In various embodiments, the present invention provides cycloalkyl pyrrolidine compounds and methods for their use in the treatment and/or prevention of various diseases, conditions and syndromes, including central nervous system (CNS) disorders, such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia and sleep disorder as well as methods for their synthesis. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds of the invention, as well as methods of inhibiting reuptake of endogenous monoamines, such as dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine from the synaptic cleft and methods of modulating one or more monoamine transporter.

Psychiatric disorders are pathological conditions of the brain characterized by identifiable symptoms that result in abnormalities in cognition, emotion, mood, or affect. These disorders may vary in severity of symptoms, duration, and functional impairment. Psychiatric disorders afflict millions of people worldwide resulting in tremendous human suffering and economic burden due to lost productivity and dependent care.
Over the past several decades, the use of pharmacological agents to treat psychiatric disorders has greatly increased, largely due to research advances in both neuroscience and molecular biology. In addition, chemists have become increasingly sophisticated at creating chemical compounds that are more effective therapeutic agents with fewer side effects, targeted to correct the biochemical alterations that accompany mental disorders.
Yet, despite the many advances that have occurred, many psychiatric diseases remain untreated or inadequately treated with current pharmaceutical agents. In addition, many of the current agents interact with molecular targets not involved with the psychiatric disease. This indiscriminate binding can result in side effects that can greatly influence the overall outcome of therapy. In some cases the side effects are so severe that discontinuation of therapy is required.
Depression is an affective disorder, the pathogenesis of which cannot be explained by any single cause or theory. It is characterized by a persistently low mood or diminished interests in one's surroundings, accompanied by at least one of the following symptoms: reduced energy and motivation, difficulty concentrating, altered sleep and appetite, and at times, suicidal ideation (American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, ed. 4. Washington, American Psychiatric Association, 1994). Major depression is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality, with suicide rates of 10-25% (Kaplan H I, Sadock B J (eds): Synopsis of Psychiatry. Baltimore, Williams & Wilkins, 1998, p. 866). The compounds of the invention may also be used to reduce fatigue commonly associated with depression (see, for example, "Bupropion augmentation in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome with coexistent major depression episode" Schonfeldt-Lecuona et al., Pharmacopsychiatry 39(4):152-4, 2006; "Dysthymia: clinical picture, extent of overlap with chronic fatigue syndrome, neuropharmacological considerations, and new therapeutic vistas" Brunello et al., J. Affect. Disord. 52(1-3):275-90, 1999; "Chronic fatigue syndrome and seasonal affective disorder: comorbidity, diagnostic overlap, and implications for treatment" Terman et al., Am. J. Med. 105(3A):115S-124S, 1998.).
Depression is believed to result from dysfunction in the noradrenergic or serotonergic systems, more specifically, from a deficiency of certain neurotransmitters (NTs) at functionally important adrenergic or serotonergic receptors.
Neurotransmitters produce their effects as a consequence of interactions with specific receptors. Neurotransmitters, including norepinephrine (NE) and/or serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, or 5-HT), are synthesized in brain neurons and stored in vesicles. Upon a nerve impulse, NTs are released into the synaptic cleft, where they interact with various postsynaptic receptors. Regional deficiencies in the synaptic levels of 5-HT and/or NE are believed to be involved in the etiology of depression, wakefulness, and attention.
Norepinephrine is involved in regulating arousal, dreaming, and moods. Norepinephrine can also contribute to the regulation of blood pressure, by constricting blood vessels and increasing heart rate.
Serotonin (5-HT) is implicated in the etiology or treatment of various disorders. The most widely studied effects of 5-HT are those on the CNS. The functions of 5-HT are numerous and include control of appetite, sleep, memory and learning, temperature regulation, mood, behavior (including sexual and hallucinogenic behavior), cardiovascular function, smooth muscle contraction, and endocrine regulation. Peripherally, 5-HT appears to play a major role in platelet homeostasis and motility of the GI tract. The actions of 5-HT are terminated by three major mechanisms: diffusion; metabolism; and reuptake. The major mechanism by which the action of 5-HT is terminated is by reuptake through presynaptic membranes. After 5-HT acts on its various postsynaptic receptors, it is removed from the synaptic cleft back into the nerve terminal through an uptake mechanism involving a specific membrane transporter in a manner similar to that of other biogenic amines. Agents that selectively inhibit this uptake increase the concentration of 5-HT at the postsynaptic receptors and have been found to be useful in treating various psychiatric disorders, particularly depression.
Approaches to the treatment of depression over the years have involved the use of agents that increase the levels of NE and 5-HT, either by inhibiting their metabolism (e.g., monoamine oxidase inhibitors) or reuptake (e.g., tricyclic antidepressants or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)).
There are more than twenty approved antidepressant drugs available in the United States. The classical tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) currently available block primarily the uptake of NE and also, to varying degrees, the uptake of 5-HT, depending on whether they are secondary or tertiary amines. Tertiary amines such as imipramine and amitriptyline are more selective inhibitors of the uptake of 5-HT than of catecholamines, compared with secondary amines such as desipramine.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have been investigated as potential antidepressants. Fluoxetine (PROZAC®), sertraline (ZOLOFT®), and paroxetine (PAXIL®) are three examples of SSRIs currently on the U.S. market. These agents do not appear to possess greater efficacy than the TCAs, nor do they generally possess a faster onset of action; however, they do have the advantage of causing less side-effects. Of these three SSRIs, paroxetine is the most potent inhibitor of 5-HT uptake, fluoxetine the least. Sertaline is the most selective for 5-HT versus NE uptake, fluoxetine the least selective. Fluoxetine and sertraline produce active metabolites, while paroxetine is metabolized to inactive metabolites. The SSRIs, in general, affect only the uptake of serotonin and display little or no affinity for various receptor systems including muscarinic, adrenergic, dopamine, and histamine receptors.
In addition to treating depression, several other potential therapeutic applications for SSRIs have been investigated. They include treatment of Alzheimer's disease, aggressive behavior, premenstrual syndrome, diabetic neuropathy, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and alcohol abuse. For example, fluoxetine is approved for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Of particular significance is the observation that 5-HT reduces food consumption by increasing meal-induced satiety and reducing hunger, without producing the behavioral effects of abuse liability associated with amphetamine-like drugs. Thus, there is interest in the use of SSRIs in the treatment of obesity.
Venlafaxine (EFFEXOR®) is a dual-reuptake antidepressant that differs from the classical TCAs and the SSRIs chemically and pharmacologically in that it acts as a potent inhibitor of both 5-HT and NE uptake. Neither venlafaxine nor its major metabolite has a significant affinity for adrenergic alpha-1 receptors. Venlafaxine possesses an efficacy equivalent to that of the TCAs, and a benign side effect profile similar to those of the SSRIs.
Dopamine is hypothesized to play a major role in psychosis and certain neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease, where a deficiency in dopaminergic neurons is believed to be the underlying pathology. Dopamine affects brain processes that control movement, emotional response, and ability to experience pleasure and pain. Regulation of DA plays a crucial role in our mental and physical health. Certain drugs increase DA concentrations by preventing DA reuptake, leaving more DA in the synapse. An example is methylphenidate (RITALIN®), used therapeutically to treat childhood hyperkinesias and symptoms of schizophrenia. Dopamine abnormalities are believed to underlie some of the core attentional abnormalities seen in acute schizophrenics.
A therapeutic lag is associated with the use of these drugs. Patients must take a drug for at least three (3) weeks before achieving clinically meaningful symptom relief. Furthermore, a significant number of patients do not respond to current therapies at all. For example, it is currently estimated that up to thirty percent (30%) of clinically diagnosed cases of depression are resistant to all forms of drug therapy.


Provided is a refrigerator configured to improve the structure of an ice-making chamber provided to a refrigerator door, thereby efficiently supplying cool air into the ice-making chamber. The refrigerator includes a main body including a storage chamber, a refrigerator door rotatably coupled to the main body, an ice-making device provided to the refrigerator door and configured to make ice, an ice-making unit provided to the ice-making device and including a cool air introduction part, a freezing core vertically arranged in the ice-making unit and cooled by cool air, and an ice tray configured to receive at least one portion of the freezing core therein, wherein the cool air introduction part is provided on an upper side of the freezing core. Cool air is efficiently introduced into the ice-making chamber, thereby increasing the amount of ice made.

In the related art, a refrigerator includes a plurality of storage chambers for storing foods at low temperatures close to or below zero degrees Celsius. Each of the storage chambers has an open side for allowing access to the foods stored in the storage chambers.
Recently, a refrigerator having a dispenser for dispensing ice and water has been developed. A water tank for storing water that will be dispensed is connected to the dispenser.
An ice-making chamber for making ice using the water supplied is provided in the refrigerator. The ice-making chamber may be installed in a main body of the refrigerator or a door of the refrigerator.
When the ice-making chamber is provided at a chilling chamber, the ice-making chamber is formed in a thermal insulation structure to provide a low temperature environment. A passage through which cool air of a freezing chamber can be introduced and discharged is formed through side surfaces of the ice-making chamber and the refrigerator.
An ice tray may be provided in the ice-making chamber such that supplied water is converted into ice by received cool air. That is, cool air is supplied to the ice tray in which water is filled so as to make ice.
The structure of the related art ice-making chamber has a limitation that cool air supplied into the ice-making chamber is not efficiently supplied to the ice tray, and thus ice-making volume is decreased.
Also, since the supply of cool air is inefficient, it is difficult to obtain clear ices having uniform sizes.

Refrigerator having an ice maker with vertical freezing cores


A foldable splash guard is made from a disposable material, for example, cardboard, or from a flushable material, for example, corn starch. The splash guard can be carried in a flattened or folded configuration, providing for convenience of transporting multiple splash guards so that they are readily available for use. The splash guard is unfolded for use, and placed above a toilet seat or above a bedpan so that urine passing above the seat is redirected back into the toilet bowl, or into a bag for measuring or testing. After use, the splash guard may be discarded. Some examples may include a window with a color changing covering to indicate that urination has occurred, a bag for collecting, measuring, and/or testing urine, or a QR code that can be scanned to facilitate generating rapid, accurate urination records.

Individuals with special needs sometimes have difficulty ensuring that their urine stream completely enters a toilet. Such individuals may include disabled individuals, elderly individuals, people who have suffered injuries, or other children or adults with various special needs. To assist such individuals, plastic splash guards are placed over the front of a toilet seat. Such splash guards include front and back lower flanges for fitting on either side of a toilet seat, and an upwardly extending shield to catch any stray urine, redirecting the urine back into the toilet. Alternatively, a splash guard may be formed as a part of a toilet seat. Such splash guards are bulky, and require cleaning after use. Some institutions are sufficiently concerned about the possibility of disease being spread by a reusable splash guard that at least one large hospital system refuses to use rigid plastic re-usable splash guards, and instead provides patients with a towel to limit the path of urine when urinating. A splash guard that could be stored and transported in a more compact, perhaps folded or flattened configuration would significantly increase the convenience of carrying such splash guards. A disposable, or perhaps flushable splash guard would simply cleanup after use of the splash guard with a toilet.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,284,359, which was issued to R. R. Rose et al. on Sep. 4, 2001, discloses a biodegradable, water disposable item made from shaped starch. The entire disclosure of this patent is expressly incorporated by reference herein. The starch has a particle size of 400 to 1,500 microns to provide suitable extrusion properties. An alkali metal or alkaline earth salt such as sodium sulfate or sodium chloride may be added as a nucleating agent. The starch may be modified using esterification, etherification, oxidation, or hydrolysis, with etherification with a propylene oxide being a preferred modification. The starch is preferably a high amylose starch. The material is extruded at a temperature of 100° C. to 250° C. The material is described as being formed into a core for a rolled paper product. This patent does not disclose how such material could be utilized to make a splash guard for a toilet.
US 2009/0075001, which was invented by T. O'Neill and published on Mar. 19, 2009, also discloses a flushable toilet paper roll made from corn starch. This application does not disclose how such material could be used to make a splash guard.
Accordingly, there is a need for a toilet splash guard which can be carried in a flattened and/or folded configuration, and which can then be easily placed on a toilet seat for use. There is a further need for a toilet splash guard that can be discarded after use, avoiding any necessity of cleaning the splash guard. There is an additional need for a flushable splash guard, which is water degradable, and which can be flushed down a toilet after use. A splash guard that facilitates the collection of urine for measurement of the quantity of urine or testing of the urine is also needed.


A projection zoom lens substantially consists of a negative first lens group and a positive second lens group, in this order from the magnification side. The first lens group substantially consists of a first lens which is a negative meniscus lens with a convex surface toward the magnification side. The second lens group substantially consists of a positive second lens, a third lens which is a positive meniscus lens with a convex surface toward the magnification side, a negative fourth lens, and a positive fifth lens, in this order from the magnification side. The first lens group and the second lens group move along the direction of the optical axis while changing magnification. At least one of the positive lenses within the entire system has an Abbe number and a refractive index within a predetermined range. The refractive indices of the first to third lenses satisfy a predetermined conditional expression.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a projection zoom lens and a projection type display device, and for example, to a projection zoom lens suitable for enlarging and projecting a light beam that carries video information from a light valve onto a screen and a projection type display device including this lens.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, projection type projector devices (projection type display devices) that utilize a light valve, such as liquid crystal display elements, DMD's (Digital Micromirror Device: registered trademark), or the like, have been commonly available. In recent years, presentations using such projection type display devices have been popularly performed as a result of the rapid progress of miniaturization and high definition of light valves as well as the spread of personal computers. Under these circumstances, the demand for compact projection type display devices which have a superior portability while having excellent projection performance is increasing, and accordingly projection lenses are being expected to be configured to be compact while keeping high performance. With increasing competition in development, more cost reduction is becoming strongly desired, in addition to the above demands.
Known projection lenses having a compact configuration, which can be used for the projection type display devices, include lens systems which substantially consists of two lens groups: a first lens group having negative refractive power and a second lens group having positive refractive power are arranged in this order from the magnification side and which are composed of five lenses in total, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-107798 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-113150, for example.

Projection zoom lens and projection type display device


A method and device for printing containers in multiple colors on at least one outer surface thereof. The device includes at least one printing group, with at least two ink jet print heads in each printing group. Each of the print heads is designed to be moved out of the printing position after completing a printing task, and then another print head is moved into the printing position to perform a printing task.

1. Technical Field
The present application relates to a device and method for adding information on the outer surface of articles, such as containers in a container filling plant.
2. Background Information
Background information is for informational purposes only and does not necessarily admit that subsequently mentioned information and publications are prior art.
A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage filling material can possibly comprise a beverage filling machine, which is often a rotary filling machine, with a plurality of beverage filling positions, each beverage filling position having a beverage filling device for filling bottles with liquid beverage filling material. The filling devices may have an apparatus designed to introduce a predetermined volume of liquid beverage filling material into the interior of bottles to a substantially predetermined level of liquid beverage filling material.
A wide variety of types of filling elements are used in filling machines in beverage bottling or container filling plants for dispensing a liquid product into bottles, cans or similar containers, including but not limited to filling processes that are carried out under counterpressure for the bottling of carbonated beverages. The apparatus designed to introduce a predetermined flow of liquid beverage filling material further comprises an apparatus that is designed to terminate the filling of the beverage bottles upon the liquid beverage filling material reaching the predetermined level in bottles. There may also be provided a conveyer arrangement that is designed to move bottles, for example, from an inspecting machine to the filling machine.
After a filling process has been completed, the filled beverage bottles are transported or conveyed to a closing machine, which is often a rotary closing machine. A revolving or rotary machine comprises a rotor, which revolves around a central, vertical machine axis. There may further be provided a conveyer arrangement configured to transfer filled bottles from the filling machine to the closing station. A transporting or conveying arrangement can utilize transport star wheels as well as linear conveyors. A closing machine closes bottles by applying a closure, such as a screw-top cap or a bottle cork, to a corresponding bottle mouth. Closed bottles are then usually conveyed to an information adding arrangement, wherein information, such as a product name or a manufacturer's information or logo, is applied to a bottle. A closing station and information adding arrangement may be connected by a corresponding conveyer arrangement. Bottles are then sorted and packaged for shipment out of the plant.
Many beverage bottling plants may also possibly comprise a rinsing arrangement or rinsing station to which new, non-return and/or even return bottles are fed, prior to being filled, by a conveyer arrangement, which can be a linear conveyor or a combination of a linear conveyor and a starwheel. Downstream of the rinsing arrangement or rinsing station, in the direction of travel, rinsed bottles are then transported to the beverage filling machine by a second conveyer arrangement that is formed, for example, by one or more starwheels that introduce bottles into the beverage filling machine.
It is a further possibility that a beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage filling material can be controlled by a central control arrangement, which could be, for example, a computerized control system that monitors and controls the operation of the various stations and mechanisms of the beverage bottling plant.
In some beverage bottling plants, an information adding station comprises devices or machines that work in clocked cycles for the direct imprinting of containers, in particular in the form of glass or plastic bottles, for example to apply information and/or advertising so that it is permanent and cannot be detached from the container. The information adding is generally done either using a screen-printing process or by pad printing.
Containers in terms of the present application are, in at least one possible embodiment, packaging means, in the form of containers, for the most varied types of liquid products and in this case, in at least one possible embodiment of the present application, also bottles or bottle-type containers or cans or can-like containers. Printing inks in terms of the present application are those colors or inks, in at least one possible embodiment, in lightly viscous liquid form that can be processed with print heads that are digitally actuatable and operate according to the ink jet print head principle.
Consequently, print heads in terms of the present application are, in at least one possible embodiment, print heads that have a plurality of print nozzles for discharging the printing ink, for example in at least one row, and that are individually actuatable for discharging the printing ink and, for this purpose, have a print generating element at the respective nozzle opening, for example in the form of an electrode of a piezo element.
Devices for printing containers by using print heads that operate according to the ink jet print head principle and with relative movement between the print heads and the respective containers are known. In the case of a some existing devices, during the printing process the containers are each positioned on a mandrel in the form of a container support. A plurality of print heads are provided distributed about the mandrel, with which print heads, when the mandrel is rotated, a colored printed image, consisting of a plurality of color sets, is applied to the respective container. The mandrels are provided on a rotatably driven transport element, with which, during the printing, the containers are moved on a transport section formed between a container inlet and a container outlet.

Device and method for adding information on the outer surface of articles, such as containers in a container filling plant


An electric hollow-shaft motor having a hollow shaft which is able to be driven in rotation, and a detection device which is configured to detect the rotational position of the hollow shaft, wherein the detection device includes a magnet which is arranged on the hollow shaft, and a fixed magnetic field sensor which is arranged within the hollow shaft, wherein the magnetic field sensor is configured to detect a magnetic field generated by the magnet.

In numerous application areas, the use of hollow-shaft motors gives rise to the design-related problem of it not being possible to arrange and fasten at the shaft ends a magnet for detecting the rotational position of the hollow shaft.
The prior art has disclosed for example electromotively operated hydraulic pistons in which a spindle can be displaced along its longitudinal axis by means of a hollow-shaft motor. Owing to a rotation prevention means arranged within the motor housing, it is not possible to arrange at the shaft end of the hollow-shaft motor a magnet for detecting the rotational position.
Known solutions for rotational position detection in electric hollow-shaft motors moreover generally have the disadvantage that the calibration of the angle offset is possible only after completion of the final assembly of the hollow-shaft motor, which results in a time-consuming and costly alignment procedure prior to the start-up of corresponding units.


An imaging device is provided that includes a first imaging element, a second imaging element, and a focal point detector. The first imaging element includes a first opto-electrical converter configured to convert light into an electrical signal. The second imaging element is configured and arranged to receive light incident on and passing through the first opto-electrical converter. The second imaging element includes a second opto-electrical converter configured to convert the light coming from the first opto-electrical converter into an electrical signal. The focal point detector is configured to perform focal point detection based on first image data obtained by the first imaging element and second image data obtained by the second imaging element.

1. Technical Field
The technology disclosed herein relates to an imaging device having a focal point detecting function.
2. Background Information
Digital cameras that make use of a CCD (charge coupled device) image sensor, a CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) image sensor, or another such imaging element to convert an optical image into an electrical signal and digitize the electrical signal have become very popular in recent years.
Cameras that employ a phase difference detection type of autofocusing function (AF function) are a known type of digital single-lens reflex camera. With a phase difference detection type of autofocusing function, the defocus direction and the defocus amount can be detected without moving the focus lens, so the focus lens can be moved to the focal position and the time it takes for autofocusing can be reduced (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 2007-163545, for example). With a conventional digital single-lens reflex camera, a movable mirror is provided in order to guide an optical image of the subject to the phase difference detection unit. This movable minor is provided so that it can be inserted into and retracted out of the optical path from the lens barrel to the imaging element.
Meanwhile, a contrast detection type of autofocusing function (also called contrast AF), featuring an imaging element and a viewfinder function constituted by an EVF (electronic viewfinder) or an LCD (liquid crystal display) in what is known as a compact digital camera, has been employed to reduce the size of a digital camera (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 2007-135140, for example). This contrast AF directly detects the focus at the imaging plane, so an advantage is that it is generally more accurate than phase difference detection autofocusing.
With the contrast AF discussed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 2007-135140, an evaluation value is calculated from image data produced by an imaging element, and the position of the focus lens at which this evaluation value is greatest is considered to be the focal position.
However, since only the evaluation value obtained from a single imaging element is used as a reference, the focus lens must be driven for a relatively long time to determine an increase or decrease in the evaluation value. Accordingly, contrast AF takes a relatively long time, which means that focal point detection takes longer.


A digital arrangement for selecting a channel coefficient and DC estimate comprises a demultiplexer receiving a digital input signal splitting the digital input signal into a first and second signal, a first joint detection unit receiving the first signal generating a first channel coefficient and DC estimate, a second joint detection unit receiving the second signal generating a second channel coefficient and DC estimate, a first and second error determination unit receiving the first and second channel coefficients and DC estimates, respectively for generating a first and second error signal, a decision unit receiving the first and second error signals generating a control signal, and a selection unit controlled by the control signal for selecting the first or second channel coefficient and DC estimate.

The present invention relates generally to digital signal detector arrangements and in particular to a dynamic DC offset compensation arrangement in wireless systems.
Wireless technology provides multiple applications for voice and/or data transmission. Today's cell phone networks offer customers a plurality of services including digital data services, such as digital email, Internet access, etc. In future applications, such as third generation wireless networks, a plurality of new digital data services will be provided. In particular, Internet applications will be highly improved and made more practical, for example, via high speed digital data transmission. Other digital data application, not yet applicable in today's wireless transmission technology, will be adapted and implemented.
High speed wireless data applications require high data throughput at a significantly lower bit error rate than voice applications. Bit errors in voice applications are usually easy to recover or do not need to be fully recovered due to redundancy capabilities of the human ear; whereas, digital data applications often highly rely on the correctness of the submitted data. The quality of data transmissions in a digital environment highly depends on the quality of the transmission channel. Under severe channel conditions, the mobile device throughput is markedly affected due to retransmission of erroneous data packets, thus affecting the entire network throughput. This situation may be ameliorated by the use of antenna diversity and more sophisticated signal processing algorithms.
According to the prior art, decision feedback equalizers are used to compensate for the effects of the transmission channel, which can vary depending on the environment. A basic decision feedback equalizer (DFE) has a forward filter, a feedback filter, and a decision device. Decision feedback equalizers are effective against severe intersymbol-interference. Intersymbol-interference is an effect which creates distortion of the transmitted signal in a specific way. In a sequence of positive and negative symbol pulses, intersymbol-interference is the distortion of a symbol pulse within a particular symbol period caused by the smearing or spillover of symbol pulses of preceding and/or succeeding adjacent symbol pulses into the particular symbol period. The spillover of the preceding and/or succeeding symbol pulses will add to or subtract from the symbol pulse in the particular symbol interval, depending upon whether the adjacent interfering symbol pulses are positive or negative in value. In applications with mobile devices, intersymbol-interference occurs due to the multi-path profile of the mobile channel as well as the above mentioned smearing generated due to analog filtering. Unlike linear equalizers, decision feedback equalizers' decision errors propagate in the feedback branch, thus affecting the outcome of future bit decisions.
In digital communication receivers, an important problem is that of estimating the channel impulse response in the presence of a DC offset. In communication systems using frequency hopping, this needs to be done without knowledge about previous bursts. If the DC offset is constant throughout the burst, several techniques exist to remove the offset and subsequently perform the channel impulse response estimation (for example, by averaging the signal or least square circular fitting of the signal). Another option is the joint detection of DC and the channel impulse response, which seems to work particularly well for non-constant envelope signals. A special case is represented by the GSM 05.05 AM suppression test, which specifies an interfering source which starts transmission within the training sequence. The non-linearities in the front-end result in a DC step occurring inside the training sequence. In such a case, conventional DC estimation will fail and the subsequent channel impulse response estimation will lead to a corrupted channel impulse response, causing equalization to fail.
From the above, it is seen that it is desirable to provide compensation for a digital signal detector arrangement which considers DC offsets within a burst.

Arrangement for dynamic DC offset compensation


A method and apparatus for video sample interpolation with edge sharpening, whereby edge sharpness can be essentially preserved and/or enhanced in the interpolated image. Image interpolation for an original two dimensional image is conducted along the horizontal and vertical directions separately using a 1D digital filter. In interpolating a new sample in the image, the digital filter is first used to obtain a temporary interpolation value for the new sample. Then, an appropriate amount of edge enhancement is calculated for the new sample location. The enhancement value is combined with the temporary interpolation value to result in a final interpolation value for the new sample.

Image interpolation is widely used in applications such as video de-interlacing, video scaling, etc. in digital TV systems. An effective image interpolation technique is important for the overall image quality in a digital TV system. Conventionally, interpolation processes are performed such that a new sample is generated based on the values of original image samples that are neighboring to the new sample position as well as the relative locations of the original image samples to the new sample. Take one dimensional interpolation as an example, if q represents the interpolated sample, and p0 and p1 represent the two closest neighboring pixels of q, then the interpolation value q may be conventionally calculated as q=d0*p1+d1*p0, wherein the distances to q from pixel p0 and p1 are expressed as d0 and d1, respectively. Here, the distance between two original neighboring pixels is assumed to be one, i.e. d0+d1=1.
However, the conventional interpolation method described above has the undesirable effect of smoothing edges present in the original image. For example, assuming that originally there is a sharp luminance transition between the locations of pixels p0 and p1 in the original image, then using the above interpolation method the transition becomes smoother in the interpolated image as new samples are interpolated between the locations of p0 and p1.
Using FIR (Finite Impulse Response) digital filters, more neighboring pixels can be utilized in interpolating a new sample. Though experiments show that edge sharpness can be improved when more neighboring pixels are utilized in interpolation, generally edges in the interpolated output image still tend to be smoother than those in the original input image.
There is, therefore, a need for a method and apparatus for video image interpolation with edge sharpening and enhancement during the image interpolation process such that edge sharpness can be substantially preserved and/or enhanced in the interpolated image.

Method and apparatus for video image interpolation with edge sharpening


A liquid storage bag is provided. The bag has a passage extending through the liquid filled cavity. The bag is specially adapted for use with a transfer device which has a guide extending upwardly within a container, the guide merging at its lower end to a cutting blade. The passage thus facilitates positioning of the bag to a cutting position by lowering the bag into the container with the guide passing through the passage, whereupon the bag may be pulled upon the blade to cut open the bag and thereby allow the liquid to flow out within the container of the transfer device.

Most automobiles have a windshield washer system which dispenses a liquid from a liquid reservoir through a jet onto the windshield. When it is expected that the vehicle will be operated in below freezing conditions, the reservoir for the windshield washing system is generally filled with an alcohol solution referred to as "windshield washer fluid" which will not freeze if sprayed onto a cold windshield. Windshield washer fluid has up to now generally been sold in plastic bottles of approximately 4 liters capacity.
A typical windshield washer fluid reservoir has an opening of approximately two inches diameter which makes filling somewhat difficult in view of the size of typical windshield washer fluid bottles. The filling of windshield washer fluid reservoirs is further complicated by the fact that they are generally located in the engine compartment of an automobile and are surrounded by various structures that prevent the windshield washer fluid bottle from being placed close to the filling opening of the reservoir.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a device which facilitates the filling of a windshield washer fluid reservoir.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a device which accepts windshield washer fluid in bags. It is a still further objective of the present invention to provide such a device which is both easy and safe to use.

Method of transferring a liquid to a reservoir using a storage bag having a passage therethrough


A method for optimizing wellbore pipe tripping operation includes entering into a computer parameters related to a maximum safe pipe movement speed within the wellbore along at least one selected depth interval along the wellbore. A maximum safe pipe movement speed is calculated. An actual pipe movement speed is measured along the at least one selected depth interval. In the computer, a display is generated of the measured pipe movement speed along with the maximum safe pipe movement speed over the at least one selected depth interval.

This disclosure relates generally to the field of wellbore drilling operations ancillary to actions that lengthen (drill) the wellbore. More specifically, the disclosure relates to method for providing operating guidance to drilling unit operating personnel for optimum speed of movement of a drill string in and out of a wellbore ("tripping"), and for collecting and comparing actual tripping measurement data to benchmark tripping data to evaluate and improve efficiency of particular drilling unit operating personnel ("crews").
Wellbore drilling operations include activities ancillary to drilling the wellbore, including, e.g., tripping a drill string (i.e., assembly of drill pipe segments as "stands" and/or "joints") out of the wellbore and back into the wellbore for the purposes, among others, of changing drill bits or other drilling tools, setting a conduit (e.g., a casing or liner) in the wellbore and circulating drill cuttings out of the wellbore along its entire length.
Tripping may be speed constrained by reason of hydrostatic fluid pressure changes in the wellbore caused by removal of the drill string from the wellbore or insertion of the drill string into the wellbore. Fluid displacement by such movement of the drill string, combined with viscous effects of the drilling fluid ("mud") in the wellbore may cause corresponding decreases or increases in the hydrostatic pressure of the mud. If the hydrostatic pressure is increased by excessive speed "tripping in" (i.e., moving the drill string into the wellbore), it is possible to exceed fracture pressure of one or more exposed formations in an uncased part of the wellbore (called "surge"). Conversely, decrease in hydrostatic pressure caused by excessive speed "tripping out" (i.e., removing the drill string from the wellbore) may result in the hydrostatic pressure being reduced below the formation fluid pressure of some exposed formations (called "swab"). Either of the foregoing may result in a wellbore pressure control emergency situation.
It is well known in the art how to calculate increases and decreases in hydrostatic pressures caused by tripping if the drill string configuration is known and the mud properties (e.g., density, viscosity) are known.
Tripping may also be speed constrained by reason of shock and vibration of the drill string as it moves through the wellbore. If shock and vibration limits are exceeded for certain drill string components, then they may be susceptible to failure during drilling operations.
It is desirable to communicate such information to a drilling unit operating crew in an easy to use form so that their operating procedures can be guided and improved. It is also desirable to accumulate statistical information over a wellbore and in some cases compare to benchmark operating procedures from other wellbores in order to improve drilling unit operating crew performance.

Wellbore pipe trip guidance and statistical information processing method


Provided is an attaching device that can convey a component, such as a nut, to a portion to be welded without using an air cylinder.

Many brackets for connecting suspension links, stabilizer bars or harnesses and the like are attached to a sub-frame of a suspension, and connection by fastening using fastening parts such as bolts and nuts is made. After the nuts are welded to the sub-frame in advance at each connection part, only bolts are installed with a wrench, and use of such a method achieves excellent work efficiency. In the case where the nut is welded to the sub-frame, a so-called projection nut having a projection on the nut seating surface is employed, and measures of attaching the nut to a bracket seating surface of the sub-frame by projection welding are often used.
In general, a conventional apparatus used for welding the nut to a counterpart component with projection includes a feeder for feeding a nut, a component feeding part, an upper electrode, and a lower electrode (refer to Patent Literature 1).

Abstract: The present invention provides an attaching device (100) that attaches a nut (240) to a bracket (230). The attaching device (100) has a component feeding part (10) that stores the nut therein, a welding part (40) that welds the nut to the bracket by using electrodes (41, 42), a conveying part (20) that conveys the nut stored in the component feeding part to a position where the nut is to be attached to the bracket, and a feeding head (30) that temporarily positioned between the electrodes (41, 42) and that places the nut conveyed from the conveying part on the lower electrode of the pair of electrodes.


A TDC circuit include: a first delay circuit having first inverting delay devices connected to form a loop, the first inverting delay devices outputting a inverted signal according to an input signal after a first signal delay period; a second delay circuit having second inverting delay devices connected to form a loop, the second inverting delay according to an input signal after a second signal delay period different from the first signal delay period; first flip-flop circuits that latch the logical values of third pulse signals including the first pulse signal output from the first inverting delay devices based on fourth pulse signals including the second pulse signal or pulse signals; a first counter that counts the third pulse signal; a second counter that counts the fourth pulse signal; and a detection result output circuit that stores the count from the first counter and the count from the second counter.

In a wireless communication apparatus, an RF circuit is formed of an analog circuit, and a baseband circuit is formed of a digital circuit in related art. An analog circuit occupies a large area and consumes a large amount of electric power. To address the problems, an RF circuit formed of a digital circuit has been studied, and an ADPLL (all digital phase locked loop) circuit corresponding to a PLL (phase locked loop) circuit, which plays an important role in processing an RF signal, has been proposed.
In an ADPLL circuit, a challenge is increasing the resolution of a TDC (time-to-digital converter) circuit that detects phase difference between two different clocks, that is, time difference between logical value rising edges of two pulse signals, and expresses the difference in a digital value.
The time difference between logical value rising edges of two pulse signals is detected as follows: First, one of the pulse signals is input to a delay circuit formed of a plurality of logic circuits connected in series so that the pulse signal propagates through the delay circuit. The other pulse signal is also input with time difference to another delay circuit formed of logic circuits connected in series so that the pulse signal propagates through the delay circuit. It is noted that each of the logic circuits in the latter delay circuit produces a signal delay period shorter than that produced in each of the logic circuits in the former delay circuit. The time difference described above may be determined by locating the logic circuits where the rising edge of the one pulse signal propagating through the former delay circuit coincides with the rising edge of the other pulse signal propagating through the latter delay circuit, because the time difference is equal to the product of the following two values: one is the difference between the signal delay period produced in the logic circuit through which the one pulse signal propagates and the signal delay period produced in the logic circuit through which the other pulse signal propagates, and the other is the number of logic circuits counted from the first one to the one where the rising edges coincides with each other.
In a TDC circuit, when series-connected logic circuits are used to form each delay circuit through which two pulse signals propagate so that the time difference therebetween is detected, large-scale delay circuits are requested.
To reduce the scale of the delay circuits, each of the delay circuits is formed by connecting an odd number of logic circuits each of which outputs an inverted logical value to form a loop so that a pulse signal propagates continuously (see National Publication of International Patent Application No. 2005-521059). When loop-shaped delay circuits are each formed of a small number of logic circuits each of which outputs an inverted logical value, the product of two values, one is the difference between the pulse cycle of an oscillatory clock produced by one pulse signal in one of the loop-shaped delay circuits and the pulse cycle of an oscillatory clock produced by the other pulse signal in the other loop-shaped delay circuit, and the other is the clock count at the time when the rising edges of the two oscillatory clocks coincide with each other, is equal to the time difference between the time when the one pulse signal is input and the time when the other pulse signal is input.
The difference in cycle between the oscillatory clocks is formed by changing the signal delay periods produced in the loop-shaped delay circuits because the cycle of each of the oscillatory clocks is determined in accordance with the sum of signal delay periods produced in the plurality of delay circuits. It is therefore difficult to reduce the difference in cycle between the oscillatory clocks unless the change in signal delay period is very small.
Further, since a rising edge of one oscillatory clock is used to detect a rising edge of the other oscillatory clock, the difference in cycle between the oscillatory clocks may not be smaller than the reaction time of a flip-flop circuit. Since the time difference between input signals is detected based on the time difference in cycle between the two oscillatory clocks, the detection precision is not improved.
The reason why rising edges of the two oscillatory clocks are used to detect the time difference between the input signals follows: In each loop-shaped delay circuit in which an oscillatory clock signal is produced, look at a single logic circuit that outputs an inverted logical value (inverter, for example). Since the loop-shaped delay circuit is formed of an odd number of inverters, the logical value of the signal output from the inverter of interest keeps rising and falling. The period from a rising edge of the logical value to a falling edge thereof is, however, not always one-half a single cycle. In this case, the difference between rising edges of the two oscillatory clocks may not be detected based on a rising edge of one of the oscillatory clocks and a falling edge of the other oscillatory clock.
As described above, it is difficult to improve the resolution of a TDC circuit for detecting the time difference by using delay circuits each of which is formed by connecting logic circuits each of which outputs an inverted logical value to form a loop.


One aspect of the present invention concerns a porous hollow fiber membrane containing a vinylidene fluoride-based resin. The hollow fiber membrane has a gradient structure in which a pore diameter of pores in the hollow fiber membrane gradually becomes smaller at least toward one of inner and outer peripheral surface sides and is hydrophilized by containing a crosslinked body of a polyvinylpyrrolidone-based resin.

Since a separation technology using a hollow fiber membrane has advantages such as the miniaturization of a device, it is widely used in various fields such as water treatment fields such as water purification, drinking water production, industrial water production and waste water treatment, food industry fields, and pharmaceutical product production fields.
Further improvements in permeation performance, fractionation characteristic, etc. are required for hollow fiber membranes used in such a separation technology. Specifically, if the permeation performance of a hollow fiber membrane is enhanced, a necessary membrane area becomes smaller and a device for realizing the separation technology using the hollow fiber membrane can be further miniaturized. This is advantageous in terms of cost since facility cost and membrane exchange cost can be reduced. Further, the hollow fiber membrane has advantages such as the widening of targets to be removed if the fractionation characteristic thereof can be enhanced.
However, a separation membrane such as a hollow fiber membrane is generally such that fractionation characteristic is reduced if permeation performance is enhanced and permeation performance is reduced if fractionation characteristic is enhanced, i.e. permeation performance and fractionation characteristic tend to be in a so-called trade-off relationship. Thus, it is difficult to improve both permeation performance and fractionation characteristic of the hollow fiber membrane.
On the other hand, a separation membrane using a fluorine-based material such as a vinylidene fluoride-based resin has attracted attention due to high chemical durability, high physical durability and the like. Examples of the separation membrane using such a fluorine-based material include hollow fiber membranes described in patent literature 1 to 3.
Patent literature 1 describes a fluorine-based hollow fiber membrane including a filter area of a sponge structure having pores of an average diameter of 0.01 μm to 0.5 μm, a support area of a sponge structure having pores of an average diameter of 0.5 μm to 5 μm and a backwash area of a sponge structure having pores of an average diameter of 2 μm to 10 μm, wherein the filter area, the support area and the backwash area are successively formed from an outer surface toward an inner surface.
According to patent literature 1, it is disclosed that excellent backwash performance and filter performance can be exhibited while outstanding mechanical strength is possessed.
Further, patent literature 2 describes a porous membrane production method for producing a porous membrane by a nonsolvent induced phase separation method by discharging a membrane forming solution containing at least a polyvinylidene fluoride resin and a solvent and bring the membrane forming solution into contact with a coagulation liquid containing at least a nonsolvent. It is described in patent literature 2 that, in this production method, a discharge temperature of the membrane forming solution is not lower than a melting point of the polyvinylidene fluoride resin and below a decomposition temperature of the polyvinylidene fluoride resin and a temperature of the coagulation liquid is higher than a porous structure formation start temperature of the membrane forming solution.
According to patent literature 2, it is disclosed that a porous membrane having not only excellent water permeability, excellent performance in blocking micropathogens and high chemical resistance, but also capable of stably and sufficiently removing micropathogens for a long period of time can be produced.
Further, patent literature 3 describes a fluororesin-based polymer separation membrane having a three-dimensional network structure and a spherical structure, the three-dimensional network structure containing at least one kind of a hydrophilic polymer selected from cellulose ester, aliphatic vinyl ester, vinylpyrrolidone, ethylene oxide and propylene oxide.
According to patent literature 3, it is disclosed that various performances such as separation performance, water permeation performance, chemical strength (chemical resistance), physical strength and stain resistance can be enhanced.

Hollow fiber membrane, and method for producing hollow fiber membrane


In this safety support comprising a segmented ring (6), whose segments (6a, . . . , 6f) are connected by linking means (9), at least one of the linking means (9) comprising at least one male element (26) and at least one female portion (27) suitable for fitting one inside the other by a relative movement of two segments in the circumferential direction of the ring, the at least one linking means (9) also comprises a lever mechanism (28) comprising at least two link arms (29, 31) of different lengths articulated on one another and each at one respective end of the two segments so that the lever mechanism acts so as to bring the two segments closer to one another when the male element (26) is partially engaged in the female portion (27) and when an articulation (38) common to two link arms of the lever mechanism (28) is moved substantially radially relative to the center (C) of the ring (6) in response to an axial movement of the ring relative to the rim.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a safety support for a vehicle wheel, that is a support used to support at least partially a tire tread in conditions of low or zero pressure.
2. Description of Related Art
The present invention more particularly relates to a safety support of the type comprising a ring which is intended to be mounted on a rim of a wheel inside a tire and which is subdivided into at least two arced segments having ends which face one another, and several linking means which each connect two ends facing one another of two segments of the ring, at least one of the linking means comprising at least one male element at an end of one segment and at least one female portion at an end of another segment and suitable for receiving the male element via a relative movement of the two segments one relative to the other in the circumferential direction of the ring. A known safety support of this type is for example described in document EP-A-0 798 141.
Relative to the safety supports whose ring is made in a single piece, the safety supports of the segmented ring type offer the advantage of being able to be mounted on a rim with a normal mounting well, therefore not requiring a special rim geometry (of the PAX type, for example) or a two-part rim, such as that shown in FIG. 3 of document EP-A-0 834 407.
On the other hand, the safety supports of the segmented ring type have the disadvantage that their mounting on a wheel rim and their removal relative to the wheel rim are relatively complicated and take a long time to implement. In addition, the known safety supports with segmented ring require a special toolage for their mounting/removal relative to the rim, in particular for the tightening and loosening of the ring segments.
Therefore the present invention aims to provide a safety support of the segmented ring type which can be mounted onto a rim with a usual mounting well and removed from the rim more easily and more rapidly than the known safety supports of the segmented ring type.


In an opening/closing type portable terminal device having first and second box members that can be opened and closed and turned through a hinge, an object of the invention is to miniaturize the hinge and the device. A second turnable shaft (123) crosses a first turnable shaft (122) to turn together and is turnable with respect to the first turnable shaft (122). First and second guide members (126, 127) for controlling the turning angle of the second turnable shaft (123) are installed within the first turnable shaft (122). At a position across the first and second box members (101a, 101b), a flexible substrate (140) is interposed between the first turnable shat (122) and a first turnable shaft bearing (133) and is formed at one end thereof with a first winding (154a) to be wound on the outer periphery of the first turnable shaft bearing (133) and is turned together with the first turnable shaft (122).

The folding mobile information terminal device in which two housings are coupled together by hinge portions and are constructed foldably is widely used. As the conventional device in which one housing is constructed to further turn in other directions in this folding mobile information terminal device, there is the device disclosed in JP-A-2001-251406, for example. The mobile information terminal device includes an inputting portion for inputting information, a displaying portion for monitoring an operation state and displaying received data, a controlling portion for controlling the inputting portion and the displaying portion, and a housing, wherein the inputting portion has a first inputting portion with numeric keys and a second inputting portion with function keys, the housing is divided in a first housing containing the second inputting portion and a second containing the displaying portion and the second inputting portion and both first and second housings are coupled together by hinge portions, and the first housing and the second housing are foldably and turnably coupled together by the hinge portions.
As the hinge mechanism for realizing such hinge portions, there is the mechanism disclosed in JP-A-2000-240636 and shown in FIGS. 22(A) and (B), for example. FIGS. 22(A) and (B) are a plan view and a side view of the hinge mechanism in the prior art. As shown in FIG. 22(A), the hinge portion is constructed to include an opening/closing shaft 202 supported turnably to an opening/closing shaft supporting portion 201, a turning shaft 203 rotatably passed through the opening/closing shaft 202 in their orthogonally intersecting state, an angle restricting piece 204 provided to come into contact with the opening/closing shaft supporting portion 201 and the opening/closing shaft 202 respectively, a restricting flange 205 provided to protrude from the turning shaft 203, and a turning restricting portion 206 fitted to the opening/closing shaft supporting portion 201 to face to the restricting flange 205. In the case where this hinge mechanism is applied to the above folding mobile information terminal device, as shown in FIG. 22(B), a size of the hinge portion formed by the turning shaft is decided by a distance R between a top end of the angle restricting piece 204, which is operated together with the turn of the turning shaft, and a center of the turning shaft.
Also, in JP-A-6-311216, the mobile phone in which a first housing composed of a first front housing and a first rear cover and a second housing composed of a second front housing and a second rear cover are turnably hinged together, a circular arc-like first curved-surface portion provided to an end portion of the first front housing and a circular arc-like second curved-surface portion provided to an end portion of the first rear cover are engaged with each other, an almost cylindrical first cavity portion that is communicated with an inside of the first housing is constructed at an end portion of the first housing and an almost cylindrical second cavity portion that is communicated with an inside of the second housing is constructed at an end portion of the second housing, the first cavity portion and the second cavity portion are arranged adjacently on the same shaft, and a flexible printed board for connecting an electric circuit in the first housing and an electric circuit in the second housing is wound helically along inner diameters of the first cavity portion and the second cavity portion to pass therethrough and also a cable provided to stretch over both housings is extended in a diameter of the helically-wound flexible printed board is disclosed.
However, when the conventional hinge mechanism is applied to the mobile phone having the above folding structure, an outer diameter of the hinge portion is enlarged to thus bring about an increase in size of the mobile phone. A size of the hinge portion is decided by a diameter of the opening/closing shaft and a radius of turn of the angle restricting piece provided to the end of the turning shaft. This radius of turn corresponds to the above distance R. Therefore, the configuration in which the angle restricting piece is provided to the end of the turning shaft brings out an increase of the radius of turn and as a result the hinge portion is increased in size. Also, since the mobile phone having the above folding structure has the structure that generates a bending stress and a torsional stress in the flexible printed board according to the folding operation, it is possible that conductor portions (circuit patterns) of the flexible printed board are disconnected. This problem will be explained concretely with reference to the drawing hereunder.
FIGS. 23(A) and (B) are a plan view of a flexible printed board through which a hinge portion in the prior art is passed. A flexible printed board 300 is wound and housed in the hinge portion to be connected to connectors that are provided to not-shown first and second housings respectively. In FIG. 23(A), in the case where the first and second housings are folded, one end of the board is indicated by a chain double-dashed line when the housings are folded until the state that a torsion angle P of the flexible printed board 300 that is wound clockwise from the lower side to the upper side is not changed.
However, since positions in which both ends of the flexible printed board 300 are fixed to the first and second housings (the lateral direction) are not changed, the torsion angle P is changed into an almost P/2 when the board is folded from the opened state. In other words, in this structure, the bending stress and the torsional stress are applied to the flexible printed board by the folding operation. Normally the flexible printed board has flexibility and has the enough strength to withstand the bending stress, but the disconnection or the breakage is caused if various stresses are applied compositely.
As a result, the mobile phone having the conventional folding structure is the structure that failures such as the disconnection or the breakage of the flexible printed board, etc. readily occur when the folding operation is repeated. Thus, there exists the problem such that the increase in size of the device is brought about or it is possible to cause the failures.

Hinge, and opening/closing type portable terminal device having the same

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


An antenna shaft of an antenna is first inserted through a shaft through-hole created on a lateral plate casing of a stationary-side front case. Then, a flange on the antenna shaft is screw-fixed in a screw hole created at a predetermined position on the lateral plate casing of the stationary-side front case. When the antenna shaft of the antenna is inserted through the shaft through-hole created on the lateral plate casing, an inserted tip of the antenna shaft abuts against a substantially V-shaped connection receiving unit, which is fixed on a circuit board in the stationary-side front case. As a result, an electric connection is established between the antenna and the circuit board.

1. Field
The present invention relates to a mobile terminal device having an antenna and particularly relates to a mobile terminal device that is waterproof and has an uncomplicated antenna attaching mechanism.
2. Description of the Related Art
Typically, in a cellular phone, a coupling unit is used to couple a movable-side housing having a display panel to a stationary-side housing having an operation panel in a foldable manner. Moreover, an external antenna is attached to the cellular phone for reception of radio waves. The antenna can be attached to the outside of the stationary-side housing in a foldable manner (e.g., see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2006-60396).
Given below is the description with reference to FIG. 7 of a conventional antenna attaching mechanism for attaching an external antenna to a cellular phone. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a case when an external antenna is attached to a cellular phone in a conventional manner.
As shown in FIG. 7, an external antenna 300a is fixedly attached to a chassis 155 arranged inside a stationary-side housing (a stationary-side front case 110 and a stationary-side rear case 120) of a cellular phone 10. The chassis 155 is also used as a waterproofing member.
More particularly, as shown in FIG. 7, the chassis 155 is a substantially L-shaped chassis arranged inside the stationary-side front case 110 and the stationary-side rear case 120. A screw through-hole 156 is created on a predetermined position on the chassis 155.
An antenna shaft 325 of the antenna 300a has a screw hole 326 in which a screw 160 is fixed. First, when the antenna 300a is inserted between the stationary-side front case 110 and the stationary-side rear case 120, the screw 160 is inserted through the screw through-hole 156 of the chassis 155.
Subsequently, the screw 160 is wound through the screw hole 326 on the antenna shaft 325 such that the antenna 300a is attached to the chassis 155.
As shown in FIG. 7, when the antenna shaft 325 of the antenna 300a is attached to the chassis 155, the bottom surface of the inserted tip of the antenna shaft 325 abuts against a connecting terminal 141, which is fixed to a circuit board 140. As a result, an electric connection is established between the antenna 300a and the circuit board 140.
However, in the case of the above-mentioned configuration, it is necessary to separately perform processing operations such as creating the screw hole 326 on the antenna shaft 325 such that the screw 160 can be wound therethrough or fabricating an abutting surface (flat surface) on the bottom surface of the antenna shaft 325 such that the connecting terminal 141, which is fixed to the circuit board 140, abuts against that abutting surface.
Moreover, use of the chassis 155 for attaching the antenna 300a to the cellular phone and for waterproofing the cellular phone leads to an increase in the number of components in the cellular phone. Furthermore, the amount of space required to arrange the chassis 155 gets in the way of downsizing the cellular phone.
Moreover, because the antenna 300a is attached to the cellular phone at an early stage of assembly of the cellular phone, there is a possibility that the antenna 300a gets damaged during the remaining assembly.


A compound archery bow comprises a riser, limbs, pulley members connected to the limbs, a draw cable, and a power cable. A first pulley member includes a draw cable journal, a power cable take-up mechanism, and coaxial axle segments extending from opposite sides of the pulley member. The effective lever arm of the power cable take-up mechanism decreases, during a latter portion of drawing the bow, from a distance that is greater than a radius of the axle segments to a minimum distance that is less than that radius. The first pulley member is further arranged so that, with the bow fully drawn, at least a portion of the power cable passes through at least a portion of a space between the first and second axle segments.

The field of the present invention relates to archery bows. In particular, a compound archery bow is described herein wherein a power cable take-up mechanism has an effective lever arm that decreases to a distance less than the axle radius during a latter portion of drawing the bow.
For purposes of the present disclosure and appended claims, the terms "compound archery bow" or "compound bow" shall denote an archery bow that uses a levering system, usually comprising one or more cables and pulleys, to bend the limbs as the bow is drawn. Examples of compound bows include dual-cam bows (including those that employ a Binary Cam System®), hybrid-cam bows, or single-cam bows. Many compound archery bows typically include one or more power cables (sometimes referred to as buss cables or anchor cables). Conventionally, each power cable is engaged at its first end to be taken up by a power cam (or other take-up mechanism) of a pulley member rotatably mounted on one bow limb, and is coupled at its second end to the other bow limb (in some cases a fixed connection, and in other cases including a mechanism for taking-up and/or letting-out the second end of the power cable). Tension developed as the bow is drawn and the power cable is taken up causes deformation of the bow limbs and storage of potential energy therein. A portion of that potential energy is transformed into the kinetic energy of the arrow shot by the bow. A few examples of various compound bow types are disclosed in the following patents and application, all of which are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein:    U.S. Pat. No. 3,990,425 entitled "Compound bow" issued Nov. 9, 1976 to Ketchum;    U.S. Pat. No. 4,686,955 entitled "Compound archery bows" issued Aug. 18, 1987 to Larson;    U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,006 entitled "Dual-feed single-cam compound bow" issued Nov. 29, 1994 to McPherson;    U.S. Pat. No. 6,871,643 entitled "Eccentric elements for a compound archery bow" issued Mar. 29, 2005 to Cooper et al;    U.S. Pat. No. 6,990,970 entitled "Compound archery bow" issued Jan. 31, 2006 to Darlington;    U.S. Pat. No. 7,305,979 entitled "Dual-cam archery bow with simultaneous power cable take-up and let-out" issued Dec. 11, 2007 to Yehle;    U.S. Pat. No. 7,441,555 entitled "Synchronized compound archery bow" issued Oct. 28, 2008 to Larson;    U.S. non-provisional application Ser. No. 12/511,085 entitled "Pulley-and-cable power cable tensioning mechanism for a compound archery bow" filed Jul. 29, 2009 in the name of Craig T. Yehle; and    U.S. non-provisional application Ser. No. 12/690,783 entitled "Eccentric power cable let-out mechanism for a compound archery bow" filed Jan. 20, 2010 in the name of Craig T. Yehle.

Cable take-up or let-out mechanism for a compound archery bow


The present invention relates to a species of genus Pseudomonas identified as Pseudomonas BR11571, termed Candidatus Pseudomonas metallosolvens, having Accession Deposit Number DSM 32538.

The recovery of copper from ores by means of cyanide and suitable extractants like guanidine (LIX 7950) or amines (LIX 7820) is known for decades (for example U.S. Pat. No. 3,403,020, 1968). The free cyanide remains in the aqueous phase due to the preferential extraction of Cu(CN)32− over Cu(CN)43− and CN− by the extractants. High cyanide levels tend to depress extraction of copper and silver cyanides, but exhibit insignificant effect on extraction of gold, zinc, nickel and iron cyanides. An overview for this technology is provided for example by XIE ET AL in J. Hazardous Materials, Vol. 169, p 333-338 (2009).
While in the past the process for recovering copper and precious metals, in particular gold by using potassium or sodium cyanide has led to huge waste dumps contaminated with poisonous materials, todays processes run in closed cycles and do not have the environmental impact as in the past. Nevertheless, working with cyanides even in closed systems is still dangerous, in particular since a plant typically contains hundred thousands of gallons extractants enriched with cyanide.
For this reason it is not surprising that today methods for biological extraction of ores and waste materials, so-called "bioleaching processes" are of high commercial interest. Usually autotrophic bacteria are used for these purposes which are capable of producing sulfuric acid in which copper forms a soluble sulfate. Nowadays, about 24% of world-wide copper production uses bioleaching processes operating at low pH values of less than 3 and using carbon dioxide as the sole carbon source for the microorganisms. Beside the fact that these processes run rather slowly, they typically do not work for precious metals like gold, silver or platinum, since these metals are insoluble in sulfuric acid.
In this context reference is made to European patents EP 0432935 B1 and EP 0695809 A1 (GEOBIOTICS) disclosing processes to recover and reconcentrate gold from its ores. The processes involve a bioleaching step preferably using algae or blue-green cyanobacteriae as suitable microorganisms for producing and releasing hydrocyanic acid to form gold complexes. Among various other microorganisms Bacillus megaterium and some Pseudomonas sp. are mentioned. The technical teaching of this piece of prior art, however, is directed to recover gold from ores, i.e. a natural, primary resource that only contains traces of precious metals of <10 ppm. The document does not provide any guidance with regard to the recovery of precious metals from man-made mineralic materials such as industrial residues and waste materials containing precious metals in significantly higher amounts than ores.
Another well-known microorganism for recovering gold for example from electronic scrap is Chromobacterium violaceum. Unfortunately, the efficacy of this bacterium in the leaching process is found to be rather poor [see CAMPBELL ET AL, J. Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology, 26, p 134-139 (2001) or FARAMARZI ET AL, J. Biotechnology. 113, 321-326 (2004)]. Furthermore, Chromobacterium violaceum is a pathogenic microorganism that can cause severe infections in humans, therefore being classified as risk group 2. This fact compromises the use of this organism in an economically viable, industrial set-up.
A particular drawback of using industrial residues and waste materials, however, is their generally high amount of toxic metals, in particular lead, chromium, cadmium, arsenic or silver since most microorganisms capable for biomining or bioleaching are rather sensitive to them, in particular when present in high dosages.
Therefore, it has been the object of the present invention to provide a group of microorganisms for recovering precious metals like for example gold, silver, platinum and/or palladium from so-called secondary resources, which means industrial residuals or waste materials, often contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and other organic material, comprising increased amounts of the target metals, typically in the range of up to 0.2% or more.
Another object of the present invention is it to provide a group of microorganisms tolerating poisonous metals such as lead, chromium, cadmium and silver also in high dosages as they are typical for industrial residues and waste materials.
Finally, for safety reasons, it has been the object of the present invention to provide a group of microorganisms belonging to risk group 1, since in the future no technical process will pass approval from governmental health and risk authorities involving microorganisms belonging to risk class 2 or even higher.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent as a detailed description of the representative embodiments is disclosed infra.


A plumbing fitting for dispensing of hot and cold water or a mixture thereof; said fitting including an elongate spout or spigot and a mounting portion for locating said plumbing fitting at a surface; said elongate spout provided with a dispensing orifice arranged at an underside of said elongate spout and proximate a tip portion of said spout; a passage through said spout communicating with said orifice and an inlet at said mounting portion; said plumbing fitting characterized in further including a pair of partially conjoined, generally globular structures at a base portion of said elongate spout.

Water outlets for the dispensing of water at wash basins, kitchen sinks, bath tubs and in showers for example, are known in many forms and designs. Typically these designs are largely utilitarian, largely devoid of decoration or interest.
Another disadvantage of known dispensers or spigots is that generally hot and cold water are introduced into the tube of the dispenser from control valve in close proximity to the spigot passage allowing little of no thorough mixing of the hot and cold water streams.
Plumbing fittings are almost entirely utilitarian and uninteresting in their configurations. Outlet spouts for the most part are formed as cylindrical or ovoid tubing of generally constant cross section.
It is an object of the present invention to address or at least ameliorate some of the above disadvantages or provide a useful alternative.
Notes
The term "comprising" (and grammatical variations thereof) is used in this specification in the inclusive sense of "having" or "including", and not in the exclusive sense of "consisting only of".
Additional advantages and novel features of this invention shall be set forth in part in the description that follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following specification or may be learned by the practice of the invention. The advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities, combinations, compositions, and methods particularly pointed out in the appended claims
The above discussion of the prior art in the Background of the invention, is not an admission that any information discussed therein is citable prior art or part of the common general knowledge of persons skilled in the art in any country.


In a control device for four-wheel drive vehicle, yaw moment for suppressing understeer tendency of the vehicle is calculated as target yaw moment. If the average wheel speed of right and left wheels of a front shaft is more than the wheel speed of a turning outer wheel of a rear shaft, a control unit performs control as follows: when the target yaw moment Mzt is applied to the vehicle, a wheel clutch of the turning outer wheel is engaged, and a wheel clutch of a turning inner wheel is disengaged, so that the engaging force of a transfer clutch 15 is controlled based on the target yaw moment Mzt. If the average wheel speed of the right and left wheels is not more than the wheel speed of the turning outer wheel, the transfer clutch 15, right wheel clutch and left wheel clutch are disengaged.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control device for a four-wheel drive vehicle to appropriately distribute driving force generated by a driving source such as an engine.
2. Description of Related Art
Various control devices for four-wheel drive vehicles have been suggested and put into practice. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No. 2005-289160 discloses a driving force control device for a four-wheel drive vehicle having a torque distribution mechanism capable of changing a driving force distribution ratio of front and rear wheels or a right and left driving force distribution ratio of front wheels or rear wheels. The driving force control device controls, in accordance with increase of the absolute value of a lateral acceleration signal, the driving force distribution ratio of the front and rear wheels so that the rear wheel distribution ratio becomes larger. The driving force control device also controls the right and left driving force distribution ratio of the front wheel or rear wheel so that the driving force for the turning outer wheel is larger. For, another example, according to driving force control device for a four-wheel drive vehicle disclosed in JP-A No. 2001-277882, either ones of the front and rear wheels are adopted as main driving wheels, and the others are adopted as sub-driving wheels, and the driving force control device controls driving force distributed to the sub-driving wheels by changing the engaging force of a clutch. Specifically, when the wheel speed of one of the main driving wheels is equal to or more than a first predetermined speed and the wheel speed of the other of the main driving wheels is less than the first predetermined speed, or when the average wheel speed of the main driving wheels is equal to or more than a second predetermined speed and the average wheel speed of the sub-driving wheels is less than the second predetermined speed, the engaging force of the clutch is controlled so as to distribute the driving force to the sub-driving wheels until the average wheel speed of the sub-driving wheels becomes equal to or more than a third predetermined speed which is a value equal to or more than the second predetermined speed.
However, in the control device for a four-wheel drive vehicle disclosed in JP-A No. 2005-289160 described above, a clutch element for changing the driving force distribution ratio of the right and left wheels is provided each for the right and left wheels, and therefore, vehicle behavior may be different between left and right wheels because of the mechanical difference between the clutch elements (variation of characteristics). In addition, the control device disclosed in JP-A No. 2001-277882 for performing the driving force distribution control based on the vehicle operation state such as wheel speeds is useful for improving the traction performance and the turning performance by moving torque from the main drive shaft to the sub-drive shaft. However, when the yaw behavior of a vehicle is controlled by giving yaw moment to the vehicle, the driving torque transmitted to the sub-drive shaft needs to be further redistributed by clutches which are separately provided for the right and left wheels. Accordingly, highly-accurate driving force distribution control cannot be done because of the mechanical difference between the clutch elements described in JP-A No. 2005-289160, and it may be impossible to perform intended vehicle yaw behavior control.

Control device for four-wheel drive vehicle


A gas lighter with safety mechanism comprising an inner frame mounted on top of a fuel reservoir and provided with a valve for releasing fuel contained in the fuel reservoir; an outer frame mounted on top of the inner frame and having two supports each of which is provided with a L-shaped supporting hole including a vertical section and a horizontal section; a lever sandwiched between the two supports and pivotable with respect to the outer frame to actuate the valve; a flint disposed between the two supports; a friction wheel rotatably sleeved on a shaft between the two supports, the shaft are movably supported in the supporting holes, the friction wheel is separate from the flint when the shaft is moved to the vertical sections while contacts the flint to enable to generate sparks by rotating the friction wheel when the shaft is moved to the horizontal sections.

A conventional gas lighter generally comprises a fuel reservoir for containing combustible fuel, a valve for releasing the combustible fuel from the fuel reservoir, a lever for activating the valve, and a flint and a friction wheel for generating sparks toward the valve by virtue of friction therebetween. The sparks could thereby light the combustible fuel released from fuel reservoir through the valve, and then generate flame.
Such gas lighters are very convenient for use, and it is easy to generate flame, even for children. Thus, it is dangerous when users ignite the lighters unintentionally, and is even more dangerous when children manage to ignite the lighters intentionally.
Many safety lighters with safety devices have been developed. However, the safety devices in the existing safety lighters are either complex, which prevent not only children but also adults from igniting the lighters, or very simple, which are not sufficient to prevent children from operating the lighters.
Therefore, it is desired to provide a gas lighter with safety mechanism, which is simple in its structure but sufficient to avoid unintentional operation of the lighter by adults and intentional operation of the lighter by children.


The die casting machine 1 comprises: a metallic mold 2 including a product cavity section 21 for forming a die casting product 8, a plunger sleeve section 22 and a runner 23; a decompressing device 4 for decompressing the inside of the metallic mold 2; a powder supply source 5 for supplying a powder mold releasing agent 6 into the metallic mold 2; and a powder discharging pin 3 arranged in the runner 23 in a retractable condition. The powder discharging pin 3 includes: a first opening section 311 to open the powder introducing passage 31, which is connected with the powder supply source 5, to the product cavity section 21 and a second opening section 312 to open the powder introducing passage 31 to the plunger sleeve section 22, when the powder discharging pin 3 advances into the runner 23.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a die casting machine for producing a die casting product by charging molten metal, which has been injected from a plunger sleeve section provided in a metallic mold, into a product cavity section via a runner. The present invention also relates to a die casting method.
2. Description of the Related Art
As shown in FIG. 14, a die casting product is produced by the die casting machine 9 in such a manner that molten metal, which has been injected from the plunger sleeve section 922, is charged into the product cavity section 921 via the runner 923, so that the die casting product can be produced in the product cavity section 921. When molten metal is charged into the product cavity section 921, gas pressure in the product cavity section 921 is increased. Therefore, molten metal cannot be sufficiently filled in the product cavity section 921. In order to solve the above problem, gas remaining in the product cavity section 921 is discharged outside by the decompression device 94.
In the above die casting machine 9, in order to enhance the mold releasing property of a die casting product and a molding, which are respectively formed in the molding section 920 composed of the product cavity section 921, the plunger sleeve section 922 and runner 923, and, further, in order to enhance the lubricating property of the plunger chip in the molding section 920 and, furthermore, in order to enhance the heat reserving property of molten metal, the powder mold releasing agent 6 is supplied from the plunger sleeve section 922.
In this connection, recently, the die casting device 9 has seen wide application from a small size die casting product to a large size die casting product. Further, the die casting device 9 is used not only for a simple die casting operation such as conducting a die casting operation for a single die casting product but also for a complicated die casting operation such as conducting a die casting operation for a plurality of die casting products.
However, in the conventional die casting machine 9 described above, the powder mold releasing agent 6 is supplied only from the plunger sleeve section 922. That is, the product cavity section 921 is distant from the plunger sleeve section 922. Accordingly, there is a possibility that the powder mold releasing agent 6 may not sufficiently spread into the product cavity section 921.
Further, when the powder mold releasing agent 6 is supplied from the plunger sleeve section 922, there is a possibility that the powder mold releasing agent 6 may not be uniformly supplied to between the product cavity section 921 and the plunger sleeve section 922. The aforementioned problems may become remarkable in the case where a complicated die casting product is produced.
The present invention has been accomplished to solve the above conventional problems. It is an object of the present invention to provide a die casting machine and die casting method capable of supplying a powder mold releasing agent to a product cavity section, a plunger sleeve section and a runner in a well balanced condition so as to produce a die casting product of high quality.
One aspect of the present invention is a die casting machine comprising:
a metallic mold including a plunger sleeve section for injecting molten metal, a product cavity section for molding a die casting product when molten metal is charged into it and a runner for connecting the plunger sleeve section with the product cavity section;
a decompressing device for decompressing the plunger sleeve section and the product cavity section;
a powder supply source for supplying a powder mold releasing agent to the plunger sleeve section and the product cavity section; and
a powder discharging pin arranged in the runner in a retractable state, having a powder introducing passage connected with the powder supply source, wherein
the powder discharging pin includes a first opening section to open the powder introducing passage toward the product cavity section and a second opening section to open the powder introducing passage toward the plunger sleeve section, when the powder discharging pin proceeds into the runner.
The die casting machine of the present invention includes a powder discharging pin having a powder introducing passage connected with a powder supply source for supplying a powder mold releasing agent. In order to supply a sufficiently large quantity of powder mold releasing agent to the product cavity section, this powder discharging pin is arranged so that it can protrude into a runner located between the product cavity section and the plunger sleeve section.
The powder discharging pin includes: a first opening section which can open the powder introducing passage toward the product cavity section and a second opening section which can open the powder introducing passage toward the plunger sleeve section, when the powder discharging pin proceeds into the runner.
Due to the first and the second opening section, a plurality of discharging ports to the product cavity section and the plunger sleeve section are formed from one introducing passage of the powder mold releasing agent connected with the powder supply source. It is possible to directly supply the powder mold releasing agent toward the product cavity section and the plunger sleeve section from the plurality of discharging ports, that is, from the first and the second opening section.
Therefore, it is possible to uniformly spread the powder mold releasing agent to each portion including the product cavity section, the plunger sleeve section and the runner. Due to the foregoing, the powder mold releasing agent can be supplied in a well balanced state to the product cavity section, the plunger sleeve section and the runner in the metallic mold.
Due to the foregoing, for example, even in the case of a large die casting molding, the profile of which is complicated, or even in the case of a complicated die casting molding, in which a plurality of products are molded at one die casting operation, the above powder discharging pin can exhibit an excellent performance, and operation can be flexibly conducted.
When the plunger sleeve section and the product cavity section are decompressed by the decompressing device, the powder mold releasing agent can be more effectively supplied to the plunger sleeve section and the product cavity section.
The powder discharging pin is arranged in a retractable state with respect to the runner. Therefore, after the powder mold releasing agent has been supplied from the powder discharging pin, it is possible to retract this powder discharging pin. Therefore, when molten metal is charged into the product cavity section via the runner, it is possible to prevent the powder discharging pin from blocking the charge of molten metal.
Therefore, according to the die casting machine of the present invention, the powder mold releasing agent can be supplied in a well balanced condition to the product cavity section, the plunger sleeve section and the runner, and a die casting product of high quality can be produced.
Another aspect of the present invention is a die casting method in which molten metal is injected from a plunger sleeve section provided in a metallic mold and the injected molten metal is filled in a cavity product section via a runner so as to produce a die casting product, comprising the steps of:
decompressing the product cavity section and the plunger sleeve section before molten metal is injected from the plunger sleeve section, when a powder mold releasing agent is supplied to the product cavity section and the plunger sleeve section;
advancing a powder discharging pin, which is arranged in the runner in a retractable state and has a powder introducing passage connected with a powder supply source, into the runner;
opening a first opening section provided in the powder introducing passage of the powder discharging pin toward the product cavity section and also opening a second opening section provided in the powder introducing passage toward the plunger sleeve section ; and
discharging the powder mold releasing agent from the first and the second opening section.
In the present invention, before molten metal is injected by the plunger sleeve section, the powder mold releasing agent is supplied to the product cavity section, the plunger sleeve section and the runner by utilizing the powder discharging pin. When the powder mold releasing agent is supplied to each portion of the metallic mold, each portion is decompressed by the decompressing device.
Then, the powder discharging pin is advanced into the runner. In this case, the first opening section provided in the powder introducing passage of the powder discharging pin is opened toward the product cavity section, and the second opening section provided in the powder introducing passage of the powder discharging pin is opened toward the plunger sleeve section.
Then, the powder mold releasing agent flowing in the powder introducing passage from the powder supply source is discharged from the first and the second opening portion. Due to the foregoing, the powder mold releasing agent can be directly supplied from the first opening section toward the product cavity section and from the second opening section toward the plunger sleeve section.
Therefore, according to the die casting method of the present invention, in the same manner as that of the die casting machine described before, the powder mold releasing agent can be supplied to the product cavity section, the plunger sleeve section and the runner in a well balanced condition. Accordingly, a die casting product of high quality can be produced.
The present invention may be more fully understood from the description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as set forth below, together with the accompanying drawings.

Die casting machine and die casting method