A method and system for removing free phrase product from the surface of a subterranean body of water includes a plurality of extraction sites. The extraction sites extend below ground and intersect the free product. Each of the plurality of extraction sites is in communication with a vacuum supply which provides suction to remove free product from the surface of the groundwater.

The present invention relates to a method and system for recovering free product from a groundwater well while minimizing the removal of groundwater from the well.
Groundwater contamination, typically arising from petroleum storage tank spills or from intentional or accidental discharge of liquid hydrocarbons or compositions containing same, has become a problem of increasing concern. This type of contamination occurs not only at industrial complexes, but also in suburban neighborhoods, which would appear to be havens from such phenomena. The source of contamination in suburban neighborhoods or areas is very commonly automobile service station sites at which antiquated or abandoned storage tanks have released gasoline, fuel oils, lubricants, and the like into the local groundwater. Other common sources of such noxious materials can include dry cleaning establishments and/or manufacturers or distributors of the tetrachloroethane which is used in the dry cleaning process.
Various remediation techniques have been utilized in the past for the treatment of contaminated groundwater in order to reduce or eliminate the contaminants, such as COCs. One of the most widely used systems is one based on so-called xe2x80x9cpump and treatxe2x80x9d technology. These systems withdraw the contaminated groundwater and a phase-separated product from a recovery well located in the groundwater and pump it to an above ground treatment facility. Thereafter, various treatment techniques, as are well known, are used to remove contaminants from the displaced groundwater. These xe2x80x9cpump and treatxe2x80x9d systems are relatively expensive to install and require that the remaining contaminants, which have been separated from the groundwater, be disposed in an environmentally friendly manner. These processes further increase the cost of the techniques.
One example of a known remediation system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,286,141. The ""141 patent teaches oxidizing the source of groundwater contamination to harmless constituents by locating a plurality of mutually spaced wells into a groundwater region. A treating flow of hydrogen peroxide solution is provided into the groundwater from one or more wells. The treating flow typically contains reaction surface enhancing reagents, which provide increased surfaces at which the reaction between the hydrogen peroxide and the hydrocarbon contaminants may occur. Further, a catalytic agent is also preferably incorporated into the treating solution or as a pre-injection into the groundwater region to promote the desired reaction between the hydrogen peroxide and hydrocarbons.
Recently, there has also been increasing interest in bioremediation technology. However, its use in treating groundwater has been relatively ineffective due to the complexity of the procedures and equipment required, including expensive and complex reactors. Moreover, current bioremediation techniques can cause adverse geochemical reactions and can introduce new toxic compounds into the groundwater. Additionally, current bioremediation systems, still require the use of non-organic catalysts or additives to cause the process to be completed in a reasonable period of time. These catalysts or additives raise other contaminant issues with respect to the groundwater.
It is known that naturally growing bacteria in the groundwater can break down groundwater contaminants. However, these bacteria are not always present in large enough quantities to be effective and can also be absent altogether. Moreover, these bacteria feed off oxygen and the lack of oxygen is the single biggest limiting factor on the growth of the bacterial population and therefore contaminant decrease. Ambient air, which is comprised of about 21% percent oxygen, only results in approximately 10-12 ppm of dissolved oxygen in the groundwater and thus is not sufficient to adequately destroy or reduce contaminants. Various attempts to increase the amount of oxygen by utilizing oxygen releasing compounds have been tried, but these oxygen releasing compounds, such as magnesium peroxide or calcium peroxide are expensive. Further, these oxygen releasing compounds only produce a small amount of usable oxygen and therefore do not significantly increase the bacterial population.
In some instances, the remediation of groundwater can be further complicated by large amounts of free product in the area to be remediated. Thus, in addition to the contamination that is present in the groundwater, a thicker contaminant is present on the top surface of the water, which has not yet been dissolved. The existence of the free product can further increase the time required to remediate groundwell water. Thus, it is desirable to remove the free product prior to the step of remediation. One method for the removal of free product requires the removal of free product and groundwater and then separating it above ground at a treatment facility, as discussed above. This typically requires a separate building and holding tank, which are costly and take up considerable space. Moreover, these prior removal methods also remove large amounts of groundwater as there is no real way to distinguish between where the free product ends and where the water begins. These methods are thus both expensive and inefficient.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method and system for removing increased amounts of free product from a groundwater well prior to groundwater remediation treatment.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and system for removing increased amounts of free product from a groundwater well, while minimizing the removal of groundwater.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a method and system for removing increased amounts of free product from a groundwater well that is less expensive and more efficient than prior removal systems.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method and system for removing free product from a groundwater well that is relatively easy and inexpensive to install and operate.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method and system for removing free product from a groundwater well that can be installed with minimal site disturbance.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a method and system for removing free product from a groundwater well that can be easily and readily converted to a bioremedial groundwater remediation system.
In accordance with the above and other objects of the present invention a method and system for removing free product from a groundwater well is provided. The method includes determining whether a subterranean body of groundwater is contaminated. If the groundwater is contaminated, it is monitored to determine whether free product that has yet to dissolve into the groundwater is located on the surface thereof. If free product is present, a plurality of extraction points are placed below ground and into communication with the body of groundwater. Each of the plurality of extraction points is positioned to maximize communication with the free product and minimize communication with the groundwater. A vacuum source is placed in communication with each of the plurality of extraction points to remove free product from the well through the extraction points. The flow of fluid removed from the well is periodically monitored to ensure that the extraction points are properly positioned with respect to the surface of the groundwater. The proper position is preferably determined by viewing a clear section of the extraction hose to determine if free product and water is being transported along the extraction hose by xe2x80x9centrained flow.xe2x80x9d Entrained flow is the stream of fluid droplets in high velocity air stream.
The system includes a monitoring well in communication with a subterranean body of groundwater to determine whether any free product exists on the surface of the groundwater as well as to determine the thickness of any free product. A plurality of extraction tubes extend below ground to intersect the free product. Each of the tubes has a first end that is located at a respective extraction point where the tube intersects the free product at a plurality of extraction points. Each of the tubes has a second end that is in communication with a vacuum source to draw free product from the surface of the groundwater. Each of the tubes has a clear portion adjacent the second end that allows the entrained flow stream extracted from the plurality of extraction points to be viewed.
The above objects and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of best made for carrying out the invention to be taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and appended claims.

Multi-arrayed vacuum recovery method and system for groundwater wells


The present invention relates to the field of diagnostics, therapeutics and immunological reagents. More particularly, the present invention provides binding partners of antibodies specific for dendritic cell (DC) antigens. The present invention further provides diagnostic and/or therapeutic agent based on the binding partners or antibodies specific for the binding partners.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of diagnostics, therapeutics and immunological reagents. More particularly, the present invention provides binding partners of antibodies specific for dendritic cell (DC) antigens. The present invention further provides diagnostic and/or therapeutic agents based on the binding partners or antibodies specific for the binding partners.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that this prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in any country.
Bibliographic details of references provided in this document are listed at the end of the specification.
Dendritic cells (DC) are potent cellular activators of primary immune responses (Hart, Blood 90:3245-3287, 1997). Immature myeloid DC in non-lymphoid organs react to, endocytose and process antigens and migrate via blood and lymph to T cell areas of lymphoid organs. Here, the mature cells present foreign peptide complexed to MHC Class II to T cells and deliver unique signals for T-cell activation (immuno-stimulation). They also stimulate B lymphocytes and NK cells. DC undergo differentiation/activation during this process, lose their antigen-capturing capacity and become mature, immuno-stimulatory DC that trigger naïve T-cells recirculating through the lymphoid organs. The lymphoid DC subset may have a different migration pathway and although capable of stimulating allogeneic and autologous T-lymphocytes they have been suggested to have a regulatory function (Grouard et al, J Exp Med 185:1101-1111, 1997). As part of the differentiation/activation process, DCs up-regulate certain relatively selectively-expressed cell surface antigens such as the CMRF44 (CMRF44Ag) and CD83 antigens. DC in the thymus and DCs that do not have an activated co-stimulating phenotype probably contribute to central and peripheral tolerance.
Allogeneic transplantation involves the transfer of material from a host to a recipient. In this process, many foreign antigens are introduced into a host and an immune response results when these foreign antigens are detected by the host's immune system. Initially, an immune response involves interactions between the antigen and antigen-presenting cells (APC) such as dendritic cells. Interstitial donor DC in heart and kidney contribute to (direct) recipient T lymphocyte sensitization to all antigens but recipient DC, after migrating into the donor tissue, can also stimulate (indirect) alloantigen sensitization of recipient T-lymphocytes. Depletion of heart and kidney and pancreatic islet DC appears to prolong allograft survival. Interestingly, during liver transplantation, donor leucocytes, which may include non-activated dendritic cells, appear to generate allogeneic tolerance. DC are also predicted to contribute to both acute and chronic Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD), the major life threatening complication of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Blood DC counts change during acute GVHD and recent data have suggested that the DC subset constitution of the allogeneic stem cell preparation might relate to GVHD outcome. Recent evidence from a mouse model suggests that host APC contribute to the acute GVHD. DC may in certain circumstance prevent acute GVHD.
Monoclonal antibodies which act at the level of the responder T lymphocyte have been investigated as therapeutic immunosuppression agents in allogeneic transplantation. The CD3 reagent OKT3 (Orthoclone, Cilag) is used routinely to treat acute renal allograft rejection. Campath 1 (CD52) and its variants have been used in solid organ transplant and BMT. More recent attempts to suppress acute GVHD have involved the antibody ABX-CBL (CD147) (Deeg et al, Blood 98:2052-2058, 2001) and anti-IL-2R mAb Daclizumab (Calm et al, Transplantation 60:939-942, 1995). Attempts to interfere with the interaction of the responder T-lymphocyte and an APC have focused on antibodies directed against the co-stimulator molecules CD40, CD80 and CD86 or their ligands. Animal studies suggest that blockade of co-stimulator molecules on DC and other APC induces T cell anergy and prolongation of solid organ grafts (Koenen and Joosten, Blood 95:3153-3161, 2000, Kirk et al, Nat Med 5:686-693, 1999; Kirk et al, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 94:8789-8794, 1997). The use of CD80, CD86 and CD28 blocking agents prevents acute GVHD in mice (Blazar et al, Blood 85:2607-2618, 1995) and in vitro blockage of allogeneic responses in allogeneic stem cell preparations has been used in clinical BMT with initial encouraging results (Gribben et al, Blood 87:4887-4893, 1996). The use of a reagent that was more selective at targeting differentiated/activated DC might be advantageous.
In humans, at least two populations of DC, the immature myeloid DC and the plasmacytoid DCs, have been identified based on differential expression of CD11c (O'Doherty et al, J Exp Med 178:1067, 1993; O'Doherty et al, Immunol 82:487, 1994) More recent studies have shown that CD11c− DC have a different phenotype and express higher amounts of CD123, and have a morphology and function distinct from CD11c+ DC (Grouard et al, J Exp Med. 185:1101-1111, 1997). These two subsets are denoted as myeloid lineage CD11c+ DC and plasmacytoid CD123+ DC. It is thought unlikely that there is a direct developmental relationship between them (Robinson et al, Eur J Immunol 29:2769-2778, 1999).
Theoretically, monoclonal antibodies directed at DC administered to the recipient of a solid organ graft would deplete donor DC (i.e. direct) as well as recipient DC (indirect) as they enter the circulation and initiate antigen presentation pathways. Other donor leucocytes may have immunomodulatory capacity. DC depletion therapy might then be ceased after a short period, allowing tolerance to emerge. Depleting recipient DC may be more efficacious than disrupting co-stimulator pathways. Investigation of this concept has been delayed, however, by the absence of suitable DC reagents. CMRF44 antibody (CMRF44Ab) is an antibody specific for DC and is used for the identification and isolation of human blood DC (Hock et al, Immunology 83:573-581, 1994; Fearnley et al, Blood 89:3708-3716, 1997). The latter authors have shown that the epitope for CMRF44 (i.e. CMRF44Ab) is expressed early in the differentiation of DC from circulating precursor cells. However, the nature of the antigen which is recognized by CMRF44Ab and its role in the regulating DC function has yet to be elucidated.
There is a need, therefore, to be able to identify DC epitopes which are recognized by CMRF44Ab and use these for the rational design of diagnostic and/or therapeutic agents useful for diagnosing, preventing and/or treating immunological diseases and conditions.

Binding partners of antibodies specific for dendritic cell antigens

The Corporation of the Trustees of the Order of the Sisters of Mercy in Queensland


A machine implemented method for transforming bidding with rebates and discounts in an online auction is described herein. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a first bid from a first bidder and a second bid from a second bidder over a network, where at least one of a rebate and discount is offered with at least one of the first and second bids and the first and second bidders are seller bidders. In response, the method assigns a first value and a first unit of measurement for the first bid and a second value and second unit of measurement for the second bid using in part the at least one of a rebate and discount offered with at least one of the first and second bids, and transforms the first and second values to third and fourth values, respectively, having a standard unit of measurement, where the third and fourth values represent the first and second bids of the first and second bidders in view of the standard unit of measurement.

Procurement Models
It is believed that procurement of goods and services has traditionally involved high transaction costs. The cost of finding and qualifying potential bidders has been particularly high. The advent of electronic commerce has introduced new methods of procurement that lower some of the transaction costs associated with procurement. Electronic procurement, and in particular business-to-business electronic procurement, matches buyers and suppliers and facilitates transactions that take place on networked processors.
At least three models of electronic procurement have been developed: catalog, buyer-bidding auctions, and seller-bidding auctions. The "catalog" model was an early form of online electronic procurement. Initially, electronic catalogs were developed primarily by sellers, typically suppliers, to help customers obtain information about products, and order supplies electronically. Those first electronic catalogs were typically single-source; i.e. they only allowed customers to obtain information and products from that supplier.
Although the first electronic catalogs reduced the information search cost associated with procurement, it is believed that customers were disadvantageously "locked in" to one supplier at each electronic catalog. Customers were thus unable to compare a number of competing products in a single catalog. Therefore, certain suppliers with single-source catalogs began including competitors' products in their systems. The inclusion of competing products in electronic catalogs reduced procurement information search costs even further. By offering competing products, electronic catalogs became "electronic markets." Electronic commerce using the electronic catalog model typically involves one buyer and one seller at a time. When many buyers compete for the right to buy from one seller, a buyer-bidding auction model, or forward auction, may be created. Catalog and buyer-bidding auction models, however, may have limitations and may not work well in every situation.
Supplier-bidding auctions for products and services defined by a buyer have been developed. In a supplier-bidding auction, bid prices may start high and move downward in reverse-auction format as suppliers interact to establish a closing price. The auction marketplace is one-sided, i.e., one buyer and many potential suppliers. Typically, the products being purchased are components or materials. "Components" typically mean fabricated tangible pieces or parts that become part of assemblies of durable products. Example components include gears, bearings, appliance shelves, or door handles. "Materials" typically mean bulk quantities of raw materials that are further transformed into product. Example materials include corn syrup or sheet steel.
Industrial buyers may not purchase one component at a time. Rather, they may purchase whole families of similar components. These items may therefore be grouped into a single lot. Suppliers in industrial auctions may provide unit price quotes for all line items in a lot.
Auction Process
Traditional online auctions focus on price as the sole variable upon which the online competition is based. It is believed that price is the sole bidding parameter that is provided by the bidders and hence is the sole parameter upon which a selection process is made. Relative valuations between different bid prices may be quick and intuitive.
In many types of business transactions, price may not be the sole parameter upon which a decision is made. For example, in the negotiations for a supply contract, a buyer may compare various proposals not only on the basis of price but also on the basis of the non-price characteristics of non-standard goods, the location of the supplier, the reputation of the supplier, etc. In a typical business-to-business situation, a plurality of parameters may be considered in combination with the supplier's price proposal.
In these situations, purchasers may negotiate with each supplier independently because multi-parameter bids may not be readily compared. Actual comparisons by the purchaser may be based on a combination of subjective and objective weighting functions. Bidders may not have access to information on the buyer-defined weighting functions. At most, bidders may be selectively informed (at their disadvantage) of aspects of other competing bids. The limited communication of information between bidders may limit the potential of true competition between the bidders. The absence of competition lowers the likelihood that the bidders may approach their true walk-away bid. Further, the manual weighting process may be time consuming and subject to inconsistency from one application to the next.

Method of transformational bidding with rebates and discounts


The invention provides a modularized LED illuminator, wherein each module includes a power block and an illuminating block. The power block treats the extra power with rectification and transformation so that a working voltage is generated to the illuminating block for illuminating. Multiple modularized LED illuminators are connected in series or parallel to obtain larger brightness and modular connection.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an illuminator using LED (Light Emitting Diode) as light source, and more particularly to illuminator composed of modular connected LED.
2. Description of Related Art
The LED has advantages of smaller volume, and higher efficiency. The technical progress leads to the continuous improvement of the photo-electric transfer efficiency of LED. Research and development are continuously invested into the LED. Thus the LED now has the high potential to be illuminating light source.
LED has been widely employed as illuminating devices with the improvement of brightness of LED. Besides indicators and traffic signal lamps, LED is gradually used in the traditional lamp. But there are some drawbacks. First, most of the conventional LED illuminators are designed into an illuminator with fixed brightness so that the conventional LED illuminators do not satisfy the need for larger brightness. Furthermore, all the components of the conventional LED illuminators are consumables. When the LED illuminator does not work, it has to be replaced with a new one without any possible of repairing.
It is concluded that modularized LED illuminators are more convenient for the users. Therefore, it is necessary to develop modularized LED illuminators.
It is therefore a main object of the invention to provide a LED illuminator that is designed into modular connector for replacing the damaged LED module individually without changing a new set, and facilitating to compose a bigger size of illuminator with desired number of LED modules to obtain desired brightness.
The modularized LED illuminator is comprised of a power block and an illuminating block, wherein said power block is used for rectifying the power source and transforming the voltage of the rectified power source such that a working voltage is generated to the illuminating block for illuminating.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.


A manually operated dog treat dispensing machine capable of dispensing dog treats one at a time, the dispenser having a rectangular housing with a hinged housing door and hinged capital that serves as a food supply reservoir which is gravity fed into a spring loaded spindle chamber mounted on an axel and hand crank. Treats exit the dispenser through a chute output consisting of a hinged chute lid, two side walls and a base block and a retaining plate mounted in the end of the chute lid and adjacent to the spindle chamber acts as a stop preventing dispensing of more than one dog treat at a time. The dispenser also can function using a magazine that is inserted inside the rectangular housing area. Magazine stop tabs at the base of the magazine along with the retaining plate mounted on the chute lid prevent the dispenser from dispensing more than one dog treat at a time. Operation of the dispenser is performed by manually turning the hand crank mounted on the spindle axel, which rotates the spindle chamber forward, thus dispensing a dog treat through the output chute, with a return spring pulling the spindle chamber back to the upright position and ready for a new treat.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to animal food and treat dispensers, specifically to such dispensers that can be operated manually with or without a magazine.
2. Prior Art
As a dog owner I have often thought to myself that there had to be a better way of dispensing dog biscuits than from a cardboard box or a cookie jar. With this in mind I set out to invent a device that could hold a large supply of dog biscuits and then dispense them one at a time in a more convenient and easy manner from a centrally located station.
I also sought a solution to the way that the dog biscuits were being packaged and shipped by the manufacturer to the public, one that would be compatible with the dispenser. Instead of just being dumped in a box in a random fashion I invented a magazine that could be pre-loaded with the dog biscuits and sealed in a plastic sleeve by the manufacturer and then shipped out to the public. With the pre-loaded magazines being compatible with the dispenser, this would make loading and operation of the dispenser simple. Although the method of using the pre-loaded magazines with the dispenser is preferred, the dispenser will operate very well with out one. Without a pre-loaded magazine the loading time is longer and is performed manually.
Inventors have created several types of dispensers for delivering measured quantities of food from a supply receptacle. U.S. Pat. No. 3,568,893 to Becker (1971) discloses a dispenser using a chamber that coacts with a spring to dispense nuts or other items from a pivotal dispensing operation. This dispenser does not operate with a hand crank or axel and the measuring chamber is suited to nuts or other items. It has a simple pull handle one would use to operate the chamber. The housing used to store the food items keeps them in place in a random fashion.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,770,125 to Gold et al. (1988) discloses a dispenser capable of being operated by a domestic animal. This dispenser sends numerous items through its output chute when actuated by a domestic animal. This is a difficult and expensive dispenser to manufacture and has limited appeal. With my invention the dispenser is like a piece of art that is very pleasing to the eye and can be displayed just about any where. My dispenser displays the dog treats in a uniformed and attractive manner. The dog treats can be viewed at all times to determine the quantity of treats left in the rectangular housing or in the pre-loaded magazines. Numbers are provided on the glass for determining the quantity left. The dispenser is small in size but holds a large quantity of dog biscuits.
International patent WO 88/07324 to Gold (1988) discloses the same spring-biased dispenser mechanism for manually operated animal food dispensing machines as mentioned previously.
3. Objects and Advantages
Accordingly, besides the objects and advantages of the animal food and treat dispenser described above, several objects and advantages of the present invention are:                (A) To provide a centrally located fixture in which to store and dispense dog biscuits.        (B) To provide a mechanism in which to dispense dog biscuits one at a time while providing the convenience of no storage boxes.        (C) To provide a rectangular housing unit that displays the dog biscuits in a uniform manner and makes obvious to user the quantity in the dispenser.        (D) To provide a user the added convenience of being able to install pre-loaded magazines directly into the rectangular housing thus eliminating time and effort.        (E) To provide a manufacturer of dog biscuits a means in which to store and ship dog biscuits in a uniformed manner while being encased in a magazine that fits easily into the dispenser.        (F) To provide a manufacturer a cost and space saving means of both storing and shipping dog biscuits through use of magazine.
Other objects and advantages are to provide a user with the means to continually have a method in which to store and dispense dog biscuits without the constant hassle of reaching into a box for biscuits, while at the same time providing an attractive apparatus for dispensing dog biscuits. For a manufacturer of dog biscuits the cost savings could be immense. Being able to store and ship biscuits in a compact and uniform magazine would save both space and cost.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An erecting equal-magnification lens array plate includes: a first lens array plate provided with a plurality of first lenses arranged on a first surface and a plurality of second lenses arranged on a second surface opposite to the first surface; and a second lens array plate provided with a plurality of third lenses arranged on a third surface and a plurality of fourth lenses arranged on a fourth surface opposite to the third surface. The first and second lens array plates form a stack such that the second surface and the third surface face each other. The erecting equal-magnification lens array plate receives light from a linear light source facing the first surface and forms an erect equal-magnification image of the linear light source on an image plane facing the fourth surface. An annular slope is formed around each second lens and each third lens.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an erecting equal-magnification lens array plate used in image reading devices, and to an optical scanning unit and an image reading device in which the erecting equal-magnification lens array plate is used.
2. Description of the Related Art
Some image reading devices such as scanners are known to use erecting equal-magnification optical systems. Erecting equal-magnification optics are capable of reducing the size of devices better than reduction optics. In the case of image reading devices, an erecting equal-magnification optical system comprises a linear light source, an erecting equal-magnification lens array, and a line image sensor.
A rod lens array capable of forming an erect equal-magnification image is used as an erecting equal-magnification lens array in an erecting equal-magnification optical system. Normally, a rod lens array comprises an arrangement of rod lenses in the longitudinal direction (main scanning direction of the image reading device) of the lens array. By increasing the number of rows of rod lenses, the light transmissibility is improved and unevenness in the amount of light transmitted is reduced. Due to price concerns, it is common to use one or two rows of rod lenses in a rod.
Meanwhile, an erecting equal-magnification lens array plate could be formed as a stack of a plurality of transparent lens array plates built such that the light axes of individual convex lenses are aligned, where each transparent lens array plate includes a systematic arrangement of micro-convex lenses on one or both surfaces of the plate. Since an erecting equal-magnification lens array plate such as this can be formed by, for example, injection molding, erecting equal-magnification lens arrays in a plurality of rows can be manufactured at a relatively low cost.    [Patent Document No. 1] JP2005-37891
An erecting equal-magnification lens array plate lacks a wall for beam separation between adjacent lenses. Therefore, there is a problem of stray light wherein a light beam diagonally incident on an erecting equal-magnification lens array plate travels diagonally inside the plate and enters an adjacent convex lens, creating ghost noise as it leaves the plate.

Erecting equal-magnification lens array plate, optical scanning unit, and image reading device


Aqueous mineral slurries are treated prior to dewatering, to increase throughput, with a condensation product of formaldehyde and dicyandiamide, which may be further reacted with ammonia or an ammonia salt and an alkylenepolyamine or copper chloride.

This invention relates to an improved process for flocculating and thickening and/or dewatering aqueous mineral slurries containing 10% or more by weight of solids. More particularly, this invention relates to the use of a polymeric flocculant prepared by the reaction of dicyandiamide and formaldehyde for treating finely divided mineral slurries such as kaolinitic clays, calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate and other finely divided minerals, to filter or otherwise dewater them prior to shipment of the minerals. This invention also relates to the use of the aforementioned polymeric flocculants in combination with polymers containing 2-acrylamido-2-methyl propyl sulfonic acid monomers described in my U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,647,382 and 4,471,838.
Flocculants are reagents which are added to suspensions of solids to cause the solids to agglomerate (or flocculate) into larger particle sizes which settle and/or dewater more efficiently than in their original state. Polymeric water-soluble flocculants may be nonionic, anionic, cationic or amphoteric. The particular type of flocculant to choose in a given application may depend upon the nature of the surface of the suspended solids, the pH of the aqueous slurry, and the desirable or undesirable side effects.
Approximately 5 to 6 million tons of kaolinitic clay are mined, processed and shipped from the southeastern United States per year. The clay is usually mined by the open pit method. It is then slurried in water at about 20-30% solids, dispersed with various combinations of inorganic and organic dispersants to maintain a low viscosity, and processed. Processing includes removal of iron and other magnetic impurities, removal of sand and silt, bleaching for whiteness and brightness, and, finally, dewatering. Dewatering is commonly accomplished by rotary vacuum filters although other methods of dewatering such as pre-thickening, centrifugation, and filtration on pressure filters are feasible. The filter cake obtained from the rotary vacuum filters is, in the present state of the art, usually about 50 to about 60% solids.
Also in the present state of the art, a portion of the filter cake is typically spray dried and blended back with the remaining filter cake to obtain an aqueous slurry containing about 70% solids or more. Additional dispersants may be added to the 70% solid slurry with mixing as needed to obtain a final Brookfield viscosity of less than 1000 cps., and preferably less than 500 cps. This low viscosity, 70% solids slurry is then shipped in bulk to the customer.
My U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,647,382 and 4,741,838 disclose the use of certain anionic polymers of 2-acrylamido-2-methyl propane sulfonic acid, as flocculants which improve the dewatering of mineral slurries and which also enable the ready redispersal of the filter cake to a low viscosity slurry.
While certain organic cationic polymers are known to effectively flocculate pigment slurries, specifically kaolinitic clays, calcium carbonate and calcium sulfate, these products have not been employed commercially in dewatering pigment slurries. The cationic polymers have not been commercially adopted because during subsequent re-dispersal to a high solids, low viscosity slurry the floc formed by state-of-the-art organic cationic polymers will not break down. In fact it has been impossible to satisfactorily redisperse mineral slurries so treated by conventional means.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,217,209 (see particularly col 11, line 53) proposes the use of polymers of dicyandiamide, formaldehyde and ammonium sulfate to remove heavy metal sulfides from dye wastes. It is noteworthy that the above is the only condensation polymer in the list of cationic polymers proposed in Table 3--all the other cationic polymers are chain growth polymers. Even more worthy of note is that there are no performance results reported in '209 for the dicyandiamide formaldehyde and ammonium sulfate polymers, nor are these products included in the claims.
The '209 process is a very specific, multi-step process wherein the waste stream is pretreated with a substantial amount of an absorbent filter aid such as activated charcoal or Celite followed by treatment with a high molecular weight anionic polymer and finally a treatment with a cationic polymer. By contrast the present invention involves a one-step process of adding the cationic polymers described herein to a mineral process stream to obtain flocculation, which may be followed by addition of a particular (AMPS-containing) amionic polymer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,217,209 is concerned with forming the insoluble sulfides of heavy metals which have an initial concentration of 100-5000ppm in the waste stream and subsequently removing them by flocculation. In further contrast, the instant invention is directed to more efficient dewatering of mineral slurries which contain 10% (100,000 ppm) or more solids prior to dewatering and as high as 50% (500,000 ppm) or more solids after dewatering.
Moreover, the concentrated solids resulting from the practice of the art in '209 is a waste and is simply disposed of in a safe manner. The concentrated solids resulting from the practice of the instant invention, conversely, are a product to be sold commercially. The high level of absorbent material which is an integral part of the '209 process would certainly be detrimental to product quality. Celite would without doubt lower the brightness, etc. of the mineral products of the present invention; the activated charcoal being black would surely cause the white mineral products to be unsaleable.
Finally, the concentrated solids resulting from the instant invention (usually 50-60% solids) are normally supplemented with dry mineral to bring the solids to 60-70% which must then be redispersed to a low-viscosity (usually less than 500 cps) slurry, There is no indication the concentrated solids from '209 are even near the 50% or more normally obtained in the practice of the present invention, nor is there any reason or need within the teachings of '209 to add solids to increase their concentration.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,271,028 discloses the use of condensation polymers of dicyandiamide with formaldehyde and related polymers for removal of protein type material from waste streams. However, upon reading '028, it is obvious that the dosages required to obtain satisfactory flocculation are enormous: 3000 to 6000 ppm based on the total liquid waste stream. If one calculates these dosages on a lbs./ton basis, based on example 1 of '028 the dosage range is 3600 to 7200 lbs. (active) of the condensation polymer per ton of influent solids. Comparatively, the dosages of the condensation polymer for purposes described herein are 0.5 to 250 ppm based on the total liquid sample (wherein the solids are 10%) or 0.01 to 5.0 lbs./ton. Differences of this magnitude are clearly indicative of patenably distinct processes. Further, the dosages necessary to practice the teachings of '028 are totally beyond the realm of acceptability from a practical, technical or economic standpoint for the use described in the instant invention.
Second, the use of a multivalent metal ion as a co-coagulant is necessary in order to successfully practice the process described in the '028 patent. In examples 1 and 3, an electrolytic process which utilizes a sacrificial electrode to provide Al.sup.+3 ions is an integral part of the treatment process. Example 3 clearly states that the Al.sup.+3 ion is necessary to obtain good flocculation. In example 2, the only example which does not include the Al.sup.+3 producing step, the multivalent nickel ion is already contained in the waste stream being treated. Further, although the dosage of Al.sup.+3 ions in Examples 1 and 3 cannot be calculated from the available data, the 1600 ppm of nickel ion in Example 2 strongly indicated that the necessary dosage of multivalent metal ion is also extremely high. Even further, the claims are written to a process which includes the electrolytic process.
Finally, there is again no need to prepare a high solids, low viscosity slurry from the "dewatered" solids. There is also no reason to anticipate that such would be possible if one attempted to do so. In fact, the solids in any slurry prepared from the "dewatered" solids of '028 would be predominently polymer and aluminum or nickel compounds.
Further, the prior art specific to use of the condensation polymers of dicyandiamide and formaldehyde gives no indication that these products would be effective flocculants or thickeners of any materials at ordinary dosages or in the absence of large dosages of an inorganic coagulant. In fact, the dosages employed in examples of the prior art showing these polymers were so extremely high as to actually teach away from consideration of these products as flocculants for mineral slurries, where large volumes of slurries are treated.

Preparation of high solid mineral slurries


An LDO regulator includes two linear regulator circuits and an internal priority logic scheme that favors generating a regulated output voltage using a regulated supply voltage over an unregulated supply voltage. The unregulated supply voltage is applied to a first input terminal from a raw voltage source. The regulated supply voltage is applied to a second input terminal from, for example, a switching (e.g., BUCK) regulator. Two output devices are respectively connected between the first and second input terminals and the LDO output terminal. The first regulator circuit causes the first output device to supply the desired regulated output voltage while the switching regulator ramps up. Once the regulated supply voltage is high enough to allow regulation, the internal priority logic scheme disables the first regulator circuit, whereby the desired regulated output voltage is generated solely by the second regulator circuit through the second output device.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a system including a BUCK regulator 20, an LDO regulator 25, and a field programmable gate array (FPGA) 30 in a conventional arrangement. A raw voltage source (e.g., a battery) provides a relatively high, unregulated voltage VRAW that is supplied to BUCK regulator 20. BUCK regulator 20 supplies a relatively high regulated voltage VI/O (e.g., 3.3V) to the input/output (I/O) circuitry of FPGA 30 and to LDO regulator 25, and LDO regulator 25 provides a relatively low regulated voltage VCORE (e.g., 2.5V) to the core logic circuitry of FPGA 30.
FIG. 5 is a timing diagram illustrating the various voltages generated in the system of FIG. 4 during startup. First, unregulated voltage VRAW ramps up, and then after a brief delay BUCK regulator 20 begins generating relatively high regulated voltage VI/O. Finally, after a time delay TDELAY needed to allow regulated voltage VI/O to reach a high enough voltage level to allow regulation, LDO regulator 25 begins to generate relatively low regulated voltage VCORE.
The conventional arrangement described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 is highly efficient in that it minimizes the consumption of energy and the generation of heat. In particular, switching regulators, such as BUCK regulator 20, are able to regulate the higher I/O bus using the raw unregulated voltage VRAW in more efficient manner than linear regulators, such as LDO regulator 25. In contrast, linear regulators have an advantage over switching regulators in that they produce a relatively "quiet" (i.e., noise-free) regulated output voltage, but are not as efficient, particularly when the raw unregulated voltage VRAW is significantly higher than the desired regulated output voltage VCORE. Therefore, to maximize efficiency, BUCK regulator 20 and LDO regulator 25 are connected in the series arrangement shown in FIG. 4 such that LDO regulator 25 is driven by regulated output voltage VI/O, which is closer to the desired regulated output voltage VCORE than raw unregulated voltage VRAW.
A problem arises when complex electronic systems, such as the system shown in FIG. 4, that incorporate electronic devices such as microprocessors, FPGAs, and digital application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), require sequencing of their power supplies in a manner that is inconsistent with the timing diagram shown in FIG. 5. In particular, it is often necessary for the core logic circuitry of FPGA 30 to receive power before the I/O circuitry so that peripheral devices remain under control during power up and power down sequences. Unfortunately, as indicated in FIG. 5, the power efficient conventional arrangement causes the relatively low regulated core voltage VCORE to necessarily lag the relatively high regulated I/O voltage VI/O, which is contrary to the desired startup supply voltage sequence.
One current approach to addressing the sequencing problem described above is to use discrete diodes and multiple regulators to provide the necessary sequence. However, this approach is inconvenient and expensive.
What is needed is a LDO regulator that addresses the sequencing problem described above without requiring multiple discrete components.


A driving circuit for driving a power switch. The driving circuit and the power switch are collaboratively defined as an equivalent circuit. The equivalent circuit includes a first equivalent capacitor corresponding to an input capacitor of the power switch, an equivalent inductor, and a second equivalent capacitor corresponding to a parasitic parameter of at least one driving switch. In the charging procedure or the discharging of the first equivalent capacitor, a change amount of charges in the first equivalent capacitor while a voltage of the input capacitor is changed from a voltage corresponding to no inductor current to a set voltage is larger than or equal to a change amount of charges in the second equivalent capacitor while the voltage of the input capacitor is changed from the voltage corresponding to no inductor current to a steady voltage.

A switching power supply is widely used in an electronic device. For reducing the size and weight of the switching power supply, the frequency of the switching power supply is gradually increased. Consequently, the volumes of the passive components (e.g., inductors or capacitors) of the switching power supply are reduced. FIG. 1 is a plot illustrating the relationship between the driving loss and the switching frequency of a switching power supply. The driving loss of the switch element of the switching power supply is positively correlated with the switching frequency. As the switching frequency of the switching power supply is gradually increased, the driving loss gradually increases. In views of power-saving efficacy, the switching power supply of the electronic device should have enhanced efficiency even if the volume of the switching power supply is reduced. Consequently, it is important to reduce the driving loss of the switch element.
FIG. 2 is a schematic circuit diagram illustrating a driving circuit for a switch element according to the prior art. As shown in FIG. 2, the driving circuit comprises driving switches S11 and S12 and a resistor R. The capacitor Ciss is an input capacitor of a power switch (not shown). When the driving switch S11 is turned on, the input capacitor of the power switch is charged. When the driving switch S12 is turned on, the input capacitor of the power switch is discharged. The resistor R is a parasitic resistor of the charge/discharge loop.
FIG. 3 is a schematic circuit diagram illustrating a conventional metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET). The voltage difference between the gate terminal G and the source terminal S of the MOSFET is Vgs. The voltage difference between the gate terminal G and the source terminal D of the MOSFET is Vgd. The capacitance of the input capacitor Ciss is expressed as: Ciss=Cgs+Cgd×(Vgd/Vgs). In the above formula, Cgs is the capacitance between the gate terminal and the source terminal S, and Cgd is the capacitance between the gate terminal G and the drain terminal D. Generally, the magnitude of the input capacitor Ciss corresponding to the voltage difference Vgs is provided from the specifications of the MOSFET.
The operations of the driving circuit will be described as follows. For charging the input capacitor Ciss, the driving switch S11 is turned on and the driving switch S12 is turned off. Consequently, the input capacitor Ciss is charged to a supply voltage Vcc through the driving switch S11 and the resistor R. The driving switch S11 is maintained in the on state and the driving switch S12 is maintained in the off state until the charging procedure of the input capacitor Ciss is completed. In the charging procedure, the energy consumed by the resistor R is equal to 0.5×Ciss×Vcc2. For discharging the input capacitor Ciss, the driving switch S11 is turned off and the driving switch S12 is turned on. Consequently, the input capacitor Ciss is discharged to OV through the driving switch S12 and the resistor R. The driving switch S11 is maintained in the off state and the driving switch S12 is maintained in the on state until the discharging procedure of the input capacitor Ciss is completed. In the discharging procedure, the energy consumed by the resistor R is also equal to 0.5×Ciss×Vcc2.
For reducing the total consumed energy of the resistor R in the charging/discharging procedures, another driving circuit for the power switch is disclosed. FIG. 4 is a schematic circuit diagram illustrating another driving circuit for a switch element according to the prior art. FIG. 5 is schematic timing waveform diagram illustrating associated signals of the components of the driving circuit of FIG. 4. In this driving circuit, a constant current source is used for charging or discharging the input capacitor Ciss. For charging the input capacitor Ciss, the driving switches S21 and S23 are turned on in the time interval between t0 and t1. Consequently, the current flowing through the inductor L reaches a nearly-constant value I1. Then, the driving switches S21 and S23 are turned off. Consequently, in the time interval between t1 and t2, the inductor L provides the nearly-constant value I1 to charge the input voltage Ciss to the supply voltage Vcc. When the input voltage Ciss is charged to the supply voltage Vcc (i.e., at the time point t2), the driving switches S22 and S24 are turned on. Meanwhile, the charging procedure of the input voltage Ciss is completed. Since the current flowing through the resistor R is nearly constant in the charging procedure, the energy consumed by the resistor R is lower. For discharging the input capacitor Ciss, the driving switches S22 and S25 are turned on in the time interval between t2 and t3. Consequently, the current flowing through the inductor L reaches a nearly-constant value I2. Then, the driving switches S22 and S24 are turned off. Consequently, in the time interval between t3 and t4, the inductor L provides the nearly-constant value I2 to discharge the input voltage Ciss to 0V. When the input voltage Ciss is discharged to 0V (i.e., at the time point t4), the driving switches S21 and S23 are turned on. Meanwhile, the discharging procedure of the input voltage Ciss is completed. Since the current flowing through the resistor R is nearly constant in the discharging procedure, the energy consumed by the resistor R is lower.
However, since the inductor L has to provide the nearly-constant current in the charging procedure and the discharging procedure of the input capacitor Ciss of the power switch, lager inductance of the inductor L is required. That is, the inductor L has bulky volume. Moreover, since the current flows through the inductor L whenever the input capacitor Ciss is charged or discharged, the energy loss of the inductor L is larger.
Therefore, there is a need of providing an improved driving circuit for a power switch in order to overcome the above drawbacks.


A holding system for fixing a line assembly includes a fixing band, and a fixing band retaining element, which is arranged on the line assembly and comprises at least one guiding element for receiving the fixing band, the fixing band retaining element comprising two ends, one end being provided with at least one or more cavities or recesses, into which the other end can be plugged or hooked.

Generally, when fixing line assemblies such as electrical lines or lines for the air-conditioning system or ventilation in aircraft, rigid silencing lines, such as silencing tubes, are used in order to prevent or dampen any rattling of the line assembly on the one hand and, on the other hand, to protect the line assembly from being damaged. Alternatively, instead of silencing tubes of this type, silencing hoses may also be used. In this context it is known from the prior art to fix silencing hoses of this type to the hull of an aircraft using rub-proof tape and what is known as a tie wrap holder for example. However, vibrations may lead to the silencing hose sliding out of its holder and being damaged.


Controlled variation of piston .displacement and adjustment of compression ratio are achieved by an adjustment mechanism located between the vehicle crank shaft and the piston which changes the effective length of the piston rod. The piston rod is divided into upper and lower portions and the adjustment mechanism connected to both portions at the point of division. The adjustment mechanism allows controlled lateral displacement of the two parts of the piston rod from each other at the point of division while still transmitting energy of motion from the piston to the crank shaft.

The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine with reduced fuel consumption and increased power and efficiency.
Experience has shown that varying the piston displacement in an internal combustion engine to match load requirements can result in substantial fuel savings. Additionally, adjusting the displacement ratio as the load changes can result in further advantages.
The conventional reciprocating combustion engine uses a piston to compress a working fluid in a cylinder chamber. The fluid is then ignited by a spark and the resultant explosion drives the piston a fixed distance along the length of the cylinder. The energy generated by the ignition, and the subsequent linear movement of the piston, is transmitted through a piston rod which is connected to a rotating crank shaft, by way of bearings or other connection means which allow a pivotal connection to the piston on one end and the crank shaft on the other.
The conventional internal combustion engine is designed so that peak power and efficiency is available when the engine operates at full load. As a result, operation of the engine at partial load results in a reduced efficiency. When a conventional engine is operated at less than full load less power is needed and, therefore, the power output is reduced by throttling back the air-fuel mixture. This reduces the pressure in the cylinder and increases the residual gas content following combustion, thus resulting in decreased operating efficiency.
The preferred approach to increase efficiency is to adjust the piston displacement or stroke length to obtain the maximum power requirement for each operating regime while maintaining the engine at full throttle. This may be done by maintaining a fixed compression ratio or further improved by adjusting the compression ratio while the displacement is being varied. Reducing the length of the piston stroke will also reduce friction, thus additionally improving efficiency.
The prior art shows various mechanisms and linkage arrangements for varying the stroke length and compression ratio. However, these designs have not been successfully commercialized, most likely because they were complicated, unreliable or mechanically inoperable.
Thus, there is a need for a simple, readily adjustable mechanical arrangement which will allow for controlled variation of piston displacement and, if desired, adjustment of compression ratio as the power demand of an engine changes.

Variable compression internal combustion engine


A display unit is provided wherein a serial interface adapter (2) is provided between a PC (3) and a CPU (10) provided within the display unit and which is capable of performing mutual conversion between communication information compliant with interface specifications of the PC (3) and a display. The display unit is capable of communicating with various computers through the serial interface adapter (2). Further, the serial interface adapter (2) is removably provided and placed in a front panel of the display. The serial interface adapter (2) takes such a configuration as to be easily replaced by another according to the interface specifications of the PC.

The present invention relates to a display unit which serves as an image display unit employed in a computer terminal or the like and has the function of communicating with computers such as a personal computer (hereinafter abbreviated as PC), a work station, etc.
As a conventional example of a display unit, which is related to communications with PC, may be mentioned an image display unit clearly shown in FIG. 7 in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-232918. In this type of image display unit, a control signal based on interface specifications of a computer, which is outputted from a computer body, is inputted to a display control circuit of the image display unit. In such a case, the control signal inputted to the display control circuit is inputted based on the same interface specifications as those for an interface of the computer. Here, the interface specifications indicate specifications related to a command, data, etc. outputted from a communication apparatus, or specifications related to a command, data, etc. handleable by the communication apparatus.
Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-302068 has clearly disclosed a display unit employed in a display system related to communications between each computer and the display unit. A non-volatile memory is installed in the display unit. Control codes related to height, width and brightness of an visual output at the display unit are stored in the non-volatile memory. Further, an identification code for allowing the computer to identify specifications for the display unit is also stored in the non-volatile memory. These information are read out as needed by the display system, and the computer recognizes the read information through the communications with the computer, thereby making it possible to control the display unit based on the information. The display unit aims to omit cumbersome image-quality adjustments such as horizontal and vertical display positions, display sizes, which are made by a user when the display unit is used, according to the above function.
However, the prior art had a restriction in that since a PC and a control circuit provided within the display unit directly communicated with each other, only specific serial interface specifications of the PC could handle or cope with them. Therefore, a problem arose in that in order to perform communications with a PC having other serial interface specifications, a control circuit compliant with new serial interface specifications needed to be re-developed as a control circuit having a display unit, and hence the period and cost required to develop it increased.
While video signals adapted to the present display unit or information about video signal timing have been stored in the non-volatile memory of the display unit shown as the conventional example, the use of the stored information alone would cause a problem of shortage in information such as the occurrence of trouble in the display unit in particular upon using the display unit.
Further, since there was no means for performing conversion between different interface specifications of commonly-used digital signal processing devices having communication functions under the present situation even as to communications based on the different serial interface specifications, the digital signal processing devices having the different interface specifications could not be connected.
On the other hand, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-116139 has clearly disclosed a display unit having incorporated therein a Hub function of a USB (Universal Serial Bus) corresponding to a new interface of a PC, as another prior art. The Hub of the display unit comprises one UP port connected to an external computer, three Down ports to which peripheral apparatuses are connected, and a Hub control circuit. When the UP port of the Hub is connected to each external computer such as a PC or the like, the Hub gives identification information such as the maker""s name of the Hub, the product name thereof, its production number, the number of Down ports, etc. held in a Hub controller for performing the control of a Hub function within the Hub control circuit, to the external computer through the UP port as a reply to the external computer, whereby the external computer can recognize the Hub. In doing so, the external computer transfers an operation instruction to the Hub, so that the Down ports of the Hub can be used. When the peripheral apparatuses are connected to the Down ports of the Hub in this condition respectively, communications between the peripheral apparatuses and the external computer are allowed so that the peripheral apparatuses are activated.
However, the prior art has a problem in that since the Hub is recognized according to the maker name of the Hub, the product name thereof and its production number recorded in the Hub controller, general versatility is not obtained. When a display unit is shipped in the form of the brand name of another company, for example, it is necessary to rewrite the maker name or the like recorded in a Hub controller so as to coincide with that of the display unit for each shipment. Therefore, a problem arose in that a Hub having general versatility was not obtained and the manufacturing cost of the Hub would increase.
There is a possibility that since information about the specifications of the display unit should be originally held on the display unit side, the specifications information of the display unit, which has been held in the Hub, will differ from that of an actual display unit upon holding it on the Hub side, thus causing an inconsistency.
With the foregoing problems in view, an object of the present invention is to provide a display unit having high general versatility, which is adapted to interface specifications of communications with various computers.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a display unit excellent in maintenance, which is capable of obtaining various information inside the display unit.
A display unit according to the present invention for achieving the above objects is a display unit having a CPU and means for communicating with a computer, which comprises interface specifications converting means for performing mutual conversion between interface specifications about communications from the computer and interface specifications handleable by the CPU. Further, the interface specifications converting means can take such a structure as to be detachable from and attachable to the display unit. When the interface specifications of the computer are also changed to another upon replacement of the computer connected to the display unit with another, the interface specifications converting means can be replaced by another interface specifications converting means adapted to the interface specifications conversion.
Owing to such a structure, interface specifications of communications with various computers can be handled by the same display unit without the replacement and modification of the display unit. In terms of the function of performing the mutual conversion between the interface specifications of the computer and those of the display unit, the interface specifications converting means is not limited to the provision thereof within the display unit. The function of performing interface mutual conversion similar to the above is allowed to serve even by providing it on the computer side.
Thus, the display unit according to the present invention is capable of communicating with computers having interfaces with various specifications owing to the use of such interface specifications converting means. When viewed from the computer side, each computer is capable of communicating with display units having various interface specifications.
Described specifically, a serial interface adapter is provided in a display unit as interface specifications converting means. The serial interface adapter is capable of converting communication information about interface specifications from a computer to communication information about interface specifications suitable for a CPU included in the display unit, and reversely converting the communication information about the interface specifications for the CPU included in the display unit to the communication information about those for the computer. The interface converting means eliminates the need for replacement of the display unit or re-development of the CPU included in the display unit for the purpose of performing matching with the interface for the communications from the computer. When the removable interface specifications converting means is installed on the display unit, the position of its attachment is placed on the periphery or the like of a display screen of the display unit, whereby the operability of a user at the replacement can be improved. If the attached position of the interface specifications converting means is placed in the neighborhood of a power switch, for example, the facilitation of exchange for the user is improved as is the case with the turning on and off of the power. As an effect obtained by placing the attached position in the position around the display screen of the display unit, a similar effect can be obtained even in the case of the provision of the interface adapter used as interface means for allowing a converting means-free communication as well as in the case of the installation of the interface specifications converting means. Here, the communication employed in the present invention means that at least information such as a command can be bidirectionally transmitted and received between two apparatuses. Information including data information except for the command may be used as the above information.
While the function of performing mutual conversion between the above-described different interface specifications serves as one for the communications between the computer and the display unit, it is not limited to the communications between the computer and the display unit. Interface mutual conversion between commonly-used digital signal processing devices can be also carried out in the same manner by similar interface specifications converting means. Thus, the present invention provides a communication system which comprises interface specifications converting means for allowing mutual interface specification conversion for communications between digital signal processing devices different in interface specifications, a digital signal processing device provided with the interface specification converting means, a digital signal processing device having a portion to which the interface specification converting means is attached, and interface specifications converting means for performing mutual conversion between interface specifications for two digital signal processing devices and their communications.
The interface specifications converting means installed in the display unit is provided with a hub. A plurality of computers and a plurality of peripheral apparatuses are connectable to the hub. Here, the hub has a upstream port to which a computer is connected, and downstream ports to which peripheral apparatuses are connected, and freely performs mutual communications between the computer and the peripheral apparatuses through these ports. Owing to the connection of the computer and the peripheral apparatuses through the hub, one computer and a selected peripheral apparatus are communicable with each other. Even during its communication, the communication between the computer and another selected peripheral apparatus can be further carried out.
Further, the display unit according to the present invention is capable of having a memory area having stored therein an internal state of the display unit at its normal operation in addition to the conventional memory area for storing the information about the video signals and the video signal timing handleable by the display unit therein. Further, the display unit is able to have means for detecting the internal state of the display unit. Detailed operation information about the display unit can be obtained by a comparison between information about the internal state of the display unit at its normal condition, which is stored in the memory area, and the result of detection by the means for detecting the internal state of the present display unit.
Since the present invention is provided with the interface specifications converting means for converting the interface specifications of the computer connected for communication to the interface specifications handled or supported by the CPU included in the display unit, the present invention can cope even with a matrix type display unit as well as with a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube).
A display unit according to the present invention also comprises a video processing circuit to which video signals of R, G and B are inputted, a display device for performing a display based on the output of the video processing circuit, a drive circuit for driving the display device based on synchronizing signals inputted thereto together with the video signals, a CPU for controlling the video processing circuit and the drive circuit, and a hub unit for connecting peripheral apparatuses to an external computer. The display unit brings about another effect in that means for holing all or part of identification information transmitted to the hub unit is provided inside the display unit excluding the hub unit.
Further, a display unit according to the present invention for achieving the above objects comprises a video processing circuit to which video signals of R, G and B are inputted, a display device for performing a display based on the output of the video processing circuit, a drive circuit for driving the display device based on synchronizing signals inputted thereto together with the video signals, a CPU for controlling the video processing circuit and the drive circuit, and a hub unit for connecting peripheral apparatuses to an external computer. The display unit is characterized in that first recording means for holding all or part of identification information indicative principally of the display unit, which is transmitted to the hub unit is provided inside the display unit excluding the hub unit, and second recording means for holing all or part of identification information indicative principally of the hub unit is provided inside the hub unit.
Furthermore, means for holding all or some of the identification information transmitted to the hub unit may be provided inside the external computer.


A system and method for visualization and debugging of constraint systems and for constraint resolution. The present invention features a systematic, graphical representation that relates generation objects and generation decisions, preferably for example as a simple, two dimensional chart. The representation of relationships between generation entities and generation decisions, and the order in which generation decisions are made, help the user to identify and solve generation problems.

Constraint systems are difficult to debug because they are declarative in nature, which means there is no execution process as for imperative code. Instead, constraints are evaluated by an algorithm which is obscure to the user. Examples of such constraint systems may be found in PCT Application Nos. PCT/IL01/01011 and PCT/IL01/00508, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,219,809, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
Constraint based programs include generation entities which include data structures and variables whose values are determined according to constraints. These are referred to as fields in this application. Generation entities include constraints that determine the relationships between fields and other fields, or between fields and constants. Generation entities can be defined by the user input, as well as inferred by some computation which creates temporary fields for instance.
Generation entities may relate to each other, for example two fields may be related through a common constraint. Sometimes the user needs to focus on the transitive closure of some generation entity rather that the entity itself. Such transitive closure is the group of all entities that relate to other members of the group.
In a constraint based program, generateable fields are assigned by a constraint resolution process. A constraint resolution process involves a sequence of generation decisions, which are either generation events or field ordering. Generation events relate to generation entities, such as fields and constraints, and represent a change in the status or the value of the generation entity. For example, a field being assigned a specific value is a generation event related to that field. A constraint being used to reduce the permissible values of a field is a generation event related to that constraint. Field ordering represents the sequential order in which fields are being considered for generation.
Generation decisions are dynamic entities that are created as part of the constraint resolution process. Generation events are ordered according to the sequence of execution. Generation may be caused by some earlier events and may be the reason for some later events. Such causal chains are represented as paths connecting related events according to their sequential order.
Generation decisions are collected during constraint resolution and presented at a later point in time when the user wishes to debug the generation process. The generation process is known to involve at least two stages, namely static analysis and runtime, as described for example with regard to U.S. Pat. No. 6,182,258. It is advantageous to collect generation decisions during these phases, so that problems uncovered early in the process can be debugged as well. For example, static analysis may conclude that a contradiction exists within the set of constraints presented. The generation debugger can be used to view the generation decisions that led to that conclusion even though no runtime generation took place.
The background art focuses on presenting the state of the generation objects at various stages of constraint resolution, but lacks a systematic representation of the generation decisions.
The following reference discusses visualization of constraint based systems:
Analysis and Visualization Tools for Constraint Programming: Constraint Debugging (Lecture Notes in Computer Science number 1870, January 2001, by Pierre Deransart (Editor), Manuel V. Hermenegildo (Editor), Maluszynski, Springer Verlag; ISBN: 3540411372, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
The current invention differs from prior art in two major aspects. The current invention is capable of representing complex constraints systems such as the constraints disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,182,258. Such complex constraints systems may include:                1. a dynamically changing set of constraints based on the state of the constraint resolution process,        2. a hierarchical set of constraints applied to complex data structures and lists, and        3. fields that are under-constrained which are assigned a random value from the set of permissible values computed.
The other novel approach of this invention, compared to prior art is related to the representation of the constraint resolution process. Prior art teaches a static view of the set of applicable constraints, where a resolution process may be viewed as a series of such static snapshots. Such a representation omits crucial information about the reason for the transformation from one snapshot to the next.
Another approach common in the art is supplying some debug information about the constraint resolution engine, which is typically a program written in some logic programming language (Prolog for example). Such information may include the procedures that where called during resolution, contradictions and backtracking information. This information is typically presented during execution and may be used to intervene with the execution of the resolution engine for the purpose of debugging. Making use of this information requires intimate understanding of the constraint resolution procedure, which is exceedingly complex.
In contrast the current invention collects information during the execution of the constraint resolution engine, but presents that information after the execution in a semantic framework that is much simpler than the actual implementation of the constraint resolution engine. The resolution process is conceptualized using generation events and their relationship to changes that occur on field values and constraint status. Generation events present sequential relationships that provide cause and effect analysis of the constraint resolution process without requiring any knowledge of the implementation of the constraint resolution engine.

System and method for visual debugging of constraint systems


Systems and methods that reformat media are described. In one embodiment, a system may include, for example, a server, a first communications device and a second communications device. The server, the first communications device and the second communications device may be operatively coupled to a network. The second communications device may receive, from the first communications device, a device profile relating to the first communications device and may send the device profile and media content to the server. The server may reformat the media content based on the device profile.

Today, files having different formats for images, video, and audio may be attached to e-mail messages using a PC (personal computer) and sent to other PC's via the Internet. Also, files may be sent from one location to another over a network such as a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN) using a file transfer protocol (FTP). The files may be used in conjunction with certain media players such as PC's, DVD players, PDA's, MP3 players, etc.
The format (e.g., MPEG, JPEG, Windows Media, Quick Time, DVD sound format, AC3, CD format, etc.) of the files define their compatibility with devices. Files are often sent from a source location to a destination location without the source having any knowledge of the format capabilities of devices at the destination location.
For example, a source PC may send a JPEG image file to a destination PC without knowing what the file format capabilities are of the destination PC. The source PC may send the JPEG file to a destination PC. If the destination PC only supports TIFF format capability, then the destination PC may not be able to process and display the JPEG formatted file.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

Media processing system supporting different media formats via server-based transcoding


The method of consolidating a powder material to form a composite part includes forming a pattern which is a scaled-up version of the part to be formed; employing the pattern to produce a flexible mold with interior conformation matching the pattern exterior; introducing a previously formed shape, insert or body into the mold; introducing consolidatable powder material into the mold; compacting the mold to thereby compress the powder and previously formed shape into a preform which is to be consolidated; separating the preform from the mold; providing a bed of pressure transmission particles, and positioning the preform in the bed; and compacting the preform in the bed of particles by transmission of pressure to the preform via the bed, to thereby consolidate the preform into a dense, desired shape part.

This invention relates generally to powder preform consolidation processes, and more particularly to such processes wherein consolidated parts are composite bodies having complex shapes.
There is continuing need for simple, effective, powder material consolidation techniques, particularly where the parts to be processed have complex interior or exterior configurations comprising different material compositions, one example being drill bits wherein complex cutter projections are required. This becomes critically difficult when the cutters constitute a very hard material which is different in composition from the main body of the drill bit to be consolidated from metal powder.

Composite body formation of consolidated powder metal part


There is provided a high frequency switching circuit reducing power consumption at the time of signal reception and signal transmission. The high frequency switching circuit includes a pulse generation unit generating a clock selecting pulse signal having a predetermined active period; a clock selection unit selecting a reference clock signal when the clock selecting pulse signal is in an active state and selecting a low-speed clock signal having a frequency lower than that of the reference clock signal when the clock selecting pulse signal is not in an active state; a voltage down unit accumulating negative charges in a capacitor to generate predetermined negative voltage; and a switching unit including at least one switch holding a turned-off state by being applied with the predetermined negative voltage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a high frequency switching circuit and a method of controlling the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, the reduction of power consumption in miniaturized wireless communication devices such as mobile phones and the like has become important. Since wireless communications devices transmit or receive information by switching switches at a high speed, a considerable amount of power is consumed in the switches and a driving circuit therefor.
Generally, mobile phones include a transmitting mode, a receiving mode, a transmitting and receiving mode as a communication mode, and a field effect transistor as the switches switch a transmitting/receiving circuit connected to an antenna at high speed, every time the communication mode is changed.
In addition, the field effect transistor is connected to a voltage up circuit or a voltage down circuit (negative voltage generation circuit) as the driving circuit. The voltage up circuit mainly improves transmit power supplied to the antenna from a transmit circuit. Meanwhile, the voltage down circuit mainly improves output characteristics in a state in which the field effect transistor is turned-off.
As a technology for reducing power consumption in the voltage up circuit, technology disclosed in Patent Document (Patent Document: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2008-35560) has been applied. In the high frequency switching circuit described in the Patent Document, a voltage up circuit is operated at the time of a transmission requiring a large amount of power but is not operated at the time of signal reception not requiring a large amount of power, thereby reducing power consumption.
However, the high frequency switching circuit of the above-mentioned Patent Document may be applied to reduce power consumption at the time of signal reception but not reduce power consumption at the time of signal transmission. Therefore, a communication system such as the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), in which, for example, the voltage up circuit or the voltage down circuit needs to be operated at all times, may not use the high frequency switching circuit described in the above-mentioned Patent Document.

High frequency switching circuit reducing power consumption and method of controlling the same


A pre-charge circuit is disclosed for a vehicle including a battery and a load. The pre-charge circuit includes a time delay circuit configured to, in response to receiving power from the battery, generate a first voltage. The first voltage increases from a first value toward a second value. The pre-charge circuit includes a switch control circuit configured to, in response to the first voltage, provide a second voltage that follows the first voltage. The pre-charge circuit includes a switching circuit configured to selectively connect the battery to the load based on the second voltage and disconnect the load from the battery in response to the second voltage reaching a predetermined threshold value. The pre-charge circuit includes an output circuit configured to restrict an amount of power and inrush current that is provided from the battery to the load through the switching circuit.

When DC power is applied to a capacitive load, the capacitors initially draw a large amount of current before approaching a steady state value. Since the current of a capacitor is determined by the product of its capacitance and the rate of change in voltage with respect to time, the step response of input voltage will cause a large surge of current into the capacitor, referred to as inrush current. While inrush current may be limited by an equivalent series resistance of the capacitor, inrush current still can cause a considerable amount of stress on the capacitor and can cause the capacitor to fail prematurely.
Limiting inrush current is especially important for those applications that need to be turned on each time the device needs to be used, such as control systems in an automobile. An efficient inrush current limiter limits the inrush current during the startup transient but will not impact the transfer of power to the load under normal operation. This is critical for applications that need to be turned on each time the device is used, since repeated inrush currents can damage bulk capacitive loads.
The background description provided here is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.

Self turn-on and turn-off pre-charge circuit to limit bulk capacitor inrush current


According to the present invention there is provided a positive-working lithographic printing plate precursor which comprises on a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, an oleophilic coating comprising an infrared absorbing agent, an alkali-soluble polymeric binder and a polysiloxane which comprises at least one carboxylic acid group or a salt thereof. The disclosed printing plate precursor has an improved sensitivity and at the same time a high under exposure latitude and a high developer resistance.

Lithographic printing presses use a so-called printing master such as a printing plate which is mounted on a cylinder of the printing press. The master carries a lithographic image on its surface and a print is obtained by applying ink to said image and then transferring the ink from the master onto a receiver material, which is typically paper. In conventional, so-called "wet" lithographic printing, ink as well as an aqueous fountain solution (also called dampening liquid) are supplied to the lithographic image which consists of oleophilic (or hydrophobic, i.e. ink-accepting, water-repelling) areas as well as hydrophilic (or oleophobic, i.e. water-accepting, ink-repelling) areas. In so-called driographic printing, the lithographic image consists of ink-accepting and ink-abhesive (ink-repelling) areas and during driographic printing, only ink is supplied to the master.
Printing masters are generally obtained by the so-called computer-to-film method wherein various pre-press steps such as typeface selection, scanning, color separation, screening, trapping, layout and imposition are accomplished digitally and each color selection is transferred to graphic arts film using an image-setter. After processing, the film can be used as a mask for the exposure of an imaging material called plate precursor and after plate processing, a printing plate is obtained which can be used as a master.
A typical printing plate precursor for computer-to-film methods comprise a hydrophilic support and an image-recording layer of a photosensitive polymer which include UV-sensitive diazo compounds, dichromate-sensitized hydrophilic colloids and a large variety of synthetic photopolymers. Particularly diazo-sensitized systems are widely used. Upon image-wise exposure, typically by means of a film mask in a UV contact frame, the exposed image areas become insoluble and the unexposed areas remain soluble in an aqueous alkaline developer. The plate is then processed with the developer to remove the diazonium salt or diazo resin in the unexposed areas. So the exposed areas define the image areas (printing areas) of the printing master, and such printing plate precursors are therefore called 'negative-working'. Also positive-working materials, wherein the exposed areas define the non-printing areas, are known, e.g. plates having a novolac/naphtoquinone-diazide coating which dissolves in the developer only at exposed areas.
In addition to the above photosensitive materials, also heat-sensitive printing plate precursors have become very popular. Such thermal materials offer the advantage of daylight-stability and are especially used in the so-called computer-to-plate method wherein the plate precursor is directly exposed, i.e. without the use of a film mask. The material is exposed to heat or to infrared light and the generated heat triggers a (physico-)chemical process, such as ablation, polymerization, insolubilisation by cross-linking of a polymer, heat-induced solubilisation, decomposition, or particle coagulation of a thermoplastic polymer latex.
EP 0 864 420 discloses a heat mode imaging element for making lithographic printing plates comprising on a lithographic base having a hydrophilic surface an intermediate layer comprising a polymer, soluble in an aqueous alkaline solution and a top layer that is sensitive to IR-radiation wherein said top layer upon exposure to IR-radiation has a decreased or increased capacity for being penetrated and/or solubilised by an aqueous alkaline solution.
EP 0 908 304 and EP 0 908 306 disclose a heat mode imaging element consisting of a lithographic base with a hydrophilic surface and an IR-radiation sensitive top layer, comprising a polymer that is soluble in an aqueous alkaline solution and that is unpenetrable for an alkaline developer containing SiO2 as silicates.
The last two heat-mode imaging elements have the disadvantage that the difference between the solubility in the exposed areas and in the non-exposed areas is not very great so that also non-exposed areas are dissolved during the processing of the element so that the plates could not be used as lithographic plates.
WO 97/39894 describes a positive-working heat-sensitive printing plate precursor which is sensitive to IR light but not to UV light, comprising a support and an IR-sensitive coating comprising an oleophilic polymer that is soluble in an aqueous alkaline developer and a dissolution inhibitor which reduces the solubility of the polymer in the developer.
WO99/21725 and WO99/21715 describe a heat sensitive printing plate precursor provided with a coating comprising a compound which increases the developer resistance of the coating. Said compound is selected from the group of poly(alkylene oxide), siloxanes and esters or amides of polyhydric alcohols.
EP 0 950 517 and EP 0 950 518 describe a heat mode imaging element for providing a lithographic printing plate comprising a base with a hydrophilic surface, a first layer comprising a polymer soluble in an aqueous alkaline solution and an infrared sensitive top layer, wherein at least one of said layers comprise a surfactant such as a polysiloxane.
The prior art printing plate precursors comprising compounds which increase the developer resistance of the coating such as for example polysiloxanes, also have a broad development latitude, i.e. the differentiation between the development kinetics of exposed and non-exposed areas is increased in the sense that exposed areas are completely dissolved before the non-exposed areas start to dissolve. However, the minimum energy density required to solubilize the exposed areas in the developer of these printing plate precursors is high, and therefore, long exposure times and/or the use of more expensive exposure devices such as lasers with a high laser power output are required.
Therefore, there is still a need for printing plate precursors which have an improved sensitivity and at the same time a high under exposure latitude and a high developer resistance.

Heat-sensitive lithographic printing plate precursor