Methods and apparatus for deriving and/or generating, user presence information from communication signals monitored by a SBC or PRI Gateway and aggregating and/or distributing the user presence information. An exemplary method embodiment includes the steps of storing a plurality of user profile records, each of the user profile records mapping contact information for a user to one or more user identifiers corresponding to the user; receiving first signaling information; determining a first user corresponding to the first signaling information by comparing at least a first portion of the information contained in the first signaling information to at least a first portion of the information contained in the plurality of user profiles; and generating presence status information for the first user and communicating the first presence status information to a presence server as presence status information corresponding to a first user identifier, said first user identifier corresponding to said first user.

Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is an application level protocol defined by Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) for creating, modifying and terminating multimedia sessions. SIP is widely used for establishing and terminating voice, video, and messaging sessions over IP (Internet Protocol) and to exchange presence information.
Presence information is a status indicator that conveys ability and willingness of a potential communication partner (on the other end). A user's client provides presence information (presence state) to a presence service. The presence service stores the user's presence information in what constitutes the user's personal availability record sometimes referred to as a presentity. Under certain conditions the user's presentity is made available for distribution to other users, who are sometimes referred to as watchers, to convey the user's availability for communication. In this way the presence information is the service enabler for instance messaging (IM), voice or video sessions. The growth in popularity of instant messaging and voice over IP from consumers is largely attributed to the availability of the presence information of other users such as in a buddy list.
Many communications devices such as for example those which are connected directly to a PSTN or Internet do not provide presence information. For example, legacy PBX systems typically do not provide presence information for their users. Furthermore, it is typical for a user to be reachable on many different devices. Currently when a user is a Skype for business Lync client, its presence status is tied only a Skype for business to Skype for business session. This limitation does not communicate the full range of other devices that the user may have, such as PBX lines, home phones, mobile devices, etc.
It should be appreciated from the foregoing that there is a need for methods and apparatus that can provide a user's presence information for devices and systems that do not support and/or do not provide presence information. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that there is a need for providing presence information on behalf of users that do not have devices or operate behind devices that do not support or provide presence information. Moreover, it is should be appreciated that there is a need for determining a user's presence information without affecting the user's communication signaling.
There are currently multiple services offering presence, IM, and/or voice/video communications services. For example, the IP (Internet Protocol) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) is an architectural framework for delivering Internet Protocol (IP) multimedia services. IMS was originally designed by the wireless standards body 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and later on maintained and updated by 3GPP, 3GPP2 and TISPAN (Telecommunications and Internet converged Services and Protocols for Advanced Networking) as a collaborative effort. IMS defines an architecture and procedures for implementing the voice, video, IM and presence services based on Session Initiation Protocol. IMS is considered one of the next generation architectures for providing services over IP among the Telcom industry. There are also numerous web based services such as, for example, Google Talk (gtalk), skype, and yahoo instant messaging offering presence enabled instant messaging, voice and/or video services. Moreover, there are product offerings such as, for example, Microsoft Lync and Cisco Jabber, which are popular in the Enterprise market. Microsoft (MS) Lync offers integrated instant messaging, voice, video services from a system hosted in the Enterprise as well as Lync online which is a cloud based communication service. In such systems in order to get a communication service a user needs an Identity which is recognized in the service domain. For example, a skype ID is needed for using skype service, an IMS Public user Identity is needed for using IMS service, and an Microsoft Lync ID is needed for using Lync service.
These communication services are managed as autonomous systems which recognize the user by the Identity assigned to the user by the system. However, each system does not know the Identities of the same user in other autonomous systems. As a result, presence aggregation logic does not take the activity on other user identities of the same user into consideration. This leads to inaccurate representation of the presence state of the user. For example, Microsoft Lync aggregates the presence of the user based on the activity of the user on all the devices, the user logged in with a Microsoft Lync ID. But, Microsoft Lync presence does not take into account the user activity in other domains or autonomous systems such as gtalk or IMS phone.
It should be appreciated that there is a need for methods and apparatus that can not only derive and/or generate a user's presence information from monitoring a user's communication signals but also a need to aggregate and distribute a user's presence information across multiple autonomous federated and non-federated systems and/or domains.

Methods and apparatus for generating, aggregating and/or distributing presence information

Ribbon Communications Operating Company, Inc.


A proofing element containing: (a) a photoconductive layer on an electrically conductive substrate; and (b) overlaying the photoconductive layer, a removable dielectric layer containing thermoplastic polymeric resinous particles which have steric stabilizer groups adhered to the surfaces of said polymeric particles, said steric stabilizer groups being in coordinated association with a charge directing moiety and said charge directing moiety having a charge dissipating agent in association therewith.. A process for applying a removable dielectric layer to a photoconductive substrate comprising the steps of: (a) applying an organosol to a photoconductive substrate, the organosol comprising: a carrier liquid having a dispersion therein of thermoplastic polymeric resinous particles which have steric stabilizer groups adhered to the surfaces of said polymeric particles, said steric stabilizer groups being in coordinated association with a charge directing moiety and said charge directing moiety having a charge dissipating agent in association therewith; and (b) removing the carrier liquid.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a color proofing element and more particularly, it relates to a photoconductive layer coated with a releasable dielectric layer. This invention also relates to a process for making the inventive color proofing element.
2. Background of the Invention
Multicolor toner images produced by successive toner transfer from a photoconductor to a single receptor are well known in the art, both for powder toners with constituents intended to improve resolution on transfer and for use with magnetic brush development (U.S. Pat. No. 3,833,293). U.S. Pat. No. 3,612,677 discloses a machine designed to provide good registration when using successive color image transfer and U.S. Pat. No. 3,804,619 discloses special powder toners to overcome difficulties toners have in three color successive transfer.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,847,642 discloses a method and apparatus for transferring and fixing images formed by electrostatographic imaging techniques. A thin film of viscous material is applied to an imaging member prior to or after forming an electrostatic latent image thereon. The latent image is developed with electroscopic marking material and the resulting developed image is transferred by contact to a recording medium. A portion of the viscous material is also transferred to the recording medium with the image and is subsequently solidified, thereby fixing the image to the recording medium.
The production of multi-colored images by overlaying toned images on a photoconductor surface is also known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,337,340 discloses liquid developers designed to minimize the "bleeding away of charge on the photoconductor surface" which occurs when recharging of an already toned surface is attempted. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,155,862 and 4,157,219 disclose liquid toner formulations and apparatus for producing multicolor composite toned images on a photoconductor surface. U.S. Pat. No. 4,275,136 emphasizes the difficulties in ensuring that overlaid toner layers on a photoconductor adhere to one another. The addition of zinc or aluminum hydroxides coated on the colorant particles is used to solve the problem.
Many methods are used to aid the efficient transfer of toner from a photoconductor surface after toner development to a receptor sheet. U.S. Pat. No. 3,157,546 discloses overcoating a developed toner image while it is still on the photoconductor. A liquid layer having a concentration of about 5% of a film-forming material in a solvent is used at between 10 and 50 microns wet thickness. After drying, transfer is carried out to a receptor surface which has a mildly adhesive surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,066,802 discloses the transfer of a multi-toned image from a photoconductor, first to an adhesive carrier sheet and then to a receptor. The second stage involves the application of heat and pressure with a "polymeric or plasticizing sheet" between the image on the carrier sheet and the receptor surface. U.S. Pat. No. 4,064,285 also uses an intermediate carrier sheet which has a double coating on it comprising a silicone release layer underneath and a top layer which transfers to the final receptor with the multicolor image and fixes it under the influence of heat and pressure. U.S. Pat. No. 4,337,303 discloses methods of transferring a thick (high optical density) toned image from a photoconductor to a receptor. High resolution levels of the transferred images are claimed (200 l/mm). It is required to dry the liquid toned image and encapsulate the image in a layer coated on the receptor. Curing of the encapsulating layer is required with some formulations. The materials of this layer are chosen to have explicit physical properties which provide not only complete transfer of the thick toner image but also ensure encapsulation of it.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,477,548 teaches the use of a protective coating over toner images. The coating is placed on the final image and is not involved in any image transfer step. The coating may be a multifunctional acrylate, for example.
Transfer of certain types of composite multi-toned images is disclosed in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 3,140,175 discloses depositing microbeads containing a dye and a photoconductor on one electrode; exposing them through a colored original; and then applying a field between a first and second electrode thereby causing separation of charged and uncharged beads and transfer of the colored image to a receptor surface at the second electrode. U.S. Pat. No. 3,376,133 discloses laying down different colored toners sequentially on a photoconductor which is charged only once. The toners have the same charge as that on the photoconductor and replace the charge conducted away in image areas. However, it is disclosed that subsequent toners will not deposit over earlier ones. The final image of several toners is transferred to a receptor and fixed. U.S. Pat. No. 3,862,848 discloses normal sequential color separation toned images transferred to an intermediate receptor (which can be a roller) by "contact and directional electrostatic field" to give a composite multi-toned image. This composite image is then transferred to a final receptor sheet by contact and a directional electrostatic field.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,600,669 describes an electrophotographic proofing element and process in which successive liquid toned color images are formed on a photoconductive support. The composite image is then transferred to a receptor layer. The photoconductive layer has a releasable dielectric support coated thereon which may comprise a polymeric overcoat on the photoconductive layer which is transferred with the composite image. See also U.S. Pat. No. 4,725,867.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,882 describes an electrophotographic imaging system using a member comprising at least one photoconductive layer and an overcoating layer comprising a film forming continuous phase of charge transport molecules and charge injection enabling particles.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,565,760 describes a photoresponsive imaging member comprising a photoconductor layer and, as a release protective coating over at least one surface, a dispersion of colloidal silica and a hydroxylated silsesquioxane in alcohol medium.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,663 describes an improved enhancement layer used in electrophotographic devices between a top protective layer and the photoconductor layer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,752,549 describes an electrophotographic receptor having a protective layer composed of a thermosetting silicone resin and a polyvinyl acetate resin.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,510,223 describes a multicolor electrophotographic imaging process. A general description of transfer of the toned image to an adhesive receptor is disclosed at column 15, lines 21-40.
As is known in the electrophotographic arts, toners are used to develop a latent electrostatic image produced on a photoconductive surface.
EPA Publication No. 498,535 A 1 (foreign counterpart to Assignee's copending U.S. application Ser. No. 07/652,572, filed Feb. 8, 1991) discloses a liquid electrophotographic toner having a coordinated association of steric stabilizer and charge directing moiety having a monovalent alkali metal or ammonium cation bonded thereto. The toner employs pigment particles.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,066,559 discloses liquid toners for developing electrophotographic images containing dispersed toner particles which are based on a polymer with multiple characteristics. These particles contain a thermoplastic resinous core with a glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) below room temperature which is chemically anchored to an amphiphatic copolymer steric stabilizer containing covalently attached groups of organic acid-containing moieties having a pKa less than 4.5 which in turn are chemically bonded to metal soap-containing compounds derived from organic acids having a pKa greater than 4.5. The toner particles so formed have advantageous properties of high charge/mass and good charge and dispersion stability.

Color proofing element and process for making the same

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company


Disclosed is a method for controlling a gap in a circuit breaker, the circuit breaker configured to interrupt a circuit by separating a movable contactor from a fixed contactor as a cross bar is pressed to be rotated by a pressing member due to bending of a bimetal, the method including: a gap forming step of bending the bimetal by apply of a set current, in a state where the pressing member is coupled to a coupling hole so as to be freely-movable, the coupling hole formed at an upper part of the bimetal; and a gap fixing step of interrupting the set current when a prescribed time has lapsed, and of welding the pressing member to the bimetal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to a circuit breaker, and more particularly, to a method for controlling a gap in a circuit breaker which detects an accident current and interrupt a circuit, the method capable of automatically setting a gap between a bimetal and a cross bar with respect to a time delay operating characteristic by a detection mechanism.
2. Background of the Invention
A circuit breaker serves to open or close a load in an electric power substation or on an electrical circuit line, etc., or to interrupt a current when an accident such as a ground fault or a short-circuit current occurs. The circuit breaker converts a state of an electrical circuit into an 'OFF' or 'ON' state according to a user's manipulation. In the occurrence of an overload and a short-circuit current on the electrical circuit, the circuit breaker interrupts the circuit to protect the load and the electrical circuit.
The circuit breaker has a time-limited trip characteristic and an instantaneous trip characteristic. The time-limited trip characteristic indicates an over-current trip characteristic having an operation time inversely-proportional to an over-current value. And, the time-limited trip characteristic includes a thermal magnetic type using a thermal factor such as bi-metal, and a hydraulic magnetic type using a breaking operation of an oil dash pot (ODP).
The instantaneous trip characteristic is used to rapidly trip a circuit breaker by a large over-current such as a short-circuit current. And, the time-limited trip characteristic is used to trip a circuit breaker before the temperature of a wire reaches a dangerous state by Joule's heat, when an over-current more than a rated current flows on the wire.
Hereinafter, the time-limited trip characteristic will be explained. It is advantageous for a circuit breaker to rapidly operate in the aspect of protection. However, an over-current such as an initial driving current of a motor, as well as a normal load current, flows on an electrical circuit. Accordingly, the circuit breaker preferably operates with time delay within a range that the temperature of the electrical circuit does not exceed an allowable temperature, so that the circuit breaker can be prevented from operating by the over-current. Therefore, the time-limited trip characteristic may be also referred to as a time delay operating characteristic.
Once an over-current is applied to the circuit breaker, heat is generated from a heater. Such generated heat is conducted to a bimetal to cause the bimetal to be bent due to a thermal conduction difference between two members of the bimetal. As the bimetal is bent, a cross bar is pressed to be rotated. As a result, a switching mechanism operates to convert a state of the electrical circuit into an open state, thereby interrupting the circuit.
A factor which determines time delay in the time delay operating characteristic is a time duration from time when the bimetal starts to be bent due to an over-current, to time when the switching mechanism operates by rotation of the cross bar. Such time delay is determined based on an initial gap between a bimetal and a cross bar, a reactive bending amount from a time point when the bimetal comes in contact with the cross bar, to a time point when the cross bar rotates by a bending load of the bimetal, and a rotation distance of the cross bar until when the switching mechanism starts to operate upon rotation of the cross bar.
A rotation degree of the bimetal, i.e., a bending amount is determined based on the aforementioned factors. The reactive bending amount and the rotation distance of the cross bar are influenced by an individual characteristic of the circuit breaker. Therefore, it is difficult to minutely adjust the reactive bending amount and the rotation distance of the cross bar, unless the components are replaced. As a result, the only factor which determines time delay in the time delay operating characteristic is the gap between the bimetal and the cross bar.
If the gap between the bimetal and the cross bar is too small, a trip time of the circuit breaker is shortened. This may cause the circuit to be interrupted even in a state of an over-current such as an initial driving current. On the contrary, if the gap between the bimetal and the cross bar is too large, the circuit breaker may have trip time delay, or may not be tripped. This may cause an over-current to be supplied to the circuit, resulting in damages of the circuit.
Generally, the circuit breaker has a plurality of rated currents within the same structure. Therefore, when considering the number of types of bimetals and heaters, it is impossible to implement a constant gap and to satisfy the time delay operating characteristic with respect to an over-current in a single circuit breaker.
Generally, the circuit breaker is categorized into several types based on the amount of heat generated from a heater and a bending amount of the bimetal when an over-current flows. And, the gap between the bimetal and the cross bar is adjusted when manufacturing the circuit breaker, for a precise time delay operating characteristic.
The gap control is differently performed according to each rating, and is generally performed by an operator. More specifically, a contact gap between a screw and the cross bar is formed by controlling the height of the screw coupled to an upper part of the bimetal. To this end, the operator inserts a gap gauge between the cross bar and the screw, and rotates the screw so that the screw can be adhered to the gap gauge. Then, the operator removes the gap gauge, and fixes the screw to the cross bar.
Generally, it is necessary to minutely control the gap within the range of 0.1 mm. However, since the aforementioned gap control is manually performed, an error occurs according to each operator. Furthermore, even if the same operator performs the gap control, an error may occur according to each product. The time delay operating characteristic of the circuit breaker may be influenced by such error, and thus the quality of the circuit breaker may be lowered.
Furthermore, if the process is manually performed, it takes a lot of time to perform the gap control. This may lower the productivity.

Method for controlling gap in circuit breaker


A recreational area construction comprising a base with a plurality of borders forming a perimeter on the base; a layer of water pervious material on the base between the borders, and a top layer of cushioning material supported on the base and layer of water pervious material.

1. Field of the Invention:
This invention pertains to recreational area structures such as playgrounds and jogging paths which may be seen at schools, municipal grounds, parks and the like.
2. Background of the Prior Art:
The prior art discloses playing surfaces for athletic games which employ, among other things, pile fabric having a moisture-proof backing and other snythetic materials which are placed on the earth, and drainage structures.
Representative of the prior art are patents listed below and copies are furnished for the records.
______________________________________ Inventor Pat. No. Title ______________________________________ S. D. Summers 3,083,542 Device For Installing Soil Drainage Means F. T. Haas, Jr. 4,044,179 Playing Surface For Athletic Games R. W. Luebke 4,296,884 Containment Reservoir And Method M. Curati, Jr. 4,366,846 Method For Collecting And . . . From Along A Railroad Track Section L. Barnett 4,538,387 Drainage And Insulating Material For Subterranean Walls R. G. Heath 4,679,963 Playground Construction Foreign Patents European Pat. Off. 85,742 France 2,422,772 Japan 6059-230 United Kingdom 2,035,098 ______________________________________


An LED array includes a substrate and a semiconductor structure layer provided on the substrate. The semiconductor structure layer includes a first semiconductor layer, an active layer formed on the first semiconductor layer, and a second semiconductor layer formed on the active layer. The semiconductor structure layer is partitioned into a plurality of light emitting sections by grooves formed in the semiconductor structure layer. Each groove is defined by two opposite side faces of adjacent light emitting sections. Each side face has a recessed and protruding configuration. In one embodiment, the protrusions and recesses of one side face of one light emitting section fit in respective recesses and protrusions of a corresponding side face of an adjacent light emitting section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an array of light emitting elements such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), and also relates to an apparatus having such an array of light emitting elements.
2. Description of the Related Art
Light emitting apparatuses with LED elements provided therein are used for illumination, backlighting, and the like. In recent years, light emitting apparatuses are also used for automotive lamps such as headlights in automobiles. One example of such light emitting apparatuses is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Kokai (Laid-open) No. 2006-48934. This light emitting apparatus has an LED array, and includes several LED elements arranged in series in order to ensure a needed luminous flux. Another example of light emitting apparatuses is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Kokai No. 2006-80442. This light emitting apparatus is another LED array device that possesses a plurality of light emitting sections on one support substrate.


A system includes a payload ejector configured to contact a payload carried by a flight vehicle and to push the payload away from the flight vehicle. The payload ejector includes a piston configured to extend from the payload ejector and a shock attenuator coupled to the piston, where the shock attenuator is configured to push the payload away from the flight vehicle. The shock attenuator includes a shock attenuator housing and a plunger that is movable within the shock attenuator housing and that extends from the shock attenuator housing. The plunger is configured to be pushed at least partially into the shock attenuator housing in order to damp a shock pulse applied to the payload. The shock attenuator housing may have an interior space, and the shock attenuator may further include a spring, compliant material, or fluid within the interior space.

Various types of aircraft or other flight vehicles often carry payloads that need to be ejected or released from the flight vehicles during flight. For example, jets and drones often carry missiles, bombs, fuel pods, or other payloads under their wings or bodies. Often times, a payload needs to be physically pushed away from a flight vehicle when the payload is ejected or released. In these cases, an ejection unit (also referred to as a release unit) can activate one or more ejector pistons that quickly extend outward from the flight vehicle to contact the payload and push the payload away from the flight vehicle.

Payload ejector with shock attenuation device


A novel toroidal core current sensor for an AFCI/GFCI Circuit Breaker and a test circuit configuration based thereon is disclosed. The current sensor has a plurality of load current conductors extending therethrough. One of the conductors carrying a load current has a portion of the load current shunted outside the core through a shunt conductor which is connected in parallel with one of the load current conductors. The secondary of the transformer outputs a current value proportional to and substantially less than the load current which may be, for example, detected by a control circuit which compares the current value against predetermined stored criteria and operates a circuit breaker accordingly. In the test circuit a power source and a waveform generator are provided for operating an AFCI.backslash.GFCI circuit breaker having the shunted current sensor and injecting test signals into a terminal of the circuit breaker. The unique properties of the shunted current sensor permit a wide range of fault conditions to be applied at low signal power because of the relatively high sensitivity the shunted current sensor provides to the AFCI.backslash.GFCI circuit breaker.

According to one report from the National Fire Protection Association data, there are 42,900 fires per year due to electrical equipment. These fires cause $615 Million property damage and 370 lives to be lost every year. Of these fires 15,200 are due to fixed wiring, 7,800 are due to cords and plugs, and 8,400 are due to lamp and light fixtures. The Consumer Product Safety Commission in a 1987 study found that fires are located in every area of residential dwellings; bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, closet/storage areas, garages, bathrooms, laundry rooms, halls, and dining rooms (in decreasing order of occurrence).
Today circuit breakers only protect overload and short circuit conditions which occur primarily in fixed wiring. The overload protection is provided by the slow heating of a bimetal strip which breaks the circuit and the breaker trips after a specified period of time. The more current that runs through the bimetal, the shorter the time it takes to trip the breaker. Short circuit protection is also provided magnetically, that is, a high level of current trips the breaker instantaneously. The lower limit of the magnetic trip setting is determined by the manufacturer such that the device does not nuisance trip on high inrush loads.
It has been estimated that a large percentage of the fires that occur in residential dwellings can be attributed to "arcing faults." An arc fault is an unintentional electrical discharge characterized by low and erratic current that may ignite combustible materials. Three types of arc faults common to household wiring are parallel, ground, and series. A parallel fault occurs when there is an arc resulting from direct contact of two wires of opposite polarity. A ground fault results when there is an arc between a wire and ground, and a series fault occurs when there is an arc across a break in a single conductor. Arcing can occur and lead to fire in these common situations: frayed appliance extension cords, pierced insulation on electrical construction wire, overheated cords or wires, and appliances where the insulation of the internal wires is impaired. These situations are outside of the normal protection provided by existing circuit breakers.
To address this particular type of problem, industry has developed the Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI). AFCI technology was first used to protect the areas surrounding downed utility lines. Advances in electronic technology make arc fault protection available in residential circuits in a cost effective manner. The AFCI adds electronic protection to the "standard" thermal and magnetic protection provided by today's breakers. The arc-fault detection circuitry detects specific arcs that are determined to be likely to cause a fire. The AFCI uses electronics to recognize the current and voltage characteristics of the arcing faults, and interrupts the circuit when the fault occurs.
Another technology developed to address the increasing number of injuries caused from electrical faults is called Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI). A GFCI is an inexpensive electrical device that, according to one report, if installed in household branch circuits, could prevent over two-thirds of the approximately 300 electrocutions and thousands of electrical shocks and burns occurring each year in and around the home. The GFCI measures the current flowing through the hot wire and the neutral wire. If the current differs by more than a few milliamps, the presumption is that current is leaking to ground via some other path. This may be because of a short circuit to the chassis of an appliance, or to the ground lead, or through a person. Any of these situations is hazardous, so the GFCI trips, breaking the circuit.
A circuit breaker with both AFCI and GFCI attributes provides a more comprehensive electrical protection solution. For example, GFCIs protect people from injury due to electrical shock using thermal and magnetic protection circuits by tripping the breaker circuit when the leakage to ground exceeds approximately 6 mA. The GFCI can detect phase-to-ground arcs, but cannot detect series arcs or parallel (line-to-neutral) arcs. Since the AFCI can detect both series and parallel arcs, it enhances the protection of the circuit. Operation of an AFCI breaker is described in related U.S. Pat. No. 5,875,087 issued to the assignee of the present application, and incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. AFCI does not replace the function of a GFCI, but it does provide enhanced protection from arcing conditions that may cause a fire. Circuit breakers with both AFCI and GFCI technology require two current sensors. Usually these current sensors are toroidal transformers. The GFCI requires a sensor with very high common mode rejection so only a small differential current produces an output. The toroidal transformer is a good way to achieve this performance.
On the other hand, AFCI circuitry requires a sample of the output current that is proportional to the load current. A toroidal transformer small enough for use in molded-case circuit breakers cannot handle the entire load current without saturating. This is because, after the transformer core saturates, the output characteristics of the transformer are no longer linear in nature. One way to reduce this problem is to use a transformer core with a small air gap. The presence of the air gap greatly reduces the inductance, and consequently the low-frequency cutoff is much higher. However, this adds some cost to the transformer, and since its output characteristics are a derivative of the input current (approximately 6 db/octave in the range of power line frequencies), the resulting signal is more difficult to process.
Circuit breaker testing is another process that must be performed to ensure reliable and safe devices are shipped to the consumer. Production line testing of circuit breakers having both arc fault and ground fault detection circuitry typically requires full-load currents and voltages with complex waveforms to ensure that the desired fault scenarios have been tested. The mere presence of these injurious currents and voltages demands that various precautions with respect to safety and equipment design be enforced to minimize the risk of injury. What is needed is a method for testing AFCI/GFCI circuit breakers during production using low voltages and currents which adequately test the full-load fault conditions of the device.

Test circuit for an AFCI/GFCI circuit breaker


The present invention provides a TGF-β superfamily production/secretion promoter comprising a compound represented by the formula

The TGF-β superfamily refers to a protein group that preserves the characteristic arrangement of cysteine in mature molecule, and is known to exhibit diverse actions on various cells and tissues. Particularly, it has a significant effect on the functions of autonomic nerve responsible for various reflexes, various sensory and motor nerves, monoaminergic nerve, cholinergic nerve, GABAergic nerve, glutamatergic nerve and various peptidergic nerves.
Of the TGF-β superfamily, GDNF (glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor) and GDF (growth/differentiation factor)—15 are known to play an important role for autonomic nerve function responsible for various reflexes, various sensory and motor nerve functions, and monoaminergic nerve function [Neuron, 15, p. 1465-1473, 1995; Nature, 403, p. 312-316, 2000; Nature, 407, p. 1011-1015, 2000; Journal of Neuroscience, 20, p. 8597-8603, 2000; Neuroreport, 9, p. 2183-2187, 1998].
In the meantime, a compound represented by the formula (I), which is the active ingredient in the present invention, is described in WO01/14372 as a neurotrophin production/secretion promoter.
However, there is no report on the use of said compound as a TGF-β superfamily production/secretion promoter.

Abstract: wherein R1 is a halogen atom, an optionally substituted heterocyclic group, an optionally substituted hydroxy group, an optionally substituted thiol group or an optionally substituted amino group; A is an optionally substituted acyl group, an optionally substituted heterocyclic group, an optionally substituted hydroxy group or an optionally esterified or amidated carboxyl group; B is an optionally substituted aromatic group; X is an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or an optionally substituted nitrogen atom; and Y is a divalent hydrocarbon group or heterocyclic group, or a salt thereof or a prodrug thereof, which is useful as an agent for the prophylaxis or treatment of dysautonomia, bladder dysfunction, hearing impairment, bone disease and the like.


A method for accelerated object detection or for accelerated object attribute detection, wherein a first information item is acquired by a vehicle-to-X communication device, and describes at least one object or at least one object attribute in an evaluated data form. A second information item is acquired by at least one individual sensor or by a sensor group, and describes the at least one object or the at least one object attribute in sensor raw data form, and an object detection algorithm and/or an object attribute detection algorithm is applied to sensor raw data of the second information item. The method is defined in that a threshold value of the object detection algorithm or of the object attribute detection algorithm for detecting the at least one object or at least one object attribute described by the first information item is reduced in the sensor raw data of the second information item.

A multiplicity of different sensor systems for sensing the surroundings has already been disclosed in the prior art. It is also already known to obtain and transmit information about the vehicle surroundings via telematics systems which communicate in a wireless fashion. Under certain conditions and when these systems are sufficiently reliable, the acquired information can be used for interventions in the vehicle control, for example in the form of an autonomous emergency braking operation.
In this context, WO 2004/085220 discloses, for example, an electronic control system for a vehicle and a method for determining an intervention in a vehicle system, independently of the driver. In this context, a driver's request module firstly determines a driver's request from the brake pedal travel, from transfer movements between the pedals and from the brake pressure in the brake system. A hazard computer subsequently determines the hazard potential which is present, by evaluating the driver's request and evaluating further data such as surroundings sensor data. Furthermore, the electronic control system is also connected to various autonomously operating assistance systems. The driver's request data and the surroundings data are evaluated by the hazard computer and corresponding request commands are output to the individual assistance systems. The request commands relate here both to passive and to active safety. A vehicle control intervention can therefore be carried out as a function of the detected hazard potential.
WO 2009/071345 A1 describes a central control unit for a plurality of assistance systems which are provided in a motor vehicle, at least one assistance system of which is equipped with surroundings sensors. The central control unit connects the individual assistance systems and logically combines the sensor information items obtained from the assistance systems with one another in order to subject non-redundant sensor information items to analytical checking and plausibility testing. In addition, it is possible, for example in the case of a camera, to check the sensor information by comparing it with sensor information from the same sensor which has been acquired later. If the camera captures the same object over a specific time frame, or over a plurality of measurement cycles, the validity of the existence of said object can be considered to have been checked. Furthermore, there is a description of the possibility of using a surroundings sensor to check the validity of an information item received via vehicle-to-X communication or of receiving an information item whose plausibility has already been tested by means of an extraneous transmitter.
The non-published document DE 10 2010 031 466 A1 describes a method for checking the validity of information which has been acquired by means of vehicle-to-X communication, without involving a surroundings sensor for checking the validity of the received information. For this purpose, the position information of the transmitter, contained in the vehicle-to-X information item, is compared with position information of the transmitter which is calculated by the receiver itself when the message is received. In order to be able to calculate the position of the transmitter, a transmitter validity-checking device with at least two antennas is also described, said antennas having a different geometry or a different material composition or at least being arranged at different mounting locations on the vehicle. By comparing the field strengths received in the individual antennas it is possible to draw a conclusion about the actual position of the transmitter and therefore to check the validity thereof, if appropriate. However, if the calculated position deviates from the position transmitted by means of vehicle-to-X communication, the entire content of the received vehicle-to-X information is rejected as unreliable.
A disadvantage of the methods according to the prior art is that a safety-relevant vehicle-to-X information item cannot be used for intervention into the vehicle control in order to avoid an accident until said information item has previously been subjected to a comparatively lengthy validity-checking process. According to the prior art, the validity checking can be performed by means of surroundings sensors or by means of a comparison of the received field strengths. If the validity of the received vehicle-to-X information item is checked by means of position determination of the transmitter on the basis of the received field strengths, it is necessary firstly to receive a series of vehicle-to-X information items from the same transmitter before the position of said transmitter can be determined with adequate precision. As a result, a time period which is, under certain circumstances, critical passes unused before an autonomous intervention in order to avoid an accident can be made in the vehicle control. Likewise, reliable detection of a situation by means of a surroundings sensor generally requires a plurality of measurement cycles and processing cycles before the surroundings sensor data is available for the validity checking of the vehicle-to-X information. As a result, a time period which is, under certain circumstances, critical for avoiding an accident also passes here without being used. Since the validity of a vehicle-to-X information item is checked by means of surroundings sensors in most application cases, there is therefore a particular requirement for a method for rapid object detection by means of surroundings sensors.
The invention is therefore based on the object of proposing a method and a system which permit accelerated object detection and/or accelerated object attribute detection by means of a surroundings sensor.
This object is achieved according to the invention by means of the method for accelerated object detection and/or for accelerated object attribute detection according to this invention, and the system for accelerated object detection and/or for accelerated object attribute detection.
According to the inventive method for accelerated object detection and/or for accelerated object attribute detection, a first information item is acquired by a vehicle-to-X communication device, wherein the first information item describes at least one object and/or at least one object attribute in an evaluated data form, and a second information item is acquired by at least one individual sensor or by a sensor group, wherein the second information item describes the at least one object and/or the at least one object attribute in sensor raw data form. An object detection algorithm and/or an object attribute detection algorithm is applied to sensor raw data of the second information item. The method according to the invention is defined by the fact that a threshold value of the object attribute detection algorithm and/or of the object detection algorithm for detecting the at least one object and/or at least one object attribute described by the first information item is reduced in the sensor raw data of the second information item.
The term sensor raw data is understood within the scope of the invention to mean all unevaluated signals which are output by different surroundings sensors for evaluation. On the other hand, the term evaluated data form within the scope of the invention refers to the already evaluated sensor raw data of the different surroundings sensors and to the data form of all the information items transmitted by means of vehicle-to-X communication. In an evaluated data form, objects and object attributes are described in such a way that they can be processed immediately by driver assistance systems and other vehicle devices without further data format conversion or evaluation processes.
The method therefore provides the advantage that the validity of a first information item which has been acquired by means of a vehicle-to-X communication device can be comparatively quickly checked by means of an individual sensor or a sensor group, since the object detection or object attribute detection is carried out comparatively quickly by the individual sensor or the sensor group on the basis of the reduced threshold values. The information whose validity has been checked can be made available to various, even autonomously operating driver assistance systems, on the basis of the high level of reliability of said information. The driver assistance systems can in turn use the information whose validity has been checked for, for example, intervention in the vehicle control in order to avoid an accident. Likewise, information can, however, also be used as a reliable basis for outputting a warning to the driver.
There is preferably provision that the object detection algorithm detects the existence of an object and/or the object attribute detection algorithm detects a direction of movement and/or a relative and/or absolute position and/or a speed and/or a type of the object. This provides the advantage that an object is firstly detected as existing by means of the object detection algorithm. This is a fundamental information item for the assessment of a situation which is present and for possible reactions of different driver assistance systems. The position of a detected object is also of equal importance for the assessment of a situation which is present. This is the only way in which it is possible to assess whether or not a detected object constitutes a potential hazard. If the direction of movement and the speed of the object are additionally known by virtue of the object attribute detection algorithm, the assessment of the situation can be improved to the effect that a possible hazard can be assessed even more precisely by means of comparison with the vehicle's own direction of movement and speed. Finally, the type of the object is also significant since, for example, a collision with a vehicle parked at the edge of the road is preferred to a collision with a pedestrian.
In a further preferred embodiment, there is provision that the threshold value is reduced in terms of the number of measurement cycles which are necessary to reach said value, during which number of measurement cycles the second information item is acquired. This speeds up the object detection or the object attribute detection since each measurement cycle is assigned a fixed computational time. Reducing the measurement cycles therefore reduces the necessary computational time up to the conclusion of the object attribute detection or the conclusion of the object attribute detection.
There is expediently provision that the threshold value is reduced in terms of the statistical probability, necessary to reach said value, of the at least one object and/or the at least one object attribute being detected in the sensor raw data. This likewise permits accelerated object detection or object attribute detection, which, in combination with the reduction in the number of measurement cycles necessary to reach the threshold value, brings about additional acceleration. Reducing the threshold value in terms of the statistical probability which is necessary to reach it provides the advantage that an object can be more quickly detected in the sensor raw data. It is therefore possible, for example, for an object or object attribute which is described by the first information item to serve as a target specification for the object detection or object attribute detection in the sensor raw data of the second information item. If the object or object attribute which is described by the first information item can be detected, in terms of its detection probability, only as one of a plurality of possible objects or object attributes in the sensor raw data, substantially reliable detection can be performed by virtue of the correspondingly reduced threshold values for the detection of the object or object attribute described by the first information item, even in the case of a comparatively low detection probability.
Furthermore it is advantageous that the at least one object and/or the at least one object attribute is detected in the sensor raw data of the second information item as soon as the threshold value of the object detection algorithm and/or of the object attribute detection algorithm is reached. This firstly provides the advantage that, as before, a threshold has to be reached at which the certainty is high enough to reliably detect an object or object attribute in the sensor raw data. The fact that the object or object attribute is detected when the threshold value is reached also provides the advantage that a reliable information item, which can be used, for example, to check the validity of further information items, is now available.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention there is provision that when the threshold value is reached, a description of the at least one detected object and/or of the at least one detected object attribute of sensor raw data form is converted into an evaluated data form. As a result, the information items which are detected with certainty are available in a data form which simplifies the further processing by different vehicle systems. For example, the detected information items can be made available to a driver assistance system.
Preferably there is provision that the validity of the at least one object and/or of the at least one object attribute is characterized as having been checked as soon as the threshold value of the object detection algorithm and/or of the object attribute detection algorithm is reached. Since the sensor raw data of the individual sensors or of the sensor group is, in any case, searched through for the objects or object attributes described by the first information item, and the said objects or object attributes are also detected when the threshold value is reached, information redundancy is therefore present when the threshold value is reached. A separate validity-checking process can therefore be dispensed with.
In a further preferred embodiment there is provision that the method is incorporated into a continuous sensor data fusion process, wherein each individual sensor makes available a separate second information item in each measurement cycle, or the sensor group makes available a multiplicity of second information items in each measurement cycle, wherein the sensor data fusion process compares objects and/or object attributes detected in the sensor raw data of the second information items with one another and/or supplements them and generates a common fusion information item in an evaluated data form, wherein the incorporation into the sensor data fusion process is carried out in such a way that objects and/or object attributes which are described in the first information item are compared and/or supplemented with the objects and object attributes detected in the sensor raw data of the second information items. This provides the advantage that an information profile, which is as complete as possible, of the vehicle surroundings can be generated in an individual fusion information item. A further advantage is that the fusion information item is present in an evaluated data form. This simplifies the further processing of the detected objects or object attributes by the different vehicle devices and driver assistance systems.
There is expediently provision that the at least one object whose validity is characterized as having been checked and/or the at least one object attribute whose validity is characterized as having been checked is made available in an evaluated data form to at least one driver assistance system, wherein the at least one driver assistance system is designed to warn a driver and/or to intervene in the vehicle control and/or to override a driver's prescription. The objects or object attributes whose validity is characterized as having been checked constitute reliable bases for the outputting of a warning to the driver or even for autonomous interventions in the vehicle control. As a result, incorrect warnings are avoided and a hazardous situation or a traffic accident can be averted, under certain circumstances even without the involvement of the driver.
The invention also relates to a system for accelerated object detection and for accelerated object attribute detection. The system comprises a vehicle-to-X communication device for acquiring a first information item, wherein the first information item describes at least one object and/or at least one object attribute in an evaluated data form, and at least one individual sensor or a sensor group for acquiring a second information item, wherein the second information item describes at least one object and/or at least one object attribute in a sensor raw data form.
Furthermore, the system comprises an analysis device, which is coupled at a data level to the vehicle-to-X communication device and to the at least one individual sensor or the sensor group and implements an object detection algorithm and/or an object attribute detection algorithm and applies it to sensor raw data of the second information item. The system according to the invention is defined by the fact that the analysis device reduces a threshold value of the object detection algorithm and/or object attribute detection algorithm in order to detect the at least one object described by the first information item and/or at least one object attribute in the sensor raw data of the second information item. The system according to the invention therefore comprises all the necessary means for carrying out the method according to the invention, and easily permits accelerated object detection or object attribute detection in the sensor raw data of the individual sensor or of the sensor group. This results in the advantages already described.
The system is preferably defined by the fact that the analysis device comprises an electronic computational unit which carries out at least some of the computational operations for vehicle devices which are different from the analysis device. This provides the advantage that not every vehicle device has to be provided with a separate computational unit, which both simplifies the manufacturing process and reduces the production costs. The computational unit which is included in the analysis device can be structurally assigned either to the analysis device itself or else to a vehicle device which is different from the analysis device. The fact that different vehicle devices jointly access the same computational unit also results in an effective and rapid combination of data of the corresponding vehicle devices.
Furthermore, it is advantageous that when the threshold value is reached, the analysis device converts a description of the at least one detected object and/or the at least one detected object attribute from a sensor raw data form into an evaluated data form. This simplifies the further processing of the reliably detected information items.
Preferably there is provision that the analysis device additionally carries out a continuous sensor data fusion process, wherein each individual sensor makes available a separate second information item in each measurement cycle, or the sensor group makes available a multiplicity of second information items in each measurement cycle, wherein the sensor data fusion process compares objects and/or object attributes detected in the sensor raw data of the second information items with one another and/or supplements them and generates a common fusion information item in an evaluated data form, wherein the analysis device compares and/or supplements objects and/or object attributes described in the first information item with the objects and/or object attributes detected in the sensor raw data of the second information items. This generates an information profile of the vehicle surroundings which is as complete as possible, in just a single fusion information item. Since the fusion information item is additionally present in an evaluated data form, the further processing by corresponding driver assistance systems and vehicle devices is simplified.
Preferably there is provision that the at least one individual sensor or the sensor group acquires the second information item on the basis of at least one of the following operational principles:
lidar,
radar,
a camera, and
ultrasonic sound.
These are sensor types which are typically used in the field of motor vehicles and essentially permit comprehensive sensing and detection of the vehicle surroundings. At the present time, a large number of vehicles are already equipped with a plurality of sensors of the specified types on a standard basis, and this number will increase further in future. The additional equipment expenditure for implementing the method according to the invention in a motor vehicle is therefore low.
It is advantageous that the vehicle-to-X communication device acquires the first information item on the basis of at least one of the following types of connection:
WLAN connection, in particular according to IEEE 802.11,
ISM connection (Industrial, Scientific, Medical Band),
Bluetooth,
ZigBee,
UWB,
WiMax,
infrared link, and
mobile radio link.
These types of connection provide different advantages and disadvantages here, depending on the type and wavelength. WLAN connections permit, for example, a high data transmission rate and a rapid connection setup. In contrast, ISM connections provide only a relatively low data transmission rate, but are outstandingly suitable for transmitting data around obstructions. Infrared links again also provide a low data transmission rate. Finally, mobile radio links are not adversely affected by obstructions and provide a good data transmission rate. However, the connection setup is comparatively slow for these. Further advantages are obtained by combining and using a plurality of these types of connections simultaneously or in parallel, since in this way the disadvantages of individual types of connection can be compensated.
Furthermore, the present invention relates to a use of the method for accelerated object detection and/or for accelerated object attribute detection in a motor vehicle.

Method and system for accelerated object recognition and/or accelerated object attribute recognition and use of said method


A knitting method of joining together adjacent fabrics (3, 5), which are arranged side by side and knitted in a tubular form, at ends thereof on the sides adjacent to each other by using a flat knitting machine so that the joining portion of knitwear, such as a side part of sweater or at a crotch of pants, is prevented from being holed and is also increased in pull strength. The knitting progresses from one of the tubular knitted fabrics (3) to the other tubular knitted fabric (5) to join together the tubular fabrics, during which a yarn is fed to needles holding loops formed one stitch backward with respect to a join processing direction to provide a tubular knitting for the needles, followed by shifting the yarn to needles holding loops formed two stitches forward with respect to the join processing direction, to provide the same tubular knitting as above for the needles, the knitting steps being repeatedly performed.

The present invention relates to improvement of a method of joining at least two adjacent tubular knitted fabrics to each other at ends thereof on the side adjacent to each other, such as, for example, at a side part of a sweater at which the sleeves and body are jointed to each other and at a crotch of tights at which the legs are joined to each other.
For example, when knitwear, such as a sweater, is knitted by using a flat knitting machine, its body and right and left sleeves commences knitting from the hem toward the shoulder with needles in different regions on the flat knitting machine. The body and the right and left sleeves are each knitted in the form of a tubular fabric in which their front fabrics knitted with needles of a front needle bed and their back fabrics knitted with needles of a back needle bed are joined to each other at ends thereof on the side parts adjacent to each other. After the body and both sleeves are joined to each other at their side parts, they are knitted into a large tubular fabric from the side parts toward shoulder by feeding a yarn to both of the body and the sleeves. This knitting method can produce knitwear that can eliminate or simplify the sewing process after knitting. As is the case with the side part of the sweater, the crotch of tights is also formed by joining both knitted fabrics to each other. In the tights, right and left legs are each knitted into a tubular form, starting from toes toward waist, and then are joined to each other at the boundary between the legs and the waist and, thereafter, are knitted into a large tubular fabric in the waist.
According to a generally known method of joining together two adjacent knitted tubular fabrics to form the side part or the crotch, after loops of one tubular knitted fabric are transferred to the other adjacent tubular knitted fabric to overlap loops of both knitted fabrics with each other at ends thereof on the side adjacent to each other, so as to form double loops, loops of the next course are formed in the double loops in subsequent knitting to join together the two adjacent tubular knitted fabrics.
However, since the joining portion is formed by merely overlapping the loops at the ends of the adjacent knitted fabrics with each other, when the knitted fabric is pulled in wearing, the pulling force is concentrated at the overlapped loops in the joining portion and, as a result, the knitted fabric are torn easily at the joining portion. In addition, since the joining portion is formed by merely forming loops of the next course sequent to the double loops, the joining portion is holed so that the joining portion may spoil the design of the knitwear.
In general, in order to prevent the joining portion from being holed, the joining portion is knitted in rib knitting with zigzag yarn feed to the needles of the front and back needle beds holding some loops of the adjacent knitted fabrics at ends thereof on the side of the boundary between the both knitted fabrics. However, this knitting is not so effective for preventing the knitted fabric from being tone at the joining portion, thus still presenting the functional problem, such as pull strength, for the side parts of the sweater and the crotch of the tights.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a knitting method of joining together adjacent tubular knitted fabrics at ends thereof on the sides adjacent to each other so that the joining portion of knitwear, such as the side part of sweater or at the crotch of pants, can be prevented from being holed and also can provide increased pull strength, and to provide a knitted fabric knitted in this knitting method.
To accomplish the object mentioned above, the present invention provides a method of joining together at least two tubular knitted fabrics by using a flat knitting machine comprising at least a pair of first and second needle beds, either or both of which is capable of being racked in a horizontal direction, wherein after front and back knitted fabric parts of the tubular knitted fabrics are joined to each other at widthwise ends thereof on the side adjacent to each other to form the at least two tubular knitted fabrics with needles in different regions on the flat knitting machine, the tubular knitted fabrics thus formed are joined to each other at ends thereof on the side adjacent to each other, to form a joining portion, such as a side part or a crotch of knitwear, and wherein the joining process commences from one of the tubular knitted fabrics toward the other tubular fabric in the state in which one of the front knitted fabric part and the back knitted fabric part of the at least two tubular knitted fabrics is held on the first needle bed and the other of the front knitted fabric part and the back knitted fabric part of the at least two tubular knitted fabrics is held on the second needle bed, to join together the both tubular knitted fabrics, the method comprising the following steps:
a) providing a tubular knitting, starting a joining process from a needle (h) holding a loop in a wale of one of the tubular knitted fabrics at an end thereof, in which a yarn is fed to the needle (h) of one needle bed holding the loop in the wale of the one tubular knitted fabric at an end thereof in a direction opposite to a join processing direction, to form a knitted loop thereon, first, and, then, the yarn is fed to a needle (h) of the other needle bed in the join processing direction, to form a knitted loop thereon,
b) providing the same tubular knitting as in the step a) for needles (g) holding loops formed one stitch backward of the needles (h) used in the step a) with respect to the join processing direction,
c) shifting the yarn to the needles (i) holding loops in a wale of the other tubular knitted fabric at an end thereof on the side adjacent to the one tubular knitted fabric formed two stitches forward of the needles (g) used in the step b) with respect to the join processing direction, to provide the same tubular knitting as in the step above for the needles (i),
d) feeding the yarn to the needles (h) holding the loops of the other tubular knitted fabric formed one stitch backward of the needles (i) used in the step c) with respect to the join processing direction, to provide the same tubular knitting as in the step above for the needles (h),
e) shifting the yarn to the needles (j) holding loops formed two stitches forward of the needles (h) used in the step d) with respect to the join processing direction, to provide the same tubular knitting as in the step above for the needles (j), and
f) feeding the yarn to the needles (i) holding the loops formed one stitch backward of the needles (j) used in the step e) with respect to the join processing direction, to provide the same tubular knitting as in the step above for the needles (i).
Preferably, the joining portion is provided by using the yarn used in knitting the one tubular knitted fabric.
In the method mentioned above, an adequate number of empty needles may be inserted in between the adjacent tubular knitted fabrics and the steps of feeding the yarn to the needles holding loops formed one stitch backward and then to the needles holding loops formed two stitches forward with respect to the join processing direction may be repeatedly provided for the empty needles as well to form the knitted loops thereon, so as to form a gore in the joining portion.
The knitted loops in the gore are formed in the rib knitting.
The present invention provides a knitted fabric produced in the method mentioned above.
According to this, when at least two adjacent tubular knitted fabrics are joined together at ends thereof on the side adjacent to each other, to form a side part or a crotch of knitwear, the process to join together the adjacent knitted fabrics progresses from one of the tubular fabrics to the other tubular fabric. During this process, a yarn is fed to needles holding loops formed one stitch backward with respect to a join processing direction to provide a tubular knitting for the needles, followed by shifting the yarn to needles holding loops formed two stitches forward with respect to the join processing direction, to provide the same tubular knitting as above for the needles, the knitting steps being repeatedly performed. As a result of this, a cross-over yarn is extended straight between the front and back knitted loops of the one tubular knitted fabric formed at an end thereof on the side adjacent to the other tubular fabric joining portion in the tubular knitting. This cross-over yarn enables the knitted loops in the joining portion to be joined to each other closely so as to prevent the joining portion from being holed. Also, since the tubular knitting is repeatedly performed with the needles holding the loops formed one stitch backward and the needles holding the loops formed two stitches forward with respect to the join processing direction, a cross-over yarn is extended between the right and left knitted loops. As a result of this, even when the joining portion of the knitted fabric is pulled in wearing, since the cross-over yarn is drawn out from the knitted fabric, the knitted fabric can be prevented from being tone at the joining portion. Also, this cross-over yarn to be drawn out from the knitted fabric serves to provide stretch for the joining portion of the knitted fabric.
The joining process may be provided in the state in which an adequate number of empty needles are inserted in between the adjacent tubular fabrics. In this joining process, the step of feeding the yarn to empty needles holding the loops formed one stitch backward and then to the empty needles holding the loops formed two stitches forward of the needles with respect to the join processing direction is repeatedly taken to form knitted loops. As a result of this, a gore is formed in between the adjacent tubular knitted fabrics. The gore thus formed can allow the joining portions of adjacent knitted fabrics to be closely joined to each other and also be well stretched via the cross-over yarn extending front and back and the cross-over yarn extending right and left. By forming the gore in the rib knitting, the number of times the yarn feeder is reversed in the yarn feed direction can be reduced to provide an improved knitting efficiency.

Method of linking tubular knitted fabrics together and knitted fabric therefor


A flange assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes a tubular structure having a passageway and comprising a fiber reinforced plastic material, and a flange structure comprising an aperture coupled to the tubular structure using an attachment element.

One conventional method for joining fiber-reinforced plastic air ducts includes forming a seal around pieces of duct. The seal may be formed by wrapping a fiber-reinforced resin material around the abutting ends of the adjoining duct pieces and curing the same. This seal permanently joins the duct pieces.
In some cases, the permanent joining of two duct pieces is undesirable. For example, in the semiconductor industry, process gases that are exhausted in the joined duct pieces may react and may form solids or semi-solids. These solids or semi-solids can clog up the duct pieces and shut down the exhaust system. To clean out the exhaust system, one needs to cut the joined duct pieces, and then clean out the clogged duct piece or replace the clogged duct piece with a new duct piece. The same type of seal can then be formed around the ends of the new duct piece to install it in the exhaust system.
The conventional process of replacing duct pieces in an existing exhaust system is time consuming. It is well known that a semiconductor fabrication facility is expensive to build. It is therefore important that any downtime caused by events such as clogged exhaust systems be minimized so that its utilization is maximized.
The duct replacement/cleaning process mentioned above is also difficult for workers to perform and uses many steps.
It would be desirable to provide for a simpler and less time-consuming solution to the above problems. Embodiments of the invention address these and other problems.


A system for nondestructive analysis of barrier coatings on electrically conductive materials includes imposition of a controlled known heat load to a localized area of the coating and measuring electrical conductivity of the underlying material at or near the localized area of the coating. The electrical conductivity of the material is affected by changes in temperature related to thermal conduction into the material through the coating. Thermal resistance of the coating and defects between the coating and the material can therefore be detected.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to analyzing coatings on electrically conducting materials, and in particular, analyzing non-conducting coatings on electrically conducting substrates.
2. Problems in the Art
Many metal parts utilized in critical situations have coatings which attempt to protect those part from high temperature, chemicals, wear, or other dangers. An example is coatings on the metal parts of jet aircraft engines; these coatings are called thermal barrier coatings (TBC) and play a critical role in current airplane technology.
Coatings are also utilized to provide barriers to chemical attack, to improve wear, and to provide other desirable mechanical properties.
As can be appreciated, many coatings are relatively thin and therefore, to be effective, it is essential that their thickness and integrity be as uniform and complete as possible. For example, thermal barrier coatings are typically 100 to 500 micrometer thick layers of ceramic materials such as yttria-stabilized zirconia bonded to a metallic component. Obviously, thermal barrier coatings have low thermal conductivity which limits the heat load to the metal part in a high temperature environment.
Many coatings of these types are bonded directly to the metal substrate. Once bonded, there is no easy way to evaluate the coating for thickness and integrity.
Attempts have been made to nondestructively evaluate coatings, but to present, these attempts have not adequately been able to characterize relevant defects such as inadequate thickness, porosity, disbonds or cracks at the coating/substrate interface, or other flaws. A real need therefore exists for a nondestructive evaluation (NDE) technique which can measure the protection offered by the coating, for example, its thermal resistance, and/or determine the coating's structural integrity.
It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide a means and method for nondestructively analyzing coatings on electrically conducting materials which solves or improves over the problems and deficiencies in the art.
A further object is to present a means and method as above described which is nondestructive and accurate in measuring characteristics such as inadequate thickness, porosity, disbonds, cracks, or flaws in the coating.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a means and method as above described which is efficient, economical, and reliable.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a means and method as above described which is flexible with regard to its application to a variety of coatings and electrically conducting materials and in its ability to characterize defects in coatings.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent with reference to the accompanying specification and claims.

Method and apparatus for determining thermal resistance and structural integrity of coatings on conducting materials by monitoring electrical conductance of the underlying material upon localized heating of the overlying coating

Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.


A circuit array includes an antenna input, a signal input, a signal output, and a switch unit. The switch unit connects the antenna to either the signal input or the signal output. The antenna input is connected to a first productive device. The first protective device is a band-pass filter in a T configuration.

Circuit arrays may be used as multi-band front-end modules for mobile telephones. For example, a circuit array may be connected to the antenna of a mobile telephone at the antenna input. When the antenna comes into contact with an electrically-charged user, this can result in electrostatic discharge (ESD). Electrostatic discharges can create voltage peaks that are capable of destroying the circuit array. Thus, it is beneficial to equip circuit arrays of the type mentioned above with a device that protects against ESD.
Printed specification WO 00/57515 discloses circuit arrays that are equipped with a device for protecting against ESD. The protective device comprises an electric high-pass filter in which a capacitor is connected in series and an inductor is connected in parallel to the antenna input path.
A drawback of the known circuit array is that the ESD protective device only helps reduce the ESD impulse entering the circuit array directly through the antenna. In addition to the impulse entering the circuit array directly through the antenna, an electrostatic discharge can also generate a high voltage in the circuit array through ground coupling. This can occur, for example, because the control input normally used in a circuit is arranged either on the high voltage (high) or on a low voltage (low). In this case, the high voltage (high) is defined, for example, by the fact that it lies 2.3 V above the ground voltage of the circuit array. Because, in the case of a mobile telephone, as with many other devices based on signal transmission via antennas, the signal input runs from the antenna to the system's ground, an electrostatic discharge can also directly affect the ground voltage of the circuit array in a circuit array of the type mentioned above. As a result of the directly coupling of a control line to ground through the "high" condition, the voltage impulse resulting from an electrostatic discharge can not only affect the path, via the antenna, but also the circuit array, via the control line. The known circuit array is not protected against these effects.
In addition, the high-pass filter used in a known circuit array has the characteristic of being a very simply designed filter that allows all frequency components of a signal, beginning with a certain cutoff frequency, to pass through it virtually unimpeded. In general, however, only a very narrow frequency range is relevant to the further processing of the signal received by the antenna in the mobile telephone. For example, frequencies of between 1 and 2 GHz are used in mobile telephones based on the GSM, PCN, or PCS standard. All other frequencies received by the antenna tend to be interfering and, therefore, must be filtered out. Accordingly, at least one band-pass filter is needed to make the signal captured by the circuit array mentioned above capable of being processed for a mobile telephone. The high-pass filter arranged in the known circuit array can only cut off frequencies below a certain cutoff frequency. For this reason, at least one filter circuit must be connected downstream from this filter, in order to remove the frequency range relevant to the mobile telephone from the signals received by the antenna.
An advantage of the known circuit array is that the high-pass filter circuit used to protect against ESD has an insertion loss, causing the wanted signals to undergo a certain attenuation, although cutting of the transmitted frequency band does not take place. A disadvantage of the known circuit array is a generally high insertion loss.

Bandpass filter electrostatic discharge protection device


Methods of treating a brain tumor by administering a drug containing recombinant mistletoe lectin are described. The recombinant mistletoe lectin can be a mistletoe lectin A-chain, a mistletoe lectin B-chain, or a combination thereof. Brain tumors that can be treated by the method described include primary brain tumours, gliomas, glioblastomas, meningiomas and pituitary adenomas.

Primary brain tumours, such as gliomas, glioblastomas, meningiomas and pituitary adenomas, start from the neuroepithelium, ganglion cells, meninges, nerve sheaths, general nervous supporting tissue or neuroglia and pituitary or ectopic intracranial tissues (germ cell tumours or deformity tumours), and their causes are considered in particular to lie in genetic and hormonal factors, oncogenic viruses, and exogenous carcinogens. They are actual tumours of the central nervous system (CNS) localised in the brain, of varying differentiation and comprising various sub-types, such as: astrocytic tumours, oligodendrogliomas, mixed gliomas (oligoastrocytomas), ependymomas, tumours of the plexus choroideus, retinoblastomas, etc.
The WHO degree of classification is based on dignity: grade I (non-malignant, benign), grade II (semi-benign; postoperative life expectancy 3-5 years), grade III (semi-malignant; postoperative life expectancy 2-3 years), grade IV (malignant; postoperative life expectancy 6-16 months); and frequency: proportion of total or primary brain tumours in all tumour diseases: 7-9% (Kleihues, P., Louis, D. N., Scheithauer, B. W., Rorke, L. B., Reifenberger, G., Burger, P. C., and Cavenee, W. K. (2002) The WHO classification of tumors of the nervous system. J. Neuropathol. Exp. Neurol. 3, 215-225).
A glioma is characterised histologically in (giant cell) (oligo)astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma, mixed gliomas, glioblastoma, and is differentiated depending on growth, such as isomorphic, anaplastic, pilocytic, etc. Sub-groups of gliomas can also be predicted on the basis of the loss of heterozygosity (Smith, J. S., and Jenkins, R. B. (2000) Genetic alterations in adult diffuse glioma: occurrence, significance, and prognostic implications. Front Biosci. 5, 213-231), which lead to a loss of tumour suppressor genes (Tews, B., Felsberg, J., Hartmann, C., Kunitz, A., Hahn, M., Toedt, G., Neben, K., Hummerich, L., von Deimling, A., Reifenberger, G., and Lichter, P. (2006) Identification of novel oligodendroglioma-associated candidate tumor suppressor genes in 1p36 and 19q13 using microarray-based expression profiling. Int J Cancer. 119, 792-800).
In particular, glioblastomas (GBM) are one of the most aggressive brain tumours. The median survival of GBM patients, even with the best therapy preconditions, is only approximately 12-15 months. Natural killer (NK) cells as part of the natural immune system play a key role in the destruction of cancer cells. GBM cells develop strategies for avoiding this killing by down-regulating proteins that are necessary for interaction with NK cells, these being known as danger/stranger protein major histocompatibility complex (MHC), MHC class I polypeptide-related sequence (MIC)-A and -B, or UL16 binding proteins (ULBP) 1, 2, 3, more specifically by means of TGF-β mediated immunosuppression. To this end the overexpression of TGF-β is an essential feature of GBM, and high concentrations of TGF-β can be detected in glioma patients in the cerebrospinal fluid, which is correlated with the growth of the tumour (Kjellman C, Olofsson S P, Hansson O et al: Expression of TGF-beta isoforms, TGF-beta receptors, and SMAD molecules at different stages of human glioma. Int J Cancer 2000; 89: 251-258). In addition, TGF-β is responsible for the down-regulation of MHC expression, increasing the differentiation of naïve cells in T-reg cells, blocking dendritic cell maturation, and inducing cell death of K and T-cells (Eisele G, Wischhusen J, Mittelbronn M et al.: TGF-beta and metalloproteinases differentially suppress NKG2D ligand surface expression on malignant glioma cells. Brain 2006; 129: 2416-2425, Platten M, Wick W, Weller M: Malignant glioma biology: role for TGF-beta in growth, motility, angiogenesis, and immune escape. Microsc Res Tech 2001; 52: 401-410).
There is thus a great need to provide medicaments for the treatment and prophylaxis of brain tumours, in particular primary brain tumours, such as gliomas, glioblastomas, meningiomas and pituitary adenomas.
Mistletoe extracts have been used therapeutically for hundreds of years. In particular in cancer therapy, mistletoe preparations have been used with varying levels of success (Bocci V 1993 J Biol Regulators and Homeostatic Agents 7(1): 1-6; Gabius H-J, Gabius S, Joshi S S et al. 1993 Planta Med 60: 2-7; Gabius H-J & Gabius S 1994 PZ 139: 9-16; Ganguly C & Das S 1994 Chemotherapy 40: 272-278, Hajto T, Hostanska K, Gabius H_J 1989 Cancer Res 49: 4803-4808, Hajto T, Hostanska K, Frei K et al. 1990 Cancer Res. 50: 3322-3326). It has been found that the therapeutic effects are conveyed in particular by what are known as mistletoe lectins (viscumins, Viscum album Agglutinine, VAA). Mistletoe lectin, besides a cytotoxic effect, also brings about non-specific immunostimulation, the positive effects of which are used for therapy in tumour patients. Various studies with mistletoe lectin in vitro (Hajto et al., 1990 (supra); Mannel D N, Becker H, Gundt A et al. 1991 Cancer Immunol Immunother 33: 177-182; Beuth J, Ko K L, Tunggal L et al. 1993 Drug Res 43: 166-169) and in vivo (Hajto T 1986 Oncology 43 suppl 1: 51-65; Hajto et al., 1989 (supra), Beuth J, Ko H L, Gabius H-J et al. 1991 In Vivo 5: 29-32; Beuth J, Ko H L, Gabius H-J et al. 1992 J Clin Invest 70: 658-661), and clinical studies (Beuth et al., 1992 (supra)) have demonstrated an increased release of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-1, IL-6) and an activation of cellular components of the immune system (TH-cells, NK-cells, B- and T-lymphocytes) (Braedel-Ruoff S: Immunomodulatory effects of Viscum album extracts on natural killer cells: review of clinical trials. Forsch Komplementmed 2010; 17: 63-73, Gren A: Effects of Iscador preparations on the reactivity of mouse immune system. Neuro Endocrinol Lett 2009; 30: 530-534, Lee C H, Kim J K, Kim H Y et al.: Immunomodulating effects of Korean mistletoe lectin in vitro and in vivo. Int Immunopharmacol 2009; 9: 1555-1561, Nikolai G, Friedl P, Werner M et al: Effect of a mistletoe extract (Iscador QuFrF) on viability and migratory behavior of human peripheral CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes in three-dimensional collagen lattices. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim 1997; 33: 710-716).
By analysis of the mistletoe extract, it has been possible thus far to identify three mistletoe lectins (ML-I, ML-II, ML-III) having different molecular weights and sugar-binding specificities. It has been found that the immunostimulating effect of the mistletoe extract on can be attributed to ML-I. The ML-I lectin consists of two glycosylated A- and B-chains (MLA and MLB). The A-chain is responsible for enzymatic inactivation of ribosomes (Endo Y, Tsurugi K & Franz H 1988 FEBS Lett 231: 378-380), whereas the B-chain is involved in carbohydrate bonding. The two chains are linked to one another by disulphide bridges. The resultant mistletoe lectin monomers can clump together to form dimers, with formation of non-covalent bonds.
It is possible to produce the biologically active mistletoe lectin advantageously recombinantly. EP 0751221 describes the preparation of mistletoe lectin polypeptides in a pure state as a structurally homogenous substance, wherein, proceeding from the gene sequence of mistletoe lectin, recombinant, highly pure individual chains (A-chain, B-chain) are produced, which can be re-associated in vitro and thus provide a recombinant mistletoe lectin holoprotein, which is homogeneous in respect of its protein chemistry, enzymatically and structurally, also known as Aviscumine. According to EP 0751221 the recombinant mistletoe lectin polypeptide is suitable as holoprotein and as sub-chain and in the form of sub-fragments for therapeutic purposes and is included within the scope of the invention.
Document WO2012104355A1 also describes the antiviral effect of recombinant mistletoe lectins. WO2012136857A1 discloses the treatment of skin cancer, in particular of a malignant melanoma also in the form of a metastasising tumour by means of recombinant mistletoe lectins.
Previously, recombinant mistletoe lectins were used advantageously in the treatment of tumour diseases. The use of recombinant mistletoe lectins for the treatment of brain tumours however, in particular primary brain tumours, such as gliomas, glioblastomas, meningiomas and pituitary adenomas, is not described in the prior art.
In the prior art, Podlech et al (Podlech O, Harter P N, Mittelbronn M et al.: Fermented mistletoe extract as a multimodal antitumoral agent in gliomas. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2012: 501796) describes the use of ISCADOR—a fermentatively obtained mistletoe extract—as growth inhibitor for GBM and indicates the antitumoral suitability of ISCADOR for the treatment of GBM.
Lenartz (Lenartz et al., Immunoprotective Activity of the Galactoside-Specific lectin from mistletoe after Tumor Destructive Theraly in Glioma Patients, Anticancer Research 16: 3799-3802 (1996)) reports on a mistletoe extract (ML-1) for the treatment of glioma patients, wherein the mistletoe extracts have a specific glycosylation.
The plant-based mistletoe lectins described in the prior art—whether or not obtained from fermentatively or non-fermentatively produced mistletoe extracts—are inhomogeneous (Soler M H, Stoeva S, Schwamborn C et al. 1996 FEBS Letter 399: 153-157, Soler H S, Stoeva S, Voelter W 1998 Biochem Biophys Res Comm 246: 596-601) and differ from one another non-uniformly in respect of their effect (EP 1051495 B1), and are not effective per se as active substance or as immunomodulator. Thus, the mistletoe lectin obtained from Korean mistletoe (Viscum album colaratum) for example should be assigned to the RIP II proteins, but has significant structural differences in the structure and conformation compared to the recombinant mistletoe lectin discussed here (Kang T B, Song S K, Yoon T J et al. 2007 J Biochem Mol Biol 40(6): 959-965). It is particularly disadvantageous that no exact dose adjustment is possible and that mistletoe lectins obtained from plant-based fermentatively or non-fermentatively produced extracts comprise impurities. Furthermore, the mistletoe lectins obtained from plant extracts—produced fermentatively or non-fermentatively—present differences in the glycosylation which influence the efficacy (in particular kinetics, etc.). Apart from this, the production of each new mistletoe extract batch yields a product that is not identical to the previous batch, with different contents of its ingredients including the glycosylated mistletoe lectins.

Medicament containing recombinant mistletoe lectins for the treatment of brain tumors


Systems and methods for generating crop yield maps are provided, in one example embodiment, a method can include accessing, by one or more processors, data indicative of crop yield for a field area; and accessing, by the one or more processors, one or more data types associated with the field area. Each of the data types can provide a geospatial distribution of data associated with vegetation across the field area. The method can further include determining, by the one or more processors, a crop yield distribution for the field area based at least in part on the data indicative of crop yield and the one or more data types; and generating, by the one or more processors, a yield map for the field area based at least in part on the crop yield distribution.

Crop mapping can be used to analyze variables such as crop yield in a field. More particularly, a yield map can be used to assess a distribution of crop yield across a field or other space. Yield maps can be used, for instance, to analyze the variability of crop yield at particular locations in response to various inputs (e.g., moisture content, use of fungicide, stand count, etc.). A link between crop yield and a specific geographic point in a field or other space can be important in the accuracy of such analysis.
Harvest equipment, such as a harvester, can include systems used to generate yield maps as the harvest equipment ingests crops in a field during harvesting. However, a primary purpose of harvest equipment is the efficient harvesting of crops from the field. As a result, most harvesters are configured to harvest multiple rows of crops at the same time as the harvest equipment moves through the field. Accordingly, the harvest equipment may only be able approximate the data for a yield map with numerous plants growing, for instance in a ten to fifteen meter area. Additionally, the ingest rate of the harvest equipment may change when the harvest equipment moves up hill, down hill, turns, speeds up, or slows down. The change in ingest rate can lead to difficulties in associating crop yield with a specific area.


A method and system for automatically classifying an input form field as designed to hold sensitive information. The method may include selecting an input characteristic associated with the input form field. The method may also include classifying the input form field as designed to hold sensitive information by considering classifying information of other input form fields having the same input characteristic. The method may further include statistically determining whether a similar input form field is indicated as designed to hold sensitive information by at least a predetermined threshold value of the other input fields. A computer program product is also disclosed.

Data Leakage Prevention (DLP), also known as Data Loss Prevention, Information Leak Prevention and Detection (ILPD), Content Monitoring and Filtering (CMF), Information Protection and Control (IPC) refers to systems that identify, monitor and protect data in use (e.g. end-user actions), data in motion (e.g. network communications) and data at rest (e.g. stored data).
Such systems examine information either stored or transmitted through some medium and try to filter out information that is deemed to be sensitive/private or otherwise restricted.
Many large firms must comply with government and/or commercial regulations requiring control over information and demanding appropriate measures be taken to secure data.
DLP systems are usually subjected to explicit policies that define what is considered as sensitive information. The "sensitive information" may be determined by considering one or more sensitive data characteristics.
For example, a DLP system may look for a title keyword from a list of title keywords which are indicative of sensitive information. In the phrase "Social Security Number: 123456789", the label text preceding the number is a defined keyword indicative of sensitive information (which, in this case, is the number itself).
In another example a DLP system may look for a content format of a list of formats which are indicative of sensitive information. The format of the following alphanumeric string "1234-5678-9123-4567" is similar to the format of credit card numbers and is thus indicative of potentially sensitive information.
The actual definition of sensitive information is commonly user-defined and may depend on organization rules that pertain to the organization using the DLP system and/or on the specific state rules and laws.

Automatically classifying an input from field with respect to sensitivity of information it is designed to hold

International Business Machines Corporation