Systems and methods for low voltage detection for a heat pump water heater are disclosed. A current sensor can be used to monitor current supplied to a inductive load, such as a compressor or evaporator fan, of the heat pump water heater. The current sensor can be coupled to a controller which receives and processes information from the current sensor to determine whether a low voltage condition of the heat pump water heater has occurred. An alert can be provided to an installer/user of the heat pump water heater that a low voltage condition has occurred. The controller can also disconnect the heat pump water heater from the power source to prevent damage to the heat pump water heater.

A widely used water heater for commercial and residential hot water production and storage is the electric resistance water heater. The electric resistance water heater typically includes a storage tank for retaining water and one or more electric resistance heating elements that heat the water in the storage tank.
Typical electric resistance water heaters are supplied with about 240V AC power. However, in certain circumstances a low voltage condition may occur where the water heater becomes connected to a lower voltage power source. For instance, the electric resistance water heater may be improperly miswired to a 120V AC source. Alternatively, a switching device used by the utility company or consumer to reduce peak load or to reduce power during high electric rate periods may reduce voltage from 240V AC to 120V AC. In addition, a brown-out may cause the voltage in a given area to sag to unacceptable levels for long periods of time.
The electric resistance heating elements used in electric resistance water heaters are intended for use at about 240V AC, but if a low voltage condition occurs, the electric resistance heating elements will still operate, just at reduced power. The electric resistance heating elements are not typically damaged by operating at lower voltages, such as at about 120V AC.
Recently, the heat pump water heater has been used as an alternative or in addition to electric resistance water heaters. A low voltage condition is more problematic for the heat pump water heater. The heat pump water heater includes various inductive loads, such as a motor-driven compressor and one or more evaporator fans, that are sensitive to voltage. In particular, as the voltage supply to the inductive load decreases, the current increases. For instance, if a compressor draws 3 A at 240V, it will draw 6 A at 120V. The higher current can lead to overheating of the motor windings, and potentially may cause the compressor or other inductive load to fail. Additionally, any electrical components in line with or sharing a common connection with the compressor or other inductive load may be damaged if the electrical components are not rated for the higher current caused by the low voltage condition. The resulting damage may require the heat pump water heater to be repaired or replaced, costing either the consumer or manufacturer a significant amount.
Thus, a need exists for a system and method that can detect a low voltage condition for a heat pump water heater. A system and method that can provide notification of the low voltage condition to an installer/user and protects the components of the heat pump water heater, such as the compressor, evaporator fans and other electrical components, from damage would be particularly useful.

System and method for low voltage detection for heat pump water heaters


A linear power amplifier filters an instantaneous input signal to generate a filtered input signal, combines the instantaneous input signal and filtered input signal to generate a modified drain source voltage waveform and modulates a switched mode power supply to the linear power amplifier in accordance with the modified waveform.

Described below is a method of controlling a linear power amplifier, particularly for use in mobile communication systems.
In a base station of a mobile communication system most energy is consumed by the power amplifier, therefore to make the base station more efficient, it is desirable to provide a power amplifier which uses less power. The supply voltage of the power amplifier is converted to an RF signal, but the amount of RF required varies over time. The cooling apparatus of the power amplifier is based on the maximum RF requirement, so it is also advantageous, if this can be reduced. For optimum efficiency, the supply voltage should track the signal, but in known methods the supply voltage is fixed and the power between the supply voltage and the signal voltage is lost because there are practical problems involved in varying the supply voltage at a high rate with current to track the signal voltage.

Method for controlling a linear power amplifier


A bidirectional wireless charging/discharging device for the portable electronic device includes a logic control unit, a boost/buck unit, first and second reverse current suppressors, a control switch, and a receipt/transmission mode selection unit. The logic control unit includes an automatic mode selection resetting module. The reverse current suppressor provide function of reverse current prevention and switching. The boost/buck unit controls stepping up/down of voltage in a charging operation. The logic control unit detects if a load exists and controls the operations of the boost/buck unit and the reverse current suppressor and is used in combination with the control switch to control the performance of charging or discharging and is further used in combination with the receipt or transmission mode selection unit to select a desired mode of operation. The receipt/transmission mode selection unit is electrically connected to automatic mode selection resetting module.

The prevailing of wireless charging brings a future scenario of wireless charging everywhere.
Wireless charging everywhere provides excellent convenience. However, the surges occurring at the initial moment of each time charging is made either wirelessly or with a cable will cause accumulated damage to an electrical cell. Such accumulated damage shortens the lifespan of the electrical cell. In other words, the more the times that charging is made, the shorter the lifespan of an electrical cell will be and the worse the efficiency of charging and discharging the electrical cell.
In such a scenario of wireless charging everywhere, there must be a great number of wireless charging sites within the range of activity of a person or the person may frequently enter and leave a wireless charging site. Under these situations, a portable electronic device carried by the person will be subjected to wireless charging several times indiscriminately in a single day. This causes a great shortening of the lifespan of an electrical cell contained in the portable electronic device.
Further, since the efficiency of charging/discharging made wirelessly is still low at present. That means the amount of electricity discharged is higher than the amount of electricity charged. This, plus the low efficiency of boost/buck, makes it not possible to improve the utilization of wireless charging/discharging. It has long been desired to improve this issue.
Further, a portable electronic device is often provided with the function of charging, but is not allowed to transfer the electrical power thereof to charge other electronic devices. This is a drawback. In addition, even the portable electronic device is provided with both functions of charging and discharging, it is often not available for the portable electronic device to switch between charging and discharging as desired. It causes troubles in operation.
Thus, a challenge of the present invention is to provide a device that avoids the accumulated damage caused by each time charging is made to an electrical cell and may even improve charging/discharging efficiency and boost/buck efficiency.

Bidirectional wireless charging/discharging device for portable electronic device


A feedback control system compensator of the PID type is provided, wherein the proportional component of the compensator is replaced with a tilted component having a transfer function s to the power of -1/n. The resulting transfer function of the entire compensator more closely approximates an optimal transfer function, thereby achieving improved feedback controller. Further, as compared to conventional PID compensators, the TID compensator allows for simpler tuning, better disturbance rejection ratio, and smaller effects of plant parameter variations on closed loop response.

A feedback control system is commonly employed to control the operation of a plant to achieve and maintain its desired output characteristic in response to the applied command or reference signal. A conventional feedback control system, FIG. 1, measures a parameter which is representative of the output of the system and exploits changes in the detected parameter to vary operational characteristics of the plant or system to regulate the system and provide a desired output. The feedback control system includes a compensator, connected within a continuous feedback loop for modifying the signal to appropriately vary the operational parameters of the system via an actuator. The major goals for the feedback control system are to minimize the effect of disturbances at the output of the system, and to minimize sensitivity of the closed loop response to plant parameter variations. To satisfy these requirements, the feedback of the system, properly weighted in frequency, must be maximized. These constraints uniquely define the optimal transfer function for the feedback loop. The purpose for the compensator of the feedback system is to implement a loop response reasonably close to the optimal. Often, a prefilter is employed prior to the feedback loop to appropriately filter the command signals to enable the system to respond more precisely to the command.
A commonly-used compensator employed in feedback control systems is a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) compensator which provides for varying degrees of gain and phase shift of the signal according to the frequency of the signal. In the prior art feedback system of FIG. 1, the PID compensator is characterized by a transfer function I/s+P+Ds, where s is a Laplace transform variable. R(s) represents the transfer function of a prefilter. The scalar parameters P, I, and D and the prefilter transfer function R(s) are tuned for optimal performance.
FIG. 2 provides Bode diagrams for transfer functions of each path of the compensator and for the entire compensator. The Bode diagrams provide a frequency domain representation of the gain in decibels as a function of frequency. FIG. 2 illustrates that proportional component P dominates at midrange frequencies, integral component I/s at lower frequencies, and derivative component Ds at higher frequencies.
The transfer functions which mathematically characterize the effect of the PID compensator are represented, in accordance with conventional mathematical notation, by the location of various transfer function poles and zeroes in the complex Laplace plane. The conventional PID compensator transfer function typically has two real zeros, as shown in FIG. 3. At the frequencies of the zeros, which correspond to the crossing points of the two asymptotes in FIG. 2, the total feedback gain provided by the compensator is about 3 dB higher than the gain of each of the two components. Typically, the P term dominates near f.sub.b, the Ds term dominates at frequencies over 4f.sub.b, and the I/s term dominates at frequencies up to f.sub.b /4, where f.sub.b is the crossover frequency at which loop gain is 0 dB.
After the feedback is maximized and the closed loop response from a summer of the system to the output of the system is calculated, the prefilter transfer function R(s) is chosen to yield the desired output response to a certain command.
A theoretically optimal loop response has been determined by Bode. For the purpose of industrial control, a simplified suboptimal Bode loop response can be employed. The suboptimal response is illustrated in FIG. 4 by a solid line. The slope of this suboptimal gain response is about -10 dB/octave. The transcendental loop transfer function which characterizes the suboptimal response can be closely approximated by a rational function.
As can be seen from FIG. 4, rather sharp corners occur at the sides of the Bode step. Any smoothing of the corners, especially the left one, caused by an improper or inaccurate rational function approximation, reduces the available feedback, resulting in reduced performance.
A typical loop gain Bode diagram of the system with a PID compensator is shown in FIG. 4. When provided with the same stability margin and the same average loop gain as an optimal Bode controller, the crossover frequency f.sub.b of the PID controller is about one-half that of the optimal Bode loop response. The feedback at frequency f.sub.b /4 is about 10 dB lower than that of a simplified Bode controller.
The conventional PID controller illustrated in FIG. 1 is in common use. When applied to a great variety of plants, the PID controller is easy to tune to provide robust and fairly good performance. However, the performance is not optimal.

Three-parameter tunable tilt-integral-derivative (TID) controller

The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration


[Object] To provide a method for producing a vinyl ether polymer having a hydroxyl group on the side chain, wherein the vinyl ether polymer having a low viscosity and excellent workability and processability is produced in a simple and efficient method.

A vinyl ether polymer having a hydroxyl group on the side chain is useful as a water-soluble polymer or a temperature-responsive polymer.
For example, homopolymers of 2-hydroxyethyl vinyl ether (HEVE) and diethylene glycol monovinyl ether (DEGV) are known to be water-soluble and homopolymers of 4-hydroxybutyl vinyl ether (HBVE), HBVE/HEVE copolymers, and HBEV/DEGV copolymers are known to be temperature-responsive polymers that have variable hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity depending on the temperature.
Since generally vinyl ether is cation-polymerizable, radical polymerization is difficult to carry out with vinyl ether alone but still possible to carry out with the sole use of vinyl ether having a hydroxyl group; for example, radical polymerization can be performed by using an oil-soluble polymerization initiator in the presence of an inorganic solvent or a water-soluble organic solvent such as methanol (Patent Document 1). However, the conversion rate of the monomers was low and vinyl ether was not efficiently radical-polymerized in said method.
It was reported that when a water-soluble polymerization initiator was used, more polyacetals were generated than the target vinyl ether polymers (same Patent Document 1).
Meanwhile, the vinyl ether polymer having a hydroxyl group on the side chain is generally a highly viscous liquid polymer and has a problem of poor workability and processability. In addition, although these vinyl ether polymers are often used as a solution or an aqueous composition, the application is limited since it is difficult to use in high concentration due to its high viscosity.
The method to reduce the viscosity of the polymer includes, for example, a method of using a polymer having a smaller molecular weight. A method of using a chain transfer agent (a molecular weight modifier) is known as the method for reducing the molecular weight of the polymer in the radical polymerization.
For example, Patent Document 2 discloses a method for producing a low molecular weight polyacrylic acid by using secondary alcohols such as propylene glycol, 2-hexanol, and the like as the chain transfer agent. Patent Document 3 discloses a method for producing a low molecular weight soluble acrylic resin by radical polymerization in a solvent having a specific chain transfer constant such as isopropanol or in a mixed solvent of those and water.
However, in the case of conducting radical polymerization of vinyl ether having a hydroxyl group only, there has been no case in which a chain transfer agent was used or where the chain transfer constant was considered. Since the chain transfer agent greatly changes its performance depending on the type of monomers, it is not possible to obtain a suitable chain transfer agent or attain the knowledge of controlling molecular weights in the radical polymerization of vinyl ether having a hydroxyl group from the radical polymerization of an acrylic monomer as described in said Patent Document 2.
The temperature-responsive polymer generally stops showing a sharp temperature-responsiveness when the molecular weight of the polymer, the homogeneity of the composition ratio and the like are low. In the case where a chain transfer agent is used, a polymer having a terminal structure derived from the chain transfer agent and a polymer having a terminal structure derived from the initiator will be present in a mixed state, thereby making it difficult to predict the effect of the mixed presence of the terminal structure derived from the chain transfer agent on the temperature-responsiveness of the polymer.
Further, in the case of the vinyl ether polymer having a hydroxyl group on the side chain, it is considered not possible to obtain a sufficient effect of reduction in viscosity just by reducing the molecular weight since the effect is large of, not only the intertangled molecular chains, but also the hydrogen bonds by the side chain hydroxyl groups.
As for reducing the hydrogen bonds by the side chain hydroxyl groups in the case of the vinyl ether polymer having a hydroxyl group on the side chain, there can be considered a method of introducing vinyl ether which has no hydroxyl group such as alkyl vinyl ether as a hydrophobic unit.
However, since vinyl ether which has no hydroxyl group is low in reactivity by radical polymerization, it is difficult to introduce the hydrophobic units quantitatively by the radical polymerization. Accordingly, the obtained polymers result in inhomogeneous molecular weights and composition ratios, which give rise to the problem of impaired performance such as solubility to water, temperature-responsiveness, and the like.
In order to synthesize polymers having homogeneous molecular weights, composition ratios, and the like by co-polymerization of vinyl ether having a hydroxyl group and vinyl ether without a hydroxyl group, a method is known in which living cationic polymerization is performed by using a monomer by protecting a hydroxyl group with a protective reagent (a capping agent) and deprotection of the protective group is performed after polymerization.
However, the living cationic polymerization is normally performed under a low temperature of 0° C. or less and temperature control is not easy in an industrial scale due to the reaction heat and in addition, the reaction needs to be performed under an anhydrous state and in inert gas (Non Patent Document 1). Therefore, it is difficult to attain production in industrially low cost and of efficiency. Also, the method in which the monomer having a hydroxyl group subjected to capping is used requires a deprotection step of the capping agent after polymerization, which the deprotection is generally carried out with the use of acid or alkaline that needs to be removed in a removal step. Such increase in the number of steps will directly lead to the increase of manufacturing cost of the polymers.
As for the method for introducing the hydrophobic units, there can be considered, apart from those described above, for example, a method in which the side chain hydroxyl group after polymerization is partially reacted with the capping agent.
However, such method will require a capping step of the hydroxyl group, as well as the polymerization step, which is a drawback that increases the manufacturing cost of the polymers. Also, it is difficult to control the protection rate in the partial capping and to produce polymers having the same quality with good reproducibility in industrial terms and further, there is a concern that the protection rate changes due to, for example, hydrolysis of the capping agent depending on the storage conditions to affect the performance of, for example, solubility to water, temperature-responsiveness, and the like.
In the method of introducing the hydrophobic units, the hydrophobic unit itself is a disincentive of the solubility to water, the temperature-responsiveness, and the like and especially the low molecular weight compound is greatly susceptible to the hydrophobic unit in both methods; therefore, there is a limit in the method for suppressing the viscosity elevation due to the hydrogen bond by introducing the hydrophobic unit.

Method for producing vinyl ether polymer having hydroxyl group on side chain and temperature-responsive polymer mixture

Abstract: [Means for solving problem] The present invention relates to a method for producing a vinyl ether polymer having a hydroxyl group on the side chain, characterized in that vinyl ether comprising a hydroxyl group is subjected to radical polymerization by using an oil-soluble azo polymerization initiator, in the presence of a mixed solvent comprising water and an organic solvent selected from alcohol or cyclic ether radical polymerization.


A Sigma-Delta modulator(10) comprises a signal put(34) coupled to a forward filter comprising a series connection of a plurality of N summing stages(28, 30, 32), where N is an integer of at least 2, alternating with a corresponding plurality of integrating stages(40, 42, 44) and an analogue to digital converter(ADC)(18) having an input coupled to an output of the Nth integrating stage(44) and an output. A feedback filter comprises a feedback coupling from the output of the ADC(18) to a digital to analogue converter(DAC)(26) which is coupled to an input of each of the summing stages by way of respective weights(46, 48, 50). Control means(66) including switching means (58, 64) are provided for changing the order of the modulator. To reduce the order and increase the bandwidth, the control means by-passes the first(40) of the integrating stages and uses the second(42) of the integrating stages as a first of the integrating stages and vice versa to increase the order and decrease the bandwidth.

The present invention relates to a variable Sigma-Delta modulator which is usable in a receiver for receiving relatively narrowband cellular telephone signals, such as GSM, and relatively wideband cellular telephone signals, such as IS95.
A stable, high order Sigma-Delta modulator is disclosed in EP-A1-0 501 580. The modulator comprises an Nth order low pass filter which is constituted by a series combination of N first-order integrating sections with the output of one section being connected to the input of the next section. Each integrating section comprises an integrator connected in series with a limiter. The individual output signals are tapped-off and weighted by respective weighting amplifiers and added together in a summing stage coupled between the output of the Nth section and the input to an analogue to digital converter (ADC) which is sampled at a fixed rate. An output of the ADC is fed back and subtracted from an input signal, the difference signal being applied to the first section. The gains of the integrating sections and the limiting values of the limiters are selected so that the last or Nth limiter in the series arrangement is activated first when the level in the Sigma-Delta modulator increases, subsequently the last but one or (Nxe2x88x921)th limiter is activated and so on. This reduces the order level of the filter system each time by one when there is an increasing signal level, and causes the Sigma-Delta modulator to remain stable.
It is an object to provide a Sigma-Delta modulator which is adaptable to operate in accordance with telecommunications standards requiring widely differing bandwidths.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a Sigma-Delta modulator comprising a signal input, a plurality of N integrating stages, where N is an integer of at least 2, a corresponding plurality of summing stages coupled to an input of a respective one of the integrating stages, an output of the first to the (Nxe2x88x921)th summing stages being coupled to an input of the second to the Nth integrating stage, respectively, an analogue to digital converter(ADC) having an input coupled to an output of the Nth integrating stage and an output, a feedback coupling from the ADC to a digital to analogue converter(DAC) which is coupled to an input of each of the summing stages, means for sampling the ADC and DAC, and control means for changing the order of the modulator, said control means comprising means for disconnecting the first of the integrating stages and using the second of the integrating stages as a first of the integrating stages.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a receiver comprising means for frequency down converting an input signal to an IF signal, bandpass filtering means and a Sigma-Delta modulator comprising a signal input, a plurality of N integrating stages, where N is an integer of at least 2, a corresponding plurality of summing stages coupled to an input of a respective one of the integrating stages, an output of the first to the (Nxe2x88x921)th summing stages being coupled to an input of the second to the Nth integrating stage, respectively, an analogue to digital converter(ADC) having an input coupled to an output of the Nth integrating stage and an output, a feedback coupling from the ADC to a digital to analogue converter(DAC) which is coupled to an input of each of the summing stages, means for sampling the ADC and DAC, and control means for changing the order of the modulator, said control means comprising means for disconnecting the first of the integrating stages and using the second of the integrating stages as a first of the integrating stages.
In one arrangement of the Sigma-Delta modulator made in accordance with the present invention the control means reduces the order of the modulator by disconnecting the first integrating stage from the second summing stage and connecting the signal input to the second summing stage.
In another arrangement of the Sigma-Delta modulator made in accordance with the present invention the control means reduces the order of the modulator by switching the signal input to the second integrating stage to the output of the first summing stage. The sampling rate of the ADC and DAC can be increased thus increasing the bandwidth of the modulator. This particular arrangement and its manner of operation enables the Sigma-Delta modulator to be converted from a higher order, lower bandwidth configuration suitable for use with GSM to a lower order, higher bandwidth configuration suitable for use with IS95.
In reconfiguring the Sigma-Delta modulator made in accordance with the present invention the objective is to enable the product of the dynamic range and the bandwidth appropriate to the specified requirements.
An advantage of reconfiguring the Sigma-Delta modulator by disconnecting/reconnecting the first integrating stage is that significant amounts of power can be saved. This does not impact on the dynamic range because the quantisation noise is higher for a lower order modulator enabling as a result a greater amount of electronic noise to be tolerated.


A water scooping apparatus for an aircraft comprising an extendible tubular member having a first end and an opposite end, wherein the first end is pivotally attached to the aircraft, a duct for fluidly connecting the extendible tubular member at the first end to a water tank, a floater connected to the opposite end of the extendible tubular member, wherein the floater is provided with an intake opening for taking in water; wherein the intake opening is fluidly connected to the extendible tubular member; wherein the water scooping apparatus is operable between a resting position in which the extendible tubular member is substantially retracted, and an operating position in which the extendible tubular member extends downwards from the aircraft at an angle.

Aircrafts that can be used to extinguish fires are known in the art. Examples of such aircrafts are amphibious Canadair forest fire fighter. These so-called "Canadair" aircrafts are dedicated to fighting forest fires or wildfires and search and rescue in case of disaster on sea, due to the ability to land on water surface. These aircrafts are able to fill the installed water tanks while flying over a body of water with the hull of the aircraft skimming the water surface. They can for example fill the water tanks with 6100 liter of water in 12 seconds. To the taken in water additives can be added such as foam forming compounds, or gel to form a liquid fire suppressant. The additives improve the fire suppressing action. After taking in water, the aircraft can take off, fly to the forest fire and drop the content of the water tanks on or near the burning area while flying at low altitude.
By repeating this manoeuvre the forest- or wildfire can be extinguished. A tactical way of firefighting is to spread a wide path or blanket of liquid fire suppressant i.e. water in front of a forest fire by means of multiple droppings, blocking the way for the forest fire to spread out in the direction of the wind.
A disadvantage of such aircrafts is that they are dedicated to this activity and can only be used for extinguishing fires and rescues on high sea. Furthermore they need to contact the water, and usually have only a limited capacity of about 6000 liters of water to release above a fire.
Conventional, non-amphibious aircrafts which contain water tanks, so-called airtankers, may have a larger storage capacity (about 10.000-30.000 liters), but they are not equipped to pick up water from water surfaces like sea, rivers and lakes. They generally need to land at an airport, refill the water tanks and take off again. This takes a large amount of time and only one run and drop of liquid fire suppressant can be achieved per hour. In addition the fuel cost is higher and an efficient method of extinguishing of forest fires (total cost/liters per hour) cannot be reached.
In the art, for example as described in British published patent GB2163710, aircraft are known which are equipped with apparatus for scooping up water. The described aircraft has a boom pivoted at its forward end to the underside of the aircraft's fuselage and having at its rear end a scoop connected via a duct in the boom to a water storage tank mounted in the fuselage. When the aircraft is flying closely above the surface of a body of water, the boom may be lowered to dip the scoop into the water to thereby refill the tank. The scoop can be equipped with a hydrofoil to guide the scoop through the water surface. Such scoop and hydrofoil however have an undefined position with respect to the water surface and may exhibit uncontrolled downward movement when pulled through a water surface, thereby endangering the aircraft to be pulled down and its pilot.

Water scooping apparatus for forestfire suppressant in non-amphibious airtankers


A power transmission system of a hybrid electric vehicle may include an input and output shaft. A first planetary gear set disposed on the input shaft includes a first rotation element connected to a first motor/generator, a second rotation element operated as an output element, and a third rotation element connected to the input shaft. A second planetary gear set includes a fourth rotation element connected to a second motor/generator, a fifth rotation element connected to the second rotation element and the output shaft, and a sixth rotation element connected to the first rotation element. A direct-coupling device connects two rotation elements of the second planetary gear set, and transfer gears connect two rotation elements of the first planetary gear set with the two rotation elements of the second planetary gear set. Friction elements connect a selected rotation element to a transfer gear or to the transmission housing.

Environmentally-friendly vehicles are important on which survival of future motor industry is dependent. Vehicle manufacturers are focusing on development of environmentally-friendly vehicles so as to meet environment and fuel consumption regulations. The vehicle makers have been developing future vehicles such as electric vehicles (EV), hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV).
Since the future vehicles have technical restrictions such as weight and cost, the vehicle manufacturers are forced to regularly follow up for meeting exhaust gas regulations and improving fuel consumption performance and are competing desperately to commercialize the hybrid electric vehicles into practical use.
The hybrid electric vehicles are vehicles using more than two power sources, gasoline engines or diesel engines using fossil fuel and motor/generators driven by electrical energy are mainly used as the two power sources of the hybrid electric vehicles.
The hybrid electric vehicle uses the motor/generator having relatively low-speed torque characteristics as a main power source at low-speed and uses an engine having relatively high-speed torque characteristics as a main power source at high-speed.
Since the hybrid electric vehicle stops the engine using the fossil fuel and uses the motor/generator at a low-speed region, fuel consumption may be improved and exhaust gas may be reduced.
The power transmission system of a hybrid electric vehicle is classified into a single-mode type and a multi-mode type.
Although a torque delivery apparatus such as a clutch or a brake for shift control is not necessary, fuel consumption is high due to deterioration of efficiency at a high-speed region and an additional torque multiplication device is required for a large vehicle according to the single-mode type. Since the multi-mode type has high efficiency at the high-speed region and is able to multiply torque autonomously, the multi-mode type is applied as the power transmission system of a hybrid electric vehicle, which has been under continuous investigation.
The power transmission system of the multi-mode type includes a plurality of planetary gear sets, a plurality of motor/generators, a plurality of torque delivery apparatus controlling rotation elements of the planetary gear sets, and a battery used as a power source of the motor/generators.
The power transmission system of the multi-mode type has different operating mechanisms depending on connections of the planetary gear sets, the motor/generators, and the torque delivery apparatus.
In addition, the power transmission system of the multi-mode type has different features such as durability, power delivery efficiency, and size depending on the connections of the planetary gear sets, the motor/generators, and the torque delivery apparatus. Therefore, designs for the connection structure of the power transmission system of a hybrid electric vehicle have been under continuous investigation to achieve robust and compact power transmission system having no power loss.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the disclosure and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Power transmission system of hybrid electric vehicle


Provided is a compound semiconductor deposition method of adjusting the luminous wavelength of a compound semiconductor of a ternary or higher system in a nanometer order in depositing the compound semiconductor on a substrate. In the compound semiconductor deposition method of depositing a compound semiconductor of a ternary or higher system on a substrate, propagation light of a smaller energy than a desired ideal excitation energy for the compound semiconductor is irradiated onto the substrate 13 while depositing the compound semiconductor on the substrate 13, near-field light is generated based on the irradiated propagation light from fine particles of the compound semiconductor deposited on the substrate 13, new vibrational levels for the compound semiconductor are formed in multiple stages based on the generated near-field light, and a component in the compound semiconductor corresponding to the excitation energy is excited with the propagation light through a vibrational level, among the new vibrational levels, which has an excitation energy equal to or smaller than the energy of the propagation light is excited to desorb the component.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a compound semiconductor deposition method of depositing a compound semiconductor of a ternary or higher system on a substrate by using photo CVD, thermal CVD, MBE or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Attention has been paid to gallium nitride compound semiconductors of a ternary or higher system, such as indium gallium nitride (InGaN) having In blended in gallium nitride (GaN) and gallium aluminum nitride (GaAlN) having Al blended in GaN, as semiconductor materials for monochromatic LEDs having arbitrary luminous wavelengths like wavelengths of blue light and white light (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
When the luminous wavelength of such a compound semiconductor of a ternary or higher system which constitutes an LED shifts even by 1 nm, the color tone (or hue) of an RGB image obtained as a consequence changes. With the aforementioned InGaN as an example of the compound semiconductor of a ternary or higher system used for an LED, the luminous wavelength of InGaN changes according to the blend ratio of In into GaN. While the luminous wavelength of GaN is about 400 nm, for example, the luminous wavelength of InN is about 1.5 μm. That is, in case of the InGaN, a compound semiconductor with a desired luminous wavelength in the range of the wavelength band of 400 nm to 1.5 μm can be obtained according to the blend ratio of In. When the blend ratio of In slightly changes, on the other hand, the luminous wavelength of a compound semiconductor to be obtained changes significantly.
Conventionally, the blend ratio of In cannot be controlled with high accuracy, so that a deviation of the luminous wavelength in a nanometer-order cannot be overcome. This makes it difficult to improve the yield of LEDs to be manufactured.

Compound semiconductor deposition method and apparatus


Provided herein is technology for displaying, reposition, and/or formatting graphics on a display. The technology includes receiving a graphics stream in a first playout format that includes a first display resolution and first display layout. The technology also includes determining a second playout format that includes a second display resolution and a second display layout. The technology further determines an area of importance within the first display layout given the first display layout, second display resolution, and second display layout. A preferred position within the second display layout is determined so that the preferred position is a location in the second display layout that is in a relatively similar location as the area of importance in the first display layout. The first playout format is converted into the second playout format using the area of importance and preferred position. Finally, the graphics stream is displayed in the second playout format.

Content providers generally delivery content, such as TV programs or movies, to consumers in the form of video through a variety of mediums, such as broadcast television, cable television and streaming internet video. Content providers use broadcast graphics and animation assets to not only identify the content provider but also to provide extras that were not originally part of the provided content. Broadcast graphics and animation assets include TV station logos and scrolling tickers.
In recent years, content providers have been forced to provide content in different formats to not only accommodate standard definition ("SD") and high definition ("HD") formats, but also varying display sizes. Although simple scaling (e.g., stretching or shrinking) can be done to change content from one format to another, broadcast graphics and animation assets may get distorted in the simple scaling process.
Content providers can avoid broadcast graphics and animation assets distortion by providing a set of broadcast graphics and animation assets that are customized for every supported format in which the content provider provides content. However, this technique is both costly and time consuming since multiple sets of the same broadcast graphics and animation assets must be created. What is desired is a solution that streamlines the production and delivery of broadcast graphics or animation assets.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An ultrasonic observing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a machine-side connector receptacle, an electronics-side connector receptacle, a mechanical echo signal detecting unit for detecting an echo signal obtained by receiving waves in a mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe connecting to the machine-side connector receptacle, an electronic echo signal detecting unit for detecting an echo signal obtained by receiving waves in an electronic scanning ultrasonic endoscope connecting to the electronics-side connector receptacle, and a signal processing unit for performing signal processing on the echo signal from the mechanical echo signal detecting unit and the echo signal from the electronic echo signal detecting unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic observing apparatus, a control method for the ultrasonic observing apparatus, an ultrasonic observing system and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for performing signal processing on an echo signal obtained by transmitting ultrasonic pulses from an ultrasonic transducer to living body tissue and receiving ultrasonic pulses reflected from the living body tissue to create an ultrasonic tomographic image.
2. Description of the Related Art
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, conventionally, repetitively transmits ultrasonic pulses to living body tissue from an ultrasonic transducer and receives an ultrasonic pulse echo signal reflected from the living body tissue to display information in the living body as an ultrasonic tomographic image being a visible image.
There are two types of ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses depending on the scanning system: electronic scanning to scan a body cavity by electronically driving an ultrasonic transducer built in an ultrasonic endoscope or an ultrasonic probe used by being inserted into a channel for insertion of a treatment instrument of the endoscope, and mechanical scanning to scan the body cavity by mechanically rotating the transducer.
For example, an electronic scanning ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-47043 includes an ultrasonic transducer having a plurality of transducer elements. The apparatus drives the transducer elements of the ultrasonic transducer by electronically switching among the devices so that the apparatus can scan a body cavity to obtain an ultrasonic tomographic image.
On the other hand, a mechanical scanning ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-333906 mechanically rotates an ultrasonic transducer so that the apparatus can scan a body cavity to obtain an ultrasonic tomographic image.
The ultrasonic observing apparatus used in the electronic scanning ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus connects to the electronic scanning ultrasonic endoscope or the electronic scanning ultrasonic probe to electronically drive the connected ultrasonic endoscope or ultrasonic probe. Meanwhile, the ultrasonic observing apparatus used in the mechanical scanning ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus connects to the mechanical scanning ultrasonic endoscope or mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe to mechanically drive the connected ultrasonic endoscope or ultrasonic probe.
The mechanical scanning ultrasonic endoscope or mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe mechanically rotates an ultrasonic transducer by 360 degrees to scan a body cavity, so that the scanning range cannot be changed, a frame rate being fixed and a scanning speed being slow. In addition, since the mechanical scanning ultrasonic endoscope or mechanical scanning ultrasonic probe cannot perform transmission for a plurality of times with an ultrasonic transducer being fixed at the same position, a scan is possible only in a B mode but not in a color flow mode.
Consequently, if a conventional mechanical ultrasonic observing apparatus does not need a scan in a color flow mode, arithmetic amount in the ultrasonic observing apparatus is comparatively small and a frame rate does not decrease by arithmetic time.
On the other hand, the electronic scanning ultrasonic endoscope or electronic scanning ultrasonic probe scans a body cavity by electronically driving a plurality of transducer elements composing the ultrasonic transducer, so that a scanning range can be changed to improve a frame rate compared to the mechanical scanning. In addition, the electronic scanning ultrasonic endoscope or electronic scanning ultrasonic probe can change a scanning method, making a scan possible in various modes such as a color flow mode and a power flow mode in addition to a B mode.

Ultrasonic observing apparatus, control method for ultrasonic observing apparatus, ultrasonic observing system and ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus


In a method of treating a fibrotic disease, a composition is administered to a mammal an effective amount, wherein the composition contains a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of rat, mouse, and human N-terminal procollagen (III) propeptide and rat, mouse, and human C-terminal procollagen (III) propeptide and further contains a pharmaceutically tolerable carrier or dilutant.

This invention relates to the use of procollagen (III) propeptides and related substances for treating fibrotic diseases and a method for producing and renaturing recombinant N- and/or C-terminal procollagen (III) propeptides. Said procollagen (III) propeptides and related substances are suitable for treating fibrosis of any type, of any organ manifestation. The invention also relates to a method for producing renatured N-terminal procollagen (III) propeptide and/or C-terminal procollagen (III) propeptide.
Collagen Biosynthesis.
The collagens of types I and III are synthesized as prepropeptides and are extensively modified posttranslationally. Among the intracellular modifications are glycosylations, enzymatic hydroxylation reactions involving lysine and proline in its 3- and 4-positions. The modified propeptides spontaneously assemble into [a1 (III)]3 homotrimers in the case of collagen (III). In the case of collagen type I mostly [a1(I)]2a2(I) heterotrimers as well as—to a lesser extent—[a1(I)]3 homotrimers are formed. After exocytosis, the propeptides are first cleaved at the C-terminus of the nascent collagen and then at the N-terminus by a set of specific endoproteases. The cleavage resulting in the C-terminal procollagen propeptide (PIIICP) is catalyzed by the procollagen C-proteinase that hich is identical to the Bone Morphogenetic Protein-1. Different tissue-specific expression patterns of different splice variants of the BMP-1 protein have been discovered.
The N-terminal procollagen propeptide of collagen I (PINP) is cleaved off by the same N-proteinase that also digests the N-terminal procollagen propeptide of collagen type II. By contrast, N-terminal procollagen (III) propeptide (PIIINP) is cleaved by off by a proteinase activity distinct from the N-proteinase (I and II). The responsible enzyme is called procollagen N-proteinase type III.
PIIICP.
PIIICP occurs as a trimer consisting of three identical monomeric PIIICP subunits that are linked by intermolecular disulfide bridges. Theoretical structural considerations and site-directed mutagenesis experiments with so-called collagen mini genes have led to the conclusion that at least 4 and probably 6 cysteine residues of each monomeric PIIICP subunit are involved in intramolecular disulfide bridge formation. It is likely that only the cysteine residues in positions 51 and 68 are involved in intermolecular disulfide bridge formation. It has been observed, however, that the region around these cysteine residues is critical for the correct formation of intramolecular disulfide bridges because a Cys→Ser mutation in that region leads to impaired intramolecular disulfide bridge formation. On the other hand it has been observed that the trimerization of collagen (III) fibrils proceeds even when interchain cystine bridge formation has become impossible by a Cys→Ser mutation in position 51.
So far, there have been no reports about the quantification of PIIICP except in the patents: An immunoassay for procollagen-III-C-terminal propeptide (WO09924835A2 and EP00988964A1).
There are no reports about pharmacokinetic data for PIIICP. For PICP, clearance and mode of elimination have been investigated. For 125I-labeled PICP, an elimination from the serum by the mannose-6-phosphate receptor has been reported. PIIICP could also be cleared from the circulation by this receptor as PIIICP may also be glycosylated at position Asn173. This mechanism can safely be excluded for recombinant PIIICP from E. coli, however, as the protein is not glycosylated when expressed in this host.
With regard to the physiological role of PIIICP, there is no information available in the literature. With regard to the biological effects of the C-terminal propeptide of collagen type I, different effects have been described in the literature.
The nucleotide sequence of human PIIICP has been deposited in the Genebank (Accession No. X14420 and X01742). The amino acid sequence of this peptide is shown in FIG. 1(I) as an example. The propeptide sequence is indicated in the appendix in the context of the whole procollagen sequence C-terminal of the procollagen C proteinase cleavage site.
In fibroblast cell culture, a reduction of collagen production by 80% was measured when intact PICP was present at a concentration of 40 nM, while it was decreased by 30% at 10 nM. However, these changes in the protein biosynthesis very well correlated with the measured changes at the level of transcription. This lead to the speculation that PICP exerts a regulatory effect at the level of transcription.
For intact rat PICP, isolated from fibroblasts, an inhibiton of collagen biosynthesis was also demonstrated with cell cultures of hepatic stellate cells. At a concentration of 33.3 nM an inhibitory effect of 66% was measured that increased to 83% at a concentration of 133.2 nM, respectively, Changes in mRNA concentrations affected by PICP were not investigated. It was shown in this series of experiments, however, that the inhibitory effect was strongly dependent on the structure of the protein. A covalent modification of PICP induced by the exposure to acetaldehyde lead to a marked reduction of the effect on collagen biosynthesis.
The effects of overlapping synthetic polypeptides derived from the PICP sequence in a fibroblast cell culture model are reported ambiguously in the literature.
An inhibitory effect at the level of the rate of biosynthesis was observed with a polypeptide consisting of 22 amino acid residues (residues 225 to 246).
By contrast, a further polypeptide consisting of 45 amino acid residues (residues 197 to 242) lead to an increased rate of biosynthesis for collagens of types I and III as well as for fibronectin—contrary to all previous results. At a concentration of 45 μM an increase of collagen biosynthesis by a factor of 3.3 and of fibronectin biosynthesis by a factor of 6.1 was observed in human lung fibroblasts after 4 h. After 8 a maximal stimulation of collagen biosynthesis by a factor of 6- to 8-fold was measured.
However, the stimulatory effect was dependent on the degree of confluence of the cells. While an effect was observed in subconfluent fibroblast cells, this effect could not be demonstrated in confluent cells. The effects were neither cell type- nor species-specific. In further experiments the polypeptide sequence sufficient for eliciting the stimulatory effect could be reduced to a pentapeptide (amino acid residues 212 to 216). In these experiments, 80% of the maximal stimulation was observed. The effect was notably more pronounced with fibronectin (5- to 11-fold increase) in comparison with collagen type I (4- to 7-fold increase). In parallel to the experiments focused on the protein level, the mRNA concentrations of the concerned genes were investigated. For collagen as well as for fibronectin, no concentration changes were measured at the mRNA level. According to these data, the synthetic polypeptides exerted their effects on the stimulation of collagen biosynthesis at the posttranscriptional level.
In vivo experiments with PIIICP or related substances have not been reported in the literature so far.
PIIINP
PIIINP occurs as a trimer consisting of three identical monomeric PIIINP subunits that are linked by intermolecular disulfide bridges. The PIIINP molecule is structurally divided into three domains. The most N-terminally located domain (Col1) consists of a globular structure and contains several intramolecular cystine bridges. The C-terminally adjacent Col3 domain possesses a collagen-like structure characterized by periodic Gly and Pro residues. This domain assembles into a characteristic triple-helical collagen-like structure. The Col2 domain encompasses those parts of the procollagen telopeptide region that are N-terminal of the N-proteinase cleavage site. The monomeric PIIINP strands are assembled parallel to each other in this region.
Characteristically, the Col2 domain contains two cysteine residues that are both involved in intermolecular disulfide bridge formation and that are of eminent importance for the trimeric structure of PIIINP. An oligosaccharide glycosylation site is located in the vicinity of the N-proteinase (III) cleavage site. Eight amino acid residues C-terminal of the propeptide cleavage site, one of the four lysyl residues is located which are oxidatively desaminated into aldehydes before the collagen fibrils become covalently crosslinked.
A special characteristic of collagen type III is that a fraction of the N-terminal propeptides is not cleaved off the procollagen trimer. This so-called pN-collagen type III is still incorporated into fibrils. The form of these fibrils is described in the literature in different ways: as thin fibrils that are associated with collagen type I or as pearl necklace-like fibrils that associate to become net-like structures. Electron-microscopically, pN-collagen of type III has the appearance of a "barbed wire". The presence of pN-collagen type III on the surface of collagen fibrils could play a role in the regulation of the diameter of the fibrils.
With regard to the stability of PIIINP in the body, half lives between 2 min and 239 min have been reported. The determined values varied considerably depending on the model and/or the labelling of the antigen. In rats a clearance of the N-terminal propeptide of collagens III and I from the serum—independently of the antigen species—by the scavenger receptor on liver endothelial cells has been reported (Melkko 1994). Endocytosis was mediated by the same receptor for both proteins.
The amino acid sequence of human PIIINP is deposited in the Genebank database with the accession number X14420. As an example, the amino acid sequences of this propeptide are shown in FIG. 1(II). The propeptide sequence is indicated in the context of the whole procollagen sequence N-terminal of the procollagen N proteinase type III cleavage site.
PIIINP has so far mostly been described as a marker of fibrosis. It can be used in the context of possible therapies of liver fibrosis as a possible non-invasive parameter to follow the course of the disease.
For PIIINP, research about its role as a feedback inhibitor of collagen biosynthesis in cell culture systems and in cell-free lysates has been published. For the N-terminal propeptides of collagens type I and type III as well as for the Col 1 domain of PINP, a concentration-dependent cell-specific inhibition of collagen production of the a1(I) and a2(I) chains has been measured in the fibroblast cell culture system. Protein concentrations from 0.5 μM to 6 μM were used. The inhibition was in the range between 30% to 50% in comparison with control experiments. In these experiments experimental evidence was provided that the rate of translation was influenced by the propeptides and by their fragments. These data were supported by the localization of the internalized proteins in the vicinity of the endoplasmatic reticulum.
In addition, experiments with the Col 1 domains of both N-terminal propeptides were carried out in the cell-free reticulocyte system. Protein concentrations ranging from 0.4 to 3.2 μM were used. A concentration-dependent inhibition of collagen (I) synthesis was measured. In both cases, an inhibition between 38% and 71% in comparison with control experiments was measured. When very high protein concentrations (8 μM) were used, it was demonstrated that the inhibitory effect on collagen translation could not be further increased.
When the mechanism of action of PINP was investigated a system for the recombinant cyotosolic expression of PINP in fibroblast cell culture was also examined. While the measured collagen (I) mRNA concentration was unchanged, the rate of biosynthesis of the corresponding protein was reduced. It was therefore regulated at the post transcriptional level.
These results for PINP are supported by experiments with skin fibroblasts from dermatosparactic sheep. In the homologous human disease, Ehlers Danlos syndrome of type VIIa or VIIb, a mutation within the N-proteinase cleavage site of procollagen type I occurs. Consequently, PINP cannot be cleaved off. In cell culture, these cells which lack the PINP feedback mechanism in comparison with heterozygous control fibroblasts, displayed a proportion of 15 to 20% of collagen biosynthesis compared to the total cellular biosynthesis (control fibroblasts 2 to 4%).
Recombinant Production of Procollagen III Propeptides.
The recombinant production of procollagen (III) propeptides has been reported in a number of publications. The recombinant production of a collagen a2(I) mutant in so-called A2 cells derived from the rat liver epithelial cell line W8 which is in turn deficient for collagen a2(I) is described. The recombinant expression of collagen a1(III) minigenes has been described more recently.
Recently, the production of PIIICP in Zf9 cells as a trimeric protein has been described. The recombinant protein could only be produced in small quantities for analytical purposes, however. The recombinant production of PIIICP in E. coli was described in the patent applications: An immunoassay for procollagen-III-C-terminal propeptide (WO09924835A2 and EP00988964A1) and in Burchardt, 1998. The yields were above 20 mg/l fluid culture medium with this expression method. The majority of the recombinant protein was in the form of inclusion body protein, however, and had to be purified using denaturing methods of dissolution. The expressed proteins also contained an N-terminal His tag, so that they could be purified in denaturing solvents over a Ni-NTA column. For chronic in vivo applications, these proteins were less suitable because of the potential immunogenicity of the His tag and because the biological half-life of the recombinant proteins may be decreased for this reason. They occurred mostly in a monomeric form when the methods disclosed in this application were used. Their solubility was too low for most therapeutic applications. When a concentration of approximately 10 μg/ml was exceeded, the recombinant PIIICP precipitated from aqueous solutions.
The recombinant expression of human PIIINP in E. coli has been described in the patent application: Monoclonal antibody and assay for detecting PIIINP (WO09961477A2), and the expression of murine PIIINP has been reported in Kauschke, 1999. The yields were at approximately 5 mg/l fluid culture medium with this expression method. These expressed proteins also contained an N-terminal His tag , so that they could be purified in denaturing solvents over a Ni-NTA column. For chronic in vivo applications, these proteins were also less suitable because of the potential immunogenicity of the His tag and because the biological half-life of the recombinant proteins may be decreased for this reason. The solubility of PIIINP in aqueous solutions was too low for most therapeutic applications.
Fibrotic Diseases.
Fibrotic diseases are defined as a diverse group of diseases that are associated with a qualitatively altered collagen production or with an increased deposition of collagen in the exrtracellular space. To this group of diseases belong, among others, systemic or localized scleroderma, liver fibrosis of various etiologies, alcoholic cirrhosis, e.g. alcoholic liver cirrhosis, biliary cirrhosis, hepatitis of viral or other origin, veno-occlusive disease, idiopathic interstitial fibrosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, acute pulmonary fibrosis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, perimuscular fibrosis, pericentral fibrosis, dermatofibroma, kidney fibrosis, diabetic nephropathy, glomerulonephritis, keloids, hypertrophic scars, joint adhesions, arthrosis, myelofibrosis, corneal scaring, cystic fibrosis, muscular fibrosis, Duchenne's muscular dystrophy, esophageal stricture, retroabdominal scaring, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, atherosclerotic alterations, pulmonary hypertension, angiopathy of the arteries and veins, aneurysms of large vessels.
Further fibrotic diseases are induced or initiated by scar revisions, plastic surgeries, glaucoma, cataract fibrosis, corneal scaring, graft vs. host disease, tendon surgery, nerve entrapment, Dupuytren's contracture, OB/GYN adhesions, pelvic adhesions, infertility, peridural fibrosis, diseases of the thyroid gland or the parathyroids, metastatic bone disease, multiple myeloma, or restenoses. In many of the aforementioned diseases, a successful therapy has not been established so far. In others, a need for improved approaches or for the reduction of undesired side effects exists.
From the aforementioned it follows that there is a further need to supply efficacious drugs against fibrotic diseases. The solution to this task is achieved by the embodiments presented in the examples.

Procollagen (III) propeptides and related substances for treating fibrotic diseases


In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a punch quad flat no leads (QFN) semiconductor package including a leadframe wherein the leads of the leadframe are selectively half-etched so that only one or more prescribed leads may be electrically connected to a conformal shield applied to the package body of the semiconductor package. The conformal shield may be electrically connected to the exposed lead(s) alone, or in combination with one or more tie bars of the leadframe. In one embodiment, outer end portions of the top surfaces of the leads of the semiconductor package are alternately exposed and non-exposed, with the non-exposed leads including a top side half-etch which causes the same to be effectively covered by the package body of the semiconductor package.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to semiconductor packages, and more particularly to a punch quad flat no leads (QFN) semiconductor package which includes one or more leads exposed in the package body of the semiconductor package in a manner making such lead(s) suitable for electrical connection to a conformal shield of the semiconductor package.
2. Description of the Related Art
Semiconductor dies are conventionally enclosed in plastic packages that provide protection from hostile environments and enable electrical interconnection between the semiconductor die and an underlying substrate such as a printed circuit board (PCB) or motherboard. The elements of such a package comprise a metal leadframe, an integrated circuit or semiconductor die, bonding material to attach the semiconductor die to the leadframe, bond wires which electrically connect pads or contacts on the semiconductor die to individual leads of the leadframe, and a hard plastic encapsulant material which covers the other components and forms the exterior of the semiconductor package, commonly referred to as the package body.
The leadframe is the central supporting structure of such a package, and is typically fabricated by chemically etching or mechanically stamping a metal strip. A portion of the leadframe is internal to the package, i.e., completely surrounded by the plastic encapsulant or package body. Portions of the leads of the leadframe may extend externally from the package body, or may be partially exposed therein for use in electrically connecting the semiconductor package to another component. In certain semiconductor packages, a portion of the die pad of the leadframe also remains exposed within the package body.
In an often used methodology for fabricating a plurality of the above-described semiconductor packages, a matrix of interconnected leadframes are etched into a leadframe strip. Subsequent to the attachment of the semiconductor dies to respective ones of the die pads of the leadframes and the electrical connection of the pads of the semiconductor dies to the leads of the corresponding leadframes, an encapsulation step facilitates the application of the encapsulant material onto the surface of the leadframe strip to which the semiconductor dies are attached. This encapsulation step covers the semiconductor dies, the side surfaces of the die pads, and portions of the leads within a single block of encapsulant material. The encapsulant material is then hardened, with a cutting step thereafter being used to separate individual semiconductor packages from each other and from the disposable portions of each of the leadframes within the leadframe strip. The cutting step severs the connection between each of the interconnected leadframes within the leadframe strip, and the die pad and leads of each individual leadframe. This cutting or "singulation" process is typically accomplished through either a sawing process (saw singulation) or a punching process (punch singulation). As indicated above, the formation of the individual leadframes within the leadframe strip is itself typically accomplished through either a chemical etching or mechanical stamping process.
One type of semiconductor package commonly including a leadframe is a quad flat no leads (QFN) package. QFN semiconductor packages or devices are particularly advantageous for their smaller size and superior electrical performance. A typical QFN package comprises a thin, generally square package body defining four peripheral sides of substantially equal length. Exposed in the bottom surface of the package body are portions of each of the leads, such exposed portions defining lands or terminals which are used to facilitate the electrical connection of the QFN package to an external device. The lands or terminals defined by the leads are typically segregated into four sets, with the terminals of each set extending along a respective one of the four peripheral sides of the package body. The semiconductor die is itself mounted to a die pad of the QFN package leadframe, with that surface of the die pad opposite to that which the semiconductor die is attached sometimes being exposed in that surface of the package body in which the terminals defined by the leads are also exposed. As indicated above, the pads or contacts of the semiconductor die are electrically connected to the leads, and typically the top surfaces of the leads which are opposite the bottom surfaces thereof defining the exposed terminals.
In standard QFN packages formed through the use of punch singulation, distal or outer end portions of the top surfaces of the leads are also exposed in the fully formed package body. In addition, distal, outer end portions of the top surfaces of the tie bars extending from respective corners of the die pad are also exposed in the same surface of the package body in which the outer end portions of the top surfaces of leads are exposed. In punch QFN packages having a black top or ED design, the package body is formed such that only the lands or terminals defined by the leads and one surface of the die pad are exposed therein, i.e., the outer end portions of the top surfaces of the leads and tie bars are covered by the package body.
As the art has moved to smaller, lighter weight, and higher frequency electronic devices such as cellular telephones, semiconductor packages utilized in these electronic devices are increasingly placed closer to other electronic components and structures. Due to this reduced spacing, radiation such as electromagnetic or radio frequency (RF) radiation emanating from a semiconductor package has a greater probability of interfering with the normal operation of an adjacent electronic component, and vice-versa. To prevent such unacceptable electromagnetic interference, it is known in the prior art to apply a conformal radiation shield to the package body of the semiconductor package.
In those QFN packages to which a conformal shield is applied, it is advantageous to place such conformal shield into electrical communication with one or more of the tie bars and/or one or more of the leads of the semiconductor package. However, for punch QFN packages having the aforementioned black top or ED design, such electrical communication between the conformal shield and the leads and/or tie bars is not possible since, as indicated above, the tie bars are completely covered by the package body, as are the top surfaces of the leads opposite the terminals defined by the bottom surfaces thereof. Though outer end portions of the top surfaces of the leads and tie bars are typically exposed in the package body of the standard punch QFN package also described above, it is often not desirable to have to electrically connect all of the leads and tie bars to the conformal shield subsequently formed on the package body. The present invention addresses this issue by, among other things, providing a punch QFN package in which the outer end portions of the top surfaces of only one or more selected leads and/or tie bars is/are exposed, thus allowing for the electrical connection of the conformal shield thereto. These, as well as other features and advantages of the present invention will be discussed in more detail below.

Conformal shield on punch QFN semiconductor package


A folding staircase. The folding staircase has a frame with an upper end and a lower end. The upper end of the frame defines a top step. Multiple steps are pivotally connected to the lower end of the frame and pivoting arms connects each of the steps to one another. The frame includes brackets that secure to existing mounting points of a vehicle. At least one step is operably connected to a linear actuator, which is in turn connected to a motor. The motor is operably connected to a control switch. Activation and deactivation of the control switch causes the motor to operate resulting in the unfolding of the steps outwardly to a deployed configuration and folding inwardly to a storage configuration. The folding staircase is utilized to provide a safe method of entering and exiting a vehicle.

The present invention relates to steps and stairs for vehicles. More particularly, the present invention provides for a motorized folding staircase for a vehicle that folds into a storage configuration against the vehicle and unfolds into a deployed configuration which a user utilizes to safely enter and exit the vehicle.
Semi-tractors and other similar vehicles normally include operator cabins that are elevated at a substantial height above the ground. These cabins are typically accessed via a vertical two-step ladder that is situated on the driver's side of the vehicle cabin beneath the entry door. These two-step ladders typically have steep inclines and the steps are typically spaced far apart. While such ladders facilitate the climb into and out of the cabin, it can be awkward and potentially dangerous for operators to enter and exit the vehicle cabin using them. The steep incline of the steps makes it all too easy for an individual to accidentally fall while climbing into or out of the vehicle cabin which can cause injury to themselves or others.
Devices have been disclosed in the known art that relate to steps and stairs for vehicles. These include devices that have been patented and disclosed in patent application publications. However, the devices in the known art have several drawbacks. Some vehicles have dedicated entry stairs that provide a more gradual incline and are easier to use to enter the vehicle cabin. However, these types of entry stairs can be bulky and can be a hazard due to the increased space they occupy. Other vehicles have integrated panels that fold down to form steps. However, these types of steps must be integrated into the design of the vehicle's bumper and cab structure, and only provide a steep two-step configuration. In order to address these concerns, it is desirable to provide a folding staircase comprised of steps that provide a more gradual incline and safer means for entering a vehicle, whereby the steps are able to fold against the vehicle in a stored position.
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 steps and stairs for vehicles. In this regard the present invention substantially fulfills these needs.


Three-dimensional polymeric strand netting, wherein a plurality of the polymeric strands are periodically joined together in a regular pattern at bond regions throughout the array, wherein a majority of the polymeric strands are periodically bonded to at least two (three, four, five, six, or more) adjacent polymeric strands, and wherein no polymeric strands are continuously bonded to a polymeric strand. Three-dimensional polymeric strand netting described herein have a variety of uses, including wound care, tapes, filtration, absorbent articles, pest control articles, geotextile applications, water/vapor management in clothing, reinforcement for nonwoven articles, self bulking articles, floor coverings, grip supports, athletic articles, and pattern coated adhesives.

Polymeric nets are used for a wide variety of applications, including reinforcement of paper articles or cheap textiles (e.g., in sanitary paper articles, paper cloth, and heavy duty bags), non-woven upholstery fabrics, window curtains, decorative netting, wrapping material, mosquito netting, protective gardening netting against insects or birds, backing for growing of grass or plants, sport netting, light fishing netting, and filter materials.
Extrusion processes for making polymeric nets are well known in the art. Many of these processes require complex dies with moving parts. Many of these processes can only be used to produce relatively thick netting with relatively large diameter strands and/or relatively large mesh or opening sizes.
Polymeric netting can also be obtained from films by slitting a pattern of intermittent lines, which are mutually staggered, and expanding the slit film while stretching. This process tends to produce netting of a relatively large mesh and with relatively weak cross-points.
There exists a need for a relatively simple and economical process for producing polymeric nettings.

Three-dimensional polymeric strand netting, dies, and methods of making the same


A motion detection system including a lens arranged to focus infrared radiation; a variably positionable optical attenuator arranged for variable positioning thereof opposite the focusing lens, operable for variably attenuating infrared radiation focused by the focusing lens, an extent and a magnitude of the variable attenuation being dependent on a position and on a set of physical characteristics of the variably positionable optical attenuator; a PIR sensor positioned opposite the focusing lens and the variably positionable optical attenuator, operable for sensing the focused and attenuated infrared radiation; and a human motion detection indication generator operable for ascertaining whether an intensity of infrared radiation sensed by the PIR sensor is above a human-generated infrared radiation detection threshold and, responsive thereto, for generating an indication of detection of human motion.

Commercially available motion detection systems typically lack the capability of differentiating between motion of humans which is typically desired to be detected and motion of animals, such as house pets which is typically desired to ignored. The present invention provides improved motion detection systems operable for differentiating between motion of humans and motion of animals, such as house pets.


A multi-stage air pressure cylinder is made of superposed components tightly fastened together wherein additional stages can be added by superposing additional components. The two-stage cylinder comprises two end wall members each having a cylindrical recess facing each other and divided by a fixed partition wall having a perforation therethrough. The partition wall and the end wall members are tightly fastened together. The partition wall subdivides two compression chambers. A piston is located in each compression chamber. One piston has a projection extending outside the cylinder and the other is adapted to exert a mechanical pressure on the first one while fluid pressure is exerted on both pistons.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an air pressure cylinder, and in particular to a multi-stage air pressure cylinder.
The cylinder according to the invention is particularly characterized by an assembly of separate components which are superposed substantially in the form of layers. According to the invention, supplemental stages can be added by the introduction of additional intermediate layers i.e. the introduction of some of the components.
The new cylinder is also characterized by its restricted builkiness which is needed in the robotic field.
The compact shape of the new cylinder facilitates its cleaning operation. It also allows an electroless nickel phosphorous coating on all the piston surfaces, including all the cavities and hard anodize on the surfaces requiring lubrification.
Multipiston pressure cylinders are usually assembled inside a common sleeve of a predetermined length and such a sleeve accepts a predetermined number of pistons. The number of pistons cannot be multiplied. The limitation of such multipiston pressure cylinder is examplied in U.S. Pat. Nos 3,485,141, 3,554,088 and 3,752,040.
In the patent to Ott et al No. 3,485,141, the numbers of piston is limited by the length of the outer sleeve and the inner piston pilot tube. The same applies to the hollow cylindrical body in the patent to Bruyn No 3,554,088 and to the tubular housing in Pat. No. 3,752,040.


A ceiling tile system comprises modular acoustic light-emitting modules which can be of a standard size to be fitted into a hung ceiling or other ceiling system in conjunction with similar acoustic light-emitting modules or conventional ceiling tiles. Each acoustic light-emitting module includes a backing panel, a cover, and a rigid spacing member extending between the backing panel and the cover, with solid state light-emitting elements such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) arrayed within each module. The cover may be made of fabric including metallic threads to enhance the diffusion of light. In one embodiment, two arrays of LEDs are provided on respective modules. The arrays may be driven independently or together. The LEDs provide shades of white light or colored light, as desired. The cover and lighting elements may be readily removable from the backing panel for ease of maintenance.

The invention relates to the field of acoustic tile systems and integral lighting elements.
Acoustic improvements are needed in most office, commercial and institutional environments. Sound absorbing sheet products, wall coverings or acoustic tiles are specified and applied in almost every contemporary building to address this need. Such existing systems accommodate all building life safety codes, are easy to install, inexpensive and ubiquitous. However, existing acoustic tiles have performance limitations in the face of changing work and lifestyle practices. The miniaturization of mobile communication and information tools and the advent of internet and wireless distribution networks have placed a premium on spatial flexibility for individuals and small and large groups. As mobility increases in residential, public and commercial settings, the overall architectural flexibility of space is increasingly important, and the attendant problem of providing acoustic privacy and a sense of individual place also increases.
Currently, acoustic controls are provided for example in the form of suspended ceiling tiles, which are combined with separate lay-in fluorescent light fixtures for lighting needs. However, this standard arrangement may be less than desirable from the perspectives of functional energy consumption, light control, light personalization and aesthetic appearance. The ceiling is an important architectural surface, yet its functional potential to both absorb sound and to distribute light in an energy-efficient manner which allows for the control of individual ceiling areas with an aesthetic design is currently ignored.
Thus, there is a need for an improved acoustic tile system that can be easily adapted for example to existing ceiling systems as well as building codes and construction conventions. It is advantageous for such an improved ceiling system to incorporate lighting and acoustic needs while providing for flexible aesthetic and functional alternatives to standard acoustic tile systems.


A golf ball includes a cover that includes a plurality of layers over the core. A reacting layer changes when exposed to a particular atmospheric or environmental agent. A protecting layer protects the reacting layer from exposure to the agent. A top layer covers the other layers, though the top layer, the protecting layer, and the reacting layer may be intermingled with each other to varying degrees. Upon deterioration of the top layer and the protecting layer, the reacting layer becomes exposed to the agent and undergoes a change. This change alerts a golfer to the deterioration of the ball.

The ball selected by a golfer has a great effect on the golfer's score in a round of golf. Golf balls are designed that have varying types of properties, such as a particular size, weight, and density, all of which affect the flight path of the ball.
In addition to these properties, the outer surface of the ball also affects the flight path of the ball. Balls are designed with a variety of dimple sizes and shapes, in addition to being made with various materials that also affect the flight of a ball.
Golf balls may be designed with a particular flight path in mind. If a ball becomes scuffed or otherwise damaged, the flight path of the ball may change. While golfers may be aware that such a change occurs, they may be unaware of what level of scuffing or damage causes a change in the flight path.
Therefore, it may be useful to a golfer to have a ball that includes an indicator that alerts a golfer that a ball surface has deteriorated and that the flight path of the ball may be different from that which was originally intended.


An apparatus and associated methodology providing an axial positioner for a rotatable shaft that is selectively extensible along an axis of rotation. The apparatus includes a sleeve having a first race operably fixed in rotation with the shaft, and a second race operably fixed at a predetermined rotational position. The races define opposing bearing surfaces operably supporting the first race in rotation with respect to the second race. The apparatus also includes an indicia device attached to the second race.

Manufacturing lines have generally evolved in complexity by the integration of highly sophisticated automation devices and methods. Gains in productivity continue to be realized as past reliance on human judgment and manipulation is replaced by processor-driven systems. The repeatability of such intelligent systems enables maximizing both quality and production speed. There has also been a general trend toward integrating fabrication and testing operations into the final assembly processes, replacing after-the-fact inspection with in-process quality control and record archiving as much as possible. Complex factory information systems are used to gather real time information about the products in their various stages of manufacture, all aimed at predictively preventing any occurrence of nonconforming product.
For automation lines that include rotating articles that extend or move in a linear direction along an axis of rotation ("axial direction"), such as a drive bit for fasteners (e.g. screws) or a bit for drilling, it is desirable to provide in-process quality control by way of detecting the axial position of the rotating article. For example, when the manufacturing process includes a step of driving screws into a product being manufactured, detection of the axial position of the drive bit can be used to determine and control various stages of the screw driving process, including when the drive bit makes contact with a screw head, when the screw makes contact with the target object, and the final relative position of the screw head after having been driven and secured at a predetermined torque.


A microscope system includes a light amount ratio changing unit for changing a ratio of the amount of light directed to a first optical path for directing an optical image of the sample to an eyepiece lens and a second optical path for directing an optical image of the sample to an image capturing unit, an image capturing controlling unit for controlling an exposure time of the image capturing unit, and a controlling unit for obtaining a first exposure time from the image capturing controlling unit, for calculating a second exposure time on the basis of the first exposure time and a second ratio of the amount of light, and for controlling the image capturing controlling unit to set the second exposure time as the exposure time if the light amount ratio changing unit changes to the second ratio of the amount of light.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a microscope image shooting system using a microscope digital camera that shoots a sample image of a microscope.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the popularization of high-performance digital cameras, microscope images have been being shot by connecting a digital camera to a microscope. A microscope used for such a microscope observation includes an optical path for directing a sample image to an eyepiece lens, and an optical path for directing the sample image to a digital camera. By switching between these optical paths, the sample image can be directed to the eyepiece lens or the digital camera, or the sample image can be simultaneously directed to both of the optical paths by dividing the amount of light.
If the sample image is simultaneously directed to both of the optical paths by dividing the amount of light, the amount of light can be set, for example, in three ways: (1) at a ratio of 100%:0% (the eyepiece lens side:the camera side), (2) at a ratio of 50%:50% (the eyepiece lens side:the camera side), and (3) at a ratio of 0%:100% (the eyepiece lens side:the camera side). If the amount of light is split between both the eyepiece lens side and the camera side as in (2), a ratio of the amount of light split can be changed. The sample image directed to the eyepiece lens can be observed by looking through the eyepiece lens.
In the meantime, the sample image directed to the digital camera is image-processed by the digital camera, so that digital image data is generated. The generated digital image data of the sample image can be displayed on a monitor. Accordingly, an observer can observe the sample image displayed on the monitor. Moreover, a sample image directed to the digital camera is continuously image-processed, and its digital image data is displayed on the monitor, whereby the observer can observe the sample image in real time (hereinafter referred to as a live image display).
Accordingly, the observer can select from among observing using the eyepiece lens, observing using the live image display of the digital camera, and using both manners of observing. Therefore, the observer can search for a point to be observed while viewing a sample image displayed as a live image, and can observe the image with the eyepiece lens.
Additionally, if a microscope image is obtained by shooting a sample image, the observer can shoot a sharp microscope image by switching to the optical path for directing the total amount of light of the sample image to the digital camera. In this case, the amount of light directed to the digital camera is changed by optical path switching. Recent digital cameras have been enabled to detect the amount of light directed thereto, and to adjust an exposure time thereof. As a result, it is possible to shoot an image with a constant level of brightness even with a different amount of light.
However, a predetermined length of time is needed until the digital camera is adjusted to an optimum exposure time. Therefore, it is impossible to shoot an image immediately after optical path switching. Moreover, if the optical path for directing a sample image to both the eyepiece lens and the digital camera is set, light incident from the outside of the microscope is directed from the eyepiece lens, the light invades into the optical path on the side of the digital camera, and external light is sometimes shot. Therefore, if an observer forgets to perform optical path switching and shoots an image with the setting of the optical path for directing a sample image to both the eyepiece lens and the digital camera unchanged, it is possible that light other than the sample image will be shot. Accordingly, the observer needs to appropriately perform optical path switching.
In the meantime, the following methods related to optical path switching at the time of a microscope observation are known. Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2005-128429 discloses a microscope system that includes a small optical path switching unit and electrically switches an optical path. Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2000-47116 discloses a technique for adjusting the amount of illumination light of a microscope at the time optical path switching is performed and for obtaining an optimum amount of light irrespective of an optical path.

Microscope system and its control method


A battery capacity indicator is described which measures the battery terminal voltage at two discharge rates, monitoring the resultant differential battery voltage at predetermined time intervals, and comparing the resultant differential battery voltage to a set of predetermined differential battery voltages which are stored within a memory within the battery powered device. Each of the predetermined differential battery voltages corresponds to one of a set of predetermined battery capacities for each type of battery used in the device. The battery capacity indicator provides to the user a continuous display of the available battery capacity.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of battery capacity indicator circuits, and in particular to a battery capacity indicator circuit for use in battery powered devices having visual displays.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 1 is a graph which shows a plot of battery life versus battery terminal voltage for a battery operating at several discharge rates. As can be observed from the battery life curves, the battery life obtainable from the battery is a function of the load which is coupled to the battery. For a relatively high value resistive load, such as indicated by curve 10, a relatively long battery life is obtained. For a nominal resistive load, such as indicated by curve 15, a nominal value battery life is obtained. And for a relatively low value resistive load, such as indicated by curve 20, a relatively short battery life is obtained. It will be appreciated, that the actual battery life obtained is a function of both the load, which determines the actual discharge rate, and the type and size of battery in use, which determines the battery capacity. Primary batteries, such as carbon-zinc batteries, provide low energy capacities, whereas zinc -air and lithium batteries provide high energy capacities. Other primary batteries, such as silver-oxide, manganese, alkaline, and mercury, batteries fall in between these two extremes. Still other batteries, such as NiCd secondary batteries provide a much lower energy capacity than that of the primary batteries of equivalent size, however, this disadvantage is compensated for by the fact the batteries can be repeatedly charged, thereby providing very long battery life before the battery must be replaced. Because of this large variation in the battery energy capacities for the different types of batteries, most prior art battery capacity indicators, such as those utilized in battery powered communication devices, have resorted to simply measuring the terminal voltage either under load, or at a predetermined time interval after the load has been removed, which resulted in a go/no-go indication of the end of life (EOL) of the battery. Once the measured voltage fell below a predetermined threshold voltage, the prior art battery capacity indicators provided a sensible alert indicating the end of life of the battery, and that the battery should be replaced or recharged. As a result, many users of such battery operated devices often found themselves with dead batteries, as the prior art battery capacity indicators provided no indication of the rate at which the battery was being discharged, or an indication of the amount of energy remaining within the battery.


Anatomic range planning is provided in positron emission tomography (PET). The user indicates one or more ranges on an image of a patient based on anatomy. Rather than planning by bed position, the planning is based on the anatomy of the patient without reference to the length of the PET detector. The user interface for PET examination avoids overlapping boxes and other confusion based on bed position. Different anatomical ranges may be assigned different PET parameters, such as reconstruction parameters. A processor may automatically alter the examination (e.g., by extending the detection range beyond the region of interest or by increasing duration at an end position) to account for the sensitivity profile since the anatomical region of interest is known. Anatomical region specific directions may be included as part of planning, aiding in performing different protocols for different anatomical ranges.

The present embodiments relate to planning in nuclear medicine, such as positron emission tomography (PET). In particular, planning is provided for detecting from a volume of the patient that is longer than the field of view of the PET detector.
PET user interfaces support examination planning based on multiple integral bed positions. In this "stop and shoot" approach, different bed positions are dictated by the physical axial length of the PET detector. For example, the examination is divided into a plurality of bed positions spaced less than a length of the PET detector apart. The examination region for each bed position corresponds to the length or field of view of the PET detector. These bed positions are arranged to provide overlapping examination at different locations.
To define the region to scan of the patient, the user indicates the starting bed position. The amount of overlap may be defined as well. Since each bed position has a length based on the PET detector, the user defines the number of bed positions and overlaps to provide for examining a diagnostic region of interest of the patient. The user configures only the number of integral bed positions to define the overall extent of scan. The user can determine the location of one end of the overall scan range, but the other end location and the positions of the individual bed positions are determined based on the integral math of gantry axial field-of-view. The integral math may not match the anatomy of the patient with specific bed positions. The user cannot easily optimize and adapt the examination protocol to the specific needs of various organ imaging. As a consequence, most users do not attempt to optimize scanning protocols for the different bed positions.
Another problem with typical PET examinations is sensitivity. The sensitivity profile of the PET detector across the axial field of view is triangular or trapezoid shaped, which leads to lower sensitivity and lower signal-to-noise ratio at the end planes of a given bed position. Where multiple bed positions are used, the overall sensitivity profile is generally more consistent within the diagnostic region of interest, but has decreased sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio at the extremes due to no overlapping bed positions. Users compensate for the lowered sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio by manually planning to begin and end the examination in positions that are beyond the area of diagnostic interest. This further complicates planning for the bed positions and results in imaging of parts of the patient that are not diagnostically desired. Alternatively, the users accept the lowered sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio at the end planes.
During operation of the PET detector after planning, the user and patient are presented with progress references in the form of beds "X" of "Y" and/or time remaining per bed or for the overall scan. The user or system may provide a general instruction to the patient prior to the beginning of the overall scan, or the user may attempt to manually provide the instruction based on the coarse progress information. Since general instructions have minimal benefit as not timely and improper timing may lead to a reduction in examination quality, the user typically chooses not to give patient instructions during the examination itself and does not attempt advanced techniques, such as breath-hold during whole body examinations.

Anatomic range planning in positron emission tomography