The present invention provides compounds for modulating protein kinase enzymatic activity for modulating cellular activities such as proliferation, differentiation, programmed cell death, migration and chemoinvasion. Even more specifically, the invention provides compounds for modulating c-Kit kinase activity and methods of treating diseases mediated by c-Kit activity utilizing the compounds and pharmaceutical compositions thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to compounds for modulating protein kinase enzymatic activity for modulating cellular activities such as proliferation, differentiation, programmed cell death, migration and chemoinvasion. Even more specifically, the invention relates to compounds which inhibit, regulate and/or modulate kinase receptor signal transduction pathways related to the changes in cellular activities as mentioned above, compositions which contain these compounds, and methods of using them to treat kinase-dependent diseases and conditions.
2. Summary of Related Art
Improvements in the specificity of agents used to treat cancer is of considerable interest because of the therapeutic benefits which would be realized if the side effects associated with the administration of these agents could be reduced. Traditionally, dramatic improvements in the treatment of cancer are associated with identification of therapeutic agents acting through novel mechanisms.
Protein kinases are enzymes that catalyze the phosphorylation of proteins, in particular, hydroxy groups on tyrosine, serine and threonine residues of proteins. The consequences of this seemingly simple activity are staggering; cell differentiation and proliferation; i.e., virtually all aspects of cell life in one-way or another depend on protein kinase activity. Furthermore, abnormal protein kinase activity has been related to a host of disorders, ranging from relatively non-life threatening diseases such as psoriasis to extremely virulent diseases such as glioblastoma (brain cancer).
Protein kinases can be categorized as receptor type or non-receptor type. Receptor-type tyrosine kinases have an extracellular, a transmembrane, and an intracellular portion, while non-receptor type tyrosine kinases are wholly intracellular.
Receptor-type tyrosine kinases are comprised of a large number of transmembrane receptors with diverse biological activity. In fact, about 20 different subfamilies of receptor-type tyrosine kinases have been identified. One tyrosine kinase subfamily, designated the HER subfamily, is comprised of EGFR (HER1), HER2, HER3, and HER4. Ligands of this subfamily of receptors identified so far include epithelial growth factor, TGF-alpha, amphiregulin, HB-EGF, betacellulin and heregulin. Another subfamily of these receptor-type tyrosine kinases is the insulin subfamily, which includes INS-R, IGF-IR, and IR-R. The PDGF subfamily includes the PDGF-alpha and beta receptors, CSFIR, c-kit and FLK-II. Then there is the FLK family, which is comprised of the kinase insert domain receptor (KDR), fetal liver kinase-1 (FLK-1), fetal liver kinase-4 (FLK-4) and the fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (flt-1). The PDGF and FLK families are usually considered together due to the similarities of the two groups. For a detailed discussion of the receptor-type tyrosine kinases, see Plowman et al., DN&P 7(6): 334-339, 1994, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
The non-receptor type of tyrosine kinases is also comprised of numerous subfamilies, including Src, Frk, Btk, Csk, Ab1, Zap70, Fes/Fps, Fak, Jak, Ack, and LIMK. Each of these subfamilies is further sub-divided into varying receptors. For example, the Src subfamily is one of the largest and includes Src, Yes, Pyn, Lyn, Lck, Blk, Hck, Fgr, and Yrk. The Src subfamily of enzymes has been linked to oncogenesis. For a more detailed discussion of the non-receptor type of tyrosine kinases, see Bolen, Oncogene, 8:2025-2031 (1993), which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Since protein kinases and their ligands play critical roles in various cellular activities, deregulation of protein kinase enzymatic activity can lead to altered cellular properties, such as uncontrolled cell growth associated with cancer. In addition to oncological indications, altered kinase signaling is implicated in numerous other pathological diseases. These include, but are not limited to: immunological disorders, cardiovascular diseases, inflammatory diseases, and degenerative diseases. Therefore, both receptor and non-receptor protein kinases are attractive targets for small molecule drug discovery.
One attractive goal for therapeutic use of kinase modulation relates to oncological indications. For example, modulation of protein kinase activity for the treatment of cancer has been demonstrated successfully with the FDA approval of Gleevec® (imatinib mesylate, produced by Novartis Pharmaceutical Corporation of East Hanover, N.J.) for the treatment of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) and gastrointestinal stroma cancers (GIST). Gleevec is a c-Kit and Abl kinase inhibitor.
Modulation (particularly inhibition) of cell proliferation and angiogenesis, two key cellular processes needed for tumor growth and survival (Matter A. Drug Disc Technol 2001 6, 1005-1024), is an alluring goal for development of small-molecule drugs. Anti-angiogenic therapy represents a potentially important approach for the treatment of solid tumors and other diseases associated with dysregulated vascularization, including ischemic coronary artery disease, diabetic retinopathy, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis. As well, cell antiproliferative agents are desirable to slow or stop the growth of tumors.
One particularly attractive target for small-molecule modulation is c-Kit. The proto-oncogene c-kit was first identified as the oncogenic component of the acutely transforming Hardy-Zuckerman 4-feline sarcoma virus (Besmer et al Nature 1986 320:415-421). c-Kit (also called stem cell factor receptor or steel factor receptor) is a type 3 receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) belonging to the platelet-derived growth factor receptor subfamily. c-Kit binds the ligand stem cell factor (SCF), and triggers its multiple signal transduction pathways including Src family kinases, phosphatidyl-inositol 3 kinase, the Ras-Raf-Map kinase cascade, and phospholipase C (Broudy et al Blood 1999 94: 1979-1986; Lennartsson et al Oncogene 1999 18: 5546-5553; Timokhina et al EMBO J 1998 17; 6250-6262; Chian et al Blood 2001 98(5)1365-1373; Blume-Jensen et al Curr Biol 1998 8:779-782; Kissel et al EMBO J 2000 19:1312-1326; Lennartsson et al. Oncogene 1999 18: 5546-5553; Sue et al Blood, 199892:1242-1149; Lev et al EMBO J 1991 10:647-654). c-Kit is required for normal hematopoiesis, melanonogenesis, and gametogenesis. c-Kit is expressed in mast cells, immature myeloid cells, melanocytes, epithelial breast cells and the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC). In mast cells, it is required not only for the differentiation, maturation, chemotaxis, and haptotaxis but also for the promotion of survival and proliferation.
Mutations in c-Kit have been implicated in human disease. Mutations in the juxtamembrane domain are found in many human gastrointestinal stromal tumors, and mutations in the kinase domain are found in mastocytosis, germ cell tumors, acute myeloid leukemia (AML), NK lymphoma, and other hematologic disorders (Hirota et al Science 1998 279:577-580; Singer et al J Clin Oncol 2002 203898-3905; Longley et al Proc Natl Aca Sci USA 1999: 1609-1614; Tian et al Am J Pathol 1999 154: 1643-1647; Beghini et al Blood 2000 95:726-727; Hongyo et al Cancer Res 2000 60:2345-2347). These mutations result in ligand-independent tyrosine kinase activity, autophosphorylation of Kit, uncontrolled cell proliferation, and stimulation of downstream signaling pathways. Overexpression of Kit and Kit ligand have also been described in other tumors including small-cell lung cancer, neuroblastomas, gynecological tumors, and colon carcinoma, which might result in autocrine or paracrine Kit activation.
GISTs are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, and they are generally resistant to chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Malignant mast cell disease often suggests an extremely poor prognosis, and no reliable effective chemotherapeutic agents have been identified (Marone et al Leuk Res 2001 25:583-594). Systemic mast cell disorders have been treated with interferon-alpha, although the effectiveness of this therapy has been variable (Lehmann & Lammle Ann Hematol 1999 78:483-484; Butterfield Br J Dermatol 1998 138; 489-495). Therefore, activated Kit might serve as a therapeutic target in GISTs and mast cell disease, as well as other disorders associated with activated c-Kit.
Accordingly, the identification of small-molecule compounds that specifically inhibit, regulate, and/or modulate the signal transduction of kinases, particularly c-Kit, is desirable as a means to treat or prevent disease states associated with abnormal cell proliferation, and is an object of this invention.


Provided is a method of decoding motion information characterized in that information for determining motion-related information includes spatial information and time information, wherein the spatial information indicates a direction of spatial prediction candidates used for sub-units from among spatial prediction candidates located on a left side and an upper side of a current prediction unit, and the time information indicates a reference prediction unit of a previous picture used for prediction of the current prediction unit. Further, an encoding apparatus or a decoding apparatus capable of performing the above described encoding or decoding method may be provided.

A general video compression codec uses a method of compressing a video by applying a transform to a residual signal obtained via intra prediction or inter prediction and then performing quantization and entropy coding on a transform coefficient. A transform shape is a square shape, and a a discrete cosine transform (DCT) kernel or a kernel in which a DCT is approximated to an integer transform is generally used as a transform kernel. For example, recently, a high efficiency video coding (HEVC) codec adopts a square integer transform having a size of 4×4, 8×8, 16×16, or 32×32, and the square integer transform is obtained by approximating a DCT. However, HEVC uses an integer transform obtained by approximating a discrete sine transform (DST) only for a residual signal having a size of 4×4 exclusively obtained via intra prediction.
Recently, the joint video experts team (JVET) and others have actively explored technology for next generation video codec standardization since HEVC, and new transform technologies have been introduced. For example, adaptive multiple transformation (AMT) is a method of selecting a kernel to be used for a current transform unit (TU) from among a plurality of pre-defined candidate transform kernels, applying the selected kernel to the current TU, and additionally transmitting information about the selected kernel. In this case, the set of candidate transform kernels are fixed in a coding unit (CU) to which inter prediction is applied, and vary according to an inter prediction mode in a CU to which intra prediction is applied. In addition, a number of secondary transform technologies of applying a transform again to a transform coefficient obtained after primary transformation have been proposed. For example, rotational transformation (ROT) involves splitting a transform coefficient into 4×4 units, selecting one from among pre-determined secondary transforms, and applying the selected secondary transform to the 4×4 units. In non-separable secondary transformation (NSST) that operates like ROT, a transform kernel is non-separable and secondary transform kernel candidates to be applied vary based on an intra prediction mode like in AMT.

Image encoding method and apparatus, and image decoding method and apparatus


A collapsible double door assembly includes a number of serially connected panels each provided with a pair of inwardly and outwardly deviated pivotal suspension rollers, a horizontal guide rail constituted by an inner rail member and an outer rail member arranged in parallel in close proximity for separately guiding the suspension rollers, and one or two door storage areas extending perpendicularly from the guide rail at one or both ends thereof and formed by separating and independently bending the two rail members with different radiuses of curvature each defining an arc of a quarter of a circle. The radius of curvature of the outer rail member is relatively greater than that of the inner rail member. The distance between the two rail members in a door storage area is slightly smaller than the distance between the two suspension rollers of a panel. With such an arrangement, each panel of the double doors can be freely twisted by independently varying the angle of pivotal movement of each of the suspension rollers of the panel. Consequently, the panels can be moved into or pulled out of the storage areas very smoothly, particularly because the panels are stored in the storage areas in a slightly twisted state.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a multi-panel collapsible door assembly having a door storage system that can be installed in an opening of a building.
2. Prior Art
A multi-panel collapsible door assembly having a door storage system for storing one or more door constituted by a number of serially connected panels in a totally collapsed condition has been proposed as an alternative for foldable door assemblies.
There have been disclosed a number of systems of this category, e.g. in Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-40985 and No. 64-6484 that teach various panel connector devices. These disclosures are directed to various devices for serially connecting a number of panels that form a sliding door in such a manner that the panels may be totally collapsed, each panel carrying such a device rigidly fitted to an end close to an adjacent panel.
While such a collapsible sliding door is normally suspended from and moved along a guide rail running above the door and is stored in a door storage area in a collapsed condition when it is not used, the storage area is in the form of a diamond as viewed from above, with the guide rail separated into two members and extending slanted or in an inclined manner from the guide rail into the space of the room where the door assembly is installed, making the configuration of the storage area unusual and inconvenient for daily use.
Such a diamond-shaped storage area is formed mainly for mechanical reasons in terms of the length of the movable connector used for connecting a pair of adjacent panels, the range of sliding movement of the movable connector, and other factors.
However, with such a conventional collapsible sliding door assembly, since the storage areas are realized in the form of a diamond as viewed from above, the space required for the storage areas inevitably is large, particularly when a sliding door is constituted by a large number of panels. Such door storage area is located inside the room, and since the diagonal of the diamond-shaped door storage area for the door becomes very large, consequently the effective space of the room is significantly reduced.
Moreover, a series of experiments of repeatedly closing and opening the doors of collapsible sliding door assemblies of various conventional types proved that panels can be blocked near the end of their respective guide rails, making door collapsing and storing operations not smooth and unsatisfactory.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a multi-panel collapsible door assembly having a door storage system with one or more door storage areas perpendicularly extending from the guide rails for guiding the door panels, such that the panels are smoothly moved into and pulled out of the storage areas, and where the panels are stored almost parallel with the guide rails in a totally collapsed condition.

Multi-panel collapsible door assembly having a door storage system


A converter module is provided that is configured to provide data connectivity between at least two external devices, where the converter module comprises a pair of first connectors and up to eight second connectors. The pair of first connectors is configured to be plugged into and interfaced with ports on a first external device. The second connectors are configured to receive and interface with cables. The converter module also comprises a demultiplexing and multiplexing unit that is configured to split signals received via the pair of first connectors or combine signals received by plurality of second connectors. The pair of first connectors receive and couple signals at a first data rate, while the second connectors receive and couple signals at a second data rate. The first data rate may be four times the second data rate.

Multiple Source Agreement (MSA) specifications for an enhanced Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP+) transceiver module define a hot-pluggable transceiver module that is used to support communications at a data rate of ten gigabits per second (10 G) using one or more communication standards. Additionally, MSA specifications for a Quad Small Form-Factor Pluggable (QSFP) transceiver module define a hot-pluggable module that integrates four transmit and four receive 10 G channels with a standard multi-fiber push-on (MPO) parallel optical connector for high-density applications. QSFP transceiver modules enable data communications at a data rate of up to forty gigabits per second (40 G) or up to one hundred gigabits per second (100 G). For example, the QSFP transceiver module may send and receive 40 G data across four 10 G data paths. The QSFP transceiver module may send and receive 100 G data across four 25 G data paths.
Servers often utilize one or two Ethernet switches installed inside the server rack. These switches often feature 40 G or 100 G ports for QSFP transceivers, while other servers in the same rack may only have ports for SFP+ transceivers. In order to connect the QSFP transceivers to the SFP+ transceivers, a converter module is needed.


A semiconductor memory system having a plurality of semiconductor memory modules that are spaced apart from each other by a gap. The system includes a heat dissipation assembly having a thermally conductive base portion configured to transfer heat away from the memory devices. The heat dissipation assembly including at least one cooling unit extending from the base portion. The at least one cooling unit having a wall with an exterior surface and a cavity. The cooling unit is configured to fit in the gap between adjacent memory modules such that a portion of the exterior surface on a first side of the cooling unit is coupled to one of the first memory devices and another portion of the exterior surface on a second side of the cooling unit is coupled to one of the second memory devices across the gap.

Memory packages or modules typically include multiple memory devices mounted on a substrate. Memory devices are widely used to store information related to various electronic devices such as computers, wireless communication devices, cameras, digital displays, and the like. Information is stored by programing different states of memory cells in a memory device. Various types of memory devices exist, including magnetic hard disks, random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM), and others.
Improving memory packages, generally, may include increasing memory cell density, reducing operational latency (e.g. increasing read/write speeds), increasing reliability, increasing data retention, reducing power consumption, reducing manufacturing costs, and reducing the size or footprint of the memory packages and/or components of the memory devices, among other metrics. A challenge associated with improving memory packages is that increasing memory device density and increasing the speed or processing ability of the memory devices generates more heat. Without sufficient cooling, the additional heat can cause the memory devices to exceed their maximum operating temperatures (Tmax).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Apparatus and method for dissipating heat in multiple semiconductor device modules


A method for creating refractive index changes in a substrate is provided by irradiating the substrate with infrared (IR) or visible light radiation. Ultra-violet (UV) radiation is generated in the substrate responsive to the IR or visible light radiation such that the change in the refractive index of the substrate is generated responsive to the UV radiation. Preferably, the substrate comprises a glass doped with rare earth ions.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to methods for creating refractive index changes in substrates and waveguides, and more particularly, to methods for creating refractive index changes by up-conversion of rare earth ions.
2. Technical Background
Creating refractive index changes in substrate materials, such as glass, is a very useful process that may be used to create waveguide structures. In addition to creating the waveguide, it is also useful to modify the refractive index profile of an existing waveguide (e.g. optical fiber) to make grating structures. Alternatively, modifying the refractive index profile may be used as an optical storage medium, as used in producing holographic images for example.
Presently, refractive index changes in optical fiber are created by a number of conventional processes. One such technique utilizes two photon absorption of blue (e.g. 488 nm) light from an Argon ion laser. The blue photons are absorbed by the glass. The absorption of the photons by the glass generates refractive index changes in the glass. The manufacture of very long gratings (e.g. meters in length) may be well suited by this technique since the exposure occurs simultaneously along the whole fiber length.
This technique, however, is relatively expensive. High power blue lasers are required to cause a sufficient amount of photon absorption to obtain the desired change in the refractive index to occur. Such lasers are generally very expensive.
Even when these expensive blue lasers are used, they are best suited to only certain types of optical fiber. Although silica fiber is transparent to blue light, standard fiber is highly multi-moded at blue photon wavelengths having a cutoff wavelength in the IR. However, most practical applications would require the fiber to be single moded at the writing wavelength, hence requiring special fiber for this application.
Another technique utilizes ultra violet (UV) light that is absorbed by the glass creating defects in the glass, which generates the desired refractive index changes. The UV light is commonly in the range of about 248 nm to about 193 nm. A dopant is often incorporated into a portion of the glass material (typically core material) to strongly increase the UV absorption to create refractive index changes. Common silica glass dopants include germanium, boron, tin, and cerium. For these dopants, absorption will generally be very strong, for example in the range of 0.1 dB to about 100 dB per micron.
The strong absorption results in limited penetration depth of the UV light. Consequently, conventional UV manufacturing techniques cannot propagate UV light along the optical fiber, as the penetration depth is not deep enough to propagate along the whole length of the optical fiber. Instead, conventional UV manufacturing techniques expose the side of the optical fiber, one section at a time. Side exposure is limited by the phase mask size which is usually less than 10 cm at best, and the UV beam diameter which determines penetration depth of the UV light. Thus conventional UV manufacturing techniques are only capable of creating refractive index changes in sections of less than 10 cm in length. To create a refractive index change in substrates longer than 10 cm, the entire setup must be moved to the corresponding next 10 cm section, realigned, and run again. As exposure to the UV light may take several hours to create the refractive index changes, long lengths of substrate cannot be manufactured quickly using a conventional UV light process. Further, moving the entire setup requires extremely careful setup to align the refractive index changes of the corresponding sections, or else the refractive index change will not be uniform throughout the optical fiber, and will not have the tolerances required for optical signal transmission.
Creating waveguide structures in bulk substrate materials can be achieved by a number of different mechanisms. Using light to directly create the refractive index change is either done by direct absorption of UV light into the bandgap of the material, which again suffers from strong absorption and hence limited penetration depth, or very high order multiphoton absorption typically using high intensity short pulse (100 fsec) lasers. Very high order multiphoton absorption suffers from the expense and complication of the required laser sources, as well as the difficult control over the non-linear propagation of ultra short pulses through the substrate material, often resulting in non-optimized waveguides.
One aspect of the present invention includes providing a method for creating refractive index changes in a substrate by irradiating the substrate with infrared (IR) radiation or visible light. Ultra-violet (UV) radiation is generated in the substrate responsive to the IR radiation such that the change in the refractive index of the substrate is generated responsive to the UV radiation. Preferably, the substrate includes a glass doped with rare earth ions. The rare earth ions may include at least Tm3+ ions.
Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a substrate including a substrate matrix material, at least one type of rare earth ion dopant in the matrix material, and at least one defect in the matrix material which affects a refractive index of the substrate, and which was created by ultra-violet (UV) radiation emission from the rare earth ion dopants responsive to infrared (IR) radiation. Preferably, the UV radiation is created by an up-conversion process that converts IR radiation or visible radiation to UV radiation. The substrate may include an optical fiber, whose core is doped with Tm3+ ions.
Another aspect of the present invention includes a method of making a glass substrate including the steps of doping the glass substrate with fluorescent ions, and pumping infrared (IR) radiation or visible light radiation into the glass substrate. Ultra-violet (UV) radiation is generated in the substrate by the fluorescent ions responsive to the IR or visible radiation to create defects in the substrate such that a change in a refractive index is generated. Preferably, the step of pumping IR or visible radiation is performed by a semiconductor pump laser.

Creating refractive index changes in glass by up-conversion of rare earth ions


A device and a method for producing high-purity nano molybdenum trioxide are provided. The device comprises a raw material bin (1), a feeding machine (2), a subliming furnace (7), a first vent tube (24), a second vent tube (25), a spraying device (23) and a filtering assembly. The sublimated molybdenum trioxide is cooled with clean and dehumidified air so as to finally obtain the nano molybdenum trioxide, and the recycling mode is reliable, pollution-free and high in efficiency.

In the industry, molybdenum trioxide is prepared by roasting ammonium molybdate, or high-purity molybdenum trioxide is prepared by leaching molybdenum concentrate by oxygenating with acids and bases at high pressure by virtue of a chemical method, separating the impurities to prepare molybdate, and decomposing molybdate. With the continuous development of material science and application technologies, the problems of molybdenum trioxide prepared with the above method, such as coarse particles, agglomeration and low purity of molybdenum trioxide, could not be solved well. High-activity molybdenum trioxide is applied to the field of catalysts, which not only has specific requirements for impurities and particle size distribution of molybdenum trioxide, but also has specific requirements for reaction characteristics of molybdenum trioxide in solutions.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,551,313 discloses a rapid sublimation method of molybdenum trioxide having slag inclusion compositions (silicon, aluminum and heavy metal), which only solves the separation problem of molybdenum trioxide from impurities and improves the purities of molybdenum trioxide; and the particle size of molybdenum trioxide is above a micron size.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,468,497 discloses a production method of nano molybdenum trioxide, with the core of quenching molybdenum trioxide with liquid nitrogen (48° C.) and obtaining nano stripe-shaped molybdenum trioxide with a length of about 80-90 nm and a diameter of about 20-30 nm.
With the above methods, nano molybdenum trioxide could be prepared apparently, but the following problems exist: the production cost is high, the product is difficult to achieve the large-scale industrial application and promotion, and in addition, the product is in a shape of a needle, but in a special industry, such as a specific wear-resistant agent in high-level lubricating oil, the nano molybdenum trioxide is required to be spherical. Therefore, it is especially important to design an automatic, continuous, safe and reliable device and method of nano molybdenum trioxide having low equipment investment, simple process operation and low product cost.

Device and method for producing high-purity nano molybdenum trioxide


An apiary tool for breaking free and vertically lifting, removing, inspecting and transporting a frame from a bee hive box. The apiary tool having one or more handles, a cross member and one or more lever cams, where a lever cam includes a cam that slides underneath a bee hive frame top bar and an arcuate rolling surface. Rotation of a handle providing dual action that forces the arcuate rolling surface to hold down an adjacent frame while the lever cam pushes upward on the desired frame.

Honey bees make honeycomb on a frame and then fill the honeycomb with honey, larvae or pollen. Honey bees also fill small gaps between bee boxes and frames with propolis, a glue-like substance they derive from resinous trees and bushes, as shown and discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,523,314 to Homins. Bees use propolis like a caulk. Propolis is a tenacious material which tacks bee hive lids and frames to bee boxes, and frames to each other.
Bee hive tools for removing frames from bee boxes are needed because the frames are glued down inside the bee box with propolis, wax and honey (shortened herein to "propolis tack"), and because spacing between the frames is too small for fingers to adequately pinch and lift a frame.
Various one-handed putty knives or pry bar type tools have been used by bee keepers. Use of these tools requires sequentially working around a single frame, wiggling a corner of the tool under an edge of the frame and gently prying upward to break the propolis tack. These prying tools are slow and tedious due to the multiple steps of wiggling and prying around each end of every frame. An impatient bee keeper may get too small of a purchase on a frame or pry too hard breaking the frame. Broken frames typically cannot be reused and they require extra care while processing in a honey extraction spinner prior to disposal.
If a bee keeper is successful at prying one end of a frame up, then they must pinch, lift and hold the frame with their thumb and finger. The bee keeper can only lift the frame on one side a short distance before a lower part of the frame binds at an angle inside the bee box. The bee keeper next pries loose the opposite end of the frame which is similarly pinched. Many bee keepers do not use protective gloves for this step because it is difficult to pinch the closely spaced frames while lifting due to the extra bulk of gloves. The frames are heavily ladened with four to six pounds of honey, which may not seem like much weight but it is for a repetitive motion and thus is terribly demanding and requires great finger strength. In addition, these tools are set down risking squished bees, or are awkwardly doubled-up in the bee keeper's hand with the frame while the bee keeper inspects and transports the frame.
Bee hive frame clamps are another type of bee hive tool. These clamps reach between frames and clamp onto a central portion of the top bar of a frame. After clamping the apiarist lifts the frame. However, bees tend to congregated in central areas of the frame and top bar. And, the top bar central area is relatively weak and not suitable for large quick forces needed to dislodge propolis tack. So, a second tool is needed to pry under the frame ends to break the frame free from the box and adjacent frames. Less tools and less engagement of the bee hive frame is needed because each time clamping, prying, or pinching takes place bees are impacted and squished.
The purpose of this inventive apiary tool is to overcome the aforementioned problems, and improve frame removal, inspection, transport and harvest efficiencies.

Apiary tool with lever cam for vertical removal and transport of a bee frame


A structure, system, and method directed to building dwellings, shopping areas, government offices, towns, factories, hospitals and the like on the moon. The structure, system, and method utilize horizontal hole cavities on the moon such that dwellings, shopping areas, factories, government offices, towns, unmanned robot devices, and the like are placed in the horizontal hole cavities where cosmic rays and ultraviolet are not directly incident. Additionally, vertical hole cavities are utilized for building elevators and stairs. In addition, pipes supplying oxygen produced by photosynthesis devices on the moon's surface and carbon dioxide produced by humans in the cavity are used as conduits.

The surface of the moon has an atmosphere which is less than approximately 100 trillionth the density of the earth's atmosphere over the sea surface, and is clearly a brutal part of space, constantly exposed to collisions with micrometeors, ultraviolet, X rays, and other forms of cosmic rays.
Recently Elon Musk has been planning private moon travel, but [the problem of] how to live on the moon has not yet been solved.

Structures and methods for lunar utilization


The relative luminance value of each subpixel in the panel unit area is determined by calculation of the relative luminance value and the weight of the plurality of frame pixels. The plurality of frame pixels constitute a plurality of frame pixel lines extending in the first direction and a plurality of frame pixel lines extending in the second direction, respectively. A first frame pixel line extending in the first direction that includes the closest frame pixel and a second frame pixel line extending in the second direction that includes the closest frame pixel are composed of frame pixels assigned positive weights. Each of the frame pixel lines except for the first frame pixel line and the second frame pixel line includes a frame pixel assigned a negative weight.

This disclosure relates to a display device.
The display region of a color display device is generally composed of red (R) subpixels, green (G) subpixels, and blue (B) subpixels arrayed on the substrate of a display panel. Various arrangements of subpixels (pixel arrangements) have been proposed; for example, RGB stripe arrangement and delta-nabla arrangement (also simply referred to as delta arrangement) have been known (for example, refer to JP 2003-271088 A).
In the RGB stripe arrangement, the boundaries of pixels in a picture frame (data) coincide with the boundaries of subpixels of the display panel; each R subpixel, G subpixel, and B subpixel can be associated with one pixel in a picture frame. In the delta-nabla arrangement, however, the boundaries of pixels in a picture frame do not coincide with the boundaries of subpixels of the display panel. This disagreement could cause impairment of image quality particularly in a display device employing delta-nabla arrangement that virtually increases the resolution by rendering.


Systems and methods for adjustable interlacing of drying rollers in a print system. One system is an apparatus that includes first rollers that conduct heat from a heat source, and dry a web of print media as the web travels over a front side of the first rollers in a first direction. A last roller of the first rollers turns the web in a second direction. The apparatus also includes second rollers disposed a distance above the first rollers and that transport the web in the second direction. The apparatus further includes a movement mechanism that reduces the distance between the second rollers and the first rollers to cause the second rollers to occupy spaces between the first rollers so that the web traveling in the second direction contacts a back side of the first rollers to further dry the web.

Businesses or other entities having a need for volume printing typically use a production printer capable of printing hundreds of pages per minute. A web of print media, such as paper, is stored the form of a large roll and unraveled as a continuous sheet. During printing, the web is quickly passed underneath printheads which discharge small drops of ink at particular intervals to form pixel images on the web. The web may then be dried and cut to produce a printed product.
In dryers that apply a great deal of heat over a short period of time, it remains a problem to ensure that the print media is properly dried. Too much heat can cause the media to char or burn, while too little heat can result in ink smearing or offsetting that reduces the print quality of jobs. Moreover, other problems in the dryer may occur such as curling or wrinkling of the media due to non-uniform stresses applied to the media during high rates of thermal exchange. Such problems may be amplified as the paper cools in an uncontrolled and non-uniform manner.

Adjustable interlacing of drying rollers in a print system


The present invention relates to novel aromatic bicyclic derivatives, processes for preparing them, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use as pharmaceuticals as modulators of the CXCR4 receptor.

Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells form part of the blood-retina barrier and have recently been shown to produce various chemokines in response to proinflammatory cytokines. RT-PCR analysis indicated that the predominant receptor expressed on RPE cells was CXCR4. The level of CXCR4 mRNA expression, but not cell surface expression, increased on stimulation with IL-1β or TNF-α. CXCR4 protein could be detected on the surface of 16% of the RPE cells using flow cytometry. (The Journal of Immunology, 2000, 165: 4372-4378.)

Aromatic bycyclic derivatives as CXCR4 receptor modulators


The present invention is embodied in an eyewear lens with at least two controlled, limited visible light blocking filters that attenuate its transmittance spectrum. More specifically, in the present invention, the eyewear lens attenuates limited amounts of light in at least two visible wavelength regions via controlled, limited blocking filters, wherein the overall luminous transmittance is at least 75%. The at least two controlled, limited blocking filters have their peak blocking wavelengths in the region of 410-500 nm and 530-620 nm, respectively. In a preferred embodiment, the minimum transmittance that occurs within the 410-500 nm region is ≧55% and the minimum transmittance that occurs within the 530-620 nm region is ≧65%. In another preferred embodiment, the eyewear lens comprises an anti-reflective coating on its inner surface (the eye-side of the lens).

1. Field of the Invention
The field of the invention relates generally to eyewear and more specifically to eyewear lenses, such lenses having optical properties enhanced for night driving.
2. Description of Related Art
Eyewear is commonly used to correct vision errors, aberrations and focusing deficiencies caused by age, disease or other factors. In addition to correcting physiological vision problems, eyewear may also be used to ameliorate physical or environmental conditions (such as glare, variable lighting, high intensity light, dust, condensation, etc.) that can affect sight.
One challenging condition for human vision is night driving. Several common occurrences in night driving are known to interfere with good vision, including momentary blindness from oncoming headlamps, glare and discomfort from following drivers' headlamps and reflections in rearview mirrors, tail lamps, and weather effects causing light scatter and decreased visibility. In addition, age-related changes in the eye can reduce visual ability while driving at night, as discussed, for example, in the article "Why HID headlamps bother older drivers," M. A. Mainster and G. T. Timberlake, British J. Ophthalmology, 87: 113-117 (2003).
The eye has a light sensitivity range of over twelve orders of magnitude. Typical bright daylight luminance (in cd/m2) ranges from over 1,000,000 to about 1000 cd/m2, dusk is approximately 30-0.1 cd/m2, bright moonlight is approximately 0.01 cd/m2, and an overcast night with no moon is about 0.0001 cd/m2. Different structures within the eye, the rods and cones, allow extended response and accommodation over such a wide range of conditions. However, under lower ambient light conditions, the eye's recovery time is much slower after sudden exposure to a bright light source; the eye's receptors are saturated, and commonly need ˜10-60 minutes to re-adapt. Thus, exposure to bright headlamp light (which can easily range from 30-5000 lumens) when the eye has accommodated to lower light levels will saturate the eye's response, and compromise vision. Attenuation of light is a good method to reduce glare and momentary blinding effects from sudden exposure to bright lights. However, the low level of ambient light in night driving conditions means that any reduction in illumination is potentially deleterious to the safety and ability of the driver. Thus, it is not obvious that attenuation or filtering of light can be a successful approach to improve night driving vision.
Lens filters have been employed or proposed in the prior art for enhancement of vision in bright daylight conditions, but in these instances excess light is being removed to allow the eye to more efficiently respond to the high ambient illumination levels. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,235,358, 5,975,695, 7,106,509 B2, 7,278,737 B2, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/029,997 (published as 2011/025505) all describe filters that substantially or completely block transmittance of light in one or more visible wavelength regions. In addition, light that is potentially damaging to the eye, such as ultraviolet or high-energy blue light, may be preferentially blocked. Given the very limited light available for night driving conditions, however, blocking substantial amounts of such night-time illumination would not seem advisable.
There have been previous methods to modify lenses for eyewear (such as spectacles or goggles) to aid with the visual problems of night driving. Some of these have employed lenses wherein one portion of the lens is clear, and another portion is tinted, translucent, polarized, reflective or otherwise changes the light exposure to the eye. Various shapes, distributions and locations of the clear and light-attenuating regions on the lenses have been presented. U.S. Pat. No. 8,192,021 B2 describes another arrangement, in which the central portion of the lens is yellow-tinted to absorb blue light, while the periphery is red or orange to absorb light below 600 nm. Given the wide variety of techniques and products described, it is clear that a universal answer to concerns with night driving has not been achieved.
The present invention offers a new approach to address the concerns with exposure to bright light when night driving.

Eyewear lenses with controlled filters for night driving


A system for automatically metering liquid or paste-like auxiliary washing agents stored in reservoirs for automatically controlled washing machines. It has a central fluid line disposed in a housing bottom and a plurality of nozzles disposed in the housing bottom on a circular line extending concentrically to the axis of a rotor. The nozzles can be connected individually to the outlet by a connecting line inside the motor-drivable rotor. In the connection to the connecting line, seals are provided. Due to a force continually axially acting on the rotor in the direction of the housing bottom, said rotor presses the seals until the contact surfaces of the rotor and the housing bottom substantially form a common plane.

The invention relates to a multiple-addition valve for automatic metering of liquid or paste-like auxiliary washing agents held in reservoirs into automatically-controlled washing machines with a central fluid line disposed in a housing bottom and a number of nozzles arranged on a circular line arranged in the housing bottom concentrically to the axis of a rotor, which are able to be connected to the outlet by a connecting line inside the motor-drivable rotor and which have a seal for the connection with the connecting line.
A multiple-addition valve is known from DE 197 36 982 A1 for adding ready-to-use dilutions which have been produced from liquid or paste-like concentrated auxiliary washing agents held in reservoirs and a thinning liquid, preferably water. This multiple-addition valve is suitable for use in commercial washing machines in order to supply a number of machines with already premixed doses of ready-to-use dilutions from a central dispensing device for auxiliary washing agents via the fluid line. For this purpose the individual metered doses of stored auxiliary washing agents are thinned with water and then given to a multiple-addition valve called a "multiple-opening valve". From there they are distributed via the nozzles as a ready-to-use dilution to a plurality of washing machines.
As well having a variety of areas of application, the known multiple-addition valve is also a complex and expensive design. In particular an expensive mechanism is present through which the nozzles arranged in the housing bottom are always hydraulically separated from the connecting line arranged in the rotor before the rotor is to be rotated to the new position. For this purpose a spherical part of the connecting line is raised from a funnel of the nozzle and simultaneously relieves the strain on the surrounding annular seal. After moving into the new position the rotor must be lowered again so that the spherical part lowers into the funnel of the other nozzle and makes this seal. For raising and lowering the rotor a compressed-air cylinder is used which engages on the drive shaft of the rotor.

Multiple-addition valve for a system for metering liquid or paste-like auxiliary washing agents


A surface mount semiconductor diode device (50) having first (51) and second (53) coplanar contacts comprises a semiconductor element (52) having a first surface electrically mounted on a first member (54) formed of conductive material, which first member (54) has an arm (58) extending in a direction away from the semiconductor element (52) to an end (60) which forms the first contact (51). A cup member (62) formed of conductive material comprises a wall (64) extending from a bottom portion (66) so as to form an opening (68) surrounded by the wall (64). The semiconductor element (52) and first member (54) are mounted within the opening (68) such that a second surface of the semiconductor element (52) is electrically coupled to the bottom portion (66) of the cup member (62) and the end of the arm (58) extends above a top surface (72) of the wall (64). The cup member (62) further comprises a leg portion (74) integral with and extending from the top surface of the wall (64) such that an end (76) of the leg portion (74) is coplanar with the end of the arm, and forms the second contact (53).

Surface mount semiconductor diode devices typically comprise a semiconductor element electrically mounted on a first surface of a heat sink. A second opposing surface of the heat sink provides a first contact for the device. A conductive tab or leg is coupled to an opposing surface of the semiconductor element and is bent so that an end of the tab is substantially coplanar with the first contact, the end forming the second contact of the device.
In the surface mount diode U5ZA27 manufactured by Toshiba, the tab is connected directly to the surface of the semiconductor element. However, it is also known, for example with the surface mount diode MR2535S supplied by Motorola, Inc., to have an additional heat sink coupled to the opposing surface of the semiconductor element with the tab connected to the heat sink.
With both such types of devices, the surface areas of the first and second contacts are significantly large. Having large contact surface areas can lead to soldering difficulties when mounting such devices on, say, a circuit board. Ea addition, the heat sinks of such devices are large and the devices are arranged so that once mounted on a circuit board, the heat sinks are located on the board. With such arrangements, however, heat is transferred to the circuit board solder junction which can result in circuit board solder failures.
The semiconductor elements of both types of devices are encapsulated in a molding compound, typically molded epoxy, by injecting epoxy at high pressure. The stress caused by such a high pressure process step reduces the reliability of a device since molding stress can result in cracked die, mold voids and mold flashes.
The latter type of devices, in which the tab is connected to the heat sink, suffer from additional problems. Since the tab must be soldered to the heat sink, these type of devices require an additional step in their manufacture which increases their manufacturing cost. Furthermore, the step of attaching the tab to the heat sink typically requires a high temperature which may damage the semiconductor element leading to device failure. A further disadvantage with using tabs is that with the second process step of soldering the tab to the heat sink, it can be difficult ensuring that the tab is the correct height and hence that the first and second contacts are coplanar.
It would therefore be desirable to provide an improved surface mount semiconductor diode device in which the above problems and disadvantages are mitigated.


This invention relates to production of an aqueous solution containing ammonium thiosulfate from a feed gas containing hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and ammonia (NH3). Sufficient separation of feed gas H2S from NH3 is achieved by controlling individual NH3 and H2S absorption mass-transfer rates in a single co-current stage, whereby a first gas contacts a first liquid containing ammonium bisulfite (ABS). Substantially more NH3 is absorbed than H2S, converting ABS to diammonium sulfite (DAS). A portion of DAS reacts with a sufficiently small portion of H2S to produce ATS and leaves as a second liquid stream. A larger portion of H2S leaves as a second gas stream. The second gas stream is oxidized to sulfur dioxide (SO2) comprising a third gas stream. The third gas stream contacts the second aqueous stream in a second contact stage whereby DAS in the second liquid stream is converted to ABS and returned to the first contacting zone.

Certain byproduct/waste gas streams produced by, for example, oil and gas refining processes contain mixtures of hydrogen sulfide gas (H2S), ammonia gas (NH3), water vapor and small quantities of other non-reactive gasses such as carbon dioxide gas (CO2). Hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, being poisonous and/or greenhouse gases, cannot be vented to atmosphere and therefore must normally be removed and treated before being discharged as refinery effluents. Common methods of removing hydrogen sulfide include: (1) Chemical solvent processes that react with acid gasses in a reversable acid-base neutralization using regenerable reagents such as di-ethanolamine (DEA) or methyl-di-ethanolamine (MDEA), (2) Physical Solvent Processes that do not react with the gasses, and that are generally less energy intensive than chemical solvent processes. These include those such as Universal Oil Products' (UOP) Selexol Process, Fluor's Fluor Solvent (Propylene carbonate) process, hot potassium carbonate pressure-swing processes such as CATACARB. These H2S recovery processes are normally combined with a sulfur conversion unit such as a Claus or Modified Claus process that converts the recovered hydrogen sulfide to elemental sulfur. While it is feasible for ammonia gas burned in the reaction furnace of a Claus unit, there are well-known operating problems associated with processing ammonia containing streams in conventional Claus units.
Other treatment methods produce sulfur directly through (3) wet-oxidation processes that oxidize H2S to elemental sulfur by passing the gas through a solution containing a regenerable reagent such as the iron-based "catalyst" in Merichem's Lo-Cat process and Shell's Sulferox process, or vanadium-oxide Stretford processes where pentavalent vanadium (V(V)) is used to oxidize H2S to S0 and the resulting tetravalent vanadium (V(IV)) is regenerated by aerating the solution.
In all the above cases, the presence of ammonia is not addressed. These processes do not capture NH3. Ammonia cannot be released to the environment; it is a strong greenhouse gas.
A class of treatment processes, including the method of the present invention, rely on the well-known chemistry involving ammonia, reduced sulfur, usually S0 or H2S, and sulfur dioxide (U.S. Pat. No. 3,431,070, et al.) for producing ATS.
The challenge in treating a mixed feed gas stream to produce ammonium thiosulfate lies in the requirement to separate (or reject) sufficient H2S from the feed stream in the ATS-producing step while absorbing substantially all of the feed NH3 so that the rejected H2S can be used to produce the aqueous ammonium bisulfite and diammonium sulfite (ABS/DAS) containing reagent required for the ATS production reaction.
Some of the mixed feed-to-ATS processes rely on first separating NH3 from H2S using tall, multi-stage sour water stripping towers that are quite capital intensive. After the separation of the feed components, the feeds are further processed and re-combining in a separate ATS producing process.
Other proposed processes have attempted, but have failed, to eliminate the above NH3-H2S separation process and its associated equipment. These other processes instead attempt to treat the mixed feed by effecting a preferential absorption of NH3 over H2S in an ATS-producing step. Previous technological approaches for treating the mixed feed have all generally failed in this critical step owing to their use of some form of counter-current packed/trayed tower for gas-liquid contacting.
To clarify, the challenge in achieving preferential absorption in this first contacting step is the requirement that substantially all ammonia must be recovered through reactive absorption with ABS contained in the absorbing solution, creating diammonium sulfite (DAS). At the same time in this first contacting step, no more than 26% and 32% of the feed H2S can be absorbed into the solution where its reaction with ABS and DAS converts it to ATS. The balance of non-absorbed H2S would then be burned to make sulfur dioxide (SO2), then the SO2 would be used to create "new" ABS, and this new ABS would replace the ABS consumed by H2S absorbed in the first contacting step. However, typical, industry standard counter-current packed or trayed column operation does not lend itself to such objectives since the counter-current effect uses multiple "equilibrium" stages. Each of the stages operate at some reduced fraction of equilibrium (or tray efficiency) and thus require the column to be designed using multiple stages to affect the desired degree of NH3 absorption. The problem with using towers lies with the objective of their operation: in combination with stage inefficiencies, counter-current contact in reactive absorption processes favors chemical equilibrium. Column operation where reactive absorption of both NH3 and H2S can occur therefore tends to be indiscriminate and leads to excessive absorption of H2S and over-consumption of ABS and DAS. Moreover, because of the over-consumption of ABS and DAS, the feed gasses stop being absorbed within the process equipment and the ATS Unit stops producing ATS and the process fails.
In prior art (e.g., as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,159,440), ATS production from refinery sour-gas streams (i.e., H2S-only and mixed H2S/NH3 SWSG) has only been feasible by assuring that no more than about ⅓ of the feed gas to the production unit consist of SWSG and no less than ⅔ of the feed sulfur comes from a substantially NH3-free (clean) supply of H2S. The consequence to the process is that ⅔ or more of the stoichiometric ammonia requirement must be fed from an external purchased supply. The impact on both the technical and commercial efficacy to large-scale operations using previous approaches are broad ranging. It is far better, practically and commercially, to apply technology that treats the mixed feed (e.g., SWSG) alone, without any significant requirement for outside reagents.
It will be appreciated that there is a need in the art for systems and processes for treating a gaseous process feed stream containing an arbitrary mixture of hydrogen sulfide gas and ammonia gas to produce ammonium thiosulfate with no or minimal requirement for outside H2S and/or NH3 reagents.
It would be a further advancement in the art to contact the gaseous process feed stream with a first liquid containing ammonium bisulfite (ABS) under conditions where substantially more NH3 is absorbed than H2S.
The disclosed invention addresses the shortcomings of prior art ATS production by eliminating or substantially reducing the requirements for outside clean H2S and/or NH3 reagents. The disclosed methods of the current invention significantly limit absorption of H2S fed to the first gas-liquid contact stage where ATS is produced while absorbing substantially all of the NH3 carried with the gaseous process feed stream.

Process for treating a mixed feed of hydrogen sulfide gas and ammonia gas to produce ammonium thiosulfate and including methodology for emissions control


An optical waveguide, a package board having the optical waveguide, and manufacturing methods thereof are disclosed. The method of manufacturing an optical waveguide includes: forming a first reflective bump and a second reflective bump, which have inclined surfaces formed on sides opposite to each other and which are disposed with a predetermined distance in-between, on one side of a first cladding; forming a core between the first reflective bump and the second reflective bump; and stacking a second cladding over the one side of the first cladding such that the second cladding covers the first reflective bump, the second reflective bump, and the core. With this method, inclined surfaces can be formed by stacking a metal layer on the lower cladding and then selectively etching the metal layer, which can reduce lead time and enable a high degree of freedom in design.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an optical waveguide, a package board having the optical wave guide, and methods of manufacturing thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the recent developments in computers and communication technology, the transfer speed of signals has become an important parameter. Accordingly, impedance matching between the components and the wiring is becoming important in a high-frequency package board.
The package board used a conductive metal such as copper, etc., for the electrical wiring, as a medium for the transfer of signals, there was a limit to transmitting data at ultra-high speeds and in high capacities. As a method of overcoming this problem, the optical package board was developed, in which an optical waveguide of a particular size is formed directly in a silicon substrate, which is then mounted on a package board.
That is, in the past, the method used in manufacturing a package board included forming circuit patterns on a copper plate to form the inner and outer layers of a package board, but recently, the method is being used of inserting in the package board an optical waveguide, which is capable of exchanging signals by light using polymers and glass fibers.
Here, an optical waveguide refers to a means for transmitting optical signals that consists of a center portion having a high refractive index, known as the core, and a surrounding portion having a low refractive index, known as the cladding. When an optical signal enters such an optical waveguide, the incident optical signal undergoes repeated total reflection at the boundary between the core and cladding, which allows the optical signal to travel through the core.
The materials for optical fibers include glass fibers and plastic fibers, where glass fibers can be subdivided into quartz type glass fibers and multi-element glass fibers. For communication uses, quartz type glass fibers are mainly used, which provide lower losses, while plastic fibers are commonly used for transmitting light energy, as lighting devices or decorations.
A typical manufacturing method for an optical waveguide includes the stacking-type method, in which the core is formed over a lower cladding layer, after which the core is processed to form an inclined surface, and then an upper cladding layer is formed.
With this method, however, a separate dicing process may be required, in order to form the inclined surface which alters the paths of optical signals. Moreover, in cases where several inclined surfaces are to be formed, the dicing process may be repeated a corresponding number of times, greatly degrading production efficiency.

Optical waveguide, package board having the same, and manufacturing method thereof


A method and system for reporting processing capacity of a base station (Node B) to a radio network controller (RNC), in a mobile telecommunications system. This method enables the RNC to enhance call control and resource management, especially when the Node B employs a time division duplex (TDD), but also if a frequency division duplex (FDD) system is employed. An important feature of this method is reporting processing capacity from the Node B to the RNC using the available bit rate (ABR).

This invention relates generally to communication within a mobile telecommunications system, and more particularly this invention relates to communication between a base station (Node B) and a radio network controller (RNC) in order to enhance call control and resource management.
The telecommunications industry is in the process of developing a new generation of flexible and affordable communications that includes high-speed access while also supporting broadband services. Many features of the third generation mobile telecommunications system have already been established, but many other features have yet to be perfected.
One of the most important systems within the third generation of mobile communications is the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) which will deliver voice, data, multimedia, and wideband information to stationary as well as mobile customers. UMTS is designed to accommodate increased system capacity and data capability (UMTS is synonymous with WCDMA or wideband code division multiple access). Efficient use of the electromagnetic spectrum is vital in UMTS. It is known that spectrum efficiency can be attained using frequency division duplex (FDD) or with time division duplex (TDD) schemes, and these schemes can be employed in the context of UMTS and WCDMA.
As can be seen in FIG. 1, the UMTS architecture consists of user equipment 102 (UE), the UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network 104 (UTRAN), and the Core Network 126 (CN). The air interface between the UTRAN and the UE is called Uu, and the interface between the UTRAN and the Core Network is called Iu.
The UTRAN consists of a set of Radio Network Subsystems 128 (RNS), each of which has geographic coverage of a number of cells 110 (C), as can be seen in FIG. 1. The interface between the subsystems is called lur.
Each Radio Network Subsystem 128 (RNS) includes a Radio Network Controller 112 (RNC) and at least one Node B 114, each Node B having geographic coverage of at least one cell 110. As can be seen from FIG. 1, the interface between an RNC 112 and a Node B 114 is called Iub, and the Iub is hard-wired rather than being an air interface. For any Node B 114 there is only one RNC 112. A Node B 114 is responsible for radio transmission and reception to and from the UE 102 (Node B antennas can typically be seen atop towers or preferably at less visible locations). The RNC 112 has overall control of the logical resources of each Node B 114 within the RNS 128, and the RNC 112 is also responsible for handover decisions which entail switching a call from one cell to another or between radio channels in the same cell.
The FDD method uses separate frequency bands for uplink and downlink transmissions over the Uu interface (i.e. over the air interface between UTRAN 104 and the User Equipment 102). In contrast, the TDD method allocates different time slots (compared to different frequencies) for these uplink and downlink communications. Generally, TDD is very flexible regarding the allocation of time slots, and therefore is very well-suited to applications that are asymmetric with respect to uplink and downlink data volume (e.g. web browsing entails a much higher downlink than uplink data volume). Combining FDD and TDD modes provides maximum efficiency and flexibility for third generation networks.
In order for the RNC 112 to provide effective call control and resource management to each Node B 114, it must receive information from the Node B 114 about Node B""s time-dependent resources. The problem of obtaining appropriate resource information from Node B 114 has not been adequately addressed by the related art, especially with regard to TDD (as compared to FDD), and therefore the ability of an RNC 112 to provide call control and resource management has suffered.
A particularly important piece of information for the RNC 112 to receive is information about the currently available processing capacity at Node B 114. Processing capacity is to be distinguished from air interface capacity. Air interface capacity is limited by factors such as noise and interference, whereas processing capacity refers to the capacity of the Node B 114 itself to process calls. When the RNC 112 does not accurately know the processing capacity of Node B 114 that is currently available, it is very difficult or impossible for the RNC 112 to accurately allocate call traffic to the Node B 114.
It is important to understand that the processing capacity at Node B 114 varies from time to time even if the number of user equipments 102 (UE) remains the same. This variation is due to the fact that the required processing per UE 102 depends upon how the logical resources of Node B resources are used for each of the particular UEs. The required processing for a particular user can depend upon what kind of coding a user has, how many multicodes are involved, how the users are divided in different time slots (TDD only), the number of users involved in a handover (FDD only), how the user""s data stream is divided if there are multiple channel elements, the quality of service assigned to a call, et cetera. Thus, it is not adequate for the RNC 112 to simply know the number of UE""s that a Node B 114 is handling, because each Node B 114 may require a different type of implementation. Rather, the RNC 112 should ideally receive from the Node B 114, over the Iub interface, a simple and accurate measure of the Node B""s available processing capacity without any need for specifying the particular implementations that Node B 114 is providing to each UE 102. In TDD, no adequate solution to this problem has been developed. In FDD, the problem has been partially addressed by using the spreading factor of Node B 114 as an indicator of processing capacity, and reporting this spreading factor over the Iub.
With WCDMA, information bits are spread over an artificially broadened bandwidth. This task is accomplished by multiplying the bits, using a pseudorandom bit stream. The bits in the pseudorandom bit stream are referred to as chips, so the stream is known as a chipping, or spreading, code. This spreading increases the bit-rate of the signal, and increases the amount of bandwidth occupied by the signal, by a ratio known as the spreading factor, namely, the ratio of the chip rate to the original information rate.
The spreading factor can be used with limited success to indicate processing capacity in FDD, but the spreading factor is almost completely insufficient in TDD, because the TDD spreading factor is substantially constant in the downlink to the UE 102, and furthermore the TDD spreading factor range is very narrow as compared with the FDD spreading factor range (e.g. 1-16 in TDD as compared with 4-512 in FDD). In particular cases, the spreading factor might vary between two values in TDD, but such a rough measurement would not allow the RNC 112 to meaningfully model the processing capacity of Node B 114, and thus the processing capacity parameter is currently undefined in TDD. Even in FDD, using the spreading factor is not an ideal solution, because the FDD spreading factor becomes imprecise at the start of the 4-512 scale (e.g. the spreading factor between 4 and 8 corresponds to a very large difference in processing capacity).
Information about the use of the spreading factor as an indicator of FDD processing capacity can be found, for example, in publications of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). In particular, 3GPP TS 25.433 xe2x80x9cUTRAN Iub Interface NBAP Signalingxe2x80x9d (Version 3.3.0, September 2000) describes how the RNC 112 audits resources at the Node B 114, which then reports processing capacity by way of an audit response (section 8.2.7). The 3GPP TS 25.433 publication also describes how the Node B 114 may report to the RNC 112 at the Node B""s own initiative by way of a resource status indication (section 8.2.15). These are the only two instances in which the prior art suggests reporting processing capacity from the Node B 114 to the RNC 112, and this fact unnecessarily limits the accuracy of the processing capacity of Node B 114, as perceived by the RNC 112. The 3GPP TS 25.433 publication also describes various exchanges of signal between the RNC 112 and the Node B 114 that do not involve processing capacity (see section 8.2.17 on radio link setup, section 8.3.1 on radio link addition, and section 8.3.6 on radio link deletion). Publication 3GPP TS 25.433 furthermore describes that the spreading factor is the parameter which is used to tell the RNC 112 how much capacity is being consumed by the Node B 114 (see especially sections 18.104.22.168 and 18.104.22.168).
The presently disclosed method is based upon a system structure similar or identical to the prior art Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) architecture shown in FIG. 1, but the present invention solves the problem of how to report the amount of processing capacity that is currently available at a Node B 114 to an RNC 112. This invention may occur in the context of UMTS, utilizing wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) as well as UMTS terrestrial radio access (UTRA).
The presently disclosed method, which enables the RNC 112 to enhance call control and resource management, begins with generation of a processing capacity inquiry signal. Then, a processing capacity report signal is generated and sent from the Node B 114 to the RNC 112, in response to the processing capacity inquiry signal. The processing capacity report signal has a magnitude indicative of available bit rate (ABR) associated with the base station.
Thus, the present invention utilizes the available bit rate (ABR) as a measure of processing capacity, whereas the prior art only utilizes the spreading factor for this purpose. As described previously, the spreading factor is generally not a good measure of processing capacity, especially when using TDD.
Using the available bit rate (ABR) as the TDD capacity parameter is the optimal solution to this problem. The ABR addresses the fundamental gap in the capacity modelling of Node B 114, inasmuch as a capacity parameter is currently undefined for TDD.
According to the present invention, processing capacity information is not sent from Node B 114 to the RNC 112 on a dynamic basis, but rather is sent at discrete times, and the RNC 112 uses this discrete processing capacity information to model the actual continuous processing capacity at Node B 114. When the RNC 112 inputs the ABR into its capacity model for Node B 114, the RNC 112 obtains a vastly more accurate characterization of Node B""s processing capacity (in TDD) than would be obtained by inputting the Node B""s spreading factor into the capacity model of Node B 114. Available bit rate (ABR) can provide for transport of traffic at the bit rate available at a given time, and therefore ABR is well-suited as a processing capacity parameter in TDD.
Even in FDD, the ABR is an excellent alternative (or supplement) to the spreading factor, for the purpose of communicating processing capacity from the Node B 114 to the RNC 112. The ABR provides better granularity than the spreading factor parameter, especially at the low end of spreading factor values where a unit change in spreading factor means a difference in spreading factor on the order of 100%. Furthermore, this ABR parameter is appropriate for FDD because it can be used independently of whichever radio transmission technology resources are being used by the system, and independent of hardware.
The present method can be used if Node B 114 utilizes an FDD system or a TDD system, or both. Likewise, the ABR may include an uplink ABR or a downlink ABR, or both. Furthermore, in FDD, the ABR can be used as the sole parameter indicative of processing capacity, or the ABR can be used in conjunction with the spreading factor to indicate processing capacity.
The capacity inquiry signal can be provided either by the RNC 112 or by a component of Node B 114 itself, as in the prior art. However, the present invention discloses additional ways by which the capacity inquiry signal can be provided by the RNC 112, and thus the present invention remedies the prior art situation in which the accuracy of the Node B""s processing capacity, as perceived by the RNC 112, is unnecessarily limited. These additional ways of providing the capacity inquiry signal can be employed regardless of whether the processing capacity parameter is the spreading factor or is the available bit rate.
At a Node B 114 utilizing TDD, different bit rates occur when more codes are allocated to a user or when more time slots are allocated to the user. The Node B 114 processing resource is thus likely to be utilized at a higher rate when one time slot is allocated to multiple users as opposed to being allocated to a single user, and when one user has been allocated several time slots as opposed to a single time slot. Whatever the allocations may be, the present invention ensures that the processing capacity parameter is reported by the Node B 114 to the RNC 112 independently of the particular hardware and software implementations that each UE 102 is using.

Method and system for capacity reporting in a mobile telecommunications network


A device for measuring data for calibration for obtaining data for calibration of a camera 2 capable of varying its optical conditions, wherein the data for calibration are obtained using a plurality of images of a calibration chart 1 having marks arranged thereon which were photographed with the camera 1 under varied optical conditions, comprising: a mark extracting part 131 for extracting the marks from the images of the chart; an internal parameter calculating part 134 for calculating data for calibration under optical conditions under which the images of the chart were photographed based on the positions of the marks extracted by the mark extracting part and a plurality of conditions under which the images of the chart were photographed; and an internal parameter function calculating part 160 for calculating data for calibration corresponding to the varied optical photographing conditions of the camera 2, using the data for calibration calculated in the internal parameter calculating part and a plurality of optical conditions under which the images of the chart were photographed. The device can remove the effect of lens distortion from an image photographed with a camera capable of varying its optical conditions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relate to a device and a method for measuring data for calibration used when a lens aberration in a photographed image is corrected or when a lens aberration-corrected image for use in stereo image measurement or the like is necessary and, more particularly, to a device and a method for measuring data for calibration with which the internal parameters of a camera, such as the principal point position of the lens, screen distance (focal length) and distortion parameters, necessary to obtain a lens aberration corrected-image can be obtained with ease even if the camera is of the type in which optical conditions can be varied (a zoom camera, for example).
The present invention also relates to an image processing device capable of removing the effect of lens aberration in a stereo image photographed with a camera of the type in which optical conditions can be varied (a zoom camera, for example) to allow precise three-dimensional measurement of the shape of an object by stereo image measurement.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, it is important to obtain an image with low aberration in the fields of photogrammetry and photographic measurement. In the fields of photogrammetry and photographic measurement, high-accuracy lenses with a low aberration are therefore used. In the field of photogrammetry, the internal parameters of a camera (principal point position, screen distance, and distortion parameters) are analytically obtained in a way that a multiplicity of points measured precisely are positioned in a three-dimensional space and then measured from various angles. In the case of a measuring camera for use in the field of photographic measurement, the internal parameters of a camera are obtained by measuring precisely a fabricated camera.
However, an image photographed with a commercially available digital camera cannot be used in stereo image measurement of an object without correction because the lens distortion is large. Thus, it is necessary to correct the image using the internal parameters of the digital camera (principal point position, screen distance and lens distortion) and to measure the focal length of the digital camera at which the image was taken precisely to enhance the three-dimensional precision. Description will be hereinafter made of a fixed focus camera and a multi-focus camera separately.
Conventionally, camera calibration is performed on a fixed focus stereo camera and a photograph of an object for stereo image measurement is taken at its fixed focal point. However, a fixed focus stereo camera cannot adjust the focal length depending upon the objects, so that the image may be out of focus or the photographed object may not be large enough to fill the image area under some photographing conditions. Thus, it is difficult to obtain a stereo image of quality sufficient to be used in stereo image measurement. In addition, when the camera or the lens is changed depending upon the size of the object or the necessary precision to select a camera or a lens with a proper focal length, calibration must be performed again on the selected camera. Thus, three-dimensional measurement cannot be easily performed with a fixed focus stereo camera, which prevents spreading of stereo image measurement.
In a multi-focus digital camera employing a so-called zoom lens, the lens distortion is large, and the depth accuracy and the lens distortion vary with the focal length. Thus, when the focal length is changed, calibration must be performed again. It is, therefore, difficult to carry out image measurement using a zoom lens from the viewpoint of work efficiency. Thus, even a multi-focus camera is used as a fixed focus camera without using the function of the zoom lens, which makes stereo image measurement on site inconvenient.

Device and method of measuring data for calibration, program for measuring data for calibration, program recording medium readable with computer, and image data processing device


A reusable and refoldable bag includes an integral locking mechanism that enables the bag to stay closed in a compact folded position (the folded position is about one-sixth to one-ninth of the original bag size compared to the bag when it is open and laid flat) when not in use and is easily opened when needed to carry contents. The integral locking mechanism includes a covering feature with a protected adhesive element and a flap with a mating adhesive element. In the folded position, the flap's adhesive element is placed under the covering feature and securely interlocks with the protected adhesive element. The locking mechanism can be disengaged and re-engaged for multiple reuses. The flap couples to a first side of the bag and extends outward from the bag. The covering feature couples to the first face adjacent to a top portion of the bag.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to bags, which can be refolded and reused.
Specifically, the present invention relates to a novel configuration for a reusable bag, with an integral locking (and unlocking) mechanism and a novel method of folding, securing, transporting, attaching, and releasing the bag.
2. Background
Reusable bags are generally desirable because they cut down on both environmental impact as well as cost for a savvy user. However, current bags present several problems during the process of attempted reuse. The most prevalent difficulties people have with reusable bags are encountered before or after use because current bags lack an integral closing mechanism that keeps a bag securely intact during the time they are attached to, and removed from, items while they are stored and transported for use. The lack of an appropriate closing mechanism impacts a bag's ease of storage, transport, access, identification, condition, visibility and the ability to stay securely intact. Inconvenience with all, or each, of these factors may cause a person to make a choice to use a single or limited use bag instead of a reusable bag. Using an appropriate closing mechanism is important because the goal of using reusable bags is to have people reuse each bag in their possession as many times as possible so fewer single or limited use bags may enter the waste stream.
The storage of an existing reusable bag may include, among other methods, leaving it loosely about, rolling and closing it in some fashion, and crunching, squishing, or stuffing it into a storage or transport vessel. Loosely left bags, which are unsecured, may be dirtied, damaged, may splay-out, or not be located at the time of next use. Bags that have been crunched, squished, and stuffed into a storage or transport vessel may be wrinkled, unsightly, and with an unkempt appearance when removed, and further storage in such a condition may reduce the useful life of the bag and age it prematurely. A rolled bag may be unwieldy to roll, unroll, and re-roll, and difficult to keep intact in the rolled position making it impractical for storage or transport in the collapsed or rolled position. Additionally, a rolled bag may be difficult to store because of its cylindrical shape, density, bulk, and size which may not allow it to be easily compressed so as to fit in a pocket, purse, backpack, or some form of carrying satchel, and, if it does fit, it may take up more space than desirable.
Many known reusable bags do not have an integral locking and unlocking mechanism for preventing the bag from splaying out, opening unintentionally, and snagging on other items, for example. The lack of an integral locking and unlocking mechanism creates inconvenience to the bag user, who must attempt to re-close it and hope it stays in the desired (closed) position. Thus, it would be beneficial to have a reusable bag that included a locking and unlocking mechanism to prevent this occurrence. Further, it is desirable to have the locking and unlocking mechanism as an integrated piece of the bag rather than as a separate securing mechanism (such as a rubber band, strap, belt, and the like), which is prone to loss and inadequately maintains the bag in the folded or stored position.
A separate transport or storage vessel may hamper reuse of a bag. A bag's owner may not want to hand carry a separate and bulky storage or transport vessel along with a purse or other items while shopping. If a storage and transport system is inconvenient and undesirable it may not be utilized, making accessibility a potential problem at the point of next use.
A shopper may carry many reusable bags of various sizes for different needs, so quick and easy access to the right bag is desirable. Locating a rolled or stuffed bag contained within a larger vessel, which carries multiple items, may be frustrating. Accessing a desired bag may be difficult when it is one of many bags stuffed into a confined storage or transport vessel as the compression of multiple bags may not allow for expeditious viewing, comparison, selection, or retrieval. In addition, multiple different bags may have to be withdrawn from a larger vessel and displayed so the bag's owner may choose the appropriate size, shape, and function needed. Repacking the unselected bags into the larger vessel's cavity may be another inconvenience for a bag owner. If access to a desired reusable bag is limited and inconvenient, a frustrated bag owner may choose not to reuse it.
A rolled up or stuffed bag may cause difficulty in identifying the bag as belonging to a certain individual or group with personal or general information, or as an advertisement for a team or business with logos or other identifying marks. Many reusable bags look similar and in a setting where many people are using reusable bags, it may be difficult to identify whose bag is whose. One or more excess pieces, tags, or an additional container, which may be lost or damaged during normal use, may be required for identification.
A bag's condition, and whether it looks appealing, may in large part effect whether it is reused again. A bag which has been crunched or left loosely around is likely not to be valued as highly as one that has been well taken care of and, the bag may end up underfoot and dirty, spilled upon, damaged, thrown away, or lost which makes it less likely to be reused. This is because a bag's owner, and others, will see the carried bag's poor condition as looking "tacky" or so unattractive as to make the bag's carrier the owner of something unkempt, dirty, or otherwise undesirable. Because our physical appearance and what we wear and carry with us largely defines us as individuals to society and the public at large, and most people would find it undesirable to be seen as unkempt, then a bag whose condition is such is unlikely to be reused.
Many bags, when not in use, are stuffed into another container to be stored or transported. When removed they may end up in a crunched and wrinkled condition with limited options for rectifying this problem. Many reusable bags are manufactured using fabrics and printing methods, which may not tolerate high heat; and as such, may not be ironed. As a result, many reusable bags may not look fresh after being crunched, stuffed, twisted, dirtied, or damaged prior to the next reuse opportunity. The poor appearance of a bag may limit the number of times an owner may want to reuse it, in opposition to the goal for a reusable bag.
Another shortcoming of known reusable bags includes the lack of a personal identification label. Thus, it would be desirable for an improved reusable bag to include personal identification means that can enable to user to readily and quickly identify his or her own bag in both the stored or folded position, and in the open position.
Thus, there remains a need for a bag that can be reused and that overcomes the limitations and problems of the prior-art and, further, that solves problems not contemplated in the art.


Provided is a new-concept crystal growing ornament that may change in size due to a recrystallization phenomenon by supplying a growth liquid, thereby reducing repugnance or an artificial impression and arousing curiosity or interest. The crystal growing ornament includes a basic material made of a porous material and formed in a predetermined shape; a growth liquid formed to be absorbed into the basic material and evaporating after being absorbed into the basic material to generate a recrystallization phenomenon; a growth liquid supply unit connected to the basic material and formed to supply the growth liquid to the basic material after receiving the growth liquid; and a crystal growing body integrally formed outside the basic material due to the recrystallization phenomenon of the growth liquid.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a crystal growing ornament, and more particularly, to a crystal growing ornament configured to provide a new-concept ornament that may change in size due to a recrystallization phenomenon occurring by supplying a growth liquid, unlike an existing ornament of which a size or the like is not especially easily changed.
(b) Description of the Related Art
In general, there are a lot of different kinds of ornaments for decorating the interior, the exterior, and the like.
All kinds of articles, which are widely used in everyday life, may become ornaments when used for the purpose of decoration. For example, a pottery may be used as a bowl and for decorative purposes at the same time.
The ornament may be living things such as a flower and a tree and also be nonliving things such as a pottery-shaped ornament and an animal-shaped ornament.
Meanwhile, since an ornament embodying living things such as a bear shape or a frog shape is made of a synthetic resin, metal, or wood, it is difficult to expect a change such as growth, which gives an artificial impression to a user and may make the user tired of the ornament often.
Therefore, if an ornament having an animal shape or a plant shape as non-living things not living things is artificially changed in size, color, or the like, it is expected to prevent a user from being tired of the ornament, provide new decorative beauty, and arouse interest and curiosity of users such as children.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.


When mirror polishing is performed on a glass substrate by bringing a polishing pad into contact with the surface of the glass substrate while supplying a polishing liquid containing polishing grains to the substrate surface, the pH of the polishing liquid is maintained within a certain range or the agglomeration degree or dispersion degree of the polishing liquid is controlled. Consequently, an adequate mirror polishing rate can be maintained and there can be obtained a glass substrate having a good end shape.

Magnetic disks are those magnetic recording media mounted in hard disk drives. The magnetic disk is fabricated by successively laminating an underlying layer, a magnetic layer, a protective layer and a lubricant layer on a disk-shaped substrate.
One of important parts of the magnetic disk is a substrate. A magnetic film and the like are formed on a substrate as reflecting a surface profile of the substrate, so that the surface profile of the magnetic disk is determined depending of the surface profile of the substrate.
With hard disk drives, a magnetic head serving as an information recording and reproducing means is moved over a magnetic disk serving as an information accommodation means at high speed while keeping a narrow floating gap, thereby permitting the information to be written or read thereon. The contact between the magnetic head and the magnetic disk may bring about a serious trouble. When the floating height of a magnetic head is decreased, the recording density of information recorded on a magnetic disk can be improved. In order to lessen the floating height of a magnetic head, the magnetic disk has to be smooth on the surface thereof.
Accordingly, for improving the performance of a hard disk drive, it is necessary that the surface of a magnetic disk be smooth. In order to enable the surface of a magnetic disk to be smoothed, the surface of a substrate should be smooth.
From this standpoint, a glass substrate is very useful as a substrate for magnetic disk which is mounted in hard disk drives. This is for the reason that the glass substrate can be made smooth.
With respect to glass substrates for magnetic disk, there is known, for example, the following document. For instance, JP-A-H07-240025, which is a Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication, is known.
In this document, a super polishing process wherein a disk substrate is polished on the surface thereof is disclosed. More particularly, it is disclosed that a sulfuric acid solution of colloid silica slurry is adjusted to an acidic pH, for example, of about 0.6 to 0.9, followed by polishing a glass substrate. In this document, it is also disclosed that it is important to note that a final pH and component concentrations are important in controlling a rate of removing a substrate member from a disk substrate. This document discloses a magnetic disk substrate comprising a substrate member having a surface roughness of smaller than 4 Å. It will be noted that documents like this include U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,236,542 and 6,801,396.
As other document, there is known JP-A-H10-241144 that is a Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication. In this document, there is disclosed a technique wherein using, for example, a colloidal silica polishing liquid, a glass substrate for information recording medium is polished. It is to be noted that documents like this includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,277,465 and 6,877,343.
Likewise, there is known JP-A-2004-063062 that is a Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication. In this document, in the polishing of a glass substrate for information recording media, there is used, as a polish, a suspension of particles made of silicon dioxide (SiO2) as a main component and having an average size of 100 nm or below. The polishing treatment is carried out according to two steps including the steps of polishing a glass substrate with an acidic polish having a pH of 4 or below and polishing the glass substrate with an alkaline polish having a pH of not less than 8.5. It will be noted that a document like this includes U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2003/0228461.    Patent Document 1: JP-A-H07-240025    Patent Document 2: U.S. Pat. No. 6,236,542    Patent Document 3: U.S. Pat. No. 6,801,396    Patent Document 4: JP-A-H10-241144    Patent Document 5: U.S. Pat. No. 6,277,465    Patent Document 6: U.S. Pat. No. 6,877,343    Patent Document 7: JP-A-2004-063062    Patent Document 8: U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2003/0228461

Method for producing glass substrate for magnetic disk and method for manufacturing magnetic disk


An undercarriage for pivotable supporting the front end of a trailer with the undercarriage including a set of bolsters that provide a pivoting and rockable connection between a box on the trailer and the front undercarriage to reduce stress on the box with the undercarriage including detachable lift members to permit the user to raise the rear wheels of the undercarriage to permit one to back the trailer like a conventional trailer.

The concept of trailers for towing behind farm tractors or the like is well known in the art. Typically, trailers have either a single axle or a dual axle. The single axle trailers generally have a pole that distributes a portion of the weight of the trailer to the tractor hitch. In contrast the dual axle trailers usually have a front undercarriage and a rear undercarriage that support the entire weight of the trailer. The dual axle trailers usually have a nonsteerable rear axle and a steerable front axle that includes a pole that both pulls the trailer and steers the front wheels through tie rods connected to the pole and the front wheels.
The present invention is directed toward an improved dual axle trailer undercarriage that utilizes a set of bolsters in the front carriage to provide both pivotal and steering gear support for the front end of a dual axle trailer or the like. The utilization of the present invention permits the front undercarriage to follow the contour of the terrain without undue stressing or bending the container or box located on the trailer. The invention also permits sharp turns and provides for easy turning of the tongue to make hookup easier. The additional tires also provide greater flotation.