An image processing apparatus (10) includes: an imaging device (20); an optical system (22); and a distance determining unit (16) determining an object distance between the optical system and the object based on a size of a blur developed on the image. The optical system (22) has a characteristic which simultaneously satisfies both of conditions that (i) variation in magnification is equal to or smaller than the predetermined number of pixels in the case where a focused point is set farthest from and closest to the optical system (22) in a range of the distance of the object determined by the distance determining unit (16) and (ii) variation in a PSF due to an image height of the optical system (22) is equal to or smaller than a predetermined degree so as not to affect the determination of the distance of the object by the distance determining unit (16).

In order to determine the depth of a three-dimensional scene with no physical contact to the objects; that is, to determine the distance to each of the objects, various techniques have been proposed. Such techniques are roughly classified into twofold: the active technique and the passive technique. The active technique involves irradiating the object with an infrared ray, an ultrasonic wave, and a laser to obtain the distance to the object based either on the time period in which the reflected wave bounces back or on the angle of the reflected wave. The passive technique involves obtaining the distance based on the image of the object. Particularly, in the case where a camera determines the distance to the object, the passive technique is widely used since no devices, such as an infrared emitter, are required.
The passive technique includes a variety of techniques, one of which is called the Depth from Defocus (hereinafter referred to as the DFD). The DFD is to determine distance based on a blur developed by the change of the focus. The features of the DFD are (i) only one camera is required, and (ii) the distance can be determined out of only a few images.
Briefly described hereinafter is how the DFD works.
If a captured image is I (x,y) and an original image with no lens blur is S (x,y), the relationship in an expression (1) holds therebetween:[Math. 1]I(x,y)=S(x,y)*h(x,y,d(x,y))  (1)
Here, h denotes a Point Spread Function (PSF) representing a blur of the camera system, and d (x,y) denotes the distance (hereinafter, referred to as "distance of the object") from the principal point of the lens at a point (x,y) to the object. Moreover, "*" in the expressions represents a convolution operation.
The expression (1) includes S(x,y) and d(x,y) as unknowns. Captured here is an image I2 (x,y) of the same scene with a shifted focused point. The shift of the focused point is the change of the PSF with respect to the same distance of the object. In other words, the following expression (2) holds:[Math. 2]I2(x,y)=S(x,y)*h′(x,y,d(x,y))  (2)
Here, h′ denotes another PSF which has a focused point different from that of h. By solving the above expressions, the original image of the scene S(x,y) and the distance of the object d(x,y) are obtained. A variety of solutions have been proposed, including Non Patent Literature.
The problem here is that the change of a focused point in a regular camera system causes variation in magnification. The variation in the magnification shifts the position of the original image S(x,y) between the cases where the original image S(x,y) corresponds to the captured image the captured image I(x,y) and where the original image S(x,y) corresponds to the captured image I2(x,y). Such a variation prevents the accurate determination of the distance. In order to solve the above problem, Patent Literatures 1 and 2 disclose techniques to utilize telecentric optical systems.

Image processing device, and image processing method


A switching power source comprising a pair of output terminals, a first switch element, a reactor and a filter which are connected to each other in series between one of the terminals of an input DC power source and one of the output terminals; a second switch element connected between a connecting node for the reactor and the filter and the other terminal of the input DC power source; and means for causing energy stored in the reactor to be fed back for regeneration to the input DC power source when the switch elements are turned off, wheein the switching power source is characterized by that the first and second switch elements are alternatively actuated for ON-OFF actions at a prescribed time ratio.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a switching power source device for supplying a desired AC/DC output by producing a pulse width-modulated waveform through ON-OFF control of switching elements serially connected to an input power source. The device eliminates high-frequency components of the pulse width-modulated waveform with a smoothing choke (hereinafter this operation will be referred to as "smoothing").
This invention particularly relates to a switching power source device which, in a system designed to control the output by alternatively switching a plurality of switching elements connected in pairs as in push-pull connection or bridge connection, precludes a current/voltage surge induced as a consequence of the on/off control of the switching elements. This device can be efficiently utilized in an AC uninterruptable power source system, a battery charging system, a controller drive system for motors, a DC constant voltage power source system, etc.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
The switching power source device has the virtues of small size and high efficiency, and therefore, finds extensive utility as a power source device in many fields such as data processing systems. The power source devices having a relatively large power capacity, and the AC power source devices designed to derive a sine-wave AC output from a DC input power source, are among the power source devices of this principle. For those power source devices which are adapted to effect control of output power by alternatively switching a plurality of switching elements connected in pairs, the push-pull connection or bridge connection are employed more often than not.
FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram illustrating a typical switching power source device of the conventional principle ("Power Semiconductor Circuits", pages 357-358, written by S. B. Dewan & A. Strengthen and published by John Wiley & Sons, 1975). FIG. 4 is a waveform diagram illustrating the operating principle of the power source device in FIG. 3.
A switch element 1 and filter means (composed of a choke coil 3 and a capacitor 4 which are connected in series with each other) are connected in series between the opposite terminals of a DC power source 5 which provides an output voltage with an unchanging, or constant, polarity as illustrated in FIG. 3. A load 6 is connected in parallel with capacitor 4. A diode D1 is connected in parallel with the series circuit of the choke coil 3 and the capacitor 4 in such a manner as to be reverse biased by power source 5. A junction node of the choke coil 3 and the capacitor 4 is connected to an output terminal 10.
During the operation, a rectangular wave voltage of modulated pulse width is generated at a node (junction point) 7 by alternately turning the switch element 1 on and off and regulating the time ratio of the alternate states.
When the time ratio of the ON-OFF states of the switch element 1 is controlled in the form of a sine wave as illustrated in FIG. 4 (a), for example, a rectangular wave voltage having a pulse width modulated as illustrated in the same figure is generated at the node 7 of the circuit of FIG. 3.
When this rectangular wave voltage has high-frequency components therein removed by means of the filter (LPF) composed of the choke coil 3 and the capacitor 4, a sine-wave pulsating output is produced at the output terminal 10 as illustrated in FIG. 4 (b) and is applied to the load 6.
A desired AC/DC output voltage is obtained by suitably varying the time ratio of the ON-OFF states of the switch element 1.
No problem would arise if the switch element 1 and the diode D1 were ideal switch elements and the signals for producing the alternate ON-OFF action of the switch were ideal rectangular waves. In the actual device, however, various problems occur whenever the switches are actuated because of the inherent characteristics of the switch elements. Now, these problems will be discussed below.
First, when the switch element 1 is on, an electric current flows to the load 6 through the circuit of power source 5, switch element 1 and choke coil 3. When the switch element is off, the load current continues to flow through the circuit of choke coil 3, load 6 and diode D1 because the load current flowing through the choke coil 3 does not immediately cease to exist.
When the switch element currently in the OFF-state is turned on again, the path for the electric current from the power source 5 would be switched safely to the choke coil 3 side if the diode D1 were instantaneously turned off by the reverse bias produced by the power source 5.
Actually, owing to the electric charges stored in the diode D1, however, the diode D1 is not instantaneously turned off by the application of the reverse bias and, as the result, the electric current flows for a brief period in the opposite direction. The brief period is called a storage time.
During the storage time, a surge current flows through the circuit of power source 5, switch element 1, diode D1 and back to power source 5 because the diode D1 is in a short-circuited state. The surge current causes such components as the switch element 1 to suffer power loss. The surge current renders it difficult to increase the switching frequency because such drawbacks as power loss, accumulation of heat in the switch element, and noise which are caused by the surge current are aggravated in proportion as the switching frequency is increased. Moreover, there is the possibility that the switch element will be destroyed when the surge current has an unduly large peak value.
It has been customary in the art to have such components as a reactor or a saturable reactor 81 connected in series to the switch element 1 and the diode D1 as illustrated in FIG. 5 (a) for the purpose of protecting the switch elements against the surge current and preventing the surge current from giving rise to current/voltage noise.
In this case, however, there arises the possibility that the energy stored in the reactor or the saturable reactor 81 during the storage time will give rise to a voltage surge during an interruption in the flow of electric current.
For the solution of said problem, it has been proposed to preclude the occurrence of the surge by connecting in parallel to the reactor 81, for example, a snubber circuit 80 composed of a resistor element and a diode as illustrated in FIG. 5 (b).
Even by this method, the surge cannot be prevented completely. Further, the charges stored in the reactor 81 are eventually consumed in the resistance of the snubber circuit 80. This method, therefore, fails to solve the problem of the aggravation of power loss and heat accumulation due to an increase in the switching frequency.

Switching power source device having energy recovery

Nishimu Electronics Industries Co., Ltd.


A shadow mask is formed from a plate member comprising an outer frame portion, a body portion of a shadow mask having an outer peripheral line formed through an etching process and a plurality of connection portions through which the body portion of the shadow mask is supported by the outer frame portion. The shadow mask is formed from the plate member by removing the outer frame portion from the body portion of the shadow mask. In this process, a break portion is formed to the shadow mask by removing the outer frame portion so as to be recessed inward from the outer peripheral line of the shadow mask.

This application claims the priority of Japanese patent application Serial No. PP 251950 filed on Sep. 6, 1999.
The present invention relates to a shadow mask for a Braun tube (cathode-ray tube), a plate member for the shadow mask and a method of manufacturing the shadow mask. More particularly, the present invention relates to a shadow mask having a structure capable of preventing the formation of foreign material, and preventing any foreign material that does form, from falling from the plate member and interfering with the manufacturing process.
Usually, a shadow mask is manufactured from an original metal plate material or member, hereinafter called a xe2x80x9cplate memberxe2x80x9d. The plate member is composed of a shadow mask body and an outer frame member to which the shadow mask body is supported through a plurality of connecting portions. The shadow mask body is formed, through an etching process, with an outer peripheral line penetrating through the plate member. Then, the outer frame member is removed through bending or pulling (tensioning). The outer peripheral line of the shadow mask is formed through etching, and plural connecting portions are formed intermittently as non-penetration portions. The shadow mask body is supported by the outer frame member of the plate member through such connecting portions.
The outer frame member is broken and then removed from the plate member by folding and bending the outer frame member or applying tension thereto, thus obtaining the shadow mask.
The shadow mask is then subjected to various processes, and thereafter, is mounted to a Braun tube.
Incidentally, in this specification the term of xe2x80x9couter peripheral linexe2x80x9d is defined as a line of the extremely outer peripheral portion of the shadow mask, which is formed by the etching process, irrespective of a shape of the extremely outer peripheral portion.
Japanese Patent Publication No. SHO 63-888, Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. HEI 4-71138, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. HEI 8-31317 and Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. HEI 11-73876, disclose methods of manufacturing a shadow mask by removing the shadow mask from a plate member to which a shadow mask body is formed. The conventional methods prevent deformation of an effective portion of the shadow mask and effectively remove the outer frame member by effecting a half-etching process to the connection portions so that the connection portions are easily broken to remove the outer frame.
However, in conventional shadow mask manufacturing methods, the connection portions include a convex (protruding) shape at a position outside the outer peripheral line of the shadow mask. Such a protruding portion may negatively affect processes performed on the shadow mask after the removing process of the outer frame member or portion.
For example, in a process of pressing the shadow mask to form a predetermined shape which fits a Braun tube, the protruding portion of the connection portion may contact a metallic mold of the press and fall as a foreign particle (e.g., a metal piece or tip), and if the shadow mask is mounted to the Braun tube while a foreign particle adheres to an etching hole of the shadow mask, the quality of the Braun tube will be degraded.
An object of the present invention is to eliminate defects or drawbacks encountered in the prior art mentioned above and to provide a shadow mask having a structure that, when the shadow mask is mounted to a Braun tube, foreign particles are either not formed, or are prevented from falling. A further object is to provide a plate member for such shadow mask and to provide a method of manufacturing the shadow mask.
These and other objects of the present invention can be achieved by providing, in one aspect, a shadow mask formed from a plate member comprising an outer frame portion, a body portion of a shadow mask having an outer peripheral line formed through an etching process and a plurality of connection portions through which the body portion of the shadow mask is supported by the outer frame portion, the shadow mask being formed by removing the outer frame portion from the body portion of the shadow mask, wherein a break portion is formed to the shadow mask by removing the outer frame so as to be recessed inward from the outer peripheral line of the shadow mask.
In preferred embodiments of this aspect, the break portion is formed by applying a half-etching process to a predetermined portion of the body portion of the shadow mask. The break portion is formed through one of breaking processes at least including a folding process, a tensioning process and a tearing process. The break portion has an end portion formed to be recessed inward from the outer peripheral line with a distance being set within a range from 10 to 100 xcexcm.
According to this aspect of the present invention, since the break portion formed by removing the outer frame portion is concavely formed inside the outer peripheral line of the shadow mask, it is possible to prevent, in a predetermined process after the removing process, the break portion from being rubbed and fallen from the shadow mask as a foreign particle.
In addition, since the half-etched portion has a remaining thin thickness, even in a case of folding the outer frame portion to break the outer frame portion, it is hard to cause cracks, making it possible to prevent a foreign particle from being fallen.
Furthermore, since the break portion is concavely formed (recessed) inward with respect to the outer peripheral line, it is possible to increase the degree of freedom to select one of the methods of removing the outer frame portion, thereby effectively manufacturing the shadow mask.
Since the end portion of the break portion is recessed inward from the outer peripheral line so that the distance between the end portion of the break portion and the outer peripheral portion is set within a range from 10 to 100 xcexcm, it is possible to prevent the metallic particle from being rubbed against another member and then fallen.
In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a plate member for a shadow mask comprising:
a shadow mask body having an outer peripheral line providing an outline thereof, the outer peripheral line being formed through an etching process;
an outer frame portion for supporting the shadow mask body;
a plurality of connection portions through which the shadow mask body is supported by the outer frame portion; and
a portion to be broken formed on a shadow mask side at a portion inside the outer peripheral line of the shadow mask body.
In a preferred embodiment of this aspect, the portion to be broken is arranged so as to be opposed to the connection portion. The portion to be broken has a predetermined length in a direction along the outer peripheral line, the predetermined length of the portion to be broken being substantially the same as that of the opposed connection portion in the direction along the outer peripheral line. The portion to be broken is subjected to a half-etching process. The portion to be broken is formed with an intermediate portion having a substantially concave shape.
The portion subjected to the half-etching process has a width in a direction orthogonal to the direction of the outer peripheral line, and a center line of the width is located inside the outer peripheral line so that a distance between the outer peripheral line and the center line is longer than 25 xcexcm and not more than 100 xcexcm.
The portion to be broken is a portion forming a break portion of the shadow mask from which the outer frame portion is removed.
According to another aspect of the present invention, since the portion to be broken, which is broken when removing the outer frame portion, is formed on a shadow mask side with respect to the connection portions and an inner side of the outer peripheral line of the shadow mask, the break portion is concavely formed on an inner side of the outer peripheral line of the shadow mask. As a result, it is possible to prevent, in a predetermined process after the removing process, the break portion from being rubbed against another member so as not to be fallen as foreign particle.
Furthermore, since the predetermined length of the portion to be broken is the same as that of the opposite connection portion in the outer peripheral line, the break caused by removing the outer frame portion occurs selectively just inside the connection portion, that is, an inner side of the shadow mask, so that it is possible to form the break portion on an inner side position with respect to the outer peripheral line of the obtained shadow mask.
In addition, the outer frame portion is selectively broken at the half etched portion so as to be removed from the material sheet. The center line of the width is located on the inner side of the outer peripheral line so that the distance between the outer peripheral line and the center line is longer than 25 xcexcm and not more than 100 xcexcm, so that even if the break portion is removed through one of the folding process, the tensioning (drawing) process and the tearing process, it is possible to form the break portion inside the outer peripheral line of the obtained shadow mask.
In a further aspect of the present invention, there is also, provided a method of manufacturing a shadow mask comprising the steps of:
preparing a plate member comprising a shadow mask body having an outer peripheral line formed through an etching process, an outer frame portion for supporting the shadow mask body, a plurality of connection portions through which the shadow mask body is supported by the outer frame portion, and a portion to be broken formed on a shadow mask side at a portion inside the outer peripheral line of the shadow mask body;
removing the outer frame portion from the plate member through one of the breaking processes at least including a folding process, a tensioning process and a tearing process which is applied to the portion to be broken.
In this aspect the plate member may be produced from a metallic thin plate by effecting an etching process thereto.
According to further aspect of the present invention, the outer frame portion of the plate member is removed therefrom through one of the folding process, the tensioning process and the tearing process, it is possible to easily manufacture the shadow mask capable of preventing the break portion from being rubbed against another member so as not to be fallen as a foreign particle.
The nature and further characteristic features of the present invention will be made more clear from the following descriptions made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Shadow mask, plate member therefor and method of manufacturing shadow mask


An extendable and collapsible seat cushion manufactured from a unitary piece of foam. Channels are molded into the foam perpendicular to the length of the seat to allow for compression of the overall length of the seat cushion. Further, channels may be molded into the foam in a direction parallel to the length of the seat cushion to allow for compression of the seat cushion in the lateral direction as well. The channels have angular recesses near the surface of the cushion to provide a home for compression hinges created by connective foam and cloth disposed between segments of the cushion. A telescoping support frame is provided to assist in the compression and extending of the seat cushion. This support frame may be telescoped manually or with assistance by power.

The present invention is relates generally to seating cushions. More specifically, the present invention relates to a cushion that may be extended or collapsed to accommodate operators of different body sizes.
It is desirable in the cushion art, particularly vehicle seating cushions, to provide a cushion that is adjustable to conform with the particular size of the occupant. It is also desirable to have a seat of a shape and size that is comfortable to that particular user. For example, taller persons often prefer to have a backrest that is longer to accommodate the longer trunk of their body. Further, a longer seat is desired to conform with their longer legs. On the other hand, shorter persons may find such a longer and higher seat uncomfortable. Alternatively, a person may desire a longer seat yet prefer a lower backrest and vice versa. Thus, there is a need for adjustable seat and backrest cushions that may be easily, simply and quickly adjusted as well as being comfortable and aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
To solve this problem, it is known in the art to employ individual cushion members where the distance between such members is varied to adjust the overall length of the entire cushion. These elements are often upholstered and arranged transversely relative to one another along the longitudinal length of the seat or backrest. It is also known in the art to string together a series of upholstered elements. In such a cushion, individual elements are serially strung together with connective material disposed therebetween. For Example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,247,347; 4,247,348; 4,264,386; 4,287,143; 4,559,094; and 4,459,704 disclose an apparatus and method of manufacture for the construction of cloth covered cushion articles or forming of cloth as an upholstery for cushioned articles.
The foregoing prior art adjustable seat cushions provide extendibility and collapsibility to conform the seat cushion to the desired size, however they have undesirable drawbacks. The known prior art extendable seat cushions require multiple pieces of cushion elements which must be connected to one another. This requires extensive cutting and sewing of parts which complicates manufacture. In certain prior art extendable cushions that have cushion elements that are merely separated from one another to increase the overall length of the cushion, undesirable gaps will result.
Not only is the manufacture involved and the aesthetics unpleasing, prior art cushions require complex mechanical elements to enable the operator to extend or collapse the seat. For example, elastic strips and elaborate tensioning elements may be required to move the individual elements and then maintain them in their desired position.


An automatic spray gun includes a cylinder for disposing a motor and a turbine therein and sealed by a sealing cap and an outer cap, a sleeve perpendicularly integrated with lower periphery of the cylinder, a container cap integrated with an under side of the sleeve for covering a paint container, a Y-shaped pressing means suspended from an axial rod on a top of the sleeve, a nozzle with a group of fittings engaged in the sleeve, a fist half handle integrated to the bottom of the cylinder and combined with a second half handle by screws, a tube, a hair switch and a number of electric wires disposed in the handle for connection of electric power to the motor through the switch which controls the rotation of the motor.

The present invention relates to spray guns and more particularly to an automatic spray gun in which the cylinder has an inner housing integrated with an outer housing and the sleeve enabling to stably increase the pressure and effectively output the atomizing.
A spray gun provides the air by a motor and a turbine and utilizes the siphonic effect to spray the atomized paint to a working object. A spray gun Pub. No. US2005/0269425 A1 has a nozzle through an axial rotation fixed to a rod in a sleeve which accommodates a atomizing nozzle and the air current is created by a turbine. The principal feature the turbine and the motor and the sleeve which loads an atomizing nozzle are coaxial or mostly coaxial arrangement such that the air current follows a straight line or almost straight line through the atomizing nozzle of the sleeve. Furthermore the turbine has a muffler.
Although, this arrangement aims to prevent to air current becoming weakness for strengthening the atomizing paint and keeping it effective to spray out of the nozzle. But it can't solve that the air current more and more week up due to that:
1) the outer housing of the sleeve, motor and the turbine is separated and is taken apart (as shown FIG. 4 of this case) the air current from the turbine flowing to the sleeve though almost straight but not sealed tightly such that the pressure is not stable, but decrease the air current flowing strength;
2) the muffler adopts spiral orbit, it is disturbed by the air current and increase the load of the motor;
3) the turbine and motor and the sleeve loading a nozzle almost coaxial increase the length of the spray gun in relation to the motor, it volume seams larger;
4) because of the housing of turbine, motor and sleeve is of taken apart that increases the steps to assemble so as to increase the cost.


Provided herein is a catheter assembly including an imaging device for identifying an anatomical structure. The catheter assembly includes a patient cannula configured to be drawn along a catheter or guide wire; a transseptal puncture catheter at least partially enclosed within the patient cannula; and an imaging catheter. The imaging catheter includes a transducer configured to emit an energy beam capable of reflecting from an anatomical structure and to detect energy reflected from the structure. The catheter assembly also includes a transmitter for conveying a signal representative of the detected energy from the transducer to a signal processor for obtaining information about the structure. An imagining system and a method for identifying a predetermined transseptal puncture location on an atrial septum are also provided herein.

Field of the Invention
This disclosure relates to a system and method for transseptal puncture from the right atrium to the left atrium and, more specifically, to systems and methods for transseptal puncture from the right atrium to the left atrium using an invasive catheter having an imaging sensor or device.
Description of Related Art
Numerous cardiac procedures require providing catheter access to the left atrium, either for removing blood from the left atrium (e.g., venting) through a catheter or cannula or for performing various interventional procedures therein. For example, a circulatory support system for use during cardiac surgery, heart transplantation, or after failed coronary intervention requires that fluid communication between the left atrium and a blood pump is established. Such fluid communication allows for providing oxygenated blood through the circulatory system via an external pump. Similarly, circulatory support systems can increase cardiac output of oxygenated blood by using an external fluid pump to drawn oxygenated blood from the left atrium, thus bypassing or assisting the patients native pumping mechanism, the left ventricle. Additionally, numerous percutaneous cardiac procedures require access to the left atrium including, treatment or removal of the left atrial appendage, electrophysilogy (EP) ablation, heart catheterization for hemodynamic monitoring, mitral valve repair or replacement, treatment of para-valvular leaks, and similar procedures.
A preferred method for providing access to the left atrium with a catheter is referred to as transseptal puncture or left atrial cannulation; see U.S. Pat. No. 8,550,973 to Magovern and U.S. Pat. No. 8,622,949 to Zafirelis et al., each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, for a brief description of a method of transseptal puncture or left atrial cannulation. A transseptal puncture or cannulation system including a catheter and guide wire is inserted into the femoral vein and advanced through the vein toward the right atrium of the heart. Once the catheter and guide wire enter the right atrium, the distal end of the catheter is oriented toward the septum between the right and left atria. When the distal end of the catheter is positioned adjacent the septum in the right atrium, the guide wire is withdrawn from the catheter orifice and a needle assembly moves past the guide wire and through the catheter orifice to a position adjacent to the septum. The needle pierces the septum and the catheter moves over the needle assembly to further dilate the septal hole. The cannula attached to the catheter also moves through the septal hole providing additional dilation force. The guide wire, the needle assembly, and the catheter are withdrawn from the cannula. Oxygenated blood from the left atrium drains through the cannula to an extracorporeal pump and back to the body through an arterial cannula.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,825 to Bernstein et al. illustrates a similar method of transseptal left atrial cannulation. In Bernstein, a guide wire and catheter are inserted into the femoral vein, and the guide wire directs the catheter through the veins to the right atrium. Once the catheter is in place, the guide wire is withdrawn from the catheter and a needle is directed through the length of the catheter and into the right atrium. The needle is used to pierce the inter-atrial septum, and the catheter is advanced over the needle into the left atrium. The needle is then removed from the catheter and an obturator (with a circular barb for attaching to the catheter hub) is directed through the entire length of the catheter and into the right atrium. An external obturator extension is then screwed on to the internal obturator, and a cannula is threaded over the entire length of the catheter and obturator. Once the cannula is in place, the cannula tip extends across the atrial septum and into the left atrium. Finally, the catheter and the obturator are removed from the interior of the cannula. Beneficially, this insertion and removal procedure can be used to provide sufficient access to the left atrium without needing to perform a thoracotomy.
The thickness of the atrial septum varies over the length of the septum. The thickest portion of the septum is near the top of the atrium, and the thickness decreases toward the middle third of the septum. The thinnest portion of the atrial septum is referred to as the fossa ovalis. It is generally desirable to insert the needle assembly through the thinnest portion of the septum. Therefore, it is often necessary to determine the position of the guide wire and catheter relative to the septum prior to insertion of the needle assembly. Previously, surgeons determined the location of the fossa ovalis portion of the atrial septum based on feel or contact between the septum and needle prior to insertion. However, a need exists for imaging systems and methods for better determining position of the distal end of the catheter in the heart and vasculature of a patient.
Various visualization systems are known and may be used to assist in placement of the needle assembly. For example, fluoroscopy is often used to assist in positioning of the catheter and needle. Other imaging tools including intra-cardiac echocardiography and transesophageal echocardiograph (TEE) can also be used to assist in needle placement. Such imaging systems advantageously provide real time visualization of the internal anatomy of the heart. However, these systems require a separate imaging device that accesses the heart either via a separate venous access point or by placement down the esophagus.
Invasive visualization systems are used for identification and diagnosis of coronary artery disease, as well as for identification of cardiac structures to aid in placement of devices. These systems can be coupled to a catheter and provided in conjunction with ablation electrodes or other surgical tools. The difficulty of providing visualization sensors, such as ultrasonic transducers, on such small catheters has led to a number of distinct technical solutions. For example, some catheters include a single rotating transducer. These are capable of producing high quality images, but suffer from image distortion due to vibration of the tip and non-uniform rotation of the transducer, problems caused by the long, flexible rotating drive shaft. Another approach is to have a multi-element transducer capable of emitting ultrasonic pulses in a radial direction from a number of distinct transducers. This approach is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,226,417 to Eberle et al. entitled "High resolution intravascular ultrasound transducer assembly having a flexible substrate" and assigned to Volcano Corporation, and incorporated herein in its entirety. Such catheter systems including radially projecting multi-element ultrasonic transducers, referred to as Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS) systems, are commercially available from a number of sources'including Volcano Corporation, of San Diego, Calif.

Image-guided transseptal puncture device


Methods for transcutaneous charging of an implanted device may include removably coupling a charging device with a carrier having adhesive tabs, the tabs being movable between a first position configured to be spaced away from a skin surface and a second position configured to be urged against the skin surface; engaging a bottom surface of the charging device at least partially against the skin surface with the tabs in the first position; positioning the charging device until it is at least partially positioned over or proximate the implanted medical device; and moving the tabs to the second position so that respective adhesive surfaces of the tabs contact and adhere to the skin of the patient sufficiently to support the charging device coupled with the carrier for a duration of time sufficient to charge the implanted device.

Treatments with implantable neurostimulation systems have become increasingly common in recent years. While such systems have shown promise in treating a number of conditions, effectiveness of treatment may vary considerably between patients. A number of factors may lead to the very different outcomes that patients experience, and viability of treatment can be difficult to determine before implantation. For example, stimulation systems often make use of an array of electrodes to treat one or more target nerve structures. The electrodes are often mounted together on a multi-electrode lead, and the lead implanted in tissue of the patient at a position that is intended to result in electrical coupling of the electrode to the target nerve structure, typically with at least a portion of the coupling being provided via intermediate tissues. Other approaches may also be employed, for example, with one or more electrodes attached to the skin overlying the target nerve structures, implanted in cuffs around a target nerve, or the like. Regardless, the physician will typically seek to establish an appropriate treatment protocol by varying the electrical stimulation that is applied to the electrodes.
Current stimulation electrode placement/implantation techniques and known treatment setting techniques suffer from significant disadvantages. The nerve tissue structures of different patients can be quite different, with the locations and branching of nerves that perform specific functions and/or enervate specific organs being challenging to accurately predict or identify. The electrical properties of the tissue structures surrounding a target nerve structure may also be quite different among different patients, and the neural response to stimulation may be markedly dissimilar, with an electrical stimulation pulse pattern, pulse width, frequency, and/or amplitude that is effective to reduce affect a body function one patient potentially imposing significant discomfort or pain on, or have limited effect for, another patient. Even in patients where implantation of a neurostimulation system provides effective treatment, frequent adjustments and changes to the stimulation protocol are often required before a suitable treatment program can be determined, often involving repeated office visits and significant discomfort for the patient before efficacy is achieved. While a number of complex and sophisticated lead structures and stimulation setting protocols have been implemented to seek to overcome these challenges, the variability in lead placement results, the clinician time to establish suitable stimulation signals, and the discomfort (and in cases the significant pain) that is imposed on the patient remain less than ideal. In addition, the lifetime and battery life of such devices is relatively short, such that implanted systems are routinely replaced every few years, which requires additional surgeries, patient discomfort, and significant costs to healthcare systems.
While rechargeable implanted devices have been investigated, the location and depth at which neurostimulation devices are implanted makes recharging of such devices difficult. For example, neurostimulation devices are typically implanted beneath a thin layer of muscle and fatty tissues in a lower back region such that conventional methods may utilize invasive techniques, such as recharging through a transcutaneous cable, or increased device size which may cause discomfort and limited mobility for the patient. Furthermore, given the location at which such devices are implanted—the lower back—attaching a recharging cable or device can be difficult, if not impossible, for a patient to perform without the aid of another person.
In view of these drawbacks associated with conventional systems, the tremendous benefits of these neural stimulation therapies have not yet been fully realized. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide improved methods, systems and devices for facilitating recharging of an implanted neurostimulation device. It would be particularly helpful to provide such systems and methods that recharge an implanted neurostimulation device in a non-invasive manner, while improving ease of use for the patient as well improved patient comfort and mobility during charging.

Attachment devices and associated methods of use with a nerve stimulation charging device


A cable tie comprising a strap portion having a first end and an opposing second end. The cable tie may also include a fastener connected to the second end of the strap portion. The strap portion may include a first material which causes the strap portion to be non self reforming so that the strap portion can be bent from an equilibrium state to a bent state by a bending force which does not exceed a plasticity point for the strap portion, and the strap portion does not reform itself back to the equilibrium state upon removal of the bending force.

A cable tie, which may also be called a zip tie and/or tie-wrap, is a type of fastener, which is often typically used for binding a plurality of electronic cables or wires together and to organize cables and wires. Cable ties are used to bundle a plurality of items together in an efficient and quick manner.
A conventional cable tie is generally constructed of a linear semi rigid resiliently bendable material that can be bent to form a loop and the loop can be secured with a fastening mechanism integrated with the cable tie. The loop formed is not self sustaining since the material from which this sort of cable tie is made does not hold the shape which has been formed by bending. This type of cable tie is elastic and, unless the cable tie is bended so far that it reaches a state of placidity and becomes floppy, it recoils to its original linear shape.
The conventional cable tie comprises a strap that is made of a resiliently bendable material such as nylon or plastic or copper or stainless steel alloy or metal alloy that can be bent to form a loop but will not hold the bend or the loop. I.e. these cable ties are self reforming or elastic. This type of cable tie will revert substantially to its linear form when the tensile strain used to bend it is no longer applied. A tail portion of this conventional cable tie can be inserted into an aperture in the head of the conventional cable tie. On insertion of the tail portion into the aperture of the head, latches spaced along the surface of the tail portion engage teeth in the head and thereby prevent the withdrawal of the tail. In this way, the loop in the cable tie can be prevented from reforming to its pre-deformed shape.
Another kind of cable tie that contains a fastening mechanism comprises an elastically rubberized strap of cells that contain apertures wherein the cells slide through each other forming loops at any point, which can then be pulled tight around a bundle of objects. After the cable tie is pulled tight into a loop, the remaining portion can be cut off and used. As a result a cable tie of this strap of cells type can be used or cut up into several cable ties, and just gets a little shorter with each use. One type of cable tie such as this is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,704,587 to Harsley, which is incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof. Because the strap of cells type of cable tie is made of an elastic material it stretches longer when longitudinal stress is exerted upon it, and reforms towards its pre deformed shape when the stretching force is no longer applied. This strap of cells kind of cable tie is often referred to as a "rap strap".
Another type of known cable tie that includes a fastening mechanism is a strap made of hook and loop fasteners. The strap consists of two layers: a "hook" side, which is a piece of fabric covered with tiny plastic hooks, and a "loop" side, which is covered with even smaller and "hairier" plastic loops. Like all other known cable tie fasteners that contain a fastening mechanism, these hook and loop type of fasteners are not shapeable in the sense that they do not hold the shape that they are formed to. While a cable tie made of a resiliently flexible material does not sustain its own shape because it tends to reform to its pre deformed shape after the tensile strain used to bend it is no longer applied, a cable tie such as a rap strap or a cable tie made with hook and loop fastening material can not hold its own shape for a different reason. The material used in these later cable ties are so flaccid that they do not hold the shape they are formed to against the force of gravity.
One of the major disadvantages of the prior art cable ties with integrated fastening mechanisms is that these cable ties are not comprised of a bendable shapeable, non reforming material As such, it is difficult to use the cable tie when it is necessary to thread one end of such prior art cable ties through, or in between voids in a confined area. For example when a particular application requires that a cable tie with a fastening head, be threaded in and around hard to reach objects the task is made more difficult when the cable tie tends to revert to its original shape. Likewise, the task is difficult when a cable tie that comprises a floppy, non rigid material is used. While a resiliently bendable, flexible, cable tie can be bent to a point of plasticity or near plasticity so that it is shaped to form a loose curve that approximates the contours of the receiving channel into which it is to be treaded, this is a time consuming task that results in a cable tie whose structure has been compromised by the extreme bending, and as such, the formerly semi rigid flexible cable tie becomes excessively floppy and unmanageable.
The prior art discloses a type of cable tie that can be bent to a self sustaining shape but this type of cable tie does not contain a fastening mechanism. Such a cable tie is often called a "twist tie". A major feature of a twist tie that is absent in a cable tie comprising a fastening mechanism is that a twist tie can be shaped into a form and the form will retain its shape until reformed by a user. A twist tie is comprised of a shapeable and bendable wire that is embedded in paper or plastic. It is often used to close off a plastic bag that contains a perishable item, such as bags of bread. A twist tie can be formed into a loop that can be secured in size by twisting the twist tie around itself. However, because these twist ties do not contain a fastening mechanism, they do not have all the same benefits as a cable tie containing a fastening mechanism, for instance, a loop cannot be fastened quickly as a loop can be with a cable tie.
A disadvantage of twist ties is that they do not contain an integrated fastening mechanism. Thus, although a twist tie can be pre formed, it does not have the capability of being quickly, securely and easily fastened together as does a cable tie that contains a fastening mechanism. A twist tie has to be manually twisted, or tied together, and this can be time consuming and cumbersome and often results in a less than adequate connection.


Aspects of the present disclosure include methods, apparatus, and computer readable medium for storing encrypted data including receiving a radio frequency signal and data to be encrypted, identifying a radio frequency fingerprint of the signal, generating a numerical representation of the radio frequency fingerprint, generating an encryption key using at least a portion of the representation, encrypting the data using the encryption key, and storing the encrypted data.

Data security has become an integral part of modern electronic systems as data protection becomes important in many situations. Data, such as credit card information, social security numbers, and personal information may be protected by encryption. Data encryption may use an encryption key to scramble the data from a recognizable state to an unrecognizable state. To access the encrypted data, a decryption key may be used to restore the data to be read. However, encryption and/or decryption keys may still be acquired by unauthorized users in order to access the information in the encrypted data. In conventional electronic systems, complex key management systems (such as Trusted Platform Module) may be implemented to securely store the encryption/decryption keys to prevent unauthorized access. However, the key management systems may be vulnerable to security attacks such as man-in-the-middle, phishing, social engineering, and malware, among others. Therefore, improvements in cyber security may be desirable.

Method and system for encryption using a radio frequency fingerprint


The invention provides methods of making and using compounds of the formula shown, which are inhibitors of human plasmin and plasma kallikrein. (Formula I) The compounds are useful for the prevention of blood loss, and as components of fibrin adhesives.

Plasmin (EC 188.8.131.52, fibrinolysin) is a trypsin-like serine protease which effects protein cleavage at arginine or lysine residues; its principal substrates are fibrin and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins like fibronectin. Other plasmin substrates include various proteins of the basal membrane, for example, laminin and type IV collagen, and zymogens such as the proforms of urokinase and matrix metalloprotcases. In blood, plasmin is responsible in particular for fibrinolysis, as it cleaves fibrin into soluble fragments. Plasmin is activated by cleavage from its precursor zymogen, plasminogen, by the action of plasminogen activators, principally serine proteases such as urokinase, tPA, and plasma kallikrein (EC 220.127.116.11; kininogenin, PK).
Endogenous plasmin inhibitors such as α2-macroglobulin and α2-antiplasmin, by moderating the anticoagulant effects of plasminogen activators, play key roles in regulating fibrinolysis. Certain pathological conditions (hyperplasminemias) are characterized by dysregulation of plasmin and spontaneous activation of fibrinolysis. The resulting degradation of wound-closing fibrin is exacerbated by the anticoagulant properties of the fibrinogen degradation products, leading to a serious impairment of hemostasis.
Antifibrinolytic drugs are used clinically to treat such conditions; among the commonly used agents are synthetic amino-substituted carboxylic acids such as p-aminomethylbenzoic acid, s-aminocaproic acid, and trans-4-(aminomethyl)-cyclohexanecarboxylic acid (tranexamic acid). These compounds block the binding of plasminogen to fibrin, and thus inhibit the generation of plasmin, but they are not direct inhibitors of plasmin and do not inhibit the activity of already-formed plasmin. A direct antifibrinolytic is aprotinin (TRASYLOL™, Bayer AG, Leverkusen), a 58 amino acid polypeptide obtained from bovine lung. Aprotinin inhibits plasmin with an inhibition constant of 1 nM, but is relatively nonspecific: it effectively inhibits trypsin (Ki=0.1 nM), plasma kallikrein (Ki=30 nM) and, to a lesser extent, a variety of other enzymes.
The principal use of aprotinin was for reduction of blood loss, especially in cardiac surgical procedures with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), where it distinctly reduced the need for perioperative blood transfusions (Sodha et al., Expert Rev. Cardiovasc. Ther., 4, 151-160, 2006). Aprotinin was also employed to inhibit blood loss in other operations, for example in organ transplants; it is also used in conjunction with fibrin adhesives.
The use of aprotinin has several disadvantages. Since it is isolated from bovine organs, there is in principle the risk of pathogenic contamination and allergic reactions. The risk of anaphylactic shock is relatively low with the first administration of aprotinin (<0.1%), but increases on repeated administration within 200 days to 4-5%. It has been reported that administration of aprotinin, in direct comparison with ε-aminocaproic acid or tranexamic acid, induces an increased number of side effects (Mangano et al., New Engl. J. Med., 354, 353-365, 2006). Administration of aprotinin led to a doubling of the number of cases of kidney damage requiring dialysis, and the incidence of myocardial infarction and apoplectic stroke was increased in comparison with the control groups. After the Blood Conservation Using Antifibrinolytics in a Randomized Trial (BART) study had shown an increased risk of mortality associated with aprotinin use compared to lysine analogues in high-risk cardiac surgery patients (Fergusson et al., New Engl. J. Med., 358, 2319-2331, 2008), the drug was withdrawn from the market.
A number of synthetic inhibitors of plasmin have been disclosed. Sanders and Seto, J. Med. Chem., 42, 2969-2976, 1999, have described 4-hetero cyclohexanone derivatives with relatively weak activity, with inhibition constants of ≧50 μM for plasmin. Xue and Seto, J. Med. Chem., 48, 6908-6917, 2005, have reported on peptidic cyclohexanone derivatives with IC50 values≧2 μM, but no further development has been reported. Okada (Okada et al., Chem. Pharm. Bull., 48, 1964-1972, 2000; Okada et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 10, 2217-2221, 2000) and Tsuda (Tsuda et al., Chem. Pharm. Bull., 49, 1457-1463, 2001) described derivatives of 4-aminomethyl-cyclohexanoic acid which inhibit plasmin with IC50 values ≧0.1 μM, but clinical use of these inhibitors has not been reported. Potent plasmin inhibitors have recently been described (WO 2008/049595; Dietrich et al., Anesthesiology, 110, 123-130, 2009), but these compounds have limited selectivity and inhibit other trypsin-like serine proteases.
Stürzebecher et al. have described a series of N-terminal sulfonylated benzamidine peptidomimetics having various effects on serine proteases. Included within this class are factor Xa inhibitors, useful as anticoagulants and antithrombotics (U.S. Pat. No. 6,841,701); urokinase inhibitors, useful as tumor suppressors (US Pat. Application Publication No. 2005/0176993, U.S. Pat. No. 6,624,169); inhibitors of plasma kallikrein (PK), factor XIa and factor XIIa, useful as anticoagulants and antithrombotics (US Pat. Application Publication No. 2006/0148901); and matriptase inhibitors, useful as tumor suppressors (US Pat. Application Publication No. 2007/0055065).
Inhibition constants for some compounds affecting plasmin activity have been published in several studies on inhibitors of coagulation proteases. The compounds in question, however, were being investigated as antithrombotics, and therefore a low level of plasmin inhibition was preferred. For example, the thrombin inhibitor melagatran inhibits plasmin with a Ki value of 0.7 μM, and the structurally related compound H317/86 has an inhibition constant of 0.22 μM (Gustafsson et al., Thromb. Haem., 79, 110-118, 1998). However, because both compounds inhibit the protease thrombin much more strongly (Ki≦2 nM), the net effect of administration is inhibition of coagulation. The possibility of using such compounds as pro-coagulants, e.g. for reducing blood loss in cardiac surgical procedures, was not mentioned in any of these papers.
As noted above, aprotinin inhibits not only plasmin but also plasma kallikrein (PK). PK is a multifunctional, trypsin-like serine protease for which several physiological substrates are known. Thus, by proteolytic cleavage, PK is able to release the vasoactive peptide bradykinin from high molecular weight kininogen, and to activate zymogens such as coagulation factor XII, pro-urokinase, plasminogen and pro-MMP 3. It is therefore assumed that the PK/kinin system plays an important role in many pathological conditions, for example in thromboembolic situations, disseminated intravascular coagulation, septic shock, allergies, the postgastrectomy syndrome, arthritis and ARDS (adult respiratory distress syndrome) (Tada et al., Biol. Pharm. Bull, 24, 520-524, 2001).
Accordingly, aprotinin, via its inhibitory effect on PK, inhibits the release of the peptide hormone bradykinin, which in turn has various effects via activation of the bradykinin B2 receptor. The bradykinin-induced release of tPA, NO and prostacyclin from endothelial cells (Schmaier, J. Clin. Invest., 109, 1007-1009, 2002) influences fibrinolysis, blood pressure and inflammatory events. It has been suggested that systemic inflammatory processes which may occur as a side effect in surgical operations can be reduced by inhibiting bradykinin release.
Various bisbenzamidines, such as pentamidine and related compounds, and esters of ω-amino- and ω-guanidinoalkylcarboxylic acids, have been described as PK inhibitors with micromolar Ki values (Asghar et al., Biochim Biophys Acta, 438, 250-264, 1976; Muramatu and Fuji, Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 242, 203-208, 1971; Muramatu and Fuji, Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 268, 221-224, 1972; Ohno et al., Thromb. Res., 19, 579-588, 1980; Muramatu et al., Hoppe-Seyler's Z. Physiol. Chem., 363, 203-211, 1982; Satoh et al., Chem. Pharm. Bull., 33, 647-654, 1985; Teno et al., Chem. Pharm. Bull., 39, 2930-2936, 1991).
The first selective competitive PK inhibitors to be reported (Okamoto et al., Thromb. Res., Suppl. VIII, 131-141, 1988) were derived from arginine or phenylalanine, and inhibit PK with Ki values around 1 μM. Several papers on the development of competitive PK inhibitors have been published by the Okada group, with the most active compounds, derived from trans-4-aminomethylcyclohexanecarbonyl-Phe-4-carboxymethylanilide, having inhibition constants around 0.5 μM (Okada et al., Biopolymers, 51, 41-50, 1999; Okada et al., 2000, Tsuda et al., 2001). It is characteristic of these PK inhibitors that they have a relatively high Ki value.
Potent 4 amidinoaniline PK inhibitors, with Ki values around 1 nM, were described in WO 00/41531, but further development of these compounds was not reported.
Garrett et al. have described transition state analogue PK inhibitors (Garrett et al., J. Pept. Res. 52, 60-71, 1998, Garrett et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 9, 301-306, 1999), but these compounds are prone to non-specific reaction with nucleophiles.
Aliagas-Martin et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,472,393, described a wide variety of 4-amidinoanilides which are potent PK inhibitors, having inhibition constants around 1 nM. Antonsson et al. likewise described a wide range of amidine and guanidine PK inhibitors in U.S. Pat. No. 5,602,253. Stürzebecher et al. have described 4-amidino- and 4-guanidino-benzylamines as PK inhibitors, some of which are Factor Xa inhibitors (US Pat. Application Publication. No. 2005/0119190), some of which have a slight inhibitory effect on plasmin (US Pat. Application Publication. No. 2006/0148901), and some of which are dual plasmin/PK inhibitors (PCT Publication No. 2008/049595).
Dyax Corp. has developed a selective plasma kallikrein inhibitor, DX-88 (ecallantide, Kalbitor™), for the treatment of acute attacks in hereditary angioedema. Ecallantide is a recombinant small protein that has been identified utilizing a phage display technology based on the first Kunitz domain of human tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI). Ecallantide is also undergoing phase II clinical testing for the reduction of blood loss during on-pump cardiothoracic surgery (Lehmann, Expert Opin. Biol. Ther., 8, 1187-1199, 2008).
Plasmin and plasma kallikrein, together with approximately 70 other enzymes, belong to the family of trypsin-like serine proteases which share significant sequence homology. In general, this makes it difficult to develop selective inhibitors for a particular protease based on substrate analogues. However, plasmin is missing several amino acids in a loop around the amino acid at position 99, which limits the size of the S2-pocket in most of the trypsin-like serine proteases (binding pocket terminology of Schechter and Berger, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 27, 157-162, 1967). This leads to a relatively open S2-pocket in the active center of plasmin, which may explain why plasmin has a very broad substrate specificity. Plasma kallikrein (PK) features a glycine at position 99, and the absence of a side chain means that plasma kallikrein also has a relatively open S2 pocket. Based on the X-ray structures of trypsin-like serine proteases in complex with substrate analogue inhibitors (Schweinitz et al., Med. Chem. 2, 349-361, 2006) it appears that the side chains of a P2 L-amino acid and a P3 D-amino acid (side-chain terminology of Schechter and Berger, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 27, 157-162, 1967) should both be directed towards the enzyme surface.
There remains a need for low-molecular-weight substances, suitable for therapeutic applications, which reversibly and competitively inhibit plasmin, and preferably plasmin and plasma kallikrein together, with high activity and specificity. The present inventors have discovered that it is possible to obtain potent inhibitors of plasmin by a suitable cyclization between the side chains of the P3- and P2-amino acids in substrate analogue inhibitors. Some of these compounds potently inhibit plasma kallikrein as well.
The compounds of the present invention, accordingly, are suitable for modulating and/or maintaining hemostasis in various situations, particularly during and after surgeries with cardiopulmonary bypass, organ transplants, and other major surgical interventions. It is expected that the compounds of the present invention, as inhibitors of plasma kallikrcin, will also lower kinin release, thereby suppressing both kinin-mediated inflammatory reactions and kinin-induced release of tPA from endothelial cells. The latter effect provides an additional mechanism for downregulation of fibrinolysis.


A reception apparatus includes: a Fourier transform unit to output a converted signal; a propagation path estimation unit to calculate propagation-path-estimated-values based on pilot subcarriers; and a propagation path compensation unit, including a filter, to compensate propagation path distortion, the filter includes: first multipliers to multiply the propagation-path-estimated-values of taps other than a center tap by filtering coefficients; a first adder to add outputs of the first multipliers; a first subtractor to calculate an error between an output of the first adder and a propagation-path-estimated-value of the center tap; a filtering coefficient generation unit to generate the filtering coefficients based on the error; a second multiplier to multiply the propagation-path-estimated-value of the center tap by first coefficient; a third multiplier to multiply the output of the first adder by second coefficient; and a second adder to add an output of the second multiplier and an output of the third multiplier.

As an adaptive prediction filter, a Viterbi equalizer that iteratively performs generation of a replica, calculation of a phase error, and estimation of a channel impulse response vector on received sample data is used.
The iterative channel estimation method is applied to orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) reception.
Examples of the related art are disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 6-268540 and Shinsuke Takaoka and Fumiyuki Adachi "Adaptive Prediction Iterative Channel Estimation for OFDM Signal Reception in a Frequency Selective Fading Channel", Technical Report of IEICE, RCS2002-157, pp. 65-70, August 2002.

Receiver apparatus, method for processing received signal and computer program product


An optical disc type is determined by detecting focus error signals and an amount of returned light, while (i) emitting light having a wavelength maximizing a focal length and (ii) moving an objective lens in a direction of an optical axis. If an S shape and AS immediately after a surface are greater than those at the surface, the optical disc is determined to have a largest capacity. It is also determined whether there is a reflective layer at a depth equal or less than 0.1 mm, if not, then it is determined whether there is a reflective layer at a depth of 0.6 mm. If there is a reflective layer at the depth of 0.6 mm, then the type of the reflective layer is determined based on TE/RF signals, using blue light. If the blue light is not adaptable, red light is emitted to replay at a depth of 0.6 mm.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical disc, an optical disc drive for replaying and recording information from and to the optical disc, and information apparatuses and systems using the optical disc and the optical disc drive, such as a computer, a disc player, a car navigation system, an optical disc recorder and a vehicle. In addition, the present invention relates to a method for replaying information and an integrated circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Digital versatile discs (DVDs) have been known as optical discs capable of storing data with high capacities, since digital information can be recorded in these digital versatile discs with recording densities which are about 6 times those of compact discs (CDs). In recent years, there has been a need for optical discs having larger capacities, along with the increase of amounts of information to be recorded in optical discs. In order to increase the capacity of an optical disc, it is necessary to reduce the size of a light spot formed by light directed to the optical disc when information is recorded to the optical disc or information recorded in the optical disc is replayed, for increasing the density of information recorded therein. The reduction of the size of the light spot can be realized by employing a light source which emits laser light with a shorter wavelength and employing an objective lens with a greater numerical aperture (NA).
For DVDs, a light source with a wavelength of 660 nm (red) and an objective lens with a numerical aperture (NA) of 0.6 have been employed. Further, for BDs (Blu-Ray Discs) which have been already commercially available, a blue laser with a wavelength of about 405 nm and an objective lens with an NA of 0.85 have been employed, which have realized a recording density which is five times that of existing DVDs.
Further, as optical discs which require blue lasers, there are HD-DVDs which require an objective lens having an NA of 0.65 and have been commercially available.
A DVD is an optical disc including transparent base materials with a thickness of 0.6 mm which requires a laser light source with a wavelength of about 660 nm for recording or replaying, also requires an objective lens with a numerical aperture NA of 0.60 and includes recording layer(s) each having a recording capacity of about 4.7 GByte. A DVD is constituted by two transparent base materials with a thickness of 0.6 mm which are attached to each other and thus has a total thickness of 1.2 mm which equals to that of a CD.
A BD is an optical disc including a transparent base material with a thickness of about 0.1 mm which requires laser light with a wavelength of about 405 nm for recording or replaying, also requires an objective lens with a numerical aperture NA of 0.85 and includes recording layer(s) each having a recording capacity of about 25 GByte. A BD is constituted by a disc substrate with a thickness of 1.1 mm, recording layers provided on the disc substrate and a transparent cover layer with a thickness of 0.1 mm which covers the recording layers and has a total thickness of 1.2 mm which equals to that of a CD. Recording and replaying information on and from a BD is performed by converging blue laser light on the recording layers through the transparent cover layer with a thickness of 0.1 mm, using an objective lens with a numerical aperture of 0.85. The increase of the coma aberration caused by the use of laser light with a shorter wavelength and an objective lens with a greater NA is suppressed by setting the thickness of the transparent cover layer in a BD for passing the laser light therethrough to a smaller thickness of about 0.1 mm.
On the other hand, an HD-DVD is an optical disc which requires an objective lens with a numerical aperture NA of 0.65, includes recording layer(s) each having a recording capacity of about 15 GByte, is constituted by two transparent base materials with a thickness of 0.6 mm which are attached to each other and thus has a total thickness of 1.2 mm which equals to that of a CD.
As such optical discs, there are three types of optical discs, which are replay-only type optical discs which have prepits as recording layers, write-once type optical discs which include dye layers as recording layers, and rewritable type optical discs which include phase-change layers as recording layers.
As described above, there are optical discs with various structures, such as CDs, DVDs, BDs, HD-DVDs. The characteristic of the optical discs is that these optical discs can be inserted into and ejected from apparatuses so as to enable recording and replaying information on and from various types of optical discs. Accordingly, it is desirable that an apparatus for replaying or recording information from and to optical discs is adapted to receive various types of optical discs, determine the types of them and properly perform focusing and groove-tracking controls thereon for replay information therefrom.
A method for distinguishing between a CD or a DVD is disclosed in JP-A No. 10-55602, for addressing the aforementioned need.
FIG. 11 is a flow chart briefly illustrating the optical-disc distinguishing method described in JP-A No. 10-55602.
If a command for replay of an optical disc is output (#101), then the numerical aperture (NA) of an objective lens for converging light on the optical disc is set to a certain value (#102), and the objective lens is moved in the direction of an optical axis by an actuator (#103). At this time, the type of the optical disc is determined, based on detection signals such as focus error signals output from an optical head device (#104).
If this determination was a first determination (NO in #105), the value of NA is switched (#106) and, thereafter, the objective lens is moved, again, in the direction of the optical axis by the actuator. At this time, the type of the optical disc is determined, based on detection signals such as focus error signals output from an optical head device. After the second determination is completed (YES in #105), it is determined whether or not the results of these determinations are the same (#107).
If they are the same (YES in #107), then the value of NA is set according to the result and, then, replay of the optical disc is performed (#108). If the results of the two determinations are different from each other (NO in #107), an alarm is generated (#109).
Similarly, JP-A No. 10-241268, JP-A No. 2002-117534, JP-A No. 2001-202680 and the like disclose methods for distinguishing the type of an optical disc.
JP-A No. 10-241268 discloses a method which provides light sources for red light and infrared light in an optical head device, causes them to emit light, determines the reflectivity of an optical disc and, from the result thereof, determines the type of the optical disc.
JP-A No. 2002-117534 discloses a method which determines the type of an optical disc, using tracking error signals detected by a method called a differential phase detection (DPD) method. In this case, tracking error signals are signals indicative of the deviation of a converged spot from the center of rows of pits and the center of track grooves in the optical disc. In the method disclosed in JP-A No. 2002-117534, the type of an optical disc is determined, by observing the change of tracking error signals in cases where pulse signals for use in detecting DPD are limited to signals with lengths equal to or less than a certain length.
Further, JP-A No. 2001-202680 discloses a method which determines the type of an optical disc, by observing the ratio of information signals to the amount of light reflected by the optical disc, namely the modulation degree of information signals.

Optical disc drive and optical information system


A notification system includes a detector, an identifier, a notifier, a determination module, and a controller. The detector detects that a commodity is placed at a display location. The identifier identifies the commodity. The notifier executes a notification operation with a plurality of different notification methods. The determination module determines a degree of conformity between the commodity identified by the identifier and the display location at which the commodity is placed. The controller controls the notifier such that the notifier executes the notification operation with one notification method associated to the degree of conformity determined by the determination module from the plurality of notification methods.

A notification may promote collection of a commodity if the commodity is placed at a location different from an original display location in a shop. In addition, a degree of urgency for the collection may be notified in accordance with a category of the commodity when notifying of collection. This is because a quality such as freshness of the commodity is gradually degraded if the commodity is placed at a location different from the original display location. It is required to place the commodity at an appropriate location to keep quality thereof.

Notification system and notification control apparatus used in the same


The present disclosure provides a pixel driving circuit and a display panel. The pixel driving circuit includes a driving module and a grayscale adjustment module. The driving module is configured to generate a first driving current corresponding to a first grayscale range under the control of a potential at a gate voltage end and a first power source voltage, and transmit the first driving current to a light-emitting element. The grayscale adjustment module is configured to adjust the driving module under the control of the first power source voltage and a first data voltage, so that the driving module generates a second driving current corresponding to a second grayscale range under the control of the potential at the gate voltage end and the first power source voltage, and transmits the second driving current to the light-emitting element.

Micro Light-Emitting Diode (Micro-LED) display technology, sub-millimeter light-emitting diode (Mini-LED) display technology and Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) display technology have been considered as the most competitive next-generation display technologies due to such characteristics as low driving voltage, ultra-high brightness, long service life and high temperature resistance.
In the related art, it is able for such a light-emitting element as a Micro-LED, a Mini-LED and an OLED to achieve a display function through a current from a pixel driving circuit, achieve the display function at different grayscales in accordance with different data voltages, and further achieve the display of a real image through gamma adjustment. On one hand, during the gamma adjustment at middle and low grayscales, since a low-grayscale gamma slope is much smaller than a high-grayscale gamma slope, a smaller data step (a minimum data voltage-division capability) is required to acquire brightness values at low grayscales. On the other hand, luminous efficiency of the light-emitting element, a brightness value of light emitted by the light-emitting element, and chromaticity coordinates vary along with a current density. A driving current at a high current density is required to ensure the luminous efficiency of the light-emitting element and the stable light. The driving current is positively correlated with the data voltage, a minimum data step of an Integrated Circuit (IC) is limited, so it is impossible for the light-emitting element to fully realize the display function at low grayscales.

Pixel driving circuit, driving control method, and display panel


Provided are ultraviolet (UV)-curable polyols and polyurethane compositions made by reacting the inventive polyol with an isocyanate. The inventive ultraviolet (UV)-curable polyol is made by co-polymerizing an alkylene oxide, an unsaturated carboxylic acid or anhydride and a hydroxy functional compound in the presence of a double metal cyanide (DMC) complex catalyst such that the polyol has an ultra-low level of unsaturation. The inventive polyols may be used to produce prepolymers, which in turn may be useful in making thin films which in turn may provide such items as medical examination gloves and scientific gloves. The inventive ultraviolet (UV)-curable polyurethane compositions may also find use in or as coatings, adhesives, sealants, elastomers and the like.

Natural rubber latex (NRL) is the material of choice in many applications requiring soft, thin-walled elastic articles, such as medical examination and scientific gloves. NRL articles typically are made by dipping a mandrel, pre-coated with a coagulant, into an aqueous rubber emulsion. To produce NRL gloves which are adequately strong, but which do not have pinholes, the dipped NRL gloves must be about 0.18 to about 0.20 mm thick. Although gloves made from NRL possess an excellent combination of flexibility, high elongation at break, tensile strength and a low degree of creep, in recent years the use of NRL has been under attack because of increased instances of allergic reactions caused by proteins and vulcanization accelerator residues present in NRL.
The manufacture of medical exam and scientific gloves from polyurethane is known to those skilled in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,156, issued to McGary, Jr., et al., discloses a soft, low modulus, non-crystalline segmented polyurethane with a 100% modulus less than about 250 psi, initial tensile set less than about 30% and tensile strength of about 3500 to 6500 psi. McGary, Jr. et al. teach balancing the percent hard segment and the degree of cross-linking within the ranges of 14 to 25% hard segment and 5,000 to 30,000 molecular weight per cross-link in a segmented polyurethane. The polyurethane of the 156 patent is said to produce a flexible glove for use by surgeons and others which is easily donned and comfortable on the hand.
A waterborne dispersion of a polyurethane polymer said to be useful as a film having improved mechanical properties is disclosed by Snow, et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,997. The film is said to have properties comparable to rubber including, a percentage elongation greater than 700%, a tensile strength greater than 3,500 psi, a 100% modulus below 450 psi, a 300% modulus below 700 psi, and a 500% modulus below 1,500 psi. This film can be prepared in the absence of a solvent, thus making it attractive for a variety of protection products for medical and industrial applications such as gloves, condoms, catheters, and the like. However, the films of Snow et al. are crosslinked by the urethane reaction; therefore, the residual NCO may cause allergic reactions on human skin.
Papalos et al., in U.S. Statutory Invention Registration No. H 1,712, disclose radiation-curable compositions containing monoalkyl or mono-aralkyl ether di-acrylates or di-methacrylates of particular ethoxylated and/or propoxylated polyols. These polyol derivatives substituted with hydrophobic ether functionalities are said to constitute UV-curable diluents that can be isolated in excellent yields with minimal losses during the manufacturing process. The UV-curable diluents of Papalos et al. are said to be useful in radiation-curable compositions.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,876,384 issued to Higbie et al., teaches reactive diluents for radiation curable compositions. The diluents are lower alkyl ether acrylates and methacrylates of particular alkoxylated and non-alkoxylated polyols. Examples are mono-methoxy trimethylolpropane diacrylate, mono-methoxy neopentyl glycol monoacrylate and mono-methoxy, ethoxylated neopentyl glycol monoacrylate having an average of about two moles of ethylene oxide.
No mention is made in either of these disclosures of making a coating, adhesive, sealant or elastomer from the reactive diluent by combining it with an isocyanate to form a polyurethane.
Polyurethane is typically made by reacting a polyol with an isocyanate. The majority of polyoxyalkylene polyether polyols are polymerized through base catalysis. For example, polyoxypropylene dials are prepared by the base-catalyzed oxypropylation of a difunctional initiator such as propylene glycol. During base-catalyzed oxypropylation, a competing rearrangement of propylene oxide to allyl alcohol continually introduces an unsaturated, monofunctional, oxyalkylatable species into the reactor. The oxyalkylation of this monofunctional species yields allyl-terminated polyoxypropylene monols. The rearrangement is discussed in BLOCK AND GRAFT POLYMERIZATION, Vol. 2, Ceresa, Ed., John Wiley & Sons, pp. 17-21. Unsaturation is measured in accordance with ASTM D-2849-69 "Testing Urethane Foam Polyol Raw Materials," and expressed as milliequivalents of unsaturation per gram of polyol (meq/g). Due to this continual creation of allyl alcohol and its subsequent oxypropylation, the average functionality of the polyol mixture decreases and the molecular weight distribution broadens. Base-catalyzed polyoxyalkylene polyols contain considerable quantities of lower molecular weight, monofunctional species. In polyoxypropylene dials of 4,000 Dalton (Da) molecular weight, the content of monofunctional species may be between 30 and 40 mole percent. In such cases, the average functionality is lowered to 1.6 to 1.7 from the nominal, or theoretical functionality of 2.0. In addition, base-catalyzed polyols have a high polydispersity (Mw/Mn) due to the presence of the substantial, low molecular weight fractions.
Lowering unsaturation and the attendant high monol fraction in polyoxypropylene polyols has been touted as a means of providing polyurethane compositions with improved properties. Often, formulations must be chosen to balance conflicting properties. For example, increases in tensile strength are often accompanied by a decrease in elongation.
Therefore, a need exists in the art for a polyol that will provide prepolymers that can be used to make thin films having the desired properties of natural rubber latex (NRL) including low modulus, high elongation, high tensile strength and solvent resistance, without the drawbacks associated with NRL such as allergic reactions. Further, it would be desirable if the polyol could provide UV-curable polyurethane compositions having a low modulus, high elongation, high tensile strength and solvent resistance that are suitable for use in or as coatings, adhesives, sealants, elastomers and the like.

Ultraviolet-curable polyols and polyurethane compositions made therefrom


A method of and device for checking a device for influencing the temperature of a baking oven includes switching on devices for influencing the temperature of a baking oven for a predetermined time and subsequently comparing a measured temperature obtained with a predetermined comparison temperature. A fault signal is output dependent upon the comparison result.

Field of the Invention:
The invention relates to a method of checking at least two devices for influencing the temperature in the cooking space of a baking oven, the devices being activated, and to a corresponding baking oven with at least two devices for influencing the temperature in the cooking space, with a control unit and with a temperature sensor for regulating the temperature in the cooking space, for which purpose the control unit is connected to the devices and the temperature sensor.
A general checking device and a general method of checking are disclosed in German Published, Non-Prosecuted Patent Application DE 198 35 622 A1, which describes a household appliance with at least two electrical heating elements and a resistance monitoring unit, which monitors the electrical resistance value while the heating element is switched on. In dependence on the actual resistance value of the heating element, a signal is automatically generated.
The prior art method and device are relatively complex because an electrical resistance has to be provided and, moreover, the actual value of the resistance has to be monitored and evaluated.
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a method of checking a device for influencing the temperature in the cooking space of a baking oven and corresponding baking oven that overcome the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and that is of a more simple construction and less costly to produce.
With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a method of checking at least two devices for influencing the temperature of a cooking space of a baking oven, including the steps of activating the devices in a test mode for a predetermined testing time, measuring the temperature in the cooking space of the baking oven, comparing the measured temperature with an associated comparison value, and generating a signal dependent upon a result of the comparison.
An advantage of the invention is that the at least two devices for influencing the temperature in the cooking space of a baking oven are operated in a test mode for a predetermined testing time and the temperature produced by the devices is measured and, in dependence on the value of the measured temperature, a signal is generated. As such, a temperature sensor that is usually present in any case for regulating the temperature of the cooking space can be used additionally for monitoring the functional capability of a number of devices, in particular, heating devices.
In accordance with another mode of the invention, the temperature difference that is produced by the activation of the device during the testing time is ascertained. Depending on the value of the temperature difference, a signal is generated. The temperature difference represents a more precise value for checking the correct functioning of the device because any influencing brought about by the ambient temperature is largely avoided in this way.
In accordance with an added mode of the invention, a number of devices that are integrated in the baking oven are checked one after the other for correct functioning. Such a procedure offers the advantage that all the devices of the baking oven are checked in a single test mode and, consequently, a statement on correct functioning of the household appliance can be made.
In accordance with a further mode of the invention, there are provided the steps of activating a number of the devices one after another over predetermined testing times, comparing each measured temperature with an associated comparison value, and generating a signal dependent upon a result of each comparison.
In accordance with an additional mode of the invention, there are provided the steps of activating the devices one after another over predetermined testing times, comparing at least one of each measured temperature and each temperature difference with comparison values, and generating a signal dependent upon a result of each comparison.
In accordance with yet another mode of the invention, there are provided the steps of activating the devices one after another over predetermined testing times, comparing at least one of each measured temperature and each temperature difference with the respective associated comparison value, and generating a signal dependent upon a result of each comparison.
In accordance with yet a further mode of the invention, the device is automatically checked at predetermined points in time or in predetermined operating states of the baking oven. Such a procedure offers the advantage that the checking of the device takes place continuously and independently of the input of an operator. As such, it is ensured that a malfunction of the baking oven is detected independently of the input by an operator.
In accordance with yet an added mode of the invention, the method is started through a data line from a central station at a remote location. As such, a remote diagnosis of the household appliance can be carried out. An advantageous development of the invention resides in the face that, during a normal operating mode of the baking oven, whether or not the temperature rise for this operating mode lies in a predetermined, characteristic range is monitored. If the rise is not in the range, the method of checking the device is started to characterize the fault more precisely.
In accordance with yet an additional mode of the invention, there is provided the step of waiting for a predetermined waiting time between the activation of two of the devices.
In accordance with again another mode of the invention, there is provided the step of utilizing the signal at least one of for indication of a fault and for diagnosis.
In accordance with again a further mode of the invention, there are provided the steps of operating one of the devices in a normal operating mode, measuring a temperature produced by the one device and comparing the measured temperature with a comparison value, and starting a test mode and checking the one device dependent upon a result of the comparison.
In accordance with again an added mode of the invention, there are provided the steps of respectively operating each one of the devices in a normal operating mode, measuring a temperature produced by each of the devices and comparing each measured temperature with a respective comparison value, and starting a test mode and checking the respective one of the devices dependent upon a result of each comparison.
With the objects of the invention in view, there is also provided a baking oven, including a housing defining a cooking space, at least two devices for influencing a temperature in the cooking space, a temperature sensor for regulating the temperature in the cooking space, a control unit for regulating the temperature in the cooking space, the control unit connected to the at least two devices and to the temperature sensor, and the control unit programmed to activate the at least two devices during a testing time, measure the temperature of the cooking space in the testing time through the temperature sensor, compare the measured temperature with a given comparison value, and generating a signal dependent upon a result of the comparison.
In accordance with again an additional feature of the invention, the control unit is programmed to ascertain a temperature difference produced by an activation of one of the at least two devices during the testing time, compare the ascertained temperature difference with a second given comparison value, and generate a signal dependent upon a result of the comparison. Preferably, the second given comparison value is the given comparison value.
In accordance with still another feature of the invention, the control unit is programmed to ascertain a temperature difference produced by an activation of each of the at least two devices during the testing time, compare the ascertained temperature difference with a respective one of a plurality of given comparison values, and generate a signal dependent upon a result of the comparison.
In accordance with still a further feature of the invention, the at least two devices is a plurality of devices and the control unit is programmed to activate each of the devices one after another for a respective testing time, and after each respective testing time at least one of measure the temperature and ascertain the temperature difference produced by the activation of a respective one of the devices and generate a signal dependent upon a value of at least one of the measured temperature and the ascertained temperature difference.
In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, at least one of the devices is a heating unit and/or a cooling unit. Preferably, the cooling unit is a blower.
Other features that are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a method of checking a device for influencing the temperature in the cooking space of a baking oven and corresponding baking oven, it is, nevertheless, not intended to be limited to the details shown because various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Method of checking a device for influencing the temperature in the cooking space of a baking oven and corresponding baking oven


The disclosed implementations provide a system and method of predicting routes for mobile devices using wireless networks, including generating and sending content to a mobile device that is travelling on a predetermined route (e.g., a bus route determined by a transportation agency). The mobile device can scan for a wireless network that is installed on a vehicle travelling on a predetermined route. The system can predict which predetermined route the mobile device is travelling on by accessing a database that associates wireless networks with transportation vehicles. The system can confirm whether the mobile device is travelling on a predetermined route based on the device's sensor measurements, timestamps collected over a period of time and the identity of the wireless network that is connected to the device. The system can send content to the mobile device based on the mobile device's location and predicted future locations along the predetermined route.

Transportation agencies can manage vehicles that travel predetermined routes at predetermined times to pick up and drop off riders (e.g., buses). Transportation agencies often post their schedules online or in newspapers so that riders will know when and where vehicles will be. If the schedules are posted online on a server, a device (e.g., a smart phone) can send a request to the server, and the server can respond with a schedule of times that are displayed on the device.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Predicting routes using wireless networks