A copying apparatus provided with an automatic document feeder having a function for sequentially feeding a pair of documents and serially placing them onto a platen in the document feeding direction. In the copying apparatus, the operation of feeding a second document onto the platen is inhibited and the image forming operation to the image of a first document, is allows, when the first document is a size where the longer side thereof in parallel to the longer side of the platen, or the size of the first document is larger than the half of the platen. Meanwhile, one of a plurality of sheet feeders storing a relevant size of copy sheet is selected based on the size of a larger document fed onto the platen. Further, the optimum magnification is determined based on the size of a larger document fed onto the platen and the size of a copy sheet fed from the sheet feeder.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a copying apparatus provided with an automatic document feeder capable of serially placing a pair of original documents at a specified position on a platen, and discharging them from the platen after the completion of exposure.
2. Description of Related Art
To reduce the time for replacing original documents or to eliminate certain procedures for document replacement, various automatic document feeders (hereinafter abbreviated as ADF) have been recently recently developed and are commercially available. Such an ADF constitutes means for reducing indirect costs (time and labor). In contrast, to reduce direct costs (supplies, such as copy sheets and toner), several methods available are as follows: a duplex copying method, wherein two documents are copied to both sides of one copy sheet; and a method for reducing and copying two documents to one side of a copy sheet having the same size as each original document (two document, single-face copying mode). In the former method, a pair of documents are unchangedly copied to one side of a copy sheet, while toner making for two copies is consumed. In contrast, the latter method is economical in that a copy sheet and toner each for only one sheet of document is consumed per two duplicates. Furthermore, when the above two methods combined, the result is extreme economization, since four documents are copied using both sides of one copy sheet.
Various conventional ADFs, however, feed documents one by one onto a platen. Accordingly, to perform two-document, one side copying, an operator is supposed to replace documents and place them on the platen per sheet of document, thus time and labor are not reduced.
To solve such disadvantages, for example, an ADF for feeding two documents serially onto a platen in the direction of the document feeding has been disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid Open Publication Nos. 60-2942, 60-84945 and 60-93452. A copying machine provided with this type of ADF, however, has the following disadvantages. When a dual document feeding mode is selected, if the size of a first document is longitudinal orientation (a document is a size where the longer side thereof in parallel to the its feeding direction), a possible combination of the two documents upon setting them onto the platen is: the longitudinal orientation and latitudinal orientation; or the longitudinal orientation and longitudinal orientation. In these two combinations, the total length of the documents may exceed the entire exposure area (document image scanning area with an optical system). Further, if at least one of the two documents is longer than the half of the platen, this is, the entire exposure area, the total length of the two documents may exceed the entire exposure area, upon placing them on the platen. In this case, images of the two documents are not properly formed on one copy sheet no matter what magnification has been specified, resulting in an incomplete duplicate with a part of image missing. Meanwhile, the images of the two documents may duplicate on one sheet, a blank is inevitably formed on the sheet.
As for the document size, the ADF disclosed in said Japanese Patent Laid Open Publication No. 60-93462 is known in the art, wherein an operator can select a relevant document size by select means on a control panel, from the following three document size types: the first size where two documents can be set on the platen, such as in the case of latitudinal positioned A4 size, B5 size, letter size and A5 size; the second size where the documents are placed on the platen so that the longer sides of the documents are set in the document feeding direction, such as in the case of longitudinal positioned A4 size and B5 size; and third size in which only one document is set on the platen, such as in the case of A3 size, B4 size, legal size and leisure size. Yet such document size selection is complicated of the part of an operator, thus an accidental miscopying cannot be positively prevented.
Moreover, in recent copying machines, particularly, the following functions are frequently provided: an automatic paper size setting function (hereinafter abbreviated as APS) wherein the suitable size of copy sheet is automatically selected without resulting in a resultant image of which part missing, based on the document size as well as the magnification; and an automatic magnification setting function (hereinafter abbreviated as AMS) wherein the suitable magnification is automatically selected to match the selected copy sheet size, so that the image is properly formed without causing an image of which part missing. In the conventional dual document feeding mode, however, these functions have not been fully utilized.

Copying apparatus provided with automatic document feeder


Compounds of Formula I are described

Central nervous system diseases and disorders affect a wide range of the population with differing severity. Neurological and psychiatric diseases and disorders include a movement disorder, epilepsy, major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), among others. These diseases and disorders affect a person's thoughts, mood, behavior and social interactions and can significantly impair daily functioning. See, e.g., Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Ed., American Psychiatric Association (2000) ("DSM-IV-TR"); Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Ed., American Psychiatric Association (2013) ("DSM-5"). Furthermore, neuropsychiatric symptoms such as apathy, depression, anxiety, cognitive impairment, psychosis, aggression, agitation, impulse control and sleep disruption are now recognized as core impairments of neurological diseases and disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures (Blume et al., Epilepsia. 2001; 42:1212-1218). These seizures are transient signs and/or symptoms due to abnormal, excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain (Fisher et al., Epilepsia 46 (4): 470-2). Epilepsy should not be understood as a single disorder, but rather as a group of syndromes with vastly divergent symptoms but all involving episodic abnormal electrical activity in the brain. It is one of the most common serious neurological disorders in the United States and often requires long-term management. Each year 150,000 people in the United States are newly diagnosed as having epilepsy, with the cumulative lifetime incidence approaching 3% (Hauser et al., Epilepsia. 1991; 32:429-445; Begley et al., Epilepsia. 1994; 35:1230-1243). Patients with uncontrolled seizures experience significant morbidity and mortality and face social stigma and discrimination as well.

Heteroaryl-isochroman compounds and uses thereof

Abstract: Compounds of Formula I are described

Abstract: as are pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds. Methods of treating neurological or psychiatric diseases and disorders in a subject in need are also disclosed.


In a vehicle control system, an index used to set a running characteristic of a vehicle is obtained based on a running condition of the vehicle. A change of the index that makes behavior of the vehicle crisper is more likely to occur than a change of the index that makes the behavior of the vehicle milder. When it is determined that the vehicle is in a turning condition, the change of the index or a change of the miming characteristic based on the index is less likely to occur than when it is determined that the vehicle is not in the turning condition.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a vehicle control system that is configured to control behavior characteristics or acceleration/deceleration characteristics (which will be called "running characteristics") of the vehicle, such as a power characteristic, a steering characteristic and a suspension characteristic of the vehicle, so that the running characteristics match a running environment and driver's preferences and intention regarding running.
2. Description of the Related Art
While the vehicle behavior, such as a vehicle speed and a running direction, varies according to the driver's accelerating/decelerating operation and steering operation, the relationship between the amount of the driver's operation and the amount of change of the behavior is determined not only by the energy efficiency, such as a fuel efficiency, but also by characteristics, such as a ride comfort, quietness and power performance, which are required of the vehicle.
In the meantime, environments in which the vehicle runs include a wide variety of surroundings or road types, such as an urban area, an expressway, a winding road, an uphill, and a downhill, and there are a variety of driver's preferences and intentions regarding running, and there are a variety of impressions the driver receives from the vehicle during running. Therefore, an expected running characteristic is not necessarily obtained if the running environment changes or the vehicle is driven by another driver. As a result, so-called driveability may deteriorate.
Thus, one type of vehicle has been developed which is arranged to manually select running characteristics, such as a power output characteristic (or acceleration characteristic) and a suspension characteristic, concerning the behavior of the vehicle, by operating a mode selection switch. Namely, the vehicle is arranged to select a drive mode from, for example, a sporty mode in which the vehicle runs with an excellent accelerating ability, and the suspension is set to be somewhat hard, a normal mode in which the vehicle accelerates at a relatively low rate, and has a relatively soft suspension characteristic, and an eco mode in which the fuel economy or efficiency is prioritized by operating the switch.
Also, various systems have been proposed which are configured to cause the driving orientation to be reflected by behavior control of the vehicle. This type of system does not necessitate any switching operation, and permits changes of subtle or detailed characteristics. One example of this type of system is described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 06-249007 (JP-A-06-249007). In the system described in JP-A-06-249007, which is a driving force control system using a neurocomputer, the relationship of the acceleration with respect to the acceleration stroke and the vehicle speed is learned as a required acceleration model, and the throttle opening is calculated based on a deviation between the model and a second reference acceleration model that reflects the driver's orientation or preferences in connection with running, and a deviation between the second reference acceleration model and a first reference acceleration model as a standard model.
Also, a system that is configured to detect the driving characteristics or driving orientation while distinguishing those of the longitudinal direction of the vehicle from those of the lateral direction is described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-129924 (JP-A-11-129924). Further, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-2320 (JP-A-11-2320) describes a system that is configured to engage a lock-up clutch, and prohibit shifting when it is detected that a vehicle is in a turning condition.
According to each of systems described in JP-A-06-249007, JP-A-2004-257434 and JP-A-11-2320, improvement needs to, be made to cause the request or driving orientation of the driver to be accurately reflected by the running characteristics.


Methods and devices are disclosed relating improved articular models, implant components, and related guide tools and procedures. In addition, methods and devices are disclosed relating articular models, implant components, and/or related guide tools and procedures that include one or more features derived from patient-data, for example, images of the patient's joint. The data can be used to create a model for analyzing a patient's joint and to devise and evaluate a course of corrective action. The data also can be used to create patient-adapted implant components and related tools and procedures.

Generally, a diseased, injured or defective joint, such as, for example, a joint exhibiting osteoarthritis, has been repaired using standard off-the-shelf implants and other surgical devices. Specific off-the-shelf implant designs have been altered over the years to address particular issues. However, in altering a design to address a particular issue, historical design changes frequently have created one or more additional issues for future designs to address. Collectively, many of these issues have arisen from one or more differences between a patient's existing or healthy joint anatomy and the corresponding features of an implant component.

Patient-adapted and improved orthopedic implants, designs, and related tools


A data extraction system for extracting a unique identifier from a plurality of different types of tokens, the data extraction system comprising a central processing system arranged to receive a data string representing an image of the token, the central processing system comprises: a data store of predetermined data records relating to the plurality of different types of token, each predetermined data record including a plurality of discrete features derived from an image of each type of token; a token type recognition module for identifying a type of token which the representation relates to, the recognition module comprising: a discrete feature identifier for iteratively identifying discrete features present in the representation; and a matching engine for iteratively comparing each of the identified features with each of the discrete features of the plurality of different types of token stored in the data store and registering each matched feature; wherein the recognition module is arranged to compare a current number of registered matched features of the representation with a predetermined number of minimum matched features and when the current number of registered matched features is at least equal to the at least the predetermined number of minimum matched features to determine which type of token the representation relates to; a data extractor for extracting at least one unique identifier of the token from the representation, wherein the data extractor is arranged to use the type of token identified by the token type recognition module to locate a region of the representation where the unique identifier is provided and to focus a data extraction process at that region.

Many different types of user-interaction and processing system exist. They are used in a host of diverse industries for many different purposes. Most of these are directed towards facilitating user interaction with a distributed system often in dispersed geographic locations to enable a function to occur. For example, different transport systems may have different user tokens (tickets) to enable a user to travel geographically between two different locations. Similarly, automated biometric identity systems exist to verify the identity of a person carrying a biometric passport before granting entry into a different country. Also transactions in goods and services using a bank-issued user token (payment card for example) can also be carried out in geographically-spaced apart locations with central authentication of the user token presented by the user to support the desired transaction.
Other types of system enable user interaction to be monitored and tracked to provide data relating to user behaviour with a geographically distributed system to be captured.
To encourage this type of behaviour, users can be provided with user tokens which accrue benefits for repeated use. One example of this is a loyalty card programme system which allows retailers to reward loyal customers. In essence, when a purchase is made and the relevant loyalty card is presented, a reward (for example points) is given to the customer that may be relative to the cost of the purchase, or otherwise be linked to the purchase transaction. Over time a customer can amass enough points to be able to 'spend' some or all of their points according to an equivalent monetary value or redeem them against certain items.
Given the number of different types of system which are present in even just one type of industry there is a desire to aggregate these different systems to prevent the user from having to carry a multitude of different types of user token to facilitate interaction with the different types of systems they will need to interact with each day. One way in which the different types of systems can be integrated is by the integration of the system's back end, which can reduce processing issues and speed up the reconciliation of interactions with the system. However, whilst such systems simplify the processing task for the service provider, they do not solve the problem from the user's perspective.
Other systems impose a standard to the data presentation format on the user token. For example in a payment token (for example a credit/debit bank card) the location and format of relevant data provided on the user token can be standardised such that a myriad of different devices can be configured to the standard to read that data present on the token and identify not only the type of user token but also specific information unique to the owner of that user token, for example a user identifier. Looking more closely at this data presentation format standardisation and referring to FIG. 1, it can be seen that a payment card 10 has a standardised layout. All payment cards have the same dimensions and include both a long Primary Account Number (PAN) 12 and an expiration date 14, signifying the month and year in mm/yy format after which the card 10 ceases to be valid and can no longer be used. The PAN 12 always extends across the card 10 just beneath the central longitudinal axis of the card 10 and comprises a sequence of 16 numbers split into 4 sections. The provider of the payment card 10 can be identified from the first few numbers of the PAN 12. The expiration date 14 is found beneath the PAN 12. All payment cards conform to this standard. Payment cards may also incorporate a cardholder name 16, a bank name 18 and a chip 20 among other information, though these can vary in operation and data presentation for example location on the payment card 10.
The standard layout of payment cards in this way allows for swift recognition of a payment card in many different types of systems which provide goods and services for example a car-park ticket payment machine or a general a point of sale terminal at a retail outlet. The PAN and expiration data, along with the chip and layout are easily recognisable in an image of this type of user token in order to identify the user token as a payment card. This is an example of what is called a 'common format' for presentation of the data relating to the user token, namely one that does not change between different systems and so is easy to read.
However, of the other types of systems for which user tokens are necessary, there are a large variety of different formats used because they relate to independent systems that were never designed to work together. An example of this is a loyalty program user token and system described above. This type of user token has what is termed an 'uncommon format' namely one in which each different type of user token presents data in a manner which is different for each different type of system, making it very difficult for a single system to read all of the different types of user tokens.
In these system a single user may have to carry a large number of loyalty cards with them at all times. This inconvenience has led to the development of software applications that allow a user to view their loyalty cards and points balances in a digital wallet system, for example on a smartphone. These applications therefore reduce the number of cards it is necessary for a user to carry at any one time to those that are supported by the digital wallet. Thus, loyalty cards can be replaced with a computing device, such as a smartphone or tablet as an aggregator of these user tokens.
Typically, these applications require a large amount of manual data input prior to use that is time consuming and so a deterrent to the user. If data input to the application is too onerous, some users may not engage with the application fully, and will not gain the full benefit of the application and of their chosen loyalty card programmes. The loyalty scheme information to be manually inputted is likely to be both lengthy and numerical, and this introduces a potential for human error. Entering a wrong number may lead to errors in data retrieval, more frustration and time spent inputting the data, or, in a worse case, points earned by the user being transferred to a stranger.
These applications also require the user to present the device on which the application is running (and on which the data associated with the relevant loyalty scheme is stored) at the point of sale in order to accumulate loyalty points. While the number of cards a user must carry is thereby reduced, the user is still obliged to present a barcode or other identifier on the device to gain loyalty points. In the event that the application is not accessible, no loyalty points can be gained and the system cannot track the user interaction which is one of the primary functions of the system.
It is against this background that the present invention has been devised.

Systems and method for managing loyalty scheme data


A method for influencing electromagnetic radiation in a frequency range between 0.1 and 10 terahertz includes providing a planar modulator having a matrix of at least 10×10 individual, active planar elements. Each planar element has a diameter between 5 μm and 100 μm. The planar elements are individually controlled using a central control unit such that each planar element assumes a respective one of at least two states in accordance with the control so as to influence the radiation.

Since approximately 100 years ago, when first technologies for wireless data transmission began to be employed, the bandwidth available for transmission has grown continuously. In order to be able to satisfy the continually increasing demand, waves in the terahertz range will be used in the future as carriers with especially high carrier frequencies in order to achieve data transmission rates in the range of 10 Gbit/s and higher with these waves.
Such terahertz waves can be generated by means of ultrafast electronic circuits or by means of optical methods. Since the electronic methods are limited in their speed on account of the lifetimes of free electrons and holes, however, these methods operate only inefficiently, if at all, at frequencies above 100 GHz. In contrast, the prior art optical methods for generating terahertz waves mostly employ higher frequencies that are then reduced by frequency mixing. Thus, in the meantime methods have become known with which terahertz waves are generated with high efficiency by difference frequency generation of two light waves in the infrared, visible, or ultraviolet spectral range.
At the present time, however, it is still relatively difficult to control the propagation of terahertz waves. The mirrors and lenses required for control are highly complex and can only be produced at correspondingly high expense if they are to be electronically controllable.

Method for controlling terahertz electromagnetic carrier waves


An apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium comprises a platen, a recording head arranged to oppose said platen for recording the image on the recording medium, first conveying member arranged upstream of the platen along a conveying direction of the recording medium for conveying the recording medium, second conveying member arranged downstream of the platen along the conveying direction of the recording medium for conveying the recording medium; guide member for guiding the recording medium when the recording medium is fed from the first conveying member to the second conveying member, and driving motor for causing the guide member to set at an operative position where the member guides the recording medium and a retracted position where the guiding member is retracted from the operative position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium and, more particularly, to an image recording apparatus capable of improving the quality of a recorded image.
2. Related Background Art
In a conventional recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium while a recording head opposes the recording medium, a platen is arranged at the opposing position to guide the surface of the recording medium. A conveying path is formed to supply the recording medium toward the platen and separate the recording medium from the platen after recording. Conveying members such as rollers are disposed at the upstream and downstream positions of the conveying path with respect to the platen so as to hold the recording medium and to define the conveying path. At the same time, the conveying members are operated to bring the recording medium into tight contact with the platen.
As described above, the recording medium is guided along the conveying path prior to recording, and the leading end of the recording medium is held by the downstream conveying member with respect to the platen.
When the recording medium is set at the recording position, simple conveyance does not allow smooth holding of the leading end of the recording medium with the downstream conveying member, thus causing so-called paper jam. More specifically, the leading end of the recording medium which has passed the upstream conveying member is deviated from the conveying path due to warping of the recording medium itself and its weight and abuts against other members. Paper jam particularly occurs when a large recording medium such as an A2 or A1 sheet is used or a roll of paper is used as the recording medium.
In order to eliminate the above disadvantage, a proper member may be disposed near the platen during setting of the recording medium to smoothly guide the leading end of the recording medium. However, this member is preferably removed to a position so as not to interfere with the operation of the recording head during recording.


A nozzle assembly for a needle-free injection device. The nozzle assembly includes a nozzle body including an injectate chamber and one or more outlet orifices and a plunger configured to move through the injectate chamber toward the one or more outlet orifices. In some embodiments, the plunger includes a first portion and a second portion removably joined by a frangible region. In some embodiments, the plunger includes extensions configured to couple the plunger to a drive assembly of a needle-free injection device.

Needle-free injection systems provide an alternative to standard fluid delivery systems, which generally use a needle adapted to penetrate the outer surface of a target. Typically, needle-free injection systems are designed to eject the fluid from a fluid chamber with sufficient pressure to allow the fluid to penetrate the target to the desired degree. For example, common applications for needle-free injection systems include delivering intradermal, subcutaneous and intramuscular injections into or through a recipient's skin. For each of these applications, the fluid must be ejected from the system with sufficient pressure to allow the fluid to penetrate the tough exterior dermal layers of the recipient's skin.
Examples of needle-free injection systems and components are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,592,742, 4,596,556, 4,790,824, 4,940,460, 4,941,880, 5,062,830, 5,064,413, 5,312,335, 5,312,577, 5,383,851, 5,399,163, 5,503,627, 5,505,697, 5,520,639, 5,746,714, 5,782,802, 5,893,397, 5,993,412, 6,096,002, 6,132,395, 6,216,493, 6,264,629, 6,319,224, 6,383,168, 6,415,631, 6,471,669, 6,506,177, 6,572,581, 6,585,685, 6,607,510, 6,641,554, 6,645,170, 6,648,850, 6,623,446, 6,676,630, 6,689,093 6,709,427, 6,716,190, 6,752,780, 6,752,781, 6,783,509, 6,935,384, 6,942,645, 6,979,310, 6,981,961, 7,056,300 and 7,156,823; U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2005/0119608 and 2006/0189927; and International Publication No. WO 00/72908, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety and for all purposes.


A license plate bracket. The license plate bracket includes a frame having a front wall, a rear wall, and a sidewall extending therebetween, defining a channel therein. An opening is disposed along an upper side of the frame providing access to the channel. A first cutout is disposed in the front wall, the first cutout placed such that it can expose identifying information of a license plate disposed within the channel. A plurality of fasteners are affixed to the front wall at each corner thereof, the plurality of fasteners able to removable secure the frame to a support surface.

The present invention relates to a license plate bracket. Specifically, it relates to a license plate bracket configured to removably secure to a support surface, such as a windshield.
Many states have laws requiring drivers to display a license plate at both the front and rear of a vehicle. Additionally, should damage occur to the rear of the vehicle, or if the vehicle is a temporary replacement, a license plate may not be affixed to the bumper as is standard practice. In these cases, drivers often prop the license plate against the windshield or rear window in order to display the license plate, however changes in acceleration or direction can cause the license plate to fall or slide about the dashboard, potentially leading to an serious injury or expense in an accident if the license plate obscures the driver's vision. Typically, a second license plate can be affixed to the front bumper of a vehicle, however this may alter the aesthetics of the vehicle in a way the driver deems undesirable. Additionally, in cases where the driver is traveling through a state with such license plate laws, temporarily installing a license plate on the front bumper can be time consuming and frustrating. Therefore, a device that easily allows a user to secure a license plate to a front or rear vehicle window temporarily is desired.
In light of the devices disclosed in the known art, it is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the known art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing license plate brackets. In this regard, the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.


Provided are a fingerprint identification apparatus and an electronic device. The fingerprint identification apparatus is applied to an electronic device having a display screen, wherein the fingerprint identification apparatus comprises: a support plate; and at least one fingerprint sensor chip, wherein a middle frame of the electronic device is provided with a groove located on an upper surface, and the at least one fingerprint sensor chip is disposed in the groove of the middle frame through the support plate so that the at least one fingerprint sensor chip is located under the display screen of the electronic device. In embodiments of the present application, by the support plate, costs and complexity of an electronic device could be reduced, and maintainability could be improved.

At present, an under-screen fingerprint identification solution is to attach an optical fingerprint identification module or an ultrasonic fingerprint identification module to the bottom of an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) screen, that is, either the optical fingerprint identification module or the ultrasonic fingerprint identification module is required to be closely adhered to a light-emitting layer of the bottom of a screen.
However, since the OLED screen is costly and fragile, the OLED screen is easily damaged when the fingerprint identification module is directly attached to the OLED screen. In addition, since the fingerprint identification module and the OLED screen are completely adhered, if the fingerprint identification module is damaged, the OLED screen is easily damaged when the fingerprint identification module is disassembled. Moreover, an attaching process of directly attaching the fingerprint identification module to the OLED screen is also relatively complicated.
Due to the above problems, costs and complexity of an electronic device are greatly increased, and maintainability is low.

Fingerprint identification apparatus and electronic device


Embodiments herein relate to a method performed by a wireless device (10) for handling communication in a wireless communication network. The wireless device (10) stores a time instant associated with a receiving event relating to reference signal detection and information related to the receiving event. The wireless device (10) further detects a connection event related to a connection of the wireless device; and reports the time instant and the information to a radio network node (13) in the wireless communication network.

In a typical wireless communication network, wireless devices, also known as wireless communication devices, mobile stations, stations (2G) and/or user equipments (UE), communicate via a Radio access Network (RAN) to one or more core networks (CN). The RAN covers a geographical area which is divided into service areas or cell areas, with each service area or cell area being served by radio network node such as an access node e.g. a Wi-Fi access point or a radio base station (RBS), which in some networks may also be called, for example, a "NodeB" or "eNodeB". The service area or cell area is a geographical area where radio coverage is provided by the access node. The access node operates on radio frequencies to communicate over an air interface with the wireless devices within range of the access node. The access node communicates over a downlink (DL) to the wireless device and the wireless device communicates over an uplink (UL) to the access node.
A Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) is a third generation telecommunication network, which evolved from the second generation (2G) Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). The UMTS terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) is essentially a RAN using wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) and/or High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) for communication with user equipments. In a forum known as the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), telecommunications suppliers propose and agree upon standards for present and future generation networks and UTRAN specifically, and investigate enhanced data rate and radio capacity. In some RANs, e.g. as in UMTS, several access nodes may be connected, e.g., by landlines or microwave, to a controller node, such as a radio network controller (RNC) or a base station controller (BSC), which supervises and coordinates various activities of the plural access nodes connected thereto. The RNCs are typically connected to one or more core networks.
Specifications for the Evolved Packet System (EPS) have been completed within the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and this work continues in the coming 3GPP releases, such as 4G and 5G networks. The EPS comprises the Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN), also known as the Long-Term Evolution (LTE) radio access network, and the Evolved Packet Core (EPC), also known as System Architecture Evolution (SAE) core network. E-UTRAN/LTE is a 3GPP radio access technology wherein the access nodes are directly connected to the EPC core network. As such, the Radio Access Network (RAN) of an EPS has an essentially "flat" architecture comprising access nodes connected directly to one or more core networks.
With the emerging 5G technologies, the use of very many transmit- and receive-antenna elements is of great interest as it makes it possible to utilize beamforming, such as transmit-side and receive-side beamforming. Transmit-side beamforming means that a transmitter can amplify the transmitted signals in a selected direction or directions, while suppressing the transmitted signals in other directions. Similarly, on the receive-side, a receiver can amplify signals from a selected direction or directions, while suppressing unwanted signals from other directions.
Beamforming allows the signal to be stronger for an individual connection. On the transmit-side this may be achieved by a concentration of the transmitted power in the desired direction(s), and on the receive-side this may be achieved by an increased receiver sensitivity in the desired direction(s). This beamforming enhances throughput and coverage of the connection. It also allows reducing the interference from unwanted signals, thereby enabling several simultaneous transmissions over multiple individual connections using the same resources in the time-frequency grid, so-called multi-user Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO).
Overall requirements for the Next Generation (NG) architecture e.g. TR 23.799 v.0.5.0, and, more specifically the NG Access Technology, e.g. TR 38.913 v.0.3.0 will impact the design of the Active Mode Mobility solutions for the New Radio Access Technology (NR), see RP-160671 New SID Proposal: Study on New Radio Access Technology, DoCoMo, compared to the current mobility solution in LTE. Some of these requirements are the need to support network energy efficiency mechanisms, future-proof-ness and the need to support a very wide range of frequencies e.g. up to 100 GHz.
One of the main differences, with respect to LTE, comes from the fact that propagation in frequencies above the ones allocated to LTE is more challenging so that the massive usage of beamforming becomes an essential component of NR. Despite the link budget gains provided by beamforming solutions, reliability of a system purely relying on beamforming and operating in higher frequencies might be challenging, since the coverage might be more sensitive to both time and space variations. As a consequence of that a Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio (SINR) of a narrow link can drop much quicker than in the case of LTE, see R2-162762, Active Mode Mobility in NR: SINR drops in higher frequencies, Ericsson.
To support Transmit (Tx)-side beamforming at a radio network node, a number of reference signals (RS) may be transmitted from the radio network node, whereby the wireless device can measure signal strength or quality of these reference signals and report the measurement results to the radio network node. The radio network node may then use these measurements to decide which beam(s) to use for the one or more wireless devices.
A combination of periodic and scheduled reference signals may be used for this purpose.
The periodic reference signals, typically called beam reference signals (BRS) or Mobility Reference Signals (MRS), are transmitted repeatedly, in time, in a large number of different directions using as many Tx-beams as deemed necessary to cover a service area of the radio network node. As the naming indicates, each BRS represents a unique Tx-beam from that radio network node. This allows a wireless device to measure the BRS when transmitted in different beams, without any special arrangement for that wireless device from the radio network node perspective. The wireless device reports e.g. the received powers for different BRSs, or equivalently different Tx-beams, back to the radio network node.
The scheduled reference signals, called channel-state information reference signals (CSI-RS), are transmitted only when needed for a particular connection. The decision when and how to transmit the CSI-RS is made by the radio network node and the decision is signalled to the involved wireless devices using a so-called measurement grant. When the wireless device receives a measurement grant it measures on a corresponding CSI-RS. The radio network node may choose to transmit CSI-RSs to a wireless device only using beam(s) that are known to be strong for that wireless device, to allow the wireless device to report more detailed information about those beams. Alternatively, the radio network node may choose to transmit CSI-RSs also using beam(s) that are not known to be strong for that wireless device, for instance to enable fast detection of new beam(s) in case the wireless device is moving.
The radio network nodes of e.g. an NR network transmit other reference signals as well. For instance, the radio network nodes may transmit so-called demodulation reference signals (DMRS) when transmitting control information or data to a wireless device. Such transmissions are typically made using beam(s) that are known to be strong for that wireless device.
Beamforming introduces a possibility to enhance the signal towards a specific location. This enables better signal to noise ratio towards a specific wireless device.
A specific beamforming towards a specific wireless device is handled per Transmission Time Interval (TTI) where a number of factors and measurements are used to determine how the beamforming should look like. With an increasing number of antenna elements, the number of possible beams that theoretically can be created increases a lot.
One key design principle currently under consideration for 5G is to base it on an ultra-lean design. This implies that "always on signals" should be avoided from the network as much as possible. The expected benefit from this design principle is expected to be significantly lower network energy consumption, better scalability, higher degree of forward compatibility during the RAT evolution phase, lower interference from system overhead signals and consequently higher throughput in low load scenario, and improved support for user centric beam-forming.
Advanced antenna systems (AAS) is an area where technology has advanced significantly in recent years and where a rapid technology development is foreseen in the years to come. Hence it is natural to assume that advanced antenna systems in general and massive MIMO transmission and reception in particular will be a cornerstone in a future 5G system.
Beam-formed control information, e.g. enhanced Physical Downlink Control Channel (ePDCCH). Beam-forming becomes increasingly popular and capable and therefore it is natural to use it not only for transmission of data but also for transmission of control information. This is one motivation behind the (relatively) new control channel in LTE known as ePDCCH. When the control channel is beam-formed the cost of transmitting the overhead control information can be reduced due to the increased link budget provided by the additional antenna gain. This is a good property that may be utilized also for 5G, perhaps to an even larger degree than what is possible in the current LTE standard.
Radio network nodes may rely on relations or neighbour relationships, either between radio network nodes or between different sectors, controlled by the same or different radio network nodes, or a combination. The neighbour relationships can be only in one direction or mutual. Mechanisms to establish neighbour relationships vary in different wireless communication networks.
The neighbour relationships are illustrated by FIG. 1, where a radio network node can have an isolated or distributed architecture and logical functions are mapped to the architecture. A resource control function (RCF) maintains higher layer aspects of radio connections, while lower layer aspects are handled by a baseband processing function (BPF). FIG. 1 illustrates without loss of generality two RCFs, RCF1, controlling (7) BPF11 and (2) BPF12, and RCF2, controlling (3) BPF21. A BPF can serve one or more transceivers
Network node neighbour relationships comprises:                Relationships between RCFs denoted 5 in FIG. 1        Relationships between BPFs denoted 4 in FIG. 1        Relationships between transceivers denoted 6 in FIG. 1
Beams are associated to reference signals, which here are referred to as mobility reference signals, and denoted MRSijk with i relating to the controlled RCF, j relating to the controlling BPF and k a local enumerable of beams within the BPF. This is just an example of labelling. Beams can reach the wireless device directly, e.g. MRS111, or after one or more reflections, e.g. MRS112.
Neighbour Relationships between beams can be between beams controlled by                the same BPF, like MRS111 and MRS112        different BPFs, but the same RCF, like MRS111 and MRS121        different BPFs and RCFs, like MRS111 and MRS211
A robustness of a radio connection, also referred to as connection or a signal connection, depends on the radio resource management situation associated with the serving radio network node or nodes, as well as the radio conditions associated to alternative radio network nodes. Such radio network nodes may be alternative candidates to serve the wireless device, but may also induce interference to hamper the radio connection. The mechanisms to ensure the robustness of the radio connection depend on the means to interact with the wireless device such as the frequency of radio condition status information, and the frequency of resource control command opportunities. Moreover, such procedures may rely on neighbour relationships, and suffer from absence of neighbour relationships.
When the radio connection robustness fails, it may be due to the absence of a neighbour relationship and that existing mechanisms to establish such a neighbour relationship have failed, which is a problem with existing solutions resulting in a reduced or limited performance of the wireless communication network.

Radio network node, network node, wireless device, and methods performed therein for communicating in a wireless communication network


A remote control, including: a body with a front, a top, and a side; a touch screen disposed on the front; and an operating lever disposed on the front. The front includes an upper edge and a side edge intersecting with the upper edge. The upper edge intersects with the top, and the side edge intersects with the side. The operating lever is located near the upper edge and the side edge.

A user may control an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or obtain images by operating a remote control. The obtained images or flight parameters of the UAV may be displayed on the displaying screen of the remote control. Oftentimes, since the location of the control device relative to the displaying screen is not reasonably set, the user needs to move one hand from the remote control or change the holding posture, which is inconvenient to operate and low in comfort.


A sheet-fed printing machine made up of units in an in-line construction includes a sheet-feeding unit disposed between a sheet separating unit and a sheet processing unit following the sheet separating unit. The sheet feeding unit is formed so that it is selectively pre-arrangeable upline from various types of sheet processing units for creating various types of sheet-fed printing machines of a building block system.

The invention relates to a sheet-fed printing machine or press, composed of units in an in-line construction.
Such printing machines are made up of individual offset printing units, flexographic printing units (varnishing or coating units) and finishing units (perforating, stamping, embossing units or the like); the aforementioned sheet processing units are disposed in an order that suits the customer-specific requirements.
In one case, for example, it may be necessary for the flexographic printing unit to precede the offset printing units, while in another case the flexographic printing unit is downline of the offset printing units (note the published European Patent Document EP 0 620 115 B1, FIGS. 1 and 2). The number of offset printing units and the number of flexographic printing units can also differ from one printing machine to another.
In the interest of rationalizing the manufacture of printing machines, printing machine manufacturers have created a building block or modular system for every model series of printing machine in question; such a system includes the various sheet processing units and other assemblies (such as an inverter, a sheet delivery, and so forth) of that particular model series. However, within one building block system, there are structural differences between the so-called feeder printing unit on the one hand and the printing units located in the second, third, fourth position and so forth.
The special feature of a feeder printing unit is, in fact, that it includes a sheet feeder system, which can, for example, include a pre-gripper and a feed drum (note the published German Patent Document DE 30 08 226 C2), and that it is embodied in a special manner in the interest of integrating the sheet feeder system. The structural consideration as to whether a sheet processing unit is disposed first, in terms of the sheet transport direction, or in the first position that follows the sheet separating unit, results in increased production costs.
It has also not been possible to solve this problem with the sheet-fed printing presses described in the published German Patent Documents DE 42 30 568 A1, DE 44 35 307 A1, and DE 296 23 064 U1 (the latter for a German utility model).
In the published German Patent Document DE 43 43 616 A1, a modular printing press system is described which includes printing presses which process sheets of paper, and printing presses which process sheets of cardboard; these printing presses are assembled from prefabricated structural groups in accordance with the needs of the customer. The manufacturer selectively equips the printing presses with a standard feeder and with a standard feed assembly, the latter including a feed drum and a pre-gripper, so as to make it possible to process the sheets of paper. By an exchange of assemblies, wherein, instead of the standard feeder, a tall stack or pile feeder, and instead of the standard feed assembly, a tall-version feed assembly are used, the printing press can be selectively equipped, without further modifications or adaptations in the production process, to process the sheets of cardboard as well. The last German patent document identified hereinabove accordingly teaches that for every type of printing press within a building block system, a different, special feed assembly must be used. It is true that in this way a customer-specific and yet rapid outfitting of the printing press or printing machine is possible, but the production costs cannot be lowered sufficiently in this way.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a sheet-fed printing machine by the structural features of which the manufacture of the printing machine can be rationalized further.
With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a sheet-fed printing machine made up of units in an in-line construction, comprising a sheet-feeding unit disposed between a sheet separating unit and a sheet processing unit following the sheet separating unit, the sheet feeding unit being formed so that it is selectively pre-arrangeable upline from various types of sheet processing units for creating various types of sheet-fed printing machines of a building block system.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the sheet processing unit is a printing unit.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the sheet-fed printing machine includes at least another sheet processing unit following the sheet separating unit, the sheet-feeding unit being disposed between the sheet separating unit and a first one of the sheet processing units.
In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the sheet feeding unit includes at least one lay mark.
In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the sheet feeding unit includes a pre-gripper.
In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, the sheet feeding unit includes a feed drum.
In accordance with yet a further feature of the invention, the sheet feeding unit includes a sheet transport drum.
In accordance with yet an added feature of the invention, the sheet transport drum is of multiple size.
In accordance with yet an additional feature of the invention, the printing unit is a flexographic printing unit.
In accordance with still another feature of the invention, the printing unit includes a zoneless metering device.
In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, the metering device includes a screen roller and a chambered doctor blade.
In a building block system including such printing machines as are produced in accordance with the invention, an advantage is attained in that the sheet processing unit, when disposed in a first position downline can be embodied structurally exactly the same as when disposed at the second, third, fourth or later positions. By reducing the number of modified forms of the sheet processing units within the building block system, greater rationalization of production is achieved, and production costs are consequently reduced.
Increased modularity of the building block system is also attained as a result of the fact that advantageously one and the same sheet feeding unit can be disposed preceding various kinds of sheet processing units, as needed. For example, the sheet feeding unit in one printing machine can immediately precede an offset printing unit, while in another printing machine it can immediately precede a flexographic printing unit. At least one offset printing unit can be disposed following the offset or flexographic printing unit that is immediately preceded by the sheet feeding unit.
The sheet separating or singling unit serves to single out or separate the sheets of printing material from a pile of sheets, and thereafter transports the sheets, separated from the sheet pile, to the sheet feeding unit either as single sheets or in a stream arrangement.
The function of the sheet feeding unit is to take over the sheets, which arrive from the sheet separating unit, and transfer these sheets in-register to the sheet processing unit. The sheet feeding unit is thus required to have only one sheet transporting device and/or one sheet aligning device. The sheet feeding unit does not have to include a device for processing the sheets, such as a printing device.
Hereinafter described and in various respects advantageous improvements in the sheet-fed printing machine according to the invention are possible.
The sheet aligning device of the sheet feeding unit can be formed of a front lay mark and/or a side lay mark. The sheet transport device of the sheet feeding unit can be formed of an oscillating pre-gripper and/or a revolving feed drum.
In addition to the pre-gripper and/or the feed drum, a sheet transport drum can be rotatably mounted in the sheet feeding unit; the transport drum is disposed between the sheet aligning device and a cylinder of the sheet processing unit.
The circumference of the sheet transport drum can be twice as large, or more than twice as large, as the sheet format length.
In one possible embodiment of the sheet processing unit as a finishing unit, this unit can include a cutting tool for severing the sheet, such as a perforating tool, for example; or a deforming tool for deforming the sheet, such as an embossing tool, for example; or a cleaning tool for cleaning the sheet, such as a dust removing brush, for example.
The sheet processing unit can, however, also be embodied as an offset press unit, a letterpress unit, or a flexographic printing unit. The latter can, for example, precede a plurality of offset printing units of the sheet-fed printing press and can serve the purpose of coating the sheet over the full surface thereof or selected areas thereof with an opaque or zinc white, a metallic-effect ink, a varnish, or the like.
With such use of the printing unit as a coating unit, this printing unit can be equipped with a zoneless metering device for metering the ink or varnish uniformly over the printing width. For example, the metering device can be formed of an immersion or dip roller disposed in a tub of ink or varnish, and a metering roller in contact with the dip roller; together, these rollers define a metering gap that is adjustable with respect to what can pass therethrough.
The metering device is preferably formed of a screen or anilox roller, however, against which a chambered doctor blade lies.
The sheet-fed printing machine can be embodied as an offset rotary printing machine, a flexographic rotary printing machine, or a so-called hybrid printing machine. A hybrid printing machine is distinguished in that it has at least two printing units which print in accordance with mutually different printing principles (such as an offset printing unit and a flexographic printing unit, for example).
Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a sheet-fed printing machine, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a sheet-fed printing machine, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.


A photographing device is arranged to communicate with a server via a network. In the photographing device, an information uploading unit transmits a user identifier and image data to the server. An image information storing unit receives a data identifier from the server, associates the image data with the data identifier, and stores the image data in a non-volatile memory or a removable non-volatile memory of the photographing device. A URL information generating unit generates URL information of a web page containing the data identifier and requesting the server to manipulate management information of the image data. An encoding unit encodes the URL information into a bar code. A display unit displays an image of the bar code on a display.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure generally relates to an album system in which a server stores image data from a photographing device, and more particularly to a photographing device which enables a user on the photographing device to deal with image data stored in a server in an album system.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is known a photographic image management method which allows an administrator to manage photographic images, captured by a digital still camera or a digital video camera (which will be referred to as a digital camera) and stored in a PC (personal computer), and to upload his own captured photographic images to a homepage for publishing the photographic images. By using such a method, the administrator may also be allowed to utilize an online album service provided on the Internet gratuitously or onerously, in order to show the stored photographic images to his friends at a remote place where he visits, or to use them for documentation.
Generally, when an administrator uploads a photographic image to an online album service, a digital camera is connected to a PC and the photographic image is copied to the PC, or a memory card is attached to the PC and then the photographic image is uploaded to the online album service via the PC.
However, in order to upload a photographic image to the online album service, it is necessary for the administrator to copy the photographic image from the digital camera to the PC. This may become a complicated task. Hence, an imaging device adapted for reducing the burden of the copying operation is proposed. For example, see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2009-020862.
In the imaging device disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2009-020862, the administrator manipulates the PC to display an image containing a two-dimensional bar code indicating a URL of an upload address on a web page of the online album service. The image of the URL is captured by using the digital camera and the captured image of the bar code is decoded to identify the URL. Thereby, the administrator is allowed to transmit a photographic image to the online album service in the network at the address specified by the URL. It is no longer necessary to copy the photographic image from the digital camera to the PC.
However, in the imaging device disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2009-020862, the administrator has to operate the PC, different from the digital camera, in order to access the web site of the online album service and display the image of the two-dimensional bar code of the URL on the PC in advance. There is a problem in that the administrator's burden within the uploading operation is not adequately reduced.
In the meantime, in order to raise the convenience of the digital camera, an improved digital camera or memory card which incorporates a wireless communication function has been marketed. This digital camera can be connected from a wireless LAN network, such as Wi-Fi, to a WWW network, and can upload a photographic image directly from the digital camera to the online album service the URL of which is stored beforehand in the digital camera or memory card.
One of the marketed memory cards having the wireless communication function is provided with a Wi-Fi communication function. When the memory card is in a state in which the Wi-Fi connection is activated, the memory card automatically uploads a photographic image to the predetermined online album service. Therefore, the administrator can easily upload a photographic image to the online album service via a public wireless LAN without using the PC.
However, the uploading function according to the related art can provide only the minimum capability for the administrator, such as a capability to enable the administrator to select the data to be uploaded. The uploading function according to the related art does not provide sufficient capabilities for the administrator. For example, in a case in which the administrator desires to edit management information, such as a title of a photographic image, the administrator cannot edit the management information by using the uploading function according to the related art.

Album system, photographing device, and server


A system for peer-to-portal broadcasting, including a portal web server serving a portal web page that includes source code received from and generated by a broadcast server, to a web browser, in response to a request received from the web browser, a broadcast server, including a source code generator for generating the source code that is included in the portal web page, in response to a request received from the portal web server, a web client computer for requesting the portal web page from the portal web server and for executing the source code included in the portal web page, and a publisher computer that enables a publisher to broadcast media files from the publisher computer to the web client computer via the broadcast server, in response to the web client computer executing the source code included in the portal web page.

Traditionally, two architectures have been introduced to enable publishing or broadcasting video content, referred to as "video clips", over the worldwide web; namely, a server-based architecture and a peer-to-peer architecture.
The server-based architecture requires that a creator of a video clip, referred to as a "content owner", upload his video clip to an Internet server. The Internet server maintains a directory of content and allows users to view the content and download or stream the content. The disadvantages of this approach are: (1) it is time-consuming to upload large video files; and (2) the content owner must maintain his content on his own computer system and also on the Internet server, which is cumbersome. To speed up the upload process, the content owner generally reduces the size and quality of the video clips that are broadcast. Video normally seen in full-screen size when played locally from the owner's hard drive, becomes confined to small windows, one-fifth the size of the original, when streamed from a remote server over the Internet.
The peer-to-peer (P2P) computing architecture, which relies less upon dedicated servers, provides an alternative approach. Peer-to-peer computing involves sharing of computer resources and services through direct communication between peer computer systems. Conventional P2P computing enables peer computers to exchange files and to communicate directly between one another. As such, a peer computer may act as a client device or a server device, depending on the computing process and the needs of the network of peer computers.
The peer-to-peer architecture was initially introduced to enable interactive, person-to-person communication on the Internet. Early Internet Relay Chat (IRC) systems enabled people all over the world to participate in real-time text-based conversations. Using an IRC client, a user can exchange text messages interactively with other users. When logged into a chat session, a user "converses" by typing messages that are instantly sent to other chat participants. In recent years, instant messaging (IM) systems, such as AOL's Instant Messenger, Microsoft's MSN Instant Messenger and Yahoo!'s Pager have added the capability to transmit files, including video, sound and image rich media files, between peer computers. However, transmitting rich media files using IRC or IM systems has the disadvantage that the entire media file must be transmitted, which is cumbersome for the content owner, and the disadvantage that the content owner loses control over his media.
Some recent popular forms of P2P computing include the file-sharing services provided by Napster, Gnutella, Freenet and Groove. These file-sharing services allow peer computers to identify and share data files with other peer computers over the Internet. Napster, for example, utilizes a centralized directory service that is provided on one or more dedicated server computers connected to the Internet. To search for and discover a file, such as an MP3 song, to download from another peer computer, a Napster client queries the dedicated server computers and central directory therein, which responds with a list of other Napster configured peer computers that have the requested file. The requesting Napster client then connects directly with one of the identified other peer computers, to access and download the requested file. The other peer computer acts as a server to support the downloading process. A disadvantage of this approach is that the Napster server may not have up-to-date information about the Napster clients, and thus some content may be unavailable or out-of-date. Another disadvantage is that the central directory may indicate that certain content is available from a peer, but that peer may not be online and so a requesting peer would not be able to make a connection.
Unlike Napster, Gnutella does not rely on a centralized directory service, and thus does not require dedicated server devices. Instead, files are discovered by having peer computers directly communicate, and pass queries from peer computers to other neighboring peer computers. Upon receiving a query, a Gnutella peer computer may, for example, decide to do nothing, respond back to the requesting peer computer, such as by notifying the requester that the requested file has been found, or forward the query on to one or more other peer computers, thus widening the search for a given file. If the requested file is available for access and downloading from at least one of the other peer computers, then the requesting Gnutella peer computer, acting as a client device, connects to that peer computer and begins accessing and downloading the requested file. Here, again, the other peer computer acts as a server during the accessing or downloading process.
A general disadvantage of peer-to-peer file sharing is that if a client receives several requests simultaneously, then these requests compete for the relatively limited resources of bandwidth and disk access. Therefore, either the system degrades with each additional simultaneous requester, or the receiving client must refuse service to additional requestors. By contrast, with server-based approaches the provider of the service can add additional servers and load balance among them, and they can store multiple copies and cache often-requested media.
Disadvantageously, most P2P file-sharing services require a user to download an entire file. Although the downloading of a file gives a user certain advantages, the transfer of the file and subsequent viewing and/or listening can be undesirable from the perspective of a content owner. The relative ease with which a copy of a file can be obtained can lead to copyright violation. Further, the transfer of files can be in non-real time, which permits a user to transfer a substantial quantity of data from other users in a short period of time. This can undesirably occupy a large amount of network bandwidth for both the user who is copying the files and the users who are providing the files.
Music and video streaming was introduced to eliminate the disadvantages associated with downloading or uploading rich media files. Streaming enables a user to view a video clip as it is being received on their computer, without having to wait for the video file to be received in its entirety before playback can begin, and without saving a copy of the video file.
Thus, it would be of advantage to have a service that streams music and video, does not require that a content owner upload his media files to a server, provides up-to-date information about available media clips, caches often-requested media files on a server computer, and does not require special media playing software to view streamed videos, music and images.


An exhaust component includes a housing defining an internal cavity, at least one exhaust aftertreatment component positioned within the internal cavity, and a heat exchanger. The housing has an inlet configured to receive engine exhaust gases and an outlet configured to direct the engine exhaust gasses into a tailpipe. A reductant source is associated with the housing and produces ammonia to mix with engine exhaust gases entering the exhaust aftertreatment component. The heat exchanger is positioned within the internal cavity to reduce a temperature of the engine exhaust gases exiting the outlet.

A thermal system is used to elevate the temperature of exhaust gas to activate a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst in a vehicle exhaust system. The SCR catalyst reduces levels of NOx using ammonia as a reductant. The reducing agent, such as diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) for example, reacts with NOx to convert pollutants into nitrogen and water. The catalyst is arranged in a housing having an outlet to a tailpipe. The tailpipe is subject to a temperature limit to avoid overheating the ground/road. When there are tight packaging constraints it is challenging to effectively control a tailpipe outlet temperature from the housing. It is therefore desirable to provide a thermal management system that can control outlet temperatures.

Exhaust aftertreatment component with heat exchanger

Faurecia Emissions Control Technologies, USA, LLC


When a polishing pad is attached to a polishing table, the polishing pad can be easily positioned on and attached to the polishing table and air pockets are prevented from forming. As a position guide member 130 is inserted into a guide hole 109 with an attachment surface of a polishing pad 108 downward, the polishing pad 108 is positioned on and attached to a polishing table 110. At this time, the guide hole 109 of the polishing pad 108 is guided by the position guide member 130 and the polishing pad 108 is easily positioned so as to match the upper surface of the polishing table 110 with the outer periphery thereof. Then, as release paper is gradually peeled off from a rear surface of the polishing pad 108, the portion where the release paper is peeled off is attached to the polishing table 110.

In recent years, a polishing apparatus has been used to polish a surface of a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer. The polishing apparatus is configured to include: a polishing table onto which a polishing pad for polishing a substrate is positioned and attached; a motor rotating the polishing table; a top ring holding and pressing the substrate against the polishing pad; and the like.
When such a polishing apparatus polishes a large number of substrates, the polishing surface of a polishing pad is worn, and thus the polishing pad is replaced at regular intervals. The polishing pad is a consumable material having a high replacement frequency for the polishing apparatus, thus requiring high working efficiency for replacing polishing pads.
The polishing pad is replaced, for example, by hand of a worker. The polishing pad is commonly formed into the same shape as that of an attachment surface of the polishing table. Here positioning and attaching the polishing pad onto the polishing table in a state of being shifted with respect to the attachment surface of the polishing table may cause adverse effects on polishing performance. Therefore, the polishing pad is required to be positioned on and attached to the polishing table so as to match the attachment surface with the outer periphery. However, this work is visually carried out by workers, thereby causing a problem of increasing attachment time and reducing attachment productivity for inexperienced workers.
In light of this, there is known a polishing pad fixing mechanism for fixing a polishing pad to a platen (polishing table) in an easy manner and with a high accuracy, wherein the polishing pad is attached onto a support base having a guide ring for positioning the polishing pad, and the support base is fixed to the platen (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-259814).
By the way, in the polishing pad attachment process, air may enter between a front surface of the polishing table and a rear surface of the polishing pad, forming air pockets. Thereby, an air trapped portion of the polishing pad slightly rises with respect to the polishing table. The projected portion of the polishing pad may affect the substrate polishing process. Therefore, when air pockets are formed between the polishing pad and the polishing table, the polishing pad needs to be removed from the polishing table and discarded, and then a new polishing pad needs to be attached to the polishing table again. In light of this, in order to prevent air pockets from forming, the polishing pad is attached to the polishing table by pressing the polishing pad against the polishing table starting with one peripheral portion thereof, then gradually moving toward a central portion thereof, to extrude air pockets therefrom.
However, it is difficult to completely extrude air pockets before attaching the polishing pad to the polishing table. Note that a currently available wafer has a maximum diameter of 300 mm. It the wafer diameter increases in the future, the size of the polishing pad may increase accordingly. Such an increase in size of the polishing pad may make it more difficult for even experienced workers to attach the polishing pad to the polishing table without forming air pockets.

Polishing apparatus, polishing pad positioning method, and polishing pad


A sensor for sensing pressure is disclosed. The sensor may be a pressure sensor for sensing pressure, or a tactile sensor for sensing tactile events through pressure measurement. In one aspect, the sensor includes at least one pressure sensor having at least one VCSEL on a substrate. It further includes a compressible sensor layer covering a top surface of the at least one VCSEL, and a reflecting element covering a top surface of the sensor layer. A method of manufacturing such a sensor is also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The disclosed technology relates to optical sensors, more in particular to optical tactile sensors integrated in a flexible and/or stretchable foil.
2. Description of the Related Technology
Multiple research centers are developing miniaturized sensor elements that can be distributed over an area to measure physical properties such as pressure, temperature or the proximity of objects. Such miniaturized sensor elements can be fabricated based on microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology. Most MEMS devices are built on rigid substrates such as silicon wafers or glass wafers. However, it can be advantageous to provide such sensors on flexible substrates, because this may allow mounting the sensors on non-planar surfaces or even on flexible objects such as a human body. A possible way for providing sensors on flexible substrates comprises flip-chip mounting of a rigid substrate comprising sensors onto a flexible carrier and subsequently selectively etching the rigid substrate for forming distinct rigid islands. A disadvantage of this approach is that it relies on standard IC fabrication technologies, such that it is difficult to create large area sensors at low cost.
Elastomer tactile sensitive foils have been developed based on piezo-resistive, piezoelectric and capacitive force sensing technologies. However, most of these structures suffer from various limitations such as low spatial resolution, small resolution or expensive manufacturing processes.
To circumvent limitations related to electrical connectivity, replacement of electrical sensors by optical sensors clearly offers a solution. Optical technologies have the additional advantage that they are insensitive to electromagnetic interference and that they can be used in harsh environments.
The most common tactile sensors available today are static and passive. They can be used to provide only a static perception of an object shape. Less common are dynamic and active sensors. Such sensors can be used in conjunction with relative motion between a sensor and a contact body to provide a dynamic perception of high frequency elements such as e.g. a surface texture.
In U.S. Pat. No. 7,355,720 a dynamic and active optical displacement sensor is described that can e.g. be used as a vibration sensor or as a pressure sensor. The sensor utilizes optical feedback into a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) from an external optical cavity formed by a moveable membrane and an output mirror of the VCSEL. This results in the optical cavity of the VCSEL being coupled to the external optical cavity. As a result, any movement of the membrane in response to sound, vibration, acceleration, pressure, etc. produces a change in the lasing characteristics of the VCSEL, and in particular a change in the intensity of a beam of lasing light produced by the VCSEL (self-mixing interference). This change in intensity is sensed by a photodetector. The fabrication process for the sensors described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,355,720 is relatively complex. The sensors comprise a membrane that is suspended on a rigid substrate. The VCSEL is mounted on another (rigid) substrate that is to be bonded to the substrate comprising the membrane. A good alignment between the photodetector and the VCSEL is needed. The need for suspending the membrane requires a rigid structure (e.g. substrate, spacer) surrounding the sensing element. When forming a sensor array, such rigid structure may limit the sensor density and thus the spatial resolution that can be realized.


Mammalian somatic cells having a homozygous disruption in the gene which encodes the endonbonuclease RNase L and a homyzgous disruption in the gene which encodes the double-stranded RNA dependent kinase PKR are provided. Methods for producing enhanced levels of recombinant proteins in mammalian cell systems are also provided. In one aspect the method employs cells having a homozygous disruption in the RNase L gene and a homozygous disruption in the PKR gene and comprises transfecting the cells with a nucleic acid, or polynucleotide, encoding a desired, exogenous protein; expressing the exogenous protein in the cell; and isolating the exogenous protein from the transfected cells. In another aspect the method employs RNase L null cells transfected with a nucleic acid encoding a desired, exogenous protein. In another aspect the methods employ mutant cells hating a homozygous disruption in the PKR gene, i.e. PKR null cells.

Protein therapeutic agents are among the most important human and animal health products to have emerged from the biotechnology revolution of the 1980""s and 1990""s. These protein therapeutic agents include interferons, growth factors such as colony stimulating factor and erythropoietin, and monoclonal antibodies.
Many protein therapeutics are produced by a process which involves introducing a nucleic acid which encodes the desired exogenous protein into a living cell, expressing the exogenous protein in the cell, and then recovering the protein, referred to hereinafter as the xe2x80x9crecombinant proteinxe2x80x9d from the system. Although a number of different cell types, including bacteria, yeast, insect cells, and plant cells can be used in this process, there are several advantages to using mammalian cells.
The major advantage to using mammalian cells to produce recombinant proteins is that processing of the proteins is normal. In other words, the proteins which are expressed in mammalian cells typically are glycosylated, phosphorylated and have the signal peptides removed therefrom. As a result, the recombinant protein is more similar to the naturally-occurring protein and, thus, more likely to be biologically active and non-antigenic. In addition, the toxic products that are typically produced in bacteria, yeast, insect cells and plant cells are avoided. Moreover, purification of the recombinant protein is often easier since the processed protein is secreted into the culture medium by mammalian cells. Accordingly, agents such as interferon beta, which is used in treatment of multiple sclerosis, currently are produced in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)cells.
Unfortunately, high levels of the exogenous protein are not normally produced when mammalian cells are used in the recombinant process. Accordingly, it is desirable to have new methods for enhancing the expression of exogenous proteins in mammalian cells. Immortalized mutant mammalian cell lines which are capable of producing greater amounts of recombinant, exogenous proteins than their corresponding non-mutant mammalian cell lines are also desirable.
The present invention provides immortalized mutant cell lines that are capable of producing enhanced levels of exogenous, recombinant proteins. The mutant cell lines comprise mammalian somatic cells having a homozygous disruption in the gene which encodes the endoribonuclease known as RNase L and a homygous disruption in the gene which encodes the double-stranded RNA dependent kinase known as PKR. As used herein a xe2x80x9cdisruptionxe2x80x9d is a deletion of all or a portion of the RNase L gene or the PKR gene, an addition of one or more nucleotides to the RNase L gene or the PKR gene, a substitution of one or more of the nucleotides in the RNase L gene or the PKR gene, or any combination thereof. Preferably, the disruptions are in a coding exon of the RNase L and PKR genes. As a result of the homozygous disruptions, the mutant cell line, referred to hereinafter as the xe2x80x9cdouble knock-outxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cDKOxe2x80x9d cell line lacks biologically active forms of both the RNase L enzyme and the PKR enzyme.
The present invention also provides methods for producing enhanced levels of recombinant proteins, or polypeptides, in mammalian cell systems. In one aspect the method employs cells of the DKO cell line and comprises transfecting the DKO cells with a nucleic acid, or polynucleotide, encoding a desired, exogenous protein, or polypeptide; expressing the exogenous protein in the cell; and isolating the exogenous protein from the system, i.e., from the transfected cells, the culture medium of the transfected cells, or both. Preferably, the DKO cells are also transfected with, i.e., co-transfected with, a nucleic acid encoding the PKR inhibitor, adenovirus VAI RNA.
In another aspect the method employs mutant cells having a homozyous disruption in the RNase L gene alone, referred to hereinafter as xe2x80x9cRNase L nullxe2x80x9d cells. RNase L null cells lack functional RNase L enzyme. The RNase L null cells are transfected with a nucleic acid encoding a desired, exogenous protein. Then the exogenous protein is expressed in the cell and isolated from the system. Preferably, the RNase L cells are co-transfected with a nucleic acid encoding adenovirus VAI RNA, or a nucleic acid encoding a dominant negative PKR, or a combination thereof. The subsequent steps involve expressing the nucleic acids that have been transfected into the RNase L null cells and isolating or purifying the exogenous protein from the system.
In another aspect the methods employ mutant cells having a homozygous disruption in the PKR gene, hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9cPKR nullxe2x80x9d cells. PKR null cells lack a functional PKR enzyme. In one embodiment, the method comprises co-transfecting the PKR null cells with a nucleic acid encoding adenovirus VAI RNA and with a nucleic acid encoding a desired, exogenous protein, expressing the exogenous protein in the cell, and isolating the exogenous protein from the system. In another embodiment, the method comprises co-transfecting the PKR null cells with a nucleic acid encoding a dominant negative RNase L and with a nucleic acid encoding a desired, exogenous protein; expressing the dominant negative RNase L and the desired, exogenous protein in the cell; and isolating the exogenous protein from the system. Preferably, the PKR null cells are transfected with a nucleic acid encoding adenovirus VAI RNA and a nucleic acid encoding a dominant negative RNase L, as well as with the nucleic acid encoding the exogenous protein.
In another aspect, the method comprises cotransfecting mammalian cells with a nucleic acid encoding the desired exogenous protein and a nucleic acid encoding a dominant negative RNase L or a dominant negative PKR. Preferably, the mammalian cells are cotransfected with both a nucleic acid encoding a dominant negative PKR and a nucleic acid encoding a dominant negative RNase L. More preferably, the mammalian cells are also transfected with a nucleic acid encoding adenovirus VAI RNA. The subsequent steps involve expressing the nucleic acids that have been transfected into the RNase L null cells and isolating the exogenous protein from the system.
The present invention also relates to methods of making the double knock-out cell line.

Mutant cell lines and methods for producing enhanced levels of recombinant proteins


One or more servers and hospital beds are connected to a healthcare network. At least one of the servers includes an event notification module that operates to receive patient EMR information and patient bed configuration information. The patient EMR information is comprised of a patient fall risk profile. At least one of the patient beds includes sensors that transmit messages which include information about the current bed configuration state to the event notification module. The event notification module uses information included in the patient fall risk profile and current bed configuration information to determine whether a patient is at risk of fall out of their bed, and if the patient is at risk, generates an alert message that is sent to a call station or hospital worker.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates generally to healthcare systems for capturing and maintaining patient healthcare records and employing information in the records to proactively alert hospital workers to a condition that places patient health at risk.
2. Background
A healthcare provider, such as a hospital, typically admits and treats some number of patients on a daily basis. Upon admission to the hospital, a healthcare worker can create a record that includes medical and/or personal information associated with each patient. Depending upon the size of the hospital, the healthcare provider can create and maintain a very large number of these medical records, and such records are typically created and then stored as an electronic medical record (EMR) in a healthcare system. Depending upon the size of the hospital, the healthcare system can operate in a single computational device, such as a personal computer or other device, or the healthcare system can be distributed in a plurality of computational devices that are connected to over a network (healthcare system network or simply the Network) to one or more servers which operate to, among other things, capture and store the electronic medical records. In addition to including patient medical information, an EMR can also include the identity and location (hospital room) of a hospital bed to which a patient is assigned. Hospital beds are available that include physical and physiological sensors which are connected over the Network to the Healthcare System. Information (telemetry) collected by the sensors can be processed at the bed by a controller or can be transmitted to the Hospital System for processing and storage in an EMR associated with the patient currently occupying the bed.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing functionality included in a hospital healthcare system 10 that allows it to receive and store information from both healthcare workers and hospital beds. A server 11 is shown connected over one or more links to the healthcare system 10 network. The server 11 generally operates to capture and maintain a store 12 of patient EMRs, and it has a bed telemetry processing function 14 that operates to capture and process information received from hospital beds connected to the network. The sever 11 also has an event notification module 13 that can access information in the EMR store 12 and bed telemetry information to determine whether an alert message should be sent to a hospital worker or call point connected to the healthcare system 10. Alternatively, a database management system (DBMS) running on the healthcare system server 11 can operate to maintain the patient electronic medical records and maintain hospital bed configuration status information in a database 15 where the information can be accessed by the event notification module 13.
Healthcare organizations, such as a hospital or other care facility, have identified many patient health risks that are directly associated with care the patient receives while a resident in the facility. Some of these risks are associated with the physiological health of the patient, such as the risk of stroke or heart attack, or the risk of congestive heart failure for instance. Other types of risk can be associated with the physical well being of a patient, such as whether a patient is a fall risk. Typically upon admission to a healthcare organization, each patient can be evaluated to determine the degree to which they are at risk of falling. This evaluation process can include a physical examination to observe a patient's motor skills and balance, and/or it can include simply observing a patient or questioning the patient about their fall history. Regardless of the protocol employed to quantify the fall risk of a particular patient, a fall risk can be assigned to each patient and entered into a healthcare system, such as the healthcare system 10 described earlier, and stored in the patients EMR. A patients EMR can be easily accessed by a healthcare worker, such as a nurse, nurses aid or physician, in order to determine whether or not a patient is at risk of falling, and if so the level or degree to which the patient is at risk. Depending upon the patient's fall risk level, the patient's bed can be set up or configured by the healthcare worker in a manner that can prevent the patient from accidentally falling out of the bed, or at the bed can be set up so that the patient can more easily enter and exit the bed.
Hospital beds, such as the bed illustrated in FIG. 2, can be configured to include a number of different types of sensors, and the bed can be connected, over the network, to a healthcare system. Some bed sensors function to detect a patients weight in one or more positions on the surface of a bed, other bed sensors detect whether or not bed side rails are engaged in a full up position or not, some bed sensors operate to detect the angle at which one portion of a bed meets another portion of the bed, and still other bed sensors can detect physiological characteristics of a patient such as heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure to name only three characteristics. The sensors included in each bed can be connected to a central bed control mechanism which can operate to receive/capture information (telemetry) from each of the sensors, and can process the telemetry prior to transmission over a network link to a healthcare system or send the sensor telemetry to the healthcare system for processing. The healthcare system can then process the information received from the bed sensors to determine whether a healthcare worker should be notified of an event, such as a patient having exited their bed or a change in a patient's physiological measurement such as heart rate, blood pressure or respiratory rate as detected by bed sensors. Typically, a healthcare system can generate an alert in the event that a change to any one or more of a patient's physiological measurements is greater than a threshold amount, and the healthcare system is typically not capable of determining whether the physiological changes to the patient place the patient at risk of some adverse health event, such as a stroke.

Preemptive notification of patient fall risk condition