Disclosed is a MIMO receiving apparatus in which a residual interference calculation unit (17) inputs noise-suppressed frequency domain channel estimation values, output from FFT units (12-1-1 to 12-M-N), equalizing weights calculated by a weight calculating unit (13), equalized signals from equalization processing by an equalization filter (14) and reference signals generated by reference signal generating units (16-1 to 16-M) to calculate a residual interference, and the likelihood correction units (18-1 to 18-M) receive time domain equalized signal from the IDFT units (15-1 to 15-M) and the residual interference calculated by the residual interference calculation unit (17) to correct the likelihood of the equalized signal (FIG.1).

In radio communication systems of next generation mobile communication, it is crucial to implement high speed data transmission. As a technique for implementing such high speed data transmission, a MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) multiplexing system that simultaneously transmits signals at the same frequency from a plurality of transmission antennas and that demodulates (separates) the signals using a plurality of receive antennas, is attracting general attention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram of an arrangement of a typical MIMO transceiver device provided with an M-number of transmission antennas and an N-number of receive antennas, where M and N each denote an integer greater than or equal to 1. Referring to FIG. 5, the transmitting side includes transmission antennas 1-1 to 1-M and a transmitting apparatus 2, whereas the receiving side includes receive antennas 3-1 to 3-N and a receiving apparatus 4. The transmission antennas 1-1 to 1-M transmit respective different signals using the same frequency at the same time, and the receive antennas 3-1 to 3-N receive the signals, whereby high speed data transmission proportionate to the number of transmission antennas may be made without increasing the transmission bandwidth. The receiving side has to perform signal separation by demodulating signals received by the receive antennas 3-1 to 3-N into signals from the multiple transmission antennas 1-1 to 1-M.
Among a variety of methods for demodulating MIMO multiplexed signal, a method of linear filter reception is used as a simpler method.
In case the MIMO multiplexing scheme is used for the single carrier signal, in addition to interferences from other transmission antennas, multipaths of a desired transmission antenna signal become interferences, and signal reception via a filter that simultaneously suppresses these interferences is effective. There has been proposed a frequency equalizer that performs this processing by signal processing in the frequency domain to appreciably reduce the computational load (See, for example, Non-Patent Document 1).
Since the frequency equalizer calculates equalizing weights, channel estimation in the frequency domain becomes necessary. There has been proposed a method of directly transforming a reference received signal into a frequency domain and correlation of the received signal with a reference signal is taken in the frequency domain to estimate channel estimation (See, for example, Non-Patent Document 2).
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration, as related technique, of using a frequency domain equalizer and frequency domain channel estimation as described in Non-Patent Documents 1 and 2 for a MIMO receiving apparatus of a single carrier signal. The following explanation is made of a MIMO receiving apparatus of the related technique, shown in FIG. 6, with the number of the transmission antennas of M and with the number of the receive antennas of N, where M and N are each an integer greater than or equal to 1. In FIG. 6, an internal configuration of a receiving block 100-1, associated with the first receive antenna, is shown. Receiving blocks 100-1 to 100-N are all of the same configuration. In the notation of the reference numerals, as used in the present specification, -1 and -N at the trailing ends of respective reference numerals denote that the components in question belong to the first block and the N'th block, respectively.
The MIMO receiving apparatus includes the following components:
cyclic prefix (CP) removing units 101-1 to 101-N;
fast Fourier transform (FFT) units 102-1 to 102-N;
subcarrier demapping units 103-1 to 103-N;
reference signal generating units 104-1 to 104-M;
correlation processing units 105-1-1 to 105-M-N;
IFFT (Inverse Fast Fourier Transform) units 106-1-1 to 106-M-N;
noise path removing units 107-1-1 to 107-M-N;
FFT units 108-1-1 to 108-M-N;
a weight calculating unit 109:
an equalization filter 110; and
IDFT (Inverse Discrete Fourier Transform) units 111-1 to 111-M.
The CP removing units 101-1 to 101-N each input a received signal and removes a portion corresponding to CP from the received signal.
The FFT units 102-1 to 102-N input the received signal from which CP is removed by the CP removing units 101-1 to 101-N and each perform NFET point FFT (where NFFT is powers of 2) to output a received signal transformed into a frequency domain.
The subcarrier demapping units 103-1 to 103-N each input the received signal transformed into the frequency domain by the FFT units 102-1 to 102-N, select only the subcarrier of a desired user and decimate unneeded subcarriers.
The reference signal generating units 104-1 to 104-M generate reference signals used for processing for correlation with a reference received signal.
The reference signal generating units 104-1 to 104-M make use of                a ZF (Zero-Forcing) method that entirely cancels out a code characteristics of the reference received signal;        a MMSE (Minimum Mean Square Error) method that suppresses noise increase in the correlation processing; and        a clipping method.
The correlation processing units 105-1-1 to 105-M-N each estimate a channel estimation value in the frequency domain based on correlation processing of the reference received signals and the reference signals. A channel estimation value HBF,m,n(k) of a transmission antenna m (1<=m<=M) and a receive antenna n (1<=n<=N) for a subcarrier k (1<=k<=NDFT) may be calculated by the following equation (1):HBF,m,n(k)=RRS,n(k)Xm′(k)  (1)
where Xm(k) denotes a reference signal of the transmission antenna in for the subcarrier k generated by a relevant one of the reference signal generating units 104-1 to 104-M and
RRS,n(k) denotes a reference received signal by the receive antenna n for the subcarrier k as obtained at a relevant one of subcarrier demapping units 103-1 to 103-N.
A suffix * denotes complex conjugate.
The IFFT units 106-1-1 to 106-M-N transform the channel estimation values in the frequency domain, estimated by the correlation processing units 105-1-1 to 105-M-N, into the channel response in the time domain.
The noise path removing units 107-1-1 to 107-M-N substitute zeros (0s) for signals (noise paths) at points including only noise to remove these noise-only point signals (noise paths) from the channel response which is an output of each of the IFFT units 106-1-1 to 106-M-N.
For each of the noise path removing units 107-1-1 to 107-M-N, a time window filter or noise threshold value control is used.
In the time window filter, it is supposed that the channel response is within a CP length, and signals of points other than the interval corresponding to the CP length are treated as a noise path and substituted with zeros (0s).
The noise threshold value control substitutes signals of points less than or equal to a preset threshold value with zeros (0s), as noise paths.
In case the time window filter and the noise threshold value control are used in conjunction, an average value of the noise outside the window of the time window filter may be used as a noise threshold value.
The FFT units 108-1-1 to 108-M-N each perform fast Fourier transform of the channel response from which the noise paths are removed by the noise path removing units 107-1-1 to 107-M-N, to output noise-suppressed channel estimation values in the frequency domain.
The weight calculating unit 109 inputs the noise-suppressed channel estimation values of the frequency domain, output from the FFT units 108-1-1 to 108-M-N, to calculate equalizing weights.
The weight calculating unit 109 generally uses an MMSE method or a ZF method.
The MMSE equalizing weight vector Wm(k) of the transmission antenna m for the subcarrier k is calculated by the following equation (2):
                                          W            m                                          (            k            )                          =                                                            H                                  AF                  ,                  m                                H                                                          (                k                )                                                                [                                                                    ∑                                                                  m                        ′                                            =                      1                                        M                                                                                H                                                  AF                          ,                                                      m                            ′                                                                                (                        k                        )                                                                                H                                                  AF                          ,                                                      m                            ′                                                                          H                                                                                (                        k                        )                                                                                +                                                      σ                    2                                                      I                                            ]                                            -            1                                              (        2        )
where HH denotes a complex conjugate transpose of H;
σ2 denotes a noise power; and
I denotes a unit matrix.
HAF,m(k) is an estimated channel vector between a transmission antenna m and a receive antenna for the subcarrier k. The estimated channel vector HAF,m(k) and the equalizing weight vector Wm(k) are defined respectively by the equations (3) and (4):HAF,m(k)=[HAF,m,1(k), HAF,m,2(k), . . . , HAF,m,N(k)]T  (3)Wm(k)=[Wm,1(k), Wm,2(k), . . . , Wm,N(k)]T  (4)
where T denotes transpose, and
each element of the estimated channel vector HAF,m(k) denotes a channel estimation value of the noise-suppressed frequency domain as an output of each of the FFT units 108-1-1 to 108-M-N.
The equalization filter 110 inputs the equalizing weights, calculated by the weight calculating unit 109, and the received signals, obtained by the subcarrier demapping units 103-1 to 103-N, to equalize the received signals in the frequency domain.
A transmission signal vector Y(k) for the subcarrier k, equalized and subjected to signal separation by the equalization filter 110 is calculated as shown in the equation (5), and defined by the equation (6):Y(k)=W(k)RD(k)  (5)Y(k)=[Y1(k), Y2(k), . . . , Ym(k)]T  (6)
where W(k) denotes a matrix of equalizing weights for the subcarrier k, and
RD(k) denotes a received signal vector for the subcarrier k. W(k) and RD(k) are respectively defined by equations (7) and (8), as given hereinbelow, respectively.
The elements of the received signal vector RD(k) denote received signals in the frequency domain as obtained by the subcarrier demapping units 103-1 to 103-N.W(k)=[W1(k), W2(k), . . . , WM(k)]T  (7)RD(k)=[RD,1(k), RD,2(k), . . . , RD,N(k)]T  (8)
The inverse discrete Fourier transform (IDFT) units 111-1 to 111-M input equalized frequency domain signals, output by the equalization filter 110, to perform MDR-points IDFT, where NIDFT is an integer greater than or equal to 2, thereby transforming the signals into time domain signals, which are output as demodulated signals.    Non-Patent Document 1:
Xu Zhu and Ross D. Murch, "Novel Frequency-Domain Equalization Architectures for a Single-Carrier Wireless MIMO System,", IEEE VTC2002-Fall, pp. 874-878, September 2002.    Non-Patent Document 2:
Kimata and Yoshida, "A Study of Frequency Domain Demodulation Scheme in Uplink Single-Carrier IFDMA", 2006 Shingku Sodai, B-5-36.


A ventilator for ceilings, walls or floors comprises two principal integers, an outlet means and a ventilation tube connector. These integers may be connected by screw-thread means which is operable from outside the ventilator either manually or by means of a special tool.

Air may be passed into a room through floor or ceiling ventilators or, less usually, through wall ventilators.
One particular problem with which the present invention is concerned is the placement and fixing of ventilators such as ceiling ventilators. Thus one type is known which makes use of spring-loaded catches connected to inner locations on such a ceiling ventilator. A suitably sized and shaped hole may be cut in the ceiling and a ventilator of this type inserted through the hole. The catches may then be tripped so that they grip the ceiling holding the ventilator in place. Such catches may not have sufficient strength to hold a heavy ventilator in position.
The object of the present invention is to overcome the problem outlined above and provide a ventilator which can be inserted, positioned and fastened from below the ceiling or outside the wall or above the floor.


The present invention relates to a blotting method for rapidly analyzing nucleic acid comprising the steps of transferring a nucleic acid to be analyzed to the substrate and fixing the nucleic acid to be analyzed absorbed on the substrate; directing adding a nucleic acid probe to hybridize in a short time, without blocking the areas where the nucleic acid to be analyzed has not been fixed; removing the nucleic acid probe which has not been annealed to the nucleic acid to be analyzed by washing; and finally detecting the hybridization signal. According to the present invention, since the prehybridization is not needed and the hybridization and washing time is shortened, the time for the nucleic acid hybridization is dramatically shortened. Therefore, the whole blotting procedures for rapidly analyzing nucleic acid may be finished quickly.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a method for analyzing nucleic acid, specially to a blotting method for rapidly analyzing nucleic acid in which the nucleic acid to be analyzed is directly transferred to a substrate, and the time for nucleic acid hybridization is shortened.
2. Technical Background
In the conventional gene cloning, in order to determine whether the gene or DNA fragment is correctly cloned in the carrier, the gel electrophoresis may be performed to analyze the molecular weight of the DNA. In addition, another more precise means is by hybridizing a nucleic acid probe with the DNA to be determined to analyze whether the DNA to be determined comprises the desired gene or DNA fragment. Likewise, in order to study the gene expression, the length and expression amount of mRNA generated after transcription, is required to be detected after the expression of gene, by hybridizing a nucleic acid probe with the RNA and then analyzing the length or copy number of the RNA.
A blotting method generally comprises the steps of absorbing the nucleic acid to be analyzed on a membrane, hybridizing and pairing the nucleic acid with a probe having specificity, and then presenting the result of the hybridization by the probe-marked present molecule in a presenting method such as coloring method, chemiluminescence method, radiography method and so on. The nucleic acid to be analyzed may be absorbed on the membrane by transferring from electrophoresis gel or directly dropping the nucleic acid to be analyzed on the membrane to make the nucleic acid penetrated therein. A blotting method in which a DNA sample transferred to the membrane by electrophoresis gel is hybridized with the probe is referred to as Southern blotting method. A blotting method in which a RNA sample transferred is hybridized is referred to as Northern blotting method. A blotting method in which the nucleic acid to be analyzed is directly dropped is referred to as dot-/slot-/spot blotting method according to the dropping area. The dot-/slot-/spot blotting method is usually applied in qualitative analysis or scores of analysis, because the analyzing time can be shortened due to the needlessness of electrophoresis for separation and transfer, and the cost is low due to the needlessness of electrophoresis and transferring devises and related agents.
Referring to FIG. 1, it is a flow chart showing the known dot blotting method. The whole blotting method comprises pretreatment of the membrane (step S10), treatment of the nucleic acid to be analyzed (step S20), hybridization of the nucleic acid (step S30) and detection of the hybridization signal (step S40). The membrane is firstly treated, the nucleic acid to be analyzed is dropped thereon, the nucleic acid is hybridized with a probe, and finally the hybridization signal is detected to finish the whole procedure of dot blotting.
The membrane pretreatment in step S10 comprises providing a membrane able to absorb the nucleic acid to be analyzed (step S11), and then soaking the membrane (step S12) to make the membrane be wet to further penetrate and absorb the nucleic acid to be analyzed. Currently conventional membrane includes nylon membrane and nitrocellulose membrane which is soaked completely in deionized water and then in 6 to 10 folds standard sodium citrate (SSC) for use, wherein 20 folds SSC comprises 3 M sodium chloride and 0.3 M sodium citrate of pH 7.0.
Prior to the hybridization, either DNA sample or RNA sample has to be subjected to denaturation to keep itself in a state of single chain, in order to pair with the probe of single chain. Accordingly, during treatment of the nucleic acid to be analyzed in step S20, the nucleic acid is prepared in step S21, denatured in step S22, and then dropped on the membrane in step S23. After being absorbed on the membrane, the nucleic acid to be analyzed is fixed thereon to prevent it from falling off in the subsequent hybridization process. The known fixing method for nucleic acid is to dry for 30 minutes to 2 hours at 80° C. in step S24, or to radiate with ultraviolet at 254 nm to form covalent crosslinkage between the nucleic acid molecules and cellulose of the membrane to fix the nucleic acid molecules thereon in step S25.
After being fixed on the membrane, the nucleic acid to be analyzed is then hybridized in step S30. The nucleic acid to be analyzed has not been fixed on some areas of the membrane where the nucleic acid can be still absorbed, and if these areas are not blocked, the added probe which is also nucleic acid will be non-specifically bonded to these areas of the membrane. Accordingly, prior to the hybridization, the step of prehybridization S31 has to be performed by adding a solution containing 5 folds SSC solution, 50% (v/v) formamide, 0.1% (w/v) sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) solution and 5% casein on the membrane and reacting them for 1 to 2 hours at 42° C. to block the areas where the nucleic acid to be analyzed has not been fixed.
Subsequently, in the hybridization step S32, the nucleic acid probe marked with enzyme or radioactive elements is added on the membrane having been subjected to the prehybridization, and is then reacted for more than 16 hours at 42° C. During this course, the probe can find and pair with the complementary nucleic acid to be analyzed. Then, in the washing step S33, the nucleic acid probe that is not paired will be washed off. During washing, a washing solution containing 2 folds SSC solution and 0.1% (w/v) SDS is used to wash twice at the ambient temperature and for 5 minutes each time. And then a washing solution containing 0.1 fold SSC solution and 0.1% (w/v) SDS is used to wash twice at 68° C. and for 15 minutes each time.
After the washing step S33, only the probes pairing with the nucleic acid to be analyzed remain on the membrane, and at this time the detection step S40 can be performed to detect the hybridization signal. A suitable detection method may be used to detect the hybridization signal according to the detecting molecules marked with the probe. The conventional detection method includes color reaction detection method S41 using the digoxigenin (DIG) system, radiography detection method S42 marking the radioactive element 32P or 35S, and chemiluminescence detection method S43 using HEX, Cy3 and Cy5.
It could be seen from the above steps that, in the known blotting method, it takes many procedures and long time to finish the membrane pretreatment (step S10), treatment of the nucleic acid to be analyzed (step S20), and hybridization of the nucleic acid (step S30), and it will take about 2 days to finish all the procedures including the detection of the hybridization signal (step S40). Such that the experiments of which the result is urgent to get can not be finished in a short time. In addition, if a lot of time and agents should be also used for some simple qualitative test of nucleic acid, the method will be not economical. Accordingly, it is required to develop a rapid blotting method in which the time and procedures for blotting analysis can be shortened and the background noise can be lowered. For either the simple test or scores of tests, the experiment time can be effectively shortened, and at the same time the cost of the consumed materials can be largely lowered.

Blotting method for rapidly analyzing nucleic acid


Provided is an apparatus for assigning identification information to a plurality of slave battery management units. The apparatus assigns different identification information to a plurality of slave battery management units. The apparatus includes: a casing jig configured to at least partially cover the plurality of slave battery management units; a wireless communication unit including a plurality of antennas disposed so as to correspond one-to-one to the plurality of slave battery management units; and a controller configured to control the wireless communication unit so as to transmit a wireless signal including different identification information to the plurality of slave battery management units.

Recently, as the demand for portable electronic products such as notebook computers, video cameras, and mobile phones is rapidly increasing and the development of electric vehicles, energy storage batteries, robots, satellites, and the like is being regularized, studies on high performance secondary batteries capable of repeated charge and discharge have been actively conducted.
Currently available secondary batteries include nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-hydrogen batteries, nickel-zinc batteries, and lithium secondary batteries. Of these, lithium secondary batteries have almost no memory effect as compared with nickel-based secondary batteries, and are thus free for charge and discharge and have a very low self-discharge rate and a high energy density. Due to these advantages, lithium secondary batteries have attracted attention.
A battery pack applied to an electric vehicle or the like typically includes a plurality of battery modules and a plurality of slave battery management units connected in series and/or in parallel. Each of the slave battery management units monitors and controls the state of the battery module to be managed. Recently, as large-capacity and high-output battery packs are required, the number of battery modules included in the battery pack is also increasing. In order to efficiently manage each battery module included in the battery pack, a multi-slave structure is disclosed. The multi-slave structure includes a plurality of slave battery management units installed in each battery module and a master battery management unit that controls the plurality of slave battery management units as a whole.
In a battery pack having a multi-slave structure, in order for a master battery management unit to collect state information of a plurality of battery modules from a plurality of slave battery management units and transmit a control command for the plurality of battery modules to the plurality of slave battery management units, each slave battery management unit must be assigned an ID indicating a physical or electrical position of a battery module to be managed.
Patent Literature 1 discloses a technique for sequentially assigning IDs to a plurality of slave battery management units. Patent Literature 1 proposes a method of assigning an ID in a state in which a master battery management unit is connected to each slave battery management unit by wire. However, in the ID assigning method according to Patent Literature 1, since it is assumed that the master battery management unit is connected to each slave battery management unit by wire, there are concerns such as disconnection of electric wires and space restriction is great. In addition, in order to set the IDs in the order of hardware positions of the respective slave battery management units, a process of measuring a potential difference by the batteries managed by each slave battery management unit must be preceded.
In addition, a method by which the master battery management unit assigns identification information to a plurality of slave battery management units in a wireless scheme may be considered. In order to assign identification information in a wireless scheme, the master battery management unit must precede a process of checking to which one of the plurality of battery modules included in the battery pack each slave battery management unit is electrically connected. However, even if each slave battery management unit wirelessly transmits, to the master battery management unit, module information (for example, potential, voltage, temperature, or the like) of the battery module to which the slave battery management unit is connected, it is difficult for the master battery management unit to determine by which of the plurality of slave battery management units each module information is transmitted.
(Patent Literature 1) Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2011-0013747 (published on Feb. 10, 2011)

Apparatus for assigning identification information to slave battery management units


To provide a technology capable of restraining direct current magnetic deviation in a transformer without providing a gap in a core, an axis of easy magnetization is provided in a second direction intersecting with a first direction along a magnetic circuit of the core to thereby bring a B-H characteristic of a material characteristic of the core into an unsaturated state.

The present invention relates to a transformer, particularly to a technology of improving direct current magnetic deviation of a core.
According to a transformer connected with a thyristor or the like on a primary side or a secondary side thereof, there is frequently a case in which direct current magnetic deviation is caused in a core. The direct current magnetic deviation is a phenomenon in which magnetic flux passing through a core is deviated to a side of positive or negative polarity on a B-H characteristic (characteristic of B-H curve) as a result of generating a direct current component in a coil. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of the direct current magnetic deviation when a load 4 such as a thyristor is connected to a secondary side of a transformer. As shown by FIG. 1, when voltage V1 in a shape of a sine wave is applied to, for example, a primary side winding 2, voltage in a shape of a sine wave is induced at a secondary side winding 3 and current i2 subjected to half-wave rectification by the load 4 flows and forms a direct current component level shown by a dotted line. The direct current component level of the current generates a magnetic field deviated to a positive or negative side (positive side in the drawing) and excites a core 1 in a state of being deviated to one side on a B-H characteristic (characteristic of B-H curve) (direct current magnetic deviation). When the direct current magnetic deviation is caused, loss such as hysteresis loss in the core is increased. Further, in many cases, the core 1 reaches a magnetically saturated state by the direct current magnetic deviation, harmonic components are generated also in magnetostriction and vibration or noise is also increased. Further, depending on cases, excessively large current flows in the primary sidewinding, which destructs an element or the like connected thereto.
As a measure of restraining the direct current magnetic deviation of the transformer, a technology of bringing the B-H characteristic of the core into an unsaturated characteristic as shown by a curve 6 in FIG. 2, is effective. A curve 5 shown for comparison is substantially a characteristic curve of a general core. By widening a range of magnetic field strength having the B-H characteristic shown by the unsaturated characteristic as in the curve 6, an amount of a change of magnetic flux in the case of causing the unsaturated B-H characteristic can be reduced. Conventionally, in order to realize the unsaturated B-H characteristic, (1) magnetic flux density is reduced by increasing a sectional area of the core or (2) the magnetic flux amount is restrained by increasing reluctance of a magnetic circuit by providing a gap portion in the magnetic circuit of the core. (2) is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 222454/1996. According to (1) of the prior art, since an amount of the core member is increased, volume or weight of the transformer is increased and the cost is also increased. Depending on cases, iron loss is also increased. Further, (2) gives rise to a reduction in core strength or an increase in noise by magnetic suction force operated at the gap portion. Particularly, in the case of a three-phase transformer, there is brought about a drawback in which excitation characteristics of respective phrases differ by a dispersion in the gap. Further, depending on cases, the magnetic suction force of the gap portion causes destruction of the core or scattering of debris of the core member.
In view of the above-described prior art, it is the problem of the present invention that in a transformer, (1) direct current magnetic deviation can be restrained without providing a gap in a core, (2) an increase in size or weight is not brought about, (3) an increase in the cost is not brought about.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a technology capable of resolving such problem.
In order to resolve the above-described problem, according to the present invention:
(1) There is constructed in such a manner that a transformer comprises a core for the transformer in which a B-H characteristic of a material characteristic in a direction along a magnetic circuit is brought into an unsaturated state and a primary side winding and a secondary side winding wound around the core for the transformer and the transformer is operated in the unsaturated region.
(2) There is constructed in such a manner that a transformer comprises a core for the transformer having an axis of easy magnetization in a second direction intersecting with a first direction along a magnetic circuit and a primary side winding and a secondary side winding wound around the core for the transformer.
(3) In the above-described (2), the core for the transformer is constituted by an amorphous metal.
(4) In the above-described (1) or (2), the core for the transformer is constituted by being laminated with core members each in a shape of a thin strip.
(5) In any of the above-described (2) through (4), the axis of easy magnetization of the core for the transformer is formed by applying a magnetic field in an annealing operation.
(6) There is provided a core for a transformer used in any of the transformers according to the above-described (1) through (5).
(7) As a method of fabricating a core for a transformer, the core for the transformer is fabricated after having been processed by a step of laminating core members each in a shape of a strip and forming the core members in a ring-like shape and a step of applying a direct current magnetic field in a direction intersecting with a direction along a magnetic circuit of the transformer to the formed core members in an annealing operation to thereby form an axis of easy magnetization of the core in a direction of the magnetic field.
(8) In the above-described (7), the direct current magnetic field is applied in a direction substantially orthogonal to the direction along the magnetic circuit of the transformer.
(9) As a method of fabricating a core for a transformer, the core of the transformer is fabricated after having been processed by a step of laminating core members each in a shape of a thin strip and forming the core members in a ring-like shape and a step of applying a direct current magnetic field in a first direction along a magnetic circuit of the transformer and a direct current magnetic field in a second direction intersecting with the first direction to the formed core members in an annealing operation to thereby form an axis of easy magnetization of the core in a direction of a magnetic field synthesized with the two magnetic fields.
(10) As a method of fabricating a core for a transformer, a core of a transformer is formed after having been processed by a step of subjecting core members to material taking from a magnetic material having an axis of easy magnetization substantially in a constant direction such that the axis of easy magnetization constitutes a direction intersecting with a direction along a magnetic circuit of the transformer and a step of laminating the core members.

Method of fabricating a core for a transformer


A boiler for converting water to steam comprising a boiler enclosure having walls. An upper drum and a lower drum supported on the walls. First boiler tubes connected to the upper drum and to the lower drum. Second boiler tubes are connected to the upper drum and to the lower drum. The boiler tubes are bent in a serpentine shape having crests and bases. The crests of the first boiler tubes are spaced from the crests of the second boiler tubes. The bases of the first boiler tubes are disposed adjacent the bases of the second boiler tubes and form combustion chambers which receive cylindrical burners. A convection pass is formed between the boiler tubes and the sides, top and bottom of the enclosure. Heat absorbing tubes are located in the convection pass. Outer wall tubes are connected to the drums and supported on the inside of the enclosure walls. Heat transfer tubes are placed between the boiler tubes and the outer border tubes.

This invention relates to water tube boilers fitted with burners which are intended to combust gaseous or liquid fuels where low levels including ultra low levels of emissions of gaseous oxides of nitrogen (NO.sub.x) are required. Low levels of NO.sub.x is defined as concentrations less than 50 parts per million parts and ultra low NO.sub.x is defined as concentrations of less than 10 parts per million parts in combustion gases that are discharged to the atmosphere.
Oxides of Nitrogen (NO.sub.x) are unwanted atmospheric pollutants that are formed by high temperature chemical reactions between nitrogen in combustion air or in fuel and oxygen in combustion air. For boilers, NO.sub.x are combustion formed gases generated by utilizing gaseous, liquid or solid fuels for the generation of steam where temperatures in the highly turbulent flames approach the adiabatic temperature.
Several techniques of combustion modification are important to control the level of NO.sub.x in boiler off-gases and all rely on a means to reduce maximum flame temperature. All of the means of combustion modification rely on the integration of boiler design with burner characteristics to produce the lowest possible flame temperature. This integration involves setting a relationship between the amount of radiant heat absorbing surface of the boiler tube walls making up the combustion chamber and the combustion volume devoted to a single burner. Conventional water tube boilers, which have non-partitioned combustion chambers, have a geometric relationship between the volume contained by the water-cooled walls of the combustion chamber and the surface of the walls. As dimensions between walls are increased to produce larger combustion volumes required for greater capacities, the amount of surface of the walls increases, but not at the same proportion. Volume increases are greater than the attendant increase in radiant heating surface.
Flame temperatures (which are inversely influenced by the amount of radiant surface) are greater at higher capacity if, by design, the volume of the combustion chamber relative to heat input is held constant. Or, if the ratio of radiant surface to heat input is held constant, combustion volume increases unnecessarily and the overall dimensions of the boiler will increase.
The utilization of clean gaseous fuels, such as natural gas, and clean liquid fuels, such as distillate fuel oil, to generate steam is well known for convenience, less restrictive design and few operational problems. Also, using clean gaseous fuels is encouraged because the amount of photo-chemical and other air pollutants discharged into the atmosphere will be lower. One of the air pollutants of primary concern are chemical compounds of nitrogen and oxygen identified as NO.sub.x and usually reported chemically as NO.sub.2. NO.sub.x is photo-chemical contributing to smog and acid rain. Experience has shown that the average temperature at which combustion takes place and also the maximum temperature that occurs when a fuel is burned have direct relationships to the amount of NO.sub.x that will be formed. This means that higher flame temperatures within a boiler combustion chamber will increase the amount of NO.sub.x formed and discharged from the boiler.
This invention provides a combustion chamber design that utilizes well-known principles of radiant heat transfer combined with novel arrangements of the boiler's water tubes to absorb heat from fuels as they are being burned so as to lower combustion temperatures and thus, prevent formation of significant quantities of NO.sub.x.
The relationship between furnace walls heat absorbing surface and combustion volume is different with the novel design since there are a number of individually partitioned combustion chambers in parallel to each other. A separate burner is fitted to each combustion chamber. The design offers a way to have reasonably similar relationships of combustion volume and radiant heat absorbing surface for any boiler capacity. Additionally, the separate chambers will increase the radiant heat absorbing surface for the combustion volume normally seen for conventional boilers, thus, it offers a means for naturally decreasing maximum flame temperatures and thermally produced gaseous emissions.
Applicant is aware of the following U.S. patents: French 2,529,078; Behr 2,561,839; Druham 2,860,612; Vorkauf 2,988,063; Fujii 3,198,177; Beggs 3,221,711; Golibruzuch 3,245,395; Kendall, et al 4,154,568; Kendall, et al 4,204,829; Schreiber, et al 4,318,392; Schreiber, et al 4,412,523; Kendall, et al 4,492,185; Kendall, et al 4,494,485; Kesselring, et al 4,519,770; Krill, et al 4,543,940; Kendall 4,658,762; Kendall, et al 4,664,620; Kendall et al 4,730,559; and, Kendall, et al 4,809,672.


Details of media encoding and decoding devices which support generic homing sequences, and methods for operating such devices are disclosed. The use of generic homing sequences may permit an embodiment of the disclosed invention to support real-time, bit-exact testing of existing and future media encoding and decoding devices. An embodiment of the present invention may permit the initialization of encoding and decoding algorithms to a known state, enabling bit-exact testing of a large group of devices using these algorithms, including those whose specifications do not support such functionality. This capability may permit the full-speed, bit-exact, testing, of both locally and remotely situated media encoders and decoders.

To an ever increasing degree, forms of human communication such as voice, music, and video are transported in compressed digital form, both in wired and wireless systems. The accuracy of the conversion of signals such as these to their compressed digital counterparts, and back again, is an important consideration in communication system development and operation. To help ensure the consistent reproduction of these signals, the encoding and decoding ("media coding") algorithms used are precisely defined in standards. For example, some of the standards which specify the behavior of a voice encoder or decoder ("vocoder") do so in terms of the expected vocoder digital output response to an input sequence of digital test vectors. A subset of vocoder implementations may be validated by first initializing the vocoder to a known state, and then verifying that the output bits of the encoder or decoder exactly match that defined by the applicable standard for each defined test vector. This method of testing is referred to as "bit exact" testing.
To enable bit-exact testing, the developers of some vocoder standards have incorporated the detection of a "homing sequence" into the encoder and decoder specifications. A homing sequence allows the encoder or decoder to be reset to a known "initial" or "starting" state. For example, the vocoders defined by International Telecommunications Union-Telecommunications Standardization Sector (ITU-T) Recommendation G.726, and the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) Adaptive Multi-Rate Transcoder standard (described in European Telecommunication Standards Institute (ETSI) EN 301 703) are examples of two vocoders that recognize homing sequences. Most vocoder standards currently in use, however, do not specify homing sequences, making real-time, bit-exact testing of the majority of vocoders a difficult task.
Vocoders are typically implemented as software processes running on a digital signal processor (DSP), and development and testing of vocoder software is generally done using an integrated circuit device ("chip") simulator. Such systems do not normally run at the full operating speed of the chip on which the vocoder algorithms will eventually be used. Because of this, many vocoder software implementations have not been fully verified while running in a real-time environment.
Complicating the testing of vocoder software is that fact that in use, a single vocoder device may encode and decode speech data for a large number of voice channels, where each voice channel is processed using any one of a number of different vocoder standards. At any point in time, each encoder or decoder algorithm may be in any one of a number of states, which makes complete testing of a vocoder system designed to support tens or even hundreds of voice channels an extremely difficult task. When software problems are suspected, it may be difficult to reproduce the exact software state in which the error occurs due to the vast number of variables involved, and the difficulty of testing the system under normal operating conditions.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with some aspects of the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Generic on-chip homing and resident, real-time bit exact tests


An inserter for attaching a modular yoke to a bone screw and for providing an indication of attachment, comprises a tubular body having a central lumen, distal and proximal ends, and an attachment portion for releasable attachment to a yoke having a bottom opening for receipt of a head of said bone screw. The inserter includes an inner shaft having a distal end configured to be received into the yoke, the shaft being axially movable within the lumen from first to second axial positions in response to the introduction of the bone screw head into the yoke bottom opening. An indicator button supported by the body is movable in response to axial movement of the shaft from a first indicator position indicating the first axial position of the shaft relative to the body to a second indicator position indicating the second axial position of the shaft relative to the body.

Traditional polyaxial pedicle screws comprise an elongate shaft threaded at one end and a head, typically having a spherical surface, at the other end. A yoke having a U-shaped channel for receiving a spinal fixation rod is typically pre-assembled to the screw head in a manner to allow articulating movement of the yoke relative to the threaded shaft. In a modular pedicle screw construction, the yoke is configured to be articulatingly attached to the screw head in situ subsequent to the threaded installation of the threaded shaft into a pedicle. Certain efforts have been made to provide modular tensioned pedicle screws wherein the modular yoke may be attached to the spherical head of the pedicle screw by an inserter to hold and properly attach the yoke to a screw in situ after threaded installation into a pedicle of a vertebral body. One example of such an inserter is shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,876,869, entitled "Polyaxial Bone Screw Assembly", issued on Nov. 4, 2014 to Schafer et al. (the '869 patent). The inserter disclosed in the '869 patent is described as having the capability to test the attachment of the yoke to the bone screw so as to verify that the yoke is securely attached.
Nevertheless, there is a desire for an inserter for use in attaching a modular yoke to a bone screw that is easy to use and provides an indication that the yoke is properly attached to the bone screw.


Techniques for providing a differential backup from a storage image are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for providing a differential backup from a storage image comprising identifying one or more dirty blocks in a storage image, creating a differential backup data structure, and transmitting the one or more dirty blocks to a data management process utilizing the differential backup data structure to provide a differential backup.

Backups may be created utilizing several different methods. The different methods each may have their advantages, but utilizing different backup methods for a common backup client may not be compatible. For example, backups may be created at a file system block level. Backups may also be created at an application level, which may ensure that the application has the data to ensure that the application is in a consistent state. Backups may be full backups, meaning that they cover an entire set of data required to restore a system. Backups may also be partial or differential backups which may store only data since a previous backup. Application level backups and block level backups may be either full or differential backups. Maintaining a chronological order to backups may be important to ensure data integrity when restoring a system using the backups.
Different types of backups may have incompatibilities with each other. For example, block level backups may have incompatibilities with application level backups. Specifically, restoring a differential block based backup may prevent subsequent utilization of an application level backup. For example, if a user has block level backups and database level backups, the restoration of a differential block level backup may prevent the restoration of a database level backup. For example, if a user has a full block level backup from a Sunday night, a block level backup from Monday, and a database level differential backup from Tuesday, the user may be prevented from utilizing the database backup from Tuesday if the user relies on the block level backups.
Also, a block level backup may restore a system to a state in which a database is not capable of applying application level backups created after the block level backup was created. For example, if critical data is accidentally deleted from the database on Tuesday afternoon, a user may want to use a database level differential backup from Tuesday to restore transactions up to a point in time prior to the accidental deletion of the data.
Other applications may have similar conditions which require application level backups. However, block level backups may provide advantages over application level backups, such as with the backup of data associated with multiple applications, speed, and other advantages. For example, a storage image (e.g., a block level backup), such as a snapshot, may be created when a database or another application is running. This may provide a block level full backup without disruption to a user.
Additionally, many block level full backups may be sent to storage remote from a backup client. This may be done for safety, storage concerns, or other reasons. Sending a full backup from a remote location to a client for restoration may not be desirable if an application level differential backup would enable restoration of the client.
In view of the foregoing, it may be understood that there are significant problems and shortcomings associated with current data backup technologies.


A durable reusable target apparatus with on-target visual display is described. In embodiments of the invention, pie-shaped target sectors surround a bull's eye sector. Each sector may be associated with one or more illuminated display segments. The display segments are visible at a distance, enabling shooters to determine the sector hit, and to adjust a next shot without looking away, thereby improving shooter proficiency. Various training mode are available. Methods for determining the target sector impacted and algorithms for asserting the correct display segment(s) are described. By utilizing on-target display segments, embodiments of the invention enable the shooter to ascertain the accuracy of the shot without looking away from the sights on the firearm or from the target.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention described herein pertain to the field of targets. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, one or more embodiments of the invention enable a durable target apparatus and method of on-target visual display in which a shooter is presented with an on-target representation of the approximate location of a point of impact of a bullet fired by the shooter. In one or more embodiments of the invention, the shooter receives immediate visual feedback for each shot without requiring the shooter to look away from the target.
2. Description of the Related Art
Traditionally, shooters who participate in target practice are unable to see the point of impact of the bullet on a typical non-durable paper target downrange because of the small diameter of the bullet hole on the target. At a typical target practice session, shooters take one or more shots at a target, and then periodically set down the firearm and view the target through a spotting scope, or alternatively, make their weapon safe and physically approach the target. The shooter then attempts to correlate the marks on the target with previous shots. Occasionally, a bullet leaves no additional hole in the target, for example, when the bullet passes through a hole previously made by another bullet that has already passed through the target. Not only is this approach to determining shot location time consuming, shooters have difficulty improving because they do not receive immediate feedback for every shot and in many cases are unsure as to which shot has produced which hole.
Improved paper targets exist which "splatter" or "flake" to provide an enlarged area about the hole in the target where the bullet has passed. There are also targets that show a different color around the bullet hole in the target, some of which are fluorescent for example. These targets attempt to provide on-target visual feedback directly on the target that is more visible than a hole in a non-splatter target. These targets still are problematic in that a shot through an existing hole in a target with two or more shots through it already provides no feedback to the user as to which hole the shot passed through. In addition, these targets are non-durable, for example penetrable, so must be purchased and replaced, cannot be printed out directly by a shooter on his or her own printer, and must be patched to cover the holes with the same type of material that splatters or flakes.
Mechanical targets exist that simply allow a shooter to know if the target was hit or not. In other words, there is no indication as to which side of the target or how far from the bull's eye a shot has hit. For example, some mechanical targets move when hit by a bullet and present, for example, a different colored target. This type of target is used in the biathlon, for example. Other mechanical based targets simply fall over when hit. Alternatively, a silhouette target makes a loud noise when hit. In addition, mechanical targets generally require some type of action to replace the target to its original position. One method for restoring the position of the target is to shoot a target that is mechanically attached to the other targets that have fallen, which provides mechanical energy that pushes the target back to its vertical orientation.
To provide immediate feedback to competitors in shooting matches, systems have been developed that display the exact shot location to the shooter after each shot, generally by employing a television to show the exact location of the shot displayed on a nearby television monitor. However, these systems require shooters to take their eyes off the sights or target to view the last shot location displayed on the nearby monitor. This approach prevents shooters from immediately critiquing their shot because they need to take their eyes away from their sights to view the television monitor. For example, in an Olympic "standard pistol" timed or rapid-fire stage, five shots are fired within 20 seconds or 10 seconds for example. It is impossible to put the firearm down and check each shot displayed on the monitor as each shot occurs in the time limit allotted.
Other systems exist that detect shot impacts on a target using sensors mounted behind the target. A combination of very complex equations is solved to triangulate the approximate location of the shot and many of these systems must be tuned to type of bullet being shot. For example, some systems require thicker metal for various bullet calibers so that the impact of the bullet is only detected by a single impact sensor, or minimal number of impact sensors mounted on the rear of the target. By using thicker metal, or stronger springs in the impact sensors, or high gas compression in the sensors, the number of sensors that register a shot can be kept to one or two for example. For these systems, if a shot is directly in between two sensors, two lights may be presented causing confusion. Complex arbitration logic is then required to only display one light. In addition, these systems generally present lights or a score on a board of display that looks like a target, but do not present lights directly on or about the target to minimize the time and angle that a shooter looks away from the actual target. Hence, these systems are not suitable for "action" shooting, moving target practice, timed or rapid fire shooting. Some systems require carved grooves in the rear portion of the target as well to limit the sensors that trigger when an impact from a bullet occurs. This requires extra manufacturing steps and provides areas on the target that can break if not properly curved, for example. Other systems drill holes in the back of the target which increases costs and in mentioned. Still other systems utilize complex circuitry to clock the differences in time between sensor triggers to calculate exact locations of the shot impact.
It would be desirable to have a firearm targeting system that could provide a plurality of modes, such as high-low training and/or left-right training and/or sector and bull's eye based training wherein the feedback to the shooter is presented immediately on-target, downrange from the shooter. It would also be an advantage to have a firearm targeting system that employs a simple sensor network and hardened target plate that can be used for all calibers of bullets. Furthermore, it would be an advantage to have a firearm targeting system that could prompt a shooter to shoot at a sequence of targets and provide immediate feedback of success directly on the target. Furthermore, it would be an advantage to have a moving target system that provides feedback of success directly on the target and visible downrange of the shooter, without requiring the shooter to look away from the target. For at least the limitations described above there is a need for a durable target apparatus and method of on-target visual feedback display that enable shooters receive immediate feedback of each shot without requiring the shooter to look away from the sights on the firearm or target.

Durable target apparatus and method of on-target visual display


A method and apparatus for managing image stretching, including text image stretching, on a display panel. A video system for controlling the display panel includes a device (e.g., a video device driver) for indicating if the video system is capable of stretching the image. The video system also includes a second device (e.g., a video BIOS program) for activating the image stretching if it is indicated that the video system is capable of stretching the image. The video system may include a third device (e.g., a video chipset) for stretching an image presented for display on the display panel if image stretching is activated.

The invention relates to image stretching.
A high resolution liquid crystal display (LCD) panel has discrete pixels, whereas a traditional analog cathode ray tube (CRT) monitor uses nondiscrete scalable pixels. On a high resolution LCD panel, standard text mode video images use only a portion of the screen rather than the entire viewable area.
Text image stretching is a method in which an original text mode video image of a given resolution and number of pixels is xe2x80x9cstretchedxe2x80x9d (by interpolation) to fill a larger video screen area. This is useful for allowing a smaller amount of video screen information to fill a physically larger screen space for ease of viewing.
As a simple example, a standard video text screen might consist of 640 pixels horizontally by 480 pixels vertically, used to display 80 horizontal characters by 25 vertical characters each 8 pixels wide by 16 pixels high. For a physical screen capable of a larger number of pixels, such as a super VGA (SVGA) LCD display with a resolution of 800 horizontal by 600 vertical pixels, the text screen would fill only 80% of the physical screen, leaving 20% of the screen unused. Text stretching would stretch all the characters, perhaps to 10 pixels horizontal by 20 pixels vertical, to fill the entire physical video screen area. No additional information is displayed, but the entire display is used.
Typically, there is no interaction between the video device driver and the video BIOS in a computer system with respect to text image stretching, as the video device driver controls graphics display, not text display. Text image stretching is activated when the video BIOS in the computer system programs special registers in the video chipset. The special registers indicate if text stretching has been activated, the dimensions of the stretch, and the algorithm used to perform the stretch. The video BIOS can activate text image stretching either automatically or in response to a command entered by a user through a user interface such as a keyboard. Once activated, the video chipset will perform the text image stretching when a text image is presented for display. Text stretching can be deactivated by the user, which will cause the video BIOS to clear the special registers.
In general, in one aspect, the invention features a method of managing stretching of an image on a display panel of a computer system. The method includes setting a stored value to indicate if the computer system is capable of stretching the image and checking the value prior to image stretching. If the value is set indicating the computer system is capable of stretching the image, then image stretching is activated.
Certain implementations of the invention include one or more of the following features. The image presented for display on the display panel is stretched if image stretching is activated. The display panel includes a non-scalable pixel array or a liquid crystal display panel. The value includes a register bit. The computer system includes a video system for controlling the display panel and for setting the value. The video system includes a video device driver for setting the value, and the value is set within a hardware video driver. The value is set if a video device driver specific to the hardware video driver is available, and the hardware video driver includes a video chipset or a register for storing the value. The value is checked by video firmware, which includes a video BIOS program. The image stretching includes text image stretching.
In general, in another aspect, the invention features a video system for controlling an image on a display panel of a computer system. The video system includes a device for setting a value to indicate if the video system is capable of stretching the image. The video system further includes a second device for checking the value and activating the image stretching if the value is set indicating the video system is capable of stretching the image.
Certain implementations of the invention include one or more of the following features. The video system includes a third device for stretching an image presented for display on the display panel if image stretching is activated. The display panel includes a non-scalable pixel array or a liquid crystal display panel. The value includes a register bit. The first device includes a video device driver. The video system further includes a hardware video driver in which the value is set. The value is set if a video device driver specific to the hardware video driver is available, and the hardware video driver includes a video chipset or a register for storing the value. The second device includes video firmware, which includes a video BIOS program. The image stretching includes text image stretching.
In general, in another aspect, the invention features a computer system including a display panel and a video system for controlling an image on the display panel. The video system includes a device for setting a value to indicate if the video system is capable of stretching the image. The video further includes a second device for checking the value and activating the image stretching if the value is set indicating the video system is capable of stretching the image.
Certain implementations of the invention include one or more of the following features. The video system includes a third device for stretching an image presented for display on the display panel if image stretching is activated. The display panel includes a non-scalable pixel array or a liquid crystal display panel. The value includes a register bit. The first device includes a video device driver. The video system further includes a hardware video driver in which the value is set. The value is set if a video device driver specific to the hardware video driver is available, and the hardware video driver includes a video chipset or a register for storing the value. The second device includes video firmware, which includes a video BIOS program. The computer system includes a hard disk drive for initially storing the video device driver. The computer system also includes a keyboard on which a user can enter a command to cause the second device to activate image stretching if the value is set indicating the video system is capable of stretching the image. The image stretching includes text image stretching.
In general, in another aspect, the invention features a video system for controlling an image on a display panel of a computer system. The video system includes a device for indicating if the video system is capable of stretching the image. The video system further includes a second device for activating the image stretching if the first device indicates the video system is capable of stretching the image.
Certain implementations of the invention include one or more of the following features. The video system includes a third device for stretching an image presented for display on the display panel if image stretching is activated. The display panel includes a liquid crystal display panel. The first device includes a video device driver, and the second device includes video firmware.
Certain implementations of the invention have one or more of the following advantages. Text image stretching can be activated on all platforms on which a custom video device driver can be developed. An xe2x80x9cinterlockxe2x80x9d is provided from the video device driver to the video BIOS to enable the video BIOS to safely activate text image stretching without risking damage to the display panel.
Other advantages and features will become apparent from the following description and from the claims.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


Recombinant carrier molecules having amino acid sequences from thermostable enzymes and methods of use for expression, recovery and delivery of foreign sequences (peptides and polypeptides) produced in different systems (bacteria, yeast, DNA, cell cultures such as mammalian, plant, insect cell cultures, protoplast and whole plants in vitro or in vivo are provided. The recombinant carrier molecule using sequences from lichenase B (Lic B) were also made and used as part of carrier protein to express, recover and deliver a variety of target polypeptides of interest.

Vaccines are the most effective means for preventing and even eliminating infectious diseases. Although there are a number of efficacious vaccines based on full pathogens, development of safer more potent and cost effective vaccines based on portions of pathogen (subunit vaccines) is important. During the last two decades several approaches to the expression (bacterial, yeast, mammalian cell culture and plant) and delivery (DNA, live virus vectors, purified proteins, plant virus particles) of vaccine antigens have been developed. All these approaches have significant impact on the development and testing of newly developed candidate vaccines. However, there is a need for improving expression and delivery systems to create more efficacious but safer vaccines with fewer side effects. Some of the desired features or future vaccines are (a) to be highly efficacious (stimulates both arms of immune system), (b) to have known and controlled genetic composition, (c) to have time efficiency of the system, (d) to be suitable for expression of both small size peptides and large size polypeptides, (e) to be suitable for expression in different systems (bacteria, yeast, mammalian cell cultures, live virus vectors, DNA vectors, transgenic plants and transient expression vectors), and (f) to be capable of forming structures such as aggregates or virus like particles that are easy to recover and are immunogenic.
Thus, there is a need for novel carrier molecules for engineering, development and delivery of efficacious subunit vaccines. These carrier molecules should provide advantages and flexibility for: expressing commercially sufficient quantities of target polypeptide in different systems, economical recovery of target polypeptides from source material, accommodating different size (4 amino acids and higher) polypeptides, accommodating tandem repeats of target polypeptides, providing enhanced immune function, use as a high throughput screening tool, and use as a delivery tool for vaccine antigens and disease markers.

Recombinant carrier molecule for expression, delivery and purification of target polypeptides


A method of fabricating an overvoltage protection device and an over-voltage circuit protection device are provided. The over-voltage circuit protection device includes a plurality of transient voltage suppression (TVS) devices coupled in electrical parallel.

This description relates to semiconductor electronic devices, and, more particularly, to a method and system for providing over-voltage protection using semiconductor devices.
Metal Oxide Varistors (MOV) are passive over-voltage protection devices that are used widely in electronic circuits. MOVs have a high energy absorption capability and can therefore withstand currents of, for example, several kilo Amperes (kA). However, MOVs also have several disadvantages such as, but, not limited to: (a) a relatively high resistance due to relatively low alpha (α) values; (b) a high voltage drop, which exposes any sensitive electronic circuits being protected, to voltages that can be detrimental for the circuit health; (c) a limited life, because at a peak rated current of the MOV, the MOV is rated for a limited number of over-voltage events at the rated breakdown voltage as the dielectric material of which the MOV is made degrades substantially each time high currents flow through it; (d) a relatively large active area requirement due to a low current density of the MOV material to enable them to carry a relatively high current; (e) a relatively high capacitance; and (f) a potential flammability/explosivity hazard at certain fault conditions because of potting materials that MOVs contain.
Although silicon devices have been used for preventing sensitive electronics coupled in parallel to transient voltage suppressor (TVS) devices from being subjected to voltage spikes caused by, for example, lightning strikes and being damaged, they are not suitable for high temperature operation. Silicon devices tend to leak higher current as temperature increases, with the current reaching unacceptably high values in ambient temperatures greater than approximately 150° C., which makes them unsuitable to be used in ambient temperatures of 225° C. or more needed for aviation applications requiring core engine-mounted electronics such as distributed engine control or for large current carrying applications where I2R losses can account for the high temperature in the device. Moreover, known TVS devices typically are packaged using epoxy encapsulation. Epoxy packaging tends to induce large thermal strains within the TVS device structure above approximately 185° C. and to begin to decompose.

Method and system for over-voltage protection using transient voltage suppression devices


A dispensing toothbrush includes a toothpaste filled reservoir handle which is attached to a hollow neck which is integral with a hollow brush head. A piston is movable within the reservoir handle for pushing toothpaste toward the hollow neck by way of a suction plunger. A plunger actuating button is connected to the suction plunger which forms first and second chambers in communication with the reservoir handle and the hollow neck. Depressing the plunger button depresses the suction plunger and pushes toothpaste through the hollow neck and a hole in the brush head onto the brush bristles. A vented cover is disposed over the brush head and a floss dispenser is attached to the reservoir handle opposite the end which is attached to the hollow neck.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to brush type cleaning devices, and in one of its aspects to a brush type cleaning device which dispenses a cleaning compound or other flowable material, such as a toothbrush which dispenses toothpaste or gel or other dentifrice and dental floss.
2. Description of Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,383 (Glover et al.) shows a paste dispensing brush which includes a stem 12 having a tapered bore therein, and a tapered piston 100 disposed within said tapered bore and "having an outer contour which at least substantially corresponds to the contour of said tapered bore such that said tapered piston will nest in said tapered bore."
U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,489 (Harman et al.) shows a spring which is associated with an entire assembly, occupying the entire width of the cartridge. It also includes a brush aperture blocking member 74, which divides stem bore 18 into a dry portion and a "pumping chamber."


A high dielectric constant (high-k) gate dielectric for a field effect transistor (FET) and a high-k tunnel dielectric for a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) device are simultaneously formed on a semiconductor substrate. A stack of at least one conductive material layer, a control gate dielectric layer, and a disposable material layer is subsequently deposited and lithographically patterned. A planarization dielectric layer is deposited and patterned, and disposable material portions are removed. A remaining portion of the control gate dielectric layer is preserved in the NVRAM device region, but is removed in the FET region. A conductive material is deposited in gate cavities to provide a control gate for the NVRAM device and a gate portion for the FET. Alternately, the control gate dielectric layer may replaced with a high-k control gate dielectric in the NVRAM device region.

The present disclosure generally relates to semiconductor devices, and particularly to field effect transistors including a non-volatile memory device employing a high dielectric constant (high-k) control gate dielectric, and methods of manufacturing the same.
The tunnel oxide in non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) devices does not scale with traditional silicon oxynitrides due to the need for reduction of effective oxide thickness (EOT). At the same time, the capacitance of the control gate dielectric needs to maintain a certain level of capacitance. A method is desired for simultaneously enabling device scaling on NVRAM devices and on other types of devices employing a single gate dielectric.

Non-volatile memory structure employing high-k gate dielectric and metal gate

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A method and apparatus for attaching an insert in an opening in a molded thermoplastic body. The insert includes a thermoplastic mounting portion which is fused with the thermoplastic material of the body. The insert is maintained in a spaed position from the opening during the heating portion of the molding cycle and positioned within the opening while the thermoplastic material is still sufficiently hot to fuse with the thermoplastic mounting portion of the insert.

The present invention relates to a method for attaching an insert at least partly composed of thermoplastic material in an opening into a hollow body having at least a portion thereof formed of a thermoplastic material for attachment of the insert. More specifically, the invention is related to a method and apparatus for mounting an insert having a thermoplastic mounting portion in the opening into a molded thermoplastic hollow body.
In accordance with prior art techniques for producing hollow bodies, such as drums or tanks, the body is usually completely fabricated and the insert is then attached using screws and, optionally, a sealing ring. Alternatively, the insert may be welded or glued to the outside of the body over an opening provided in the wall of the body for this purpose.
The foregoing methods are expensive due to the manual labor and expertise required to attach the insert to the hollow body. Also, an insert attached with such methods does not provide a sufficiently tight seal between the body and the insert, especially if the body is to be subjected to internal pressure during its use.
In rotational molding or casting techniques, the complex mold movements, high molding temperatures and long molding cycles are believed sufficiently severe to have heretofore substantially precluded automatic insert assembly techniques. For example, polyethylene drums having about a 2' diameter and a 4' height require about a 15 minute molding cycle at 500.degree. F.
In contrast with the foregoing relatively severe conditions of rotational molding, blow molding of similarly sized drums is done in a stationary mold apparatus using about a 5 minute cycle and a parison temperature of about 300.degree. F. Thus, it has been possible in blow molding techniques to mount an insert for the hollow body opening on the blow pin and, after blowing, to retract the blow pin to cause the insert to contact and fuse with the body wall.

Method and apparatus for attaching an insert in a hollow body


Cosmetic compositions and methods, particularly for skin lightening, using N-acylbenzothiazolone compound and derivatives of general formula I as skin lightening agents alone or in combination with other skin benefit agents and together with a cosmetic vehicle:

Many people are concerned with the degree of pigmentation of their skin. For example, people with age spots or freckles may wish such pigmented spots to be less pronounced. Others may wish to reduce the skin darkening caused by exposure to sunlight or to lighten their natural skin color. To meet this need, many attempts have been made to develop products that reduce the pigment production in the melanocytes. However, the substances identified thus far tend to have either low efficacy or undesirable side effects, such as, for example, toxicity or skin irritation. Therefore, there is a continuing need for new cosmetic skin lightening agents, with improved overall effectiveness.
For example, certain resorcinol derivatives, particularly 4-substituted resorcinol derivatives, are useful in cosmetic compositions for skin lightening benefits, as disclosed in Hu et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,132,740; Bradley, et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,504,037 and 6,861,564; Japanese published patent applications JP 2001-010925 and JP2000-327557; and Harichian et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,852,310.
Applicants have now discovered that N-acylbenzothiazolones, particularly 3-propionylbenzothiazol-2-one, and derivative compounds deliver skin lightening benefits. The general chemical formulas and structures of these compounds are discussed in more detail herein below. The 3-propionylbenzothiazol-2-one and derivative compounds have been found to be cosmetically effective and possibly less irritating to the skin. These compounds of the present invention have not been used in cosmetics, nor have they been used, specifically, for lightening skin.
The synthesis of 3-propionylbenzothiazol-2-one is described in Ucar, et al., "Fries-Like' Rearrangement: a Novel and Efficient Method for the Synthesis of 6-Acyl-2(3H)-benzoxazolones and 6-Acyl-2(3H)-benzothiazolones," Tetrahedron, 54:1763-1771 (1998). Ucar, et al., "Synthesis and Anticonvulsant Activity of 2(3H)-Benzoxaxolone and 2(3H)-benzothiazolone Derivatives," J. Med. Chem. 41:1138-1145 (1998) discloses evaluation of 2(3H)-benzothiazolone derivatives for anticonvulsant activity.

Skin lightening agents, compositions and methods

Abstract: Where R represents a hydrogen atom, C1-C4 acyl group, or C1-C4 alkyl group. Preferably, the compound is 3-propionylbenzothiazol-2-one, i.e. where R in the formula I is C1 alkyl group.


Key (21) for a keyboard or keypad, having an upper finger engaging surface (2) of generally square or rectangular configurations so as to have a top edge portion (3) remote from a user, a bottom edge portion (4) adjacent the user, a left edge portion (5) and a right edge portion (6), the key further having a ridge (22) adjacent the top edge portion (3) or the bottom edge portion (4) and extending longitudinally generally parallel thereto, and a ridge on the left or right portion (5, 6). The keys may be arranged on a keyboard or keypad to provide tactile identification of rows or blocks of keys.

The present invention relates to keys on a keyboard or keypad. More particularly, through not exclusively, the invention relates to locating keys for a computer or electronic keyboard or keypad which improves keyboard/keypad operating skills.
A substantial number of modern electronic devices are equipped with a keyboard or keypad of some sort for manually inputting commands into the devices. The most common form of keyboard is that of the common household and business PC keyboard and the most common form of keypad is that of a phone.
Referring to the keyboard, the most widely recommended method of input using one of the common keyboards in the xe2x80x9ctouch typingxe2x80x9d method. This method simply trains a user to memorise the keyboard layout so thoroughly that they may type using all their fingers without looking at the keyboard. This method is achieved by constant practice and assigning each finger to a particular groups of keys.
In particular, the xe2x80x9ctouch typingxe2x80x9d method places each respective finger lightly on a xe2x80x9chomexe2x80x9d key, for example, in the xe2x80x9cqwertyxe2x80x9d keyboard these home keys are xe2x80x9casdfxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cjkl;xe2x80x9d from left to right. The thumbs are than placed over the space. Each finger rests lightly on its home key and does not move unless it reaches to strike keys immediately above or below the home key or in the case of each of the index fingers, the keys immediately to the side of the home key, then the finger quickly returns to its home key. Thus, each finger has only certain keys that it should strike.
Untrained keyboard operators use what is called the xe2x80x9chunt and peckxe2x80x9d system. Usually they use only their two forefingers or at most their four best fingers, the forefingers and middle fingers. This method requires that the typist keeps their eyes on the keyboard and this affects productivity. Although some of these typists can type about as fast as touch typists, very fast hunt and peck typing is more tiring than for the touch typist because the hands have to leap all around the keyboard to reach all the keys with only two or four fingers. In summary, to xe2x80x9ckeyboardxe2x80x9d correctly, the typist must use the touch typing method described above. There is no middle ground in proper typing; if the typist is not typing correctly, he is typing incorrectly. Similar problems arise in the use of keypads.
In an attempt to overcome the shortenings of some of the prior art, many alternate shaped keyboards have been developed. One such keyboard is the KINESIS keyboard (for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,005,496 to Hargreaves, et al.) which describes a keyboard having two wells for the receipt of the right and left hands of a user. The advantage of such a keyboard is that the location of the wells allows a user""s arms to extend straight out in front of the user thereby reducing the need for the user to move his or her hands along the keyboard. However, these types of keyboards are complicated to operate and rely on the user to memorise key combinations and macros.
Many other patterns such as U.S. Pat. No. 1,823,130; U.S. Pat. No. 3,396,827; U.S. Pat. No. 3,848,723; U.S. Pat. No. 5,515,763 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,180,336, for example, describe keys for keyboards having top surfaces including longitudinal ridges, slots, rows of ridges, knobs, craters and texturing. Various combinations of texturing are also known.
Therefore, there still remains a need in the art for a keyboard and keypad that xe2x80x9cforcesxe2x80x9d a typist to touch type correctly thus reducing typing inaccuracies and so minimizing strain and effort.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate some of the disadvantages of the prior art, or at least to provide a useful alternative.
There is disclosed herein a key for a keyboard or keypad, said key having an upper finger engaged surface of generally square or rectangular configuration so as to have a top edge portion remote from a user, a bottom edge portion adjacent the user, a left edge portion and a right edge portion, said key further having:
a ridge adjacent said top edge portion or said bottom edge portion and extending longitudinally generally parallel thereto; and
a ridge on said left or said right edge portion.
There is further disclosed herein a keyboard or keypad including at least three rows of keys including a top row which is remote from a user, a middle row, and a bottom row which is adjacent the user, each row having at least three keys including a left and a right end key, each key having an upper finger engaged surface of generally square or rectangular configuration so as to have top and bottom edge portions extending generally parallel to the rows, and left and right edge portions extending generally normal to the rows, and wherein the keys include:
(i) a ridge on the top left end key adjacent the upper edge portion thereof extending generally parallel to the rows,
(ii) a ridge on the top left end key adjacent the left edge portion thereof extending generally normal to the rows,
(iii) a ridge on the bottom left end key adjacent the left edge portion thereof extending generally normal to the rows,
(iv) a ridge on the bottom left end key adjacent the bottom edge portion thereof extending generally parallel to the rows,
(v) a ridge on the bottom right end key adjacent the bottom edge portion thereof extending generally parallel to the rows,
(vi) a ridge on the bottom ridge end key adjacent the right edge portion thereof extending generally normal to the rows,
(vii) a ridge on the top right end key adjacent the right edge portion thereof extending generally normal to the rows, and
(viii) a ridge on the top right end key adjacent the upper edge portion thereof extending generally parallel to the rows.
There is still further disclosed herein a Qwerty keyboard having a plurality of alphanumeric keys arranged in three linear rows including a top row which is remote from a user, a middle row, and a bottom row which is adjacent the user, each row having a left and a right end key, each key having an upper finger engaged surface of generally square or rectangular configuration so as to have top and bottom edge portions extending generally parallel to the rows, and left and right side edge portions extending generally normal to the rows, the keys being positioned in a left first set and a right second set, the first set including the three left end keys and at least the next two adjacent keys of each row, the second set including the three right end keys and the next adjacent two or three keys spaced toward the first set so that the two sets are spaced by two, three or four keys, and wherein the keys of said first set include:
(i) a ridge on the top left end key adjacent the upper edge portion thereof extending generally parallel to the rows,
(ii) a ridge on the top left end key adjacent the left edge portion thereof extending generally normal to the rows,
(iii) a ridge on the middle left end key adjacent the left edge portion thereof extending generally normal to the rows,
(iv) a ridge on the bottom left end key adjacent the left edge portion thereof extending generally normal to the rows,
(v) a ridge on the bottom left end key adjacent the bottom edge portion thereof extending generally parallel to the rows,
(vi) a ridge on the next adjacent or next two adjacent keys to said bottom left end key of the bottom row adjacent the bottom edge portion thereof extending generally parallel to the rows,
(vii) a ridge on the next adjacent or next two adjacent keys to said bottom left end key of the bottom row adjacent the bottom edge portion thereof extending generally parallel to the rows,
(viii) a ridge on said last mentioned key adjacent the right edge portion thereof extending generally normal to the rows,
(ix) a ridge on the middle key next adjacent to said last mentioned key adjacent the right edge portion thereof extending generally normal to the rows,
(x) a ridge on the top key next adjacent said last mentioned key adjacent the right edge portion thereof extending generally normal to the rows,
(xi) a ridge on said last mentioned key adjacent the top edge portion thereof extending generally parallel to the rows,
(xii) a ridge on the or each top key between said last mentioned key and said top left end key adjacent the top edge portion thereof extending generally parallel to the rows, and
the keys of said second set include:
(i) a ridge on the top right end key adjacent the upper edge portion thereof extending generally parallel to the rows,
(ii) a ridge on the top right end key adjacent the right edge portion thereof extending generally normal to the rows,
(iii) a ridge on the middle key adjacent said top right key adjacent the right edge portion thereof extending generally normal to the rows,
(iv) a ridge on the bottom right end key adjacent the right edge portion thereof extending generally normal to the rows,
(v) a ridge on the bottom right end key adjacent the bottom edge portion thereof extending generally parallel to the rows,
(vi) a ridge on the next adjacent or next two adjacent keys to said bottom right end key of the bottom row adjacent the bottom edge portion thereof extending generally parallel to the rows,
(vii) a ridge on the next adjacent bottom key adjacent the bottom edge portion thereof extending generally parallel to the rows,
(viii) a ridge on said last mentioned key adjacent the left edge portion thereof extending generally normal to the rows,
(ix) a ridge on the middle key next adjacent to said last mentioned key adjacent the left edge portion thereof extending generally normal to the rows,
(x) a ridge on the top key next adjacent said last mentioned key adjacent the left edge portion thereof extending generally normal to the rows,
(xi) a ridge on said last mentioned key adjacent the top edge portion thereof extending generally parallel to the rows,
(xii) a ridge on the or each top key between said last mentioned key and said top right end adjacent the top edge thereof extending generally parallel to the rows.


An extracorporeal blood processing system comprises a plastic molded compact manifold that supports a plurality of molded blood and dialysate fluidic pathways along with a plurality of relevant sensors, valves and pumps. A disposable dialyzer is connected to the molded manifold to complete the blood circuit of the system. The compact manifold is also disposable in one embodiment and can be detachably installed in the dialysis machine.

Hemodialysis is used for removing toxic wastes from the human body in cases of renal failure, and involves using an artificial kidney in conjunction with an associated machine. The patient's blood is temporarily brought outside of the body with the help of tubes and passed through at least one semipermeable membrane, which may be a group of hollow fibers, in an artificial kidney, also called a dialyzer. The semi permeable membrane separates the blood from dialysate solution. The impurities from the blood pass through the membrane and into the dialysate solutions primarily by osmotic pressures. The cleansed blood is then returned to the body. During this procedure it is also necessary to remove excess fluids from the body. This is accomplished by a process known as ultrafiltration. In this process, fluid is removed from the patient by taking the fluid off through the dialyzer via convection and discarding it. The amount of ultrafiltrate which is removed from the body is normally controlled by the pressure across the semipermeable membrane. This transmembrane pressure is the result of the differential between the blood pressure and the pressure which exists on the dialysate side of the membrane.
In an alternate procedure to hemodialysis, known as hemofiltration, convection is used to withdraw massive amounts of fluid from the body, via the dialyzer and most of that volume is replaced by ultrapure, infusate grade, fluid pumped directly into the blood stream. In this process the ultrafiltrate removal volume is the difference between the amount of fluid removed and the amount of ultrapure infusate injected. Hemofiltration is better at removing large molecular toxins than hemodialysis but is not required in most cases.
The standard dialysis treatment, using an installed apparatus in hospitals, comprises two phases, namely, (a) true dialysis, in which toxic substances and scoriae (normally small molecules) pass through the semipermeable membrane from the blood to the dialysis liquid, and (b) ultrafiltration, in which a pressure difference between the blood circuit and the circuit for the dialysis liquid, more precisely a reduced pressure in the latter circuit, causes the blood content of water to be reduced by a predetermined amount.
Dialysis procedures using standard equipment tend to be cumbersome as well as costly, besides requiring the patient to be bound to a dialysis center for long durations. Conventional systems are also less reliable because of the necessity of using a myriad of tubes comprising the fluid circuits of the purification systems, thus increasing the risks of leakage and breakage. Accordingly there is need in the art for an extracorporeal blood processing system that can be operated in hemodialysis as well as hemofiltration modes, while at the same time offering reasonable portability to the patient. Such a portable dialysis system should also be conducive to using disposable components. Further, there is also a need for novel manifolds for dialysis systems with integrated blood purification system components, such as sensors, pumps and disposables, as well as molded blood and dialysate flow paths to avoid a complicated mesh of tubing and to enhance the robustness of the system.

Disposable apparatus and kit for conducting dialysis