Tumor cells modified to express one or more T cell costimulatory molecules are disclosed. Preferred costimulatory molecules are B7-2 and B7-3. The tumor cells of the invention can be modified by transfection with nucleic acid encoding B7-2 and/or B7-3, by using an agent which induces or increases expression of B7-2 and/or B7-3 on the tumor cell or by coupling B7-2 and/or B7-3 to the tumor cell. Tumor cells modified to express B7-2 and/or B7-3 can be further modified to express B7. Tumor cells further modified to express MHC class I and/or class II molecules or in which expression of an MHC associated protein, the invariant chain, is inhibited are also disclosed. The modified tumor cells of the invention can be used in methods for treating a patient with a tumor, preventing or inhibiting metastatic spread of a tumor or preventing or inhibiting recurrence of a tumor. A method for specifically inducing a CD4+ T cell response against a tumor and a method for treating a tumor by modification of tumor cells in vivo are disclosed.

Induction of a T lymphocyte response is a critical initial step in a host""s immune response. Activation of T cells results in T cell proliferation, cytokine production by T cells and generation of T cell-mediated effect or functions. T cell activation requires an antigen-specific signal, often called a primary activation signal, which results from stimulation of a clonally-distributed T cell receptor (hereafter TcR) present on the surface of the T cell. This antigen-specific signal is usually in the form of an antigenic peptide bound either to a major histocompatibility complex (hereafter MHC) class I protein or an MHC class II protein present on the surface of an antigen presenting cell (hereafter APC). CD4+ T cells recognize peptides associated with class II molecules. Class II molecules are found on a limited number of cell types, primarily B cells, monocytes/macrophages and dendritic cells, and, in most cases, present peptides derived from proteins taken up from the extracellular environment. In contrast, CD8+ T cells recognize peptides associated with class I molecules. Class I molecules are found on almost all cell types and, in most cases, present peptides derived from endogenously synthesized proteins. For a review see Germain, R., Nature 322, 687-691 (1986).
It has now been established that, in addition to an antigen-specific primary activation signal, T cells also require a second, non-antigen specific, signal to induce full T cell proliferation and/or cytokine production. This phenomenon has been termed costimulation. Mueller, D. L., et al., Annu. Rev. Immunol. 7, 445-480 (1989). Like the antigen-specific signal, the costimulatory signal is triggered by a molecule on the surface of the antigen presenting cell. A costimulatory molecule, the B lymphocyte antigen B7, has been identified on activated B cells and other APCs. Freeman, G. J., et al., J. Immunol. 139, 3260-3267 (1987); Freeman, G. J., et al., J. Immunol, 143, 2714-2722 (1989). Binding of B7 to a ligand on the surface of T cells provides costimulation to the T cell. Two structurally similar T cell-surface receptors for B7 have been identified, CD28 and CTLA-4. Aruffo, A. and Seed, B., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84, 8573-8577 (1987); Linsley, P. S., et al., J. Exp. Med. 173, 721-730, (1991); Brunet, J. F., et al., Nature 328, 267-270 (1987); Brunet, J. F., et al., Immunol Rev. 103, 21-36 (1988). CD28 is expressed constitutively on T cells and its expression is upregulated by activation of the T cell, such as by interaction of the TcR with an antigen-MHC complex. In contrast, CTLA4 is undetectable on resting T cells and its expression is induced by activation.
A series of experiments have shown a functional role for a T cell activation pathway stimulated through the CD28 receptor. Studies using blocking antibodies to B7 and CD28 have demonstrated that these antibodies can inhibit T cell activation, thereby demonstrating the need for stimulation via this pathway for T cell activation. Furthermore, suboptimal polyclonal stimulation of T cells by phorbol ester or anti-CD3 antibodies can be potentiated by crosslinking of CD28 with anti-CD28 antibodies. Engagement of the TcR by an MHC molecule/peptide complex in the absence of the costimulatory B7 signal can lead to T cell anergy rather than activation. Damle, N. K., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 78, 5096-5100 (1981); Lesslauer, W., et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 16, 1289-1295 (1986); Gimmi, C. D., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88, 6575-6579 (1991); Linsley, P. S., et al., J. Exp. Med. 173; 721-730 (1991); Koulova, L., et al., J. Exp. Med. 173, 759-762 (1991); Razi-Wolf, Z., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad Sci. USA 89, 4210-4214 (1992).
Malignant transformation of a cell is commonly associated with phenotypic changes in the cell. Such changes can include loss or gain of expression of some proteins or alterations in the level of expression of certain proteins. It has been hypothesized that in some situations the immune system may be capable of recognizing a tumor as foreign and, as such, could mount an immune response against the tumor. Kripke, M., Adv. Cancer Res. 34, 69-75 (1981). This hypothesis is based in part on the existence of phenotypic differences between a tumor cell and a normal cell, which is supported by the identification of tumor associated antigens (hereafter TAAs). Schreiber, H., et al. Ann. Rev. Immunol. 6, 465-483 (1988). TAAs are thought to distinguish a transformed cell from its normal counterpart. Three genes encoding TAAs expressed in melanoma cells, MAGE-1, MAGE-2 and MAGE-3, have recently been cloned, van der Bruggen, P., et al. Science 254, 1643-1647 (1991). That tumor cells under certain circumstances can be recognized as foreign is also supported by the existence of T cells which can recognize and respond to tumor associated antigens presented by MHC molecules. Such TAA-specific T lymphocytes have been demonstrated to be present in the immune repertoire and are capable of recognizing and stimulating an immune response against tumor cells when properly stimulated in vitro. Rosenberg, S. A., et al. Science 233, 1318-1321 (1986); Rosenberg, S. A. and Lotze, M. T. Ann. Rev. Immunol. 4, 681-709 (1986).
However, in practice, tumors in vivo have generally not been found to be very immunogenic and appear to be capable of evading immune response. This may result from an inability of tumor cells to induce T cell-mediated immune responses. Ostrand-Rosenberg, S., et al., J. Immunol. 144, 4068-4071 (1990); Fearon, E. R., et al., Cell 60, 397-403 (1990). A method for increasing the immunogenicity of a tumor cell in vivo would be therapeutically beneficial.
Although most tumor cells are thought to express TAAs which distinguish tumor cells from normal cells and T cells which recognize TAA peptides have been identified in the immune repertoire, an anti-tunor T cell response may not be induced by a tumor cell due to a lack of costimulation necessary to activate the T cells. It is known that many tumors are derived from cells which do not normally function as antigen-presenting cells, and, thus, may not trigger necessary signals for T cell activation. In particular, tumor cells may be incapable of triggering a costimulatory signal in a T cell which is required for activation of the T cell. This invention is based, at least in part, on the discovery that tumor cells modified to express a costimulatory molecule, and therefore capable of triggering a costimulatory signal, can induce an anti-tumor T cell-mediated immune response in viva. This T cell-mediated immune response is effective not only against the modified tumor cells but, more importantly, against the unmodified tumor cells from which they were derived. Thus, the effector phase of the anti-tumor response induced by the modified tumor cells of the invention is not dependent upon expression of a costimulatory molecule on the tumor cells.
Accordingly, the invention pertains to methods of inducing or enhancing T lymphocyte-mediated anti-tumor immunity in a subject by use of a modified tumor cell having increased immunogenicity. In one aspect of the invention, a tumor cell is modified to express one or more T cell costimulatory molecules on its surface. Preferred costimulatory molecules are novel B lymphocyte antigens, B7-2 and B7-3. Prior to modification, the tumor cell may lack the ability to express B7-2 and/or B7-3, may be capable of expressing B7-2 and/or B7-3 but fail to do so, or may express insufficient amounts of B7-2 and/or B7-3 to activate T cells. Therefore, a tumor cell can be modified by providing B7-2 and/or B7-3 to the tumor cell surface, by inducing the expression of B7-2 and/or B7-3 on the tumor cell or by increasing the level of expression of B7-2 and/or B7-3 on the tumor cell. In one embodiment, the tumor cell is modified by transfecting the cell with at least one nucleic acid encoding B7-2 and/or B7-3 in a form suitable for expression of the molecule(s) on the cell surface. Alternatively, the tumor cell is contacted with an agent which induces or increases expression of B7-2 and/or B7-3 on the cell surface. In yet another embodiment, the tumor cell is modified by chemically coupling B7-2 and/or B7-3 to the tumor cell surface. A tumor cell modified to express B7-2 and/or B7-3 can be further modified to express the T cell costimulatory molecule B7.
Even when provided with the ability to trigger a costimulatory signal in T cells, modified tumor cells may still be incapable of inducing anti-tumor T cell-mediated immune responses due to a failure to sufficiently trigger an antigen-specific primary activation signal. This can result from insufficient expression of MHC class I or class II molecules on the tumor cell surface. Accordingly, this invention encompasses modified tumor cells which provide both a T cell costimulatory signal and an antigen-specific primary activation signal, via an antigen-MHC complex, to T cells. Prior to modification, a tumor cell may lack the ability to express one or more MHC molecules, may be capable of expressing one or more MHC molecules but fail to do so, may express only certain types of MHC molecules (e.g., class I but not class II), or may express insufficient amounts of MHC molecules to activate T cells. Thus, in one embodiment, a tumor cell is modified by providing one or more MHC molecules to the tumor cell surface, by inducing the expression of one or more MHC molecules on the tumor cell surface or by increasing the level of expression of one or more MHC molecules on the tumor cell surface. Tumor cells expressing B7-2 and/or B7-3 are further modified, for example, by transfection with a nucleic acid encoding one or more MHC molecules in a form suitable for expression of the MHC molecule(s) on the tumor cell surface. Alternatively, such tumor cells are modified by contact with an agent which induces or increases expression of one or more MHC molecules on the cell.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, tumor cells modified to express B7-2 and/or B7-3 are further modified to express one or more MHC class II molecules. To provide an MHC class II molecule, at least one nucleic acid encoding an MHC class II xcex1 chain protein and an MHC class II xcex2 chain protein are introduced into the tumor cell such that expression of these proteins is directed to the surface of the cell. In yet another embodiment, tumor cells modified to express B7-2 and/or B7-3 are further modified to express one or more MHC class I molecules. To provide an MHC class I molecule, at least one nucleic acid encoding an MHC class I xcex1 chain protein and a , xcex2-2 microglobulin protein are introduced such that expression of these proteins is directed to the surface of the tumor cell. Alternatively, a tumor cell modified to express B7-2 and/or B7-3 can be further modified by contact with an agent which induces or increases the expression of MHC molecules (class I and/or class II) on the cell surface.
In certain situations, modified tumor cells of the invention may fail to activate T cells because of insufficient association of TAA-derived peptides with MHC molecules, resulting in a lack of an antigen-specific primary activation signal in T cells. Accordingly, the invention further pertains to a tumor cell modified to trigger a costimulatory signal in T cells and in which association of TAA peptides with MHC class II molecules is promoted in order to induce an antigen-specific signal in T cells. This aspect of the invention is based, at least in part, on the ability of an MHC class II associated protein, the invariant chain, to prevent association of endogenously derived peptides (which would include a number of TAA peptides) with MHC class II molecules intracellularly. Thus in one embodiment, a tumor cell modified to express B7-2 and/or B7-3 is further modified to promote association of TAA peptides with MHC class II molecules by inhibiting the expression of the invariant chain in the tumor cell. The tumor cell selected to be so modified can be one which naturally expresses both MHC class II molecules and the invariant chain or can be one-which expresses the invariant chain and which has been modified to express MHC class II molecules. Preferably, expression of the invariant chain is inhibited in a tumor cell by introducing into the tumor cell a nucleic acid which is antisense to a coding or regulatory region of the invariant chain gene. Alternatively, expression of the invariant chain in a tumor cell is prevented by an agent which inhibits expression of the invariant chain gene or which inhibits expression or activity of the invariant chain protein.
The modified tumor cells of the invention can be used in methods for inducing an anti-tumor T lymphocyte response in a subject effective against both modified and unmodified tumor cells. For example, tumor cells can be obtained, modified as described herein to trigger a costimulatory signal in T lymphocytes, and administered to the subject to elicit a T cell-mediated immune response. The modified tumor cells of the invention can also be administered to prevent or inhibit metastatic spread of a tumor or to prevent or inhibit recurrence of a tumor following therapeutic treatment.
This invention also provides methods for treating a subject with a tumor by modifying tumor cells in vivo to be capable of triggering a costimulatory signal in T cells, and, if necessary, also an antigen-specific signal.
The tumor cells of the current invention modified to express B7-2 and/or B7-3 and one or more MHC class II molecules can be used in a method for specifically inducing an anti-tumor response by CD4+ T lymphocytes in a subject with a tumor by administering the modified tumor cells to the subject. Alternatively, a CD4+ T cell response can be induced by modifying tumor cells in vivo to express a B7-2 and/or B7-3 and one or more MHC class II molecules.
The invention also pertains to a composition of modified tumor cells suitable for pharmaceutical administration. This composition comprises an amount of tumor cells and a physiologically acceptable carrier.

Tumor cells modified to express B7-2 with increased immunogenicity and uses therefor


An image pickup apparatus that can realize a subject selecting function that can easily reflect a photographer's wishes without requiring a complex operation process, can prevent occurrences of unnecessary blurred images from an outset, can achieve the advantages of a distance measurement method limited to externally inputted positions, such as a selection of the subject, without sacrificing the AF performance of the conventional center-prioritized distance measurement method, and can carry out an appropriate focus adjustment for a main subject. A CPU selects one from a plurality of focus detecting regions on the screen of a display device. An operating element is provided that enables a photographer to instruct to change the selected focus detecting region. The CPU confirms the focus detecting region instructed to change by the photographer using the operating element when a predetermined condition is satisfied. The predetermined condition is that a predetermined time period has elapsed after the photographer instructed to change the selected focus detecting region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus, a control method for the same, and a program for implementing the control method, and in particular to an image pickup apparatus that designates a region or position on a screen of a picked up image and carries out a focus adjustment for the designated the region and so on, a control method for the same, and a program for implementing the control method.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the field of consumer image pickup apparatuses, such as video/still cameras (digital camcorders), various attempts have been made to simplify operation and obtain higher-quality images, and various techniques have been proposed. The auto-focus (AF) function equipped as standard on digital camcorders in recent years removes the trouble of adjusting the focus every time an image is shot, and is therefore a typical example of a function that attains the object of making it easy to obtain high-quality images.
At the same time, great progress has been being made in miniaturizing and reducing the weight of digital camcorders. One reason for such progress is the existence of inner-focus type lenses. Inner-focus type lenses are lenses which are capable of shooting a subject just close to the front surface of the lens by not mechanically linking a correction lens and a zooming lens with a cam and instead storing movement loci of the correction lens as lens cam data in advance in a microcomputer, driving the correction lens in accordance with this lens cam data, and performing focusing using the correction lens. Such inner focus type lenses have the advantages of low cost, simplification of the system, and a reduction in size and weight of the lens barrel.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the construction of a conventionally used inner-focus type lens system.
In FIG. 6, the lens system includes a fixed first lens group 101, a second lens group 102 for zooming, a diaphragm 103, a fixed third lens group 104, a fourth lens group (hereinafter referred to as the "focus lens") 105 that has a focus adjusting function and a so-called compensating function that compensates movement of the focal plane due to the zooming, and an image pickup surface 106.
In this lens system, since the focus lens 105 has both the focus adjusting function and the compensating function, even if the focal distance does not change, the position of the focus lens 105 for focusing on the image pickup surface 106 differs according to a distance to the subject. If the position of the focus lens 105 for focusing on the image pickup surface 106 is continuously plotted as the distance to the subject is changed at respective focal distances, a graph like that shown in FIG. 7 is obtained. During zooming, if one of the focus loci shown in FIG. 7 is selected according to the distance to the subject and the focus lens 105 is moved according to the selected locus, zooming can be carried out with no blurring.
However, according to the AF described above, an image pickup apparatus, such as a camera, determines by itself photographic conditions and adjusts the lens position to a state that is thought to be appropriate for the photographic conditions, so that there are cases where the photographer's wishes are not reflected in the image. For example, when an AF operation is carried out using information for the entire image pickup screen in the case where a distant subject and a proximate subject are both present in the image pickup screen, it is likely that one of the plurality of subjects will be put in focus, but the image pickup apparatus cannot determine which is the main subject on which the photographer wishes to focus.
To avoid such situations as much as possible, a method that measures the distance to a subject located on the center of the image pickup screen with priority and executes an AF operation based on the result of the measurement is generally used. This is based on the fact that photographers often place the main subject on the center of the screen during photography. However, there are cases where this method is not able to appropriately adjust the focus for the main subject when the main subject is positioned away from the center of the screen.
On the other hand, to set the optimal focus regardless of where the main subject is positioned on the image pickup screen, an image pickup apparatus that can select the main subject based on the visual axis of the photographer gazing with his eye through the finder has been proposed (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. H04-154165). According to this image pickup apparatus, it is possible to freely change the position of the main subject while specifying a distance measuring region. The position designating means for selecting the main subject is not limited to the visual axis detecting means, and another position designating means, using a pointer member such as a joystick or a mouse, that synthesizes amounts of movements of the pointing member on two axes in accordance with the subject to determine the direction and the position in and to which the pointing member has moved and thereby determine the main subject can be envisaged. Further, a selection function that selects a distance measuring region as desired from a plurality of distance measuring regions set in advance using the visual axis detecting means or the position designating means can be envisaged as an easily realizable function.
In recent years, there have been increased functions having compatibility between digital camcorders and digital still cameras. On the one hand, moving image recording functions of digital still cameras are becoming increasingly advanced, while digital camcorders on the market that are capable of recording still images and moving images onto card-type storage media as well as onto tape-type storage media. For digital camcorders, an operation method where still images are recorded using a "photo" switch and moving images are recorded using a "trigger" switch (start/stop switch) is becoming increasingly common.
The above-described function of selecting one or a plurality of regions are selected out of a plurality of distance measuring regions should preferably be available anytime while the camera is in operation. However, the above function that reflects the photographer's wishes is a so-called "manually" operating function, and therefore such operations cannot be carried out without performing a predetermined key operation. For example, it has been necessary to carry out a three-step operation in which switching to a selection mode for selecting a distance measuring region is carried out in a first step, changing or switching the selected distance measuring region is carried out in a second step, and confirmation of the selected distance measuring region is carried out in a third step. The first step and the third step are carried out using a different switch to one used for the second step. It is difficult to carry out two types of switch operation while looking through the finder or at a monitor.
Further, as is clear from FIG. 7, referred to above, in a zooming operation of moving a zooming lens from a "wide-angle" position to a "telephoto" position, the focus lens moves from a region where focus loci converge to a region where the focus loci diverge, so that at the wide-angle position it is not possible to determine the subject distance of the locus that enables a focused state to be maintained from the wide-angle position to the telephoto position. For this reason, in general, zooming is carried out towards the "telephoto" end while determining a focus locus by maintaining the focused state using AF information. However, during high-speed zooming where only a reduced number of detection of AF information can be obtained, making it difficult to maintain and determine the focus locus. When a high-speed zooming operation and switching of the distance measuring region are carried out at the same time, that is, zooming is carried out while the distance to a main subject is changed, it is difficult to maintain the focused state, resulting in occurrence of blurring. Since time is required to focus on a new subject during change of the distance measuring region, problems such as significant blurring can occur, which prevent high quality images from being obtained.
During still image photography, a method for focusing by a digital camera has been generally employed, in which, to increase the reliability of focusing, the focus lens is moved within a predetermined search range by operating the photo switch to obtain a focusing signal indicative of focusing having been reached during the movement of the focus lens, and the position of the focus lens at which the focus signal assumes the maximum degree of focusing is detected by calculation or the like to find a focused position. However, if the distance measuring region is changed during the above focus search, the focus search operation searches for foci for different subjects during the search, resulting in the problem that proper focusing cannot be obtained. Also, when the distance measuring region is changed during the recording of moving images activated by operation of the trigger switch, blurring occurs until the apparatus responds to switching of the main subject, so that it has not been possible to obtain high-quality images.
Unlike still image photography, during moving image photography photographic effects and image lay-out are usually carried out by camera work and zooming, and therefore the stability of focus is very important for successful formation of an image. To this end, the stability of focus is given priority over focusing response for the main subject, so that it is desirable to automatically optimize the distance measuring region according to the photographic conditions, in various types of distance measurements such as "entire screen distance measurement", "center-prioritized distance measurement", and "periphery-prioritized distance measurement" for a hollow subject. However, during selection of the distance measuring region, it is unclear whether the photographer will next operate the photo switch or the trigger switch. If the selected distance measuring region is at the edge of the screen and moving image recording is carried out using the trigger switch, if distance measuring region control is automatically started in the center-prioritized distance measurement mode, for example, the recording of moving images starts before the focusing operation for a central subject due to the change of the subject is completed. This results in blurred images being recorded at the start of recording.

Image pickup apparatus, control method for the same, and program for implementing the control method


A data output circuit includes a pre-code generation unit configured to generate one of a pre-pull-up code and a pre-pull-down code according to a calibration code in response to a voltage level of input data; and a plurality of main driving units configured to be selectively activated in response to an on-die termination code, wherein respective outputs of the plurality of main driving units are commonly connected to an output node, and wherein activated main driving units drive the output node in response to the pre-pull-up code or the pre-pull-down code.

1. Technical Field
The present invention generally relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit and to a data output circuit.
2. Related Art
Among semiconductor integrated circuits, a semiconductor memory apparatus refers to an apparatus which receives and stores data and outputs stored data. Thus, the semiconductor memory apparatus includes a data output circuit for outputting data.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional data output circuit of a semiconductor memory apparatus.
A conventional data output circuit 1 is configured to drive internally stored data D_in in response to an on-die termination code ODT_code<0:3> (i.e., ODT_code<0>, ODT_code<1>, ODT_code<2>, ODT_code<3>) provided from an external controller and a calibration code cal_code<0:2> (i.e., cal_code<0>, cal_code<1>, cal_code<2>) provided from an internal calibration circuit and generate data D_out to be outputted to an outside. The on-die termination code ODT_code<0:3> and the calibration code cal_code<0:2> are codes to compensate for impedance mismatch between a semiconductor memory apparatus and an external circuit (controller). The calibration code cal_code<0:2> includes a P code Pcode<0:2> (not illustrated) and an N code Ncode<0:2> (not illustrated).
The data output circuit 1 includes first to fourth driving units 10, 20, 30 and 40.
The first driving unit 10 includes a first pre-driver 11 and a first main driver 12.
The first pre-driver 11 is configured to drive the input data D_in according to the first bit ODT_code<0> of the on-die termination code ODT_code<0:3> and generate first pre-pull-up data pre_data_up<0> and first pre-pull-down data pre_data_down<0>.
The first main driver 12 is configured to drive the first pre-pull-up data pre_data_up<0> and the first pre-pull-down data pre_data_down<0> according to the calibration code cal_code<0:2>, and transfer resultant data to an output node Node_out.
The second driving unit 20 includes a second pre-driver 21 and a second main driver 22.
The second pre-driver 21 is configured to drive the input data D_in according to the second bit ODT_code<1> of the on-die termination code ODT_code<0:3> and generate second pre-pull-up data pre_data_up<1> and second pre-pull-down data pre_data_down<1>.
The second main driver 22 is configured to drive the second pre-pull-up data pre_data_up<1> and the second pre-pull-down data pre_data_down<1> according to the calibration code cal_code<0:2>, and transfer resultant data to the output node Node_out.
The third driving unit 30 includes a third pre-driver 31 and a third main driver 32.
The third pre-driver 31 is configured to drive the input data D_in according to the third bit ODT_code<2> of the on-die termination code ODT_code<0:3> and generate third pre-pull-up data pre_data_up<2> and third pre-pull-down data pre_data_down<2>.
The third main driver 32 is configured to drive the third pre-pull-up data pre_data_up<2> and the third pre-pull-down data pre_data_down<2> according to the calibration code cal_code<0:2>, and transfer resultant data to the output node Node_out.
The fourth driving unit 40 includes a fourth pre-driver 41 and a fourth main driver 42.
The fourth pre-driver 41 is configured to drive the input data D_in according to the fourth bit ODT_code<3> of the on-die termination code ODT_code<0:3> and generate fourth pre-pull-up data pre_data_up<3> and fourth pre-pull-down data pre_data_down<3>.
The fourth main driver 42 is configured to drive the fourth pre-pull-up data pre_data_up<3> and the fourth pre-pull-down data pre_data_down<3> according to the calibration code cal_code<0:2>, and transfer resultant data to the output node Node_out. The voltage level of the output node Node_out is outputted as the output data D_out being the output of the data output circuit 1.
FIG. 2 shows the first pre-driver 11 and the first main driver 12 of the first driving unit 10.
The first pre-driver 11 includes a NAND gate ND1, a NOR gate NOR1, and first and second inverter chains 11-1 and 11-2, respectively. The NAND gate ND1 is inputted with the first bit ODT_code<0> of the on-die termination code ODT_code<0:3> and the input data D_in. The NOR gate NOR1 is inputted with an inverted signal ODT_codeb<0> (i.e., through IV1) of the first bit ODT_code<0> of the on-die termination code ODT_code<0:3> and the input data D_in. The first inverter chain 11-1 is inputted with the output of the NAND gate ND1 and outputs the first pre-pull-up data pre_data_up<0>. The second inverter chain 11-2 is inputted with the output of the NOR gate NOR1 and outputs the first pre-pull-down data pre_data_down<0>.
The first main driver 12 includes first to twelfth transistors P1 to P6 and N1 to N6, respectively. The first transistor P1 has a gate which is inputted with the first bit Pcode<0> of the P code Pcode<0:2> and a source to which an external voltage VDD is applied. The second transistor P2 has a gate which is inputted with the first pre-pull-up data pre_data_up<0>, a source to which a drain of the first transistor P1 is connected and a drain to which the output node Node_out is connected. The third transistor P3 has a gate which is inputted with the second bit Pcode<1> of the P code Pcode<0:2> and a source to which the external voltage VDD is applied. The fourth transistor P4 has a gate which is inputted with the first pre-pull-up data pre_data_up<0>, a source to which a drain of the third transistor P3 is connected and a drain to which the output node Node_out is connected. The fifth transistor P5 has a gate which is inputted with the third bit Pcode<2> of the P code Pcode<0:2> and a source to which the external voltage VDD is applied. The sixth transistor P6 has a gate which is inputted with the first pre-pull-up data pre_data_up<0>, a source to which a drain of the fifth transistor P5 is connected and a drain to which the output node Node_out is connected. The seventh transistor N1 has a gate which is inputted with the first bit Ncode<0> of the N code Ncode<0:2> and a source to which a ground terminal VSS is connected. The eighth transistor N2 has a gate which is inputted with the first pre-pull-down data pre_data_down<0>, a drain to which the output node Node_out is connected and a source to which a drain of the seventh transistor N1 is connected. The ninth transistor N3 has a gate which is inputted with the second bit Ncode<1> of the N code Ncode<0:2> and a source to which the ground terminal VSS is connected. The tenth transistor N4 has a gate which is inputted with the first pre-pull-down data pre_data_down<0>, a drain to which the output node Node_out is connected and a source to which a drain of the ninth transistor N3 is connected. The eleventh transistor N5 has a gate which is inputted with the third bit Ncode<2> of the N code Ncode<0:2> and a source to which the ground terminal VSS is connected. The twelfth transistor N6 has a gate which is inputted with the first pre-pull-down data pre_data_down<0>, a drain to which the output node Node_out is connected and a source to which a drain of the eleventh transistor N5 is connected.
The second to fourth driving units 20, 30 and 40 have the same configuration as the first driving unit 10 configured in this way except that their input signals are different.
In the first main driver 12 illustrated in FIG. 2, in order to drive the output node Node_out, the transistors which are inputted with the P code Pcode<i> and the first pre-pull-up data pre_data_up<0> are connected in series, and the transistors which are inputted with the N code Ncode<i> and the first pre-pull-down data pre_data_down<0> are connected in series. Thus, in order to drive the first to fourth main drivers 12, 22, 32 and 42 illustrated in FIG. 1, the first to fourth pre-drivers 11, 21, 31 and 41 should have large driving forces.
As a result, in the conventional data output circuit, since loading of the main drivers is substantial, current consumption increases and this is inappropriate for high speed operations.

Data output circuit responsive to calibration code and on die termination code


Problems accompanying the appearance of compressed liquid refrigerant in a compressor are solved and deterioration of vehicle performance and degeneration of a magnetic clutch (when there is no compressed liquid refrigerant in the compressor) are prevented. An ECU 7 for energizing magnetic clutch 5 determines that there is liquid refrigerant in a compressor when a reduction rate .DELTA.NE of the engine revolution number is larger than a set value when the compressor 4 is started and the magnetic clutch is de-energized for a certain period of time.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for detecting the compression of liquid refrigerant in a compressor when the compressor is started and a device for controlling the compressor after detecting the compressed liquid refrigerant.
2. Description of the Related Art
Among the functional parts constituting an air conditioner for a vehicle, an evaporator is arranged inside the vehicle (adjacent the passenger compartment), while a compressor is arranged in an engine compartment which is relatively susceptive to the influence of outside air temperature. The compressor is arranged at a position lower than the evaporator and the condenser.
Accordingly, when a vehicle parked for a long time at a place where the temperature is very low, the temperature in the passenger compartment of the car is relatively high due to sunlight shining through the vehicle windows during the day as compared to the temperature in the engine compartment as a result. That is, the refrigerant in the air conditioner moves from the warm side (evaporator side) to the cool side (compressor side) and condenses to liquid. As the compressor is arranged at the position lower than the evaporator, the condenser and so on, the liquid refrigerant collects at the compressor and accumulates in the cylinder of the compressor.
When the compressor is operated in this state, the liquid in the cylinder causes noise and rapid pressure rise which might damage the compressor. Also, with the rapid fall in engine revolutions, the performance of the vehicle suffers.
The Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 191326/58 discloses a technique to solve the above problem by pulse-driving a magnetic clutch when the compressor starts and by adjusting the pulse-width of the energizing pulses so that they get wider gradually so as to increase the speed of the compressor slowly.
Also, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publications No. 146924/60 and No. 164024/60 disclose a technique to gradually engage the magnetic clutch with the aim of preventing mechanical shock when the magnetic clutch engages.
However, in the conventional techniques disclosed in the above publications, because the intermittent on/off control of the magnetic clutch is initiated not only at the time when liquid refrigerant accumulates in the cylinder of the compressor, but at any time the compressor is started, abrasion and deterioration of the magnetic clutch will occur.
Also, in the above prior arts, as idle speed is increased when there is no compressed liquid refrigerant in the compressor, the engine revolutions are further increased when the magnetic clutch is disengaged, and vibration and other problems will adversely affect vehicle performance.

System for detecting the compression of liquid refrigerant in a compressor and controlling the compressor


A cable stripping tool includes a marking device connected directly to a handle of the tool, or connected to a cartridge containing the marking device, which cartridge is connected to the handle of the tool. The underside of the cartridge contains a plurality of cutting blades to cut different layers of a coaxial cable. The marking device contains a tip which marks the proper location on the cable indicating the proper depth of insertion of the prepared coaxial cable into a cable connector. Different cartridges are sized to mark and cut different sizes of cable.

At present, installation of some coaxial cable connectors requires marking of the cable jacket prior to installation to ensure proper insertion depth of the cable within the cable connector. A common marking practice is to align the end of the prepared cable with a mark on the connector and mark the jacket at the rear of the connector using a thumbnail, screwdriver, or other non-damaging instrument. This method of marking depends greatly on the care and skill of the installer to ensure the mark is placed in its proper location.

Coaxial cable stripping tool with marking device


A clip system for clamping a panel element against a rebate comprises a bolt which is movable between a first position for clamping the panel element against a rebate and a second position for releasing the panel element, and an operating mechanism for moving the bolt. According to the invention, depending on the position of the bolt, there is a variable transmission ratio between the operating mechanism and the bolt, with a reduction which increases as the bolt in a path near the first position nears said first position. Operation of the bolt consequently requires little force and can be carried out with a short movement. The clip system can be achieved by a simple construction requiring little maintenance.

The invention relates to a panel for closing an opening, with a panel element and a clip system for clamping said panel element against a rebate of the opening, comprising at least one bolt which is movable between a first position for clamping the panel element against the rebate and a second position for releasing the panel element, and an operating mechanism for moving said bolt.
Such a panel is known as a "clip door", which is used in ships for closing passages in walls and partitions of the ship. An important requirement of such a panel is that it should be able to close the passage reliably and in a watertight manner. For this, the panel element can be clamped against the rebate, and a flexible sealing section is clamped between the edge of the panel element and the edge of the passage.
The bolt and the rebate are designed in such a way that the panel element is clamped against the rebate when the bolt is moved from the first to the second position.
For this, the bolt in the known clip door swivels about an axis at right angles to the plane of the panel element, and the bolt and the rebate are provided with clip surfaces running at corresponding angles relative to the plane of the panel element or of the wall in which the passage is provided. When the bolt is moved from the second to the first position, said clip surfaces knock against each other and are pushed along each other, so that the panel element is clamped against the rebate.
A disadvantage of this known panel is that operation of the clip system requires great force.
The problem of the great force required to operate the bolt is further aggravated in panels with several bolts which are provided with an operating mechanism for operating at least a number of the bolts, in order to ensure that said bolts are always operated when the panel is being closed.
An example of a panel with an operating mechanism for operating several bolts is the so-called coupled clip door, in which one of the bolts is firmly connected to an operating mechanism, and that one bolt is coupled to other bolts, so that they can be operated simultaneously by the operating mechanism. Operation of the clip system of such a panel requires extremely great force. Furthermore, the coupling mechanism requires a great deal of maintenance, in particular as regards lubrication, otherwise operation of the system takes such force that the door can no longer be clamped properly against the rebate.
In another example of a panel with an operating mechanism for operating several bolts, the so-called central clip door, the door is provided with a central operating mechanism with a reduction, which is coupled to several bolts. The operating mechanism is in this case in the form of a hand wheel coupled to the reduction which comprises a gear wheel with a smaller diameter than the hand wheel and a gear rack. The gear rack is in turn coupled to the bolts. This door requires less force to operate the operating mechanism than in the case of the coupled clip door. Disadvantages of a central clip door are, however, that the operating mechanism is an unwieldy, expensive construction with a great mass, turning the hand wheel requires several actions, it cannot be seen from the position of the operating element whether or not the door is closed, and the operating mechanism has to be regularly inspected and overhauled.

Panel for closing an opening, and clip system for use as a part thereof

Machinefabriek en Handelmaatschappij Winel B.V.


Disclosed are vitamin C derivatives linked with a peptide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, a method of preparing the same, and a composition comprising the same.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to vitamin C derivatives linked with a peptide(s) or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, a method of preparing the same, and a composition comprising the same.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The skin is the largest organ of the body, and has several different functions. In detail, the skin protects the body from bacterial invasion and chemicals in the outside world, provides a mechanical barrier to protect the body, regulates body temperature and eliminates waste products, and serves as an organ of respiration. The skin has three layers: the epidermis, the dermis and the subcutaneous tissues. The epidermis, the outer part of the skin, is the thinnest layer of the skin and includes keratinocytes and melanocytes, which are closely associated with each other. The dermis, which is the inner layer of the skin, occupies about 95% of the skin, and is responsible for regulating the moisture levels of the skin and protecting the skin. The dermis comprises a tight, sturdy mesh of collagen and elastin fibers. Both collagen and elastin are the representative proteins playing a critical role in skin resilience (wrinkling of the skin). Also, the dermis is the site where blood vessels and nerves are located, and contains fat cells and the natural moisturizer, Na-PCA or hyaluronic acid. The subcutaneous tissue, which is the innermost layer of the skin, functions to supply nutrients to the epidermis and the dermis, determine body shape, control body temperature, absorbs external impacts, protect cells under the subcutaneous tissue, etc.
However, the normal skin functions are rapidly lost with time by intrinsic or environmental factors, causing the skin to appear as aged. As skin aging proceeds, the skin's constituents, the epidermis, the dermis and the subcutaneous tissue become thin while the collagen and elastin fibers become slender and less elastic, leading to a reduction in skin resilience and eventually causing generation of wrinkles. In addition, as the lipid barrier, which serves as a skin barrier, undergoes a change in lipid content and composition, the skin has physiological changes including a reduced moisture level and increased dryness. Further, chloasma, freckles, pigmentation and other skin lesions are caused with skin aging.
In order to solve these problems associated with skin aging, many studies are performed to find or develop compounds having skin improving effects and compositions containing the compounds as effective ingredients.
Vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene and other antioxidants are widely used for inhibiting skin aging. Of them, vitamin C (ascorbic acid) has an antioxidant effect as well as other various effects of protecting the skin from ultraviolet (UV) exposure, reducing wrinkling of the skin by stimulating collagen synthesis, lightening pigmentation such as chloasma, freckles and black spots, and reinforcing the immune system. The functions of vitamin C will be described in detail, below.
Vitamin C protects the skin from UV radiation, in particular, ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation (Darr, D. et al., 1996, Acta Derm. Venereol. (Strckh). 76: 264-268; Black, H. S. et al., 1975, J. Invest. Dermatol. 65: 412-414). Also, vitamin C functions to protect the skin from damage caused by ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation. When vitamin C is applied to some regions of the skin of pig and human subjects before UVB radiation, the redness (erythema) and sun burn are prevented (Darr, D. et al., 1992, Brit. J. Dermatil. 127: 247-253; Murry, J. et al., 1991, J. Invest. Dermatol. 96: 587).
In the skin, blood and other tissues, vitamin C serves as a potent in vivo antioxidant that neutralizes reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by chemical contamination, smoking, or, in particular, UV light. This action of vitamin C is possible due to its chemical structure of easily oxidizing to dehydro-L-ascorbic acid by accepting two electrons. Vitamin C is a key element of the non-enzymatic antioxidant protection system of the skin. At high concentrations, vitamin C functions to neutralize ROS, such as singlet oxygen, superoxide anion and hydroxy radicals, before they oxidize or denature proteins, nucleic acids, membrane lipids and other biological components (Buettner, G. R. et al. 1996. Cadenas, E., Packer, L., eds. Handbook of antioxidants. pp. 91-115).
When transdermally applied to the stratum corneum of the skin, vitamin C was demonstrated to have skin appearance benefits including enhancements in luster, tone and elasticity, and reductions in wrinkles, etc. by stimulating collagen synthesis (U.S. Pat. No. 4,983,382). Biosynthesis of hydroxyproline amounting to about 10% of amino acid residues of a collagen polypeptide is stimulated by proline hydroxylase. Vitamin C acts as a cofactor of the proline hydroxylase enzyme (Tomita, Y. et al., 1980, J. Invest. Dermatol. 75(5): 379-382). That is, vitamin C has skin appearance-improving effects such as anti-wrinkling by stimulating synthesis of hydroxyproline via stimulation of the activity of proline hydroxylase and finally increasing biosynthesis of collagen with a triple helix structure.
Vitamin C has a whitening effect by inhibiting tyrosinase known to play a critical role in melanin synthesis and eventually reducing melanin production (Tomita, Y. et al., 1980, J. Invset. Dermatol. 75(5); 379-382).
As described above, vitamin C reinforces the immune system. In particular, vitamin C was proven to inhibit the release of histamine from cellular membranes, thereby reducing allergic responses on sensitive skin, and protects mice from UV-induced immunosuppression and tolerance upon skin contact with an antigen (Nakamura, T. et al., 1997, J. Invest. Dermatol. 109: 20-24). In addition, vitamin C inhibits viral infections by stimulating phagocytosis by leukocytes and leukocyte migration during viral infection, and increases the biosynthesis of interferon as a substance inhibiting the viral proliferation. In addition to the functions as noted above, vitamin C participates in the metabolism of folic acid and amino acids.
Vitamin C, which has the diverse functions as described above, is a water-soluble substance having a chemical formula of C6H8O6. The hydrophilicity of vitamin C is attributed to hydroxyl groups at carbon positions 2, 3, 5 and 6 of the molecule. At a neutral pH, such as in water, these hydroxyl groups, particularly the groups at carbon positions 2 and 3, carry negative charges. The negative charges allow vitamin C to be dissolved quickly and completely in an aqueous solution, but greatly limit the solubility of the molecule in a non-aqueous, organic environment such as the skin. Also, vitamin C at neutral pH also does not dissolve well in organic solvents commonly used in formulations for topical use, such as glycerin, propylene glycol, and various fats, thus limiting the usefulness of organic solvents as a vehicle for carrying vitamin C into the skin. That is, when vitamin C is not ionized, its absorption into the skin barrier can be easily achieved. This non-ionic state occurs only at a pH of less than 4.2.
When vitamin C is topically applied, its accumulation in the skin proved to be 20 to 40-fold higher than the cases of being orally administered. When vitamin C is topically applied, with aims of utilizing its antioxidant effect, protecting the skin from UV exposure, improving wrinkling of the skin by stimulation of collagen synthesis, lightening pigmentation such as chloasma, freckles and black spots, and reinforcing the immune system, the effective substance should pass through the outermost stratum corneum of the skin and arrive the place where cells exist in the epidermis, and, for this, should have a high percutaneous absorption rate. Typically, the percutaneous permeability of a certain substance is related with the lipophilicity of the substance. When the substance has a lipophilicity similar to the skin, it has a higher distribution coefficient into the skin, and thus, easily absorbed through the skin. However, due to its high hydrophilicity, vitamin C has a low distribution into the skin, and thus, is difficult to be percutaneously absorbed.
Many attempts were made to improve the instability and the low percutaneous absorption of vitamin C having diverse effects as described above.
Derivatives of vitamin C are classified into three types, as described below. One type includes phosphorylated ascorbic acid or metal salts thereof. Ester linkage of a hydroxyl group at a carbon position 2 or 3 of ascorbic acid and a phosphate group results in production of ascorbyl-2-phosphate or ascorbyl-3-phosphate. These derivatives of vitamin C are, unlike other derivates, easily converted to L-ascorbic acid, the only form of vitamin C that can be used by the body, but has a significant problem of being difficult to be absorbed into the skin due to their negative charges.
Another type of vitamin C derivatives includes fatty acid-linked forms of ascorbic acid. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,693 discloses fat soluble fatty acid esters of ascorbic acid, for example, ascorbyl palmitate, ascorbyl laurate, ascorbyl myristate and ascorbyl stearate. Of them, ascorbyl-6-palmitate is the most widely used. Ascorbyl-6-palmitate is easily absorbed into the skin, but is difficult to be converted to L-ascorbic acid. Ascorbyl-6-palmitate was reported to fail to protect mouse skin from photo-oxidation (Bissett, D. et al., 1990, Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed 7: 56-62). Also, when a serum containing 10 wt % of ascorbyl-6-palmitate was applied to pig skin, no significant increase in skin levels of ascorbic acid was observed (Pinnell, S. R. et al., 2001. Dermatologic Surgery. 27(2): 137-142).
The third type of vitamin C derivatives includes monosaccharide esters of ascorbic acid, for example, glycosylated, mannosylated, fructosylated, fucosylated, galactosylated, N-acetylglucosaminated, and N-acetylmuramic derivatives of ascorbic acid. However, they have not been concretely and accurately evaluated for in vivo physiological activity.
Collagen is very abundant in the skin, blood vessels, intestine, bone, etc, and makes up 70% of the dermis of the skin. Also, the epimysium surrounding the muscle is composed of collagen. Collagen, which makes up 30% of the total weight of body proteins, provides mechanical strength to the skin, strength with resistance to tearing and stretching to the connective tissue and cohesion to the tissues, and functions to maintain cell adherence and induce cell division and differentiation upon growth of organisms or wound healing. Collagen is synthesized in the fibroblasts. Its levels are reduced by intrinsic aging and photoaging, and are known to be reduced by 65% during the ages ranging from 20 to 80 (Shuster S., 1975, British Journal of Dermatology, 93(6): 639-643). Active synthesis of collagen in vivo results in an increase in the levels of dermal substrate components, which is responsible for wound healing, increased skin elasticity, reduced wrinkles, and the like. With this identification, collagen is used in cosmetic products, foods, medicinal products, etc. As a minimal active unit of collagen, an oligopeptide consisting of less than 10 amino acids serves as a messenger, a stimulator and a nerve impulse transmitter, and involved in physiological events, such as, growth control, lactation, immunity, digestion, increased blood pressure and wound healing. Some peptides are identified to have wound healing effects, as disclosed in France Pat. No. 2,668,265, U.S. Pat. No. 4,665,054, and International Pat. Publication Nos. W091/3488 and W091/7431. However, these peptides have a disadvantage of causing a great reduction in product stability due to their property to form a precipitate in a composition.

Vitamin C derivatives with peptide, preparation method thereof and composition comprising the same


The chiral compound S-5-substituted-N-2′-(thienyl-2-yl-)ethyl-tetralin-2-amine or its chiral acid salts and preparation method thereof are disclosed, and the method for preparing Rotigotine by using the chiral compound is also disclosed. Racemic 5-substituted-N-2′-(thien-2-yl-)ethyl-tetralin-2-amine (compound 1) is resolved by using a conventional chiral acid to obtain an optically pure chiral acid salt of S-5-substituted-N-2′-(thien-2-yl-)ethyl-tetralin-2-amine, which is then dissociated to obtain S-5-substituted-N-2′-(thien-2-yl-)ethyl-tetralin-2-amine (compound 2). The compound 2 or chiral acid salt thereof is alkylated and deprotected to produce rotigotine (compound 5).

According to statistics, there are about 4 million patients suffering from Parkinson's disease (PD) throughout the world now, wherein about 1.5 million patients are in the United States. The main clinical manifestation of PD includes difficulty to walk, tremor, dyskinesia, rigidity, bradykinesia, and incapability of being in equilibrium. Any age of person may be affected with PD, and the average age of onset is 60 years old. About five to ten percent of the patients are young patients whose age of onset is 40 years old or less. About five to ten percent of the patients have positive family history, which means genes can play a certain role in the pathogenic mechanism of PD.
There is a phenomenon in the PD patients that a large number of cells secreting dopamine in brain are damaged or died, resulting in the related dyskinesia. Dopamine agonist is an important drug for treating Parkinson's disease, and can produce a neurotransmitter that is important for motor function by simulating the action of dopamine so as to ameliorate symptoms. Rotigotine was developed by Schwarz Biosciences in Germany for the auxiliary therapy of the early successive Parkinson's disease and later Parkinson's disease, commercialized under the trademark name of Neupro, and approved to come into the market by FDA on May, 2007. Neupro was the first transdermal patch for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. The clinical research showed that administering once daily could maintain a steady drug level in 24-hour via percutaneous permeation.
Generally, the synthesis of rotigotine comprises the steps of reduction-amination of 5-methoxy-2-tetralone with n-propylamine, salt resolution, acylation, reduction, demethylation, and salt purification, etc. (Drugs Fut, 1993, 18, (11):1005; J Chem Soc, 1965, 2636-41; U.S. Pat. No. 4,968,837). This synthetic route requires a plural of steps with a low yield. Especially, the steps of the acylation and the following reduction relate to a relatively complicated reaction, and may cause racemization of partial intermediates, resulting in a low yield of the whole synthetic route. Moreover, the reducing agent is expensive, which makes rotigotine quite expensive.
Ever since a long time ago, the synthetic process of rotigotine has being optimized. It is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,596, U.S. Pat. No. 4,410,519, U.S. Pat. No. 6,372,920 and WO2009/056791 that the product of the reduction-amination of 5-methoxy-2-tetralone with n-propylamine is directly subjected to an alkylation with 2-thienylethyl, instead of the previous acylation and reduction, wherein the alkylating agent is 2-thienylethane with a leaving group. The main differences among these alkylation methods are that the leaving group of 2-thienylethane and the optimization for operation are different.
It is a pity that all the yields of the above variously optimized processes are not satisfied, among them, the highest is only 55%. Moreover, the purification procedure requires using column chromatography. The overall efficiencies of the above processes are very low, although the starting materials can be recovered. In addition, all the above optimized processes are based on the alkylation following the introduction of a leaving group to 2-thienylethane, which increases the reaction procedures.

S-5-substituent-N-2′-(thiophene-2-yl)ethyl-tetralin-2-amine or chiral acid salts thereof and use for preparing Rotigotine


The invention discloses a data storage unit and a redundant data storage system including such data storage unit. The data storage unit of the invention includes an internal storage area network (SAN) switch module, a storage server module and a storage device. The internal SAN switch module includes a first external transmission interface and a first internal transmission interface. The storage server module includes a second external transmission interface and a second internal transmission interface. The storage server module is respectively connected to the storage device and the first internal transmission interface through the second internal transmission interface. The internal SAN switch module is connected to the storage device through the first internal transmission interface.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a data storage unit and a redundant data storage system including such data storage unit. Moreover, in particular, the data storage unit according to the invention includes an internal storage area network (SAN) switch module, and the redundant data storage system according to the invention has simplified architecture, occupies less space, and significantly reduces installation cost thereof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Current organizations, such as enterprises and so on, all demands redundant data storage systems to store and recover data. The redundant data storage system as demanded should consider current scale of the organization and its expansibility as the scale of the organization increasing in the future.
Referring to FIG. 1, the architecture of a redundant data storage system 1 of the invention is illustratively shown in FIG. 1.
As shown in FIG. 1, the redundant data storage system 1 of the prior art includes a server 10, a server 12, a storage apparatus 14 and a storage apparatus 16. The server 10 and the server 12 both are connected to an intranet of an organization. The server 10 is respectively connected to the storage apparatus 14 and the storage apparatus 16. The server 12 is respectively connected to the storage apparatus 14 and the storage apparatus 16.
The storage apparatus 14 includes a controller 142 and a plurality of storage devices 144. The controller 142 is respectively connected to the plurality of storage devices 144. Similarly, the storage apparatus 16 includes a controller 162 and a plurality of storage devices 164. The controller 162 is connected to the plurality of storage devices 164. The plurality of storage devices 144 and the plurality of storage devices 164 can be respectively specified in a RAID architecture such as RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 2, RAID 3, RAID 4, RAID 5, RAID 6, and so on, or specified in a JBOD (Just a Bunch Of Disks) architecture.
Under normal condition, the instructions of requirement of accessing data in the storage apparatus 14 are received and executed by the server 10. The instructions of requirement of accessing data in the storage apparatus 16 are received and executed by the server 12.
If the server 10 fails, the server 12 receives and executes the instructions of requirement of accessing data in the storage apparatus 14. If the server 12 fails, the server 10 receives and executes the instructions of requirement of accessing data in the storage apparatus 16. Thereby, the redundant data storage system 1 of the prior art can achieve the aim of data recovery.
However, each of the server 10, the server 12, the storage apparatus 14 and the storage apparatus 16 of the redundant data storage system 1 of the prior art is a stand-alone equipment which needs an individual housing, and individual power supply, an individual fan and other dissipating devices. Therefore, the redundant data storage system 1 of the prior art dose not only occupy much space, but also needs much installation cost.
In addition, if the redundant data storage system 1 of the prior art expands more servers and storage apparatuses, the redundant data storage system 1 even needs an external storage area network switch which has complicated architecture and costs expensively. The servers of the redundant data storage system 1 are connected to the storage apparatuses through the external storage area network switch. Obviously, this way significantly increases installation and needs much more space for the redundant data storage system 1 of the prior art.

Data storage unit with internal storage area network switch module and redundant data storage system including such data storage unit


A loudspeaker used mainly for mobile communication equipment such as a mobile telephone and having two loudspeaker parts provided in one frame is provided. In the loudspeaker, a yoke has a groove portion and a second voice coil disposed in this groove portion drives a second diaphragm. Since the groove portion functioning as a magnetic gap is formed by processing the yoke, variation in the magnetic gap, which conventionally occurred at the time of incorporation, is eliminated and accuracy is improved, thus stabilizing the sound pressure frequency property.

Although a mobile telephone is small in size, it has a loudspeaker for ringing or amplifying the sound in addition to a receiving loudspeaker. In particular, since there is a limit to miniaturization of small-sized equipment such as folding type equipment, two loudspeaker parts are built in one frame. FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a conventional loudspeaker of this kind.
Hollow cylindrical frame 1 formed by resin molding has convex part 1A protruding inwardly all around a center part of an inner circumferential surface. Ring-shaped first magnet 2 is bonded to convex portion 1A at its outer circumferential side surface. Cup-shaped yoke 3 made of a magnetic material such as iron is bonded to first magnet 2 at its lower surface of an outer circumference. Columnar second magnet 4 is bonded to a center part of yoke 3. Annular first plate 6 is bonded to a lower surface of first magnet 2, and second plate 5 is bonded to an upper surface of second magnet 4. Annular first magnetic gap 7 is provided between an inner circumference of first plate 6 and the outer circumference of the center part of yoke 3. Annular second magnetic gap 8 is formed between an outer circumference of second plate 5 and an inner circumference of the center part of yoke 3.
In the above-mentioned configuration, first magnet 2, yoke 3, first magnetic gap 7 and first plate 6 form a first magnetic circuit. Furthermore, second magnet 4, second plate 5, second magnetic gap 8 and yoke 3 form a second magnetic circuit.
First diaphragm 9 is placed at a lower side opening of frame 1. Annular first voice coil 10 is bonded to first diaphragm 9 at its lower end and located in first magnetic gap 7 at another end. First protector 10A has a plurality of holes for releasing sound and is bonded to outer circumferences of frame 1 and first diaphragm 9 such that it covers first diaphragm 9. Second diaphragm 11 is bonded to an upper side opening of frame 1. Annular second voice coil 12 is bonded to second diaphragm 11 at its upper end and located in second magnetic gap 8 at another end. Second protector 13 has a plurality of holes for releasing sound and is bonded to outer circumferences of frame 1 and second diaphragm 11 such that it covers second diaphragm 11. Such a loudspeaker is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 2003-111194.
When a loudspeaker having the above-mentioned configuration including two loudspeaker parts is used for, for example, a mobile telephone, one loudspeaker part is used as a receiver for receiving and another is used for a loudspeaker for notifying incoming of call or a loudspeaker. Furthermore, the loudspeaker can be used as a small-sized stereo loudspeaker by inputting LR signals, respectively.
However, since in the loudspeaker having such a configuration, two magnetic circuits are built in, it is difficult to reduce weight. Also, the configuration is complicated, resulting in increase in the number of components and the man-hour required for assembly. Accordingly, the cost is high. Note here that although there is a loudspeaker having two diaphragms in one magnetic circuit, variation is likely to occur in a sound pressure frequency property. Therefore, strict assembly accuracy is required, and assembly itself is complex

Loudspeaker, manufacturing method thereof, and mobile telephone using the same

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A system is provided for use with an optical input signal for detecting a phase difference between a first RF signal having a first phase and a second RF signal having a second phase. The system includes and optical waveguide, a first optical resonant cavity, a first RF receiver, a second optical resonant cavity and a second RF receiver. The optical resonant cavities include a non-linear electro-optical material. The first RF receiver affects the first non-linear electro-optical material of the first optical resonant cavity. The second RF receiver affects the second non-linear electro-optical material of first optical resonant cavity. The optical waveguide outputs an optical output signal based on the optical input signal as modified by the first optical resonant cavity as affected by the first RF receiver receiving the first RF signal and as modified by the second optical resonant cavity as affected by the second RF receiver.

Embodiments of the invention relate to RF (radio frequency) signal detectors.
Conventional RF signal detectors may be used to detect a direction from which an RF signal is received. In some conventional systems an array of distinctly spaced RF receivers are disposed to receive an RF signal. Once received, the phase delay in the received signal between the two RF receivers is measured. With the measured phase difference and the known distance between the RF receivers, the direction from which the RF signal is received may be determined. These conventional systems are limited in their accuracy, as minute phase changes in a received RF signal are hard to detect with an electrical circuit.
What is needed is a system and method to accurately detect small phase changes represented by an RF signal received by an array of receivers.

Resonantly-enhanced optical phase detection of RF signals in LiNBO3

United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


A method for exchanging data between processes includes: establishing a connection with a server process via a server interface obtained by encapsulating a port; receiving a data process request carrying a name of the server process from a client process via a client interface obtained by encapsulating the port; sending the data process request to the server process via the server interface; establish a connection between the client process and the server process according to the name of the server process; forwarding data sent from the client process to the server process via the server interface; and forwarding data processed by the server process to the client process via the client interface.

In an Operating System (iOS) system, in order to ensure that a program may run steadily and smoothly, some limitations are made on the program. For instance, a non-system level program is not allowed to run in the background. Therefore, if the program is switched to run in the background, the program may be hung up by the system in a short time and the program may stop running. Programs cannot access each other's resources. Therefore, data exchange between programs (or processes) cannot be performed.

Method and device for exchanging data between processes

TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED


An electronic interactive instrument that is played by the feet of a person who walks upon the instrument. The instrument has a flexible cover plate upon which a person can walk. The cover plate contains an image of a keyboard with both imaged white keys and imaged black keys. A plurality of support beams are provided under the cover plate. At least one of the support beams is disposed under each of the imaged white keys and the imaged black keys. A plurality of pressure sensors are affixed to the support beams. The pressure sensors can detect when the cover plate is flexed by the weight of person. As such, the pressure sensors can detect where a person is standing on the cover plate.

1. Field of the Invention
In general, the present invention relates to electronic keyboards, such as piano keyboards. More particularly, the present invention relates to large keyboards that are played by walking or dancing upon the surface of the keyboard.
2. Prior Art Description
In the 1998 movie "BIG", the iconic moment that many people remember is when the star of the movie, Tom Hanks, plays upon a large floor piano. That floor piano was designed and built by Remo Saraceni in 1982, the inventor herein. Since the release of the movie "BIG", Mr. Saraceni has been commissioned to build a variety of floor pianos for children's museums, children's hospitals, stores and institutions around the world. However, building a floor piano is far more complex than building just a large touchpad keyboard.
Early versions of floor pianos were devices that were set upon a floor. People only stepped on the floor piano when they intended to play the floor piano. This was problematic because the floor piano was large and required a large amount of floor space. The floor piano was too large to store away easily. As such, it was often just left in place and often became an obstacle to walking traffic.
Seeing the inconveniences of leaving a large floor piano on the floor, customers began to request floor pianos that were more portable, yet provided the same quality as a traditional Saraceni Big piano.
Due in no small part to the movie "Big", several toy piano mats were marketed. These toy pianos mats where electronic touchpads that were decorated in the form of a piano. These touchpad mats were relatively small and could be folded or rolled up for storage. The touchpad mats contained sensors that were coupled to a sound generator. As such, when a person pressed on different points of the mat, different notes would sound.
Such toy touchpad mats may be fun in a child's bedroom, but they cannot be effectively used in a commercial space or public venue, such as a museum or toy store. Touchpad mats are small and slide on most floor surfaces. Furthermore, toy touchpad mats are too light to lay flat. As such, they must be taped down so as not to present a tripping hazard. Lastly, toy touchpad mats are made from thin sheets of plastic. Toy touchpad mats would quickly tear and there decorations wear away, if they were mounted in areas frequented by the public.
The present inventor has developed an improved floor piano that is portable, yet is designed to be placed on a floor indefinitely. The floor piano is designed to be tread upon by hundreds of people, while resisting wear. This improved floor piano keyboard is described and claimed below.

Portable floor piano with folding keyboard


This invention relates to a biodegradable anchor for a permanent implant of a bone joint, e.g. hip, shoulder, knee or finger. The biodegradable anchor is an elongated member which has an exterior surface which tightly engages a cavity in the bone and is substantially immovable within the cavity upon implant. A non-resorbable means of securing the anchor to the permanent implant is also included.

The prosthetic replacement of joints, such as the shoulder, hip, knee, ankle, and wrist has evolved over the years from early, relatively crude models to current prostheses which closely duplicate functions and motions of a natural joint. As a result, prosthetic joints have provided patients with increasing comfort, freedom of motion and an ability to lead nearly normal lives.
Although there have been problems with excessive wear between components of prosthetic devices which move with respect to each other, by and large the fixation of the prosthetic components to the patient's bone structure did and continues to represent the greatest difficulty. Early attempts to solve this problem by use of what were thought to be mechanical locks between the implants and the bone and by use of tissue compatible acrylic cement were discussed in the inventor's copending application, Ser. No. 590,258 filed Mar. 16, 1984.
In cemented implants the cement initially acts as a grout to "form-fit" the implant to the bone. It then "cold-cures" to a hard material which mechanically fixes itself to the bone by interdigitating into the bone trabeculae. This ability of the cement to fix a metal or plastic implant component securely to bone is the main factor which has so greatly improved the status of joint replacement over the prior state of merely implanting the component into bone and hoping that it actually stayed securely in place. Most of the components implanted without cement were not securely fixed and ultimately came loose in the bone with subsequent pain and failure of the procedure. Thus, cement fixation of implants gives excellent short-term results; however, in younger, heavier, or more active individuals, the bond between bone and cement eventually broke down. The result was a loosening or separation between the cement-bone-implant interface which placed the device back into a category similar to implanted devices prior to use of cement-fixation, i.e., the implant was not securely fixed to the bone and pain which indicated a failure of the procedure was the end-result.
As a consequence of increasing numbers of failures with cemented devices, alternative methods of fixation of the implant were sought. One alternative, which is currently the state of the art for implant fixation, is to coat the surface of the implant with a porous material to allow the patient's bone to grow into the pores, thereby biologically fixing the implant to the bone. This appears to be the ideal method of implant fixation. The patient's own tissue now holds the implant and the latter has become a permanent part of the bone, thus obviating the problem of implant loosening.
Another problem encountered with joint implants is an abnormal stress transference from the implant to the bone. The ideal stress transference of load to the bone is the normal, anatomical transference. To approximate it, the implant material should have mechanical properties similar to those of the bone and should replace only the destroyed joint surface. This would place no implant material, or only a minimal amount of implant material, within (intramedullary) the bone. This is most difficult to do with joints having porous implant surfaces because they require immediate rigid fixation for a sufficient time period to assure at least six to twelve weeks in growth time. If the device is not held rigidly, there will be micro-motion occurring at the implant-bone surface which results in a fibrous tissue in-growth rather than the necessary securely-fixed bony in-growth. The currently most common method of holding the implant rigidly in the bone is by providing the implant with a stem which "press-fits" into the intramedullary cavity of the bone, e.g., the femur, or if no such cavity is present, by anchoring the implant to the bone, e.g., the pelvis, with a threaded anchor bolt. Such a press-fit of the stem into the shaft of the bone holds the device rigidly and allows an adequate bone in-growth for secure fixation. For the surgeon it also provides the desired proper anatomical placement of the implant in the bone in a reproducible manner.
The short coming of the aforesaid approach is that loading of the bone is no longer physiologic. Instead of being loaded primarily at the end of the bone near the joint surface as in the normal situation, the bone becomes loaded more distally in the shaft where the stem of the implant is fixed to the bone. The result is an abnormal transference of stress which bypasses or "unloads" the end or joint surface portion of the bone, with a subsequent resorption of that bone. This leads to a weakening of bone in that area over a period of years, thus creating the potential for fracture or disappearance of the bone that previously held the implant securely. The result is again a loosening of the implant within the bone with all the adverse consequences previously mentioned.
For implants, such as an acetabular cup of a hip prosthesis, which are vertically held in place with a screw, the non-physiologic transference of stresses is less pronounced because the location and orientation of the anchoring bolt can be selected to minimize non-natural load transference stresses. Nevertheless, at the very least the presence of the anchoring bolt in the bone weakens the latter and is undesirable for that reason alone.
Thus, if a stem placed down the medullary cavity of the bone (for a correct alignment of the implant and for its immediate, rigid fixation to allow bony in-growth fixation) produces an abnormal stress distribution, it would appear obvious to utilize an implant without a stem. In such a case the implant would essentially only resurface the destroyed articular surface. This is more readily done in joints, such as the knee, elbow, or ankle, than in others, such as the hip, shoulder or wrist. However, even if a stemless implant is feasible, its immediate rigid fixation is not as secure as if the implant were anchored with a stem, or an anchor bolt. When the stem functions to correctly align an anchor or an anchor bolt in its correct position until bone in-growth is complete, an alternative mechanism is necessary therefore to accomplish the functions of the stem. One such mechanism could be a transcortical fixation of the implant such as multiple screws. This, however, makes it more difficult for the surgeon to correctly and reproducibly position and align the implant.


An apparatus, application, and method for transmitting, receiving and providing data. One exemplary embodiment includes an apparatus with a handheld printer. The handheld printer may contain a base, a core, and a crown. The crown may contain a scanner and a printer. A further embodiment allows for a mobile device application may contain the date of the markdown, the description of the inventory, and a status of the markdown. The method may include an employee receiving information through communication with the handheld device, connecting the application with the handheld printer, and scanning the marked down item. The method may include a new tag that may be printed from the handheld printer.

Retailers, merchandisers and the like spend valuable time planning effective price markdowns, changing the price of a consumer good from one price to a lower price. However, these price markdown plans usually fail because the employees are not able to complete the markdowns in a complete, accurate, or timely manner. The markdown price is often written manually on the tag, which takes extra time and looks unprofessional and can confuse the consumer as to what the actual price of the item may be. Additionally, there is no feedback to let the manager know which of the markdowns have been completed and if all of the markdowns were done properly.

Method, system, and apparatus for providing product data


A kitchen mounting-part (3) is provided which is to be mounted in a cut-out (1a) of a countertop, with the mounting-part extending with its edge region (31) beyond the cut-out in the countertop and having numerous mounting elements (8) below the edge region, which can be made to engage the countertop (1). The above-mentioned edge region (31) merges into a sloped splash wall (32). Here, it is essential that the mounting elements (8) are arranged on said splash wall (32), and the edge region (31) is formed from a single layer and extends out above the countertop (1).

The invention relates to a mounting-part, such as a kitchen sink, stove top, or the like, which is to be mounted in a cut-out in a countertop, with the mounting-part being bent from sheet metal, in particularly stainless steel sheet, and resting with its edge regions, which extend beyond the cut-out, on the countertop and being provided with numerous mounting elements below the edge region, which elements can engage the countertop and with the above-mentioned edge region merging into a sloped splash wall towards the interior of the mounting-part. At the lower end of said splash wall the other common function areas of the mounting-part follow, such as a sink basin, drainer, cook top, or the like.
In the following the invention is described using the example of an integrated kitchen sink, because this is the primary application for the invention. However, it is also suitable for individual basins and other components to be built in.
A general problem for integrating such kitchen sinks and the like lies in fact that the mounting elements that engage the countertop are accessible from the bottom only. The assembly is therefore awkward and must occur in a tight space. Additionally, a considerable expense in production technology is necessary in order to integrate the mounting elements at the edge of the sink.
Generally the sink is provided with mounting bars near its exterior sides extending downward, which extend into the cut-out of the countertop and at which numerous mounting elements are arranged distributed over the circumference of the sink. The mounting bars are either separate parts welded to the bottom of the sink or they are directly formed by several folds of the rim of the sink, thus the sink is provided with a crimped rim, which first extends inwardly towards the cut-out of the countertop and then extends downwardly inside the cut-out of the countertop. Both measures lead to an increased production expense of the sink. Additionally, they require a relatively wide overhang of the edge region of the sink so that between sink basin and the cut-out of the countertop sufficient space remains for the mounting bars and in particular for the fastening elements. This applies regardless if the mounting elements are embodied as clamping screws, as known from DE 103 55 032, or as autonomously acting bracing springs, as known from DE 20 64 248, for example.
However, the problem described could be avoided by mounting the sink to the countertop using an adhesive, for example according to DE 102 13 784. In practical use such adhesive connections have not proven reliable in the long run.


This invention relates to cleaning compositions for removing paint and other coatings from surfaces and methods of making and using the cleaning compositions.

Water-based flushing solutions are generally used for cleaning waterborne paints out of automated and manual spraying systems as well as from the external surface of the spraying equipment.
Conventional water-based flushing solutions comprise a component of amines and a component of organic solvent generally selected from the group consisting of simple alcohols and monoethers of glycols, most or all with molecules that contain no more than eight carbon atoms, in order to have sufficient water solubility. The amines used are typically alkanolamines like dimethyl ethanol amine, methyl isopropanol amine, and diethanol amine but are not limited to this class of amines. Typical solvents used in the solution are alcohols and glycol ethers, such as n-butanol, ethylene glycol mono butyl ether, diethylene glycol n-butyl ether, triethylene glycol methyl ether, propylene glycol normal butyl ether, dipropylene glycol methyl ether, propylene glycol methyl ether, and propylene glycol normal propyl ether. Typical concentrate formulas consist of 85 to 99% of solvent and 1 to 15% of alkanolamine, with the balance water. The concentrates are usually diluted to from 5% to 15%, by weight or volume, in deionized water for use as a working water-based paint-removing solution. Operating temperature when using the water-based solution is usually from 21 to 55° C.
Many of the constituents of the conventional water-based flushing solutions are legally classified as "volatile organic compounds", hereinafter usually abbreviated as "VOC". Although these high VOC content paint removing solutions are effective at removing paint, they have the drawback of high VOC emissions that are a source of both indoor and outdoor air pollution and can cause harmful health effects. Lower VOC content paint removing solution, however, have not been as effective at removing paints or other coatings. In particular, low VOC content paint removing solutions have not been effective at removing paints and coatings based on a urethane dispersion resin. Significantly, many of the newer waterborne paints are based on these urethane dispersion systems that are more difficult to solubilize using low VOC based cleaning formulations.
Accordingly, a need exists for flushing or cleaning solutions effective for cleaning paints, including paints based on a urethane dispersion resin, while maintaining low VOC content and/or emissions. A need also exists for flushing solutions that are effective at removing coatings at or near ambient temperatures. The present invention addresses the drawbacks of the prior art and meets the above-identified needs.

Water-based flushing solution for paints and other coatings


An improved articulated heavy haul trailer combination comprises a trailing accessory vehicle such as a booster coupled to a main trailer by a coupling. The coupling includes a horizontal hinge, a vertical hinge that allows the trailing accessory vehicle to yaw in a horizontal plane, a spreader extending between the hinges and a hydraulic piston and cylinder. A turn sensor mounted on said combination detects yawing, and a controller reduces the piston and cylinder's downward biasing force on the coupling.

Unpowered articulated auxiliary vehicles such as jeeps and boosters are often used with heavy haul trailers to distribute the load over several axles and to facilitate turns with longer loads. While they are effective to serve such purposes, the yaw of an articulated booster behind a trailer presents a problem during turns. During a turn the trailing booster tends to push the leading trailer straight and impede the trailer from tracking the turn. Because the trailer is turning, that tangential force from the booster is converted to an angular force tending to lift the inboard side of the booster. Some of that torque is transmitted to the trailer itself and is often exhibited as a tendency to roll the trailer (and the booster). The angular force induced by a yawing booster does not depend on the presence of a payload.
A more well-known concern in the trucking and trailer industry is rollovers induced by the payload of the trailer, the location of the center of gravity of the payload and the speed at which a turn is engaged. The most common approach to mitigating the risk of rollovers is to slow the trailer down by withdrawing drive power or by braking (see Rollover Control: Electronic Stability Technology, Fleet Management, www.truckinginfo.com).
As payloads play the largest part in most rollovers, the particular contribution of an angular force induced by a yawing booster to disrupting turns does not appear to be recognized or addressed in the prior art.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,050,578 discloses a log trailer with a non-yawing booster axle. A pressure arm connects a pivoting log bunk to the booster. As the trailer turns, the log bunks pivot, thereby displacing the forward end of the pressure arm off-center and relieving some of the pressure on the booster.
Another non-yawing booster is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,938,716. A cement truck includes a booster. The risk of rollover presented by the rolling drum is detected on portions of the truck. The truck and/or the rotation of the drum are slowed down, and the booster may be relieved by unlading a hydraulic cylinder extending from the truck to the booster.
It is an object of the present invention to mitigate the tendency of a trailer and articulated booster combination to roll during a turn as the booster yaws in relation to the trailer.
It is a further object of the invention to mitigate the tendency of the booster to exert a force tending to prevent a trailer from properly tracking a turn.
These and other objects will be better understood by reference to this application as a whole. Not all of the objects are necessarily met by all embodiments of the invention described below or by the invention defined by each of the claims.


A laser signal transmission device includes a transparent substrate, a first wavelength light emitting module embedded in the substrate, a first multi-mode optical fiber embedded in the substrate, and a single-mode optical fiber. The first wavelength light emitting module is configured for emitting a first laser signal having a first wavelength. The first multi-mode optical fiber is aligned with the first wavelength light emitting module. One end of the single-mode optical fiber is embedded in the substrate and aligned and optically coupled with the first multi-mode optical fiber, the other end is exposed at the substrate. The first multi-mode optical fiber is arranged between the first wavelength light emitting module and the single-mode optical fiber, and the longitudinal direction of the first multi-mode optical fiber coincides with that of the single-mode optical fiber.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to laser signal transmission technology and, particularly, to a laser signal transmission device.
2. Description of Related Art
Single-mode optical fibers are preferred for use in a laser signal transmission device due to their high transmission speed and signal integrity. A single-mode optical fiber includes a core and a cladding layer wrapped around the core. The laser signal transmission device further includes a converging lens aligned with and optically coupled with the core. When in use, a laser signal is converged by the converging lens and is then introduced into the core or a laser signal emitted from the core is converged by the converging lens. However, it is difficult to make the converging lens align with the core due to the diameter of the core being very small (between 8 and 10.5 μm). Any alignment which is less than optimal will influence the production efficiency and the production yield of the laser signal transmission device.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a laser signal transmission device, which can overcome or at least alleviate the limitations described.


The military ribbon template is a tool for the mounting of military awards on corresponding military award ribbons. The military ribbon template includes a plate having a plurality of horizontal rows of rectangular slots formed therethrough. Each rectangular slot is configured for securely receiving an award ribbon. A first set of indicia is formed on the plate, including first sub-sets of indicia, with each first sub-set of indicia corresponding to one of the rows of slots and including an indicator corresponding to a number of awards to be mounted on the award ribbon. Additionally, a second set of indicia are formed on the plate, above each rectangular slot, and the second set of indicia includes second sub-sets of indicia, respectively indicating the type of award to be mounted on the ribbon, the number of awards, and graduations indicating the proper position of the award to be mounted on the ribbon.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to military decorations and regalia, and particularly to a military ribbon template for mounting military service awards to military ribbons.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the United States, formal events and ceremonies for members of the military branches, police, fire, and other civil service career service organizations often require the donning of formal uniforms, including the display of any commendations obtained in the line of duty. This tradition is particularly prevalent in the military, where formal uniform apparel is commonly worn. Military decoration is typically worn for inspections, on the uniform of the day, at historic anniversaries of battles, ceremonies associated with historical monuments, military reunions, or other formal gatherings.
The display of any medals, ribbons or badges is strictly regulated by the military and other service members. These regulations also extend to retired military personnel, who may take pride in such displays of their ribbons. In particular, regulations exist which pertain to the spacing and positioning of the awards on the military ribbon. Although each military ribbon is a standard shape and size, the positioning of the additional awards thereon may be difficult. In practice, depending on the number of earned awards, it can take a considerable amount of time to correctly comply with the various specifications and regulations regarding the placement and spacing of the awards on the ribbons. Incorrect placement is not in compliance with regulations and common practice, particularly in military applications. The proper positioning and placement of such awards is often both inefficient and time consuming.
For active service members, the addition of new awards may necessitate an entirely different arrangement or set of spacing requirements. Additionally, retired service members who have misplaced or lost their ribbons and awards commonly seek new ones to replace lost honors. The positioning of the various stars on the ribbons, along with other awards, may be difficult for those of advanced ages, or who are otherwise disabled or infirm. Thus, a military ribbon template solving the aforementioned problems is desired.