In one aspect, the invention provides a random or semirandom siRNA (encoding) library. Another aspect of the invention pertains to methods for construction of random or semirandom siRNA (encoding) libraries. Another aspect of the invention is vector systems for use in constructing siRNA libraries and/or that can express single siRNAs and siRNA libraries both constitutively and in an inducible fashion. In another aspect, the invention provides a method of using an siRNA library. The siRNA library is introduced into a population of cells. The population of cells then is subjected to a selection process to select a subpopulation of cells exhibiting a different behavioral, biochemical, chemical, functional, molecular, morphological, phenotypic, or physical property from the remainder of population. Following the selection process, the subpopulation of cells can be isolated, analyzed, and/or cloned as desired. Such analysis of the subpopulation can be identification and sequencing of the siRNA species responsible for the different properties of the subpopulation relative to the remainder of the population. Alternatively, the subpopulation can be further analyzed by genomic, proteomic, and/or cellomic assays. Where such genomic, proteomic, and/or cellomic assays are employed, the method can produce several useful bioinformatics products. Specific siRNAs identified through this process may have direct therapeutic value.

Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are double stranded RNAs that specifically destroy any RNA within a cell containing a matching sequence. In this manner, siRNAs are effective suppressors of various genes, including oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes via a phenomenon known as RNA interference (RNAi). RNA interference disrupts gene expression via a cellular system utilizing double-stranded RNAs. Recognition of this phenomenon was initially identified in Caenorhabditis elegans (see, e.g., Fire et al., Nature 391, 806-811 (1998)). More recently, 21 or 22 nucleotide double stranded RNAs with 2-nucleotide 3′ overhangs have been reported to show RNAi activity in mammalian cells (see, e.g., Elbashir et al., Nature 411, 494-98 (2001) and Caplen et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 98, 9742-47 (2001)). Miyagishi et al. described the construction of a siRNA expression vector employing two U6 RNA Polymerase III promoters separately driving transcription of either a sense or an antisense version of a short DNA sequence. After transcription, a siRNA was derived from duplex formation between the sense and antisense strands of the RNA transcripts. (see Miyagishi et al., Nature Biotech. 19, 497-500 (2002)). Brummelkamp et al. constructed a mammalian expression vector using a polymerase-III H1-RNA gene promoter linked to a gene-specific insert of 19 nucleotides (sense) separated by a short spacer sequence from the antisense sequence of the same 19 nucleotide gene-specific insert. The complementary nature of the resulting RNA caused the transcripts to form a 19-base pair stem-loop structure (see, Brummelkamp et al., Science, 296, 550-553 (2002)).
RNAi could serve as a powerful tool for functional genomics. For example, Kamath et al. described an interfering RNA system for attempting phenotypic identification of genes in C. elegans (see, Kamath et al., Nature 421, 231-237 (2003)). Their particular approach used double stranded RNA sequences hundreds of base pairs long. This approach, however, would not be suitable for application in higher organisms, such as mammalian systems, in which double-stranded RNA's over 30 base pairs in length induce a host defense response via the interferon pathway which nonspecifically inhibits mRNA and protein translation. Because the system described by Kamath et al. used substantially longer double-stranded RNA, it would not be suitable for use in mammalian cells. Additionally, the system of Kamath et al. was not generated from random combinations of nucleotides and thus would not be broadly applicable for functional genomics applications.
For functional genomics of higher organisms, a set of short double-stranded RNAs, 12-25 nucleotides in length would be useful. Double-stranded RNAs of this length do not induce a host defense response. Optimally, functional genomics requires a large set of siRNAs, each with a unique sequence such that all the genes of an organism are statistically represented by at least one siRNA. Such a "siRNA library" (i.e., comprising a random or semirandom set of siRNAs) could facilitate the identification of specific genes or viruses responsible for resulting phenotypes in higher organisms, such as mammalian cells.
The desirability of siRNA libraries for drug discovery and disease modification has prompted two recent approaches to library construction. The first "brute force" approach uses traditional methods to generate siRNA sequences directed against one gene at a time and pools these to form an siRNA library (Boutros, M, et al, Science, 303(5659):832-35. (2004), Paddison, P J et al, Nature; 428(6981):427-31 (2004)). The second approach derives siRNA libraries from pooled cDNA's by using the enzyme Mmel to digest cDNAs into 20-bp templates for siRNA (Sen et al., Nat Genet.; 36(2):183-89 (2004); Shirane et al., Nat Genet.; 36(2): 190-96 (2004)).
The "brute force" method of generating siRNA libraries has a number of limitations. There is a tremendous workload involved in this approach, and such libraries have only been reported for a few organisms. In addition, there are numerous gaps expected in both "brute-force" and cDNA-derived libraries for several reasons. Firstly, such libraries attenuate only coding RNA. It should be noted that coding RNAs used in these approaches comprise roughly 4% of the genome. It is increasingly recognized that noncoding RNAs play important functional roles in the cell, including regulation of pathways and sequestration of proteins. For example, the noncoding RNA SCA8 has been shown to cause neurodegeneration (Mutsuddi, M. et. al., Curr. Biol., 14, 302-08 (2004)). All functional noncoding RNAs will be missed both by directed ("brute-strength") libraries and libraries derived from cDNAs. Secondly, siRNAs can trigger heterochromatin formation of specific areas of genomic DNA, resulting in promoter silencing and possibly other effects (Volpe et al., Science; 297(5588):1833-37 (2002)). Any such genomic effects, which could be quite durable, will be missed both by directed ("brute-strength") libraries and libraries derived from cDNAs. Thirdly, directed ("brute-strength") libraries and libraries derived from cDNAs are not well-suited to attenuate genes of tissues and organisms besides those they were designed for. Thus, for example, such libraries will be of little use in attenuating genes of emerging and unknown viruses. Fourthly, an additional limitation of brute-force cloning to generate siRNA libraries is that this approach is likely to collect sequences that are over 75% suppressive. Some phenotypes shift when a protein is attenuated by 50% and shift again when the protein is even more seriously suppressed (see, e.g., Muraoka R S Mol Cell Biol. 2002 April; 22(7):2204-19.). A fifth limitation of these approaches is that neither are very efficient. For example, the brute force approach is extremely time intensive and will contain holes related to splice variants. Key physiologic genes (e.g., p53, p73, Cyclins) are expressed in many spliced forms that vary in their function. Some spliced forms have opposing effects to each other. Interfering RNA which targets all splice variants of a gene may not have a large effect if it decreases both positive and negative acting splice forms. A sixth major drawback to cDNA-based libraries is that they contain vast overrepresentation of siRNA or shRNAs directed against common messages, whereas many of the most interesting target genes (e.g. transcriptional regulators, phosphatases) are expressed at low levels.
Each of the limitations of directed "brute-strength" libraries and cDNA-based libraries could be addressed by a library that is comprised of random siRNA sequences. However, the synthesis of random siRNAs is not well established, and the construction of a random siRNA library heretofore has not been demonstrated. Frustrating the creation of a siRNA library has been the difficulty in joining random DNA oligomers with unknown sequences to their exact complementary sequences wherein the production of such constructs is sufficient to cover all combinations of nucleotides in oligomers of a desired length. The necessary formation of double stranded RNA duplexes from the template DNA oligomers is an additional hurdle to overcome.
Miyagashi et al. (Nature Biotech., 19, 497-500 (2002)) speculated that an opposing U6 promoter system may allow the production of randomized siRNA libraries. However, the Miyagashi report does not disclose the construction of any such library, nor does it disclose any additional technical features or provide any instruction concerning the construction of such a library.
United States Patent Application Publication 20040005593 (Lorens) speculates that random libraries of interfering RNA molecules may be constructed by synthesizing a pool of oligonucleotides comprising a restriction site, a randomized siRNA sequence, a complementarity region sequence, and a hairpin-forming linker sequence (optionally a U-turn motif, a ribozyme and/or or a two complementary sequences that form a hairpin or stem loop structure). According to the published Lorens application, the oligonucleotides will adopt a hairpin structure, which will function as a substrate for a DNA polymerase, facilitating the synthesis of a complement sequence of the randomized siRNA sequence. According to the published Lorens application, the hairpin structure is then denatured and hybridized to a primer at the 3′ end allowing the conversion of the total sequence to double stranded DNA by a DNA polymerase. The double stranded oligonucleotides, supposedly encoding a random assortment of siRNA sequences, then are cloned into a retroviral vector to generate an siRNA-expression vector library. The published Lorens application, however, does not disclose the construction of any random siRNA library. Moreover, the approach proposed by Lorens would not result in a random library. A technical hurdle to the successful application of the Lorens approach is that the hairpin structure has great homology to itself and will tend to self-anneal. Thus, it will be necessary to use an amount of primer in great excess of the template to facilitate complementary strand priming, which is not taught by Lorens. Another consequence of the high self-homology of the hairpin structure is that self-annealing actually leads to a non-random library if the approach disclosed by Lorens is followed. Self-annealing of the hairpin structure will prevent polymerization of the complementary strand. Unless such polymerization occurs under conditions that prevent self-annealing, regions rich in GC content are more likely to self-anneal than are regions rich in AT content; hence, GC-rich sequences will be selected against in the process. Lorens calls for denaturation of the hairpin prior to polymerization (which is necessary in any event to permit binding of the primer); however, Lorens does not specify that the polymerization occur under conditions that maintains the denaturation of the hairpin structure. Accordingly, the distribution of sequences in the library produced by the Lorens approach will be non-random with respect to GC-rich vis-à-vis non-GC-rich sequences.
In light of the deficiencies with existing technology, new synthetic methods are needed that can produce random siRNA libraries (including siRNA- and shRNA-encoding libraries). Such methods and the resulting libraries would facilitate a multitude of tasks such as, identification of genes of interest, analysis of gene function and identification of therapeutically useful siRNA sequences.

Small interfering RNA libraries and methods of synthesis and use

University of Pittsburgh - of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education


A wind-directed ventilator hood assembly for a narrow elongated air exit opening in the roof of a farm building spanning a long portion of the roof, including hood supporting uprights projecting upwardly from the air exit opening at plural spaced locations, a horizontal elongated pivot shaft journaled in the uprights above the exit opening, and a pivoted elongated hood for covering the opening having transverse beams and a hood roof covering the beams. The hood roof has downwardly diverging side panel portions inclined about 90.degree. to each other and the beams are fixed to said shaft for rotation therewith between a first position opening toward one of a pair of upwardly inclined roof sections with a side panel portion disposed vertically adjacent one roof section and a section position opening toward the other roof section. A wind vane is supported for movement responsive to wind force to activate a vane direction sensing mechanism and driving the hood to the first and second hood positions.

The present invention relates in general to roof ventilators, and more particularly to wind directable ventilators for the roofs of barns, poultry buildings and the like.
It has been generally recognized that there is need for good ventilation in farm buildings, poultry buildings, and the like, including a minimum opening of about 2 inches per 10 feet of building width in the comb or upper regions of the roof of the building. The original was 14 inches because building was 66 feet. It is generally considered that some provision should be made for a free flow of air in the highest portion of a barn. An upwardly sloping roof with a sufficiently large opening allows for the appropriate flow of air, but special arrangements must be provided to provide appropriate weather protection. For example, providing a pair of roof sections sloping converging upwardly from the eaves or building side walls but terminating at different levels, with a laterally falling opening between the roof sections in the uppermost region, with one edge overhanging the other, does not give protection from rain when the wind is driving the rain from the direction in which the opening is facing. Efforts have been made to provide appropriate flow of air by leaving an opening of varying size depending on building width without any cover at the ridge or uppermost portion of the two upwardly converging roof sections, without providing any cover. Although the upward draft of the air flowing through such a ventilating roof arrangement would keep some of the rain out of the barn, such arrangements do not provide the building with adequate rain and snow protection.
An object of the present invention is the provision of a wind directable roof ventilator assembly for barns or the like which provide adequate ventilation, while at the same time protecting the building and its contents from rain. The arrangement is such that the size of the air flow opening may be varied through an appropriate range to meet a wide variety of job requirements.
Another object of the present invention is the provision of a wind directed roof ventilator system for barns or the like, wherein a tiltable ventilator hood assembly is positioned in upwardly spaced covering relation to a ventilation opening running along the peak or ridge portion of a pair of upwardly sloping barn roof sections along substantially the length of the barn, together with a wind-direction-responsive vane mechanism which is positioned in response to wind direction and through a linkage system varies the position of the hood structure to minimize entry of rain through the ventilating opening.
Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment of the invention.


A method and system of establishing communications between at least two independent software modules in a safety critical system, such as a medical system, is provided. The design comprises providing an exclusive Bluetooth connection between at least two wireless devices. A master wireless device is configured with Bluetooth master device functionality and a slave wireless device is configured with Bluetooth slave device functionality. The wireless devices are employed in performing a medical procedure. The method further comprises acquiring a stored unique address from the slave wireless device over the Bluetooth connection, comparing the stored unique address to a master wireless device unique address available at the master wireless device, and exclusively pairing the master wireless device and the slave wireless device when the unique address acquired from the slave wireless device is found to identically match the master wireless device unique address.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the art of medical systems, and more specifically to managing data communications between multiple independent subsystems forming a safety critical system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Today's safety critical systems, such as automated medical system products or surgical equipment, may be constructed as a collection of independent components realized in hardware and software. Constructing a suite of independent components or modules affords medical system product designers and manufacturers the ability to create and deploy subsystems that perform specific functions that are a subset of the complete device or system.
Designs that take advantage of allocating functions to a plurality of specialized subsystems must include a communications mechanism to enable the subsystems to interact. Subsystems may share or communicate control and status information between each other to realize complete system functionality. These communications are typically implemented using a communications protocol that specifies a uniform or consensus format that the subsystems use to transmit and receive information to each other.
Traditionally, medical system products transmit control and status signals between subsystems over a fixed wire or cable using a standard cable interface, such as Universal Serial Bus, Ethernet, etc. Recent developments have made it highly desirable for subsystems to communicate over a wireless network, thus reducing or eliminating the need to use fixed wire cables or backplanes to connect subsystems.
Current wireless implementations based on the Bluetooth™ communications protocol can become unsuitable for interconnection of subsystems forming medical products that typically are interconnected using a fixed wire cable.
A major problem that may result in a hazardous situation when implementing the above-mentioned wireless Bluetooth communications protocol in a medical environment is a slave device subsystem. Such a slave device subsystem in a medical application may include a remote control mechanism or a foot pedal that may mistakenly connect to and unintentionally interact with a foreign or separate master instrument host subsystem. For example, a wireless foot pedal in operating theater A may pair and connect to instrument host A while a surgeon uses the foot pedal during the procedure to control instrument host A. During the conduct of this procedure, another surgeon activates wireless foot pedal in operating theater B and initiates the Bluetooth 'pairing' process. The wireless foot pedal in operating theater B pairs and connects to instrument host B and a surgeon uses the foot pedal during the procedure to control instrument host B.
However, a slave device, i.e. foot pedal, may pair with multiple master devices, i.e. instrument hosts, in a Bluetooth environment. In the foregoing example, the wireless foot pedal in operating theater B also pairs and connects with instrument host A. In this situation, the surgeon in operating theater B is controlling instrument hosts A and B simultaneously while the surgeon in operating theater A is also controlling instrument host A. The simultaneous operation of an instrument host from two wireless foot pedals can create confusion, disrupt a delicate operating procedure, and can potentially cause injury or even death to the patient in operating theater A. The surgeon in operating theater B may successfully control instrument host B in an effort to perform a procedure while unaware that he is simultaneously sending the same control input or signals to instrument host A. The surgeon in operating theater A may observe this interference, but remains unable to address the situation other than to discontinue the procedure, being forced to shut down instrument host A.
Overall system integrity is paramount to designing and deploying safety critical systems. Thus, today's designers are faced with a difficult and complex implementation challenge to ensure wireless communications between desired subsystems provide the required level of safety in an operating theater environment.
Furthermore, the communications protocol employed in the construction of safety critical systems must provide the ability for a slave device to exclusively pair and connect with a pre-selected master device ensuring the slave device is only communicating with a single master device at any given time.
Based on the foregoing, it would be advantageous to provide a wireless connection for use in safety critical systems that overcome the foregoing drawbacks present in previously known Bluetooth communications protocol designs used in the design of medical systems.

Exclusive pairing technique for Bluetooth compliant medical devices


A device for determining the distance of an eye of a user from the image capturing device is disclosed. The device includes a lighting device that is arranged at a specified position relative to the image capturing device and is designed to generate at least one specular light reflection, which has a linear portion, on the cornea of the eye of the user. The device also includes an image capturing device designed to capture at least one image of the specular light reflection in the region of the cornea of the at least one eye of the user. A distance determining device is designed to ascertain data relating to the distance between two specified points of the light reflection and the curvature of the at least one linear portion of the light reflection in the captured image and the distance of the eye from the image capturing device.

For example, video centering devices are known from the prior art that may determine individual or even all parameters of the eyes of a user and/or of the usage position of spectacles or of spectacles frames in front of the eyes of a user by capturing an image of the user, and possibly with the assistance of additional resources. The parameters of the eyes and/or of the usage position include, for example, the interpupillary distance of the user, the face form angle of spectacles or a spectacles frame worn by the user, the spectacle lens inclination, the shape of the spectacles frame, the corneal vertex distance of the system of spectacles and eye, the fitting height of the spectacle lenses etc.
The publication DE 10 2005 003 699 A1 discloses a stereo camera system having two cameras that respectively capture an image of a user with spectacles from different capture directions, from which three-dimensional user data are calculated. Video centering devices with a camera are likewise known which make chronologically offset exposures of the eye area of the of the user to be measured from different viewing angles. The exposures are subsequently oriented relative to one another with the assistance of a reference object in the image (for example a centering clip) so that a stereo camera system is likewise formed. Other solutions use only the projection captured with a camera in a view of a wearer of a [spectacles] frame on which a centering clip is mounted. Some parameters may be approximately determined via an assumption of values of the corneal vertex distance, an inclination difference between centering clip and mount, and a face form angle.
The parameters of the eyes and/or of the usage position of spectacles or a spectacles frame in front of the eyes of a user, said parameters being determined by means of a video centering device, may on the one hand be considered in the fitting and insertion of spectacles lenses in a spectacles frame; on the other hand, optimizations in the spectacles lens itself may therefore be made in order to adapt it to the wear position in the usage position.
Camera-based devices are also known in which the content on a monitor varies depending on the bearing and/or head position of the user in front of the monitor. An example of a device that is designed to test the visual acuity of a user in which the size of the vision test characters may vary depending on the position of the user is disclosed in DE 10 2014 009 459.
In the above camera-based devices, it is often important to obtain information about the position of an object captured by the camera (for example an eye of a user) relative to said camera, in particular about the distance of the object from the camera.

Device and method for distance determination and/or centering using corneal reflections


The present invention relates to compositions and preparative process of partially or fully neutralized mixtures of carboxylate functionalized ethylene high copolymers or terpolymers (Mw between 80,000 and 500,000) with carboxylate functionalized ethylene low copolymers (Mw between 2,000 and 30,000) and organic acid salts and injection or compression molded applications such as golf ball components thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to partially or fully neutralized mixtures of carboxylate functionalized ethylene copolymers or terpolymers (Mw between 80,000 and 500,000) with carboxylate functionalized ethylene low copolymers (Mw between 2,000 and 30,000). It also relates to the use of such ionomeric compositions in injection or compression molded applications such as golf ball components.
2. Description of Related Art
There is a need for highly resilient thermoplastic compositions that have good processibility without loss of properties or improved properties (improved resilience and lower stiffness) without loss of processibility.
There is a need in the golf ball art for balls that have a high resilience at high speed impact such as when struck by a driver and lower resilience at low speed impact such as when struck with a putter. High resilience at high speed impact would allow longer driving distance while lower resilience at low speed would provide better putting control.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


In the case of an apparatus for a sliver-forming textile machine, especially a draw frame, flat card or the like, a fiber structure (fiber web) coming from the delivery rollers of a drafting system passes through a web guide and a sliver funnel with take-off rollers, the web guide has an inner wall (deflection and/or guide face), and a frictional resistance offered by the inner wall acts on the fiber structure. In order to allow in a simple manner an improved web guidance and sliver quality, and to permit the web guide to be adapted to different technical parameters, such as fiber material properties, working speed, a parameter relating to contact between fiber structure and inner wall is alterable.

The invention relates to an apparatus for a sliver-forming textile machine, especially a draw frame, flat card or the like.
In certain sliver-forming textile machines a fibre structure (fibre web) coming from the delivery rollers of a drafting system passes through a web guide and a sliver funnel with take-off rollers, the web guide has an inner wall (deflection and/or guide face, and a frictional resistance offered by the inner wall acts on the fibre structure.
In the case of a draw frame, the fibre web, which consists of a plurality of drawn fibre slivers, is delivered at high speed from the delivery rollers of the drafting system and is introduced into the entrance opening of the web guide. The fibre web meets the inner wall of the approximately funnel-shaped fleece guide, is condensed and diverted towards the exit opening. The exit opening is arranged downstream of a sliver funnel, through which the fibre material is drawn off in the form of a fibre sliver by take-off rollers.
In the case of a known apparatus (DE 26 23 400 A), the web guide is provided on its side facing the drafting rollers with a sliding-contact face of concave form. The width of the sliding-contact face is greater than its height. The maximum depth of the sliding-contact face is selected so that it does not exceed 1.5 times the fibre length, measured from the nip of the feed roller. The structural form of the web guide is fixed, especially in operation. The path on which the fibres move from the drafting system through the web guide changes. The fibres of the fibre web along the lateral edges of the approximately triangular web guide and the adjacent fibres have to cover a greater distance than the fibres in the middle of the web, which leads to mutual displacement of the fibres, which adversely affects their parallel position and hence the uniform nature of the fibre fleece; it is even possible for tears to form at the edges thereof, with the result that the fibre sliver often becomes rough and wavy. In addition, it is inconvenient that it is impossible to adapt the web guide to different operating conditions and fibre material qualities.
It is an aim of the invention to produce an apparatus of the kind described initially, which avoids or mitigates the said disadvantages and which in particular in a simple manner enables the web guidance and sliver quality to be improved and allows the web guide to be adapted to different technical parameters, such as fibre material properties, working speed and the like.

Apparatus for a sliver-forming textile machine, especially a draw frame, flat card or the like


A semiconductor device includes a first insulating layer, which is formed on a semiconductor substrate (not shown), and formed with a concave portion, and an electric fuse which has a conductive member, a first terminal provided on one end and a second terminal provided on the other end of the conductive member, and which is provided on the first insulating layer. The first insulating layer is embedded with the conductive member. The conductive member has a flowing-out region in which a material forming the conductive member flows out to the outside of the concave portion, and is cut at a location different from the flowing-out region.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same, and, more particularly, to a semiconductor device including an electric fuse, and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Related Art
Conventionally, there has been known a technology according to which a fuse is installed in a semiconductor device, the fuse is cut to adjust a resistance value used in the semiconductor device, to remove a defective element for replacement by a normal element, and the like.
In order to cut a fuse, there has been used a method, by which a fuse is cut by irradiating a part of the fuse with beams of laser light, or a method of cutting a fuse by use of an electric current.
Japanese Laid-Open patent publication No. 2005-39220, has disclosed a fuse which can be cut by a smaller electric current. In Japanese Laid-Open patent publication No. 2005-39220, a conductive material forming the fuse is shaped to be folded up a plurality of times. FIG. 19 is a plan view showing the fuse disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open patent publication No. 2005-39220. Here, a fuse 1100 is folded up twice.
The fuse 1100 has a current flowing-in terminal 1101, and a current flowing-out terminal 1102, and is provided further with a first one-way straight-line portion 1103, an another-way straight-line portion 1104, and a second one-way straight-line portion 1113 between the current flowing-in terminal 1101 and the current flowing-out terminal 1102. The fuse 1100 further includes a first right-angle connecting portion 1106 linking the first one-way straight-line portion 1103 and the another-way straight-line portion 1104, and a second right-angle connecting portion 1107 linking the second one-way straight-line portion 1113 and the another-way straight-line portion 1104.
In the fuse 1100 with the above-described configuration, when a predetermined electric current is applied to the current flowing-out terminal 1102 from the current flowing-in terminal 1101, cutting the another-way straight-line portion 1104 between the diagonally shaded portion 1109 is accelerated by adding heat generated in a diagonally shaded portion 1108 in the outer portion of the fuse 1100 to heat generated in the diagonally shaded portion 1109 in the inner portion of the fuse 1100. Thereby, the fuse 1100 is easily cut.
Moreover, Japanese Laid-Open patent publication No. 2005-57186, has disclosed a configuration in which, when an electric current is applied to a fuse, heat generated in a portion of the fuse, which is to be cut, is trapped or accumulated in the neighborhood of the portion in the fuse, which is to be cut, by enclosing the portion with a plate.
In Japanese Laid-open patent publication No. 2005-39220 and Japanese Laid-open patent publication No. 2005-57186, a fuse is heated to melt a material forming the conductive material in the fuse, or a fuse is cut, using a movement phenomenon caused by electromigration, when a current is applied to the fuse.
Incidentally, when a fuse is formed with a material which moves by the electromigration, it may be considered that material movement by the electromigration causes reconnection at a cut part when heat-treating of a semiconductor device is executed after the fuse is cut. If such reconnection is caused, a correct result will not be obtained at detecting whether the electric fuse is cut even, if the electric fuse to be cut has been cut.
Though it is thought that a possibility that the above-described reconnection is caused is not so high, and there is no problem at ordinary use, it is required to improve a holding characteristic by which a state, in which an electric fuse is cut, is held, when demand for the higher reliability of a semiconductor device is much increased or when a semiconductor device is used under severe conditions, or the like.

Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same


A gas discharge device includes a thin glass tube filled with a discharge gas; a pair of first and second long electrodes extending toward either side along a longitudinal direction with a discharge gap interposed therebetween are provided outside of a back side flat surface of a thin glass tube; and a ultraviolet phosphor layer formed on an inner surface at the back side flat surface, the thin glass tube filled with a discharge gas having a front side flat surface and the back side flat surface facing each other on a transverse section, wherein, starting with trigger discharge that is initially generated in the discharge gap as a result of a voltage increase when a voltage with a sine waveform or an inclined waveform is applied between both electrodes, the discharge gradually extends so as to move in the longitudinal direction of the electrodes. Ultraviolet light having high luminous efficiency and emission intensity is obtained from a front side surface of the thin glass tube by driving the device with a sine-wave AC voltage.

There have conventionally been known a high-pressure mercury lamp, an excimer discharge lamp, and the like as a light source device using gas discharge. There has also been known a gas discharge device using an ultraviolet light-emitting phosphor as an ultraviolet light source (for example, see Patent Document 1). Also, an external electrode type gas discharge device having a thin tube configuration suitable for a configuration of a flat light source has been known (for example, see Patent Documents 2, 3, and 4).

Gas discharge device and flat light source using the same, and driving method therefor


A new filename after change is generated based on rules set using a filename setting menu (301), extension format selection menu (302), basic setting menu (303), and format setting menu (304), and is displayed on a new filename list display window (306). In this case, if the new filename is unusable, it is displayed in distinction from other filenames, thus informing the user of it. A file management apparatus can detect in advance whether or not an error may occur upon changing the filename and can notify the user of such error.

Currently, along with the prevalence of digital cameras, digital image files in large quantities are often handled. For example, a professional photographer or the like takes photos in large quantities using a plurality of digital cameras in a single photographing session. Many users want to rename image files by batch processing so as to manage images in large quantities, and many rename applications are available. In such applications, the user can freely set generation rules of new filenames. Also, many rename applications comprise a preview function of changed filenames so that the user can easily confirm the change results of filenames.
In addition to these applications, various file management applications, each of which comprises functions of creating a new file, copying and moving a file, and the like, have functions of avoiding errors that have occurred during execution of various operations.
For example, as disclosed in a method proposed by Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-296162 (D1), in order to prevent a file from being erroneously erased by wrong overwriting, if a file with the same filename is present at the save destination of a given file, it is checked if they are identical files. If they are identical files, that file is not saved; if they are different files, the name is automatically changed, and the file with the changed name is saved.
The file management applications have various file management methods in correspondence with their purposes intended. For example, according to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-51995 (D2), an identical file number is assigned to an image data file and its associated files, and a set of data with the identical file number are managed as a group of data.
In the conventional application, if an error has occurred during processing such as copying, moving, or the like of a file, it alerts the user to seek confirmation of such error, interrupts the processing, or automatically avoids the error. However, there is no application which detects a situation that may cause an error upon processing or informs the user of the detection result before the beginning of execution of the processing.
In an environment in which a plurality of applications can run at the same time, if a plurality of applications that manage files are launched, errors which occur when different applications rename or move an identical file cannot be prevented.
As described in D2, some digital cameras simultaneously generate a plurality of associated files such as audio data and image data. As described in D2, an identical number is assigned to such associated files, and the files are managed using that number. However, when, for example, the user individually changes a filename, the associated files cannot be managed together, thus posing a problem. Especially, a recent digital camera often simultaneously records sensor data (RAW data) and image data (JPEG data) using the same filename but different extensions. Hence, the aforementioned problem stands out (for example, see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-304484 (D3).

File management apparatus and its control method


The present invention provides a method and system for controlling call volume into a call center. The method and system provides the contacting entity with a file of information for viewing that encourages or discourages continuance of the contact or initiation of another contact with the call center. This is accomplished by adding or omitting features from the file such as contact buttons or icons, messages, and the like. The architecture determines which type of file to provide a contacting entity based on such factors as the staffing level of the call center, the busyness of the call center, the value of the contact and/or contacting entity, and the like.

The present invention relates generally to contact centers and specifically to controlling the volume and/or type of contacts in a networked call center.
In automatic call-distribution (ACD) systems, calls incoming to a call center are answered and handled by a plurality of agents. The ACD system automatically distributes and connects incoming calls to whatever agents are suited to handling the calls and are free, i.e., not handling other calls at the moment. As used herein, a xe2x80x9ccallxe2x80x9d refers to any mode or type of contact between two entities, including without limitation voice calls, VoIP, text-chat, e-mail, fax, electronic documents, web forms, voice messages, and video calls, to name but a few.
Due to the random and peaked nature of inbound calls from customers, a call center frequently becomes overloaded when no suitable agents are available to handle calls when the calls come in. The calls are placed in different queues based upon some preestablished criteria and are placed in each queue in the order of their arrival and/or priority. Numerous techniques have been devised for determining an actual or anticipated wait time for each enqueued item, and the enqueued items are typically serviced based on the actual and/or anticipated wait time. Although this approach is effective in many applications, the approach is unable to control incoming call volume and therefore customers can still experience long wait times. Long wait times can lead to customer frustration and defection.
In another approach to managing call volume, access to the contact center is limited by denying access during busy periods when particular inbound call volume thresholds have been exceeded. Denying access to a caller after the caller has taken the trouble to phone the contact center can also lead to customer frustration and defection.
These and other needs are addressed by the method and architecture of the present invention. The invention is generally directed to a method for controlling call or contact volume in which a collection of information is provided for viewing by a contacting entity to influence the behavior of the contacting entity. The contacting entity will typically electronically contact the contact center such as via the Internet. The collection of information can be varied among contacting entities depending on the desirability of servicing each such contacting entity.
In one embodiment of the invention, a method for controlling a volume of contacts to be serviced by a contact center is provided that includes the steps of:
(a) analyzing one or more predetermined types of information associated with a contacting entity; and
(b) creating or constructing or providing a collection of information (e.g., a web page, contact icon, live caller button, etc.) for viewing (e.g., on a computer monitor of the contacting entity via a web server and a web browser, etc.) by the contacting entity in response to the analyzing step. The collection of information is configured or designed to influence the behavior of the contacting entity. By influencing contacting entity behavior, the volume of incoming contacts with agents can be controlled dynamically. The ability to control inbound call or agent contact volume dynamically can render the contact center more efficient and profitable and easier to manage.
By way of example, a contacting entity typically initially contacts the contact center via a web server and a web browser, such as by browsing on the Internet. The contact center must then determine whether or not the contacting entity should be encouraged to or discouraged from directly contacting an agent of the contact center. Typically, the contact of the agent will be by means of a voice contact. In this manner, the volume of incoming (direct) contacts to agents is controlled dynamically.
In one configuration, the contact center provides the collection of information for viewing by the contacting entity by transmitting the information over a network. This configuration is particularly suited to the Internet and specifically to an Internet call center supporting an E-commerce web-site.
The predetermined types of information associated with each of the plurality of contacting entities can be any of a broad variety of information. In one configuration, the information includes at least one of (a) information provided by the contact center to the contacting entity in the transaction (e.g., a file or collection of information such as a web page or file address such as a web address, a universal or uniform resource locator (URL), etc.), (b) information provided by the contacting entity to the contact center in the transaction (e.g., an answer to a query such as a webform, a cookie, login and/or password information, the geographic location of the entity, the wealth of the entity, the type of contacting entity (business or individual), etc.), (c) information that is unique to the contacting entity that was not provided by the entity in the particular transaction (e.g., historic business volume for the entity (which is typically stored in the memory of the contact center), etc.), (d) a wait time (whether actual or predicted) associated with the contacting entity, and/or (e) a staffing level of the contact center and/or a skill level in the contact center.
The analyzing step can be performed in many different ways. In one configuration, the analyzing step is performed by comparing a value associated with the contact and/or the contacting entity to a predetermined value(s). In this manner, when there are too many inbound calls or agent contacts to the contact center the contact center agent""s can preferentially service only those contacts constituting more profitable types of business.
The creating or constructing or providing step can be performed in many different ways depending upon the specific application. In one configuration, this step includes the substep of selecting at least one of the following features for the collection of information based on the analyzing step: icon type, icon size, icon color (which includes not only differing colors but also different shades of the same color), message type, message size, message color (which includes not only differing colors but also different shades of the same color). As will be appreciated, an xe2x80x9ciconxe2x80x9d is a picture on a display that represents a particular object (e.g., a phone), an operation (e.g., live caller or help button), and/or a group or ordering or collection of files. In another configuration, the creating or constructing or providing step includes at least one of omitting an icon from the collection of information and adding an icon to the collection of information. In another configuration, this step includes at least one of omitting a message from the collection of information and adding a message to the collection of information. In yet another configuration, when this step is performed for a first contacting entity an icon (and/or message) is omitted from a first collection of information (or first display) corresponding to the first contacting entity and when the step is performed for a second contacting entity the icon (and/or message) is included in a second collection of information (or second display) corresponding to the second contacting entity.
In another configuration, the method includes the additional steps of:
determining a staffing level of the contact center or a skill in the contact center or a customer type serviced by the contact center; and
determining if the contact center has at least one of an available working agent for a selected contact and/or a wait time in excess of a predetermined amount for the selected contact. In this configuration, the displayed collection of information is varied as set forth in the steps noted above when the contact center or a skill level or customer type is insufficiently staffed and/or the contact center is busy.
In another embodiment, a system for controlling a volume of contacts to be serviced by a contact center is provided that includes:
(a) analyzing means (e.g., software) for analyzing one or more predetermined types of information associated with a contacting entity; and
(b) providing means (e.g., software) for providing a collection of information for viewing by the contacting entity in response to input from the analyzing means.
In yet another embodiment, a system for controlling a volume of agent contacts to be serviced by a contact center is provided that includes a display controller for controlling a file of information viewed by an entity contacting the contact center. In response to a first signal from the display controller (or in a first mode), a first display (or first collection of information) is provided to a first contacting entity to encourage the first contacting entity to continue a first contact or initiate a new contact such as with an agent. In response to a second signal from the display controller (or in a second mode), a second display (or second collection of information) is provided to a second contacting entity to discourage the second contacting entity from continuing a second contact or initiating a new contact such as with an agent.
In one configuration, in the first mode the first display has a first appearance and in the second mode the second display has a second appearance. The first appearance differs from the second appearance in one or more of the following respects: the presence or absence of an icon, the presence or absence of a message, icon type, icon size, icon color, message type, message size, and message color.
The system can include one or more different components depending upon the application. By way of example, the system can include a valuator for assigning a value to a contact and/or a contacting entity; a comparer for comparing the value assigned to a contact and/or contacting entity with a predetermined value to provide the display controller with input regarding whether to transmit the first or second signal to a computational component; a wait time predictor to provide wait time information to the display controller; and/or a call center analyzer to determine a level of staffing of the contact center, of a customer type, and/or of a skill level in the contact center.
The above-described embodiments and configurations are neither complete nor exhaustive. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of the invention are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail below.

Arrangement for controlling the volume and type of contacts in an internet call center


Titania particles including charged particles that are used in an electrophoretic device, wherein surfaces of the particles are finished using a surface finishing agent containing a composition having a single reactive group so that the composition bonds to the particles at the reactive group of the composition.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an electrophoretic display technique for changing visual condition by controlling electric field application to charged particles, especially titania particles that are suitable as charged particles, as well as a method for making such particles.
2. Related Art
There has been an electrophoretic solution used in an electrophoretic display device wherein two kinds of dispersed particles having different colors and different charging polarities are dispersed in a colorless dispersion medium. When such two kinds of dispersed particles having different electrification charges are dispersed in one dispersion medium, the complete prevention of cohesion between particles is difficult. However, for the purpose of improving dispersibility, surface finishing is performed using a surface finishing agent.
As such a surface finishing agent, general surface finishing agents have been used. JP-A-2001-56653 (Paragraph 0026, etc.) is an example of related art. In the related art example, a multifunctional surface finishing agent having a plurality of functional groups that react with hydroxyl groups existing on the surfaces of dispersed particles has been used, without giving any special consideration on the number of functional groups, etc. contained in the surface finishing agent. If the reaction of all functional groups contained in the surface finishing agent is completed successfully by performing surface finishing of dispersed particles using such a multifunctional surface finishing agent, the surface finishing agent works as stable agent with more number of bonding groups. Therefore, such a surface finishing agent has been considered preferable for making charged particles to be used in an electrophoretic display device.
In the case of using the above multifunctional surface finishing agent, however, a problem has frequently occurred that some of the functional groups fail to react and remain as unreacted functional groups or turn into other types of functional groups. The use of dispersed particles that are made under such circumstances in an electrophoretic display solution has caused troubles. For example, dispersed particles having unreacted groups, react with each other, or dispersed particles having unreacted hydroxyl groups and other dispersed particles having other unreacted groups react with each other in a dispersion medium. Such troubles tend to cause cohesion. In case of such cohesion, the size of particles becomes larger. As a result, displayed images become rougher or the cohered particles are fixed on the substrate.

Charged particle, microcapsule, electrophoretic device, electro-optical device, and method of forming a microcapsule


An NMR imaging apparatus includes an excitation coil with a plurality of conductive elements extending between two spaced-apart end loops to form conventional "birdcage" coil. A shield is provided to reduce interference between the excitation coil and gradient field coils. The shield comprises a first electrically conductive section having an open ring with a gap therein and a plurality of first members extending from the ring with each member terminating at a remote end. A capacitor is connected across the gap in the ring. A second electrically conductive section has another ring from which a like plurality of second members extend with each one terminating at a remote end. The remote end of each second member is spaced from a remote end of a corresponding one of the first members and a capacitor is connected across those remote ends.

The field of the invention is nuclear magnetic resonance imaging systems; and more particularly, to coil assemblies employed in such systems to excite the nuclei and receive electrical signals produced by the nuclei.
Any nucleus which possesses a magnetic moment attempts to align itself with the direction of the magnetic field in which it is located. In doing so, however, the nucleus precesses around this direction at a characteristic angular frequency (Larmor frequency) which is dependent on the strength of the magnetic field and on the properties of the specific nuclear species (the magnetogyric constant g of the nucleus). Nuclei which exhibit this phenomena are referred to herein as "spins".
When a substance such as human tissue is subjected to a uniform magnetic field (polarizing field B.sub.0), the individual magnetic moments of the spins in the tissue attempt to align with this polarizing field, but precess about it in random order at their characteristic Larmor frequency. A net magnetic moment M.sub.z is produced in the direction of the polarizing field, but randomly oriented magnetic components in the perpendicular, or transverse, plane (X-Y plane) cancel one another. If the substance or tissue is subjected to a magnetic field (excitation field B.sub.1) which is in the X-Y plane and which is near the Larmor frequency, the net aligned moment (M.sub.z) may be rotated, or "tipped", into the X-Y plane to produce a net transverse magnetic moment M.sub.t, which is rotating, or spinning, in the X-Y plane at the Larmor frequency. The practical value of this phenomenon resides in the electrical signal which is emitted by the excited spins after the excitation signal B.sub.1 is terminated. There are a wide variety of measurement sequences in which this nuclear magnetic resonance ("NMR") phenomena is exploited.
When utilizing NMR to produce images, a technique is employed to obtain NMR signals from specific locations in the subject. Typically, the region which is to be imaged (region of interest) is scanned by a sequence of NMR measurement cycles which vary according to the particular localization method being used. The resulting set of received NMR signals are digitized and processed to reconstruct the image using one of many well known reconstruction techniques. To perform such a scan, it is, of course, necessary to elicit NMR signals from specific locations in the subject. This is accomplished by employing magnetic fields (G.sub.x, G.sub.y, and G.sub.z) which have the same direction as the polarizing field B.sub.0, but which have a gradient along the respective X, Y and Z axes. The field gradients are produced by a trio of coils placed around the object being imaged. By controlling the strength of these gradients during each NMR cycle, the spatial distribution of spin excitation can be controlled and the location of the resulting NMR signals can be identified.
The excitation magnetic field, near the Larmor frequency in the radio frequency spectrum, is produced by a separate coil placed adjacent the area of interest in the object being imaged. If an image of substantially the entire object is desired a large radio frequency (RF) coil, often referred to as a "body coil" and extending around the entire object, is used to excite the spinning nuclei and receive the resultant electrical signals. In other situations when only a small portion of the object (such as the head of a medical patient) is to be imaged, a smaller radio frequency coil is placed about that portion of the object. The use of localized coils produce a more homogeneous excitation field within the desired portion.
One common type of radio frequency coil is cylindrical with a conductive loop at each end and axial conductive elements connecting the loops at periodic intervals around their circumference, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,680,548 and 4,692,705. The coil formed an endless loop transmission matrix that is excited by two signals in quadrature to produce a rotating electromagnetic excitation field within the coil. Because of its shape and appearance, this coil structure is sometimes referred as a "birdcage".
In a typical coil assembly, the radio frequency coil is located within the gradient coils with a relatively small spacing therebetween. The close physical proximity of these different coils results in a significant amount of the energy from the RF excitation field being lost due to impingement upon the gradient field coil structure. This loss shows up as a damping of the quality factor Q of the contained radio frequency coil which, in turn, degrades the normally attainable signal-to-noise ratio of the imaging device. Accordingly some type of RF shielding is usually placed between the radio frequency and gradient coils to preserve the Q of the former coil and consequently the signal-to-noise ratio of the system.
A solid copper shield has been proposed, however, gradient field induced eddy currents would be supported anywhere on such a structure. In addition, it is often desirable to be able to insert probes and other medical instruments through the coil assembly and into the patient being imaged which could not be done with a solid shield. Further in the case of localized RF coils for the patient's head, it is desirable to provide windows through which the patient can see to prevent a claustrophobic feeling during prolonged MRI scanning.

Shield for a magnetic resonance imaging coil


An infant stroller having a fold latch mechanism to lock the stroller in the unfolded or deployed configuration. The side of the stroller contains a latchkey piece having a pocket-like recess that engages a latchpin on the stroller's front leg. When the latchkey is in the locked position, the front legs are held in place, locking the stroller in the unfolded or deployed configuration. When the latchkey is disengaged from the latchpin on the front leg, the front leg can be rotated to allow the stroller to be folded for storage or transport. The stroller also has a latching mechanism for locking the tray unit in place during normal use. The tray unit becomes unlocked and can be tucked away during the folding process.

This invention relates to an infant stroller, and in particular to a fold and latch mechanism for an infant stroller.
The prior art includes infant strollers capable of being folded, as well as strollers with trays capable of being folded. Although some of the strollers seen in the prior art include latching and locking mechanisms that interact with the stroller legs and frame components to lock the stroller in place when unfolded, none of the prior art describes latching and locking mechanisms of the type described and claimed herein.

Stroller with tray fold and fold latch mechanisms


A source eNB determines whether an X2 interface is established between the source eNB and a target eNB when the source eNB performs a handover of a UE under the control of the source eNB to the target eNB. When the X2 interface is not established between the source eNB and the target eNB, the source eNB inquires with an address management node about the IP address of the target eNB. Upon receipt of the IP address of the target eNB from the address management node, the source eNB accesses the target eNB using the IP address and establishes the X2 interface. After establishing the X2 interface, the source eNB performs a handover of the UE to the target eNB.

In a next-generation radio mobile communication system represented by LTE (long term evolution), a radio base station device (hereinafter called "eNB") constituting the radio mobile communication system is connected to an MME/SAE-GW device (base station control device), which is its higher-order device, and another base station device using an IP transmission path.
The interfaces between eNBs and between an eNB and an MME/SAE-GW device are called "X2 interfaces" and "S1 interfaces", respectively. Interfaces between other devices are also discussed from the viewpoint of standardization (see 3GPP TR 23.882 3GPP System Architecture Evolution: Report on Technical Options and Conclusions and the like).
Although in such a system an interface between respective devices constituting a radio mobile communication system can generally be arbitrarily set at the starting time of system, its setting method is semi-fixed and it is difficult to modify it during the operation of the system. Therefore, if a mobile station device (UE) existing in the system performs a handover accompanying area movement, it is desired to prepare its handover line in advance in a system on the handover-allowing side when the handover is performed with eNBs under the control of an MME/SAE-GW device or if the handover is performed between system areas (service areas) across MME/SAE-GW devices. A handover source base station device (hereinafter called source eNB) can transfer down-link (DL) data for a mobile station, received from an MME/SAE-GW device to a handover target base station device (hereinafter called "target eNB) in units of transmission (e.g., in units of RLC-SDU) and the target eNB can transfer the received data via the handover process to a mobile station device (hereinafter called "UE"). For example, when a line with a handover source base station device is not activated yet, a handover process as described above may not be performed.
The basic configuration of eUTRA, the transmission route of user data at the time of a handover, and a sequence chart between devices at the time of a handover are illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, respectively.
ENBs 11-1 and 11-2 and eNBs 11-2 and 11-3 are under the control of an MME/SAE gateway 10-1 and 10-2, respectively. The MME/SAE gateways 10-1 and 10-2 and the eNB 11-1 through 11-3 are connected by the S1 interface. The eNBs 11-1 through 11-3 are connected by the X2 interface. The network between the eNBs 11-1 through 11-3 is E-UTRAN.
FIG. 2 explains the transmission route of user data at the time of a handover. Firstly, it is assumed that a mobile station 13 is under the control of a source eNB 11-1. User data transmitted from a higher-order network is transferred to the source eNB 11-1 side and the user data is wirelessly transmitted from the source eNB 11-1 to the mobile station 13. Then, it is assumed that the mobile station 13 is handed over from the source eNB 11-1 to be under the control of a target eNB 11-2. Then, the source eNB 11-1 transmits the user data to the target eNB 11-2. The target eNB 11-2 transmits the received user data to the mobile station 13. In this case, interfaces between the MME/SAE gateway 10 and the source eNB 11-1/target eNB 11-2 are S1 interfaces. An interface between the source eNB 11-1 and the target eNB 11-2 is an X2 interface.
FIG. 3 is a sequence chart at the time of a handover.
Firstly, user data is transmitted from an MME/SAE gateway to a mobile station UE via a source eNB. When a handover (H.O.) is started, the user data is transferred from the source eNB to a target eNB and then is transmitted to the mobile station UE. When the handover process is completed, the mobile station UE is under the control of the target eNB and the user data is transmitted from the MME/SAE gateway to the mobile station UE via the target eNB.
It is assumed that if an H.O. request comes when, between eNBs, a source eNB does not store the IP address of a target eNB; that is, when an X2 interface is not established between eNBs, a handover is performed via an MME/SAE-GW between the source eNB and the target eNB (ex. R3-070695).
A user data transfer sequence in the case where an X2 interface is not established is illustrated in FIG. 4.
Firstly, user data is transmitted from an MME/SAE gateway to a mobile station UE via a source eNB. When a handover (H.O.) is started, the user data is transferred from the source eNB to a target eNB. However, since an X2 interface is not established between the source eNB and the target eNB, the user data is transmitted from the source eNB to the MME/SAE gateway and is transmitted to the target eNB via the MME/SAE gateway. When a handover process is completed, the user data is transmitted from the MME/SAE gateway to the mobile station UE via the target eNB.
As described above, in a handover operation accompanying the area movement of a mobile station, a H.O. process includes the transfer of user data between eNBs. It is one object of the handover process to enable UE to receive a series of user data (lossless handover) by this series of operations. However, as illustrated in FIG. 3, in order to activate a desired line when an inter-device interface is not activated, it is desired for a movement source device to recognize device information, such as an IP address, about a movement target device. Therefore, it is desired for respective devices to store respective device individual information (such as IP addresses and the like) constituting a line connection paying attention to a handover. (Alternatively, it is desired for respective devices to initially register the device information of all the component devices at the time of system activation and its extensibility is small.) However, since stored information (an IP address and the like) differs for each device and line setting between all the devices is not necessary, it becomes desired for setting/adjusting respective devices constituting a system according to an individual environment and much labor is required for an operator (for example, the design of a handover area/adjacent area and the like). Flexible correspondence to the extension of a system (the additional installment of devices and the modification of an operation form) becomes difficult.
Patent document 1 discloses a mobile telephone system for inquiring with a position information management center of the IP address of a network connection device connected to a radio base station in which a cellular phone to be called is positioned in the radio base station connected to the Internet via the network connection device and is connected to a communication line with a network connection device having the IP address.    Patent document 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 11-150753    Non-patent document 1: 3GPP TR 25. 912, [online], [retrieved on May 1, 2007], Internet <URL: http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/html-info/25-series.htm>    Non-patent document 2: 3GPP TS25. 331, [online], [retrieved on May 29, 2007], Internet <URL: http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/html-info/25-series htm>    Non-patent document 3: 3GPP TR23. 882, [online], [retrieved on May 29, 2007], Internet <URL: http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/html-info/23-series htm>    Non-patent document 4: 3GPP R3-070695, [online], [retrieved on May 29, 2007], Internet <URL: http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/tsg_ran/WG3_Iu//TSGR3—55bis/docs/>


An ultrasonic liquid level gauging sensor has a transducer at the lower end of a tube that is filled with liquid to the same height as liquid outside the tube. The sensor has an axial rod extending along the tube and supporting several calibration reflectors. The rod enables the sensor to be used at high tilt angles.

This invention relates to liquid-level gauging.
The invention is more particularly concerned with ultrasonic liquid-level gauging sensors.
Ultrasonic liquid-level sensors utilize the fact that ultrasonic vibrations travel freely in a liquid but are rapidly attenuated in air or other gas. If an ultrasonic transducer is mounted on the base of a liquid reservoir so that it directs energy up towards the liquid/air interface, the energy will be reflected back down to the transducer by this interface. By measuring the time taken between transnfission and reception of an energy pulse, it is possible to measure the distance between the transducer and the liquid/air interface and, from this, the depth of liquid.
It is conunon practice for ultrasonic transducers of this kind to be mounted at the lower end of a tube or still well that extends from the bottom to the top of the liquid reservoir. The tube is open at the bottom so that liquid fills the tube to the same depth as in the reservoir outside the tube. The tube serves several purposes. It helps isolate the transducer from other sensors or sources of interference. It also confines the ultrasonic beam, so that it is directed only at the region of the liquid surface directly above the transducer. Furthermore, the tube produces within it a region of liquid surface that is substantially damped of waves.
Another advantage arising out of the use of the tube is that it is easy to provide a reference height, by mounting some form of reflector at a known height within the tube. In this way, the transducer will receive a reflection from the liquid surface and one from the reference reflector against which the liquid height can be calibrated. This enables the ultrasonic gauging system to compensate for different liquids having different acoustic propagation properties and for temperature variations, which can affect ultra-sound propagation. Examples of ultrasonic probes having a tube of this kind are described in, for example, EP 0106677, GB 9304579 and GB 9304561.
There are various problems with existing ultrasonic liquid gauging sensors. One problem arises from the fact that the amplitude of energy reflected back to the sensor varies considerably with change in the angle of the liquid surface relative to the axis of the probe, such as caused by change in attitude of the probe. At angles exceeding about 20 degrees from the vertical, the signal return from the liquid surface can be below the lowest signal-to-noise ratio that is acceptable for reliable measurement of liquid height. In practice, the maximum working angle for presently available probes is about 30 degrees. Even at certain angles considerably less than this there can be blind spots where the return signal drops to a very low level.
Another problem with ultrasonic level sensors is that they are not suitable for use with some liquids, such as engine oil, because of the high attenuation of ultrasonic energy in these liquids. Although it is possible to measure the height of such liquids in a perfectly level, stationary tank, the slightest tilt or perturbation of the liquid surface increases the scattering and absorption, causing the return signal to drop below a usable level.

Smiths Industries Public Limited Company


A sealant cutting tool including a handle defining a blade slot. Also included is a clamping bolt having a clamp axis transverse the blade slot, which clamping bolt is threadably engaged with the handle. In addition, a “T” pull is operatively associated with the clamping bolt so that rotation of the “T” pull around the clamp axis causes a distal end of the clamping bolt to move relative to the blade slot. The sealant cutting tool may include a blade received in the blade slot in operative association with the clamping bolt. In addition, the “T” pull may include an engagement head operatively associated with a proximal end of the clamping bolt. The clamping bolt may include a noncylindrical shoulder received through a mating, noncircular opening formed in the engagement head. Thus, the noncircular opening may be selectively engaged with the noncylindrical shoulder, allowing the “T” pull to be selectively engaged or disengaged from the clamping bolt.

It is often necessary for an auto glass technician to remove a vehicle windshield from its frame in order to replace or repair the windshield. Typically, vehicle windshields are installed in a frame by bonding the windshield to the frame with a polymer adhesive such as polyurethane. Therefore, whenever it becomes necessary to remove a windshield, it is necessary to cut through the adhesive seal in order to release the windshield.
Many types of sealant cutting tools are known in the auto glass industry which are more or less specifically configured to cut the seal around a vehicle windshield. One type of manual knife used for this purpose has a generally cylindrical handle with an essentially planar, pointed blade which is bent some distance from the handle at an approximately 90° angle relative to the axis of the handle. Thus, the point of the blade is disposed roughly perpendicular to the centerline of the handle. This type of knife is often named a "cold knife" to distinguish it from other tools used in the auto glass industry which are powered or use heat to aid with the process of breaking the seal between the frame and the windshield.
A great deal of force is necessary to pull a manual sealant cutting tool such as a cold knife through the adhesive seal between a windshield and frame. Accordingly, typical sealant cutting tools often have a second handle pivotally connected to the primary handle near the blade attachment point. The second handle is often "T" shaped, and allows the auto glass technician to use both hands in pulling the blade through the strong adhesive.
During the use of a manual sealant cutting tool as described above, blades often become dull, bent, or broken. In addition, it can be quite difficult or impossible to adjust the length of the portion of the blade extending from the handle to effectively cut through the entire adhesive seal surrounding a windshield while simultaneously avoiding scratching or otherwise marring the exterior finish of a vehicle or to quickly exchange blades of various lengths.
Industry standard blades for a sealant cutting tool as described above typically have an elongated, planar attachment base perforated with mounting holes. Many sealant cutting tools are designed such that multiple steps and separate tools are necessary to attach or remove the mechanism used to secure the blade to the handle of the knife. Since the blades often break or become dull, a great deal of auto glass technician time is spent disassembling a typical sealant cutting tool to remove replace blades. In addition, many sealant cutting tools use the blade mounting holes to attach the blade to the handle of the tool. Thus, the blades can only be attached at fixed positions or fixed extensions with respect to the handle of the knife.
Cothery, U.S. Pat. No. 5,784,788, and Zuro, U.S. Pat. No. 6,256,889, both describe sealant cutting tools for use in the auto glass industry which feature mechanisms which are designed to allow the quick release and replacement of a blade from the tool handle. However, both Cothery and Zuro feature many intricate, movable parts which must be precisely machined, increasing the cost of a sealant cutting tool with a quick release blade feature, and potentially increasing the amount of maintenance necessary to properly use the tool. In addition, the prior art quick release tools feature separate blade carriages which move with respect to the handle which may introduce unwanted flexure into the cutting process. Also, the prior art is specifically configured to be used with industry standard cold knife blades. Thus, the utility of the prior art cutting tools for use with a variety of other blades including utility knife blades or pinchweld scrapers, for example, is limited.
The present invention is directed toward overcoming one or more of the problems discussed above.

Sealant cutting tool with quick release, repositionable blade


A subsea wiring apparatus includes a housing having a cavity extending from a first end to a second end. The apparatus also includes an electrical connector arranged within the cavity, the electrical connector receiving at least one conductor. The apparatus further includes a separator extending at least partially into the cavity, wherein the separator receives the at least one conductor and directs the at least one conductor into a passage. The apparatus also includes an isolating material within the cavity, the isolating material extending from the first end to the second end, wherein the isolating material surrounds at least a portion of the conductor to block fluid communication with the conductor.

Offshore oil and gas operations may utilize components that are positioned in a subsea environment, such as at a sea floor. These components may transmit or receive instructions through electrical connections. Due to the pressure and temperature of the subsea environment, specialty connectors may be utilized. These connectors may be expensive and limit a total number of connections in the subsea environment. As a result, subsea operations may have increased costs or may utilize complicated wiring schemes in order to accommodate each component.

Systems and methods for subsea wiring splices


The invention provides a tension structure for constructing a seat back of a seat for an automotive vehicle. Coil springs 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b are provided as tension members which are bridged between respective side portions 11, 12 of a seat back frame 1 and respective vertical bars 20, 21 of a tension assembly 2 in an upper portion and a middle portion. On the contrary, linear wires 5a, 5b in which one wire end is entwined and fastened to axes of the vertical bars 20, 21 and another wire end is inserted and fastened to stop rings 14, 15 of the side frame portions 11, 12 are provided in a lower portion. Accordingly, a sitting attitude is intended to be stabilized by increasing a supporting pressure of a lumbar part applied by the tension assembly 2 by means of the linear wires 5a, 5b.

The present invention mainly relates to a tension structure of a seat back which increases a supporting pressure of a lumbar part more than a supporting pressure between a waist part and a shoulder part of a sitter, in order to construct a seat back of a seat for an automotive vehicle having an improved sitting characteristic by intending to stabilize a sitting attitude.
In general, in the seat back of the seat for the automotive vehicle, a tension structure which supports between a the lumbar part and a back part of the sitter is constructed by providing with a seat back frame having a substantially quadrilateral frame shape, and assembling a tension assembly constituted by a cushion spring or a lumbar support within the seat back frame.
Among the cushion spring and the lumbar support, the cushion spring is exemplified. The cushion spring is constructed as the tension assembly by bridging a plurality of narrow wires or zigzag springs between right and left vertical bars in a parallel manner. The cushion spring is assembled within the seat back frame by being tensioned and held by tension members which are bridged over an upper portion, a lower portion and a middle portion between each of side frame portions of the seat back frame and each of axes of the vertical bars.
Conventionally, the tension members are assembled in all of the upper portion, the lower portion and the middle portion in such a manner as to be provided with coil springs having the same spring rate and tension and hold the cushion spring with respect to each of the side frame portions in the seat back frame.
In accordance with the coil spring, since the cushion spring is largely elastically displaced due to a load of the sitter, a great displacement stroke can be obtained by the cushion spring.
In this case, in the seat back of the seat for the automotive vehicle, since the lumbar part holding characteristic can be applied by making the supporting pressure of the portion corresponding to the lumbar part higher than the supporting pressure of the portion corresponding to a portion between the waist part and the shoulder part of the sitter, even when the portion between the waist part and the shoulder part of the sitter is largely elastically displaced, it is possible to intend to stabilize a sitting attitude and it is possible to construct a structure having an improved sitting characteristic.
However, in the tension structure by the coil springs having the same spring rate as mentioned above, the supporting pressure of the portion corresponding to the lumbar part can not be made higher than the portion between the waist part and the shoulder part of the sitter.
In this case, in order to increase the supporting pressure of the portion corresponding to the lumbar part, there can be considered a structure of tensioning and holding the portion corresponding to the lumbar part by a coil spring having a higher spring rate than that of the coil spring which tensions and holds the portion between the waist part and the shoulder part of the sitter.
In this case, since it is necessary to prepare the other coil spring having the different spring rate by using the coil spring in accordance with the same aspect, a cost increased is caused. In addition, since it is necessary to perform an assembling operation while differentiating the coil springs on the basis of the difference of the spring rate, an operation becomes complex.
An object of the present invention is to provide a tension structure of a seat back which can keep an improved cushion characteristic and can be assembled so as to increase a supporting pressure of a lumbar part without causing a cost increase and a complex operation by paying attention to a tension member of a tension assembly.
Further, another object of the present invention is to provide a tension structure of a seat back which can be securely assembled in accordance with a simple operation so as to increase a supporting pressure of a lumbar part.
The present invention is provided with coil springs having the same spring rate, as tension members between side frame portions of a seat back frame and vertical bars of a tension assembly in upper portions and middle portions in the respective side frame portions and the respective vertical bars. On the contrary, a tension structure of a seat back is constructed by providing a linear wire which is obtained by entwining and fastening one wire end which is bent in a predetermined axial shape to an axis of the vertical bar and inserting and fastening another wire end which is bent in a predetermined axial shape to a stop ring in the side frame portion, in a lower portion, and tensioning and holding the tension assembly within the seat back frame by the coil springs in the upper portion and the middle portion and the linear wire in the lower portion.
Accordingly, with respect to the portion corresponding to the region between the waist part and the shoulder part of the sitter, an improved cushion characteristic can be kept by the coil spring which is elastically compressed and expanded, and with respect to the portion corresponding to the lumbar part, a degree of elastic displacement is restricted by the linear wire which is not expanded. Accordingly, since it is possible to increase the supporting pressure of the lumbar part and it is possible to achieve a stability of the sitting attitude, it is possible to construct the tension structure of the seat back having an improved sitting characteristic.
In addition, since the linear wire is inexpensive, causes no cost increase, and is different in aspect from the coil spring, it is easy to distinguish both of the elements. Accordingly, it is possible to perform an assembling operation with accompanying no troublesome of the operation.
Further, the present invention is provided with a linear wire constituted by a linear wire main axis which extends from the side frame portion of the seat back frame toward an oblique lower side with an acute angle to an axis of the vertical bar, a wire end which is bent at an acute angle from the wire main axis and is inserted to the stop ring of the side frame portion so as to be stopped, a substantially semicircular winding axis which is retained to the axis of the vertical bar, and a wire end which extends from the winding axis and intersects on the axis of the wire main axis.
The linear wire can be bridged between each of the side frame portions of the seat back frame and each of the vertical bars of the tension assembly in accordance with a simple operation of inserting one wire end to the stop ring of the side frame portion, deforming the wire end which intersects on the axis of the wire main axis wider than the wire main axis so as to retain the substantially semicircular winding axis to the axis of the vertical bar, and elastically returning back the wire end which intersects on the axis of the wire main axis. In the retaining state, since the winding axis of the linear wire is brought into contact with the axis of the vertical bar at two contact points which are obliquely apart from each other via the axis of the vertical bar, the linear wire can be securely retained to the axis of the vertical bar so that the winding axis does not deflected and moved vertically in the axial direction of the vertical bar, and can stably tension and hold the lower portion of the tension assembly.
The other features than the features mentioned above will be apparent from an embodiment for carrying out the invention which will be described later.