The present invention relates to a method for producing a nucleoside derivative represented by formula (2), comprising the step of reducing a nucleoside of formula (1) in the presence of a noble metal catalyst comprising a carrier and a noble metal supported thereby, selected from the group consisting of (A) a homogeneously supported catalyst where the specific surface area of the noble metal is 95.0 m2/g or more and the particle size of the noble metal is 4.3 nm or less, and (B) a surface-loaded catalyst where the specific surface area of the noble metal is 56.0 m2/g or more and the particle size of the noble metal is 8.0 nm or less,

The DDI is useful as an antiviral agent and has already been approved as an anti-AIDS drug in many countries including U.S.A., Japan and European countries.
To derive a didehydro (DD) compound from nucleoside, there is conventionally known, for example, a method where hydroxyl groups at the 2′- and 3′-positions of nucleoside are subjected to thiocarbonylation, followed by radical reduction to form a didehydrodideoxy (D4) derivative, and the D4 derivative is subjected to hydrogenation or the like, thereby obtaining a didehydro (DD) derivative (refer to Chu, C. K. et al. J. Org. Chem. 1989, 54, 2217-2225).
Reduction catalysts are used when the didehydro derivative is synthesized from nucleoside. Noble metal-supported catalysts can produce the target compounds in satisfactory yields. However, those catalysts themselves are so expensive that it was difficult to use those catalysts in large amounts.
Accordingly, there is an increasing demand for methods for producing the DDI and DDA in high yields at low cost.

Method for producing nucleoside derivatives

Abstract: wherein R1 is hydrogen or a protective group, R2 is NH2 or OH, R3 is an acyl group, and X is a chlorine or bromine atom. According to the present invention, the yield can be made equal even when the amount of catalyst is smaller than that used for the conventional products.


Hedgehog agonists and antagonists can be used to regulate angiogenesis, and to prevent angiogenesis driven pathologies. Furthermore, hedgehog agonists and antagonists have utility in modulating tissue repair and in the treatment of many forms of cancer.

Hedgehog proteins act as morphogens in a wide variety of tissues during embryonic development (Ingham, 1995; Perrimon, 1995; Johnson and Tabin, 1997; Hammerschmidt et al., 1997). Vertebrate hedgehogs are crucial to a number of epithelial-mesenchymal inductive interactions during neuronal development, limb development, lung, bone, hair follicle and gut formation (Ericson et al., 1995; Roberts et al., 1995; Apelqvist et al., 1997; Ericson et al., 1997; Hammerschmidt et al., 1997; Johnson and Tabin, 1995; Pepicelli et al., 1998; Litingtung et al., 1998; Roberts et al., 1998; Dodd et al., 1998; Dockter, 2000). Mammalian hedgehog genes consist of sonic, indian and desert which are highly conserved between species (Zardoya, 1996). Sonic hedgehog (shh) is expressed widely during development and sonic null mice are embryonic lethal with multiple defects beginning early to midgestation (Bitgood and McMahon, 1995; Chiang et al., 1996; Litingtung et al., 1998; St-Jacques et al., 1998). Indian hedgehog (ihh) is expressed less widely and indian null mice survive till late gestation. However, Ihh null mice exhibit severe stunting of skeletal growth which correlates to the role of Ihh in regulating bone growth plate (St-Jacques et al., 1999; Karp et al., 2000). Desert hedgehog (dhh) is the most restricted in expression and Dhh null mice are viable, but as expected from the expression pattern, male gonads do not develop completely and the peripheral nerves develop in a disorganized fashion (Bitgood et al., 1996; Parmantier et al., 1999).
Hedgehog signalling occurs through the interaction of hedgehog protein with the hedgehog receptor, patched (Ptc) and this interaction's modulation of the co-receptor smoothened (Smo). The mammalian genome contains 2 patched genes, ptc1 and ptc2, both of which encode 12 transmembrane proteins containing a sterol sensing domain (Motoyama et al, 1998; Carpenter et al, 1998). The interaction of Hh and Ptc inactivates the repression of smoothened (Smo), a 7 transmembrane protein which then leads to activation of fused (Fu), a serine-threonine kinase, and the disassociation of a transcription factor, Gli, from the microtuble-associated Fu-Gli-Su(fu) complex. The uncomplexed Gli protein is transported to the nucleus where it activates downstream target genes of the hedgehog pathway including the ptc1 and gli1 genes (Ding et al., 1999; Murone et al, 1999a; Murone et al, 1999b; Pearse et al., 1999; Stone et al., 1999; Hynes et al, 2000).
Hedgehog genes have so far not been implicated directly in embryonic or adult angiogenesis. No vascular defects have been reported in shh, ihh or dhh knockout mice. However, we show here that cells in the adult vasculature both express ptc1 and can respond to exogenous hedgehog and, more importantly, hedgehog is able to induce robust neovascularization in the corneal pocket model of angiogenesis. The angiogenic response to hedgehog appears to occur through the activation of mesenchymal cells to produce VEGFs and Angiopoietins.
Angiogenesis, the process of sprouting new blood vessels from existing vasculature and arteriogenesis, the remodeling of small vessels into larger conduit vessels are both physiologically important aspects of vascular growth in adult tissues (Klagsbrun and D'Amore, 1991; Folkman and Shing, 1992; Beck and D'Amore, 1997; Yancopoulos et al., 1998; Buschman and Schaper, 2000). These processes of vascular growth are required for beneficial processes such as tissue repair, wound healing, recovery from tissue ischemia and menstrual cycling. They are also required for the development of pathological conditions such as the growth of neoplasias, diabetic retinopathy, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, certain forms of macular degeneration, and certain inflammatory pathologies (Cherrington et al., 2000).
The ability to stimulate vascular growth has potential utility for treatment of ischemia-induced pathologies such as myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, and stroke. The sprouting of new vessels and/or the expansion of small vessels in ischemic tissues prevents ischemic tissue death and induces tissue repair. Certain growth factors such as those in the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) families are able to stimulate vascular growth by acting on endothelial cells to induce angiogenesis. Other factors have also been shown to have angiogenic and arteriogenic activities such as MCPI (Buschman and Schaper, 2000) and angiopoietins. In preclinical models of myocardial infarction, both FGFs and VEGFs have been able to improve myocardial revascularization and function (Yanagisawa-Miwa et al, 1992; Battler et al., 1993; Harada et al., 1994; Banai et al., 1994; Unger et al., 1994; Mesri et al., 1995; Pearlman et al., 1995; Landau et al, 1995; Lazarous et al., 1996; Engler, 1996; Magovern et al., 1997; Shou et al., 1997). Also in models of peripheral vascular disease, VEGF and other angiogenic factors are able to induce angiogenesis and improve vascular perfusion of the ischemic limb (Majesky, 2000; Takeshita et al, 1996 and 1994; Rivard et al., 1998 and 1999, Isner et al, 1996).
A number of these factors are also implicated in vascular growth in pathological conditions such as tumor expansion, diabetic retinopathy and rheumatoid arthritis. The inhibition of vascular growth in these contexts has also shown beneficial effects in preclinical animal models (Klohs and Hamby, 1999; Zhu and Witte, 1999; Cherrington et al., 2000). For example, inhibition of angiogenesis by blocking vascular endothelial growth factor or its receptor has resulted in inhibition of tumor growth and in retinopathy (Fong et al., 1999; Wood et al., 2000; Ozaki et al., 2000). Also, the development of pathological pannus tissue in rheumatoid arthritis involves angiogenesis and can be blocked by inhibitors of angiogenesis (Peacock et al., 1995; Storgard et al., 1999).
Thus, the induction of angiogenesis and vascular growth is beneficial for tissue repair and would healing whereas inhibition of angiogenic growth factors can prevent angiogenesis driven pathologies. It would be useful to develop novel therapeutics that modulate angiogenesis.
Furthermore, the present invention demonstrates that the inhibition of hedgehog signaling decreases unwanted cellular proliferation, growth, differentiation and/or survival. Such unwanted cellular behavior is often observed in tumor cells (e.g., in cancer). Accordingly, the present invention provides methods and compositions of decreasing unwanted cellular behavior, such as occurs in cancer, by administering hedgehog antagonists.

Angiogenesis-modulating compositions and uses


A needleless connector for adding medication to a parenteral fluid is provided. The needleless connector comprises a connector adapted to receive a syringe and having a check valve to seal the port in place of a puncture pad. The check valve comprises a resilient disc held in place and biased closed by the tensile stress of the check valve material. When a syringe or other apparatus having a male luer connector is engaged with the connector and fluid pressure is applied to the check valve the resilient disc is deformed which allows the medication to flow through the connector into the tubing and thus to the patient.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to medical connectors used in the introduction of liquids into patients via intravenous solutions. More particularly the invention relates to a needleless connection for use with syringes or other apparatus having a standard luer lock type connection.
2. Related Information
It is a common practice in treating patients, particularly patients who must be cared for under emergency conditions, using medications introduced into the patient intravenously. An intravenous solution, commonly referred to as parenteral fluid, is fed from a container or I.V. bag through a tubing and a catheter which has been inserted into the patient's vein. The catheter is secured to the patient by a strip of adhesive tape. The medication to be administered is generally added to the parenteral fluid through a Y connector in the tubing. The conventional practice has been to inject the fluid using a hypodermic syringe and needle through a sealed entry port in Y connector in the tubing. Generally the seal at the port is a puncture pad of generic latex which for a limited number of uses will reseal itself when a needle is withdrawn.
One problem with this conventional practice is that the needle may be pulled loose from the sealed port very easily. Another problem is needle sticks. From time to time a nurse in attempting to insert the needle into the port will accidentally stick himself or herself with the needle. While there is little risk of infection to the nurse if the needle is new and sterile, the process may be slowed until the needle has been replaced. Lopez, et al in U.S. Pat. No. 4,752,292 have presented one solution to the problem.
The connector of Lopez, et al presumes that the needle connector may be easily attached to the source of medication. When measured doses are necessary syringes are more often used and the Lopez connector is not practical.
Another solution has been presented by Haining in U.S. Pat. No. 5,785,693 wherein a spring actuated valve is placed in a Y connector on the I.V. tube. While useful, the valve of Haining has several moving parts, such as the valve stem and spring, which may foul. In addition the materials of construction, especially of the spring, have to be medical grade material.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a needleless connector having a simplified valve for administering medication through a Y connector of an I.V. system.


The auto-erecting tent is a tent structure in which corners of said tent include automated telescoping members that work simultaneously to extend and retract thereby erecting or lower the tent as needed. Each of the telescoping members includes a motor that drives the telescoping member to extent and retract as needed. The tent is square or rectangular across a floor surface, and telescoping members are located at each corner of the floor surface. Two telescoping members are provided at a first edge, and are connected via a first lateral member whereas the remaining two telescoping members are connected via a second lateral member. A top, telescoping brace attaches to the first lateral member and the second lateral member in order to support a roof surface of the tent.

A. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of tents and camping equipment, more specifically, a tent that is able to erect itself automatically.
B. Discussion of the Prior Art
As will be discussed immediately below, no prior art discloses a tent in which corners of said tent include automated telescoping members that work simultaneously to extend and retract thereby erecting or lower the tent as needed; wherein each of the telescoping members includes a motor that drives the telescoping member to extent and retract as needed; wherein the tent is square or rectangular across a floor surface; wherein the telescoping members and their respective motors are located at each corner; wherein two telescoping members of a first edge are connected via a first lateral member whereas the remaining two telescoping members are connected via a second lateral member; wherein a top, telescoping brace attaches to the first lateral member and the second lateral member in order to support a roof surface of the tent; wherein the top, telescoping brace is able to disconnect from the first lateral member; wherein the top, telescoping brace is able to retract and fold with respect to the second lateral member and corresponding telescoping members; wherein the tent has side surfaces wherein one of which includes a zipper extending along a height in order to provide ingress into and egress from the tent; wherein the telescoping members connect to the floor surface via a ball swivel so as to lie flat against the floor surface when fully retracted.
The Lee Patents (U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,341,071 and 5,499,646) disclose a tent frame that will automatically collapse and retract with motors located in the top hub and sides. However, the tent frame does not have lateral members and a top, telescoping brace that work to provide the flat roof surface of the tent at bar.
The Ham et al. Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,581,617) discloses an automatic self-erecting tent using a spring loaded opening mechanism like that of an umbrella. Again, the tent does not have a flat roof surface supported via a top, telescoping brace that spans across lateral members that are positioned atop of adjacent telescoping members.
The Kim Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 7,509,967) discloses an automatic umbrella style folding tent or shelter apparatus.
The Liu Patent Application Publication (U.S. Pub. No. 2010/0006131) discloses an automatic, motorized folding canopy. However, the canopy does not have a flat roof surface that is parallel with a floor surface, and which is supported via lateral members and a top, telescoping brace.
While the above-described devices fulfill their respective and particular objects and requirements, they do not describe a tent in which corners of said tent include automated telescoping members that work simultaneously to extend and retract thereby erecting or lower the tent as needed; wherein each of the telescoping members includes a motor that drives the telescoping member to extent and retract as needed; wherein the tent is square or rectangular across a floor surface; wherein the telescoping members and their respective motors are located at each corner; wherein two telescoping members of a first edge are connected via a first lateral member whereas the remaining two telescoping members are connected via a second lateral member; wherein a top, telescoping brace attaches to the first lateral member and the second lateral member in order to support a roof surface of the tent; wherein the top, telescoping brace is able to disconnect from the first lateral member; wherein the top, telescoping brace is able to retract and fold with respect to the second lateral member and corresponding telescoping members; wherein the tent has side surfaces wherein one of which includes a zipper extending along a height in order to provide ingress into and egress from the tent; wherein the telescoping members connect to the floor surface via a ball swivel so as to lie flat against the floor surface when fully retracted. In this regard, the auto-erecting tent departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art.


An error display device of a data transmission system in which a plurality of nodes are connected to a main controller to transmit data, the main controller being adapted to discriminate an error content and an error position from an error signal contained in a data frame signal transmitted from the nodes and to display the error content and position. Since it is so arranged that the storage content of temporary memory for temporarily storing therein a signal corresponding to the error content and the error position is not updated each time the error signal is inputted but updated intermittently according to an operator's instruction, even when errors frequently take place at a multiplicity of locations, that is, even when it is difficult for an operator to confirm error display contents, the operator can reliably confirm the error contents.

In the case where it is desirable to control presses, machine tools, construction machines, ships, airplanes, unmanned or automatic carriers, unmanned warehouses or so on an integrated data processing basis, a multiplicity of sensors for detecting the states of the respective machines or warehouses and a multiplicity of actuators for controlling the states thereof become necessary. The number of such sensors and actuators amounts, in the case of the presses for example, to more than 3000 and in other cases, amounts to much more than the above.
Conventionally, there has been considered an integrated data processing system for controlling such sorts of machines or items on an integrated data processing basis, in which a plurality of nodes are connected in series, each of the nodes is connected to one or a plurality of sensors and actuators, and these nodes are connected in a ring form through a main controller so that each node is controlled by a signal received from the main controller.
In the case where the nodes are connected in series in this way, it becomes important how to secure the simultaneousness of outputs of the respective-sensors as well as the simultaneousness of control of the actuators. For example, when such an arrangement is considered that addresses are allocated to the respective notes and the nodes are controlled on the basis of the addresses, a time delay taken for the address processing becomes a problem, which results in that the satisfactory simultaneousness cannot be secured with respect to the collection of the outputs of the sensors and the control of the actuators.
To solve the problem, the inventors of the present application have suggested a series control system which nodes are connected in series, an idea of allocating addresses to the nodes is discarded and instead the nodes are identified by their connection sequence, whereby the need for address processing can be eliminated, the problem of the time delay caused by the address processing can be removed, and further the node structure can be remarkably simplified.
Such a series control system is arranged as shown in FIG. 4.
The series control system is suitably used in a centralized control system for controlling a press. In the system, a host controller 200 performs general control respective portions of the press. A main controller 100 controls data transfer with a plurality of nodes 10-1 to 10-N connected thereto. Groups of sensors 1-1, 1-2, . . . , and 1-N are provided to the respective portions of the press to detect the states of the press. Groups of actuators 2-1, 2-2, . . . , and 2-N are provided to the respective portions of the press to drive the associated presses. The sensor group 1-N and the actuator group 2-N are connected to the associated nodes 10-N (N=1 N) which in turn are connected in a loop form together with the main controller 100.
FIG. 5 shows frame structures of a data signal used in the system when the number N of nodes are set to be 5. The data frame signal is issued from the main controller 100, passed through the nodes 10-1, 10- 2, . . . , and 10-N and sent back to the main controller 100. FIG. 5(a) shows the data frame signal immediately after outputted from the main controller 100, FIGS. 5(b), (c), (d) and (e) show the data frame signals outputted from the nodes 10-1, 10-2, 10-3 and 10-4 respectively, and FIG. 5(f) shows the signal outputted from the node 10-5 (the signal to be fed back to the main controller 100 when N=5).
The contents of the respective signals having the frame structures of FIG. 5 are as follows.
STI; First start code indicative of the heading position of an input data (sensor data) DI PA1 DI; input data (sensor data) PA1 DIq; Input data from a sensor connected to the q-th node PA1 STO; Second start code indicative of the heading PA1 position of output data (actuator drive data) PA1 DO; Output data (actuator drive data) PA1 DOq; Output data to the actuator connected to the q-th node PA1 SP; Stop code indicative of the terminating end position of a data string PA1 CRC; CRC code for CRC check PA1 ERR; Code indicative of error presence or absence, error content and error position
The respective nodes 10-1 to 10-N shown in FIG. 4 operate to add the detection data DIq of the sensor 1 connected to the node to between the start codes STI and STO and to remove the output data DOq to the actuator 2 connected to the associated node from the output data immediately after the start code STO as shown in FIGS. 5 (b) to (f).
Accordingly, in this system, when such a data frame signal containing the actuator control data DO as shown in FIG. 5(a) is sent from the main controller 100 to the node 10-1, the data frame signal is sequentially propagated from the node 10-1 via the nodes 10-2, 10-3, 10-4 and to the node 10-5, which results in that the actuator control data DO in the data frame signal are allocated to the corresponding nodes and at the same time the detection data of the sensor group obtained at the respective nodes are taken into the data frame signal. As a result, when the data frame signal is fed back to the main controller 100, no actuator control data DO are contained in the frame signal and the detection data of the sensor group are contained in the frame signal as shown in FIG. 5(f).
The error code ERR in the data frame signal comprises, as shown in FIG. 6, a bit Ea indicative of the presence or absence of an error, an error content code Eb indicative of the contents of the error, and an error position area Ec indicative of the position of the error. When one of the nodes detects such an error as a communication error, this node sets the bit Ea at "1", sets the error content code Eb to have a code content corresponding to the generated error, and further initializes the error position area Ec to have such an initial value as "10 . . . 00) (which means a value "1", though the bit order is reversed). The data frame signal with such an error code ERR attached to the end thereof is sent to a next node in the next stage.
The node in the next stage, when receiving such an error code ERR, detects that the bit Ea in the error code ERR has a value "1", adds "1" to the data of the error position area Ec, and sends to a node in the next stage the data frame signal having the error code ERR attached to the end thereof. In this way, the subsequent nodes similarly operate to add "1" to the data of the received error position area Ec.
The data frame signal is thereafter applied to the main controller 100. The main controller 100 can know the generation of the error on the basis of the value "1" of the bit Ea, can know the error content on the basis of the error content code Eb, and also can know the position of the error generation on the basis of the value added by "1" to the data content of the error position area Ec. For example, in the system of FIG. 4, when N=5 and an error is detected at the node 10-3, the value added by "1" to the data content of the error position area Ec inputted to the main controller 100 corresponds to binary data indicative of a decimal number "4", so that the main controller 100 can detect the generation of the error at the node 10-3 through its reverse calculation.
When the main controller 100 detects the presence of an error in the data frame signal for the first time (when the bit Ea is "0" and the main controller 100 detects such an error as a CRC error), the error position area Ec has an eventual value of "1".
The initial set value and addition value of the error position area Ec at the nodes and the main controller are set by the following technique.
______________________________________ Sn 1 0 2 ADn +1 +1 +1 ADm +1 +2 +0 Sm 1 1 1 ______________________________________
Reference symbol Sn denotes the initial set value of the error position area Ec when the node detects an error, ADn denotes an addition value at the node, ADm denotes an addition value when the main controller detects that Ea=1, and Sm denotes the initial set value of the error position area Ec when the main controller detects an error for the first time.
With such a system, the main controller 100 is connected to an operating panel and a display unit for the input and output of various sorts of data, so that the contents of the generated error and the position of the error generation are displayed on the display unit. However, this prior art system is arranged so that the error content and error generation position discriminated at the main controller 100 are displayed directly on the display screen. That is, in this error display unit of the prior art, the display position corresponding to the error content and error generation position refers to one location, and the error contents and error generation positions at different time points reflect directly on the display contents.
For this reason, the prior art system has had a problem that, when errors frequently take place at a plurality of different locations, the error contents and error generation positions are frequently and complicatedly changed, with the result that the operator cannot confirm the error contents and error generation positions. Further the prior art system has had another problem that, since an error history is not recorded, the operator cannot judge the state of the currently generated error. In more detail, though the error generation states include generation of a multiplicity of errors at a multiplicity of locations, generation of a multiplicity of errors at a small number of regular locations, generation of a small number of errors at a multiplicity of locations, and error generation at a very low frequency, the prior art system cannot discriminate to which one of those states the current error belongs.
In view of such circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide an error display device of a data transmission system capable of easily confirming the display content regarding errors and the state of the current error.

Error display device of data transmission system


Dielectric ceramic composition includes a hexagonal type barium titanate as a main component shown by a generic formula (Ba1-αMα)A(Ti1-βMnβ)BO3 and having hexagonal structure wherein an effective ionic radius of 12-coordinated “M” is −20% or more to +20% or less with respect to an effective ionic radius of 12-coordinated Ba2+ and the A, B, α and β satisfy relations of 0.900≦(A/B)≦1.040, 0.003≦α≦0.05, 0.03≦β≦0.2, and as subcomponents, with respect to the main component, certain contents of alkaline earth oxide such as MgO and the like, Mn3O4 and/or Cr2O3, CuO, Al2O3, rare earth element oxide and glass component including SiO2. According to the present invention, it can be provided the hexagonal type barium titanate powder and dielectric ceramic composition which are preferable for producing electronic components such as a capacitor and the like showing high specific permittivity, having advantageous insulation property and sufficient reliability.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hexagonal type barium titanate powder, a producing method thereof and a dielectric composition including the hexagonal type barium titanate as a main component, more precisely, relates to a dielectric ceramic composition which shows desired characteristics (for example, extremely high specific permittivity) and is preferable to produce a dielectric layer for electronic components such as a ceramic capacitor and the like which can maintain a sufficient reliability. Also, the present invention relates to an electronic component having dielectric layer composed of the dielectric ceramic composition.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, electric apparatus and electronic apparatus have been rapidly downsized and high performance. Along with that, it has been required to improve various characteristics (specific permittivity, temperature characteristics and the like) of electronic components used for such apparatuses with maintaining sufficient reliability. A ceramic capacitor as one example of electronic components is not exception.
As for dielectric material of such capacitor, particularly for dielectric material having high specific permittivity, tetragonal type barium titanate which includes tetragonal barium titanate as a main component, and cubic type partially has been used. By the way, in recent years, for improving a capacitance, it has been studied to make a dielectric layer thinner. In order to realize to make the dielectric layer thinner, smaller particle diameter of the dielectric particle is preferable. However, when atomizing the tetragonal type barium titanate powder as mentioned above, there was a problem that the specific permittivity is reduced.
As for a material having high specific permittivity, hexagonal barium titanate has been studied. Although the hexagonal barium titanate has essentially low specific permittivity than the tetragonal type barium titanate, in Japanese Patent No. 3941871, it has been suggested that the specific permittivity can be improved extremely by introducing oxygen vacancy to hexagonal barium titanate single crystal.
However, the present inventors have progressed to study based on the teaching in the above mentioned Japanese Patent No. 3941871, it has been found that an insulation property is reduced even though the specific permittivity is improved by introducing the oxygen vacancy. Therefore, when the hexagonal barium titanate having improved specific permittivity by introducing oxygen vacancy is used for element, there is a risk to reduce lifetime of the element and the like.
Also, in a crystal structure of the barium titanate, hexagonal structure is a metastable phase, normally, it can be exist only at 1460° C. or higher. Therefore, in order to obtain the hexagonal barium titanate in a room temperature, it is necessary to cool rapidly from the high temperature of 1460° C. or higher.
In this case, a specific surface area of the obtained hexagonal barium titanate becomes 1 m2/g or less because of the rapid cooling from the high temperature, thus a coarse powder is only obtained. When producing electronic components with thinner dielectric layer by using such coarse powder, there is a problem that it cannot maintain the sufficient reliability, because the powder fails to adapt to the thinner dielectric layer.
By the way, as for a producing method of the hexagonal barium titanate, for example, Non-Patent Literature 1 discloses that BaCO3, TiO2 and Mn3O4 are used as starting raw materials and are heat-treated. By this means, a transformation temperature to hexagonal phase can be lowered, hexagonal barium titanate in which Mn is solid-soluted is obtained by a heat treatment at a temperature lower than 1460° C.
However, specific surface area of the hexagonal barium titanate obtained in the Non-Patent Document 1 is approximately 1.6 m2/g, thus it is insufficient for applying a thinner dielectric layer in the electronic components even though using this hexagonal barium titanate powder.
Non-Patent Literature 1 is "Properties of Hexagonal Ba(Ti1-xMnx)O3 Ceramics: Effects of Sintering Temperature and Mn Content", Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, 2007 Vol. 46 No. 5A 2978-2983.

Hexagonal type barium titanate powder, producing method thereof, dielectric ceramic composition and electronic component


An EGR system control method of an engine may include calculating a target mass flux ({dot over (m)}egrd) of EGR gas flowing an EGR line, calculating an effective flowing area (EFA) of an EGR valve disposed on the EGR line, calculating an EGR flow sensitivity by dividing the target mass flux with the effective flowing area, and controlling a real opening rate of the EGR valve by applying the EGR flow sensitivity to a target opening rate of the EGR valve. Accordingly, a gain value is varied on a real time according to an effective flowing area of the EGR valve and a target mass flux of EGR gas such that real opening rate of an EGR valve is accurately and precisely controlled.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an exhaust gas control method of an engine that recirculates exhaust gas of an exhaust line to an intake line and precisely controls a flux of the recirculated exhaust gas.
2. Description of Related Art
Generally, an exhaust gas recirculation system is provided in most diesel engines that are equipped in a vehicle so as to take action with regard to exhaust gas regulations.
The exhaust gas recirculation system returns some of the exhaust gas exhausted from an engine to an intake device of a cylinder to lower combustion temperature of the engine and to decrease NOx thereof.
An EGR valve and an EGR cooler are disposed such that the EGR gas is cooled to a predetermined temperature to be supplied to the intake manifold.
The rotation speed of the engine and fuel injection amount are applied and the EGR valve is controlled by a feed forward control method so as to control the flux of the EGR gas, and a MAF detects the flux of the EGR gas.
Meanwhile, the flux of the EGR gas that is determined by the rotation speed and the fuel injection amount of the engine can be varied by several factors such that a real flowing of the EGR gas cannot be reflected and a feedback control can be interfered in a particular condition.
The information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.

Exhaust gas controlling method of engine

IUCF-HYU (Industry-University Cooperation Foundation Hanyang University)


Disposal of halogenated organic hazardous wastes by introducing them as feedstocks in the direct reduction of iron oxide (DRI). (DRI is described in Pat. RE.32247.) The novel hydrocarbons used as reducing feedstocks would normally be destined to become hazardous wastes or else their products of decomposition would be hazardous wastes. Such hydrocarbons are inclusive of but not limited to halogenated hydrocarbons such as PVC, PCBs, various insecticides, dioxin and others. This category of hydrocarbon wastes is otherwise difficult to utilize, incinerate, or otherwise dispose of safely. Polluting byproducts such as dioxin are almost always released. However within a DRI reactor they can be disposed of safely. There is no stack or vent to atmosphere. These hydrocarbons would be used as an alternative to or admixture with the usual hydrocarbon feedstocks of choice, methane or related short chain hydrocarbons.

1. Field of Invention
This invention involves decomposition of halogenated organic hazardous waste materials into inorganic molecules. The wastes are pyrolized/cracked/reformed and reacted with iron oxide in a closed, heated, pressurized Direct Reduction of Iron Oxide (DRI) process.
2. Description of Prior Art
Direct Reduction of Iron oxide to iron and carburization of that iron to iron carbide has been described in Pat. Re. 32247. Methane is the hydrocarbon of choice for this process although use of related short chain hydrocarbons has been postulated.
This is a continuation in part of patent application Ser. No. 08/790,527 issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,824,134 which teaches decomposition of organic hazardous wastes with polluting fractions selected tom a group consisting of organic phosphates, organic sulfurs, organic nitrogens, or organic mercury or tin.
Pat. U.S. No. 5,425,792 proposed producing syngas by reforming auto shredder and other industrial wastes under high heat in a rotary kiln. Pat. U.S. No. 5,244,490 proposed waste polymer materials as part of the fuel charge in iron melting blast furnaces. Both processes are done at temperatures in excess of 2000 degrees C. and not under the pressures customary in a closed pressurized DRI reactor. They vent products of decomposition to the atmosphere.
Pat. U.S. No. 4,834,792 teaches adding excess methane to DRI reactors to partially carburize sponge iron to make it less pyrophoric during handling.
German Patent 2841039 apparently teaches the test tube scale reduction of metal oxides using Trichlorofluromethane (CFCL3) reagent as a versatile, low temperature reducing agent. The present invention is for commercial scale safe disposal and reuse of halogenated organic waste materials.

Pyrolysis of halogenated organic hazardous wastes with direct reduction of iron oxides


An apparatus and method for measuring ballistics in a firearm is disclosed. The apparatus comprises (a) a device for measuring pressure in a firearm-firing-chamber disposed at least in part at the strain sensitive region, and for producing analog signals indicative of the pressure, and connected to digitizing circuits which record the amplitudes of the signals representing pressure as a function of time; (b) a plurality of muzzle bullet sensors for measuring the relative times at which the bullet passes the plane of each sensor and for producing analog signals indicative of these times, the analog signals being converted to digital signals and connected to digital timing circuits; and (c) an acoustic target located downrange and including (i) sensors arrayed at corners of a triangle for sensing acoustic energy emitted by a passing bullet and (ii) a device for generating analog signals representative of the acoustic energy sensed at the triangle corners. The pressure in the firing chamber is measured according to the formula: ##EQU1## and where. PSI.sub.Max is Maximum expected PSI, PA1 N is the gain port setting which is a digital setting to an amplifier gain port and is expressed as an integer from 20 to 255, PA1 G is the gage factor, PA1 D is the outside diameter of the firing chamber at the gage, and PA1 d is the inside diameter of the firing-chamber at the gage. Optionally, a plurality of bullet sensors may be located downrange in lieu of the downrange acoustic target. Analog signals are converted to digital signals which in turn are connected to timing circuits. Signals from the timing circuits are connected to a processor which calculates external and internal ballistics such as for example, velocity and time-of-flight using the common time-zero reference, and determines the location of "hit" at a target plane. The processor can be interfaced with a personal computer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related generally to methods and apparatus for measuring and calculating exterior and interior ballistics of a projectile and diagnosing the hit parameters of a launcher, and more particularly to a system and methods for measuring and calculating the velocity of said projectile, the time the projectile reaches the point downrange, the downrange point velocity, the energy imparted to the projectile at its exit from a launcher, pressure in a launcher, and determining the location of hit.
2. Description of the Related Art
The following patents are exemplary of current state-of-the-art active devices and methods for either external (outside the gun barrel) or internal (within the gun barrel) ballistics measurements and are not discussed in detail as their differences from the present invention are obvious from a cursory examination: U.S. Pat. No. 2,691,761 (Smith), U.S. Pat. No. 2,735,981 (Schultz et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 3,918,061 (Elgaard), U.S. Pat. No. 4,283,989 (Toulios et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 4,457,206 (Toulios et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 4,486,710 (Schmidt), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,159,396 (Yuhas).
Also known to the applicant are numerous patents relating to passive devices for measuring the velocity of a projectile as it travels between two points. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,770,527 (Park), discusses measurement of the velocity of a projectile as it travels between two points. Park includes an apparatus for determining the velocity of a projectile, and comprises optical means for generating a planar array of light beams. Chronographs of the type under particular consideration herein are based on the well-known relationship that velocity of a projectile is equal to the distance traveled by the projectile divided by the time required to travel that distance. Systems such as those shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,824,463; 4,128,76;1; and 4,239,962, all to the present inventor, illustrate devices for this purpose as they have been used in the past. U.S. Pat. No. 4,845,690 to the present inventor discloses an improved chronograph which is capable of indicating the possibility that an error has occurred while the shot sequence is still in progress, essentially on a "real time" basis, so that erroneous data can be eliminated before statistical analysis is accomplished.
There are several prior art devices for tracking moving targets that use acoustic sensors for sensing the acoustic signal and for determining the location at which a projectile passes through or strikes a predetermined plane and which are known to the applicant, however, none of these adequately meet all of the objectives of the present invention. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,096. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,095,467 (both issued to David P. Olson), both discuss a passive acoustic target tracking system for determining the bearing to a ground object emitting acoustic energy. The system includes three microphones arrayed at corners of an equilateral triangle for sensing acoustic energy emitted by a target, means for generating analog signals, means for conditioning the analog signals, and means for converting the analog signals to digital signals. The bearing to the target is determined trigonometrically from the time differences at which the acoustic wave appears at the microphones. The microphone array is used only to determine the direction from which a planar wave front arrives at the microphones. U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,424 (Rohrbaugh) discloses automatic shock wave scoring apparatus for scoring the "hit" on a supersonic projectile in a target area where the "hit" is determined from the detection of the acoustic ballistic shock wave. The system is based on a rod sensor configuration of non perpendicular curved rod sensors which define a scoring grid based on the intercept of the radial lines from the center of curvature of each curved rod through the tangent impact point (acoustic score point) on each rod. Sensors at the bottom of the target plane can be readily shielded from bullets. The following patents show the historical development of the prior art of devices for and methods of scoring supersonic projectiles: U.S. Pat. No. 2,916,289 (Zito), U.S. Pat. No. 2,925,582 (Mattel, et al), U.S. Pat. No. 2,934,346 (Mongello), U.S. Pat. No. 2,973,964 (Zito), U.S. Pat. No. 3,022,076 (Zito), U.S. Pat. No. 3,217,290 (Sillman), U.S. Pat. No. 3,392,979 (Wilska), U.S. Pat. No. 3,479,032 (Ohlund, et al), U.S. Pat. No. 3,778,059 (Rohrbaugh), U.S. Pat. No. 4,261,579 (Bowyer), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,424 (Rohrbaugh).
Pressure transducers (pressure sensors), inclusive resistive strain transducers, are well known in the prior art and need not be described specifically herein.
All of the prior art patents have numerous problems with accuracy being one of the leading problems. To date, no prior art is known that meets all of the objectives of the present invention, that is, to provide a system and method that would measure and calculate exterior and interior ballistics of a projectile and diagnose the hit parameters of a launcher. Moreover, prior art test systems used in the field often fail to provide adequate data for analysis of test performance due to low signal level and infrequent and unpredictable downrange arrival times. Prior art systems are also too costly to produce and have little flexibility in terms of their capability. There is therefore a need for a device which will measure the external and internal ballistics without the need for laborious hand calculations. There is also a need for a versatile device which will provide the accuracy and reliability of measurements. There is also a need for such a device having considerable flexibility for improvements and modifications and which is inexpensive to manufacture.

Apparatus and method for measuring and calculating exterior and interior ballistics


An air conditioning system includes a heat pump unit including a radiator usable with a refrigerant, a gas furnace unit including a heating section arranged to heat passing air, a blower arranged to generate an air flow that passes through the radiator and the heating section, and a controller configured to control each action of the heat pump unit, the gas furnace unit, and the blower. The controller operates either the heat pump unit or the gas furnace unit as a heat source unit, generates a capacity command used to variably adjust operating capacity of the heat source unit, and executes switch control in order to switch the heat source unit from either one of the heat pump unit or the gas furnace unit to the other when an operating capacity level designated in the capacity command is within a predetermined numerical range for a predetermined time.

In the past there have been air conditioning systems provided with a gas furnace unit and a heat pump unit, that perform air conditioning in a space to be air-conditioned. For example, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 64-54160 discloses an air conditioning system provided with a gas furnace unit and a heat pump unit, that switches between operating the gas furnace unit or the heat pump unit as a heat source unit at the moment a predetermined condition is fulfilled.


A modular electronic power supply interconnecting device has a plurality of stackable modules for converting an AC input voltage into DC output voltages of various magnitudes. A base module receives the input power and generates a first output power. A first adjacent module receives transfer power from the base module and generates a second output power. A second adjacent module receives transfer power from the base module and generates a third output power. The base module and the first and second adjacent modules are releasably attached and electrically connected. The device can be used to covert AC input power into DC power of 5 volts, 12 volts, 19 volts or any other desired magnitude.

The present invention relates to power supply systems of a snap together nature, wherein low voltage, direct current power may be provided for various types of electronic devices and connections, such as USB (universal serial bus) devices, cell phones, notebook computers, FireWire devices, and the like.
More particularly, the present invention deals with a low voltage, direct current power supply system having a base stackable module and one or more (preferably two) adjacent stackable modules which are quickly and easily connected and disconnected by virtue of snap together mechanical connections and appropriate electrical connections or connectors provided on the modules.
Most particularly, the present invention deals with a modular, low voltage, direct current power supply system of the foregoing nature wherein high voltage, alternating current power is supplied to a base stackable module, which in turn provides adjacent stackable modules with either a snap together connection to a high voltage, alternating current power source, or a snap together connection to a low voltage, direct current power source, wherein each of the modules converts its incoming power into a module specific low voltage, direct current output.
Currently, electronic devices require electrical power in a variety of low voltages that presently are typically supplied by multiple power pack transformers that are plugged into electrical wall outlets or power strips. When these transformers are used with electrical wall outlet receptacles, they must be plugged-in in a particular orientation, which can result in the transformer blocking other receptacles, rendering these unusable. When these power sources are plugged into electrical power strip receptacles, the transformers can block other power strip receptacles, thereby rendering those receptacles unusable. The transformers can also interfere with the power strip""s power switch, the power strip""s incoming power plugs, and can even interfere with other power pack transformers, thus causing electrical problems and general clutter.
Output power cables coming from each power pack will not only add to the clutter, but can get tangled with cables of computers and peripherals, which can cause the computers and peripherals to lose their connections and result in improper functioning of those devices. Computers and peripherals that could possibly be affected in this manner are personal computers, mice, monitors, keyboards, printers, scanners, external disk drives, speakers, digital cameras, PDAs (personal digital assistants), cable modems, cell and cordless telephones, and the like.
To solve the aforementioned problems that exist in the art, the present invention provides a low voltage power supply system, and modules therefore, which are easily interconnected together. A base stackable module is first required, after which, additional stackable modules can be mechanically attached on either the top or the bottom of the base stackable module, or to another module. The base stackable module is provided with a power cable, or a plug in, connection to a high voltage, alternating current power source, such as 120 v AC, or 240 v AC, or other desired voltage. This may be the only connection for the present invention to receive external power.
In one aspect of the invention, a modular electronic power supply interconnection device having a plurality of stackable modules converts high voltage input power into one or more lower output voltages. A base stackable module includes a base input electrical connector to receive a base input power source. A base converter converts the base input electrical power from a higher voltage to a lower voltage base output power and a base output electrical connector provides the base output power to external electrical devices. A first adjacent stackable module includes an adjacent male electrical connector for electrical contact with a base female electrical connector to receive transfer power from the base stackable module. A converter in the adjacent module converts the transfer power to an adjacent output power available at an adjacent output electrical connector that provides a connection to external electrical devices. The adjacent stackable module is mechanically releasably attachable to the base stackable module. One or more additional stackable modules can be similarly electrically connected and mechanically attached to the base module and the first adjacent stackable module.


An image reader and document conveying method shorten times necessary for a discharge process that discharges a document in being conveyed and for an idle feeding process of a document that is left on a paper feed tray.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image reader and a document conveying method, and more particularly, to an improvement of an image reader that can, during continuous reading of two or more documents, cancel the reading.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image reader that can automatically convey two or more documents to sequentially read the documents is known. Further, an image reader that can perform double-sided reading of a document through automatic conveyance is also widely known. As an image reader that can perform the double-sided reading, one based on a one-pass two-scanner method that uses two image sensors to perform the double-sided reading of a document, or one based on a two-pass one-scanner method that reverses a document during automatic conveyance, and uses one image sensor to perform the double-sided reading of the document are known.
To perform the double-sided reading based on the two-pass one-scanner method, a switchback system that performs switchback that switches a conveying direction during conveyance of a document, and thereby passes the document twice in the same direction with respect to an image sensor, or a U-turn system that uses a U-turn path to make a conveyance path intersect with itself, and passes a document twice in opposite directions with respect to an image sensor are possible. In the case of using the U-turn system, it is not necessary to switch a conveying direction, so that conveyance control can be simplified, and also a reading time can be shortened (e.g., JPA-2009-10861).
In an image reader that performs such automatic conveyance, typically, during continuous reading of two or more documents, the reading process can be cancelled. For example, in the case where after a start key has been operated, a setting error of the image reader or a mix-up of documents is discovered, a user can operate a stop key to thereby cancel document reading that is being performed. In the case where such a cancel instruction is inputted, without performing the document reading, a discharge process that discharges to a paper discharge tray a document being conveyed is performed. By performing such a discharge process, even in the case of canceling a reading process, the user is not required to take the document out of a conveyance path.
Further, there is also an image reader that, in the case where the cancel instruction is inputted, performs an idle feeding process that sequentially discharges documents left on a paper feed tray to a paper discharge tray. By performing such an idle feeding process, even in the case of canceling a reading process, all documents can be brought into a state of being discharged to the paper discharge tray in the same order as that before reading. For this reason, after canceling the reading, it is not necessary for a user to overlap the documents on the paper feed tray and those on the paper discharge tray while checking the orders of the documents.
In the image reader based on the two-pass one-scanner method, the switchback or U-turn of a document is performed at the time of double-sided reading, so that as compared with single-sided reading, a conveyance length of the document is increased, and a document interval is also increased. For this reason, there occurs a problem that, in the case of canceling the double-sided reading, times necessary for subsequent discharge and idle feeding processes are increased as compared with the case of canceling the single-sided reading.
For example, the image reader based on the U-turn system is typically configured to branch a conveyance path into a single-sided path and a double-sided path, and uses the U-turn path to make only the double-sided path intersect with itself. Accordingly, the double-sided path is longer than the single-sided path, and further at the time of double-sided reading, it is necessary to make a document interval longer than that for the single-sided reading so as to prevent documents from colliding with each other. For this reason, there occurs a problem that, in the case of canceling the double-sided reading, the times necessary for the discharge and idle feeding processes are increased as compared with the case of canceling the single-sided reading.

Image reader and document conveying method

Abstract: If during double-sided reading, a stop key is operated to issue an instruction to cancel reading, a conveyance controller outputs a path specifying signal to select a single-sided path, and thereby a conveyance route is switched from a double-sided path to the single-sided path. For this reason, the discharge process that discharges a document being conveyed at the time of the reading cancellation to a paper discharge tray, and the idle feeding process that discharges a document left on a paper feed tray to the paper discharge tray are performed with use of the single-sided path that is shorter than the double-sided path, and therefore the times necessary for the discharge and idle feeding processes can be shortened.


The invention relates to a system with multi-mode radiator panels used to reproduce sound. The multi-mode radiator panels include at least one driver, a core layer and two cover layers connected to the core layer. The panels are typically mounted in a frame with attachments providing a connection between the frame and the unit formed of the core layer and the cover layers. To protect the system against overload and damage, the entire driver electronics is housed in a hermetically sealed air space located between the frame, the core layer and the attachments. The driver electronics includes a power amplifier powered by low-voltage power supply. The voltage supply may be buffered by a battery to keep the average power supplied to the electronics small, while still being able to reproduce infrequently occurring peak power events. Buffering of the battery has the additional advantage that if the power supply is completely interrupted, the battery enables the sound reproduction to continue for a certain time in the event of a power failure, which is important for transmitting emergency announcements. The multi-mode radiator panels can also be connected via a bus, so that a single cable strand may be used to supply the acoustic signal and the electric power.

The invention relates to multi-mode radiator panels, in particular to supplying and processing signals for multi-mode radiator panels.
Multi-mode radiator panels for radiating sound are known in the art and include essentially a flat sound panel which is driven by at least one electrodynamic driver connected to the sound panel. Further details relating to the design and operation of such multi-mode radiator panels are disclosed, for example, in the patent DE19757097 and DE19757098 which relate to the subject matter of the present invention.
If such multi-mode radiator panels are used to reproduce sound, then a respective driver electronics has to be provided for processing the received and generated sounds signals before these are supplied to the drivers. The multi-mode radiator panels operating in this fashion can be employed as individual sound reproduction devices. More often, however, the multi-mode radiator panels are used as so-called xe2x80x9cacoustic wallsxe2x80x9d and include a plurality of multi-mode radiator panels which are arranged side-by-side and connected to each other. Conventionally, the driver electronics is essentially formed of an amplifier and filters integrated in the respective signal paths. With this technique, however, the technical specification of the different individual components disadvantageously have to be oversized to provide versatility for different applications. Since the drivers have to supply approximately 10 to 100 watts of power, special connectors for the signal paths, extremely low loss cables, expensive shielding, large power reserves and large tolerances of the impedances may be required depending on the application.
It therefore would be desirable to provide a multi-mode radiator panel which requires a less complex driver electronics.
According to one aspect of the invention, the entire driver electronics is integrated in the air space of the respective multi-mode radiator panel. In this way, the multi-mode radiator panels can be connected easily with one another and/or with a signal source receiving or generating the acoustic signals. Alternatively or in addition, each of the multi-mode radiator panels, which are combined to form an acoustic wall, may have the entire driver electronics in the air space. In the case of multi-mode radiator panels of an acoustic wall which is be optimized for radiating sound at high frequencies, the entire driver electronics may be distributed over the air space of the multi-mode radiator panels radiating sound over this frequency range. It is particularly advantageous if the mounting devices which connect the multi-mode radiator panel with the frame, hermetically enclose the air space enclosed between the frame and the multi-mode radiator panel, since then the multi-mode radiator panel and the driver electronics located in the air space may then also be operated without problem in listening areas which pose an explosionxe2x80x94hazard or are subjected to a hostile environmental and/or climate.
The driver electronics referred to in this application includes the audio electronics, which includes the power amplifier and associated filters for separating the various frequencies or frequency ranges, and the communication electronics which connects the electronics with an acoustic signal source and/or connects different multi-mode radiator panels with each other, if several multi-mode radiator panels are combined to form, for example, an acoustic wall. The communication electronics also forms, when a command dialog is entered, the interface between commands entered by a user and the driver electronics and/or a multimedia center connected to the multi-mode radiator panel. The driver electronics also includes a battery buffer which is connected to the remaining driver electronics. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the driver electronics need not include all the above-referenced components. In other words, for example, the battery buffer need not be implemented if the power supply is able to satisfy peak power requirements.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the driver electronics may include a power amplifier matched to a respective driver. In this case, the power amplifier can be optimized for that driver. Unlike in conventional driver electronics, where an individual amplifier typically powers one or more drivers and where the amplifier and the drivers are often configured by the end-user, the power amplifier according to the invention need not include reserve power since the amplifier and the driver form a matched unit. Implementing the amplifier and the driver as a matched unit has the additional advantage that the different components are matched and can therefore be optimized with respect to each other, thereby reducing the likelihood of damage to the unit.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the driver electronics may include electronic filters either in analog or digital form. The power amplifiers and associated drivers can then be used in a cost-effective way to separate the different frequencies. This arrangement advantageously eliminates the power electronics required by conventional devices for separating the frequencies.
According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the driver electronics is powered by a DC power source. With this arrangement, the electric power and the acoustic signal can be supplied over common wires which connect the driver electronics to the acoustic signal source. In addition, unlike power amplifiers powered through the high-voltage mains, the low-voltage power supply according to the invention does not pose a hazard if plugs or receptacles are left unprotected.
According to still another embodiment of the invention, an additional power source for supplying peak power which may be required by drivers operating at low frequencies, can be eliminated by integrating in the air space a battery with a charging electronics powered by DC, wherein the battery supplies the required peak power. In addition, a capacitor may be connected in parallel with the battery to faithfully reproduce infrequently occurring short high-power spikes with low distortion. Buffering with a battery also ensures that the multi-mode radiator panels remain operational during emergencies, for example, during an interruption of the DC power supply, which can aid in securing escape routes. The charging electronics may be designed to prevent the charge state of the battery from dropping below a critical charge state which may occur, for example, when peak power is required over an extended time period. In this case, the acoustic volume may be automatically adjusted with dynamic compensation in when such low charge state is reached.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the (first) interface which connects the driver electronics with the acoustic signal source, may be implemented as a bus-enabled interface. With this arrangement, a multi-mode radiator panel can be operated wherever a corresponding bus is provided. In other words, if bus technology is available, the multi-mode radiator panel can become the sole end device.
According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the bus connected to the multi-mode radiator panel may also include the power supply system, if the respective power amplifier is powered by a DC power source. This arrangement provides for a flexible operation of the multi-mode radiator panel.
According to still another embodiment of the invention, a second interface may be provided for interconnecting several multi-mode radiator panels in form of a network and/or for receiving and transmitting a command dialog. The multi-mode radiator panels can thereby communicate with the power amplifier and/or a multimedia center via the second interface. For sake of flexibility, this communication channel may be wireless and implemented, for example, in infrared technology.
Further features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments and from the claims.


A shoring post having an elongate body with a lengthwise axis, a top and a bottom. A first beam support assembly is at one vertical location on the elongate body, with a second beam support assembly at a second vertical location on the elongate body. The second vertical location is spaced along the lengthwise axis from the first vertical location. The first and second beam support assemblies are configured to support separate load bearing beams.

1 Field of the Invention
This invention relates to shoring posts and, more particularly, to a shoring post that is capable of supporting load bearing beams at different heights thereon.
2. Background Art
Shoring posts are used in many diverse environments. Shoring posts are commonly used as components of formwork and in other construction applications.
In a typical shoring post construction, separate post parts are telescopingly engaged, one within the other, to allow a variable combined length to be selected within a predetermined range. A pin is directed through the upper post part and bears upon the lower post part to establish a desired compressive length. Once a gross length is set, supplemental length adjusting structure is utilized to produce the desired compressive force between vertically spaced, facing surfaces between which the shoring post resides. Commonly these supplemental structures are in the form of a threaded jack component, as near the top of the shoring post, and/or a threaded extension sleeve at the bottom post part.
To support one or more load bearing beams using the shoring post, it is known to provide a beam support assembly at the top of the shoring post. Typically, the beam support assembly will consist of a mounting plate with one or more angled flanges to cooperate with a connector at the end of a beam to be supported. The connector nests against the mounting plate and cooperates with the flange so as to allow the adaptor to be simply dropped into place and thereby maintained securely in a predetermined position relative to the shoring post.
In an application wherein beams are supported at a constant height, the shoring posts, through the beams, can be interconnected to form a continuous, reinforced network. However, in the event that the beam heights are stepped, as at a soffit location, modifications are made in the assembly that generally increase cost and to a certain extent compromise the overall system integrity.
More particularly, where there is a change in beam height, separate shoring posts with different lengths are commonly placed in closely adjacent relationship but remain unconnected to each other. As a result, there is a break in continuity in the network between the adjacent posts. In other words, the adjacent shoring posts/beams may not effectively laterally reinforce each other, whereby the overall system stability may be compromised.
Additionally, by reason of requiring additional shoring posts, the cost of a particular project may be increased. Additional shoring posts must be transported to and from a site and independently set up. Further, the additional shoring posts obstruct the space beneath the beams, thereby potentially interfering with the performance of certain tasks on a site within this area.
Heretofore, the construction industry has contended with the above problems since no commercial product has been offered that would address the noted concerns without compromising the integrity of the overall supporting network.

Shoring post with supplemental beam support


A memory card with a wireless communication function may include a card interface (I/F) unit, a storage unit configured to store processing content information when the processing content information indicating processing content has been input from the host equipment to the card I/F unit; a wireless communication unit; a processing determination unit configured to determine whether or not the storage unit has stored the processing content information corresponding to processing request information when the wireless communication unit has received the processing request information transmitted from the external apparatus, a processing execution unit, and a processing relay unit configured to output the processing request information to the host equipment via the card I/F unit when the processing determination unit determines that the storage unit has stored the processing content information corresponding to the processing request information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a memory card with a wireless communication function, a method of operating the memory card with the wireless communication function, a non-transitory computer-readable device, a digital camera, and a method of operating the digital camera.
Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-243864, filed Nov. 7, 2011, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
All patents, patent applications, patent publications, scientific articles, and the like, which will hereinafter be cited or identified in the present application, will hereby be incorporated by reference in their entirety in order to describe more fully the state of the art to which the present invention pertains.
In the related art, wired communication of a universal serial bus (USB) or the like has been mainstream for communication with external apparatuses such as a digital camera and a personal computer (PC). However, in recent years, digital cameras with wireless communication functions have also been marketed, and wireless communication has also been used for communication with external apparatuses.
On the other hand, a memory card with a wireless communication function has the wireless communication function within the memory card as disclosed in "Eye-Fi memory cards: wireless photo and video uploads straight from your camera to your computer," online, searched on Oct. 17, 2011, Internet URL: http://eyefi.cojp/ (hereinafter referred to as Non-Patent Document 1) or Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2010-067060 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 1). Using this, it is possible to transmit data to an external apparatus using wireless communication even in a digital camera without a wireless communication function. The memory card with the wireless communication function as described above is recognized as a general memory card in the digital camera and image data is read and written. On the other hand, if wireless communication based on a predetermined setting is established, the memory card with the wireless communication function transmits image data or the like recorded in the memory card with the wireless communication function to an external apparatus such as a PC. In this case, the digital camera does not need to perform control related to wireless communication.
The memory card with the wireless communication function as disclosed in Patent Document 1 or Non-Patent Document 1 does not need to control wireless communication by the digital camera, which is host equipment, and reduces cost for software or hardware of the digital camera or a load in implementation.

Memory card with wireless communication function, method of operating memory card with wireless communication function, and non-transitory computer-readable device storing a program for operating memory card with wireless communication function


A trim strip which has a thick body portion is formed with a fused outer perimeter. The central portion generally remains in a partially fused or incompletely fused state reducing cost while providing a trim strip with a pleasing aesthetic appearance.

The present invention relates to trim strips or moldings and, more particularly, to a thick bodied trim strip or molding having a fused exterior perimeter.
Several problems have developed in molding operations manufacturing thick bodied trim strips. One of these problems is the time necessary to manufacture the trim strip. The shorter the manufacturing time, the more cost effective it is to manufacture the trim strip. Also, the amount and cost of the material needed to manufacture the thick bodied trim strips must be taken into consideration. Generally, these disadvantages have limited the desire to manufacture thick bodied trim strips.
The present invention provides the art with a relatively inexpensive method to manufacture a thick bodied trim strip. The method of the present invention utilizes plastisol materials to form a thick bodied trim strip with a fused outer perimeter providing an aesthetic appearance. The outer perimeter fusing requires less time which, in turn, reduces the overall cost of the operation.
From the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and claims, other objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art.


A liquid crystal display panel includes: a pair of substrates opposed to each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween, one of the pair of substrates including a lower electrode; an upper electrode that is formed on the surface of the lower electrode with an insulating layer interposed therebetween and that has a plurality of slit-like apertures formed for each sub pixel; and an alignment film that is formed to cover the upper electrode and the surface of the insulating layer. The plurality of slit-like apertures are divided into a first slit-like aperture group including a plurality of slit-like apertures extending in a first direction and a second slit-like aperture group including a plurality of slit-like apertures extending in a second direction different from the first direction. The angles formed with a liquid crystal alignment direction in a voltage non-applied state by the first direction and by the second direction are different.

The present application relates to a liquid crystal display panel of an FFS (Fringe Field Switching) mode, and more particularly, to a liquid crystal display panel of an FFS mode with a toneless and excellent viewing angle characteristic including slit-like apertures extending in plural directions.
A liquid crystal display panel has characteristics that it is smaller in weight, thickness, and power consumption than a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) and thus is widely used in many electronic apparatuses for display. The liquid crystal display panel serves to change the direction of liquid crystal molecules aligned in a predetermined direction with an electric field by performing a rubbing process of an alignment film and to change an amount of transmitted or reflected light to display an image.
The methods of applying an electric field to liquid crystal of a liquid crystal display panel can be classified into a vertical electric field type and a horizontal electric field type. In the vertical electric field type of liquid crystal display panel, a roughly vertical electric field is applied to liquid crystal molecules by a pair of electrodes interposing a liquid crystal layer therebetween. Examples of such a vertical electric field type of liquid crystal display panel include liquid crystal panels of a TN (Twisted Nematic) mode, a VA (Vertical Alignment) mode, and an MVA (Multi-domain Vertical Alignment) mode. In the horizontal electric field type of liquid crystal display panel, a pair of electrodes is disposed on the inner surface of one of a pair of substrates interposing a liquid crystal layer therebetween so as to be insulated from each other and a roughly horizontal electric field is applied to liquid crystal molecules. Examples of such a horizontal electric field type of liquid crystal display panel include liquid crystal display panels of an IPS (In-Plane Switching) mode in which a pair of electrodes does not overlap with each other in a plan view and an FFS (Fringe Field Switching) mode in which a pair of electrodes overlaps with each other.
In the liquid crystal display panel of the FFS mode, a pair of electrodes including an upper electrode and a lower electrode is disposed in different layers with an insulating film interposed therebetween, a slit-like aperture is formed in the upper electrode, and a roughly horizontal electric field is applied to the liquid crystal molecules through the slit-like aperture. The liquid crystal display panel of an FFS mode has advantages such that it is possible to obtain a wide viewing angle and to improve image contrast, and thus is extensively used. However, in the horizontal electric field type of liquid crystal display panel, since a slit with a constant width is used in each sub pixel, there is a problem in that color attachment occurs depending on the viewing angle direction. In order to improve the viewing angle characteristic and to reduce the color attachment in the horizontal electric field type of liquid crystal display panel, an attempt to divide a rubbing direction into plural directions in each pixel has been tried (see JP-A-2005-196118). Here, the liquid crystal display panel disclosed in JP-A-2005-196118 will be described below with reference to FIG. 8.
FIG. 8 is a plan view schematically illustrating the configuration of a sub pixel in a horizontal electric field type of liquid crystal display panel disclosed in JP-A-2005-196118.
In the horizontal electric field type of liquid crystal display panel 50, the inside of one sub pixel is divided into four domains of IA, IIA, IIIB, and IVB and the angles formed with common electrodes 51a and 51b and pixel electrodes 52a and 52b which are driven by TFTs by the respective rubbing directions vary depending on the domains. In the liquid crystal display panel 50, four domains are formed by disposing the common electrodes 51a and 51b and the pixel electrodes 52a and 52b so as to be bent in the horizontal and vertical directions, and the rubbing direction is changed in domain A and domain B of one sub pixel so as to compensate for color conversion in the domains, thereby canceling the color attachment.


Provided is a keypad apparatus for a portable communication device structured to have a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) including a plurality of dome switches and a plurality of Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs). The keypad apparatus includes a waveguide sheet portion provided on the dome switches, a plurality of printed surfaces which are printed on a top surface of the waveguide sheet portion and adjust a brightness of light from the LEDs, in a stepwise manner from a position distant from the LEDs to a position adjacent to the LEDs, and a keypad provided on the printed surfaces.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a keypad assembly for a portable communication device
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, "portable communication devices" mean devices by which wireless communication can be performed while roaming. The portable communication devices include a hand-held phone (HHP), a cordless telephone (CT-)2 cellular phone, a digital phone, a personal communications systems (PCS) phone, and a personal digital assistant (PDA). The portable communication devices are typically classified into a bar type, a flip type, a folder type, and a sliding type according to their shapes, and equipped with an antenna apparatus, a data input/output device, and a data transceiver. For the data input device, a keypad or touch pad screen allowing data input through a finger activation is generally used.
As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional keypad apparatus 1 includes a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) 2 where a plurality of dome switches 3 and a plurality of Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) 4 are provided, a waveguide sheet 5 on the dome switches 3 which includes a diffusion pattern for reflecting incoming light toward a keypad 7, a base rubber portion 6 on the waveguide sheet 5 which includes a printed surface 6a on a top surface of which numbers and characters are printed. On a bottom surface of the base rubber portion 6 are formed a plurality of pressurizing protrusions 6b.
As shown above, in the conventional keypad apparatus, the waveguide sheet, the base rubber portion having the pressurizing protrusions, and the keypad are disposed on the dome switches, which are provided on the PCB. However, this arrangement increases the thickness of the keypad apparatus and thus hindering the slimness design efforts of a product. Moreover, the waveguide and the base rubber portion having the pressurizing protrusions are essentially required which in turn degrades a clicking sensation of the keypad apparatus due to large thicknesses.
Furthermore, the conventional keypad apparatus is structured such that the LEDs provided close to the keypad. As a result, the keypad portion adjacent to the LEDs is bright due to high brightness therein and the keypad portion distant form the LEDs is dark due to low brightness therein. In other words, light from the LEDs does not uniformly illuminate the entire surface of the keypad due to distance variation, thus the keypad portion distant from the LEDs is darker and visibility of the keypad is degraded.
To solve the problem, a keypad apparatus using an Electroluminescent (EL) sheet in place of the conventional LED has been developed.
As shown in FIG. 2, a keypad apparatus 10 using a conventional EL sheet 11 is disposed under the entire surface of a keypad 12 in the form of a film to illuminate numeric and character key buttons formed on the keypad 12.
The EL sheet 11 is structured such that a transparent conductive film, an Indium-Tin Oxide (ITO)-Poly Ethylene Terephthalate (PET) film, is formed by depositing ITO on a PET film, an EL layer is formed by depositing a luminescent layer, a dielectric layer, and a back electrode on the transparent conductive film, and the EL layer is encapsulated by a protective layer (not shown).
In the EL sheet 11, once power is applied to a front electrode and the back electrode connected to ITO, the luminescent layer is excited on the whole, thus a surface light source uniformly emits light.
However, the keypad apparatus including the conventional EL sheet needs separate parts for providing an electric signal to the EL sheet for self-light-emission, thereby increasing the manufacturing cost and assembly processes of a product.
Therefore, there is a need for an apparatus which substitutes for the EL sheet and the conventional base rubber portion where the printed surface and the pressurizing protrusions are formed to achieve the slimness of the keypad apparatus, reduce the manufacturing cost, improve the efficiency of assembly processes, and improve a clicking sensation, and brightness and uniformity of the keypad.

Keypad apparatus for portable communication device