An expansion bolt. In a preferred embodiment, the expansion bolt includes a center chock having either a convex or a concave outer ramping surface and two outer chocks disposed about the center chock having complementarily concave or convex outer ramping surfaces.

The present invention relates to an expansion bolt, particularly for use in engaging drilled holes. The application incorporates by reference herein in its entirety the inventors"" U.S. Pat. No. 6,109,578, wherein a description of the related art as it concerns rock climbing is provided. The borehole-engaging apparatus of the ""578 patent provides a number of advantages over the prior art, such as simple construction, reliable operation, greater standardization, which reduces the cost per unit and the amount of gear that a climber must purchase and carry, and robustness or insensitivity to rotational orientation about the apparatus"" longitudinal axis. For many purposes, including rock climbing, it is particularly important that the expansion bolt be easily removable. The lack of this feature is exemplified by an embodiment of an anchoring device shown in FIG. 3 of Dohmieier, U.S. Pat. No. 3,478,641, which biases hole gripping dogs outwardly with a brindle which is not accessible for removing the device.
The novel expansion bolt of the present invention provides advantages similar to those of the ""578 patent, as well as outstanding ease of insertion and removal, and hole-engaging or holding strength.
In addition to the problems associated with anchoring to rocks for rock climbing, the construction industry and providers of emergency services such as fire, police and rescue service often have the need for anchoring structures or devices for temporary use. For example, temporary shelter may be needed, and tents may need to be erected quickly in urban environments, i.e., on concrete or asphalt surfaces. To anchor the tent, weights such as sand bags or drums of water are typically employed. However, the use of weights poses a difficulty in obtaining and moving the material for the weights, or in obtaining and moving the weights themselves. These aspects of the use of weights as anchors as well as other aspects of the weights, such as the ready availability of sand or dirt in the urban environment, make it more difficult to move and erect the tent quickly.
In the construction industry, it is often imperative to provide fall protection for the workers. Typically, contractors build-in specialized harnessing hardware at predetermined locations on or in the structures as they are built. The harnessing hardware is specially adapted to accept inserts that are difficult to use because they tend to fill up with concrete. As the locations for the built-in hardware are predetermined, it may be determined later that they have not been placed precisely where they are needed, yet they will often be used anyway, posing risk of extreme injury or death. Moreover, as permanent or semi-permanent installations, they may be used by subcontractors or others when this is not anticipated or desired, so that the contractor assumes a risk of liability for injuries or deaths that result from the imprudent use of the harnessing hardware by others.
Also in the construction industry, there is often a need to move large objects or materials, such as boulders. Irregularly shaped objects such as boulders present particular difficulties in grasping; often chains must be wrapped around a boulder or other irregularly shaped object to secure it. Prefabricated structural materials, such as concrete facades, are typically provided with hardware for attaching chains or cables; however, these also may be found insufficient during actual construction.
There is also a need for retrofitting bridges and other structures with tying cables to increase earthquake resistance, and tying one or more large objects together. Presently, the cables are secured to hardware which is bolted to the structure with a number of bolts, requiring that a number of corresponding holes be drilled in the structure.
Emergency workers must sometimes assemble structures used for maneuvering in urban environments quickly, to respond to man-made and natural disasters. For example, emergency workers may need to climb the face of buildings, or provide hoists for elevating people and equipment, or anchor ladders to man-made structures such as brick or concrete-faced buildings as well as natural features such as rocks.
Accordingly, there is a need for an expansion bolt that provides a simple, reliable and relatively inexpensive means for connecting a cable, rope or wire to a drilled hole in a hard material, that is easy to install in and remove from the hole, and that effectively anchors to the hole while applying a minimum stress to the hole, while providing a minimum sensitivity to the angular orientation of the expansion bolt in the hole. There is more particularly a need to provide all of these features for use in a hole drilled in concrete or another hard but relatively brittle or weak material.
The expansion bolt of the present invention solves the aforementioned problems and meets the aforementioned needs by providing a first chock having first and second outer ramping surfaces, a second chock having an inner ramping surface complementarily corresponding to the first outer ramping surface and a first spring member for biasing the second chock radially inwardly toward the axis against the first outer ramping surface of the first chock.
Preferably, a third chock is provided having an inner ramping surface complementarily corresponding to the second outer ramping surface, along with a second spring member for biasing the third chock radially inwardly toward the axis against the second outer ramping surface of the first chock.
Preferably, the center chock is frustoconical and the ramping surface thereof is convex, and the outer chock has a complementary frustoconical ramping surface that is concave. Preferably, at least two outer chocks are azimuthally symmetrically disposed about the longitudinal axis.
Therefore, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved expansion bolt.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an expansion bolt that provides a simple, reliable and relatively inexpensive means for connecting a cable, rope or wire to a hole drilled in a hard material.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an expansion bolt that facilitates insertion into the hole and removal from the hole.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an expansion bolt that provides for effectively anchoring to the hole while applying a minimum stress to the hole.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an expansion bolt that provides minimum sensitivity to the angular orientation of the expansion bolt in the hole.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an expansion bolt that provides for increased holding strength in holes drilled in relatively brittle or weak materials such as concrete and asphalt.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an expansion bolt for use in such materials that minimizes the stress placed on the material.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an expansion bolt for use in such materials that more uniformly distributes the stress placed on the material.
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the following drawings.


A heated animal nurser is provided to assist young animals in nursing and feeding, and can be for use with kittens, puppies, and similar animals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to heated animal nursing devices and, more particularly, to a thermostatically controlled, heated animal nurser and means for simulating a mother""s heartbeat.
2. Description of the Related Art
A great many people are involved with caring for animals across our country and the world. It is just a matter of human compassion to help care for animals that are unable to care for themselves and would die without outside assistance. Perhaps the most common animals that require help are orphaned or abandoned kittens, puppies and the like. Whether as a result of their mother dying during birth, or simply discarded because they are not wanted, these animals tug the hardest at our hearts. One of the biggest problems with such animals is getting them to feed or nurse. Any attempt by a human to feed such animals with a bottle is usually met with resistance due to the fact that the animal is not familiar with the bottle and is not comfortable.
A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention: however, the following references were considered related:
U.S. Pat. No. 6,042,850 describes a nursing bottle with body, flexible liner, and feeding nipple.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,699,920 describes a nurser with resilient outer shell and flexible liner.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,505 describes an animal nursing nipple.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,122,130 describes an automatic pig feeding apparatus.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,214,554 describes a feeding apparatus for nursing animals.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,620,505 describes an automatic self-cleansing system for nursing animals.
And, U.S. Pat. No. D394,334 describes an animal nursing feeder.
Of considerable relevance is U.S. Pat. No. 5,188,061, issued in the name of Lombardi, which describes a pet and animal feeder with nursing means within a soft material. Designed to take the place of the newborn mammal""s mother in the event the mother should die, abandon its young, take ill, or any other reason, and designed not only to resemble the newborn mammal""s mother but also is designed to suckle the newborn as well, the Lombardi reference also anticipates the inclusion of a heating means. While such features are incorporated into this invention in combination, other elements are different enough as to make the combination distinguished over this and other prior art.
Consequently, there is a need for a means by which abandoned or orphaned animals can be fed or nursed without the difficulties as described above.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved heated animal nursing device.
It is a feature of the present invention to provide an improved heated animal nursing device incorporating a thermostatically controlled, heated animal nurser and means for simulating a mother""s heartbeat.
Briefly described according to one embodiment of the present invention, a heated animal nurser is provided as an apparatus to aid in the feeding of orphaned infant animals such as kittens, puppies and the like. Upon initial observation of the invention, it looks like a conventional stuffed animal such as a dog or cat that a child might play with. An internal cavity that can hold up to six individual bottles, or one internal bladder having multiple nipples of milk is provided. Each bottle is provided with a nipple that protrudes through the bottom of the invention mimicking the appearance of a nursing animal mother. Additionally, an internal heating pad, powered by a battery pack is provided to keep the milk warm, thus further aiding the nursing effort of the young animals.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the present invention assists young animals in nursing and feeding, and can be for use with kittens, puppies, and similar animals.
An advantage of the present invention is that it mimics the look, feel and size of natural mother.
Further, the use of a stuffed animal body that is life-size and washable is supplied with internal cavity for milk bottles, or one internal bladder, that aids in properly positioning the bottles.
Further still, the use of an integrated heating pad keeps milk/formula at proper temperature.

Thermostatically controlled, heated animal nurser and means for simulating a mother""s heartbeat


A mass spectrometer including at least one mass analyzer into which an ion beam to be analyzed is projected having a collision surface means in-line with the ion beam to form surface collision products which are directed into the in-line mass analyzer.

In tandem mass spectrometry, ions formed in a source are mass analyzed by means of an analyzing element, such as a magnet sector, quadrupole or hybrid system. Ions of a selected mass are then introduced into a region of the spectrometer in which a relatively high pressure of a selected gas in present. These ions then interact with the gas atoms or molecule in such a way that the internal energy of the ion is increased to the point where fragmentation of the ion occurs. The resulting fragments, in particular those having an ionic charge, are further mass analyzed and identified.
Tandem Mass Spectrometry has been described by (a) F.W. McLafferty, Ed., "Tandem Mass Spectrometry", John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1983; (b) R.G. Cooks, in "Collision Spectroscopy", R.G. Cooks, Ed., Plenum Press, 1978, p.357; (c) R.W. Kondrat and R.G. Cooks, Anal. Chem., 50 (1978), A81; (d)F.W. Crow, K.B. Tomer, and M.L. Gross, Mass Spectrom. Rev., 2 (1983), 47. In U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,234,791, 4,328,420 and 4,329,582 there is disclosed a tandem quadrupole-based mass spectrometer including a highly efficient intermediate fragmentation stage. The disclosed fragmentation stage employs collision-induced dissociation (CID), in an electrodynamic focus device, which may be a quadrupole operated as a broad band filter mode. This process of fragmentation (CID) is a controlled process compared with ionization processes which occur in traditional mass spectrometry sources. As a result, the types of fragmentations which occur can be more readily interpreted in terms of the structures of the intact species. This feature, and the advantages of two stages of mass analysis in improving selectivity of detection, has resulted in MS/MS being widely used in qualitative and quantitative molecular analysis, in ion structural studies, and in gas phase ion chemical investigations. Larger molecules, in particular, resist fragmentation in CID because the energy supplied is rapidly distributed among the many internal degrees of freedom of the species. Larger energies are needed to overcome this problem. This is of particular significance in the application of mass spectrometry to the biological sciences.
Dissociation of molecules on collision at surfaces has been reported by R.G. Cooks, T. Ast, and J.H. Beynon, Int. J. Mass Spectrom. Ion Phys., pg.348, 16 (1975), among others. The interactions of polyatomic ions with surfaces have been shown to be a source of information on the nature of the ionic species as well as the properties of the surface, M.A. Mabud, M.J. DeKrey and R.G. Cooks, Int. J. Mass Spectrom Ion Physics, 67, 285 (1985). Processes which occur include charge transfer, ion/surface reactive collisions, sputtering, reflection (elastic collisions) and inelastic collisions leading to dissociation of the emerging ion, M.S. Mabud, M.J. DeKrey, R.G. Cooks and T. Ast, Int. J. Mass Spectrom Ion Proc., 69, 277 (1986). This last process offers the possibility of supplementing or replacing gas phase collisions in tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). A tandem spectrometer has been constructed using a magnetic sector and a quadrupole mass filter arranged so that the angle made between the direction of motion of the ion emerging from the first mass analyzer and the direction of motion of that entering the second analyzer was large, 90.degree., M.J. DeKrey, M.A. Mabud, R.G. Cooks and J.E.P. Syka, Int. J. Mass Spectrum Ion Proc., 67, 295 (1985) and 77, 31 (1987).

Mass spectrometer with in-line collision surface means


Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products where a user equipment in a wireless communications network determines a measure of signal quality for a restricted set of beam recovery candidates, compares the measure of signal quality of contention free random access candidates reference signal in the restricted set or a subset of contention free random access candidates to a signal quality based recovery threshold, and selects the at least one candidate signal with signal quality above that threshold from a candidate beam reference signal list; where the user equipment measures a reference signal received power for contention free random access candidate beam, selects candidates above a reference signal received power threshold, determines signal quality for the selected contention free random access candidates above that threshold, and selects one candidate in response to multiple contention free random access candidates being above that threshold or the one with highest measure of signal quality.

This section is intended to provide a background or context to the invention disclosed below. The description herein may include concepts that could be pursued, but are not necessarily ones that have been previously conceived, implemented or described. Therefore, unless otherwise explicitly indicated herein, what is described in this section is not prior art to the description in this application and is not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
A UE can be configured with up to 3 CORESETs and together 10 search space sets within a configured bandwidth part (BWP). CORESET defines physical time and frequency resources on which NR-PDCCH (Physical Downlink Control Channel) can be transmitted. Search space set defines PDCCH monitoring related time domain parameters such as monitoring periodicity: In other words, search space parameters provide a UE with information when trying to detect NR-PDCCH from a certain CORESET.
A QCL framework is used for defining a "transmit beam" for different downlink physical signals and channels such as those for periodic, semi-persistent, and aperiodic CSI-RS, NR-PDCCH, and NR-PDSCH (Physical Downlink Shared Channel). As such, a UE is configured with a transmission configuration indication (TCI) table in which each row/state is associated with one or two reference signals (RSs) that act as a source RS(s) in terms of different QCL parameters (e.g., delay spread, average delay, doppler spread, doppler shift, spatial RX) for the certain downlink signal. When a spatial RX QCL parameter is to be configured for the certain source RS, the UE can assume the same RX beam (or RX spatial filter) can be applied when receiving a target physical signal or physical channel as was used for receiving the source RS. Source RS may be e.g. SS/PBCH Block (Synchronization signal/Physical Broadcast Channel), CSI-RS, TRS (tracking reference signal), DMRS (demodulation reference signal) or the like. SS/PBCH block consists of PSS, SSS (Primary, Secondary SS) and symbols carrying PBCH, including PBCH DMRS and has total length of 4 symbols. Invention is not limited to the potential alternative transmission methods of SS/PBCH block in time or frequency domain (in other words, for instance, instead of sending 4 symbols, if the SS block components may be transmitted in frequency domain, for example, using only one symbol, that would satisfy this aspect).
For determining the transmit beam for the NR-PDCCH, it has previously been agreed that each CORESET may be associated to one or multiple above mentioned TCI rows (or TCI states). In cases where the CORESET is associated with more than one TCI states, MAC-CE level activation signaling is used to control that which one of the multiple TCI states is active at a time per CORESET. UE may be configured with multiple CORESETs
Search space set related parameters associated to the CORESET define time domain monitoring pattern from which the UE knows when to monitor certain CORESET; then, from associated (active) TCI state of the CORESET, the UE knows how to set its RX beam.
FIG. 1 provides an exemplary TCI table configured for the UE where QCL type A means Doppler spread, Doppler shift, delay spread, average delay and QCL type D means spatial RX. Thus, when TCI index 0 determines source RS(s) for a certain physical signal or channel, the UE can determine that it can set its RX beam as it was set for receiving the SS/PBCH block #n. Correspondingly, when TCI index 1 determines source RS(s) for a certain physical signal or channel, the UE can determine that it can set its RX beam as it was set for receiving the CSI-RS # (of RS set #B).
FIG. 2 illustrates the case that UE has been configured two CORESETs with one or multiple TCI state associations. For the CORESET #0, MAC-CE signaling is used to activate one TCI state at a time.
It has been further previously agreed that for beam recovery procedure the UE can be configured with a dedicated CORESET for monitoring gNB response for the beam failure recovery request (BFRQ, sometimes abbreviated as BFRR). This is referred as CORESET-BFR (Beam Failure Recovery) herein after. Based on the agreement in RAN1 #90bis, the UE assumes that the CORESET-BFR is spatially QCL'd with DL RS of the UE identified (and indicated) candidate beam by the beam failure recovery request. In other words, the UE indicates candidate beam (or candidate downlink RS) using an uplink preamble signal that is associated with it.
In RAN1 #91 it was agreed that only periodic CSI-RS or SSB which is spatially QCL'd with PDCCH DMRS is used for beam failure detection. The monitored BFD (beam failure detection) resources (among the possible periodic RS configured to be QCL'd with PDCCH) can be specifically configured for RS for beam failure detection. If not configured, then by default the UE assumes for beam failure detection that at least one of SSB or periodic CSI-RS is QCL'd with the PDCCH DMRS.
For recovery purposes, when a UE has declared beam failure, the network can configure the UE with contention free resources from the PRACH resource pool. Contention free resources can be associated with SSBs or CSI-RS. The RS in the list are referred as candidate beams and indicated by a Candidate-beam-RS-list. To indicate a candidate, if both CSI-RS and SSB are listed but only SSBs are associated with dedicated recovery preamble resources, then the recovery to CSI-RS candidate is done via QCL association to the SSB.
To declare beam failure, the quality of downlink RS used for beam failure detection has to be below a specific quality threshold for N (or N-consecutive) beam failure monitoring instances (done periodically). Currently failure is agreed to be done based on hypothetical PDCCH BLER, determined from beam failure RS. In the case where multiple RS are used (e.g., if UE has multiple PDCCH links or NW has configured multiple beam failure RS), then the quality of all RS need to be below the quality threshold for number of beam failure instances to declare failure. Alternative, N-consecutive failure instances may be needed to declare failure.
Limitations of these previously agreed to proposals include the fact that currently DL RSs associated to active TCI states configured for the CORESET are evaluated for beam failure detection and when UE declares beam failure (all the active TCI states are considered to be in failure condition so that beam failure can be declared) and transmits BFRQ it is monitoring the CORESET-BFR for gNB response. In discussions regarding NR, which seems suboptimal in certain cases. The current limitation of state of the art is that when UE indicates recovery (regardless of which DL RS is indicated as new candidate by a dedicated recovery signal) it is required to monitor CORESET-BFR. Thus, the current invention moves beyond the current techniques and/or materials.
The components of the Rel-15 beam failure recovery procedure, which are discussed hereinbelow, involve a beam failure detection Reference Signal (RS) list, declaring beam failure, candidate RS (beam) list, and beam failure recovery request.
Regarding the beam failure detection Reference Signal (RS) list, a Network configures a UE with set of reference signals for monitoring the quality of the link. This set can be referred as q0 or Beam Failure Detection Reference Signal (BFD-RS). Typically, BFD-RS(s) are configured to be spatially Quasi Co-Located (QCL'd) with PDCCH Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS), such that these reference signals correspond to downlink beams used to transmit PDCCH for the UE. Downlink Beams are identified by reference signal, either SS/PBCH block (time location) index or CSI-RS resource index. The network can configure the BFD-RS list using RRC signaling or it can configure the list with combined RRC+MAC Control Element (CE) signaling.
When a UE is not explicitly configured with the BFD-RS list, it then determines the BFD-RS resources implicitly based on the configured/indicated/activated PDCCH-TCI states per CORESET, such that the downlink reference signals (CSI-RS, SS/PBCH block) that are spatially QCL'd with PDCCH DMRS, or in other words, PDCCH beams.
Next comes declaring beam failure. The physical layer assesses the quality of the radio link (based on BFD-RS in set of q0) periodically. Assessment is done per BFD-RS and when the radio link condition of each BFD-RS in the beam failure detection set is considered to be in failure condition, such that the hypothetical PDCCH BLER, estimated using the RS, is above the configured threshold, and a beam failure instance (BFI) indication is provided to higher layer (MAC). An example of BLER threshold value may be the out of sync threshold used for radio link monitoring OOS/Qout=10%. Evaluation and potential indication is done periodically.
If the at least one BFD-RS is not in failure condition, then no indication is provided to higher layer. The MAC layer implements a counter to count the BFI indications from the PHY layer and if the BFI counter reaches maximum value (configured by the network) a beam failure is declared. This counter can be configured to be supervised by a timer, for instance, each time MAC receives BFI indication from lower layer then a timer is started. Once the timer expires, the BFI counter is reset (counter value is set to zero).
Regarding a candidate RS (beam) list, the Network can provide the UE with a list of candidate RSs for new beam identification that can be indicated using dedicated signal. Candidate beam L1-RSRP measurements can be provided to the MAC layer which performs the selection of new candidate and determines the uplink resources to indicate the new candidate to network. The network can configure the UE with dedicated signaling resources (PRACH resources) that are candidate beam specific, such that the UE can indicate new candidate by sending a preamble.
Finally, a beam failure recovery procedure is initiated if the UE declares beam failure and detects a new candidate beam or beams based on L1 measurements (e.g. L1-RSRP). A dedicated signal (CFRA, contention free preamble) corresponding to a specific RS (SSB or CSI-RS) can be configured for each candidate RS in the Candidate-Beam-RS-List (referred as set of q1). Dedicated signal can be used, in addition to indicate beam failure, to indicate new candidate beam to gNB. A specific threshold can be configured so that if any of the candidates in set q1 (based on L1-RSRP measurements) are above the threshold, they can be indicated using dedicated signal (set of resources in set q1). UE selects candidate beam from that set and in case there are no q1 candidate beams above the configured threshold, UE utilizes contention-based RACH procedure to indicate new candidate to network. Contention Based Random Access (CBRA) preamble resources are mapped to specific downlink RS (such as SSB).
CFRA for beam recovery procedure differs slightly from Contention Free Random Access (CFRA) procedure in terms of gNB response to UE preamble transmission. The UE monitors the network response to Beam Failure Recovery Request (BFRR) during the beam recovery response window (similar to RACH Response window) using the same beam alignment (such that the same beam direction that was used for TX is used for RX) used for transmitting the recovery signal. The UE expects network to provide a response using a beam that is spatially QCL'd with the indicated downlink reference signal. When CFRA is used for beam recovery purposes, then the UE expects network to respond using C-RNTI instead of RA-RNTI. In case CBRA resources are used, UE expects response (and further message exchange) as normally in contention based RACH procedure [3].
The use of CFRA preambles for candidate indication, if configured, is supervised by a beamFailureRecoveryTimer. When configured, and when the timer is running, a UE can use CFRA signaling for candidate indication (if the candidates are suitable). When the timer has expired, then UE shall not use CFRA candidates for beam failure recovery.
Note that Beam Management enhancements such as L1-SINR are specified in new work item "Enhancements on MIMO for NR" which was approved in RAN #80 that aims to specify the enhancements identified for NR MIMO. The detailed objectives include extending specification support in the following areas [RAN1] such as enhancements on multi-beam operation, primarily targeting FR2 operation: to perform study and, if needed, specify enhancement(s) on UL and/or DL transmit beam selection specified in Rel-15 to reduce latency and overhead; to specify UL transmit beam selection for multi-panel operation that facilitates panel-specific beam selection; to specify a beam failure recovery for SCell based on the beam failure recovery specified in Rel-15, and to specify measurement and reporting of either L1-RSRQ or L1-SINR.
Following aspects have been discussed at the present time of the invention regarding L1-SINR: In RAN1-94bis meeting, it was agreed that L1-SINR is supported for beam reporting in Rel-16. Furthermore, it was agreed that different options for the content of beam reporting, e.g. CSI-RS resource indicator (CRI) or synchronization signal block needs to be further studied. Furthermore differential and group-based reporting as well as interference measurement mechanisms needs to be also further studied.
In RAN1-95 meeting, it was agreed that UE performs L1-SINR measurements for intended signal part based on SSB and/or NZP-CSI-RS resources. However, it remained open what kind of resources needs to be associated with interference part computation at UE-side. According to discussions in RAN1-#95, it can be assumed that SS-SINR and CSI-RS-SINR measurements specified in Rel-15 TS 38.215 CSI-RS and SSB resources defined for SS-SINR as well as CSI-SINR based L1-SINR computation can be used as a baseline for interference computation Rel-15 L1-SINR computation.
It should be understood that the methods described in the invention are not limited above examples on SINR calculation and SINR used for candidate beam selection.
At the time of the present invention, link recovery procedures are stated in 38.213—6 Link Recovery Procedures as follows:
The thresholds Qout,LR and Qin,LR correspond to the default value of higher layer parameter rlmInSyncOutOfSyncThreshold, as described in [10, TS38.133] for Qout, and to the value provided by higher layer parameter rsrp-ThresholdSSB, respectively. The physical layer in the UE assesses the radio link quality according to the set q0 of resource configurations against the threshold Qout,LR. For the set q0, the UE assesses the radio link quality only according to periodic CSI-RS resource configurations or SS/PBCH blocks that are quasi co-located, as described in [6, TS 38.214], with the DM-RS of PDCCH receptions monitored by the UE. The UE applies the Qin,LR threshold to the L1-RSRP measurement obtained from a SS/PBCH block. The UE applies the Qin,LR threshold to the L1-RSRP measurement obtained for a CSI-RS resource after scaling a respective CSI-RS reception power with a value provided by higher layer parameter powerControlOffsetSS.
The current invention moves beyond the current techniques and/or materials
Abbreviations that may be found in the specification and/or the drawing figures are defined below, at the beginning of the detailed description section.                2G Second Generation        3G Third Generation        3GPP Third Generation Partnership Project        5G Fifth Generation        5G-NB Fifth Generation Node B        BFR Beam Failure Recovery        BFRQ Beam Failure Recovery Request        BLER Block Error Ratio        BS Base Station        BSI Beam State Information        BRI Beam Refinement Information        BRRS Beam Refinement Reference Signal        CCE Control Channel Element        CE Control Element        CBRA Contention Based Random Access        CFRA Contention Free Random Access        CORESET Control Resource Set        C-RNTI Cell Radio Network Temporary Identifier        CSI Channel State Information        CSI-RS Channel State Information Reference Signal        CU Central Unit        CU-UP Central Unit User Plane        DL Downlink        DMRS Demodulation Reference Signal        DU Distributed Unit        eNB or eNodeB Evolved Node B (LTE base station)        EN-DC E-UTRA-NR dual connectivity        en-gNB or En-gNB node providing NR user plane and control plane protocol terminations towards the UE, and acting as secondary node in EN-DC        E-UTRA evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access, i.e., the LTE radio access technology        gNB NR/5G Node B        I/F Interface        LTE Long Term Evolution        NB NodeB, base station        MAC Medium Access Control        MAC-CE Medium Access Control-Control Element        MME Mobility Management Entity        NCE Network Control Element        ng or NG New Generation        ng-eNB or NG-eNB new generation eNB        NR New Radio        N/W or NW Network        PDCP Packet Data Convergence Protocol        PDCCH Physical Downlink Control Channel        PHY Physical Layer        PUCCH Physical Uplink Control Channel        PUSCH Physical Uplink Shared Channel        QCL Quasi Co-location        RA Random Access        RAN Radio Access Network        Rel Release        ReTx Retransmission or retransmitting        RLC Radio Link Control        RLM Radio Link Monitoring        RRC Radio Resource Control        RRH Remote Radio Head        RS Reference Signal        RSRP Reference Signal Received Power        RSRQ Reference Signal Received Quality        RU Radio Unit        Rx, RX Reception or receiving        SDAP Service Data Adaptation Protocol        SGW Serving Gateway        SMF Session Management Function        SINR Signal to Interference and Noise Ratio        SR Scheduling Request        SSB SS/PBCH Block        SS/PBCH Synchronization Signal/Physical Broadcast Channel        SS-RSRP Synchronization Signal Reference Signal Received Power        TCI Transmission Configuration Indication        TS Technical Specification or Technical Standard        Tx, TX Transmission or transmitting        TXRU Transceiver Unit        UE User Equipment or mobile station        UL Uplink        UPF User Plane Function

Utilizing interference measurements in beam recovery procedure


Provided are an apparatus for and a driving method of driving a washing machine in which a washing tub is rotated by an inertial force in a freewheeling condition or at a low power driving mode, and a pulsator is reversely rotated, in a state where the pulsator and the washing tub are rotated in one direction. When driving the pulsator and the washing tub in the opposite directions, the inner rotor and the outer rotor are driven in a first direction where the washing tub is rotated, to then set the inner rotor to any one of a free-wheeling mode, an intermittent driving mode, and a low power driving mode, to thus rotate the washing tub, and the outer rotor is driven in one direction opposing the first direction to thus reversely rotate the pulsator.

In general, a direct-drive washing machine selectively rotates a pulsator and a dehydrator by using a single motor for the washing machine.
For example, a motor for a washing machine repeatedly rotates a pulsator in a forward direction and a reverse direction when the washing machine performs a laundry operation and a rinsing operation of washes, and rotates the pulsator and a dehydrator in an identical direction at high-speed when the washing machine performs a dehydration operation of the washes.
In order to rotate only the pulsator or both the pulsator and the dehydrator, by using the single motor for the washing machine, conventional washing machines include a clutch and a torque conversion unit, respectively as disclosed in Korean Patent Registration No. 10-0438616 on Jun. 23, 2004.
However, the conventional washing machine requires a torque conversion unit that performs torque conversion to provide torque needed for a washing operation and a dehydration operation from a single washing machine motor, but the torque conversion unit includes a sun gear, planetary gears, and a carrier. As a result, the configuration of the torque conversion unit becomes very complicated and the price thereof is expensive, to thereby cause manufacturing costs for the washing machine to rise up.
In view of this point, Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2006-20266 proposed a washing machine including: an inner tub rotatably mounted inside of a tub; a pulsator rotatably mounted inside the inner tub; a first washing shaft connected to the inner tub through the tub; a second washing shaft connected to the pulsator; and a double-rotor motor individually rotating the first and second washing shafts.
In this case, the double-rotor motor is provided with a pair of separate rotors, and a stator including a pair of windings wound around one core, and thus selectively or individually drives the pair of rotors.
However, when trying to form a strong water stream to increase cleaning capability by rotating a pulsator and a washing tub in opposite directions in a motor drive device for a washing machine using the double-rotor motor, and when the washing tub filled with a lot of laundry and water is initially started with an inner rotor having a small starting torque due to a small diameter, initial starting current is excessively consumed due to the insufficient starting torque of the inner rotor, to thus cause degradation of efficiency.
In addition, when driving the inner rotor and outer rotor in opposite directions in the general double-rotor motor, interference may be caused between loads that are connected to the inner rotor and outer rotor and move in opposite directions, and thus the current consumption may increase. In particular, excessive current consumption may be caused in the initial starting time due to insufficient torque of the inner rotor, and thus degradation of efficiency may be caused.
It is required to form a strong water stream to increase cleaning capability by reversely rotating the washing tub in one direction opposite to the rotational direction of the pulsator in a washing mode and a rinsing mode.
In general, the washing tub is filled with a lot of laundry and water, and the weight and volume thereof become large compared to the pulsator. Accordingly, the high torque driving is required in the initial startup time.
The inner rotor for driving the washing tub has generally a small drive torque as compared to the outer rotor because the inner rotor is disposed inside the outer rotor.

Washing machine driving device, and washing machine and driving method using same


A print head (10) for a continuous inkjet printer has an ink drop generator (12), an ink supply tube (14) connected to the ink drop generator (12), and a solvent supply tube (16) connected at a first end to the ink drop generator (12) and for connection at a second end to a solvent reservoir. The solvent supply tube (16) is provided with ink flow restriction means (24, 26) for restricting a flow of ink from the ink drop generator (12) into the solvent supply tube (16). The flow restriction means (24, 26) comprise an arrangement (24) of the solvent supply tube (16) such that, for a flow direction reversing portion (26) of the solvent supply tube (16) at the first end of the solvent supply tube (16), a flow of solvent from the second end to the first end of the solvent supply tube (16) flows away from the ink drop generator (12). Also a printer including such a print head and a former for use with such a print head.

A continuous inkjet (CIJ) printer is operable to generate a continuous stream of drops of an electrically conductive ink, and to apply electrical charges to selected ones of the ink drops to cause them to be projected from a print head onto a printing substrate, or to enter a gutter in the print head and be returned to an ink reservoir.
In addition to an ink reservoir, the CIJ printer has a solvent reservoir, solvent from the solvent reservoir being used to replace solvent lost to evaporation from the ink as the ink is circulated between the ink reservoir and the print head, and to flush ink from the print head before shut down, so as to prevent the ink from clogging the print head.
For correct operation of the CIJ printer, precise synchronisation of the generation of the ink drops and the application of the electrical charges to selected ones of the drops is required. The process of adjustment of the printer to obtain this synchronisation is known as "phasing" and is carried out by the printer itself. Frequent phasing is required during operation of the printer, e.g., in response to changes in ink viscosity due to changes in ambient temperature.
The inventors have observed that if phasing is carried out when a print head of a CU printer is pointing downwards, the phasing may fail if the print head is subsequently pointed upwards.
The inventors have also observed that when a CIJ printer is first started, phasing may take very much longer if a print head of the printer is pointing upwards than if the print head is pointing downwards.
The inventors have established that the cause of these CIJ printer behaviours is that when the print head is pointing upwards, ink, which is more dense than the solvent, flows from an ink supply tube connected to the print head into a solvent supply tube connected to the print head, displacing solvent from the solvent supply tube into the print head, which causes a viscosity of the ink to reduce in an unexpected manner and the phasing to fail.
JP H10-324000 shows a CU printer, the solvent supply tube of which is provided with a non-return valve that would limit a flow of ink from the ink supply tube into the solvent supply tube. EP 1 405 728, US 2012/194619 and JP H5-77439 show similar such CIJ printers.
WO 2009/047503 shows a CU printer of which the solvent supply tube is provided with a flow control valve that would limit a flow of ink from the ink supply tube into the solvent supply tube. WO 2009/049130, US 2009/189960 and US 2010/066790 show similar such CU printers.
The non-return valves of JP H10-324000 et c. are mechanical devices with moving parts that are exposed in use to ink. In addition to increasing the costs of manufacture of such printers, the valves can be expected to reduce the reliability of such printers as a result of build-up of ink on the moving parts of the valves.
Because the flow control valves of WO 2009/047503 etc. are located in the printer bodies, rather than the print heads, although they would eventually limit the flow of ink from the ink supply tubes into the solvent supply tubes, this limiting effect would be too small to be useful. That is to say, the flow of ink into the solvent supply tubes would stop only once the solvent supply tubes connecting the print heads and the printer bodies, which tubes may be several meters in length, had filled with ink.


A cell culture system related to extended in vitro culture of mature neuronal cells and methods for preparing the cell culture system are provided. In a preferred embodiment the invention provides a cell culture system comprising a mixture of mature neuronal retinal cells and cells isolated from a ciliary body. Methods for identifying bioactive agents that alter neurodegeneration of neuronal retinal cells are also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a cell culture system that provides extended in vitro culture of neuronal cells. The invention is particularly related to the extended culture of retinal neuronal cells. The cell culture system is useful for identifying bioactive agents that can be used for treating neurodegenerative diseases, particularly retinal diseases and disorders. The invention also relates to using the cell culture method for identifying cells that may be useful for treating a retinal degenerative disease or disorder.
2. Description of the Related Art
In vitro culture of neuronal cells in general, and of retinal neuronal cells in particular, has been problematic. For many years, it has been believed that fully mature neurons lack plasticity and the ability to repair and regenerate after injury. If mature central nervous system (CNS) neurons could be cultured and stimulated to regenerate, transplantation and functional restoration of damaged or diseased CNS tissue might become feasible.
As a first step, groups of investigators have been studying in vitro growth of CNS-derived neurons. Some of these studies involve transformed or immortalized neuronal cells; some cells have been derived from tumorigenic tissues. With respect to retinal cultures, in vitro retinal organ cultures, retinal explant cultures and retinal explant/membrane culture techniques have been reported. In addition, investigators have reported analysis of retinal neural cell cultures that are derived from embryonic tissue or embryonic stem cells or from neonatal retinas. However, the inability to accomplish long-term culture of post-mitotic neuronal cells has been a major roadblock within the field of neurobiology. If primary cells obtained from mature, fully-differentiated neuronal tissue in general, and mature retinal neurons in particular, could be cultured in vitro over an extended period of time, this would constitute a valuable tool for neurobiological studies including examination of cell-to-cell interactions; selection and analysis of neuroactive compounds and materials; provision of a controlled surrogate system for in vivo CNS and ophthalmic tests; and potential analysis single cells from a consistent population.

Methods and systems for extended in vitro culture of neuronal cells


A miniature wire antenna includes N rectangular metal plates located at a first layer of a PCB, a tunable metal plate located at the first layer of the PCB and N serpentine lines located at a second layer of the PCB. The positions of the N serpentine lines correspond to the positions of the rectangular metal plates. A first end of each of the serpentine lines is connected to the corresponding rectangular metal plate, and a second end of each of the serpentine lines is connected to the next rectangular metal plate. A first end of the last serpentine line is connected to the corresponding rectangular metal plate, and a second end of the last serpentine line is connected to the tunable metal plate.

As everyone knows, functions related to a wireless local area network (WLAN), a global positioning system (GPS) or a global system for mobile communication (GSM) gradually become basic functions of a portable device. Thus, the portable device should have multiple built-in antennas to receive signals at different frequency bands. Since the size of the portable device is smaller and smaller, the size of the antenna is preferably smaller.
Generally, a chip antenna is the smallest antenna in size. To take a WLAN antenna as an example, the size of the chip antenna is less than 2 mm×5 mm×1 mm. However, the chip antenna is expensive, and its efficiency is not good.
There is another type of antenna which is a printed circuit board (PCB) antenna. The antenna is directly designed on the PCB. The PCB antenna has a low cost, but it occupies the largest area.
A wire antenna which is also called a monopole antenna may be designed on the PCB. The antenna includes a conducting line and a ground panel. The length of the conducting line is one quarter of the wavelength of the resonance frequency. Thus, the higher the resonance frequency is, the shorter the conducting line is. The lower the resonance frequency is, the longer the conducting line is. The conducting line is too long, and thus it is difficult to use the wire antenna in the mobile device directly.
To apply the wire antenna to the mobile device, generally the conducting line is designed to be winding type to reduce the area of the wire antenna. The winding conducting line may be a bent line or a serpentine line.
In addition, in pages 11 to 14 of the periodical, IEEE Antenna and wireless Propagation Letters 2007, a design of miniaturized printed wire antenna using double-layer periodic metallization is disclosed. In addition, in the periodical, IEEE APS 2008, a miniaturized printed wire antenna utilizing 3D substrate metallization for wireless communication is disclosed.
In the two periodicals, the wire antenna is designed utilizing the idea of an artificial transmission line. In the first periodical, a double-layer PCB is used, and the length of the WLAN antenna is reduced to about 12 millimeter (mm). In the second periodical, a three-layer PCB is used, and the length of the WLAN antenna is further reduced to about 8 mm. However, since the resonance frequency of both the two antennas cannot be tuned finely, the two antennas are hard to be used practically.


A battery-charge control device comprises an attachment-detecting unit, a temperature-obtaining unit, a voltage-obtaining unit, a threshold-value-determining unit, a determination unit, and a completion-processing unit. The threshold-value-determining unit determines, based on a battery temperature obtained by the temperature-obtaining unit, a completion-threshold-value corresponding to the battery temperature for determining necessity of charging when the attachment-detecting unit detects that the battery pack is attached to the battery charger. The determination unit performs a determination of whether a voltage obtained by the voltage-obtaining unit is equal to or greater than the completion-threshold-value determined by the threshold-value-determining unit when the attachment-detecting unit detects that the battery pack is attached to the battery charger. The completion-processing unit performs a specified battery-charge completion processing indicating unnecessity of charging of the battery by the battery charger when the determination unit determines that the obtained voltage is equal to or greater than the completion-threshold-value.

The present disclosure relates to a battery-charge control device that controls charging of a battery by a battery charger, a battery charger, and a battery pack.
Various methods of charging a battery have been proposed. JP2009055729A discloses a technique to change a charging current based on a surface temperature of a battery cell that constitutes a battery. JP2010016976A discloses a technique to change a charging voltage in accordance with a temperature of a battery cell.

Battery-charge control device, battery charger and battery pack


Techniques are described to provide a categorized electronic program guide, as well as other user interfaces. In an implementation, each of a plurality of representations of content that is currently available via network for consumption are grouped into a respective one of the plurality of categories. An electronic program guide is output for display such that at least one of the categories, which is not have one or more items categorized of the currently available content, is not available for display in the electronic program guide.

Users have access to an ever increasing variety of content, such as from cable and satellite television to streaming content via the Internet. Consequently, users are now able to access hundreds of channels that may have different types of content, such as television programs, video-on-demand, movies, sporting events, and so forth.
One technique that has been developed to help the users navigate through this vast amount of content is through the use of an electronic program guide (EPG). The EPG provides functionality similar to a printed program guide by informing the users as to which content is available and where that content is located, e.g., what channel is broadcasting the particular content. The EPG may also provide additional functionality to enable users to actually navigate to particular content represented in the EPG, cause the content to be recorded by a digital video recorder, order pay-per-view content, and so on. Because the amount of content that is available is ever increasing, however, traditional EPGs may be inefficient when confronted with hundreds and even thousands of channels of content.


Frame-based streaming data flows through a graph of multiple interconnected processing modules. The modules have a set of performance parameters whose values specify the sensitivity of each module to the selection of certain resources of a system. A user specifies overall goals for an actual graph for processing a given type of data for a particular purpose. A flow manager constructs the graph as a sequence of module interconnections required for processing the data, in response to the parameter values of the individual modules in the graph in view of the goals for the overall graph as a whole, and divides it into pipes each having one or more modules and each assigned to a memory manager for handling data frames in the pipe.

The Present invention relates to electronic data processing, and more specifically concerns managing the flow of streaming data through multiple hardware and/or software processing modules in a computer.
Streaming data is a continuous flow of data that must be ultimately presented to a user in a particular sequence in real time. Digital samples representing an audio signal, for example, must be converted to a sound wave in the same sequence they were transmitted, and at exactly the time spacing they were generated, or some user-specified alternative. Digital data representing video frames require assembly into the proper sequence in the frame for presentation on a display together, and successive frames must display at the correct real-time rate.
Streaming data need not necessarily maintain correct sequence or timing throughout an entire communication chain among various transmitters, processors, memories, and receivers. Indeed, video and audio clips are frequently stored as static data in recording media, computer memories, and network buffers. Packet-switched systems might also carry parts of the same streaming data over different paths and even in different time sequences. Processors such as digital filters can assemble parts of the data stream, modify them as a static unit, then release them to further units in the system. Eventually, however, the stream must be heard or seen in the correct sequence at the proper relative times.
Streaming data almost always involves very large amounts of data. Streaming data almost always challenges the capacity of digital buses in computers to access it, carry it and switch it. Streaming data almost always taxes the processing power of functional units, both software and hardware, to receive it, convert it, and pass it on to other units. Those in the art speak of the necessity of xe2x80x9cfat pipesxe2x80x9d for streaming data.
Inefficiencies in reading and writing are especially deleterious in the handling of streaming data. These operations contribute nothing useful to processing the data. Yet the functional units that do perform useful work usually require movement of the data to and from a storage. Moreover, different kinds of streaming data usually require different kinds of processing by different hardware and/or software modules interconnected in different ways. No general-purpose computer, such as a personal computer, can afford to hard-wire all the necessary modules in a dedicated configuration for any one type of such data. This fact increases the need for intermediate storage, and thus for reading and writing operations.
An abstract model has been developed to represent the connections among various facilities in a computer that are required to process a given type of streaming data. For example, a video clip might require MPEG decoding in a dedicated chip, rasterizing the video fields in another hardware module, digital filtering of the audio in a software module, insertion of subtitles by another software module, D/A conversion of the video in a video adapter card, and D/A conversion of the audio in a separate audio card. A number of different types of memory in different locations can store the data between successive operations, and a number of buses can be made available to transport the data.
An architecture called WDM-CSA (Windows Driver Model Connection and Streaming Architecture) introduces the concept of a graph for specifying the connections among the facilities of a computer where a data stream must pass through a number of processing units in an efficient manner. The WDM-CSA protocol also simplifies the development of drivers for such data. Basically, WDM-CSA specifies the flow of data frames through a graph, and also the control protocols by which adjacent modules in the graph communicate with each other to request and accept the data frames. Heretofore, however, streaming graphs have been used improve the actual data flow only to the extent of reducing inter-buffer data transfers between adjacent functional units in the graph. Global improvement of the entire data flow over the graph has not been attempted. Accordingly, a need remains for further efficiencies in processing streaming and related kinds of data using a connection graph, by increasing the overall speed of data flowing through the graph, by reducing the systems resources usage, and/or by satisfying formal goals and constraints specified by the graph""s client.
The present invention increases the speed and efficiency of frame-based streaming data flowing through a graph of multiple modules in a data processor or similar system. Rather than optimizing the performance of individual modules or of certain graph configurations, the invention improves the performance of the graph as a whole when constructing it from a sequence of modules.
In one aspect of the invention, the modules that can be used in a streaming-data graph have a set of performance parameters whose values specify the sensitivity of each module to the selection of certain resources, such as bus medium for carrying the data, memory type for storing it, and so forth. A user, such as an application program for presenting streaming data, can specify overall goals for an actual graph for processing a given type of data for a particular purpose. A flow manager constructs the graph as a sequence of module interconnections required for processing the data, in response to the parameter values of the individual modules in the graph in view of the goals for the overall graph as a whole.
Another aspect of the invention divides the overall streaming-data graph into a group of pipes containing one or more of the modules in the graph. This division further improves the graph operation by reducing the number of times that data must be copied or stored while progressing through the graph. Each pipe has a memory allocator that serves the frames of all modules in the pipe. The pipes can optionally be designed in response to the module performance parameters and the graph goals.
A further aspect of the invention provides a streaming-data graph including the interconnection specifications of modules in particular pipes, and of the pipes into the total graph.

Flow of streaming data through multiple processing modules


A method of connecting one or more testing devices to ports of a DUT through a switching network, to execute a testing procedure includes generating a switching network map defining connections within the switching network to implement electrical paths through the switching network. Each of the electrical paths is representative of a connection of one of the testing devices to one of the I/O ports of the DUT. The method further includes receiving commands that uniquely specify an electrical path connecting a particular testing device to a particular I/O port of the DUT. The method compares each command to the switching network map to identify a corresponding electrical path through the switching network, and implements that path associated the command through the network. The method further includes sequentially implementing the electrical paths corresponding to the one or more commands in a predetermined order.

Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
The present invention relates to generating signal paths through a switching network, and more particularly, to generating signal paths from a variety of test sources, through a switching network, to a Device Under Test (DUT), as a function of commands that are written in a language associated with, and descriptive of, the DUT. Such testing is also referred to herein as xe2x80x9cdevice oriented testing.xe2x80x9d
FIG. 1 shows an exemplary prior art testing system 10 for testing an electrical device 12 (also referred to herein as DUT). Such systems allow automatic testing of electrical devices in an efficient, repeatable manner, with little or no input from the person running the test. Such a testing system 10 has great utility for an electrical device manufacturer who produces a large number of devices each day that must be tested for functionality prior to being shipped. In general, such testing systems 10 include a plurality of testing devices 14 (also referred to herein as testing resources) that generate test signals to be applied to the DUT 12, and/or receive response signals from the DUT 12. The testing devices 14 that produce test signals also typically measure the signals as they are generated and record test signal measurements, and the testing devices 14 that receive the response signals measure the response signals and record the response measurements. The testing devices 14 are electrically coupled to a switching network 16, which is electrically coupled to the DUT 12. A controller 18 is electrically coupled to the switching network, and provides control signals to the switches (also referred to herein as relays) to selectively connect testing devices 14 to individual input/output (I/O) ports of the DUT 12. The switching network thus allows each I/O port of the DUT to be tested by multiple testing devices 14.
In typical prior art systems, the controller 18 is a computer system, and a test technician (also referred to herein as xe2x80x9cthe userxe2x80x9d) fashions test procedures for the DUT in code written on the computer. For example, the test technician may determine that one portion of the test procedure for a particular DUT 12 should be to connect a first testing device to each of the I/O ports of the DUT 12. For the first I/O port of the DUT 12, the technician must determine which relays of the switching network 16 must be closed to create a path from the testing device to the first I/O port. The technician then executes code on the computer that causes the computer to send control signals to the switching network 16, closing the relays that create a path from the testing device to the first I/O port. Once the first testing device completes the test of the first I/O port, the technician executes code that eliminates the path created by the previous step, and then executes further code to create a path from the first testing device to the second I/O port. This procedure repeats until all I/O ports of the DUT 12 have been connected to and tested by the first testing device.
One disadvantage to this procedure for testing a DUT is that it places a significant burden on the testing technician, especially when the DUT 12 has a large number of I/O ports, and when the switching network is complex and includes a large number of relays. For each path from a testing device to a DUT I/O port, the technician must determine which relays must be closed to implement the path, then write and execute code that closes those relays. Further, any changes in the testing procedure involves keeping track of which relays are already closed, which of those must be opened, and which open relays must be closed, in order to create the new path.
Another disadvantage to this procedure is that it adds a significant probability of incurring errors during testing. Because the test technician must resolve each path manually, occasionally the wrong path will be created due to an inevitable programming error, and the procedure will consequently not test that which was intended.
It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome the above-identified disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art.
The foregoing and other objects are achieved by the invention which in one aspect comprises a method of sequentially connecting one or more testing devices to I/O ports of a DUT through a switching network, so as to execute a predetermined testing procedure associated with the DUT. The method includes generating a switching network map defining one or more connections within the switching network necessary to implement each of a plurality of electrical paths from an input of the switching network to an output of the switching network, wherein each of the plurality of electrical paths is representative of a connection of one of the testing devices to one of the I/O ports of the DUT. The method further includes receiving one or more commands, wherein each of the commands uniquely specifies an electrical path connecting a particular testing device to a particular I/O port of the DUT. For each of the one or more commands, the method compares the command to the switching network map so as to identify a corresponding electrical path through the switching network, and implements the corresponding electrical path associated the command through the switching network. The method further includes sequentially implementing the electrical paths corresponding to the one or more commands in a predetermined order.
Another embodiment of the invention further includes assigning a unique path name to each of the electrical paths, such that each commands specifies a particular electrical path via the path name.
Another embodiment of the invention further includes sequentially implementing the electrical paths associated with the one or more commands through the switching network in an order corresponding to a chronological order of the one or more commands.
Another embodiment of the invention further includes opening and closing selected switching devices within the switching network.
Another embodiment of the invention further includes programming a computer system to issue the commands in the predetermined order.
Another embodiment of the invention further includes connecting one or more testing devices to multiple DUT sites via the switching network.
Another embodiment of the invention further includes associating each of the electrical paths with a name that is (i) descriptive of the path and (ii) related to DUT.
Another embodiment of the invention further includes
In another aspect, the invention comprises a system for sequentially connecting one or more testing devices to I/O ports of a DUT through a switching network, so as to execute a predetermined testing procedure associated with the DUT. The system includes a switching network map defining one or more connections within the switching network necessary to implement each of a plurality of electrical paths from an input of the switching network to an output of the switching network, wherein each of the plurality of electrical paths is representative of a connection of one of the testing devices to one of the I/O ports of the DUT;
a controller for (i) receiving one or more commands, wherein each of the commands uniquely specifies an electrical path connecting a particular testing device to a particular I/O port of the DUT, (ii) comparing each of the commands to the switching network map so as to identify a corresponding electrical path through the switching network, and implementing the corresponding electrical path associated the command through the switching network, and (iii) sequentially implementing the electrical paths corresponding to the one or more commands in a predetermined order.
In another embodiment of the invention, the switching network includes at least two sub-networks electrically coupled so as to form the plurality of electrical paths.
In another embodiment of the invention, the sub-networks include an SCM and a DUT board.
In another embodiment of the invention, each of said one or more commands includes a pin name that is (i) descriptive of the path and (ii) related to DUT.

System for and method of performing device-oriented tests


The present invention utilizes extracts of the pre-sporulation (preconidial) mycelial stage of entomopathogenic fungi as insect and arthropod attractants and/or pathogens and can be employed to limit the zoonotic diseases they transmit. The fungus can be cultivated on grain, wood, agricultural wastes or other cellulosic material and extracts can be made thereof. More than one fungus and substrate can be used in combination with one or more antimicrobial, antiprotozoal, antiviral, and genetically modified agents that result in reduced spread of contagions and lessens the damage they inflict on animals, and plants.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to mycology, entomology, and the use of preconidial preparations of entomopathogenic fungi as attractants (mycoattractants) and biopesticides (mycopesticides, mycoinsecticides) in combination with other technologies to control, decrease, limit or prevent the spread of diseases carried by insects and/or other arthropods. More particularly, the invention relates to the control of zoonotic diseases by attracting, and attracting and killing insects, including ants, flies, beetles, cockroaches, bed bugs, mosquitoes, grasshoppers and other arthropods such as ticks, mites, midges, lice and fleas, using pre-sporulating mycelia of entomopathogenic fungi and extracts of pre-sporulating mycelia.
2. Description of the Related Art
Diseases emanating from ecologically distressed and polluted environments increasingly threaten animals and plants. With deforestation, habitat destruction, decline in water quality, decreases in biodiversity, all of which are exacerbated by global climate change and human impacts, zoonotic diseases are increasingly a threat to healthy environments and their inhabitants, especially animal populations, including humans and their livestock. Many of these disease-causing organisms are carried by or bred within insects or other arthropods. Insects are any of the large class (Insecta) of small arthropod animals characterized, in the adult state, by division of the body into head, thorax, and abdomen, three pairs of legs on the thorax, and, usually, two pairs of membranous wings; arthropods are any of the largest phylum (Arthropoda) of invertebrate animals with jointed legs, a segmented body, and an exoskeleton, including herein insects, arachnids such as spiders, mites and ticks, and myriapods. Since many of these bite humans and livestock, as well as damage plants, they transmit a wide variety of diseases, many of which result in billions of dollars worth of damage to economies worldwide.
Insects are among the most diverse and numerous life forms on earth. While the majority of the one million named species of insects are considered beneficial, somewhere from 1% to 5% are considered to be pests. Some of these insect pests not only cause tremendous losses in terms of direct destruction of crops, livestock, and human dwellings, they are also vectors for pathogens including protozoa, round worms, bacteria, and viruses that cause devastating human health problems. As climates change, with an overall tendency to warming, tropical and subtropical diseases are spreading into temperate regions, once devoid of these threats. The negative physical, mental, economic, social, and ecological implications of disease carrying pest insects and arthropods are difficult to quantify since their effects are wide-ranging and multidimensional. As ecosystems in which humans dwell are harmed, water is polluted, sanitation hurdles mount, toxins are accumulated, and food scarcity increases, animals (including humans) become much more susceptible to infection from pathogen-carrying insects and arthropods as their innate immune systems are weakened. Chemical pesticides, antibiotics, and vaccinations are notoriously ineffective against long-term exposure to populations of rapidly evolving organisms. Additionally, resistance to pesticides and antimicrobials can result in "super-bugs" which often develop in both insects and the microbes they transmit. As diseases ebb and flow, we need a more sophisticated way of out-smarting the vectors that carry them. If the vector can be stopped, the disease can be stopped. By using attractants from entomopathogenic fungi, this new approach allows the unusual flexibility of being able to switch or combine attractant extracts and mycelium sourced by tapping into the vast and continually evolving genome of naturally occurring wild or human-improved strains.
Many insects and arthropods are vectors for contagions. Some in particular are common carriers of pathogens and contagions. Many of these contagions are spread by simple contact, some are spread from bites or proboscis punctures, while others can be transmitted to animals when they consume these disease-laden insects.
Zoonotic disease is defined as any disease that is spread from animals to people. Any subsequent insect controlling technology can be enhanced since the insects and arthropods become concentrated as a result of the attractant properties of the preconidial mycelium or extract of selected entomopathogenic fungi. The further novelty of this invention is that it allows other technologies that limit disease to work more effectively by concentrating and localizing the disease-spreading organism to a more centralized locus, reducing expenses while enhancing efficacies. In essence, disease vectors by insects and arthropods can be better controlled.
Ants can carry diverse populations of pathogenic bacteria. For instance, Pharaoh ants (Monomorium pharaonis and related species) are known as vectors to more than dozen pathogenic bacteria, including Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus spp., and Streptococcus spp., and are especially dangerous to burn victims recovering in hospital environments. See Beatson S. H., "Pharaoh ants as pathogen vectors in hospitals," Lancet 1: pp. 425-427(1972); Haack K. D., Granovsky T. A., Ants, In Handbook of Pest Control, Story K. and Moreland D. (eds.), Franzak & Foster Co., Cleveland, Ohio. pp. 415-479 (1990); and Smith E. H., Whitman R. C., Field Guide to Structural Pests, National Pest Management Association, Dunn Loring, Va., (1992).
Although we have identified many diseases mosquitoes carry, we are unlikely to have identified them all. More mosquito-pathogen vectors are likely to be discovered as insects (and arthropods) evolve and species populations re-mix. We know that mosquitoes can be the vector for viruses, using their proboscis as a form of a syringe capable for injecting many viruses, specifically West Nile virus, encephalitis viruses (Western equine encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, La Crosse encephalitis, Japanese encephalitis, Eastern equine encephalitis), Yellow Fever, and Dengue Fever. How many other viruses carried by mosquitoes, yet unknown or not yet evolved, will be discovered? Surely, there will be more.
Mosquitoes also inject protozoa into humans, including malaria (Plasmodium falciparum), which still results in millions of deaths per year worldwide. Control measures have included the use of chemical pesticides such as DDT™ and Deltamethrin™; however, their recurrent and prolonged use stimulates resistance. It seems Nature always finds a way around chemical "solutions." To resolve complex problems in Nature, complex solutions are needed. This invention speaks directly to this issue.
Even the use of pesticide impregnated mosquito nets, which have been initially effective at reducing malaria infection, are not a long-term solution. Paradoxically a new study published in the prestigious medical journal The Lancet, indicates that human populations become more susceptible to malarial diseases by limiting their exposure to bites from mosquitoes. The research team, led by Dr. Jean-Francois Trape of the Institut de Recherche pour le Developpement in Dakar, found that malaria infection rates in certain segments of the population rose to levels higher than before the introduction of bed nets. The researchers collected specimens of Anopheles gambiae, the mosquito species responsible for transmitting malaria to humans in Africa. Between 2007 and 2010 the proportion of the insects with a genetic resistance to one type of pesticide rose from 8% to 48%. By 2010, the proportion of mosquitoes resistant to Deltamethrin, the chemical recommended by the World Health Organization for bed nets, was 37%. In the last four months of the study, the researchers found that the incidence of malaria attacks returned to high levels. Among older children and adults the rate was even higher than before the introduction of the nets. The researchers argue that the initial effectiveness of the bed nets reduced the amount of immunity that people acquire through exposure to mosquito bites. Combined with resurgence in resistant insects, there was a rapid rebound in infection rates. The authors are worried that their study has implications beyond Senegal, writing "these findings are a great concern since they support the idea that insecticide resistance might not permit a substantial decrease in malaria morbidity in many parts of Africa." Trape, J-F. et al., "Malaria morbidity and pyrethroid resistance after the introduction of insecticide-treated bednets and artemisinin-based combination therapies: a longitudinal study," The Lancet Infectious Diseases, early online publication, doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(11)70194-3 (2011).
Below is a short summary of insects and arthropods with some of the zoonotic pathogens they transmit.
Insects and Arthropods Vectoring Zoonotic Pathogens
Ants: Bacteria (Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., etc.) Example: Fire ants spread several bacterial diseases in hospitals, including Staphylococcus, Salmonella and Clostridium.
Mosquitoes: Malaria protozoa (Plasmodium falciparum) carried by 30-40 species, including Anopheles gambiae. Viruses: West Nile (carried by more than 42 species), encephalitis, Yellow Fever and Dengue Fever (carried by several species of Aedes, including A. aegypti).
Flies: Bacteria, protozoa (ex. Tsetse fly carries the protozoan Trypanosoma causing often-fatal 'sleeping sickness'). Flies also spread viruses, including influenza strains H5N2 & H5N1 (bird flu) and H1N1 (swine flu), which can also be carried by Blow Flies (Calliphoridae, Calliphora vicina and related species) and the common house fly (Musca domestica and related species). Houseflies can also transmit typhoid (Salmonella typhi) and dysentery (a disease complex caused by viruses, bacteria, protozoa and parasitic worms). White flies can transmit begomoviruses (family Geminiviridae), criniviruses, ipomoviruses, torradoviruses, and some carlaviruses.
Bed Bugs: MRSA (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria) carried by Cimex species. Other bacteria can be transmitted by bed bugs.
Lice and ticks: Bacteria: Rickettsia spp. causing Rocky Mountain Spotted fever; Bartonella vinsonii & B. henseiae causing intramuscular infections; and Borrelia burgdorferi causing Lyme disease.
Fleas: Bacteria, including Yernsia pestis causing bubonic plague.
Midges: Viruses (Blue tongue virus to cattle, epizootic hemorrhagic disease).
Leafhoppers: Tomato/Tobacco Mosaic viruses, wheat striate mosaic virus, maize fine streak virus, chickpea chlorotic dwarf virus, green petal virus, and others.
Virtually all biting insects and arthropods can result in bacterial or viral infections, either directly from a contagion reservoir within them or from wound exposure to the open environment. This is true with regard to both animal and plant diseases.
The present invention affords yet another new option for disease control: to attract but not necessarily kill mosquitoes, whilst reducing or eliminating their pathogen payloads. This option is important especially in areas where the insect populations are helpful in maintaining biological diversity of other animals that are dependent upon them for food. Removing all the insects from an ecosystem would likely result in unforeseen consequences, beyond that which is readily obvious. The food web is interconnected, and while most experts will agree that reducing disease vectors is prudent; destroying a native insect population is not.
Moreover, since Metarhizium species are natural parasites of mosquitoes, the natural genome of this and other entomopathogenic fungi offer sources of ever-evolving libraries of new strains, making resistance much more unlikely compared to chemical pesticides. An additional advantage of using preconidial entomopathogenic fungi such as Metarhizium anisopliae is that native strains of this fungus can be isolated wherever mosquitoes live, meaning that the constant co-evolution of this fungus to overcome resistance factors of the mosquitoes provides us with a unique partnership with nature to constantly adapt native, new strains of this fungus for implementation in controlling mosquitoes. Moreover, if new strains of Metarhizium anisopliae are blended with any antimicrobial agent, the insects and the diseases they spread can be further controlled. Should the disease organism being carried by, for instance, a mosquito, develop resistance to an antimicrobial or antiviral drug, then a mixture of more than one drug or remedy can be employed to overcome resistance. Thus, this invention allows for a platform for continually out-smarting resistance by blending technologies and combining antimicrobials—out-racing the ability of insects and pathogens to adapt to either the entomopathogenic fungus or the antimicrobial method employed at the points of contact. Such synergism can have many derivative improvements and are expected by this inventor.
As an example, Artemesinin from Artemesia plants, has been found to be effective against malaria. Either pure or less expensive crude, extracts containing Artemesinin can be blended with the preconidial extracts and/or mycelium of Metarhizium anisopliae. This combination would both attract mosquitoes and upon ingestion of the blended extract reduce the malarial loads they carry. Similarly, other combinations could include any or a plurality of antimalarial drugs or the crude precursors from which they are derived, including but not limited to: Quinine and related agents, Chloroquine, Amodiaquine, Pyrimethamine, Proguanil, Sulfonamides, Mefloquine, Atovaquone, Primaquine, Halofantrine, Doxycycline, and Clindamycin. Moreover, the water/ethanol extracts of some polypore mushrooms, particularly Polyporus umbellatus has shown strong antimalarial activity, although the active ingredients have not yet been identified. Lovy, A., B. Knowles, R. Labbe & L. Nolan, "Activity of edible mushrooms against the growth of human T4 leukemia cancer cells, and Plasmodium falciparum," Journal of Herbs, Spices & Medicinal Plants vol. 6(4): 49-57 (1999). Additionally, other polypore mushrooms, and Basidiomycetes, are likely to produce antimalarial compounds.
Another example would be to blend the extracts or mycelia of preconidial entomopathogenic fungi with the less expensive antiviral drug precursors, expired antiviral drugs, or drugs such as Abacavir, Aciclovir, Acyclovir, Adefovir, Amantadine, Amprenavir, Ampligen, Arbidol, Atazanavir, Atripla, Boceprevir, Cidofovir, Combivir, Darunavir, Delavirdine, Didanosine, Docosanol, Edoxudine, Efavirenz, Emtricitabine, Enfuvirtide, Entecavir, Famciclovir, Fomivirsen, Fosamprenavir, Foscarnet, Fosfonet, Ganciclovir, Ibacitabine, Imunovir, Idoxuridine, Imiquimod, Indinavir, Inosine, Interferon type III, Interferon type II, Interferon type I, Interferon, Lamivudine, Lopinavir, Loviride, Maraviroc, Moroxydine, Methisazone, Nelfinavir, Nevirapine, Nexavir, Nucleoside analogues, Oseltamivir (Tamiflu®), Peginterferon alfa-2a, Penciclovir, Peramivir, Pleconaril, Podophyllotoxin, Protease inhibitors, Raltegravir, Reverse transcriptase inhibitors, Ribavirin, Rimantadine, Ritonavir, Pyramidine, Saquinavir, Stavudine, Tea tree oil, Tenofovir, Tenofovir disoproxil, Tipranavir, Trifluridine, Trizivir, Tromantadine, Truvada, Valaciclovir (Valtrex®), Valganciclovir, Vicriviroc, Vidarabine, Viramidine, Zalcitabine, Zanamivir (Relenza®), and Zidovudine.
This same principle could also be used to enhance more traditional insect control devices. For example, blends of extracts and preconidial mycelium of entomopathogenic fungi can be used to enhance performance of UV light based insect traps such as BASF's "Vector™" or CO2 emitting suction traps. In essence, any current or future method might well result in greater performance for controlling insects, whether these be mosquitoes, flies or others, by employing extracts and mycelium of preconidial entomopathogenic fungi.
Using preconidial entomopathogenic fungi to develop new or enhance existing insect control measures may also be used to help mitigate diseases spread by flies. Flies such as the blood sucking Tsetse fly carry the protozoan Trypanosoma that causes an often fatal "sleeping sickness" in Africa. Blow flies, aka 'blue bottle flies' (Calliphora nigribarbis and Aldrichina graham) and house flies (Musca domestica) have both been found by multiple researchers to harbor and carry bird flu viruses, meaning that poultry farms and slaughter houses represent nexus distribution points for this contagion. See http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=29335. According to the researchers, "more than one-third of the adult Musca domestica sampled contained AI [avian influenza] virus particles." Blow flies swarm and breed upon carcasses, including birds, as well as broken eggs and bird feces, and can acquire bird flu viruses. The ever-so-common housefly can carry bird flu viruses, and potentially re-infect chickens and other poultry that eat flies regularly. What has not been reported yet is whether or viruses such as bird flu can be transmitted to humans from infected flies. Given the huge swarms of flies that congregate around dead and diseased animals, this vector seems likely. According to the researchers, "more than one-third of the adult Musca domestica sampled contained AI virus particles"(http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=29640).
As symptoms of bird flu infection may not be evident for a few days, and yet the animals can be infectious, factory farms, and in particular slaughter houses (where blow flies feed on cadavers and also make contact with living animals) can be a serious, although largely unpublicized threat to public health. Flies infected from contacting poultry infected from bird flu, for example, can be eaten by non-infected birds, thus increasing the probably of disease transmission. Thus the need to attract virus-vectoring flies, and to reduce their pathogen payload is dually important. Note that even if the flies are not caught, but seek out, make contact with, and/or ingest the sweet extracts having antiviral or antimicrobial properties, the benefits incurred are that these insects are then less infectious due to reduced levels of contagions.
Because the purification of antimicrobial and antiviral drugs is typically more much expensive than their crude, or semi-pure precursors, this invention anticipates that less-than-pharmaceutical grade antiviral, antimicrobial, and anti-protozoa medicines can be employed in combination with extracts and the mycelium of pre-conidial entomopathogenic fungi to create a successful treatment in the prevention, mitigation, or curing of contagions transmitted by insects and arthropods. Moreover, the inventor's prior research on the use of polypore mushroom derivatives to combat viruses, which employ a similar method of extraction to the methods described herein for the creation of attractant preconidial entomopathogenic extracts, is yet another application of this novel way of limiting zoonotic contagions.
Other insect arthropods such as lice and ticks can carry Rickettsia bacteria causing Rocky Mountain Spotted fever. Fleas can transmit bubonic plague (Yersinia pestis bacteria) and ticks can carry Lyme disease (Borrelia bacteria) to humans, deer, and other animals. 'Bed bugs' (Cimex species from the Cimicidae) have also recently been found to carry drug-resistant staph bacteria (MRSA—methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus), compounding the challenge faced by hospitals, hotels, dormitories, army barracks, prisons, and other densely populated areas. Denser populations of humans and animals—especially denser populations of immunocompromised humans and animals—increase the probably of infection and re-transmission. Whether the initial infection being transmitted from a biting insect or arthropod is from a bacterium or a virus, co-occurrence of non-insect borne diseases may more readily ensue. The now-lowered immunity of the infected animal population at large may, for instance, make the spread of Ebola, Hanta, bird flu viruses, diphtheria, dysentery, and any contagion more readily spreadable. The resultant consequences of a population's lowered immunity can also degrade the overall population's immunological defenses against cancers. Conversely, those already suffering from cancer, or have compromised immune systems due to other diseases, are more susceptible to infection.
Moreover, insects spread viruses into plants. For instance, caterpillars and grasshoppers spread the Tomato-Tobacco Mosaic Virus. For farmers, there are dual advantages for controlling plant eating insects and the crop destroying diseases they spread. By combining extracts from the polypore mushroom, Fomes fomentarius, a source of antiviral agents active against the Tobacco Mosaic Virus with extracts of preconidial mycelium of Cordyceps species (well known for infecting caterpillars and grasshoppers), farmers could benefit by both limiting these crop damaging insects and lessening the threat of viruses they spread. This is but one of many examples that will become obvious and are expected manifestations of this over-arching invention.
Hence this inventor sees a two-fold need: to control movement of insects, and to control the pathogenic bio-burden of insects and arthropods that transmit diseases to people, animals, and plants. Combining methods and compositions discussed herein to create discrete ways to attract disease-carrying insects and subsequently killing them and/or reducing their pathogenic payloads will be important for protecting environmental health. In the age of technologies creating genetically modified organisms, potentiating pathogen carrying insects as biological weapons is possible and protection from such threats is sorely needed. Hence, this invention could be important for defense against bioterrorism in its many elaborations.

Controlling zoonotic disease vectors from insects and arthropods using preconidial mycelium and extracts of preconidial mycelium from entomopathogenic fungi


In a video camera system composed of exchangeable lens devices interchangeably mountable on a camera body having an image pick up element to generate a signal corresponding to a light image projected thereon by an imaging lens of the exchangeable lens device in use, a signal processing circuit responsive to the signal from the image pick up element for providing a color video signal, and a white balance adjusting circuit for correcting the white balance of the color video signal; there are provided a memory for storing white balance correction data characteristic of each of the exchangeable lens devices; and a circuit responsive to the white balance correction data which is characteristic of the one of the exchangeable lens devices mounted on the camera body for correcting operation of the white balance adjusting circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to video cameras and, more particularly, is directed to an improved arrangement for effecting automatic white balance adjustment in a video camera system of the type having a camera body on which exchangeable lens devices are interchangeably mountable.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
It is known to provide a video camera with a white balance adjusting circuit. Such video cameras generally comprise a lens assembly for projecting a light image on an image pick up element which may be a charge-coupled-device (CCD) and which provides a corresponding video signal supplied to a signal processing circuit for generating color signals. Any white balance errors included in such color signals are intended to be corrected by the white balance adjusting circuit which may be of a closed-loop type or an open-loop type.
In a video camera provided with a white balance adjusting circuit, red, blue and green color signals provided by the signal processing circuit are supplied through respective amplifiers to a matrix circuit which produces therefrom the usual luminance signal and color difference signals. In the case of a white balance adjusting circuit of the closed-loop type, the outputs of the red and blue color signal amplifiers, which have variable gains, are compared in respective operational amplifiers with the output of the green color signal amplifier to provide red and blue compensation signals which are stored in memories and readable from the latter for controlling the gains of the red and blue color signal amplifiers, respectively. In using a video camera having a closed-loop type white balance adjusting circuit, a white object, for example, a white cap covering the lens assembly, is initially placed in the field of view of the camera and, in the event that there is a white balance error, the white balance adjusting circuit provides red and blue compensation signals that are adapted to vary the gains of the red and blue color signal amplifiers in a manner to cancel such white balance error. The red and blue compensation signals are stored in the respective memories of the camera and are thereafter, during normal operation of the camera, supplied from the memories to the respective variable gain amplifiers for maintaining the desired white balance of the color video signal corresponding to a scene that may then be in the field of view of the camera. However, a video camera having a white balance adjusting circuit of the closed-loop type requires that an initial white balance adjustment be performed before each use of the camera for obtaining the red and blue compensation signals to be stored in the respective memories.
It will be seen that, in a white balance adjusting circuit of the closed-loop type, the stored red and blue compensation correction signals are derived from the main image signal path. On the other hand, in a white balance adjusting circuit of the open-loop type, for example, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,646,161, and in Japanese laid-open Utility Model Application No. 61-1982, each of which has a common assignee herewith, an external light sensor assembly is provided to convert white light obtained from a white-scattering plate independently of the main image path into red, green and blue detected signals, whereupon, the red and blue detected signals are compared, in respective operational amplifiers, with the green detected signal to continuously provide red and blue compensation signals, respectively, which are employed for controlling the gains of the red and blue color signal amplifiers for correcting white balance errors. Thus, the white balance is continuously adjusted for obtaining the optimum white balance regardless of fluctuations in the photographing conditions, such as, changes in the ambient illumination and the like. Further, in the case of a white balance adjusting circuit of the open-loop type, the camera operator is freed from the annoying and complicated procedure of providing an initial white balance adjustment for obtaining the compensation or correcting signals to be stored in the memories before the actual use of the camera for providing a picture.
However, in the case of a video camera having a white balance adjusting circuit of the open-loop type, since the white light used for obtaining the compensating or correcting signals is received by an external light sensor arrangement, that is, from outside the main image signal path, as described above, white balance errors introduced in the imaging video signal, for example, by exchanging one lens assembly for another lens assembly having different spectral characteristics, cannot be corrected.

Video camera system with white balance adjustment