A method of Web-site host consistency administration provides for consistent presentation of data despite presentation on client machines with inconsistent software-object libraries. The host sends screen images which contact the client""s onboard DLLs as little as possible. That way, inconsistency problems called binary incompatibilities are avoided. The client is excused from most of the processing load. The client""s role is practically limited to displaying the received screens and sending out keystrokes and cursor-moving device inputs. The light role given the client correspondingly shifts more of a load on server-side processing and data storage. Nevertheless, the method provides high assurance the any client sees substantially the same result for the same request despite differences or inconsistencies in software-object libraries onboard the client""s machine.

The invention generally relates to distributed computer systems and/or networks of interconnected computer systems, and more particularly to a method and system of Web-site host consistency administration among inconsistent software-object libraries of remote distributed health-care providers.
Looked at differently, the problem addressed by the invention relates to person-to-machine interaction with data. By way of background, a Web-site host is entrusted to provide administration services over a client""s data. The clientxe2x80x94a very real personxe2x80x94receives access to the data in the form of requests transmitted to the host over the Internet. The invention deals with the consistent presentation of requested data on the client""s machine. That way, the client (ie., the person) is less likely to misinterpret the data if it is presented consistently the same time after time.
Preferably the invention is implemented over the Internet to take advantage of its far reach as an affordable communications medium to remote distributed machines. More preferably still is that the given communications transmitted between the Web-site host and its clients over the Internet use open or public domain protocols for doing so. These principally include to date for Web-page matter the languages or formats of HTML (hypertext markup language), SGML (standard generalized markup language), XML (extensible markup language), XSL (extensible style language), or CSS (cascading style sheets).
The present application claims relation to the above-referenced co-pending, commonly-owned and commonly-invented U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/726,946, filed Nov. 29, 2000, entitled xe2x80x9cProcess for Administrating over Changes to Server-Administrated Client Records in a Stateless Protocol.xe2x80x9d The emphasis in that application is on administrating over the trustworthiness of the data. In contrast, the emphasis of the present application is on administrating over the trustworthiness in the presentation.
That is, in the present application the trustworthiness of the data is taken as a given. The problem is, however, even if the data is trustworthy, inconsistent presentation among different requests for the data can cause human error in interpretation of the data.
The matter of consistent presentation of data is critical in field of remote distributed healthcare providers because of the following factors. Medication decisions are based on the data. The data in such case may be the time of previous administration of medication to a patient. If this bit of information fails to land in the right place for it on the client""s computer screen, the client might miss it. The client might also not search the screen for where the data is displayed, or not understand it if indeed seen since it""s not inside its field. Hence the client might decide to administer the patient a next dose when it""s too soon. That""s one aspect of the problem.
At this stage, further background into the problem would provide a richer understanding of it. The clients of applicant""s enterprise comprise a group of healthcare providers such as nurses (of several types), physicians, social workers, therapists (of several types), or dieticians. The profile of such persons in that group is that they are attending to patients or residents in locations other than big medical complexes like hospitals or the like. Example such xe2x80x9cotherxe2x80x9d locations include home health care provided to a patient in his or her own home, long term care provided to residents of long-term care facilities (eg., nursing homes), or physician offices in rural areas or where otherwise remote from services of Information Technologists. These parties have sophisticated information processing needs. However, they may have no more access to a computer than a personal or laptop computer that can be hooked up to the Internet by a phone line. These parties sorely lack local personal service from a skilled Information Technician because IT""s are in short supply about everywhere. These parties troubles will have to be solved on the server-side of operations.
As well understood by those skilled in the art, computers communicating over the World Wide Web (xe2x80x9cWebxe2x80x9d) do so by browser technology and in an environment described as a xe2x80x9cstatelessxe2x80x9d or non-persistent protocol. xe2x80x9cIntranetxe2x80x9d generally refers to private networks that likewise implement browser technology. xe2x80x9cInternetxe2x80x9d generally includes the Web as well as sites operating not on browser-technology but perhaps maybe servers of mail or Internet chat and the like. At least in the case of the Web, the stateless protocol is denominated as Hypertext Transfer Protocol (xe2x80x9cHTTPxe2x80x9d).
One premise of the Web is that material on the Web may be formatted in open or xe2x80x9cpublic domainxe2x80x9d formats. Several have been named previously. Many if not most of these open formats are produced under the authority of W3C, which is short for World Wide Web Consortium, founded in 1994 as an international consortium of companies involved with the Internet and the Web. The organization""s purpose is to develop open standards so that the Web evolves in a single direction rather than being splintered among competing factions. The W3C is the chief standards body for HTTP and HTML and so on.
On the Web, all information requests and responses presumptively conform to one of those standard protocols. Another premise of the Web is that communications vis-a-vis requests and responses are non-persistent. A request comprises a discrete communication which when completed over a given channel is broken. The response thereto originates as a wholly separate discrete communication which is likely to find its way to the requestor by a very different channel.
Additional aspects and objects of the invention will be apparent in connection with the discussion further below of preferred embodiments and examples.
It is an object of the invention to provide a model method of Web-site host consistency administration among inconsistent software-object libraries of remote distributed health-care providers.
These and other aspects and objects are provided according to the invention in a method and system of Web-site host consistency administration for network communications between a server and remote distributed clients belonging to the health-care provider field and in a computing environment in which the clients are treated as communicating from machines stored with inconsistent software-object libraries.
Aspects of the method comprise the following.
A Web-site host is provided with a rich library of DLL objects, a full and complex operating system, an application source program, application data access program, network program, Internet protocols, application data, and application first-stage-compiled objects with DLL references.
The Web-site host is executing the operating system and further executing a repeatable cycle, which from a beginning comprises these steps.
The host executes the network program using the Internet protocols.
It receives a request from a client in the form of keystrokes and cursor-moving device inputs.
It stores the received keystrokes and cursor-moving device inputs.
The host analyzes the keystrokes and cursor-moving device inputs and in consequence thereof, analyzing the request gotten thereby.
It selects, in accordance with the request, an applicable first-stage-compiled object with linked DLL references.
It selects requested data.
It executes a second-stage-compile/interpretation of the selected first-stage-compiled object with linked DLL references in order to derive object and referenced DLL""S.
It executes the derivative code.
The host also develops screen images with requested data content.
It translates the developed screen images into an open or public domain protocol.
It executes the network program using Internet protocols.
The host transmits the translated screen images.
And then, the host goes back to the beginning of the repeatable cycle.
This method thereby provides high assurance that every client sees substantially the same result for the same request despite inconsistencies in DLL libraries onboard different client machines.
Preferably the open protocols comprise one of HTML (hypertext markup language), SGML (standard generalized markup language), XML (extensible markup language), XSL (extensible style language), or CSS (cascading style sheets).
The method may further comprise the following.
That is, a client is provide with a library of DLL objects (but these are presumed inconsistent with those of the server""s library), at least a minimal operating system, a browser program, and Internet protocols.
The client executes the at least minimal operating system and further collects and stores keystrokes and cursor-moving device inputs.
The client analyzes the keystrokes and cursor-moving device inputs and either discontinues or else continues by further executing a repeatable cycle, which from a beginning comprises the following steps.
The client executes the browser program using the Internet protocols.
The client sends a request for Web-site host service in the form of the stored keystrokes and cursor-moving device inputs.
The client executes the browser program using the Internet protocols.
The client receives the requested translated screen images with requested data content.
The client displays the screen images.
The client collects and stores keystrokes and cursor-moving device inputs.
And then the client goes back to the step of analyzing the keystrokes and cursor-moving device inputs at the beginning of the repeatable cycle. Again this further development of the method on the client-side of processing further provides high assurance a common look for every request despite inconsistencies in DLL libraries onboard different client machines.
In this method, the remote distributed clients belonging to the health-care provider field preferably include nurses of varying types, physicians, social workers, therapists of several types, or dieticians providing service to a patient at home, a resident of a nursing home, or a patient at a physician""s office remote from a medical complex.
Additional aspects and objects of the invention will be apparent in connection with the discussion further below of preferred embodiments and examples.

Web-site consistency administration among inconsistent software-object libraries of remote distributed health-care providers


A device for gripping and decollating a bottom blank comprises a rotary shaft with a flat outer peripheral portion. Suction orifices in the shaft extend through the flat surface portion and communicate with suction cups carried by the shaft. Free outer edges of the suction cups contact the bottom blank, whereupon the application of suction causes the suction cups to contract. The suction orifices include enlarged outer portions for receiving the contracted suction cups such that the bottom blank is pulled flush against the flat surface portion of the shaft for a more effective application of suction forces.

The invention concerns an apparatus for the gripping and decollating of a bottom blank of a stack of blanks such as laminated paper blanks.
Apparatuses of this type are known (e.g., a block casing machine of the Horauf Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co., West Gernamy). In this known configuration, the suction cups grip and bend down a blank to be decollated. The suction cups project through a flat surface of a rotary suction shaft. After the suction cups have made initial contact with the blank, the suction cups remain extended beyond that flat surface. This means that the blank to be bent down and decollated cannot rest flush against the flat surface, which may lead to difficulties in releasing the bottom blank from the stack, particularly if non-flat embossed or textile laminated book coverings are to be gripped. In such a case, dead air may be suctioned in whereby the gripping efficiency of the suction system is decreased.
It is, therefore, an object of the invention to eliminate this disadvantage and to provide an apparatus of the afore-mentioned type so that book lid coverings, especially those having a non-flat surface, may be gripped and decollated more securely.

Suction device for the gripping and decollating of the bottom blank of a stack of blanks

Michael Horauf Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG


A slim electronic apparatus that can give a user a sufficient sense of clicking in response to a user's touch input operation is disclosed. The electronic apparatus includes a touch-operation unit for receiving a user's touch-input operation; a main body chassis having a support plate with a mounting face to movably mount the touch-operation unit; a vibrator for generating vibrations to the touch-operation unit; and a connector having a fixing part fixed to one of the touch-operation unit and the support plate, and a retained part retained to be movable relative to the other of the touch-operation unit and the support plate at least along one direction parallel to the mounting face.

There is a demand for slim electronic apparatuses, such as a laptop PC and a tablet PC. An electronic apparatus of this type has been requested to have input units, such as a touchpad and a push button, that can click without a mechanical movement to move up and down. Some of the electronic apparatuses of this type are equipped with a feedback technique (e.g., HAPTIC techniques) that vibrates a vibrator in response to the touch input operation by a user and gives a sense of clicking by haptic sense to the user without a mechanical up-down movement. Examples of the vibrator include an actuator having shape memory alloy (SIA), an actuator having a piezoelectric element (e.g., piezo vibration actuator), an eccentric motor (e.g., eccentric rotating sass), and a linear vibrator (e.g., linear resonant actuator).
Typically, the electronic apparatus as stated above is configured so that the chassis supports a touch-operation unit including a vibrator while floating the touch-control unit with a rubber, and such a touch-control unit generates vibrations. The rubber has one face fixed to the bottom face of the touch-operation unit and the other face fixed to the top face of the chassis.
Such a floating structure with a rubber needs the rubber of about 1 mm in thickness in order to provide enough vibrations to a user, and this is a barrier for a slimmer apparatus. If the rubber is too thin, it would be difficult to generate vibrations that a user can sense.
Consequently, it would be desirable to provide a slim electronic apparatus that can gives a user a sufficient sense of clicking in response to the user's touch operation for input.

Electronic apparatus having a touch pad capable of providing vibrations


Disclosed is driving circuit for AC contactor for driving a AC contactor, including a first switch connected in series with a winding of the AC contactor, a first diode reversely connected in parallel with the winding of the AC contactor for providing a discharging path for the winding, a DC startup holding unit having an output terminal connected in series with the first switch and a detection terminal connected to a first contact switch of the AC contactor. The DC startup holding unit is configured to selectively convert a DC driving voltage into a first DC voltage or a second DC voltage. When the AC contactor is not magnetized, the DC startup holding unit outputs the first DC voltage. When the AC contactor is magnetized, the DC startup holding unit outputs the second DC voltage.

AC contactors, also known as electromagnetic switches, have been widely employed in the application of power control. The operating principle of AC contactor is attained by providing current to the windings of the contactor to induce a magnetic field in order to manipulate the contact switch of the AC contactor to open or close, thereby controlling the power appliance. Because the AC contactor is durable in large-current applications where the maximum allowable current is as high as 800 Ampere, and is able to readily and frequently turn on or off the power supply for high-current power appliance, e.g. 380 VAC, the AC contactor is commonly used to control the electromagnetic motor with high startup current. The AC contactor can also be employed to control factory equipment, electric heater, metal working machine, or auto-control electric apparatus, thereby fulfilling the purpose of remotely controlling the power appliance or automatically controlling the power appliance.
Referring to FIG. 1, the driving circuit for the conventional AC contactor is illustrated. In FIG. 1, the AC contactor includes a winding M and a contact switch a, such as a normally-open switch, in which the contact switch a is connected in series with the power appliance 12 and the winding M is connected in series with a switch K. When the control circuit 11 turns on the switch K, the AC voltage Vac is applied to the winding M of the AC contactor through the switch K, thereby inducing a magnetic field. Under this condition, the contact switch a is close, and thus the AC voltage Vac is applied to the power appliance 12 through the contact switch a to power the power appliance 12. On the contrary, when the control circuit 11 manipulates the switch K to turn off, the AC voltage Vac can not be applied to the winding M through the switch K. Under this condition, the contact switch a will open to prevent the AC voltage Vac from being applied to the power appliance 12 through the contact switch a. Therefore, the power appliance 12 will cease operating.
However, there is an increasing trend for the auto-control system and power appliance to use DC voltage as the operating voltage. If the driving circuit for conventional AC contactor replaces the AC voltage Vac with a DC voltage with the same magnitude, e.g. 380 VDC, the winding M of the AC contactor will burn down due to overcurrent condition when the winding M of the AC contactor is driven by the DC voltage. This is because the pick-up voltage of the AC contactor is high. If the winding M is driven by a DC voltage having the same magnitude of the AC voltage Vac, the winding M will reach saturation with small DC resistance as the winding M is steadily magnetizing. Therefore, the winding M will undergo over-current conditions and burn down accordingly. Thus, the auto-control system and power appliance using the DC voltage as the driving voltage generally employ DC contactors with higher price.
For example, the emergency power supply using DC voltage in a power system requires an additional inverter for generating an AC voltage if an AC contactor is used to control the circuitry of the emergency power supply, thereby driving the winding to operate normally. The additional inverter will increase the size of the emergency power supply and lower the power efficiency of the emergency power supply. What is worse, the additional inverter will cause a loud noise and increase the cost of the emergency power supply.
Therefore, it is necessary to address the foregoing deficiencies encountered by the conventional driving circuit for AC contactor.


Compositions and methods for modifying genetic material are provided. One embodiment provides aptamers capable of binding to a site-specific DNA binding moiety to facilitate the exchange of homologous genetic information between a donor molecule and the desired target locus (aptamer-guided gene targeting or AGT). One embodiment provides an oligonucleotide containing a aptamer, preferably a DNA aptamer at the 5′ end. The oligonucleotide also contains a region of homology, also referred to as donor DNA, to a desired nucleic acid, locus, or gene. The DNA binding moiety can be a nucleic acid, a protein, or a complex of proteins. In a preferred embodiment the DNA binding moiety is a homing endonuclease that cuts DNA to facilitate the modification of the DNA by the donor DNA.

Targeted gene modification is a powerful tool for researchers interested in functional analysis of genes and potentially for gene therapy applications. The primary limitation of gene targeting is the low frequency with which it occurs in many organisms and cell types, including mammalian cells, occurring in roughly one cell for every 105-107 treated cells (Vasquez, et al., Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA, 98:8403-8410 (2001)). The low frequency of gene targeting, which relies on HR is due in part to the much higher frequency of random integration via nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ), which occurs in about 1 cell for every 102-104 treated cells (Vasquez, et al., Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA, 98:8403-8410 (2001)).
Several strategies have been used to increase the frequency of gene targeting. It was shown that a DNA double-strand break (DSB) at the target site increases the frequency of gene targeting several orders of magnitude in bacteria (Nussbaum, et al., Genetics, 130:37-49 (1992)), yeast (Storici, et al., Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA, 100:14994-14999 (2003)), plants (Puchta, et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 21:5034-5040 (1993)), fruit flies (Banga, et al., Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA, 89:1735-1739 (1992)), mice (Rouet, et al., Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA, 91:6064-6068 (1994)), human embryonic stem cells (Smith, et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 23:5012-5019 (1995)) and many other cell types. Another strategy to increase gene targeting in mammalian cells has been achieved through the overexpression of key recombination proteins from HR proficient organisms. Overexpression of bacterial RecA led to a 10-fold increase in gene targeting in mouse cells (Schcherbakova, et al., Mutat. Res., 459:65-71 (2000)); likewise, overexpression of yeast Rad52 led to a 37-fold increase in gene targeting in human cells (Di Primio, et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 33:4639-4648 (2005)). Conversely, another approach for increasing gene targeting in human cells involves decreasing the amount of DSB repair through the pathway of NHEJ. In mouse embryonic stem cells, an increase in gene targeting was seen in Ku70 (6-fold), XRCC4 (2-fold) and DNAPK-cs-deficient cell lines (2-fold) (Pierce, et al., Genes Dev., 15:3237-3242 (2001)), and a 3-fold increase in Chinese hamster ovary cells lacking DNAPK-cs (Allen, et al., Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA, 99:3758-3763 (2002)). Similarly, knockdown of Ku70 and XRCC4 in human colon cancer cells led to a 30-fold increase in gene targeting (Bertolini, et al., Mol. Biotech., 41:106-114 (2009)). Different from the methodologies mentioned above that focused on increasing HR or decreasing NHEJ, it was shown that knockout of the RAD51 recombinase prevents DSB-induced sister chromatid exchange (Fasullo, et al., Genetics, 158:959-972 (2001)), and thus facilitates gene targeting by single-stranded oligonucleotides at the site of a DSB in both haploid and diploid yeast systems (Storici, et al., Mol. Cell. Biol., 26:7645-7657 (2006)). Gene correction close to a DSB by single-stranded oligonucleotides does not require Rad51, but only the strand annealing function of Rad52 (Storici, et al., Mol. Cell. Biol., 26:7645-7657 (2006)). Thus, deleting Rad51 favours DSB-driven recombination by oligonucleotides by strongly reducing the competition with the sister chromatid and/or the homologous chromosome for DSB repair (Fasullo, et al., Genetics, 158:959-972 (2001); Storici, et al., Mol. Cell. Biol., 26:7645-7657 (2006); Lambert, et al., Oncogene, 20:6627-6631 (2001)). Similarly, it was shown that by knocking down human SMC1, important for HR between sister chromatids, gene targeting increases (Potts, et al., EMBO J., 25:3377-3388 (2006)). Without proximity to the DSB site, the sister chromatid was used less frequently as a donor, shifting repair of the DSB more towards HR with the exogenous donor sequence
Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide improved compositions and methods for modifying genetic material.
It is another object of the invention to provide methods and compositions for gene therapy.
It is still another object of the invention to provide compositions and methods for targeting oligonucleotides to the specific sites in the genome.


A method for noise alerting includes: recording ambient sound around an electronic device and generating corresponding sound signals; determining a volume of the ambient sound according to the sound signal; obtaining a noise grade corresponding to the determined volume of the ambient sound in a first table mapping relationships between a plurality of volumes and noise grades; searching a second table mapping relationships between the noise grades and solutions to obtain a solution corresponding to the obtained noise grade of the ambient sound; and outputting an alert to a user for recommending the obtained solution. The electronic device for noise alerting is also provided.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to electronic devices and, particularly, to an electronic device and a method thereof for noise alerting by solving problems of noise.
2. Description of Related Art
When the volume of the noise is too high, it is harmful to human hearing. However, it is difficult to accurately determine if the noise level reaches a harmful level only by human hearing.
Therefore, it is necessary to provide an electronic device and a method for noise alerting.

Electronic device and method for noise alerting

Fu Tai Hua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.


The present invention belongs to the field of EP4 receptor ligands. More specifically it refers to compounds of general formula (I) having great affinity and selectivity for the EP4 receptor. The invention also refers to the process for their preparation, to their use as medicament for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases or disorders mediated by the EP4 receptor as well as to pharmaceutical compositions comprising them.

Prostanoids are a family of eicosanoids that comprise prostaglandins (PGs), prostacyclins (PGIs), and thromboxanes (Txs). Their receptors belong to the G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily of receptors and may be grouped into five classes, namely, prostaglandin D (DP), prostaglandin E (EP), prostaglandin F (FP), prostaglandin I (IP), and Thromboxane A (TP) based on their sensitivity to five naturally occurring prostanoids, PGD2, PGE2, PGF2[alpha], PGI2, and TxA2, respectively (Coleman, R. A., 2000).
Prostaglandins are small potent inflammatory mediators that are generated by the release of arachidonic acid (AA) from the membrane phospholipids. Subsequently, cyclooxigenase and prostaglandin synthase enzymes metabolize AA to prostaglandins that play pivotal roles in the modulation of physiological systems, such as CNS, and the inflammatory and immune responses.
Prostaglandins contribute to the sensitization of peripheral and central nociceptive neurons during peripheral inflammation (Dirig and Yaksh, 1999) and play an important role in the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain following nerve injury (Syriatowicz et al 1999; Samad et al, 2002; Ma and Eisenach, 2003).
Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is considered to be the dominant pro-nociceptive prostanoid. Guay and colleagues, analyzing the concentrations of different prostaglandins in the cerebrospinal fluid, found that PGE2 was the most prevalent prostanoid and exhibited the highest increase after peripheral carrageenan-induced inflammation (Guay et al., 2004). PGE2 is generated in most cells in response to mechanical, thermal or chemical injury and inflammatory insult, resulting in sensitization or direct activation of nearby sensory nerve endings. Its production requires the activity of at least one of the two cyclooxygenase isoforms, COX-1 constitutively expressed or COX-2 which is inducible and particularly relevant for inflammation-induced PGE2 formation. Therefore, non-selective inhibitors of COX-1 and COX-2, and selective COX-2 inhibitors provide good pain relief. However, the long-term use is associated with gastrointestinal or cardiovascular side effects, respectively.
Downstream components of the inflammatory cascade could be an alternative approach for the treatment of the PGE2 associated pain. PGE2 binds to four different G-protein coupled receptors named EP1, EP2, EP3 and EP4 (Narumiya et al., 1999).
Studies employing antagonists suggest that blocking EP1, EP2, EP3 or EP4 receptors may reduce certain types of pain (Oka et al. 1997; Lin et al, 2006). Among these PGE2 receptors, most of the drug discovery studies have focused on modulating EP4 receptor. EP4 receptor has been associated in various models of immune response, inflammation, hypoxia, organ damage, autoimmunity, bone catabolism and transplantation (M. Zimecki, 2012), revealing therapeutic utility of application of either agonist or antagonist of EP4 receptor.
EP4 receptor couples mainly to Gs and mediates transient increase in intracellular cAMP concentration. In turn, cAMP activates protein kinase A (PKA), which then phosphorilates downstream effector proteins, in particular cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB). Furthermore, an EP4 receptor-associated protein (EPRAP) which binds to the unique long carboxyl terminal cytoplasmatic domain of EP4 receptor has been described to participate in anti-inflammatory signalling (Takayama, K. et al. 2006). In addition, EP4 receptors activate the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signalling pathway (Fujino et al., 2003).
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder leading to bone and cartilage destruction. A substantial body of evidence suggests that prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) contributes to the pathogenesis of RA, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, inhibitors of the synthesis of PGE2 and other prostanoids, continue to be used in the treatment of this disease.
McCoy and colleagues examined mice lacking each of the four known PGE2 (EP) receptors after generation of collagen antibody-induced arthritis, an animal model of RA. Homozygous deletion of the EP1, EP2, or EP3 receptors did not affect the development of arthritis, whereas EP4 receptor-deficient mice showed decreased incidence and severity of disease. These animals also showed reduced inflammation as assessed by circulating IL-6 and serum amyloid A levels. Joint histopathology of EP4−/− animals revealed reduced bone destruction, proteoglycan loss, and type II collagen breakdown in cartilage compared with EP4+/+ mice. Furthermore, liver and macrophages isolated from EP4−/− animals produced significantly less IL-1β and IL-6 than control samples. Thus, PGE2 contributes to disease progression at least in part by binding to the EP4 receptor. Antagonists of this receptor might therefore provide novel agents for the treatment of RA. (McCoy et al. 2002)
Recent studies involving parenteral administration of several EP4 antagonists (AH-23848, CJ-023423, CJ-042794, MF-498, ONO-AE3-208) have clearly demonstrated a major involvement of EP4 receptors in small-animal models of inflammation. Joint pain, mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia and edema were markedly suppressed, often equivalent to the efficacy of selective COX-2 inhibitors such as rofecoxib. (Jones et al, 2009). These are more evidences that EP4 antagonists might provide novel agents for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
Two distinct helper T (TH) subsets, TH1 and TH17, mediate tissue damage and inflammation in animal models of various immune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel diseases, psoriasis and other allergic skin disorders. These experimental findings, and the implication of these TH subsets in human diseases, suggest the need for pharmacological measures to manipulate these TH subsets. Yao C. and colleagues showed that prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) acting on its receptor EP4 on T cells and dendritic cells not only facilitates TH1 cell differentiation but also amplifies interleukin-23-mediated TH17 cell expansion in vitro. Administration of an EP4-selective antagonist in vivo decreases accumulation of both TH1 and TH17 cells in regional lymph nodes and suppresses the disease progression in mice subjected to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, contact hypersensitivity or colitis model (Yao C., 2009 and 2013) and different remathoid arthritis models (Chen Q., et al. 2010). Thus, PGE2-EP4 signaling promotes immune inflammation through TH1 differentiation and TH17 expansion, and EP4 antagonism is proposed as a promising drug target for immunomodulation and may be therapeutically useful for various immune diseases (Yao C. et al. 2009).
Significant cross-talk can occur between the cannonical signalling pathways described above and several additional pathways can be activated in some cells. One of the most important of these is the recent demonstration that the EP1, EP2 and EP4 receptors can transactivate the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) which is implicated in proliferation, invasion, resistance to apoptosis, angiogenesis, and metastasis, all of which are associated with tumor development (Wu, W. et al. 2010). Angiogenesis is also closely linked with clinical manifestations of non-noplastic diseases such as some autoimmune diseases (e.g. psoriasis, reumathoid arthritis, . . . ), age-related macular degeneration and atherosclerosis (Folkman J., 2007, Heidenreich R., 2009).
Accumulating evidence indicates that elevated levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) can increase intestinal epithelial cell proliferation, and thus play a role in colorectal tumorigenesis. PGE2 exerts its effects through four G-protein-coupled PGE receptor (EP) subtypes, named the EP1, EP2, EP3, and EP4. Increased phosphorylation of extracellular regulated kinases (ERK1/2) is required for PGE2 to stimulate cell proliferation of human colon cancer cells. Cherukuri and colleagues provide evidence that L-161,982, a selective EP4 receptor antagonist, completely blocks PGE2-induced ERK phosphorylation and cell proliferation of HCA-7 cells. They concluded that egr-1 is a target gene of PGE2 in HCA-7 cells and is regulated via the newly identified EP4/ERK/CREB pathway (Cherukuri et al., 2007). These results support the notion that antagonizing EP4 receptors may provide a novel therapeutic approach to the treatment of colon cancer.
EP4 receptor antagonists may have therapeutic utility in the treatment of migraine since it has been observed that EP4 antagonists block PGE2-induced relaxation of human-isolated middle cerebral artery (Davis et al., 2004; Maubach et al., 2009) and the picture has been enlarged to include the interaction of endogenous PGE2 with calcitonin gene-related peptide release from trigeminal nerves (Maubach et al., 2009).
Chuang and colleagues found that MF191, a selective EP4 receptor antagonist, may have effects on the bladder urothelium and inflammatory cells and suppress CYP- or PGE 2-induced bladder overactivity (Chuang et al, 2012). EP4 receptor antagonists may be useful for the treatment of overactive bladder.
Additional therapeutic applications for EP4 antagonists are modulation of the cough reflex (Maher et al 2010), treatment for endometriosis in women (Lee et al 2010) and Alzheimer's disease (Wei et al, 2010).
Based on the above mentioned results coming from animal and human studies, EP4 receptor has been identified as a selective target for the development of new potential therapies for the treatment of those disorders where PGE2 action is involved. In view of the potential therapeutic applications of agonists and antagonists of the EP4 receptor, a great effort is being directed to find selective ligands. Despite intense research efforts in this area, very few compounds with selective EP4 activity have been reported.
There is thus still a need to find compounds having pharmacological activity towards the EP4 receptor, being both effective and selective, having good "druggability" properties, i.e. good pharmaceutical properties related to administration, distribution, metabolism and excretion and showing a good toxicological profile.
The present invention hereby provide some novel compounds complying with the above mentioned properties.

Substituted benzamides with activity towards EP4 receptors


A transfer assembly incorporated into a part forming operation including a structure exhibiting a generally open interior. A pair of elongated pivotal supports extend in parallel fashion along inner facing sides of the structure and channel the received opposite edges of each part delivered from the part forming operation. A rotary actuating component is mounted at an intermediate end location of the structure between the sides and pivotally interconnects to the end supports via a pair of linkage arms. A proximity trigger switch determines delivery of a part from the out feed location and, upon being activated, actuates the rotary component to separate the side extending supports to release the part for stacking in plural fashion within the open interior, following which reverse actuation of the rotary component pivotally resets the supports for receiving a subsequent part.

The prior art is well documented with examples of part transfer assemblies which employ varying combinations of linkages, lifter arms and the like in order to successively move parts between first and second locations. Relevant examples include the reciprocatingly forward feeding device of Rothbauer (JP2008074624) for regularly forward feeding stacked products on a transporting passage in which the clock speed of the stacked products is increased via a double arm feeding lever exhibiting a pair of regularly operated pushers. The forward feeding lever and the pushers are controlled and driven by a four axis device having a swing shaft and a return rotating shaft for the pushers linked through a linear shaft, along with a rotating shaft and a guide rod. Other examples include the device for transferring an object from one station to another in a production line as disclosed in Chireux EP1870355 and the transfer apparatus of Hiroaki et al., JP2010166083.

Transfer assembly such as associated with a press operation and including fluid cylinder released mechanism for handling parts with large two dimensional measurements


One embodiment of the present invention includes an assembly for stripping a medium from a mold cavity. The assembly may include at least one stripper shoe, a head structure, and a flexible plunger connecting the head structure and the at least one stripper shoe. The flexible plunger may include cutouts or openings along the length of the plunger to induce increased flexibility. The flexible plunger may include a first bending stiffness at one end of the plunger and a second bending stiffness the opposite end of the plunger. The cutouts may be configured such that the second bending stiffness is substantially less than the first bending stiffness. By increasing the flexibility of the plungers, the usable life of the assembly may be prolonged while maintaining product quality.

The production of concrete masonry units is accomplished using a concrete mold assembly and a tamperhead which strips formed and compacted concrete or other medium from a mold cavity. The tamperhead is composed of several sub-components which include an upper head structure, a plunger and a stripper shoe. Multiple sets of stripper shoes and plungers may be connected to a single head structure and used to strip multiple masonry units from the mold assembly or set of concrete mold cavities. The plungers are commonly fabricated in structural shapes from a rigid material such as steel and provide the structural load path to compress the concrete and strip the formed concrete product from the mold.
The production or forming process induces significant wear and stress on the plunger. Upon filling the mold with concrete, the tamperhead is lowered until the stripper shoe contacts the concrete. The stripper shoes are guided and forced into alignment with the mold cavities by leading angles or chamfers on the top edge mold cavities. As the stripper shoes are lowered, the impact of the stripper shoes with the leading angles imparts high stresses on the plunger, especially the joint attaching the plunger to the head structure.
The forming process also includes vibrating or shaking the mold assembly with a vibration system in order to further compact the concrete. The vibration system spreads the concrete material evenly within the mold assembly cavities to produce a more homogeneous concrete product and assist in compacting the concrete product. Vibrations from the mold assembly transfer to the stripper shoes and consequently to the plunger and head structure and occur approximately every ten to fifteen seconds during typical production
Unfortunately, the repeated forces transmitted by the vibrations from the mold to the stripper shoe makes the plunger and joints susceptible to fatigue failure. Furthermore, the high impact stresses from the alignment of the stripper shoe with the mold cavity further stress the plunger and joints. As a result of the combined stresses, expensive plungers typically last only short periods and must be replaced at great expense and a loss of production time.
Furthermore, as the vibrator system shakes the mold assembly, the rest of the product-forming machine also experiences vibrations as forces are transmitted through the plunger. This vibration fatigues the machine parts and alters the clearances between moving parts, such as hydraulics and gears. Mold assemblies and stripper shoes also suffer from repeated impact stresses and wear during vibration and alignment. As molding components degrade, surface quality and product density of the finished product degrades. Thus, transmitted vibrations and alignment impacts reduce machine and mold assembly operating life, resulting in reduced product quality and increased replacement of parts.
The prior art teaches a traditional approach of avoiding frequent failures and replacements of plungers by consistently shortening the plunger length and increasing the plunger strength and/or stiffness. However, this approach has not been successful at extending the useful life of a plunger. Time has shown that short stiff plungers still frequently fail, with the joint between the plunger and the head structure being especially vulnerable. In fact, stiffer plungers increase wear on stripper shoes and mold assemblies and therefore exacerbate the need to replace or repair expensive components.
Traditional plungers with reduced flexibility also increase production costs. As the flexibility of traditional plungers decreases, the weight and/or expense of fabricating plungers increases as a result of increased thickness or design. Increased weight functions to increase the required power and expense of running the production machinery and to decrease the resonant frequency of the plunger and stripper shoe. The increased weight also intensifies the deterioration of moving parts under heavy load and increases impact forces between stripper shoes and molding assemblies. Although lighter plungers may be constructed from materials with high strength to weight ratios, the additional cost of materials and fabrication has been prohibitive.
Therefore, there exists a need for a tamperhead and mold assembly which is less susceptible to failure from vibration, reduces fatigue stresses in the connection between the head structure and plunger, and reduces impact loads between mold cavities and stripper shoes during alignment of stripper shoes and mold cavities and during vibration.
There is also a need to improve surface quality and product density of the finished product by extending the useable life of the molding components and machinery.

Apparatus and method for utilizing a flexible plunger


A receiving circuit having a termination impedance and an equalization capacitor. The receiving circuit is connectable to a signal source having a source impedance through a DC (direct current) blocking capacitor. The value of the equalization capacitor is chosen such that voltage spikes otherwise caused by the blocking capacitor are eliminated. The receiving circuit is especially useful in distributed electronic amplifiers and electro-optic modulators.

This is the first application filed for the present invention.
The present invention relates to the field of broadband receivers and, in particular, to circuit for receiving an AC coupled broadband signal.
AC (alternating current) coupling of circuits is necessary when interfacing circuits having different bias voltages. AC coupling is typically performed by a DC (direct current) blocking capacitor.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an example of a circuit 100 with cascading stages, an output stage 102 and a receiving stage 112, having different operating voltages. The output stage 102 operates between a ground reference 104 and a negative supply 106; the receiving stage 112 operates between a positive voltage supply 114 and a ground reference 116. Hence, an output 108 of the output stage 102 will be incompatible with an input 118 of the receiving stage 112 unless a DC blocking capacitor 110 is inserted between the output 108 of the output stage 102 and the input 118 of the receiving stage.
FIG. 2 is a schematic of an AC circuit 200 equivalent to the circuit 100 shown in FIG. 1. An equivalent of output stage 202 includes a source impedance 204, having a value ZS, and a voltage source 206 connected in series between an output 210 and a ground reference 207. An equivalent circuit of the receiving stage 212 includes a termination impedance 214, having a value ZT, connected from an input 216 to a ground reference 215. In this example the voltage source 206 generates a digital waveform 208 such as an NRZ (non-return to zero) or RZ (return to zero) bit stream. A simple rectangular wave 208 is shown for convenience in this example. A resulting waveform 218 at the input 216 to the receiving stage 212 has voltage spikes and distortion due to a differentiating effect of the blocking capacitor 110.
Those voltage spikes can damage an amplifier""s input stage resulting in either immediate failure or early life failures. This problem is more acute when using high supply voltages in the order of 10 to 12 V instead of more typical 7 to 8 V, for example, in multi-chip modules, interfacing two modules from different suppliers or interfacing RF (radio frequency) drivers to electro-optical modulators, especially crystal-cut Lithium Niobate high speed electro-optical modulators which require high drive voltages.
The problem is more severe when long runs of consecutive ones and zeroes occur in the digital waveform 208. In SONET (synchronous optical network) systems, SONET scrambling algorithms take care of this to some extent but some operating conditions such as start-up or test conditions may nevertheless result in long runs of ones or zeros.
Another possible solution is diode clamps consisting of stacks of diodes to snub out spikes. This is usually not sufficient and a disadvantage is that they distort the waveform.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a receiving circuit that overcomes the problems and disadvantages of the prior art stated above.
In accordance with the invention there is provided a receiving circuit that includes a termination impedance and an equalization capacitor. The value of the equalization capacitor is chosen such that voltage spikes and distortion on a received signal are significantly reduced.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided a distributed electronic amplifier having a receiving circuit that includes a termination impedance and an equalization capacitor. The value of the equalization capacitor is chosen such that voltage spikes and distortion on a received signal are substantially reduced.
In accordance with still another aspect of the invention there is provided an electro-optic modulator having a receiving circuit that includes a termination impedance and an equalization capacitor. The value of the equalization capacitor is chosen such that voltage spikes and distortion on a received signal are substantially reduced.

Circuit for receiving an AC coupled broadband signal


A communication system switches a communication state from a first communication state where a wireless communication unit of a communication device performs data communication and voice communication with an external device and a phone device to a second communication state to perform the data communication between the phone device and the external device, in response to electric power supply to the wireless communication unit being interrupted. The first communication state is set with a communication-device network ID used for the communication device and a phone-device network ID used for the phone device. The second communication state is set with the phone-device network ID used for the communication device and the communication-device network ID used for the phone device.

1. Technical Field
The following description relates to one or more communication systems configured to perform wireless voice communication and wireless data communication.
2. Related Art
A communication device has been known, which includes a base phone for a digital cordless phone and a wireless local area network (WLAN). Further, a technique has been known, in which a wireless terminal device communicates with an access point via the WLAN of the communication device. Thereby it is possible to connect the wireless terminal device with an external network. In addition, a communication device has been known, which is provided with a power-saving mode and/or a power-off mode to save electric power consumption in a standby state.

Communication system, and communication device and phone device for the same


A vehicle restraint system and a control system configured to manipulate an orientation of a vehicle restraint relative to a carriage that supports the restraint such that the hook is moveable between an engaged or extended position wherein the hook interferes with translation of vehicle relative to the vehicle restraint system and a disengaged or retracted position wherein the vehicle can be associated with or removed from interaction with the vehicle restraint system. The control system includes a single indicia whose output is manipulated such that a characteristic of the output of the indicia, rather that strictly operation thereof, indicates a secured or less than secured condition associated with operation of the restraint relative to a vehicle.

The present invention relates to dock restraint systems used to secure vehicles, such as semitrailers, proximate a loading dock. More specifically, the present invention relates to a status indicator and hook control system and hook assembly used with dock restraint systems.
Vehicle restraint systems are commonly used to secure a vehicle, such as a semitrailer relative to a loading dock. When engaged, such restraint systems prevent translation of the vehicle relative to the loading dock and/or a dock plate. As commonly understood by those skilled in the art, a dock plate is a ramp or the like that provides a transition from dock areas to the load space associated with the vehicle. Preferably, the vehicle is secured such that the bed of the vehicle's storage area can be conveniently accessed by personnel and/or equipment associated with loading and unloading operations while the position of the vehicle is maintained relative to the dock or dock area. This allows the contents of the storage area to be quickly and efficiently exchanged between the facility and over the road transport vehicles without fear of the formation of a gap between the dock and the vehicle and/or the load area or bed of the transport vehicle. U.S. Pat. No. 6,190,109, which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses one such dock plate or leveler and a dock restraint system associated therewith.
In many dock restraint systems, the vehicle restraint device or system includes a carriage that is adjustably mounted to a mounting plate connected to a wall adjacent to the dock. The carriage is commonly configured to slideably cooperate with the underside of an underride or rear impact guard that is associated with the frame of the load vehicle. Commonly, the restraining member is pivotably supported by the carriage such that the restraint can be selectively engaged and disengaged from interaction with the rear impact guard. User interaction with the restraint assembly is commonly effectuated via a control panel. The control panel is commonly configured to receive input signals from loading personnel to effectuate a desired "secure" or "release" operation of the associated restraint relative to an underlying vehicle. The control system is further commonly configured to provide a restraint status indicator to the vehicle operator as well as surrounding personal to provide an indication that the restraint has achieved a desired orientation relative to the underlying vehicle to achieve the desired "secure" or "released", or "engaged or "disengaged" status of the restraint relative to the underlying vehicle.
Translation of the vehicle during loading and unloading operations can result in "jamming" of the restraining member and/or undesired interference of the restraining member with the vehicle guard. This undesired interference or "jamming" of the restraint system with the underlying vehicle can result in the inability to engage or disengage the restraining member from interaction with the vehicle guard when desired. Generally, the inability to achieve the desired engagement or disengagement of the restraining member or dock hook from the vehicle must be resolved by physically moving the vehicle relative to the carriage and/or restraint to effectuate the desired engagement and/or disengagement of the restraining member from the vehicle or trailer associated with the loading dock. Such undesired interaction proves problematic when trailers are left in a loading dock without an associated power vehicle such as a tug, tractor, or semi-tractor or operators or drivers are unavailable to operate the vehicle being loaded.
Commonly, the control system associated with operation of the underlying restraint system includes a plurality of discrete indicators that designate the respective status of the underlying restraint system. One common methodology includes providing a plurality of light elements, commonly of different colors and/or positioned at different locations, that designate the discrete condition of the underlying restraint system as being one or more of engaged and secure, engaged but non-secure, disengaged, and/or disengaged and fully retracted. The various locations and/or different color indications or designations associated with the various discrete conditions associated with operation of the underlying restraint system can leave personnel and/or vehicle operators unclear or confused as to a current condition associated with a discrete vehicle restraint system. Such confusion or misinterpretation can be exacerbated by the various different presentation methodologies associated with assessing the status of the discrete vehicle restraint systems when discrete facilities are equipped with restraint status, indicia, or indicator systems.
Accordingly, there is a need for a vehicle restraint system which can be selectively engaged and disengaged from discrete vehicles having various vehicle frame configurations and which provides a more readily discernable restraint condition or status indicia.


A method, apparatus and computer instructions for handling exception vectors by firmware. An exception vector is identified to form an identified exception vector when control is passed from an operating system to the firmware. The identified exception vector is saved to form a saved exception vector. The identified exception vector is then replaced with a substitute vector; and the saved exception vector is restored when control is returned to the operating system to form a restored exception vector. At that point, the restored exception vector is again used to perform error and debugging processes.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to an improved data processing system and in particular to a method and apparatus for managing vectors. Still more particularly, the present invention provides a method, apparatus, and computer instructions for sharing exception vectors.
2. Description of Related Art
During execution of programs in a data processing system, events or errors may occur requiring attention or handling. When these types of events or errors occur, an exception may be generated. An exception is a situation that requires prompt attention of the processor or central processing unit (CPU). Exceptions may be internally generated or externally generated. Internally generated exceptions are referred to as traps. Externally generated exceptions are called interrupts.
A trap may occur, for example, when a divide by zero exception is present. An interrupt is typically caused by events in the computer hardware, such as an expiration of a hardware timer, the arrival of data at an input interface, or a bus error.
Typically, when an exception occurs, control in executing instructions is passed to another component to perform actions such as debugging or error analysis. Generally, control is passed to exception vectors that are owned by the operating system. An exception vector is a vector of objects in which different objects are executed depending on the particular exception. Each of these objects may provide different debugging or error processes. A source level debugger is one example of a debugging or error process. In some cases, the component that requires access to the exception vectors is the runtime firmware. For example, the operating system may call the runtime firmware for certain operations, such as an event scan, obtaining the time of day, and a configuration read/write. Currently, the sharing of exception vector does not occur. Instead, exception vectors are owned by firmware early in the boot phase, and later exclusively owned by the operating system.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to have an improved method, apparatus, and computer instructions for sharing exception vectors between firmware and an operating system.

Method and apparatus for transparently sharing an exception vector between firmware and an operating system

International Business Machines Corporation


Disclosed is a shield connector structure preventing improper connection of a shield electric wire. The shield connector includes a housing fixed to an outer face of a metal case and a shield member connecting a shield part of the shield electric wire and the metal case, on one of the outer face of the metal case and an opposite face of the housing is formed a pin (projection) projecting toward the other, on the other are formed a positioning hole receiving the pin and a recess, the recess includes a slant face slanted in a peripheral direction about a center axis of an insertion hole, and abutting of the pin of the improper combination onto the slant face rotates a bolt hole of the metal case and a through hole of the housing about the center axis, making it impossible for a bolt to thread into.

Conventionally, in automobiles (especially electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles) devices such as motors, batteries or inverters are each connected with each other with shield electric wires and there have been advocated shield connector structures for connecting the shield connectors and cases of the devices for ground-connection (for example see PTL 1). The shield connector 10 recited in the reference 1 is, as shown in FIG. 1, designed to connect a shield electric wire 1 with a metal case 6 of a connection object and to keep waterproof at connection section. The shield electric wire 1 is a coaxial cable including a conductor 2, an inner insulating cover 3 covering the conductor 2, and a shield part 4 composed of a conductor such as a braid disposed around the inner insulating cover 3, and an outer insulating cover 5 covering the side of the shield section 4. The metal case 6 is provided with an insertion hole 7 passing therethrough the shield electric wire 1, and a bolt hole 8 into which a bolt 16 fixing the housing 11 threads.
This shield connector 10 is provided with a housing 11 passing therethrough the shield electric wire and fixed to the metal case 6 as well, a shield member 12 electrically connecting the shield section 4 of the shield electric wire 1 and the metal case 6, a first seal member 13 inserted in between an inside of the shield member 12 and an outside of the outer insulating cover 5 of the shield electric wire 1, a second member 14 inserted into between an outside of the shield member 12 and an inside of the insertion hole 7 of the metal case 6, a shield pipe 15 covering the shield case 4 connected with the shield member 12 and swaged, and a bolt 16 fixing the housing to the metal case 6.
The housing 11 is what is fixed to one side (outer side) of the metal case 6 and holds the shied member 12 inserted into between the metal case 6 and itself and is provided with a housing main body 21, a flange (fixing part) 22 fixed to the metal case 6, an electric wire guide 23 passing therethrough the shield electric wire 1, and a tubular projection 24 further projecting over the other side (inner side) of the metal case 6 than the electric wire guide 23. The shield member 12 is provided with a first tubular part 31 with its diameter enlarging in three steps toward the one side from the other side of the metal case 6, a second tubular part 32, a third tubular part 33, and a flange 34 bent in continuous with the third tubular part 33 and following the one side (outer side) of the metal case 6. The first tubular part 31 is connected to the shield part 4 of the shield electric wire 1, the flange 34 is held between the outer side 6A or the one side of the metal case 6 and an opposite face 26 of the housing 11 as well, and thereby the shield part 4 is in ground connection with the metal case 6 through the shield member 12.
In the shield connector 10 as mentioned above, the shield electric wire 1 is passed through the electric wire guide 23, the shield member 12, the first shield member 13 and the second shield member 14 are mounted, the shield pipe 15 is swaged, and thereby to an end of the shield electric wire 1 the housing 11 or the shield member 12 is mounted. This shield electric wire 1 is inserted into the insertion hole 7 of the metal case 6 from the end side (a side of the terminal fitting 9 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3), a bolt 16 passed through the through hole 25 of the flange 22 is threaded into the a bolt hole 8 of the metal case 6, and thus the housing 11 is fixed to the metal case 6, the flange 34 of the shield member 12 is abutted onto an outside 6A of the metal case 6 as well, allowing the shield member 4 of the shield electric wire 1 to be electrically connected with the metal case 6 through the shield member 12, and the shield connector 10 is completed.
However, as the shield electric wire 1 various types such as what is for direct current power source or for three-phase AC source are employed, and thereby it is necessary to discriminate from other shield electric wire and connect with the metal case 6. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 8, there has been advocated a configuration in which a preventive pin of improper connection (projection) 27 is formed in the flange 22 of the housing 11, on the outside 6A of the metal case 6 is formed a positioning hole 41 operable to receive the pin 27, and it is made possible to determine improper connection when the outside 6A of the metal case 6, without the pin 27 being not inserted into the positioning hole 41, is abutted onto the pin 27. Particularly, for example, when as the shield electric wires 1 each connected to the two electrodes (P-pole and N-pole) in DC power source such as battery are employed a shield electric wire 1A for P-pole shown in FIG. 8A and a shield electric wire 1B for N-pole shown in FIG. 8B, to an end of the shield electric wire 1A a housing 11A (a first housing) is attached, to an end of the shield electric wire 1B a housing 11B (a second housing).
In the housing 11A for the P-pole the first pin 27 (the first projection) that is a projection projecting from an opposite face 26 of the flange 22 is formed deviating to the right side when the opposite face 26 is viewed. On the other hand, in the metal case 6 to which this housing 11A is fixed, the first positioning hole 41A that is a positioning hole disposed near the insertion hole 7 into which the shield electric wire 1A for the P-pole is inserted is formed deviating to the left side when the outside 6A of the metal case 6 is viewed. Namely, the opposite face 26 of the housing 11A is made opposed to the outside 6A of the metal case 6, and when the end of the shield electric wire 1A is inserted into the insertion hole for the P-pole, the first pin 27A is inserted into the first positioning hole 41A, and the through hole 25 of the housing 11A and the bolt hole 8 of the metal case 6 are overlaid as well, therefore allowing the bolt 16 to thread into the bolt hole 8 via this insertion hole 25. The second pin 26B (the second projection) that is a projection in the housing 11B for the N-pole is formed deviating to the left side when the opposite face 26 is viewed, the second positioning hole 41B that is a positioning hole near the insertion hole 7B for the N-pole in the metal case 6 is formed deviating to the right side when the outside face 6A is viewed, the bolt 16 is, with the second pin 27B inserted in the second positioning hole 41B, configured to thread into the bolt hole 8 via the through hole 25 of the housing 11B.
On the other hand, when the shield electric wire 1A for the P-pole attached to the housing 11A is inserted into the insertion hole for the N-pole or when the shield electric wire 1B for the N-pole attached to the housing 11B is inserted into the insertion hole 7A for the P-pole, the first pin 27A and the second pin 27B cannot be inserted into the first positioning hole 41A and the second positioning hole 41B, respectively, consequently abutting onto the outside 6A of the metal case 6. Therefore, since between the outside 6A of the metal case 6 and the opposite face 26 of the housing 11 is formed a space, it is made possible for the operator who works connecting the shield electric wire 1 to find improper connection and to thereby prevent improper connection of the shield electric wire 1.


A method of compressing an audio signal can include accepting input samples of the audio signal wherein the input samples include non-zero input samples. A logarithm of each of the non-zero input samples of the audio signal can be calculated. Compressed output samples for each non-zero input sample can then be determined based on the logarithm of each respective non-zero input sample. Preferably, a linear relationship may exist between logarithms of the non-zero input samples and logarithms of the corresponding compressed output samples. A logarithm of each compressed output sample, corresponding to a non-zero input sample, may be based on a product of a logarithm of each corresponding non-zero input sample and a compression factor. Related devices and computer program products are also discussed.

The present invention relates to the field of audio processing, and more particularly to audio compression.
To provide a desired loudness, it may be useful to apply gain to an audio signal if the magnitude of the audio signal falls below a threshold. On the other hand, when it appears that the magnitude may exceed a predetermined clipping level, the magnitude of the output signal may be clipped for safety reasons, such as limiting the sound pressure level. Compression of audio input signals may thus be used to reduce the dynamic range of an audio input signal, while reducing clipping.
Conventional compressors may have a gain adjusting device and a control system which controls the gain as a function of the input signal to reduce the level differences between high and low intensity portions of an audio signal. A time varying gain, that varies depending on the amplitude of the input signal, may then be used to compress the input signal. Therefore, a compressor may be used to reduce the gain in the audio path when the signal level exceeds a predetermined threshold. This can reduce the likelihood that the output signal may exceed a predetermined clipping level.
In compressing the audio signal, however, it may be desirable to avoid hard-clipping or xe2x80x9cflat-toppingxe2x80x9d on peaks of the audio signal. Hard-clipping typically occurs when the magnitude of the output signal exceeds the clipping level. Hard-clipping can, however, undesirably decrease the intelligibility of audio signals. For example, in a noisy environment, if hard-clipping occurs in the receive path, the user may not be able to find a comfortable volume setting since a setting high enough to hear a remote voice over the noise may cause unacceptable distortion. Providing sufficient loudness, while preserving intelligibility, may make it desirable to compress rather than clip a signal to reduce and/or eliminate distortion.
According to conventional compression techniques, input and output levels can be determined based on either RMS detection, peak detection, and/or a combination of RMS and peak detection. In each case, the input and output levels can be based on past measurements of the input. These past measurements of the input can then be used to control the gain of a linear amplifier thereby providing compression. As a result, conventional compressors may base compression only on past information about the input signal. Moreover, since conventional compression techniques may utilize the RMS value of the input signal to control compression, merely adding noise to a given voice signal may cause gain to be reduced making it difficult to hear the voice signal, as may occur, for instance, in the AMPS system.
Compression for instantaneous input samples can be determined, for example, using RMS measurements based on a plurality of past input samples. In particular, a compression can be chosen so that a logarithm of an RMS measurement of expected output samples is a function of a logarithm of RMS measurements of past input samples. For example, given a compression of 0.5, there could be a one decibel change in the output for every two decibel change in the input. Because the compression is determined based on RMS measurements of past input samples, however, clipping may result if instantaneous input values exceed an expected amplitude.
Referring to FIG. 1, shown is a graph illustrating a relationship between the logarithm of an instantaneous system input and a logarithm of an instantaneous system output for a conventional compressor as discussed above. According to FIG. 1, compression can be performed in such a way that there is a linear relationship between logarithms of the input (log(abs(x))) and the output (log(abs(y))). The horizontal line (CL) represents the clipping level of the compressor. Any signal exceeding the clipping level may be clipped by the compressor.
The slope of the line (m1) remains one regardless of the magnitude of the audio input signal and clipping level of the compressor. Thus, to reduce clipping of the audio input signal, a compressor operating as illustrated in FIG. 1 may shift the value of y-intercept (b) downward. The value of the y-intercept (b1) is equal to the logarithm of the system gain. Thus, in these conventional compression techniques, the y-intercept (b) of the line can be adjusted to compress the input below a threshold clipping level (CL) while the slope (m1) of the line remains one.
Stated differently, when it appears probable (based on measurement of past inputs) that the product of the instantaneous input and gain may exceed the clipping level (CL), the compressor may reduce the gain to translate the line A downward along the Y axis thereby mapping line A to line B. In turn, the intersection point between the line B and the line representing the clipping level (CL) changes such that the product of logarithm of the maximum input signal and the logarithm of the system gain (i.e., the logarithm of the output) may be less than or equal to the clipping level of the compressor. As a result, the input signal can be compressed such that the logarithm of the output will likely fall below the clipping level, thereby reducing the likelihood of distortion caused by clipping.
As discussed above, conventional compression techniques may determine a shift of the y-intercept (b) (e.g., gain) for the present input based on measurements of previous inputs. As a result, conventional compression techniques may cause clipping on the leading edges of the voice signal when the gain has not yet stabilized. These conventional techniques may also cause a phenomenon known as noise pumping.
According to conventional compression techniques, the uncompressed input/output function may be parallel to the compressed input/out function, and the y-intercept of the compressed input/output function may be merely translated along the y-axis to manipulate the y-intercept of the compressed input/output function to reduce the probability that the clipping limit of the compressor is exceeded by a particular output sample. However, when an input signal increases rapidly, for example, when the user speaks after a period of silence, then clipping may occur because initial compression for the speech is based on measurements of silence.
Conventional compression techniques may also provide a hold/release time after a peak where the linear gain remains low. Low-level speech that follows high-level speech may be amplified as much as the high-level speech, and as a result, the low-level speech may not be sufficiently amplified. In addition, when fluctuating noise is added to the received voice signal, conventional compression techniques may reduce the gain based on the RMS level of the signal when noise is added into the audio signal. However, higher gain may be desired to understand the speech with the added noise.
Methods of compressing an audio signal are provided. According to one of these methods, input samples of the audio signal can be accepted, and these input samples include non-zero input samples. A logarithm of each of the non-zero input samples of the audio signal can be calculated, and compressed output samples for each non-zero input sample can be determined based on the logarithm of each respective non-zero input sample. A linear relationship may exist between logarithms of the non-zero input samples and logarithms of the corresponding compressed output samples. A logarithm of each compressed output sample, corresponding to a non-zero input sample, may be based on a product of a logarithm of each corresponding non-zero input sample and a compression factor.
The logarithm of each compressed output sample corresponding to a non-zero input sample can be based on the product of the logarithm of each corresponding non-zero input sample and the compression factor plus a logarithm of a system gain. The compression factor may be based on at least one of the logarithm of a clipping level, a logarithm of a system gain, and a logarithm of an absolute value of a peak non-zero input sample. More particularly, the compression factor can be based on a difference between the logarithm of the clipping level and the logarithm of the system gain, wherein the difference is divided by the logarithm of the absolute value of the peak input sample.
The peak input sample can be either one of the plurality of input samples for which a compressed output sample is calculated, or a peak input sample prior to the input samples for which compressed output samples are determined. The system gain can also be variable for each of the non-zero input samples. A measurement for each of the non-zero samples may be provided, and the step of determining the compression for each of the non-zero input samples may then be further based on the measurement for one of the samples. Preferably, one of the non-zero input samples having a peak absolute value is determined, such that the step of determining the compression for each of the non-zero samples is further based on the peak absolute value. The non-zero samples may be included in a frame of samples.
According to yet another method of compressing an audio signal, a frame including input samples of the audio signal can be accepted wherein the frame of input samples includes non-zero input samples. A measurement of one of the non-zero input samples of the frame can be provided, and compressed output samples can be determined for each non-zero input sample of the frame based on the measurement of one of the non-zero input samples. When the measurement of one of the non-zero input samples of the frame is provided, an absolute value of a peak non-zero input sample of the frame may be determined, and compressed output samples for each non-zero input sample of the frame can then be determined based on the absolute value of the peak non-zero input sample of the frame. A logarithm of the absolute value of the peak non-zero input sample of the frame can then be calculated.
Determining compressed output samples for each non-zero input sample of the frame may comprise determining compressed output samples for each non-zero input sample of the frame based on the logarithm of the absolute value of the peak non-zero input sample of the frame. A linear relationship may exist between logarithms of the non-zero input samples and logarithms of the corresponding compressed output samples. A logarithm of each compressed output sample corresponding to a non-zero input sample may be based on a product of a logarithm of each corresponding non-zero input sample and a compression factor plus a logarithm of the system gain. The compression factor may be equal to the logarithm of the peak absolute value of the non-zero input sample of the frame. The system gain can be variable for each non-zero input sample. Providing a measurement of one of the non-zero input samples of the frame can include determining an absolute value of a peak product of each non-zero input sample of the frame and a corresponding variable system gain.
According to other methods of compressing an audio signal, input samples of the audio signal can be accepted wherein the input samples include non-zero input samples. An absolute value of a peak non-zero input sample can then be provided, and compressed output samples for at least a plurality of the non-zero input samples can be determined based on the absolute value of the peak non-zero input sample. The input samples maybe included in a frame of input samples, and the absolute value of the peak non-zero input sample of the frame of input samples may be provided. A logarithm of the absolute value of the peak non-zero input sample may be calculated. Preferably, a linear relationship may exist between logarithms of the non-zero input samples and logarithms of the corresponding compressed output samples. A logarithm of each compressed output sample can be based on a product of a logarithm of a corresponding non-zero input sample and a compression factor plus a logarithm of a system gain. Again, the system gain can be variable for each non-zero input sample. The input samples may comprise at least two frames of input samples and the peak non-zero input sample can be from a first frame, while the compressed output samples may correspond to non-zero input samples of a second frame.
As discussed above, embodiments of the invention may include a compressor that looks at a present buffer of input samples and then computes a compression factor based on a peak input sample. The compressor can then compute the log of each input sample and use the peak value to calculate corresponding output samples. Compressors according to the present invention can thus use compression operations based on a buffer of samples to look at the future. In other words, a compression may be applied to each input sample/such that the corresponding output samples do not exceed the clipping level.
Compression methods of the present invention may also provide greater intelligibility than conventional compression techniques. One advantage of the logarithmic relationship between the compressed samples and the corresponding input samples is that low amplitude portions of the compressed audio signal may be relatively unaffected by compression, while high amplitude portions of the audio signal may be more significantly affected by compression. Stated differently, in conventional compression techniques, both soft and loud sounds may be attenuated equally regardless of magnitude. Low-level parts of speech may be more important, however, than high-level parts of speech for intelligibility purposes. According to the present invention, loud sounds (i.e., high amplitude portions of the audio signal) and soft sounds (i.e., low amplitude portions of the audio signal) may have the different gains applied thereto. As a result, the sound generated may be loud yet clear.
Compression methods according to the present invention may reduce hard-clipping of a peak input sample when a peak follows a long period of no speech or low-level speech. Moreover, pumping of background noise in the audio signal may be reduced. For example, when speech follows a long period of no speech, the noise may not quickly drop, and then slowly increase when the speech ends.

Methods, devices and computer program products for compressing an audio signal