An electron microscope equipped with an electron biprism is provided with second and third objective lenses placed between a sample and the electron biprism such that the sample is not affected by the magnetic fields produced by the objective lenses. The magnification of a TEM image of the sample at the focal point H is controllably varied by appropriately controlling the excitations of the objective lenses. The spacing of carrier fringes is adjusted by controllably varying the voltage applied to a line electrode of the biprism.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electron microscope equipped with an electron biprism for obtaining information about the thickness distribution across a sample, an electric field distribution possessed by a sample, a magnetic field distribution possessed by a sample, or other similar information.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the prior art transmission electron microscope, an electron beam is directed to a sample. A sample image consisting of an electron beam transmitted through the sample is magnified by a magnetic lens and projected onto a screen, thus permitting observation of the sample.
An electron microscope equipped with an electron biprism is included in such conventional transmission electron microscopes. In this electron microscope, the electron biprism produces carrier fringes owing to interference of the electron beam not transmitted through the sample with the electron beam transmitted through the sample. The carrier fringes overlap the image of the electrons transmitted through the sample, giving rise to a hologram. The thickness distribution across the sample, an electric field distribution possessed by the sample, a magnetic field distribution possessed by the sample, or other information is obtained by observing the hologram on a screen.
FIG. 2 schematically shows a conventional electron microscope equipped with such an electron biprism. FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) illustrate the electron biprism. FIG. 3(a) indicates the state in which the electron biprism has been turned off, and FIG. 3(b) indicates the state in which the biprism has been turned on.
In FIGS. 2 and 3(a) and 3(b), an electron microscope 1 has an electron gun 3 emitting an electron beam 2. The electron beam emitted by the electron gun 3 is accelerated by an accelerating portion 4. An illumination system 5 directs the electron beam 2 to a sample 6 after appropriately converging or diverging the beam 2. An objective lens 7 focuses a sample image originating from the electron beam transmitted through the sample 6. An electron biprism 8 is used to create a hologram. A line electrode 8a consists of a conductive wire having a diameter of about 0.3 to 0.6 xcexcm, the wire being stretched perpendicular to the electron beam path. A voltage source 8b applies a voltage of tens to hundreds of volts, for example, to the line electrode 8a. A switch 8c is connected across the voltage source 8b. Grounding electrodes 8d and 8e extend parallel to the line electrode 8a and are located on the opposite sides of the line electrode 8a. The grounding electrodes 8d and 8e regulate the electric field produced around the line electrode 8a. A focusing system 9 includes the electron biprism 8. In this focusing system 9, a hologram created by the electron biprism 8 is magnified by plural stages of magnetic lenses 10 and focused onto a screen 11. A transmission electron image of the sample 6 is indicated by 12. The optical axis of the electron beam is indicated by O. The line electrode 8a produces a shadow S.
In the electron microscope 1 equipped with the electron biprism 8 constructed in this way, when the electron biprism has been turned off, the switch 8c is thrown to the ground side as shown in FIG. 3(a). Under this condition, the voltage of the voltage source 8b is not applied to the line electrode 8a; ground potential is applied to the line electrode 8a.
When the electron beam 2 emitted by the electron gun 3 hits the sample 6, the electron beam 2a not transmitted through the sample 6 and the electron beam 2b transmitted through the sample 6 are converged by the objective lens 7. Then, this converged beam 2 passes through the electron biprism 8 located under the objective lens 7. Since ground potential is given to the line electrode 8a, electrons 2 from the objective lens 7 are not deflected by the line electrode 8a during passage through the electron biprism 8.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3(a), the transmission electron image 12 of the sample 6 and the shadow S of the line electrode 8a are separated and projected onto the screen 11. At this time, the position of the sample 6 is adjusted and the angular position of the line electrode is adjusted by a rotary mechanism so that the transmission electron image of the sample 6 is formed only on one side of the shadow S of the line electrode.
On the other hand, when a hologram consisting of a TEM image of the sample 6 on which carrier fringes are superimposed is observed, the switch 8c is thrown to the side of the voltage source 8b as shown in FIG. 3(b) to turn on the electron biprism 8. Under this condition, a positive voltage from the voltage source 8b is applied to the line electrode 8a. Electron beam parts which are converged by the objective lens 7 and hit on the opposite sides of the line electrode 8a in the same way as in the foregoing process are attracted toward the center by the positive voltage from the voltage source 8b. The beam parts are made to overlap each other in a lower position, thus creating carrier fringes. These carrier fringes are made to overlap the TEM image 12, creating a hologram. The hologram is enlarged by the focusing system 9 and projected onto the screen 11. By observing this hologram, the thickness distribution across the sample 6, an electric field distribution possessed by the sample, or a magnetic field distribution possessed by the sample can be obtained as information about variations in phase of the electron beam.
The electron microscope equipped with the aforementioned electron biprism has an excellent feature that allows the user to take the distribution of electric or magnetic field possessed by the sample 6 as information about variations in phase of the electron beam 2. Where a magnetic field distribution possessed by a sample is examined, if it is a magnetic sample, then it is necessary to place the sample 6 in a space where the effects of magnetic field can be neglected.
In the above-described conventional electron microscope 1, the sample 6 is placed in a strong magnetic field set up by the objective lens 7 and so it is necessary to turn off the objective lens 7 in examining the magnetic field distribution possessed by the sample if it is magnetic in nature.
However, the objective lens 7 plays a role for forming a crossover point P of the electron beam in an appropriate position between the sample 6 and the electron biprism 8 as shown in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b), i.e., plays a role for forming a light source P for the electron biprism 8. The objective lens 7 further serves to form a TEM image of the sample in an appropriate position behind the electron biprism 8. Therefore, if the objective lens 7 is turned off, it is difficult to appropriately set the focal points of the light source P and hologram relative to the biprism 8. In addition, it is impossible to vary the magnification of the TEM image of the sample on the hologram-focused plane.
On the other hand, the spacing of the carrier fringes can be varied by the voltage applied to the biprism line electrode 8a. If the spacing of the fringes is narrowed in order to enhance the resolution of phase information, the contrast of the carrier fringes deteriorates. As a result, the signal-to-noise ratio of the obtained phase information becomes impaired.
Accordingly, in the conventional electron microscope shown in FIG. 2, the ratio of the magnification of the TEM image of the sample in the objective image plane to the spacing of the interference fringes is required to be variable to obtain phase information at the highest signal-to-noise ratio under the desired resolution, for the following reason. If the spacing of the interference fringes is finely controlled, the image contrast can be enhanced by controlling the magnification of the TEM image of the sample in the objective image plane. However, if the objective lens 7 is turned off as mentioned previously, it is impossible to vary the magnification of the TEM image of the sample in the objective image plane.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an electron microscope equipped with an electron biprism capable of effectively extracting information about variations in phase of an electron beam and of enhancing the spatial resolution of the phase information further.
This object is achieved in accordance with the teachings of the present invention by an electron microscope equipped with an electron biprism for causing an electron beam transmitted through a space where there is no sample and an electron beam transmitted through a sample to overlap each other, thus creating carrier fringes. This microscope is characterized in that plural lenses are placed between the sample and the electron biprism.
Other objects and features of the invention will appear in the course of the description thereof, which follows.

Electron microscope equipped with electron biprism


A short-range radio communication method is presented including the steps of defining a region by a first communication device, the first communication device in operable communication with a plurality of second communication devices, each of the plurality of second communication devices communicating with different technologies and different protocols and setting up individualized communication between the first communication device and each of the plurality of second communication devices detected within the region defined by the first communication device, and having the different technologies and the different protocols. The first communication device determines which of the different technologies and the different protocols of each of the plurality of second communication devices it is capable of communicating with.

Field of the Art
The present invention relates to an individualized short-range radio communication method and system, and particularly to a method and system of communication between surrounding devices suitable for communicating with one or more technologies and protocols each, and one or more central devices suitable for setting up communications with multiple technologies and protocols each, to find out which technologies and protocols each of said surrounding devices is able to communicate with, and for communicating with each of said surrounding devices in an individualized manner.
The invention also relates to a central device suitable for forming part of said system.
Prior State of the Art
Different proposals are known relating to wireless communication which, making use of the evolution of the technologies existing in said field, attempt to offer the users of personal, preferably portable devices, a variety of functionalities.
Patent application WO-A-02087266 relates to an information distributor and a method of using the same for communicating information to portable computing devices. The method comprises receiving information from a wireless source and transmitting information on demand to a portable device located within the coverage range of the distributor, said transmission including generating a beacon signal, detecting a recognition signal transmitted by said portable device in response to said beacon, and generating in response to said recognition signal, the radio broadcast of said information.
In another patent application of the applicant of the aforementioned background document, specifically application WO-A-02087094, a wireless communication method is proposed which is similar to the one of the preceding background document, the difference here being that it specifies that the beacon signal is generated using a first modulation scheme and the recognition signal with a second different modulation scheme. The recognition signal is also defined as an indicator of reception of the beacon signal by the portable device. The information is finally radio broadcasted according to the mentioned first modulation scheme. In said document a method for transmitting information to a portable device is also proposed using a first communication protocol for transmitting to the device a client program by means of which the device can communicate with a distributor using a communication protocol for data transfer, by means of which a polling signal is transmitted in a manner similar to the proposed wireless communication method, a recognition thereof is detected, and finally information is radio broadcasted.
The recognition signal prompting said radio broadcast does not involve a response and an explicit acceptance of said beacon or polling signal, or of the associated sending of information, by the portable device, it is simply an acknowledgement of reception thereof. On the other hand, the indiscriminate manner in which the proposed distributor in said background document transmits information, in the sense that it radio broadcasts it, distances said background document from the field of individualized communication.
Other contributions to the state of the art are focused on sending information to a personal device according to the situation thereof.
This is the case of document JP-A-2002259011 relating to a personal digital assistant (PDA) and to a program for updating the display thereof. Communication means which are associated to the PDA are responsible for predicting the position of the PDA after consulting electronic equipment or devices surrounding such device. Information is automatically generated according to its position, such information being in menu form relating to said position, which is shown on the display of the PDA.
The proposal made in said document is focused on finding out the position of the user of the PDA by means of the arrangement of a series of "spy" devices surrounding the PDA. The need for such devices, whether they are specifically designed for carrying out such function or conventional devices (e.g. television sets, refrigerators, etc.) in which an additional element has been added to carry out such function, results in a great difficulty and task for carrying out such proposal for each possible location. On the other hand, the aforementioned document makes no reference to the updating of said menus for the same location or to the possibility of interaction by the user.
Patent application US-A-20040224699 is also focused on the mentioned sending of information to a personal device according to the situation thereof. Said application proposes a method and system for supplying information to a portable device and a portable device. The information which is sent is in accordance with the preferences of the user of the device found out thanks to an identifying signal sent from such device, and with its location, which is found out, for example, by triangulating said identifying signal.
The level of interaction for the user contemplated in said document does not go beyond the prior selection of preferences incorporated in said identifying signal, providing no possibility that the user can interact with the information received, nor that such information is more than static information, nor that the latter is updated if the user readopts a position in which it had previously been in. The start of transmission is also completely conditioned to the prior sending of said identifying signal.
No proposals are known which contemplate a central device suitable for communicating with multiple short-range technologies with a series of surrounding devices, and also suitable for finding out which technology and protocol, or technologies and protocols, each of said surrounding devices is able to communicate with, and to set up a communication with each of the surrounding devices, individualized at least in reference to the technology and protocol, or technologies and protocols, which each of said surrounding devices is able to communicate with.

Individualized short-range radio communication method, system and central device for the implementation thereof


There are provided methods for treatment of abnormal cells such as cancer cells in a mammal. The methods involve treating the mammal with virus selected from echoviruses and modified forms and combination thereof, which recognize α2β1 for infectivity of the cells. There are also provided methods for screening viruses for use in a method of the invention as well as pharmaceutical compositions for use in the methods.

Ovarian cancer is a leading cause of morbidity in the female population. Several malignancies arise from the ovary. Epithelial carcinoma of the ovary is one of the most common gynaecologic malignancies and the fifth most frequent cause of cancer death in women, with half of all cases occurring in women over age 65.
Approximately 5% to 10% of ovarian cancers are familial and 3 distinct hereditary patterns have been identified: ovarian cancer alone, ovarian and breast cancers, or ovarian and colon cancers. The most important risk factor for ovarian cancer is a family history of a first-degree relative (mother, daughter, or sister) with the disease. The highest risk appears in women with 2 or more first-degree relatives with ovarian cancer. The risk is somewhat less for women with one first-degree and one second-degree (grandmother, aunt) relative with ovarian cancer. In most families affected with breast and ovarian cancer syndrome or site-specific ovarian cancer, genetic linkage has been found to the BRCA1 locus on chromosome 17q21. BRCA2, also responsible for some instances of inherited ovarian and breast cancer, has been mapped by genetic linkage to chromosome 13q12.
The lifetime risk for developing ovarian cancer in patients harbouring germ-line mutations in BRCA1 is substantially increased over the general population. Two retrospective studies of patients with germ-line mutations in BRCA1 suggest that these women have improved survival compared to BRCA1 negative women. When interpreting this data, it must be considered that the majority of women with a BRCA1 mutation probably have family members with a history of ovarian and/or breast cancer. Therefore, these women may have been more vigilant and inclined to participate in cancer screening programs that may have led to earlier detection. For patients at increased risk, prophylactic oophorectomy may be considered after the age of 35 if childbearing is complete. However, the benefit of prophylactic oophorectomy has not yet been established. A small percentage of women may develop a primary peritoneal carcinoma, similar in appearance to ovarian cancer, after prophylactic oophorectomy (Xiao, C. et al., 2001). Epithelial carcinomas are the most common types of ovarian cancer. Stromal and germ cell tumors are relatively uncommon and comprise less than 10% of cases.
Ovarian cancer usually spreads via local shedding into the peritoneal cavity followed by implantation on the peritoneum, and via local invasion of the bowel and the bladder. The highly lethal nature of this tumor is due to the absence of symptoms in women with early stages of this disease. The incidence of positive nodes at primary surgery has been reported as high as 24% in patients with stage I disease, 50% in patient with stage II disease, 74% in patients with stage III disease, and 73% in patients with stage IV disease. Tumor cells may also block diaphragmatic lymphatics. The resulting impairment of lymphatic drainage of the peritoneum is thought to play a role in development of ascites in ovarian cancer. Also, transdiaphragmatic spread to the pleura is common.
Prognosis in ovarian cancer is influenced by several factors, but multivariate analyses suggest that the most important favorable factors include younger age, good performance status, cell type other than mucinous and clear cell, lower stage, well differentiated tumor, smaller disease volume prior to any surgical debulking, absence of ascites, and smaller residual tumor following primary cytoreductive surgery. For patients with stage I disease, the most important prognostic factor is grade, followed by dense adherence and large-volume ascites. DNA flow cytometric analysis of stage I and stage IIA patents may identify a group of high-risk patients. Patients with clear cell histology appear to have a worse prognosis. Patients with a significant component of transitional cell carcinoma appear to have a better prognosis.
Although the ovarian cancer-associated antigen, CA 125, has no prognostic significance when measured at the time of diagnosis, it has a high correlation with survival when measured one month after the third course of chemotherapy for patients with stage III or stage IV disease (Rossmann, M. G. et al., 2000). For patients whose elevated CA 125 normalizes with chemotherapy, more than one subsequent elevated CA 125 is highly predictive of active disease, but this does not mandate immediate therapy.
Most patients have widespread disease at the time of diagnosis because ovarian cancer is often asymptomatic in its early stages. Partly as a result of this, yearly mortality in ovarian cancer is approximately 65% of the incidence rate. Long-term follow-up of suboptimally debulked stage III and stage IV patients reveals a 5-year survival rate of less than 10% even with platinum-based combination therapy. Nevertheless, early stages of the disease are curable in a high percentage of patients.
At present the treatment for late stage ovarian cancers involves a total abdominal hysterectomy, careful examination of serosal surfaces, and attempts to debulk all gross disease usually followed by combination chemotherapy that includes a platinum analogue. The survival rate is then between six to forty month, long term survival being less than ten percent.
There has been ongoing research with the aim of identifying molecules that are differentially expressed in benign and malignant ovarian tumors.
Ovarian carcinomas have been found to express the integrin α2β1 (Moser, T. L. et al., 1996; Cannistra, S. A. et al., 1995; Bartolazzi, A. et al., 1993). α2β1 promotes metastatic dissemination of human ovarian epithelial carcinoma via specific binding interactions with type 1 collagen (Schiro, J. A. et al., 1991; Cardarelli, P. M. et al., 1992). Up-regulated surface-expression of integrin α2β1 has also previously been observed on human gastric carcinoma.
The interaction of α2β1 with type 1 collagen likely plays a critical role in peritoneal seeding as well as in metastasis, and over expression of α2β1 has been shown to induce metastatic properties in non-metastatic cells (Chan, B. M. et al., 1991). Blocking of α2β1 has been shown to largely inhibit adhesion of ovarian carcinomas by type 1 collagen.
Viruses capable of inducing lysis of malignant cells through their replication process are known as oncolytic viruses. Most oncolytic viruses require proliferation in the same species or cell lineage. Infection of a cell by a virus involves attachment and uptake into the cell which leads to or is coincidental with uncoating of the viral capsid, and subsequently replication within the cell.
Oncolytic viruses assessed for capacity to kill cancer cells have included the adenovirus subtype Egypt 101 virus which showed oncolytic activity in the HeLa uterine/cervix cancer cell line, mumps virus for treatment of gastric carcinoma, uterine carcinoma and cutaneous carcinoma, Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV), influenza virus for treatment of ovarian cancer, and adenovirus for treatment of cervical carcinoma (Nemunaitis J; 1999).
Other reports have indicated that adenoviruses and attenuated poliovirus recombinants may have use in the treatment of malignant glioma cells (e.g. Andreansky S. S., 1996), and that reovirus shows lytic capability in human U87 glioblastoma cells and NIH-3T3 cells with an activated Ras signalling pathway (e.g. Strong J. E. et al, 1998).
A vaccinia oncolysate has also been used in clinical trials to treat melanoma (Stage II) patients (Nemunaitis J., 1999). Modified, non-neurovirulent Herpes simplex viruses (HSV) have been reported as showing promise for the treatment of brain tumors including intracranial melanoma, and subcutaneous human melanoma (Randazzo B. R., 1997), while adenovirus infection has been reported to enhance killing of melanoma cells by the plant mitotoxin, saporin (Satyamoorthy K., 1997).
The receptor on target cells recognised by adenovirus differs for different adenovirus types. That is, adenovirus subgroups A, C, D, E and F for instance recognise the CAR receptor while Adenovirus type 5 (subgroup C), Adenovirus type 2 (subgroup C) and Adenovirus type 9 (subgroup D) recognise major histocompatibility class II molecule, αmβ2 and αv integrins, respectively. The CAR receptor is known to be expressed on melanoma cell lines.
Heparan sulfate is recognised by Herpes simplex types 1 and 2 and human herpes virus 7, Adeno-associated virus type 2. The receptor for human Herpesvirus 7 is CD4 while Epstein-Barr virus recognises complement receptor Cr2 (CD21). Poliovirus type 1 and 2 recognise poliovirus receptor (Pvr) for cell adhesion while reovirus recognises sialic acid. Influenza A and B virus recognise the sialic acid N-acetyl neuraminic acid for cell adhesion In contrast, influenza type C virus recognises the sialic acid 9-O-acetyl neuraminic acid. Vaccina virus recognises both epidermal growth factor receptor and heparan sulfate. Coxsackievirus A13, A15, A18 and A21 recognise ICAM-1 and the complement regulatory protein DAF (CD55) (see eg. Shafren D. R., et al 1997). International Patent Application No. PCT/AU00/01461 describes the administration of Coxsackievirus which recognises ICAM-1 for cell infectivity to a subject for lysis of melanoma cells express ICAM-1. DAF is also recognised by Enterovirus 70 (see eg. Flint S J, et al (2000) Principles of Virology: molecular biology, pathogenesis and control, ASM Press, Washington).
A study evaluating the adaptability of ovarian cells to subculture and their potential use for the detection of viruses has been reported (Harris, R E and Pindak, F F, 1975). In the study, normal ovarian cell cultures were challenged with a broad range of viruses including Picornavirus such as Coxsackievirus A, Coxsackievirus B, Poliovirus, Echovirus and Cardiovirus and serotypes thereof,; Paramyxovirus such as Newcastle disease virus, Measles virus, distemper virus; Adenovirus human subgroup serotypes 3, 4, 7 and 21; Herpes simplex virus, Type 1; Togavirus such as Sindbis and Mararo; Reovirus serotypes 1 to 3; and Vaccinia virus. The study demonstrated that cells from human ovaries can be grown long-term in cell culture and may be passaged an undetermined number of times for the propagation of various vises in vitro and proposed that such cultures may be useful for the purpose of studying viral pathogenisis and pathology of viral infection. The report further suggested that as some viruses such as poliovirus and vaccinia have been shown to cross the human placenta and infect the fetus, the study of viral interactions with normal ovarian cells in culture may be a means of furthering teratogenic investigations.
Metastatic tumor spread is a pathological process associated with a series of adhesion/de-adhesion events coupled with regulated tissue degradation. Adhesion to and migration through the extracellular matrix is essential for tumor invasion. Despite progress being made in the treatment of malignancies, the treatment of cancer including ovarian malignancies presents a major challenge for research and there remains a need for alternatives to existing therapy approaches.

Method of treating a malignancy in a subject via direct picornaviral-mediated oncolysis


A wheel and cover assembly for an automotive vehicle is provided which includes a road wheel and a cover member aligned road wheel and provides a continuous cushioning member interposed laterally between the cover and the road wheel. The cushioning member is formed as the rubber band L-shaped in cross-section which cooperates with a plurality of circumferentially spaced standoff ribs formed on the laterally inner surface of the cover.

In the design of trim parts for automotive vehicle wheels, lightweight flexible materials, such as plastics, are in wide-spread use. Because of the inherent flexibility of the parts fabricated from such materials it is necessary for the automotive designer to give careful attention to the prevention of squeaks and rattles generated at the interface between the plastic wheel trim and the metallic wheels on which the trim is mounted. In many instances, it is possible to effect a connective interface between the wheel trim and the wheel at the point at which styling considerations dictate the wheel trim and wheel being closest proximity. Typical of such designs is that in the common wheel cover situation in which clips or other connecting devices are positioned near the outer periphery of the wheel cover for engagement near the outer periphery of the wheel.
In some instances, however, the connective interface between the wheel and the trim is effected in another position such as radially inwardly toward the hub of the wheel. In such instances, a standoff device is generally formed on the annular surface of the wheel trim projecting toward the wheel to laterally locate and space the wheel trim with respect to the wheel. It is in such designs that squeaks and rattles tend to be experienced as the plastic standoff intermittently engages the adjacent portion of the wheel.

Automotive wheel and cover assembly with cushioning band


A hydroponic growing apparatus may include a housing, a water reservoir, and a lighting system. The housing may include a bottom surface and an open top surface. The apparatus may also include a pump, the pump comprising an inlet and an outlet, and a sprayer coupled to the outlet of the pump. Also, the apparatus may include a support structure configured to fit into an open top surface of the housing. The support structure may define a plurality of openings. The apparatus may include at least one cover plate configured to fit over the support structure in the open top surface of the housing.

Conventional hydroponic systems come in many forms and are often a trough-like shape, where a row or multiple rows of plants are grown. The pumps can be external to the water trough or water reservoir in these types of systems. Conventional hydroponic systems have pumps that may be external to the unit, which has a decreased flow rate as compared to pumps that can be submersed in water or other liquid. A low flow rate results in salt crust build-up on the plants grown in a hydroponic system. Improvements to hydroponic growing units may be made to overcome deficiencies in existing hydroponic growers.


Position finding system having a sensor unit and a transmitter unit. The sensor unit comprises a first RFID transponder reader unit, a first inductive detector unit, and an analysis unit connected to the RFID transponder reader unit and the inductive detector unit; the transmitter unit comprises an RFID transponder and a metallic material. The sensor unit is movable relative to the transmitter unit. The RFID transponder reader unit is configured for absolute position finding and outputs a first position value, and the inductive detector unit is configured for absolute position finding and outputs a second position value. The analysis unit is configured to determine, from the data acquired from the transmitter unit, an absolute position of the sensor unit from the first and second position values.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a position finding system, a use of the position finding system, and a method for determining position.
2. Description of the Background Art
Such a system is known from DE 10 2006 004 938 A1. The position finding system described therein is used for determining the position of a vehicle, for example. RFID transponders are used by preference for this purpose. Another position finding system is known from WO 2008/101702, which corresponds to US 2010/0141244. There, the induction in a sensor from a magnet located on a wheel is sensed in order to determine the position of the wheel. Another position finding system is known from DE 10 2008 044 739 A1, which corresponds to US 2010/0308803, and in which the position of a first object relative to a second object is determined by means of an inductive linear encoder. To this end, a sensor unit travels at close range past a marking section designed as a transmitter unit, wherein the marking section has a plurality of sections of metallic material of different widths. The sections of metallic material of different widths produce different intensities of induction. Another device and method for determining position is known from WO 2005/012840, which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 7,245,121. Using the method described therein, a sensor is used to analyze the induction produced in the sensor by permanent magnets, wherein the sensor unit located in a read head is capable of detecting the induction from multiple magnets at once.
In addition, a roller used in printing as a transmitter unit is known from DE 20 2007 004 717 U1, which roller also has an RFID transponder in addition to a magnet as reference mark. By means of the RFID transponder, the roller data stored on the transponder are read by the sensor unit, while the rotary position of the roller can be determined by means of the reference mark.
Another position finding system is known from EP 0 472 028 A2. There, RFID marks on a carrier device are detected by means of an RFID reader unit in order to cause directional changes or stops of the carrier device. In addition, an inductively operating detector unit is used to detect a deviation from a preferred direction. Additional systems are known from EP 1 577 188 A2, which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 7,426,424, and EP 1 770 373 A2, which corresponds to US 2007/074416, and US 2002/129508 A1. Moreover, a position finding system is also known from WO 2005/052842.
It is a disadvantage in the prior art position finding systems that the position cannot be determined immediately at any point in time, and/or the position finding systems are costly to manufacture and use, in particular in crane systems in port areas, for example, when the crane must traverse distances of several 100 m and the exact position must be determined at the same time. This also applies to use as a rotary encoder for rings with diameters larger than several meters.


The user of a mobile terminal capable of receiving broadcast transmissions, such as Digital Video Broadcast (DVB) transmissions, enters keywords indicative of messages the user wishes to peruse. When the mobile terminal receives a broadcast transmission having a message, keywords associated with the message are compared with the user-entered keywords; if any match, at least a portion of the message is displayed on the mobile terminal. The displayed portion may be a “crawl” which appears at the bottom of the display screen. The user may request to view the remaining portions, if any, of the message, or to download data linked to the message, where the downloaded data may be for viewing or for another purpose.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wireless devices equipped to receive textual messages, and particularly to a method and system for interactively filtering textual messages which are broadcast to wireless devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Wireless communication devices, which are becoming ubiquitous, typically take such forms as mobile telephones, palmtop personal data assistants (PDAs), portable computers equipped with wireless modems, etc. Such devices may connect to the public wireless network and thus are able to contact telephone devices globally. Such devices may also be equipped with short-range RF communication capability, such as a capability conforming to the Bluetooth specification, and may then communicate with other such devices that are nearby, typically within a range of about 10 meters.
A typical wireless device includes a processor, a random-access memory (RAM), a display screen, a keyboard or at least a keypad, and signaling means for alerting the user. The keyboard or keypad may be integrated with the display, such as in a "touch screen" display.
Advertisers have seized the opportunity to send unsolicited advertising messages to such devices. This has come to be known as "pushing" of message content, as opposed to sending content a user has requested, or "pulled". An excessive volume of pushed content can become an annoyance to a user, perhaps the most egregious example being the occurrence of "spam" on the Internet. A user with a Bluetooth-capable mobile terminal walking through a shopping mall, for example, may be deluged with a stream of advertising messages from business establishments in the shopping mall. Although the user has the option of switching off the mobile terminal and thus ignoring all the pushed messages, some of them may of genuine interest to him or her.
International PCT Patent Application WO 99/35778, filed by MICROSOFT Corporation and published Jul. 15, 1999 represents a step toward filtering pushed messages. A user of a wireless device enters filter data, which is stored in the device. An incoming message may contain filter bytes in its header, which are compared with the stored filter data. If no match is detected, the message is not accepted into the wireless device. This has the drawback that if a user has allowed filter data that is no longer relevant to remain stored in the wireless device, the user is unaware of incoming messages that do not match the filter data, even though such messages might be of current interest.
Therefore there is a need for an interactive filtering system which alerts the user to incoming broadcast messages that are of particular interest to the user while not precluding the user from receiving any incoming messages that may have some significance (i.e., less than particular interest) to him or her.

Push content filtering for broadcast communication


Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for determining a data transmission mode, and a computer storage medium. The method includes: determining, by a terminal, a small data transmission mode corresponding to service data based on a preset policy, where small data refer to data of which data amount is less than or equal to a preset value; and notifying, by the terminal, a base station of the small data transmission mode through an uplink message.

Currently, there are three modes for a terminal to transmit uplink data. In a first mode, the terminal in an inactive state needs to migrate to a full connection state to transmit the data. The migration from the inactive state to the full connection state requires the terminal (a user equipment (UE)) and a base station (an eNB) to execute a series of signaling procedures shown in FIG. 1. The series of signaling procedures includes a random access procedure and a radio resource control (RRC) connection resume procedure. In a second mode, the terminal transmits the data together with an initial RRC message, as shown in FIG. 2. Then, the base station determines a final state of the terminal. In a third mode, the terminal supports data transmission in the inactive state, as shown in FIG. 3.
Currently, a Narrow Band-Internet of Thing (NB-IOT) function is introduced into the R13 version. The main service models of this function are shown in Table 1.
Size ofApplicationSize ofdownlinkTypeexampleuplink datadataFrequencyTerminalSmoke alarm20 bytes 0 byteOnce inautonomouslymonitor, smartseveralreports a specialmeter formonths orreportenergy failurein a yearnotification,interventionnotification, etc.TerminalMetering reportIf the total 0 byte1 dayautonomouslyfor intelligentpayload(40%),reports a periodicuse (naturalexceeds 2002 hoursreportgas/water/electricity),bytes, only(40%),intelligent200 bytes1 houragriculture,are taken.(15%), andintelligent20 bytes are30 minutesenvironment,transmitted(5%)etc.each time.NetworkSwitch-on/switch-0 to 2020 bytes1 daycommandoff, triggeringbytes(40%),of device for50% of the2 hourstransmitting ancommands(40%),uplink report,require an1 hourrequest foruplink(15%), andreading aresponse.30 minutesmetering result(5%)Software update/SoftwareIf the totalIf the total180 daysmodelpatch/updatepayloadpayloadre-configurationexceedsexceeds2000 bytes,2000 bytes,only 2000only 2000bytes arebytes aretaken. 200taken. 200bytes arebytes aretransmittedtransmittedeach time.each time.
As shown in Table 1, the data in the service models varies in length, and the data transmission mode may be a sudden abnormal transmission mode, or may be a periodical transmission mode. The keep-alive message is a small amount of data periodically transmitted and received by the terminal. The keep-alive message is used for maintaining a transmission control protocol (TCP) connection between the terminal and the base station, or to maintain the presence of a downlink authentication UE. The service model of the keep-alive message highly depends on the server and the application user.
In the view of the small data service described above, it is impossible for the terminal in the inactive state to complete the transmission of all types of data by selecting one mode. An appropriate data transmission mode should be selected according to a certain principle, such as for the small data service. On this basis, it is unknown how to determine a small data transmission mode.

Method and apparatus for determining data transmission mode, and computer storage medium


There is provided a polarizer integrally containing view angle compensating film used in an in-plane switching liquid crystal display (IPS-LCD) filled with liquid crystal (Δ∈>0) having positive dielectric anisotropy and an in-plane switching liquid crystal display comprising the same. More particularly, there is provided an integrated polarizer capable of being used to manufacture a thin polarizer and securing a good view angle by employing a view angle compensating film as a protective film of a polarizing film forming the polarizer and an IPS-LCD comprising the same. The integrated polarizer comprises a polarizing film; a protective film attached to one surface of the polarizing film; and a +A plate coated with a +C plate attached to the other surface of the polarizing film. The +C plate is coated in the form of liquid crystals.

Liquid crystal display (hereinafter, simply referred to as 'LCD') is a display device that displays a desired image by selectively enabling light emitted from a backlight unit to penetrate into respective pixels with the polarization of liquid crystals.
Among the liquid crystal displays, an in plane switching liquid crystal display (IPS-LCD) has advantages in that its view angle is wider than those of widely used twisted nematic (TN) LCDs. That is, the IPS-LCD has liquid crystals that are not vertically aligned but aligned in parallel with a transverse surface of the electrode by disposing on the same plane electrodes of cells in which liquid crystal are aligned. That is, when an electric filed is formed as shown in FIG. 1, the alignment direction of liquid crystals is changed on a screen of the liquid crystal display
FIG. 1 shows the movement of liquid crystal molecules in each liquid crystal pixel of widely used IPS-LCD. As shown in FIG. 1, when no electric filed is formed between a common electrode 10 and a pixel electrode 20, the liquid crystal molecules are disposed in each pixel so that they can be in parallel to a rubbing direction of the liquid crystal molecules. When the rubbing direction is parallel to the absorption axis of a polarizer adjacent to a backlight unit, this display device is called an O-mode IPS-LCD. Also, when the rubbing direction is vertical to the absorption axis of the polarizer adjacent to the backlight unit, this display device is called an E-mode IPS-LCD. An observer-side polarizer has an absorption axis vertical to the absorption axis of a polarizer adjacent to the backlight unit regardless of the modes. FIGS. 2 and 3 show the O-mode IPS-LCD. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the IPS-LCD has polarizers formed both sides of liquid crystal cells so that their absorption axes can be vertical to each other. Since the light passed through a light source-side polarizer reaches an upper polarizer in IPS-LCD without causing any phase retardation when an electric filed is not formed in the polarizers, the light is not passed through the upper polarizer. As a result, pixels are in a dark state, generally called a normally black mode. As shown in FIGS., attention should be paid to the fact that the term 'IPS-LCD' used in the present invention includes Super-IPS, fringe field switching (FFS), reverse TN IPS, etc.
In the other case, when an electric filed is formed between the common electrode and the pixel electrode, an alignment direction of the liquid crystals is changed by the rotation of the liquid crystals. Therefore, the light that is passed through the light source-side polarizer is also passed through the observer-side polarizer, thus to allow pixels to emit light.
These liquid crystals in the IPS-LCD has more improved visibility than TN-LCD when the light is emitted aslant, that is, when the light is observed aslant by an observer. This is why the TN LCD has liquid crystal alignment layers disposed on and down the liquid crystal cells; and electrodes disposed on and down the liquid crystal cells. When the liquid crystals are aligned by an electric filed, a zone where the liquid crystals are aligned aslant to a vertical direction is formed, and thus the high phase retardation may be caused according to the alignment of the inclined liquid crystals. As a result, the light passed through the liquid crystals is not completely linearly polarized but elliptically polarized to cause light leakage where some light is leaked or not completely passed through the liquid crystals. When the light leakage occurs, the contrast ratio is deteriorated, which leads to the severely low visibility.
In the case of the IPS-LCD, a zone where the liquid crystals are aligned aslant to the vertical direction is not formed when the liquid crystals are re-aligned, and thus the changes in phase retardation according to the alignment of the inclined liquid crystals are not too high. Therefore, the IPS-LCD has been widely used as a liquid crystal display with a wide view angle.
However, a light path in the liquid crystal cells is lengthened in the case of the IPS-LCD when the light is emitted aslant, and the emitted light is more weakly elliptically polarized than when the light is emitted to the front side. Also, since the aslant emitted light is leaked on the polarizer, it is necessary to compensate for the phase retardation.
A view angle compensating film has been widely used to compensate for the phase retardation. Here, the view angle compensating film refers to a film having a phase retardation opposite to the phase retardation of the aslant emitted light so that its phase retardation can be induced inversely with respect to the phase retardation of the aslant emitted light.
However, since the phase retardation of the aslant emitted light is not uniform according to the emission angle or conditions of light, the kind or level of the phase retardation of a retardation film is generally determined by much minute research.
The retardation film functions to inversely compensate for the phase retardation which may be caused in liquid crystals or polarizers, and films having a phase retardation are generally used as the retardation film. The retardation film may be divided into an A plate, a C plate and a B plate, depending on the kinds of the retardation film.
Herein, the expression 'A plate and C plate' is meant to be divided according to refractive index anisotropy of the respective plates. Hereinafter, detailed descriptions of the A and B plates are as follows.
That is, materials through which the light is passed have refractive indexes (nx, ny, nz) with respect to x, y and z axes, respectively. Here, when a material has the same refractive indexes, this material is called isotropic, and when a material has partially or completely different refractive indexes, this material is called anisotropic. For convenience' sake, when it is assumed that a thickness direction of a film is z direction, one of two plane directions of the film is x direction, and the other of the plane directions is y direction, the refractive indexes are represented by refractive indexes in the directions as shown in FIG. 6, respectively.
Here, when a film has the same refractive indexes in two directions but different refractive indexes in one direction, this film is called a uniaxial film. Also, when a film has different refractive indexes in all three directions, this film is called a biaxial film.
Among the uniaxial films, when a film has different refractive indexes in a plane direction, this film is called an A plate. In this case, a refractive index of the A plate may be represented by the following Equation 1, and an in-plane phase retardation (Rin) in the A plate may be represented by the following Equation 2.nx≠ny=nz  Equation 1Rin=d×(nx−ny)  Equation 2
wherein, d represents a thickness of a plate (a film).
In Equation 1, when a film satisfies the requirements of Equation: nx>ny, this film is called a +A plate, and when a film satisfies the requirements of Equation: nx<ny, this film is called a −A plate.
Also among the uniaxial films, when a film has different refractive indexes in a thickness direction, this film is called a C plate. In this case, a refractive index of the C plate may be represented by the following Equation 3, and a thickness-direction phase retardation (Rth) in the C plate may be represented by the following Equation 4.nx=ny≠nz  Equation 3Rth=d×(nz−ny)  Equation 4
In Equation 2, when a film satisfies the requirements of Equation: nx<ny, this film is called a +C plate, and when a film satisfies the requirements of Equation: nx>ny, this film is called a −C plate.
Also, the biaxial film is referred to as a film whose in-plane and thickness-direction phase retardations are all varied. Among the biaxial films, a −B plate has a relationship of Equation: nx>ny>nz.
Since IPS liquid crystal cells themselves function as a +A-plate having a high phase retardation value, there has been proposed a technique using a −A plate as a view angle compensating film in order to compensate for the phase retardation in the prior art. The −A plate is manufactured by aligning discotic liquid crystals at constant alignment. Manufacturing the −A plate using the discotic liquid crystals as described above is difficult to be realized, and this manufacturing method has problems regarding the optical axis deviation, etc. Therefore, the −A plate has no sufficient performance. In consideration of the recent technologies, it is also impossible to manufacture a −A plate using the nematic liquid crystals.
As an alternative, there has been proposed a view angle compensating film that compensates for the phase retardation caused in IPS liquid crystal cells by stacking a +C plate on a −B plate, as shown in FIG. 4. However, this manufacturing method also has problems in that it is difficult for the view angle compensating film to secure a sufficient contrast ratio according to various view angles, and pixel colors may be generally tinged with red.
Furthermore, the conventional view angle compensating film was attached as a separate layer to a polarizer, and then used to compensate for the phase retardation caused in the IPS-LCD. However, this separate layer such as the view angle compensating film may cause an increase in the total thickness of a panel.

Polarizing plate with built-in viewing angle compensation film and IPS-LCD comprising same


A magnetic element may include a first core member, a second core member facing the first core member along an entire outer periphery thereof, a coil, and a base shaped body on which the first core member and the second core member are placed. The base shaped body is provided with a base member and a terminal member, and the terminal member is provided with a binding terminal part, which projects outward in a first corner part of the base member and projects from the base member on a side lower than a portion of a winding frame part side of one flange part. The second core member is provided with a cutout part at a portion corresponding to the first corner part of the base member for allowing insertion of an end drawn out from the winding frame part in a state of not contacting the second core member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic element.
2. Description of the Related Art
Among magnetic elements, there exists a type having a drum core, a spacer, and a ring core as described in Patent Document 1. In such a structure disclosed in Patent Document 1, a terminal is disposed on an outer peripheral side of the ring core, and an end of a lead wire is soldered to this terminal.    [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2008-108944
The magnetic element disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a structure in which the end of the lead wire contacts an edge existing in a surrounding area of a drawing portion of a large flange part, and moreover, the end of the lead wire contacts edges of the spacer and the ring core. However, when the end of the lead wire contacts edges of such a core and a spacer, the lead wire may break especially when the magnetic element is used in an environment where vibrations are given.
In particular, when the number of windings is large in order to increase the inductance value of the magnetic element, a thin wire having a small diameter of a lead wire is inevitably used, and such a thin wire is further liable to break when vibrations are given.
The present invention is made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a magnetic element capable of preventing breakage of a lead wire even in an environment where vibrations are given.


A patient support apparatus is convertible between a conventional bed position, having a generally horizontal sleeping surface upon which a person lies in a supine position, and a chair egress position, allowing a person to exit the support from a sitting position. The patient support comprises a deck and a foot panel removably coupled to the deck. The foot panel may allow a low seated height while the bed is in the chair egress position.

The present disclosure relates to a patient support apparatus, such as a hospital bed, for supporting a patient. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a deck section with an integrated foot panel.
Hospital beds known in the art are configured to move between a conventional bed position, wherein the patient support surface is generally flat, and a chair egress position, wherein the foot-end portion of the patient support surface is lowered so that a patient can egress or exit the bed from a sitting position. The length of the foot-end portion of the patient support surface that is lowered typically defines the minimum seat height of a bed in the chair egress position. It is often desirable to minimize the seat height of a bed in the chair egress position to facilitate safe patient egress from the bed.
In the prior art, when the foot-end of the patient support surface is lowered, the foot-end of the patient support surface has been retracted to minimize the bed seat height. Patient support surface retraction can require complex combinations of mechanical and electrical components to be integrated into a bed.

Removable integrated board and partial foot section


Interleaved type processing includes a preprocessing phase in which for each initial symbol received an auxiliary symbol that includes N auxiliary complex samples is formulated, and a processing phase that includes for each auxiliary symbol an inverse Fourier transform calculation of size N. The processing phase includes elementary processing of the butterfly type corresponding to several stages of a general butterfly-like calculation graph. The various stages of the graph are implemented within a pipelined architecture. Upon receiving an initial symbol, two separate random access memories are simultaneously used to respectively store in a first memory the auxiliary symbol corresponding to this initial symbol, and to perform on the basis of the content of the second memory the elementary processing corresponding to a first stage of the graph. The two memories are swapped with each new receipt of an initial symbol. The interleaved type processing delivers the 2N real output data corresponding to the initial symbol received.

The invention relates to the field of modulation/demodulation of information signals, and, more particularly, to transforming a stream of complex symbols initially formed of N complex samples into a stream of respective groups of 2N real output data using interleaved type processing. The invention applies to systems for transmitting orthogonal frequency division multiplex (OFDM) coded information. These systems form, for example, the sending portion of a very high speed digital modulation/demodulation device (VDSL modem).
In OFDM coding, the signal to be transmitted is coded on N carriers which are phase-modulated and amplitude-modulated as a function of the content of the information to be transmitted. Each carrier has a predetermined frequency and all the frequencies of the carriers are a submultiple of a predetermined sampling frequency. Also each symbol formed of N digital carriers, which are N complex samples sampled at the sampling frequency, must be transformed into a group of 2N real data sampled at twice the sampling frequency. This allows transmission over a transmission channel, such as a telephone line.
The transformation of an initial complex symbol respectively formed of N initial complex samples into a group of 2N real output data can be performed in several ways. A first approach performs an inverse Fourier transform of twice the size, that is, of size 2N. However, this approach requires the addition of an extra processing stage as well as the addition of extra memory.
A second approach performs an inverse Fourier transform of the same size, that is, of size N. This is followed by a complex filtering to eliminate part of the spectrum. However, such an implementation leads to a relatively complicated hardware embodiment.
A third approach also performs an inverse Fourier transform of size N, but this is followed by real filtering. However, this approach, which is simpler to implement than the previous approach, is approximate with regards to the accuracy obtained by the signal-to-noise ratio. The signal-to-noise ratio may turn out to be relatively large, thus leading to signal degradations. Also, the increase in the performance of this approach, that is, the reduction in the signal-to-noise ratio, requires the use of an extremely large real filter. This involves an expensive hardware implementation.
Another approach performs the transformation of the stream of initial complex signals respectively formed of N initial complex samples into a stream of respective groups of 2N real output data. This is done by interleaved type processing whose theoretical formulation is well known to one skilled in the art.
The main characteristics of interleaved type precessing will be discussed for all useful purposes. The real signal x(t) corresponding, for example, to an OFDM symbol, is defined by formula (I):                               x                                (            t            )                          =                              ∑                          k              =              1                                      N              -              1                                                      xe2x80x83                                                        M              k                        ·                          cos                                            (                                                      2                                        π                                                              xe2x80x83                                                                                f                      k                                                            t                                    +                                      ϕ                    k                                                  )                                                                        (        I        )
The symbol Mk denotes the amplitude of the carrier of rank k, xcfx86k denotes its phase, fk denotes its frequency and Nxe2x88x921 the number of carriers. When the frequencies of the carriers are all multiples of a frequency f1, then formula (I) becomes formula (II) in complex notation:                               x                                (            t            )                          =                              Re            [                                          ∑                                  k                  =                  1                                                  N                  -                  1                                                                          xe2x80x83                                                                            C                  k                                ·                                  ⅇ                                      2                                        j                                                              xe2x80x83                                                            π                                                              xe2x80x83                                                                                kf                      1                                                            t                                                                        ]                    .                                    (        II        )
The symbol Ck denotes the initial complex sample representative of the carrier of rank k. Ck is defined by the formula (III):
Ck=Mkxc2x7ejxcfx86kxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(III)
With a sampling of the signal at the frequency Nf1 and by extending the length of the symbol to N carriers (by adding the carrier C taken equal to 0), it can then be shown that the N real output data of even ranks, corresponding to the N complex samples of the input symbol are given by formula (IV):                               {                      x                          2                            p                                }                =                  Re          (                                    IFFT              N                                                  {                                                (                                                            C                      k                                        +                                                                  C                        _                                                                    N                        -                        k                                                                              )                                +                                                      j                                                              (                                                                        C                          k                                                -                                                                              C                            _                                                                                N                            -                            k                                                                                )                                                                                ⅇ                                                                                j                                                                                xe2x80x83                                                                              π                                                N                                                                  k                                                                                }                                )                                    (        IV        )
The real data of odd ranks x2p+1 are given by formula (V):                               {                                    x                              2                                p                                      +            1                    }                =                  Im          (                                    IFFT              N                                                  {                                                (                                                            C                      k                                        +                                                                  C                        _                                                                    N                        -                        k                                                                              )                                +                                                      j                                                              (                                                                        C                          k                                                -                                                                              C                            _                                                                                N                            -                            k                                                                                )                                                                                ⅇ                                                                                j                                                                                xe2x80x83                                                                              π                                                N                                                                  k                                                                                }                                )                                    (        V        )
In these formulas (IV) and (V), {overscore (C)}Nxe2x88x92k represents the complex conjugate of the complex number CNxe2x88x92k, IFFTN represents the inverse Fourier transform of size N operator, Im denotes the imaginary part of a complex number, and Re denotes the real part of a complex number.
The processing of the interleaved type includes a preprocessing phase in which, for each initial symbol received formed of N initial complex samples Ck, an auxiliary symbol formed of N auxiliary complex samples Ak is formulated. Each auxiliary complex sample Ak is defined by formula (VI):
Ak=(Ck+{overscore (C)}Nxe2x88x92k)+j(Ckxe2x88x92{overscore (C)}Nxe2x88x92k)ejxcfx80xcexa/Nxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(VI)
After this preprocessing, a processing phase is performed which includes, for each auxiliary symbol formed of the auxiliary samples Ak, an inverse Fourier transform calculation of size N. The result of this inverse Fourier transform is a set of N complex output coefficients Xk which, after rearrangement so as to retrieve the input order, makes it easily possible to obtain the 2N real data corresponding to the input symbol. This is so since the real data of even and odd ranks correspond respectively to the real parts and imaginary parts of the complex output samples successively obtained after rearrangement.
At present, the only known implementation of this interleaved processing is an entirely software implementation which turns out to be relatively complex to use in industrial devices, such as modems, for example. Furthermore, the larger the size of the Fourier transform and the greater the increase in processing speed, the more severe the implementation constraints become.
Moreover, numerous implementations of direct or inverse Fourier transforms which are dedicated or programmed on microprocessors for signal processing have been set out in the literature. Most of these implementations use a variation of the Cooley-Tukey algorithm, which makes it possible to reduce the number of arithmetic operations required to calculate the Fourier transform.
The Cooley-Tukey algorithm will be readily understood by one skilled in the art. This algorithm makes it possible, in particular, to reduce the calculation of a fast Fourier transform of initial size rp, where r represents the xe2x80x9cradixxe2x80x9d according to the terminology customarily used by one skilled in the art, into that of r Fourier transforms of size rpxe2x88x921 and of additional complex additions and multiplications. By iteratively repeating this reduction, we arrive at the calculation of Fourier transforms of size r, which are easily achievable, especially if r is chosen equal to 2 or 4.
The Cooley-Tukey algorithm uses a calculation graph exhibiting a general butterfly-like structure, well known to one skilled in the art, and is commonly referred to by the term xe2x80x9cbutterflyxe2x80x9d. Several hardware architectures are then possible to implement a butterfly-like calculation structure.
A first approach constructs a hardware operator capable of performing a butterfly type calculation, i.e., per butterfly of the graph. However, this approach is only conceivable with respect to the implementation of Fourier transforms of small size.
A second approach constructs just a single hardware operator of the butterfly type, and is intended for performing in succession the calculations corresponding to all the butterflies of all the stages of the graph. This approach requires a very fast hardware operator, and an input memory which is separate from the memory serving to write the intermediate calculation results. This is done to avoid access conflicts when a data block enters the operator while the previous block is still undergoing processing.
An intermediate approach constructs a hardware operator of the butterfly type per stage of the graph, as well as a storage element. Storage elements include delay lines or shift registers, whose function is to input the data into the operator in the correct order with regards to the butterflies of the graph of the relevant stage. Such architectures are said to be serial or pipelined.
More precisely, an electronic device for calculating a Fourier transform of the so-called pipelined architecture includes a plurality of successive processing stages connected in series between the input and the output of the device by internal data paths. These stages respectively include elementary processing means able to perform processing of Fourier transforms of elementary sizes, which are smaller than the initial size, on data blocks of sizes which are successively reduced from one stage to the next. These stages also include elementary storage elements.
The expression xe2x80x9cinitial sizexe2x80x9d of the Fourier transform is understood to mean here and in the subsequent text the size of the blocks received at the input of the device by the first stage. The elementary sizes of the Fourier transforms performed by the various stages can be identical and equal to the radix of the Fourier transform. We then speak of a uniform radix Fourier transform. They may differ from one stage to another in the case of mixed radix Fourier transforms.
Examples of such pipelined architectures are described in the article by Bi and Jones entitled xe2x80x9cA Pipelined FFT Processor for Word-Sequential Dataxe2x80x9d, IEEE Transactions on Acoustic Speech and Signal Processing, Vol. 37, No. 12, December 1989, pages 1982-1985, and in the article by Bidet et al., entitled xe2x80x9cA Fast Single-Chip Implementation of 8192 Complex Point FFTxe2x80x9d, IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, Vol. 30, No. 3, March 1995, pages 300-305.
The storage elements described in these known architectures include delay lines which are very simple elements to manage, and which have the advantage of generally being compact (use of three transistors per bit stored). However, these elements are not always available as standard cells in stock libraries of components usable for defining and designing integrated circuits. Furthermore, their electrical characteristics are dependent on the technology used so that the architecture of the circuit must be carefully re-examined whenever the technology evolves. Moreover, such architectures use delay lines whose total storage capacity is equal to 2N0 for an initial size of Fourier transform equal to N0, while the theoretical minimum storage capacity is equal to N0.
An object of the invention is to use a random access memory, such as a single access memory, for storage in each stage of a pipelined architecture.
The use of a random access memory, whether it is dual access (dual port) or single access (single port permitting either write-access or read-access at each cycle of the internal clock of the device), requires specific management of addressing so that the intermediate data in memory can be stored and redelivered in the right order. This management is all the more complex when the radix of the Fourier transform is greater than 2, and in particular, when it is equal to 4. This goes against current teachings on the subject which provide for the use of delay lines or shift registers.
Moreover, it has been found that the use of a random access memory enabled the storage capacity to be reduced stage by stage, and, therefore, the total storage capacity of the device relative to the storage capacity required when employing delay.lines. Such a component is readily available in ordinary libraries of components, particularly when in its simplest form (single access memory), is totally independent of the technology used, and is compatible with very high clock frequencies.
In a pipelined architecture using a single access memory, the latency time, i.e., the duration separating the arrival of the first sample of a symbol and the delivery of the first complex output sample, is around 3N/2 cycles of the basic clock signal regulating the reception of the initial complex samples. This includes N cycles for the filling of the memory of the first stage. The preprocessing includes formulating an auxiliary complex symbol on the basis of each initial complex symbol, and in storing it in a single access memory. This also requires a latency of N cycles of the basic clock signal.
The total duration of latency rises to 5N/2 cycles of the basic clock signal. The latency includes preprocessing followed by transfer of the auxiliary symbol from its storage memory into the memory of the first stage followed by inverse Fourier transform. Such a latency duration may turn out to be incompatible with high speed transmission applications using VDSL modems working at 55 Mbits/second, for example. Stated otherwise, for such high speed applications, the use of a processing of the interleaved type using an architecture of the pipelined type for implementing the inverse Fourier transform calculation, at present proves to be a difficult problem to implement.
The invention provides a solution to this problem, which is to use an inverse Fourier transform implementation with pipelined architecture using a random access memory, such as a single access memory for each processing stage. In particular, the first processing stage uses a random access memory while optimizing the latency so as to obtain, despite the preprocessing phase of the processing of interleaved type, a latency duration equal to that of the inverse Fourier transform calculation means alone, i.e., 3N/2 cycles for an inverse Fourier transform of size N.
The invention therefore proposes a process for transforming a stream of initial complex symbols, respectively formed of N initial complex samples, into a stream of respective groups of 2N real output data by interleaved type processing that includes a preprocessing phase in which for each initial symbol received, an auxiliary symbol formed of N auxiliary complex samples is formulated. A processing phase comprises for each auxiliary symbol an inverse Fourier transform calculation of size N including elementary processing of the butterfly type corresponding to several stages of a general butterfly-like calculation graph, and delivers the 2N real output data corresponding to the initial symbol received.
According to a general characteristic of the invention, the various stages of the graph are implemented within a pipelined architecture, and, upon receiving an initial symbol, two separate random access memories (e.g., single access memories) are simultaneously used to respectively store in a first memory the auxiliary symbol corresponding to this initial symbol, and to perform on the basis of the content of the second memory the elementary processing corresponding to the first stage of the graph. Furthermore, the two memories are swapped with each new receipt of an initial symbol.
Stated otherwise, on receipt of a current initial symbol the corresponding formulated auxiliary symbol is stored in a first memory while the elementary processing corresponding to the first stage of the graph is performed on the basis of the content of a second memory. This second memory contains the formulated auxiliary symbol corresponding to the previous initial symbol. Then, on receipt of the next initial symbol, the corresponding formulated auxiliary symbol is stored in the second memory while the elementary processing corresponding to the first stage of the graph is performed on the basis of the content of the first memory. The elementary processing of the auxiliary symbol corresponds to the current initial symbol. This continues with respect to the receipt of the succeeding symbols.
The simultaneous implementation of the preprocessing and of the elementary processing corresponding to the first stage of the graph in the course of each reception of an initial complex symbol, in combination with the use of two memories used alternately for the preprocessing and for the elementary processing of the Fourier transforms during successive receptions of symbols, makes it possible to dispense with the transferring of the auxiliary samples from one of the memories to the other. The Fourier transform processing begins as soon as one of the memories is full. A saving of a certain number of basic clock cycles is thus achieved.
According to a relatively straightforward mode of implementation, the two memories are single access random access memories of identical structure. The auxiliary complex samples are formulated and stored as a pair in the corresponding memory. Each pair is formulated and stored in the course of a clock cycle of the basic clock signal regulating the reception of the initial complex samples. The identical structure of the memories allows easy swapping of the memories.
When two single access memories are used in combination with the switching of these memories, the total latency time is equal to 3N/2 cycles of the basic clock signal. There are N cycles for the preprocessing and N/2 cycles to obtain the output samples after Fourier transform.
According to one mode of implementation, the auxiliary sample of rank k is formulated on the basis of a pair of paired initial samples which is formed by the initial sample of rank k within the initial symbol and of the initial sample of rank Nxe2x88x92k. Two samples are said to be paired when the sum of their respective ranks is equal to N.
Moreover, if r denotes the radix of the inverse elementary Fourier transform associated with the first stage of the graph, each of the two memories is subdivided into r independent memory banks of identical size equal to N/r. There thus are received, with each initial sample, a rank indication representative of its rank within the symbol and a pairing indication indicating whether the initial sample is the first received or the second received of the corresponding pair.
If the pairing indication associated with an initial sample is representative of the first received, this sample is stored in the corresponding memory. If the pairing indication associated with an initial sample is representative of the second received, the initial sample paired with this sample received second is extracted from the corresponding memory. The two paired auxiliary samples of rank k and of rank Nxe2x88x92k are formulated on the basis of these two paired initial samples of rank k and of rank Nxe2x88x92k. These two paired auxiliary samples are stored in two separate memory banks of the same corresponding memory at the respective storage addresses associated with the two initial samples of rank k and of rank Nxe2x88x92k. The elementary Fourier transform processing of the first stage of the graph is performed successively on the N/r groups of auxiliary samples respectively stored at the same address in the r memory banks of the other corresponding memory.
More particularly, when the memory banks are indexed from 0 to rxe2x88x921 and all are addressable at addresses lying between 0 and N/rxe2x88x921, and if the pairing indication associated with an initial sample of rank k is representative of the first received, this sample is stored in the memory bank whose index is equal to E[rk/N]. The symbol E denotes the integer part operator at the address k modulo N/r.
However, if the pairing indication associated with an initial sample of rank k is representative of the second received, and the paired initial sample stored in the memory bank of index equal to E[r(Nxe2x88x92k)/N] at the address (Nxe2x88x92k) modulo N/r is read from the memory, then the auxiliary sample of rank k is formulated and stored in the memory bank of index equal to E[rk/N] at the address k modulo N/r. The auxiliary sample of rank Nxe2x88x92k is also formulated and stored in the memory bank of index equal to E[r(Nxe2x88x92k)/N] at the address (Nxe2x88x92k) modulo N/r.
The subject of the invention is also a device for transforming a stream of initial complex symbols respectively formed of N initial complex samples into a stream of respective groups of 2N real output data. This device comprises transformation means of the interleaved type comprising preprocessing means able to formulate for each initial symbol received an auxiliary symbol formed of N auxiliary complex samples. The device further comprises processing means able to perform for each auxiliary symbol an inverse Fourier transform calculation of size N including elementary processing of the butterfly type corresponding to several stages of a general butterfly-like calculation graph. The 2N real output data corresponding to the initial symbol received is delivered.
According to a general characteristic of the invention, the processing means are of a pipelined architecture and the device comprises two separate random access memories. On receipt of an initial symbol, the preprocessing means are able to store in a first memory the auxiliary symbol corresponding to this initial symbol. Simultaneously, the elementary processing means of the first stage of the processing means with pipelined architecture are able to perform on the basis of the content of the second memory the elementary processing corresponding to the first stage of the graph. The device furthermore comprises control means able to swap access to the two memories by the elementary processing means with each new receipt of an initial symbol.
According to a relatively straightforward embodiment of the invention, the two memories are single access random access memories of identical structure. The preprocessing means are able to formulate and to store a pair of the auxiliary complex samples in the corresponding memory.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the preprocessing means are able to formulate the auxiliary sample of rank k on the basis of a pair of paired initial samples which is formed by the initial sample of rank k within the initial symbol and of the initial sample of rank Nxe2x88x92k. If r denotes the radix of the inverse elementary Fourier transform associated with the first stage of the graph, each of the two memories is subdivided into r independent memory banks of identical size equal to N/r. The memory banks are indexed from 0 to rxe2x88x921 and all are addressable by addresses lying between 0 and N/rxe2x88x921. With each initial sample received there are associated a rank indication representative of its rank within the symbol and a pairing indication indicating whether the initial sample received is the first received or the second received of the corresponding pair.
If the pairing indication associated with an initial sample of rank k is representative of the first received, the preprocessing means are able to store this sample in the memory bank of index equal to E[rk/N] at the address k modulo N/r. If the pairing indication associated with an initial sample of rank k is representative of the second received, the preprocessing means are able to extract from the memory the paired initial sample stored in the memory bank of index equal to E[r(Nxe2x88x92k)/N] at the address (Nxe2x88x92k) modulo N/r.
The preprocessing means are thereafter able to formulate the auxiliary sample of rank k and to store it in the memory bank of index equal to E[rk/N] at the address k modulo N/r. The auxiliary sample of rank Nxe2x88x92k is formulated and stored in the memory bank of index equal to E[r(Nxe2x88x92k)/N] at the address (Nxe2x88x92k) modulo N/r.
The elementary processing means successively performs processing of butterfly type on the N/r groups of auxiliary samples respectively stored at the same address in the r memory banks of the corresponding memory.

Process and device for transforming complex symbols into real data, especially for the transmission over a telephone line of phase-modulated and amplitude-modulated carriers


Embodiments include digital signal processing units, a transmitting device for a wireless communication system and methods of processing a composite time domain signal having a plurality of parallel and independent signals that collectively form a parallel communication. It is proposed a new waveform configuration suitable for 5G and that is able to reduce out-of-band (OOB) emissions which are received on a first time domain signal associated to a first sub-band where the OOB emissions originate from an OFDM time domain signal associated with a second sub-band adjacent to the first sub-band. The proposed solution is partly based on filtered-OFDM with the exception that sub-band filtering is not performed on all the samples of the stream of OFDM symbols. Instead, filtering is performed only, for each OFDM time domain signal, where transition occurs between consecutive OFDM symbols.

To support the increased diversity of the future services to be provided by 5G networks, a recently waveform configuration known as filtered-OFDM (filtered Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex) has been proposed.
Filtered-OFDM is said to allow a flexible time-frequency arrangement/allocation as opposed to the uniform distribution required by OFDM in 4G long-term evolution networks (LTE). Filtered-OFDM splits up the bandwidth assigned to a given wireless operator into several sub-bands. Further, in each sub-band, a conventional OFDM signal is tailored to suit the needs of a given type of service in accordance with associated channel operating parameters such as the subcarrier spacing, the cyclic prefix length and the transmission time interval.
In other words, each stream of OFDM symbols associated to a given sub-band is isolated and potentially non-orthogonal to other OFDM symbols associated to other sub-bands. The forgoing also means that where different operating parameters are used by OFDM signals of adjacent sub-bands, subcarrier orthogonality between such OFDM signals may generally be broken, thereby generating interferences between adjacent sub-bands.
Such inter sub-band interference is dealt with in filtered-OFDM by using a band-limited filter on each stream of OFDM symbols of each sub-band and which is configured to suppress, or at least reduce below a target level, the out-of-band (OOB) emissions that may exist between adjacent sub-bands.
However, although the filtering approach used in filtered-OFDM provides a high level of out-of-band rejection close to the modulated subcarriers for a given stream of OFDM symbols, it also introduces inter-carrier interference (ICI) which is known to degrade the bit error rate (BER) at the receiver level. Indeed, in filtered-OFDM, filtering is applied on all subcarriers of a given OFDM symbol.
This is not appropriate, as BER is a primary concern in the design of many digital communication systems. Therefore, it would be desirable to have a waveform configuration as effective as filtered-OFDM in terms of OOB rejection, while at the same time being able to minimize the ICI.

Sub-band based composite digital time domain signal processing


A tray includes a compartment with a bottom surface and perimeter sidewalls, and a passive stop arrangement is provided in the compartment. The passive stop arrangement includes at least a first notch in one of the sidewalls and a stop disposed proximate to the first notch. The tray is especially useful in a tray support system including a chassis having at least two laterally-spaced and vertically oriented racks each having spaced rungs in a mirror-image relationship.

The present invention relates generally to racking systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved tray and tray racking system for supporting at least one removable tray and allowing drawer-like movement of the tray within the racking system.
Although the removable tray and tray racking system is ideally suited for commercial use such as for holding electronic components, it may be used with equal advantage in many other commercial, industrial and residential applications and environments.
The utility of formed-wire shelving systems is known. Such systems have found wide use in commercial, industrial, and residential applications. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,424,111, 3,523,508 and 3,757,705, disclose wire shelving units that have achieved great commercial success under the trademark SUPER ERECTA SHELF by Intermetro Industries Corporation of Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,523,508, for example, a modular adjustable shelving system includes a formed-wire shelf component having a frusto-conically-shaped collar at each corner for receiving a support post. Generally cylindrical support posts, each having a plurality of uniformly spaced annular grooves formed in its outer surface, are secured to the shelf by means of a mounting assembly. Each mounting assembly comprises at least two separate, complementary, conical-shaped mounting members which are joined about, and at least partially surround, the support posts to define a sleeve.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,757,705 discloses an adjustable shelving system similar to that U.S. Pat. No. 3,523,508.
Formed-wire shelving systems such as those disclosed in the Maslow patents are commonly known as being of the xe2x80x9cknockdownxe2x80x9d type. The shelves of knockdown shelving systems are readily adjusted to various desired heights and such systems are readily assembled and/or disassembled.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,595 to Hilstoky discloses a modular formed-wire shelving system for use with removable pans. The Hilstoky system comprises a base frame, a top frame, and a pair of opposed vertical support assemblies. Each vertical support assembly comprises a plurality of spaced vertical support rods and a plurality of spaced horizontal support brackets secured to the vertical support rods at points where they intersect each other. At least two of the vertical support rods engage and interlock with the base and top frames. The plurality of support brackets are arranged in substantially co-planer pairs to cooperatively support removable pans between the vertical support assemblies. Further, at least one pair of vertical support rods are positioned in the vertical support assemblies so as to be disposed on either side of, and proximate to, the sidewalls of the inserted pans so as to limit lateral side-to-side movement of the pans to prevent them from slipping off the support brackets.
Additionally, other prior art rack systems employ a second set of spaced brackets to prevent tipping of the supported trays. Typically, these second brackets are located between the first supporting brackets of a vertical support assembly in a position above the tray. The second brackets are configured to extend laterally inwardly beyond the sidewalls of the tray so that, as a tray begins to tip, the tray contacts the second brackets and remains in a substantially level orientation.
Wire shelving systems, like the one disclosed in the Hilstoky patent above, are readily adaptable for storing and supporting trays and the like which, in turn, are capable of supporting a wide array of items, such as food items, boxes, tools, etc. There is a need, however, for a removable tray and racking system that provides advantages heretofore unknown. For example, individual trays could be inserted and removed from the system but could also be partially drawn like a drawer so that the contents of the tray may be inspected and accessed. Such a xe2x80x9cpassive stopxe2x80x9d feature would also help prevent inadvertent removal of the trays. Such a system should also allow users to identify the trays in the rack before withdrawal to minimize unnecessary handling of the trays.
It is an object of the present invention to improve upon shelving and racking systems known in the prior art.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a tray racking system that is adapted to provide drawer-like retention of the trays.
In one aspect of the present invention, a tray includes a compartment having a bottom surface and perimeter sidewalls, and a passive stop arrangement provided in the compartment. The passive stop arrangement includes at least a first notch in one of the sidewalls and a stop disposed proximate to the first notch.
In another aspect of the present invention, a tray support system comprises a chassis for supporting at least one removable tray, with the chassis including at least two laterally-spaced and vertically-oriented racks, each having spaced rungs in a mirror-image relationship.
In another aspect of the present invention, a sliding tray assembly is adapted to be retained within a chassis dimensioned and configured for slidably receiving, supporting, and spacedly stacking a plurality of removable trays and the like, one above the other between a pair of laterally-spaced and vertically-oriented racks having rungs. The tray assembly comprises a tray capable of supporting items and a passive stop means for stopping sliding movement of the tray relative to the chassis.
In still another aspect of the present invention, a tray support system comprises a chassis having guide means to guide at least one tray at least partially disposed within the chassis and a tray having passive stop means to stop lateral movement of the tray.
These and other aspects, objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, read in conjunction with reference to the accompanying drawings.


Provided herein is a system including, in some embodiments, a streamlined port and a port tunneler. The port includes a septum and a stabilizing element. The septum is disposed over a cavity in a body of the port, and the septum is configured to accept a needle therethrough. The stabilizing element is configured to stabilize the port in vivo and maintain needle access to the septum. The port tunneler includes an adapter and a release mechanism. The adapter is in a distal end portion of the port tunneler, and the adapter is configured to securely hold the port while subcutaneously tunneling the port from an incision site to an implantation site for the port. The release mechanism is configured to release the port from the adapter at the implantation site for the port.

Standard procedure for placing a vascular access device such as a port requires two incisions: a first incision near the clavicle, used to introduce a catheter to the superior vena cava for vascular access, and a second incision lower on the chest, where the port is ultimately implanted in a port pocket and connected to the catheter. Creation and closure of the port pocket accounts for a large percentage (about 42%) of the procedure and increases tissue trauma and risk of infection at the site of the second incision. Furthermore, the requirement for the second incision increases potential for scarring. Provided herein are port tunneling systems and methods that address the foregoing.

Port tunneling systems and methods thereof