the pyridinecarboxamide compounds act in a dual manner. They first enhance the solubility of the composition in water and thereby improve the bioavailability of the composition. Secondly, they provide ATP molecules by augmenting NAD+ levels, consequently both moieties synergistically enrich ATP density through energy saving pathway. Finally, the composition is useful for treating various metabolic dysfunctions caused due to loss of ATP.

Synergistic bioactive compositions for enhancing cellular energy


Dosage forms or pharmaceutical compositions comprise a compound having the structure of Formula IV:

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to pharmaceutically-useful oxazolidinone-containing dimer compounds, compositions, and methods of making and using them for treatment and prophylaxis of diseases in mammals.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various oxazolidinone-containing compounds have been disclosed for use as antibiotics. For example, oxazolidinone-containing compounds have been described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/596,412 (filed Dec. 17, 2004), and WO 04/048350, WO 03/022824 and WO 01/94342, which are incorporated herein by reference.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/577,089 (filed Oct. 9, 2009) and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/699,864 (filed Feb. 3, 2010), which are assigned to the same assignee as in the present application, disclose phosphate dimer impurities made during the process of making of the compounds disclosed therein. Surprisingly, it has been found that compounds containing at least two phosphates binding two oxazolidinone-containing moieties, such as dimers of oxazolidinone-containing compounds have antibacterial activity similar to their dihydrogen monophosphate analog, but have an advantageously different release profile, as discussed below in more detail.
Bacterial infections pose a continuing medical problem because anti-bacterial drugs eventually engender resistance in the bacteria on which they are used. Consequently, a need exists for new drugs with efficacy against pathogenic bacteria for use in the therapy and prophylaxis of bacterial infections.
In particular, a need exists for anti-bacterial drugs with a variety of pharmacokinetic properties, such as drugs with a slow release profile, to enable physicians to employs different dosing schedules in therapeutic and prophylactic regimens in different clinical contexts, and also a variety of physicochemical properties to facilitate preparation of different formulations of drugs with similar modes of action.

Oxazolidinone containing dimer compounds, compositions and methods to make and use

Abstract: wherein n is a non-negative integer; wherein each Z is an oxazolidinone-containing moiety having antibiotic activity in vivo upon cleaving, wherein M is independently OR1 or NR1R2; wherein R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, an optionally-substituted hydrocarbyl residue or a pharmaceutically acceptable cation; wherein the compound in the dosage form or a pharmaceutical composition is present in an amount effective for treating or preventing an antibacterial infection in a mammalian subject. Methods of preparing and using these dosage forms or pharmaceutical compositions are also disclosed.


A lens unit (20) includes a lens body (24) and a thin film (22) provided thereon. The thin film comprises a plurality of sections (220, 222, 224) from a center to a periphery. Each section has a different refractive index. The refractive index of the each section of the thin film increases from the center to the periphery of the lens body/thin film. Such a lens unit can be advantageously incorporated into a compact digital camera.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to optical lens modules, especially to an optical lens module for use in, for example, a digital camera.
2. Discussion of Related Art
With the popularization of electronic products such as digital cameras, the requirements for the optical lenses employed therein is ever increasing. In order to provide high imaging quality, the development of the optical lenses mainly concentrates on the structure and configuration of the optical lenses.
As it is known to those with ordinary skill in the art, light travels at different speeds in different mediums. When a light beam obliquely enters a second medium with a refractive index n2 from a first medium with a refractive index n1, the direction of propagation of the light beam, at a boundary between the first and second mediums, will change. This change in the propagation direction is the so-called refraction phenomenon. Snell's law discloses that the ratio between the sine of incident angle and that of refractive angle is constant. This law can be expressed as below:n1 sinθ1=n2 sinθ2 Wherein n1 and n2 represent refractive indices of a first medium and a second medium, respectively. θ1 represents an incident angle, and θ2 represents a refractive angle.
According to Snell's law, when light transmits from air to glass, for example, the refractive index and shape of a lens are main factors in determining the deflection of the light. Accordingly, the development of the optical modules mainly concentrates on the refractive index and shape of the lens.
FIG. 6 shows such a focalization principle, using a conventional lens. This principle discloses that light can be focused and a formatted image can be formed with a lens having a proper shape and a smooth surface.
A lens module of a typical digital camera generally includes a plurality of optical lenses. Generally, in order to obtain a satisfactory imaging performance, the lens module commonly employs at least three optical lenses. Each optical lens is also referred to as a lens unit.
Referring to FIG. 7, a conventional lens/camera assembly includes a lens module 10, a sleeve 14, and a light-receiving unit 12. The lens module 10 and the light-receiving unit 12 are received in the sleeve 14. The light-receiving unit 12 is arranged at the focus of the lens module 10. The light-receiving unit 12 is configured for converting collected light signals into electronic signals.
The lens module 10 includes a plurality of lens units 102 received therein. Each lens units 102 has a different refractive index relative to the others. By such a configuration of the lens units 102, a relatively short focal length of the lens module 10 may be achieved. Therefore, the volume of the lens module 10 is relatively smaller. However, a plurality of lens units has to be employed, which increases complexity and costs of the lens module.
Accordingly, a compact lens module with a lower complexity and cost is needed.
Therefore, a heretofore-unaddressed need exists in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.


Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to apparatuses for sealing the tips of pump-out tubes of vacuum insulating glass (VIG) units, and/or associated methods. In certain example embodiments, a laser source used in sealing the pump-out tube is thermally insulated from the VIG unit and emits a laser beam through one or more windows in an oven towards a mirror located therein. The mirror is located so as to redirect the laser beam onto the pump-out tube to thereby seal it. For instance, a substantially horizontal laser beam emitted from a laser source located outside the oven enters into the oven through one or more windows and is reflected by a mirror towards the pump-out tube to be sealed. The repositioning of the laser source advantageously can change its effective focal length and/or the location of the laser beam, e.g., because of the fixed location of the mirror.

Vacuum IG units are known in the art. For example, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,664,395, 5,657,607, and 5,902,652, the disclosures of which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference.
FIGS. 1-2 illustrate a conventional vacuum IG unit (vacuum IG unit or VIG unit). Vacuum IG unit 1 includes two spaced apart glass substrates 2 and 3, which enclose an evacuated or low pressure space 6 therebetween. Glass sheets/substrates 2 and 3 are interconnected by peripheral or edge seal of fused solder glass 4 and an array of support pillars or spacers 5.
Pump-out tube 8 is hermetically sealed by solder glass 9 to an aperture or hole 10 which passes from an interior surface of glass sheet 2 to the bottom of recess 11 in the exterior face of sheet 2. It is noted, however, that a recess is not necessary in certain example embodiments and, instead, in certain example embodiments, the hole may pass from the interior surface of the glass to the exterior surface of the glass. A vacuum is attached to pump-out tube 8, e.g., via a pump cup, so that the interior cavity between substrates 2 and 3 can be evacuated to create a low pressure area or space 6. After evacuation, tube 8 is melted to seal the vacuum. Recess 11 retains sealed tube 8. Optionally, a chemical getter 12 may be included within recess 13.
Conventional vacuum IG units, with their fused solder glass peripheral seals 4, have been manufactured as follows. Glass frit in a solution (ultimately to form solder glass edge seal 4) is initially deposited around the periphery of substrate 2. The other substrate 3 is brought down over top of substrate 2 so as to sandwich spacers 5 and the glass frit/solution therebetween. The entire assembly including sheets 2, 3, the spacers, and the seal material is then heated to a temperature of approximately 500° C., at which point the glass frit melts, wets the surfaces of the glass sheets 2, 3, and ultimately forms hermetic peripheral or edge seal 4. After formation of edge seal 4, a vacuum is drawn via the tube to form low pressure space 6.
The pressure in space 6 may be reduced by way of an evacuation process to a level below about 10−2 Torr, more preferably below about 10−3 Torr, and most preferably below about 5×10−4 Torr. To maintain such low pressures below atmospheric pressure, substrates 2 and 3 are often hermetically sealed to one another by edge seal 4. The small, high strength support spacers 5 are provided between substrates 2, 3 in order to maintain separation of the approximately parallel substrates against atmospheric pressure. It is often desirable for spacers 5 to be sufficiently small so that they are visibly unobtrusive. Once the space between the substrates 2, 3 has been evacuated, the tube may be sealed, e.g., by melting.
The tube 8 oftentimes is located in the corner of one of the substrates, e.g., as shown in FIGS. 1-2. The tube 8 may be made of glass and protrude above the surface of the substrate in which it is located, e.g., to facilitate melting thereof in a sealing process. The process of melting a glass tube to a degree sufficient for the melted glass to seal the tube closed, while maintaining the vacuum within the VIG, is commonly referred to as tip-off. Lasers are sometimes used to seal the glass. One current solution involves the laser being positioned within a heated oven above the pump cup used in the evacuation. In some cases, the oven may be a multiple level oven in which multiple VIG subassemblies are processed in parallel. Provisions are made so that there is laser access to the various units in the multi-level oven. The temperature within the oven may reach as high as and sometimes even higher than 300 degrees C.
Most commonly used laser sources are orientated perpendicular to their targets. This is the case with current laser tip-off systems. Because VIG unit subassemblies typically are conveyed in a manner that is "face up" or substantially parallel to the ground, current laser tip-off systems orient their laser sources above the tube. A laser source in such a system emits its laser beam downward, through a quartz window, and onto the tube to melt it.
FIG. 3 is an example of a current multi-level laser tip-off system. As can be seen from FIG. 3, the VIG subassembly 1′ rolls on rollers 17 or is conveyed on supports into and/or through the oven 21. Openings 23 are formed in the sidewall 25 and accommodate an insulated box 27 that houses the laser source 29. The insulated box 27 also typically is cooled to keep temperatures therein at a level sufficiently low so as to avoid damaging the laser source 29. The laser source 29 emits a laser beam 31 through a quartz window 33 formed in the insulated box 27. The laser beam 31 contacts and seals the pump-out tube.
Unfortunately, there are several drawbacks associated with the current approach shown in and described in connection with FIG. 3. The laser is enclosed in an insulated and cooled box to reduce the likelihood of damage to the laser source. This arrangement complicates the design and oftentimes plural individualized cooling subsystems. This arrangement also typically include access doors and/or panels that open to allow the laser to be inserted into the oven, removed when damaged, etc. Providing access to the laser, however, has been found to result in temperature uniformity issues within the body of the oven and on the surface VIG subassembly. To compensate for these non-uniformities, additional controls and heating capabilities are provided to reduce the non-uniformities. Another disadvantage relates to the space between subsequent levels, which is fairly large since each stage includes rollers, accommodates a VIG unit, and has an insulated and cooled box housing a laser. This increases vertical space requirements and/or restricts how many units can be stacked on top of one another.
Thus, it will be appreciated that there is a need in the art for improved techniques for sealing the pump-out tubes used in VIG units.
One aspect of certain example embodiments relates to enabling the laser source to be located outside of the oven by directing the laser beam through a sidewall of the oven to a laser mirror mounted above the pump cup and/or tube, with the mirror, in turn, reflecting the laser beam downward onto the tube (and possibly through a quartz or other window of the pump cup).
In certain example embodiments of this invention, a laser tip-off system for a vacuum insulating glass (VIG) unit is provided. An oven has an oven interior and a sidewall in which at least one opening is formed, with at least one window being located in the at least one opening. At least one reflector is located in the oven interior. At least one laser source is located outside of the oven, with the at least one laser source being aligned with the window and configured to emit a laser beam towards the at least one reflector. The at least one reflector is oriented within the oven interior to cause laser beams emitted from the at least one laser source to be redirected towards a pump-out tube of a VIG unit subassembly provided to the oven interior.
In certain example embodiments of this invention, a kit is provided. The kit comprises at least one vacuum insulating glass (VIG) unit subassembly including a glass pump-out tube to be sealed and a pump cup located over the pump-out tube; and a laser tip-off system for sealing the pump-out tube of the VIG unit subassembly. The system includes an oven having an oven interior and a wall in which at least one opening is formed, with at least one window being located in the at least one opening. At least one reflector is located in the oven interior. At least one laser source is located outside of the oven, with the at least one laser source being aligned with the window and configured to emit a laser beam towards the at least one reflector. The at least one reflector is oriented within the oven interior to cause laser beams emitted from the at least one laser source to be redirected towards the pump-out tube of the VIG unit subassembly when the VIG unit subassembly is provided to the oven interior.
In certain example embodiments of this invention, a method of making a vacuum insulating glass (VIG) unit is provided. There is provided an oven having an oven interior and a sidewall in which an opening is formed. A reflector is located in the oven interior and at least one window is located in the sidewall. A VIG unit subassembly is supplied to the oven, with the VIG unit subassembly having a pump-out tube to be sealed. A laser beam is emitted from a laser source located outside of the oven, with the laser beam being emitted through the at least one window and towards the reflector and being redirected by the reflector towards the pump-out tube to be sealed. The pump-out tube is melted using the laser beam in making the VIG unit.
In certain example embodiments of this invention, a method of making vacuum insulating glass (VIG) units is provided. There is provided an oven having an oven interior and a wall in which a plurality of openings are formed, with each opening corresponding to a different level of the oven and each level being suitable to accommodate a respective VIG unit subassembly. A laser-grade mirror is located in the oven interior at each said level, and at least one window is located in each said opening. VIG unit subassemblies are supplied to the oven at different respective levels thereof, with the VIG unit subassemblies each having a pump-out tube to be sealed. Laser beams are emitted from laser sources located outside of the oven, with each said laser beam being (a) emitted through an associated opening and any windows of the associated opening, (b) directed towards the mirror associated with that opening, and (c) redirected by the mirror towards the pump-out tube of the VIG unit subassembly at the corresponding level. The pump-out tubes are melted in making the VIG units.
In certain example embodiments, a laser tip-off system for a vacuum insulating glass (VIG) unit is provided. An oven has an oven interior and a sidewall in which at least one opening is formed, with at least one window being located in the at least one opening. At least one reflector is located in the oven interior. At least one laser source is located outside of the oven, with the at least one laser source being aligned with the window and configured to emit a laser beam towards the at least one reflector. The at least one reflector is oriented within the oven interior to cause laser beams emitted from the at least one laser source to be redirected towards a pump-out tube of a VIG unit subassembly provided to the oven interior. A vision system is configured to provide positional data for facilitating the melting of the pump-out tube. A lighting system is located remote from the oven. A quartz rod is configured to convey light from the lighting system to an area proximate the pump-out tube and through VIG unit so as to increase contrast in that area.
In certain example embodiments, a kit is provided. The kit includes at least one vacuum insulating glass (VIG) unit subassembly, with the VIG unit subassembly including a glass pump-out tube to be sealed and a pump cup located over the pump-out tube; and a laser tip-off system for sealing the pump-out tube of the VIG unit subassembly. The system comprises an oven having an oven interior and a wall in which at least one opening is formed, with at least one window being located in the at least one opening; at least one reflector located in the oven interior; at least one laser source located outside of the oven, with the at least one laser source being aligned with the window and configured to emit a laser beam towards the at least one reflector; an artificial vision system configured to (a) detect the placement of the VIG unit subassembly within the oven and (b) provide a signal to at least one processor of a control unit, with the signal being interpreted by the at least one processor to determine whether a vertical adjustment of the at least one laser source is to be made to adjust the area on which the laser beam is to be focused in dependence on the detected placement; and a quartz rod configured to convey light from a lighting system to an area proximate the pump-out tube and through VIG unit so as to increase contrast in that area. The at least one reflector is oriented within the oven interior to cause laser beams emitted from the at least one laser source to be redirected towards the pump-out tube of the VIG unit subassembly when the VIG unit subassembly is provided to the oven interior.
In certain example embodiments, a method of making a vacuum insulating glass (VIG) unit is provided. An oven having an oven interior and a sidewall in which an opening is formed is provided. A reflector is located in the oven interior and at least one window is located in the sidewall. A VIG unit subassembly is supplied to the oven, with the VIG unit subassembly having a pump-out tube to be sealed. The pump-out tube is located using a vision system and a contrast-enhancing backlight, with the contrast-enhancing backlight being originated from a light source located external to the oven and being conveyed to the oven interior via a quartz rod. A laser beam is emitted from a laser source located outside of the oven, with the laser beam being emitted through the at least one window and towards the reflector and being redirected by the reflector towards the pump-out tube to be sealed. The pump-out tube is melted using the laser beam in making the VIG unit.
In certain example embodiments, a method of making vacuum insulating glass (VIG) units is provided. An oven having an oven interior and a wall in which a plurality of openings are formed is provided, with each opening corresponding to a different level of the oven and each level being suitable to accommodate a respective VIG unit subassembly. A laser-grade mirror is located in the oven interior at each said level, and at least one window is located in each said opening. VIG unit subassemblies are supplied to the oven at different respective levels thereof, with the VIG unit subassemblies each having a pump-out tube to be sealed. At each level, the pump-out tube of the corresponding VIG unit subassembly is located, using a vision system and a contrast-enhancing backlight provided at that level, with the contrast-enhancing backlight being originated from a light source located external to the oven and being conveyed to the oven interior via a quartz rod. Laser beams from laser sources located outside of the oven are emitted, with each said laser beam being (a) emitted through an associated opening and any windows of the associated opening, (b) directed towards the mirror associated with that opening, and (c) redirected by the mirror towards the pump-out tube of the VIG unit subassembly at the corresponding level. The pump-out tubes are melted in making the VIG units.
In certain example embodiments, a laser tip-off system for a vacuum insulating glass (VIG) unit is provided. The system includes an oven; at least one laser source for melting a pump-out tube of the VIG unit; a vision system configured to provide positional data for facilitating the melting of the pump-out tube; a backlighting system located remote from the oven; and a quartz rod configured to convey light from the lighting system to an area proximate the pump-out tube and through VIG unit so as to increase contrast in that area and facilitate location of the pump-out tube by the vision system.
The features, aspects, advantages, and example embodiments described herein may be combined to realize yet further embodiments.

Lighting solution for apparatuses for vacuum insulating glass (VIG) unit tip-off, and/or associated methods


The present disclosure proposes a method of producing an LTPS TFT array substrate. The method is about stacking of a gate insulating layer and an interlayer insulating layer for providing conditions for formation of a gate trench. In addition, stacking of the gate insulating layer and the interlayer insulating layer is produced with some blocks of forming a hole on the gate insulating layer and the interlayer insulating layer to form a hole pattern, filling the gate trench, and producing gate lines. In this way, the formation of the gate lines and the formation of the hole pattern on the gate insulating layer and the interlayer insulating layer are done using the same mask. The method of the present disclosure reduces the number of masks required compared with the method of the related art, thereby reducing the production costs.

The present disclosure relates to display technology, and more particularly, to a low temperature poly-silicon (LTPS) thin film transistor (TFT) array substrate and a method of producing the LTPS TFT array substrate.
In the manufacturing field of display screens, the low temperature poly-silicon (LTPS) technology is increasingly favored by manufacturers of cellphones, flat screens, and so on owing to the features of the LTPS technology such as low production costs and high electron mobility.
In the LTPS technology of the related art, a lot of films with a complex film structure are necessary so a lot of exposure with a lot of masks is required in the LTPS process. FIG. 1 illustrates the structure of a TFT film formed using the LTPS technology of the related art. The structure of the TFT film includes a glass substrate 100, a light shielding layer 101, a buffer layer 102, a poly-silicon layer 103, a gate insulating layer 104, a gate line 105, an interlayer insulating layer 106, a source electrode 108, and a drain electrode 109. The light shielding layer 101 is disposed on the glass substrate 100. The buffer layer 102 is disposed on the glass substrate 100 and the light shielding layer 101. The poly-silicon layer 103 is disposed on the buffer layer 102. The gate insulating layer 104 is disposed on the poly-silicon layer 103 and the buffer layer 102. The gate line 105 is disposed on the gate insulating layer 104. The interlayer insulating layer 106 is disposed on the gate line 105 and the gate insulating layer 104. The source electrode 108 is disposed on the interlayer insulating layer 106 and connected to the poly-silicon layer 103 through a source hole. The drain electrode 109 is disposed on the interlayer insulating layer 106 and connected to the poly-silicon layer 103 through a drain hole. FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the main process of forming the TFT film structure as illustrated in FIG. 1. According to this flowchart, it is necessary to use six or more masks to fabricate the TFT film structure as illustrated in FIG. 1. In order to solve the problem that the production costs are a little high due to too many masks used in the manufacturing process of the LTPS TFT device, major manufacturers are seeking ways to reduce the number of masks intended to be used in the manufacturing process.

Low temperature poly-silicon thin film transistor array substrate and method of producing the same

Wuhan China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.


The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and an apparatus for controlling a terminal device to access a wireless Local Area Network LAN. When a terminal device needs to connect to the wireless LAN, a smart terminal device firstly acquires first access information of the wireless LAN and validates whether the first access information is correct; and when the first access information is correct, the smart terminal device sends the first access information to the terminal device, such that the terminal device utilizes the first access information to access the wireless LAN. The method can ensure the first access information sent to the terminal device is correct, i.e., the terminal device can successfully access the wireless LAN by utilizing the first access information. Thereby, the method can improve the success rate of accessing the wireless LAN by the terminal device.

With development of wireless network communication technology, more and more terminal devices can access the wireless Local Area Network (LAN) via the wireless network communication technology such as WIFI (Wireless-Fidelity).
The terminal device needs to utilize access information to access a corresponding wireless LAN, for example, the access information includes a SSID (Service Set Identifier) and a password. The terminal device finds a corresponding wireless LAN by utilizing the SSID, and if the wireless LAN is set with an access password, the terminal device also needs to enter a correct password and then accesses the wireless LAN. However, a part of the terminal devices, such as a WIFI smart socket, have no user interface. For such terminal devices, the user needs to use a smart terminal device having a user interface to enter the access information, and send the access information of the wireless LAN to the terminal device waiting to access the wireless LAN; in this way, the terminal device utilizes the access information to access the wireless LAN.

Method, apparatus for terminal device to access wireless network


A support surface assembly comprising four corner elements; at least four elongated rigid frame sections; a first air permeable layer suspended between the at least four elongated rigid frame sections; and a second air permeable layer suspended between the at least four elongated rigid frame sections; wherein the four corner elements include at least one lock element, the lock element having a first position that engages at least one elongated frame section and prevents relative movement between the four elongated rigid frame sections; the lock element having a second position that permits relative movement between the four elongated rigid frame sections.

The sleeping needs of babies and toddlers are of concern for parents. Frequently, parents place their baby or toddler in enclosed bedding (e.g., a crib) in order to prevent their baby or toddler from falling from the bed. Traditional mattresses are difficult to clean and can allow undesired buildup of heat in or near the child.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a new ventilated mattress for babies and toddlers.


An electronic cash register which includes a keyboard having macro keys of a plurality of key functions to be combinedly specified and device of recognizing a state of the electronic register, and wherein macro key information corresponding to each of the macro keys includes key code information indicative of a sequence of the key codes to be executed when the macro key is designated and a check code for inspection of conditions allowing execution thereof, and wherein, when the electronic register accepts the key code corresponding to the macro key from the keyboard and at the same time when the state of the electronic register recognized by the recognition means satisfies the conditions specified by the check code corresponding to the macro key, the register converts the sequence of the key code into an executable instruction, whereby a predetermined macro key instruction enables an authorized operator to operate the electronic register at a predetermined time and in predetermined conditions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic cash register having macro keys.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional electronic cash register having macro keys, functions settable for the macro keys are limited to key code information on a keyboard of the electronic cash register, in particular, to the execution of combinations of a plurality of key processings priorly assigned to the keys present on the keyboard.
The inventor of the present application has disclosed in JP-A-4-308994 (laid-open on Oct. 30, 1992) an electronic cash register which comprises a keyboard, a memory, a setting means, a display and an arithmetic operation processor, the keyboard having macro keys together with such general keys as ten-key, item registration keys and a total key and so on, and wherein, when one of the keys is operated, a corresponding key code is generated and transmitted to the arithmetic operation processor so that the memory stores therein macro key setting data, a message setting file, and a check code corresponding to the macro key through the setting means. Such check codes include a mode check code, a mode set code, a terminal ID check code, an operator ID check code, a message display code, a macro key code and a pause code, and function to assign items to be checked for the macro keys. When it becomes clear on the basis of, e.g., a mode switch, an operator ID switch or the internal information of the arithmetic operation processor, that an inspection object assigned by a check code is already put in its predetermined state, the key code is transferred to a work area of the arithmetic operation processor to execute the operation assigned by the macro key. Meanwhile, when it becomes clear that the inspection object is not put in the predetermined state yet, the execution of the operation is stopped and an associated message stored in the memory is informed to the operator on the display.
An electronic cash register invented by the same inventor as mentioned above in accordance with the present invention can perform the following functions (1) to (7), which would not be realized in prior art electronic cash registers having macro keys.
(1) Utilizing a mode check code, when a macro key is operated the operational mode of the electronic cash register is checked so that, only when the operational mode is a specific operational mode, the corresponding macro key is set valid.
(2) Utilizing a mode set code, when a macro key is operated the operational mode of the electronic register is changed to a predetermined operational mode so that a key operation function valid only for the operational mode is set valid for the operation of the macro key.
(3) Utilizing a terminal ID check code, when a macro key is operated the ID of a terminal connected to the electronic register is checked so that, only when the electronic register is connected to a predetermined terminal, the operation of the macro key is set valid.
(4) Utilizing an operator ID check code, when a macro key is operated the ID of an operator who is operating the electronic register is checked so that, only when the electronic register is being operated by a predetermined operator, the operation of the macro key is set valid.
(5) Utilizing a message display code, when a macro key is operated a message corresponding to the macro key is displayed on a display device.
(6) Utilizing a macro key code, when a macro key is operated another macro key code is set as macro key data corresponding to the former macro key to link a plurality of macro key data.
(7) Utilizing a pause code, when a macro key is operated after an input is accepted from the keyboard, the associated operation is processed and then macro key data corresponding to the macro key is processed.
However, conventional electronic cash registers having macro keys utilized in the office processing field including the aforementioned electronic cash register disclosed by the same inventor may be operated by certain assigned operators in any cases inspite of differences in importance of operation resulting from property of the operation and in designation of manager level for the operation. For this reason, it has been difficult to secure suitable sales management, property preservation, etc.
Also disclosed by Sasaki in JP-A-4-257994 is an electronic cash register in which a person-in-charge key is combined with a person-in-charge code to secure a productivity and to allow particular operation of a particular person. That is, Sasaki's electronic cash register is arranged so that a unique person-in-charge key is assigned to a predetermined person in charge and only when a code coinciding with the person-in-charge code previously stored as associated with the exact person-in-charge key is entered, the person can register sales data in the register. Since the Sasaki's register can be operated only by the person in charge assigned to the same register, it is impossible for managers assigned for each of the different operations according to necessity of the register or a plurality of managers having a predetermined level assigned for each of the different operations to operate a plurality of registers.
Also disclosed by Sugita in JP-A-2-53198 is an electronic cash register which comprises, in addition to a first memory means for making usual programs permanently resident therein, a second memory means, and wherein one of programs stored in an external memory is selected based on an entered code signal and transferred to the second memory means to be executed, after which the register returns to its initial state to execute a usual program. However, Sugita's electronic cash register, though it executes programs other than the inherent programs, cannot judge the operable or nonoperable state by referring to the state of the register.

Electronic cash register having macro-keys

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


In a liquid crystal display apparatus realizing a dual view display by bonding a liquid crystal panel and a parallax barrier, the parallax barrier separates display images by treating three pixels including R, G, and B pixels as one unit (one picture element). At this time, luminance variation due to crosstalk concentrates on a right-end pixel among the three pixels constituting the one picture element (in a case where each pixel receives data from a source line immediately on the left of the pixel). Accordingly, the right-end pixel is arranged to be a B pixel that has a low correlation with luminance information and in which influence of crosstalk is hard to be viewed. Further, an applied voltage to be supplied to the display pixel of the B (blue) color and an input gradation are set to have a relationship along a γ curve that makes luminance variation difficult to occur in a low luminance area.

A problem of crosstalk is pointed out as a specific problem in a TFT-LCD. The crosstalk occurs because adjacent pixels are connected via a parasitic capacitance. In other words, when an insulating film intervenes between a transparent electrode and a source line, a parasitic capacitance is produced between the transparent electrode and the source line. In the same manner, parasitic capacitances are produced between a gate line and the transparent electrode and between the source line and a common electrode, respectively. Due to influence of these parasitic capacitances and a capacitance of a liquid crystal itself, an electric potential of a display pixel becomes different from a desired voltage when a gate is turned OFF. Consequently, a display gradation becomes different from a desired gradation.
In other words, at the moment a gate is high, a desired voltage is applied to a display pixel that is connected to a TFT. However, when the gate is low, the pixel is connected to many peripheral electric circuits via parasitic capacitances. Because many of these peripheral electric circuits are related to panel design, a driving voltage can be set in advance in consideration of parasitic capacitances between the display pixel and the peripheral electric circuits. Therefore, the crosstalk caused by the parasitic capacitances that are formed between the display pixel and the peripheral electric circuits can be compensated in advance. However, an electric potential of a source line that drives other display pixel cannot be determined in advance. Therefore, it is difficult to compensate, in advance, crosstalk that is caused by other source line.
As illustrated in FIG. 6(a), in a liquid crystal display apparatus, source lines Si ("i" is an integer) and gate lines Gj (j is an integer) are provided to be orthogonal. At each intersection of source lines Si and gate lines Gj, a display pixel 100 and a switching element 200 are provided. Regarding a display pixel (A) among the display pixels 100, parasitic capacitances Csda, Csdb, Cgd, and Ccs are formed as follows. A display pixel (B) indicates a display pixel that is adjacent to the display pixel (A) in a direction along which a gate line is provided.
The details of the parasitic capacitances Csda, Csdb, Cgd, and Ccs are as follows:
the parasitic capacitance Csda: a parasitic capacitance that is formed between a source line S2 for driving display pixels (A) and the display pixel (A);
the parasitic capacitance Csdb: a parasitic capacitance that is formed between a source line S3 for driving display pixels (B) and the display pixel (A);
the parasitic capacitance Cgd: a parasitic capacitance that is formed between a gate line G2 for driving display pixels (A) and the display pixel (A); and
the parasitic capacitance Ccs: a parasitic capacitance that is formed between a common electrode line and the display pixel (A).
A capacitance of the display pixel (A) itself is Cp and a voltage which is applied to each gate line varies as shown in FIG. 6(b). Furthermore, while the display pixel (A) displays a G color, the display pixel (B) displays an R color or B color. In addition, in a case where a gradation of the display pixel (A) is LA and a gradation of the display pixel (B) is LB, LA≠LB.
In this case, at the time at which the gate is high, when a drain voltage +V(A) is applied to a liquid crystal part of the display pixel (A), a drain voltage −V (B) is applied to a liquid crystal part of the display pixel (B). Then, when a next gate line is turned ON, −V (A) is applied to the source line that drives the display pixel (A) and +V (B) is applied to a source line that drives the display pixel (B).
However, in the reality, the above-mentioned drain voltage is not applied directly to the display pixel (A). A drain voltage that is varied due to the influence of the parasitic capacitances is applied to the display pixel (A). Specifically, an effective value Va of a voltage that is applied to the display pixel (A) is represented byVa=V(A)+(Csda*V(A)+Cgd*Vg+Csdb*V(B)+Ccs*Vc)/Cp,
where: Vg is a voltage that is applied to the gate line; and Vc is a voltage that is applied to an opposed electrode.
In this way, a voltage different from a desired drain voltage (A) is applied to the display pixel (A).
The parasitic capacitances Csda, Cgd, and Ccs that are formed between the display pixel (A) and the respective lines as mentioned above are predictable at a stage of designing. Therefore, a drain voltage can be set in consideration of values of the parasitic capacitances. Accordingly, these parasitic capacitances do not have much influence on a display gradation of the display pixel (A).
However, the calculation formula of the effective voltage Va above includes the parasitic capacitance Csdb and a drain voltage V(B). In other words, the voltage Va is influenced by the source line that is connected to the display pixel (B). This causes color crosstalk that changes the gradation of the display pixel (A) according to a display gradation of the display pixel (B). For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method of solving the problem of the color crosstalk by correcting a display signal.    [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 202377/2005 (Tokukai 2005-202377 (published on Jun. 28, 2005))

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Display apparatus having an input gradation set to have a relationship along a gamma curve


The present invention relates to novel bicyclic thiazole compounds that inhibit Traf2- and Nck-interacting kinase (TNIK), and as such are useful as TNIK inhibitors administered to cancer patients, especially to solid cancer patients such as colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, prostate cancer or breast cancer. The bicyclic thiazole compounds are showed by a next formula (I). (wherein R1, R2, R3 and Q are as defined in the specification), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Wnt proteins constitute a large family of secreted glycoproteins that activate signal transduction pathways to control a wide variety of cellular processes such as determination of cell fate, proliferation, migration, and polarity. Wnt proteins are capable of signaling through several pathways, the best-characterized being the canonical pathway through β-catenin (Wnt/β-catenin signaling). Deregulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling is frequently found in many human cancers like colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, and many others.
TNIK is known as one of STE20 family kinases that activates the c-Jun N-terminal kinase pathway and regulates the cytoskeleton. Recently, TNIK was identified as one of 70 proteins immunoprecipitated commonly with anti-TCF4 (T-cell factor-4) and anti-β-catenin antibodies in two colorectal cancer cell lines DLD1 and HCT-116 (Shitashige M, et al., Gastroenterology 2008, 134:1961-71). Recent studies has been shown that TNIK plays critical roles in canonical Wnt signaling pathway, and therefore TNIK can be a promising target to ablate aberrant Wnt signaling in tumors (Shitashige M, et al., Cancer Res; 70(12); 5024-33 (2010)). Namely, small interfering RNA targeting TNIK inhibited the proliferation of colorectal cancer cells and the growth of tumors produced by injecting colorectal cancer cells s.c. into immunodeficient mice.
Evaluation methods for utility of the present invention which is the screening of an anti-cancer agent have already been described in WO 2009/104413 filed by the present inventors. WO 2010/64111 filed by the present inventors discloses novel aminothiazole derivatives as potent TNIK inhibitors and the effects of TNIK inhibitors on the transcriptional activity of the β-catenin and TCF4 complex. However, it has not been disclosed that thiazole compounds having bicyclic structures of the present invention are useful as TNIK inhibitors until now.


Method and apparatus for generating a precoder for uplink transmission from a mobile station. The method includes receiving information corresponding to a first precoding matrix and a second precoding matrix, and generating the precoder by linearly combining the first precoding matrix and the second precoding matrix. In the method, the first precoding matrix maximizes a transmission power between the mobile station and a serving base station, and the second precoding matrix minimizes an average interference value between the mobile station and at least two neighboring base stations.

Wireless communication systems allow wireless devices to communicate without the necessity of wired connections. Because wireless systems have become so integrated into daily life, there is a growing demand for wireless communication systems that support multimedia services, such as speech, audio, video, file and Web downloading, and the like. Various wireless communication protocols and transmission control mechanisms have been developed to meet the growing demands of multimedia services over wireless communication networks and to improve the performance of these multimedia services.
In wireless communication systems, multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO), a form of smart antenna technology, involves the use of multiple antennas at both the transmitter and receiver to improve communication performance. Beamforming, a signal processing technique used for directional signal transmission and/or reception, may be used to improve transmission and reception gains. In beamforming, spatial selectivity is achieved by using adaptive or fixed receive/transmit beampatterns.
Precoding is a generalized beamforming technique used to support multi-layer transmission in MIMO systems. When a receiver has multiple antennas, precoding is used for multi-layer beamforming in order to maximize the throughput performance of a multiple receiver antenna system. When a transmitter has multiple antennas, precoding is used to emit signals from the transmit antennas with independent and appropriate weighting per each antenna such that the link throughput is maximized at the receiver output.
In uplink transmissions, neighboring BSs might suffer from strong interference, especially when a mobile station (MS) or other form of terminal is located at BS cell edges.
The disclosed embodiments are directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above.

Methods and apparatus for reducing uplink multi-base station interference

Industrial Technology Research Institute


A method in a client-server environment having a plurality of client systems coupled to a server over a network, the method on the return processing server for managing the return processing of one or more manufacturers. The method on the return comprising the steps of: coupling to a database containing information about the procedures for at least one manufacturer""s product. The return server presents a return processing template to at least one client system coupled to the server system over a network, wherein the template comprises a graphical user interface for receiving information regarding at least one product to be submitted for return processing. The return processing server the information from the at least one client system of at least one product to be submitted for return processing. The return processing server creating a debit invoice in accordance with the manufacturer""s policies for the information received for return processing from the at least one client system. Placing the debit invoice in a debit invoice database accessible to the one or more manufacturer""s to access one or more debit invoices for processing return credit. And sending shipping information to the at least one client system for shipping the at least one product submitted for return processing. In another embodiment, the products being return are reviewed to determine if one or more products have a date associated with it for expiration. If the product is still usable, the product can be auctioned off or donated to charity. In still another embodiment, a system and computer readable medium for carrying out the above method.

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by any one of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention disclosed broadly relates to the field of product reclamation, and more particularly relates to the field of disposition of products and goods using networks.
2. Description of the Related Art
The distribution chain of products from a manufacturer to the seller or store typically includes several intermediate entities. FIG. 1 is a block diagram 100 of a simple product distribution chain. A product produced at a manufacturer 108 is sent to a wholesaler 106 in large quantities for further distribution. The wholesaler 106 in turn redistributes products to chain distribution center 104. The chain distribution center 104 is a regional warehouse to divide the goods received from the wholesaler 106 into smaller lots as required by the store 102. This distribution chain can be greatly expanded by including multiple wholesalers as shown wholesaler 1xe2x86x92n 112 along with multiple chain distribution centers 1 xe2x86x92n 114 along with multiple stores 1xe2x86x92n 116.
Brand quality is important to manufacturers of products. Products that are damaged, outdated, expired, recalled, discontinued or unsaleable for any other reason is a concern for manufacturers. Unsaleable products can expose manufacturers to legal liability and may damage the manufacturer""s reputation and goodwill. To increase the manufacturer""s goodwill and to decrease any legal exposures, manufacturers must handle unsaleable products. Manufacturer control the return processing to ensure the complete removal of the product from the distribution channel and managed the reclamation flow.
If the store 102 has an unsaleable product that needs to be disposed, the store typically ships the product back to a reclamation center 110. Any credits for the returned products are sent back to the store 102 from the reclamation center 110.
Manufacturers often run return centers that must inventory returned and unsaleable products, match the unsaleable products for any claims data for payments. The process of tracking each product returned is tedious and prone to errors. The seller not only has to xe2x80x9csweepxe2x80x9d their shelves and inventory occasionally for products to return but arrange for shipping and financial tracking as well. The number of products of inventory handled can be large from hundreds to thousands of products. Products returned must be tracked not only by product name, but other information must also be supplied, such as the model number if any and serial number and tag number distinguished. Because all the products in inventory are not from one manufacturer, the problem of tracking and handling returns from multiple manufacturers becomes even more complicated. Not only does each product have different return policies, but each manufacturer may have different return policies for the same product. The processing returns for multiple manufacturers each with distinct return policies and perhaps distinct reporting formats makes the process of tracking products even more tedious and prone to errors.
To help with the return processing, several companies have begun offering services to aggregate all of the returns processing for the Chain distribution center 104 and stores 102. One such return aggregator is USF Processors of Dallas Tex., or Universal Solution International Inc, of Winston Salem, N.C., or Pharmaceutical Processing Headquarters of Conyers Ga.
USF offers a service of receiving the returned products from the stores 102, identifying which store returned what product to the manufacturers 108 (where appropriate) for receipt of return payment, if any. The return payment is sent to the corresponding store 102. The return processing aggregation is sometimes thought of as a xe2x80x9creverse checkout processxe2x80x9d because like the store xe2x80x9ccheck out,xe2x80x9d products shipped to the aggregators are scannedxe2x80x9d into the system at the reclamation center 110. But unlike the xe2x80x9ccheck outxe2x80x9d process the products are not in inventory for sale but in inventory for return and disposal. The aggregators typically take a percentage of the money paid by the manufacturers as a fee for processing the products for the stores.
These reclamation centers 110 and aggregator although useful, are not without their shortcomings. One shortcoming with the current aggregator system, is that the store must be associated with a large network of stores such as a chain to take advantage of services such as return processing aggregators. The attendant paper work for return processing is onerous. In addition, the return and disposal of many products are regulated under state and federal agencies such as the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and the PDMA (Pharmaceutical Drug Market Act). The rules that sellers 102 and reclamation centers 110 must abide by are complex. Rules are even more complex with highly regulated products such as drugs, pharmaceuticals, hazardous waste, biological products and environmentally hazardous products such as nuclear products. Accordingly, a need exists for a method and apparatus to permit stores of any size, even the small xe2x80x9cMom and Popxe2x80x9d stores, to efficiently return products for processing while complying with the numerous government regulations.
Another shortcoming with the use of return processing centers 110 or aggregators is that many stores that sell pharmacies are not EPA regulated. Accordingly the disposal of stores trying to dispose of or return products regulated by the EPA must use reclamation centers 110 or aggregators that are EPA compliant.
Another shortcoming with the use of return processing centers 110 or aggregators is that the processing of payments can take a long time. The return processing aggregators must receive the product, notify the manufacturer 108 or wholesaler 106, invoice the manufacturer or wholesaler for payment and finally receive payment from the manufacturer and pay the store. This payment process many times takes three to six months to complete. The delay in processing credit and payments can be substantial and for large stores the accounts receivable for a return processing inventory can run into the millions of dollars. In addition, several state governments, such as Pennsylvania, require stores to pay taxes on inventory, even though the inventory may be unsaleable and slated to be returned. It is not until the return credit is issued that the tax liability of unsaleable inventory is eliminated. Accordingly, a need exists for a method and apparatus to expedite the processing of payments to sellers for products disposed.
Still, another shortcoming with the use of return processing centers 110 or aggregators is the inability to efficiently handle xe2x80x9cshort-datedxe2x80x9d inventory. Short-dated inventory is inventory that has not expired yet, but will expire within a few weeks or months. Short-dated inventory can be a large problem in such diverse industries such as pharmaceuticals and food. Although in many instances manufacturers or wholesalers will not accept short-dated inventory until the inventory expires, there is an after market for short-dated products. Moreover, many times, stores 102 and manufacturers 108 want to donate short-dated products for tax credits. Accordingly, a need exists for a method and system to handle the processing of short-dated products for resale and donation.
Briefly in accordance with the invention, a method in a client-server environment having a plurality of client systems coupled to a server over a network, the method on the return processing server for managing the return processing of one or more manufacturers. The method on the return comprising the steps of: coupling to a database containing information about the procedures for at least one manufacturer""s product. The return server presents a return processing template to at least one client system coupled to the server system over a network, wherein the template comprises a graphical user interface for receiving information regarding at least one product to be submitted for return processing. The return processing server the information from the at least one client system of at least one product to be submitted for return processing. The return processing server creating a debit invoice in accordance with the manufacturer""s policies for the information received for return processing from the at least one client system. Placing the debit invoice in a debit invoice database accessible to the one or more manufacturer""s to access one or more debit invoices for processing return credit. And sending shipping information to the at least one client""s system for shipping the at least one product submitted for return processing.
In another embodiment, the products being returned are reviewed to determine if one or more products have a date associated with it for expiration. If the product is still usable, the product can be auctioned off or donated to charity.
In still another embodiment, a system and computer readable medium for carrying out the above method.

Method and apparatus to manage network based return processing