The present invention provides a method for inducing immunosuppressive cells by cultivating human cells with the use of a culture device having an affinity for protein and the culture device to be used therefor. According to the present invention, immunosuppressive cells can be efficiently induced by using a solid culture and can provide an efficient therapeutic system for diseases caused by hypersensitivity of the immune system with less side effect.

This application is a 371 national stage application of PCT/JP97/03016, filed Aug. 29, 1997, which claims the benefit of priority to Japan Application No. 233316/96, filed Sep. 03, 1996.
The present invention relates to a method for inducing imniunosuppressive cells and a culture device to be used therefor. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for inducing immunosuppressive cells by culturing human cells with the use of a culture device having an affinity for protein, and the culture device to be used therefor.
Autoimmune diseases and rejection in transplantation are caused by the following: host cells recognize self-cells or an organ transplanted as a foreign body and destroy the self-cells or the organ transplanted. Some cases of those diseases show that they are caused by abnormality of immunosuppressive cells in quantity or quality (see Macintosh and Drachman, Science vol. 232, p. 401(1986)). Balashov et al. report that MS (multiple sclerosis) patients show remarkable decrease in efficiency for inducing immunosuppressive T cells due to an autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction and such phenomenon is a cause of an attack of the MS disease (see Balashov et al., Journal of Clinical Investigation, vol. 95, p. 2711(1995)). Accordingly, it is considered that the recovery of the immunosuppressive cells of such patients may be effective in a therapeutic method for such patients. Thus for several examples of inducing immunosuppressive T cells in a system using animals such as mice are reported by, for example, Fresno et al. (see Fresno et al., Journal of Experimental Medicine, Vol. 163, p. 1246 (1980)). Further, as an example of inducing the immunosuppressive cells in human, there is a method utilizing the autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction described in the above reference which has been recently reported. However, this method requires the treatment of a culture medium of human cells with PHA, Con A or anti-CD3 antibody, or adding a plurality of cytokines to the culture. Thus, the method is complicated in operation. Moreover, since the above-mentioned method is suspension culture system, foreign bodies such as lectins (PHA or ConA) used in treatment adhere to the cells. Since those foreign bodies can not be removed completely from the cells by washing, the above-mentioned method still has the possibility of foreign body contamination. Accordingly, the method would never be considered to be desirable and thus, can not be utilized in treatment that targets induction of immunosuppressive cells outside of the body of a patient. The present invention provides an efficient therapeutic system for autoimmune diseases which includes the steps of: taking blood cells out from a patient; effectively inducing immunosuppressive cells, especially immunosuppressive T cells using an immobilized-protein system; and returning the resulting blood cells to the patient.
The present inventors have studied to improve a technique for preparing cells which selectively suppress hypersensitivity of the immune system which causes autoimmune diseases such as those mentioned above, especially immunosuppressive T cells and have completed the present invention.
The present invention provides a method for inducing immunosuppressive cells by culturing human cells with the use of (1) a culture device having an affinity for protein, being previously coated with a protein such as an antibody or a cytokine, or without any coating, or (2) a culture device having an affinity for protein, placing a protein such as the antibody or the cytokine in the device together with the human cells; and the culture device to be used therefor.
That is, the present invention relates to a method for inducing immunosuppressive cells, which comprises culturing human cells with the use of a culture device having an affinity for protein.
Further, the present invention relates to the inducing method, wherein the culture device is previously coated with one or more cytokines or antibodies against surface antigens (claim 2).
Moreover, the present invention relates to the inducing method of, wherein the culture device is previously coated with two or more antibodies against surface antigens, each of said antibodies recognizing different epitope (claim 3).
Further, the present invention relates to the inducing method, wherein human cells and one or more cytokines or antibodies against surface antigens are mixed.
Furthermore, the present invention relates to the inducing method, wherein human cells and two or more antibodies against surface antigens, each of said antibodies recognizing different epitope, are mixed (claim 5).
Moreover, the present invention relates to the inducing method, wherein the antibody against surface antigens is an anti-CD2 antibody or an anti-CD3 antibody.
Further, the present invention relates to the inducing method, wherein the antibody against surface antigens is an anti-CD2 antibody, said anti-CD2 antibody binding to a site of CD2 that participates in the binding of LFA-3 to CD2.
Further, the present invention relates to the inducing method, wherein the antibody against surface antigens is an anti-CD2 antibody, said anti-CD2 antibody binding to a site of CD2 other than a site of CD2 which participates in the binding of LFA-3 to CD2.
Moreover, the present invention relates to the inducing method, wherein two or more antibodies against surface antigens are anti-CD2 antibodies comprising a combination of one or more antibodies which bind to a site of CD2 that participates in the binding to LFA-3 to CD2 and one or more antibodies which bind to a site of CD2 other than the site of CD2 which participates in the binding of LFA-3 to CD2.
Further, the present invention relates to the inducing method, wherein one antibody against surface antigens is the anti-CD2 antibody TS2/18.
Moreover, the present invention relates to the inducing method, wherein one antibody against surface antigens is the F(ab)2 fragment of the anti-CD2 antibody TS2/18.
Further, the present invention relates to the inducing method, wherein the cytokine is IL-2 or GM-CSF.
Moreover, the present invention relates to the inducing method, wherein 0.5 to 10% by volume of serum based on a culture medium is mixed in the culture.
Further, the present invention relates to the inducing method, wherein no serum is mixed with the culture medium in the culture.
Moreover, the present invention relates to the inducing method, wherein a term of the culture ranges between 1 and 7 days.
Further, the present invention relates to the inducing method, wherein the culture device is made of material having an affinity for protein.
Moreover, the present invention relates to the inducing method, wherein culture device is made of plastic material.
Further, the present invention relates to the inducing method, wherein the culture device is made of glass material.
Moreover, the present invention relates to the inducing method, wherein the culture device is a closed plane plate vessel or a closed vessel charged with spherical fine-particles.
Further, the present invention relates to culture device having an affinity for protein, which is used for inducing immunosuppressive cells by culturing human cells.
Moreover, the present invention relates to the culture device, wherein the device is previously coated with one or more cytokines or antibodies against surface antigens.
Further, the present invention relates to the culture device, wherein the device is previously coated with two or more antibodies against surface antigens, each of said antibodies recognizing different epitope.
Moreover, the present invention relates to the culture device, wherein the antibody against surface antigens is anti-CD2 antibody or anti-CD3 antibody.
Further, the present invention relates to the culture device, wherein one or more antibodies that recognize different epitope are the anti-CD2 antibody TS2/18.

Method for inducing immunosuppressive cells and a culture device to be used therefor


Embodiments of the invention can provide systems, methods, and apparatus for supporting a firearm from a person can be provided. For example, in one embodiment, a sling system for an object, such as a firearm or weapon, can be provided. The sling system can include a sling operable to mount an object to a portion of a person's body, wherein the sling comprises at least one adjustment loop. The sling system can also include an adjuster mounted to a portion of the at least one adjustment loop. Furthermore, the sling system can include a quick tab adjuster operable to change the size of the at least one adjustment loop, wherein the length of the sling can be changed when the sling is mounted to a portion of a person's body.

Conventional systems and methods for supporting a firearm from a person, typically a type of sling, are often relatively complicated and may be difficult to use. In some instances, a user must learn complicated routines for using a conventional sling. Other types of slings are not relatively easy to wear, and can also be difficult to remove from a user's body. Because removal from the user's body may also be relatively slow, conventional slings may be detrimental to the user in combat or other dangerous situation, particularly when the user desires to remove the sling and associated firearm from his or her body. Likewise, other types of slings can interfere with a user's movement and could negatively impact a user's response time in a combat or hunting situation, especially should an emergency or rapid response condition arise. Furthermore, some conventional firearm slings can become uncomfortable to wear, which may result in fatigue, thus reducing the user's reaction time in emergency, combat, rapid response situations or conditions.
Therefore, a need exists for systems and methods for supporting an object, such as a firearm, from a person.
A further need exists for a sling system and apparatus for supporting an object, such as a firearm, from a person, in which the sling can include a two-point design to enable the user to position the object or firearm in a variety of carry and/or shooting positions.
Yet a further need exists for a sling system and apparatus for supporting an associated object or firearm from a person, particularly for an object or firearm with a front and rear side sling swivel.
Additionally, a further need exists for a sling system and apparatus with relatively quick adjustment capability for relatively easier adjustment and/or removal when supporting an associated object or firearm from a person.
A further need exists for methods associated with a sling system and apparatus for supporting an object or firearm from a person.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems, methods, and apparatus for supporting a firearm from a person


In an electric device having a package included an electric circuit element therein, a cooling fan is fixed on the package directly. The fan is formed of piezoelectric elements and a flexible cooling fin. The fan generates the cooling air flow due to vibration of the piezoelectric elements.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to electronic devices having electronic circuit elements formed therein, and more particularly to an electronic device with a cooling element disposed for cooling the circuit elements.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In electronic apparatus having a large number of electronic circuit elements, e.g., computers, numerous printed circuit boards assembled with many electronic devices thereon are constructed therein. Electronic devices assembled on the printed circuit boards usually are air cooled using a blower to eliminate the heat generated during the operation of electronic devices. If the density of the generating heat on the plane of the printed circuit board is uniform, effective cooling will be accomplished using an air flow having a predetermined velocity.
However, recently, the temperature variation between electronic devices assembled on the same printed circuit board has increased with increases in the integration of logic elements and the assembly density of electronic components. In this case, the system needs a larger air flow supply to suppress the temperatures of the electronic devices below a predetermined maximum temperature. This need for a larger air flow in the conventional cooling method causes problems. Over cooling of smaller components, which generate little heat occurs, and the cooling efficiency of the device becomes worse. The loss of air flow is greater in proportion to the increased complexity of the printed circuit boards. Thus, an operator has to supply a larger air flow than is necessary, and a larger blower system is required. This causes additional problems, such as increased noise, and the like.
To overcome these problems, other conventional constructions having lower thermal resistance have been utilized, and cooling fins have been fixed on the electronic devices. However, such fins could not be enlarged sufficiently, because of space limitations resulting from the high density construction of the electronic devices.
Another conventional cooling system is shown in Japanese Patent Publication SHO 60-11840. In this system, air flows are selectively supplied to aligned electronic devices generating the higher temperatures by separating the air flows using flat plates. However, this system also needs a large blower. Moreover, freedom of design for the parts alignment on the printed circuit board becomes limited, because electronic devices generating the higher temperatures must be aligned with the air flows.

Electronic device having a cooling element


Improved stabilizer compositions are provided which impart significant long-term stabilization to halogen containing polymers such as polyvinyl chloride. The improved stabilizer compositions incorporate an alkali-metal hydrogen phosphate compound, such as anhydrous disodium hydrogen phosphate, of a predetermined surface area. The novel inorganic phosphate enables a reduction in the amount of organmetallic stabilizer, if desired, while still yielding long-term stability in the resultant polymer, or the ability to raise process temperature and reduce cycle times of molding operations.

Many Halogen containing polymers and copolymers are thermoplastic in nature, and, therefore, require heating in order to soften them during fabrication operations such as molding, calendering, and extruding. The heat with which these polymers are processed is usually in the range of 190.degree. C. and is limited in degree and duration by their tendency to deteriorate and decompose. Decomposition of the polymers leads to deterioration of the resultant physical properties of the resin. In addition, a severe darkening in color of the resin results which prohibits its use in lightly colored or transparent articles. This deterioration and decomposition is a major drawback to the use of polyvinyl chloride resins in many applications, and in order to overcome this drawback several products have been proposed as stabilizers for halogen containing vinyl polymers. In general, the stabilizers fall into three main classes , namely, metal soaps, organic chemicals, and organometallic compounds.
It has been characteristic of prior art stabilizing systems that they may not fully prevent the deterioration of resins or polymers, including polyvinyl chloride, during the period when the resins and stabilizer compositions may be heated during processing. During this period, which may be from 5 to 30 minutes or longer, the various ingredients including e.g. pigment, plasticizer, stabilizer, lubricant, etc. may be mixed with the resin and the mixture subjected to the influence of heat and pressure to form a substantially homogeneous mixture. During this period of severe heating (T=190.degree. C. or greater), the resin may deteriorate much more quickly than under normal processing or handling conditions, thereby shortening the period that the resin mixture can be heated.
In injection molding processes, heated resin compositions are injected into molds. In general, viscosity of the resin composition drops as temperature increases; thus, it is possible to reduce the cycle times of injection molding processes by increasing the temperature of the resin composition. Thus, it would be useful to be able to raise the processing temperatures of injection molding and other processes.
Organotin compounds, particularly those having tin bonded to sulfur, such as those which contain a mercapto group, have been found to be an extremely effective type of stabilizer for halogen containing polymers, such as vinyl chloride polymers. These organotin stabilizers are relatively expensive. As a result, it would be desirable to replace at least a portion of the tin present in a given resin formulation with a less expensive material without incurring any significant decrease in heat stability. In addition, it is desirable to enhance the stabilizing properties of less efficient organotin compounds by addition of inexpensive synergistic additive compounds. It is also desirable to obtain longer process times at elevated temperatures and to be able to process resin formulations at higher temperatures.
The use of phosphate materials as primary stabilizers for vinyl polymers was disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,218,645 and 2,868,765.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,218,645 teaches that a metal phosphate can be used as a primary stabilizing compound. Lead or alkali-metal salts of oxyacids of boron and phosphorous are used as primary stabilizers. The resultant compositions are claimed to exhibit some color improvement.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,868,765 relates to heat stabilized vinyl chloride resin compositions. A phosphate is uniformly distributed on the surfaces of polymer particles by contacting the polymer particles with an aqueous solution of the phosphate; the treated polymer is then combined with other heat stabilizing compounds.
In general, the prior art disclosure of the utilization of an inorganic phosphate as a stabilizing component of vinyl halide polymer compositions did not recognize the importance of surface area as a determinant of performance. It has now been found that surface area is what enables superior melt viscosity times to be obtained with inorganic phosphates previously thought to be ineffective.
An objective of this invention is to extend the viscosity stability of halogen containing resins, such as polyvinyl chloride, at elevated temperatures, while delaying for as long as possible the development of discoloration.
One aspect of this invention is to reduce the amount of organometallic stabilizer required to achieve a given degree of heat stabilization.
A second aspect of this invention is to improve the performance of less efficient stabilizer compounds by the addition of synergistic additive compounds.
Another objective is to provide novel stabilizer compositions for halogenated vinyl resins and novel processes for stabilizing such resins.
Briefly stated, the invention comprises vinyl halide resins, and, as a stabilizer, an organometallic compound, or a derivative thereof and a finely-divided anhydrous or hydrous sodium or potassium monohydrogen phosphate, lithium dihydrogen phosphate, or an alkali metal pyrophosphate. The addition of the finely divided phosphate results in improved stabilization, namely improved melt viscosity times, of the resultant vinyl resin composition. The new stabilizer composition, which includes the synergistic additive, provides enhanced melt stability in comparison to vinyl compounds using the same organometallic stabilizer compounds.
A preferred halogen-containing thermoplastic resin which exhibits superior melt stabilization is polyvinyl chloride, although also contemplated are other polyvinyl halide polymers, copolymers with vinyl acetate, vinylidene chloride, styrene dialkyl fumarate or maleate, or other alkyl esters of mono-olefinic acids, as well as blends and alloys of vinyl halide polymers with other thermoplastic resins. The polyvinyl halide polymer used is ordinarily and preferably the chloride, although others such as the bromide or flouride may be used. Also included are chlorinated polyvinyl chloride and halogenated polyolefins.

Stabilizers for halogen containing polymers


A stator (16) is proposed for a polyphase electric machine, having a core body (17), which is provided with slots (114), which are situated in the radial direction with respect to an axis of rotation of the electric machine on one side of the core body (17) parallel to the longitudinal axis of the core body (17), having a slot width (bn1, bn2) and a stator yoke (122) being provided on the opposite side, with two slots (114) each being separated from one another by a tooth (116) having a tooth width (bz1, bz2) and extending from a slot base (120) to a tooth head (118), these slots (114) being provided to receive at least one coil winding having a plurality of coils that is electrically connected in series and are manufactured from at least one continuous wire (124) without interruption, the ratio (bz2/hj) of the tooth width (bz2) to the yoke height (hj) at the tooth head (118) being between 0.3 and 0.8 and/or the ratio (bz2/bn2) of the tooth width (bz2) at the tooth head (118) to the slot width (bn2) at the tooth head (118) being between 0.3 and 3, and/or the ratio (mCu(slot)/mCu(total)) of the copper mass of the wire (124) in the slot (114) to the total copper mass of the wire (124) being between 0.43 and 0.55.

The present invention relates to a polyphase electric machine, in particular a polyphase generator for motor vehicles, having a stator according to the definition of the species of Claim 1 and a method for manufacturing a stator as recited in Claim 17.
Various methods and configurations for achieving a high slot filling factor in generators have already been proposed, in which more than 60% of the slot is filled with copper wire, e.g., in DE 103 029 47 A1, DE 103 061 47 A1 or EP1372242A2. U-shaped connector pieces may be inserted axially from one end through the stator slots, bent on the opposite side, and then welded together. This method is very complex and expensive due to the large number of spot welds. Coils may also be inserted into the open slots of a flat metal laminate and then the laminated core together with the coils may be bent into a round shape. This method is also complex and also entails tolerance problems.
An attempt is made with the present invention to eliminate or at least greatly reduce the aforementioned disadvantages through a suitable design of the stator.

Stator for a polyphase electric machine and method for manufacturing same


A rotating rectifier assembly has a substrate which has a metal core and a ceramic coating. An exciter rotor which produces an ac signal and the rectifier assembly are disposed about a generator shaft. The substrate has rectifiers arranged in a rectifying circuit. An ac lead extends from the ac windings in the exciter rotor to the rectifying circuit where a dc signal is generated and fed to a main generator rotor.

This invention relates to rotating rectifier assemblies for electric machines. More specifically, this invention relates to a rotating rectifier assembly for ac generators having a substrate disposed about a rotating shaft which provides improved heat dissipation.
Self-excited brushless ac generators typically utilize a rotating rectifier assembly to rectify the output of an exciter rotor and to feed the resulting dc voltage to a main generator rotor. Rectifier diodes enclosed in DO-5 cases have been traditionally used in such rotating rectifier assemblies. Such assemblies were acceptable for use in generators which rotated at relatively low speeds and which have space available for the required mounting and the electrical interconnections. Recently, however, the trend in state of the art generators, particularly aircraft generators, has been towards increased generator output ratings and towards reduced generator weight and volume. These recent requirements have increased the current densities which must be generated in the windings of the generator, thereby making power dissipation more difficult.
Earlier rotating rectifier assemblies did not generate the higher current density required in today's aircraft generator and, therefore, did not have the associated heat dissipation problems. Also, earlier rotating rectifier assemblies were large and were typically mounted in a metal casing, thereby alleviating heat dissipation difficulties. The reduced weight and volume coupled with the increased power outputs and speed of today's generators, however, does not permit the use of such earlier rotating rectifier assemblies.
A rotating rectifier assembly which generates higher current outputs and which can provide greater heat dissipation, therefore, is needed.


The invention herein is directed to an improved illuminated wand structure specifically intended as a boat stern running light, formed by a tubular wand member being elongated in configuration. The wand includes at least one light source positioned adjacent either the bottom end, and adapted to emit light upwardly, or positioned adjacent the top end and adapted to emit light in a downward direction. The tubular wand has a smooth outer wall and an inner wall provided with a light diffractive surface. Light emitted from either the upper or lower light source will be diffracted along the inner wall of the elongated wand thereby to illuminate the entire length of the wand. The wand may be provided with a light source at the bottom end and adapted to emit light upwardly, and a second light source positioned adjacent the top end to emit light in a downward direction where the wand is of a longer elongated configuration. A third light source is provided at the top end of the wand, which is enclosed by a lens globe and permits light to radiate therefrom. When illuminated, the upper light will radiate light in all directions while substantially the entire length of the elongated wand will be illuminated by the upper and lower light sources, or either of them.

The present invention relates to an improved boat stern running light in the form of an elongate wand which is illuminated from top to bottom for improved safety considerations.
The use of boat stern running lights is quite well-known in the art. The typical boat stern light which is common knowledge includes a pole type assembly wherein the pole is provided with a light source at the top end, while the lower end includes connection means for interconnecting with the power source of the boat. Such connection means generally includes a pair of terminal strips which are locked into touching contact with a pair of terminals which are in turn wired to the boat battery.
Over the years, many different versions of stern running lights have been developed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,833,800 shows one form of a moveable pole light especially adapted for a boat which includes a horizontally slideable cover plate for covering the bore in the boat. The slideable cover plate covers the bore into which the pole is fitted when the pole is removed.
Various other patents have been issued for various assemblies of such pole lights, but typically, the prior art generally shows different means of attachment for the stern running light or stern pole to the boat. Typically, the stern lights are still designed as a pole member wherein the light is positioned on the top end of the pole, and the lower end of the pole adapted for power connection.
It has been determined, however, that at night, when a boat is moored in the water, any boat approaching shore can easily mistake a stern light for a light emanating from the shore line. For example, a boat moored approximately fifty feet from shore and simply anchored in the water, having its stern light in the on position, may not necessarily represent a boat in the water to another boater approaching from 200 to 300 yards off shore. Often it is found that the single light at the top of the pole simply blends in with the shore lights, and may easily be mistaken for nothing more than another light on shore. For this reason, many boat accidents have occurred due to boat collisions as a result of boaters mistakenly believing that a stern light is actually a light emanating from shore, and not necessarily a boat moored in the water.
No practical solution has been developed to overcome the safety problem referenced above. Hence, the present invention is intended as an improved stern running light which will afford to all boaters a more prominent display of a boat stern running light with a view toward avoiding boat collisions at night. Given the fact that a stern light is only used at night, it is believed that the present invention will greatly reduce, if not eliminate, such boating accidents.


A deployment method maintains a cluster of subsatellites within a rigid formation relative to and orbiting about a real or fictitious center satellite that in turn orbits the earth in a frozen inclined eccentric reference orbit by determining the subsatellite reference orbits of the each of the subsatellites based upon position and velocity vectors of the center satellite. The determined subsatellite reference orbits can then be maintained through fuel efficient microthrusting so as to maintain the rigid formation for coherently combining communication signals within a very large sparse antenna array formed by the cluster having improved beam directionality for improved signal communications.

The invention relates to the field of satellite clusters and sparse antenna arrays. More particularly, the present invention relates to the deployment of satellites into a cluster operating as a sparse array antenna.
Communications satellites typically use electromagnetic waves in the radio frequency, microwave, and millimeter-wave range, from 1.0 MHz to 300 GHz, to communicate with terrestrial communication systems. The size of the antenna required is a function of the required gain or directionality and frequency used. Highly directional beams allow a single satellite to service a number of geographically dispersed users with a single frequency allocation. The highly directional beams enable significant frequency reuse to increase the overall system bandwidth. Attaining high gain or directionality in the radio frequency and low microwave frequency ranges from 10 MHz to 30 GHz can be useful for many communications and earth-sensing operations, but such high gain or directionality may require unacceptably large antenna apertures. To produce a 2.0 kilometer-diameter spot beam on the earth at a range of 1000 km at a frequency of 200 MHz, for example, requires that the satellite carry a one kilometer-diameter antenna. To get the same spot size from geosynchronous earth orbit will require an antenna with a 40.0 kilometer diameter.
The basic concept of using a cluster of satellites as a sparse aperture arrays is well known. A sparse array antenna is an array of antenna elements that are more than a wavelength apart. Sparse aperture antenna arrays can be used instead of a single large antenna. The arrays are particularly useful in applications serving geographically dispersed users because the beam directionality is typically more important than total signal gain. The resulting sparse array antenna must be large for high directionality while having many empty spaces within the resultant aperture. A large antenna is effectively emulated by coherently combining received signals from multiple small antennas. These multiple smaller antennas do not have to be physically connected. For example, a previously proposed orbital configuration consists of a single cluster ring of geostationary satellites. Gain pattern simulations of circular sparse aperture arrays show that kilometer-scale apertures composed of tens-to-thousands of individual dipole receiver elements, even with average inter-element spacing greater than ten wavelengths, can create highly directional beams useful for satellite communications.
A sparse array cluster of hundreds of satellites having a dynamic configuration extending over a kilometer in diameter is difficult to keep in formation. Orbiting cluster formations are disadvantageously disrupted due to natural perturbing forces such as solar radiation pressure, atmospheric drag, and earth gravity harmonics. Prior cluster formation disclosures have failed to teach how to provide suitable formation-keeping methods with tight tolerances for controlling the orbit of each satellite and for minimizing the total propellant expenditure for all the satellites to keep the satellites in formation. Prior cluster formation disclosures have also failed to teach how to provide viable cluster configurations for non-circular and non-geostationary orbits. These and other disadvantages are solved or reduced using the invention.
An object of the invention is to maintain an orbiting cluster of flying elements in a predetermined cluster formation as the cluster orbits the earth.
Yet another object of the invention is to maintain sparse array antenna elements in predetermined orbits and in a predetermined cluster formation with selected orbit parameters that minimize the use of propellant to maintain the cluster in formation and in the predetermined orbits.
A further object of the invention is to compute subsatellite subreference orbits from respective position and velocity vectors of the subsatellites, which vectors are computed from position and velocity vectors of a center satellite within the cluster.
Still another object of the invention is to compute thrust vectors from the computed subsatellite subreference orbits for rigidly maintaining the subsatellites the cluster formation.
Another object of the invention is to compute subsatellite subreference orbits from respective position and velocity vectors of the subsatellites, which vectors are computed from position and velocity vectors of a center satellite within the cluster, which center satellite has an inclined eccentric frozen orbit.
The method is primarily directed to space missions where the payload function is distributed among several flying elements arranged in a cluster having a center point traveling through a reference orbit where the elements fly in a rigid formation requiring a relatively small amount of xcex94V thrust to maintain the cluster in the rigid formation while traveling along the reference orbit. The arbitrary flying elements can be small microsatellites or nanosatellites configured in the cluster formation as an on-orbit sparse aperture array with an overall dimension from tens-of-meters to thousands-of-kilometers. To create a cluster of satellites, orbital parameters are chosen so that each satellite occupies a node in an arbitrary spatial pattern and so that the satellite formation undergoes a cyclic motion about the center point of the cluster. The cyclic motion is preferably rotational where the satellites revolve around the center point. The formation is rigidly maintained for the duration of the mission using microthrusting. The cyclic motion of the satellite formation enables the formation to persist for several revolutions without microthrusting maneuvering. Orbital mechanics define and maintain the planar rigid formation of unconnected satellites acting as individual antenna elements within the cluster of satellites preferably comprising a mother-ship center satellite and a plurality of subsatellites in a two-dimensional suborbit plane. The subsatellites preferably suborbit around the center satellite as the center satellite orbits the earth through the reference orbit that may be a low earth orbit (LEO) as the subsatellites orbit the earth through respective subreference orbits. The method allows for the maintenance and formation-keeping of the orbiting two-dimensional sparse aperture array having the free-flying center satellite and the suborbiting subsatellites that remain spatially fixed with respect to each other within a fraction of the average inter-element spacing to eliminate the possibility of inter-satellite collisions while providing a slowly-changing antenna side lobe distribution.
The sparse array antenna has a reference orbit along which the center satellite travels and around which the other individual subsatellites suborbit. The cluster of subsatellites is disposed in a cluster suborbit plane having a normal that is inclined, for example 60xc2x0, from the normal of the reference orbit in a direction towards the instantaneous nadir. A first orbital parameter that is initially chosen is the semimajor axis. The semimajor axis of the subreference orbits for all of the subsatellites is equal to the semimajor axis of the reference orbit of the center satellite, to the first order, so that the orbital periods are identical. In a cluster reference frame, the subsatellites suborbit about the center satellite at the center of the cluster once per orbit around the earth. Each subsatellite has a respective subreference orbit plane that intersects along a respective intersection line with the reference orbit. The intersection line intersects the reference orbit at two intersection points, that is, the (1/2) xcfx80 and (3/2) xcfx80 intersection points of the reference orbit thereby defining xcfx80 and 2xcfx80 alignment points of the reference orbit. The other five orbital parameters necessary for determining the subreference orbit of any one of the subsatellites within the cluster can be determined by realizing that at the xcfx80 and 2xcfx80 alignment points along the subreference orbit, the subsatellite velocity vector is aligned in parallel to the center satellite velocity vector, but having a different magnitude. As such, the radial position and velocity vectors of each of the subsatellites can be computed from the radial position and velocity vector of the center satellite. The other five orbital parameters, including eccentricity, inclination, right ascension of the ascending node, argument of the perigee, and mean anomaly, are uniquely determined for any particular subsatellite from the respective position and velocity vectors of the respective subsatellite. This method is applicable for reference orbits having arbitrary choices of inclination and eccentricity.
The configuration of the formation is maintained as the cluster orbits the earth. When the cluster suborbit plane is inclined relative to the reference orbit plane, for example, at a 60xc2x0 suborbit plane angle, there is no radial motion of the subsatellites within the cluster suborbit plane relative to the center satellite, and the suborbits are circular so that the cluster appears to rotate as a rigid body with each subsatellite traveling in a circle around the center satellite at the same radial distance. When the suborbit plane angle is different than 60xc2x0, the radial distances between the center point and the subsatellites cycle between maximums and minimums twice per orbit around the earth, and, the suborbits are elliptical and the cluster appears as a non-rigid elliptical body, with the subsatellites changing relative radial positions with respect to the center satellite. In all cases of suborbit plane angle, the shape of the formation is maintained and all of the subsatellites return to an initial position once per revolution around the earth. An arbitrary cluster distribution of satellites in the cluster suborbit plane can be maintained, and this cluster suborbit plane will rotate about the earth such that the suborbit plane normal is always pointing towards the earth, ninety degrees minus the suborbit plane angle, for example 30xc2x0 degrees in the case of a 60xc2x0 suborbit plane angle, above or below the center reference orbit plane.
The orbit maintenance and formation keeping is based on the selection of a frozen reference orbit and multiple thruster microcorrections for each subsatellite per orbit. Use of a frozen reference orbit minimizes the variations in eccentricity and argument of perigee caused by higher-order gravitational harmonics created by variations in geopotential gravity fields. The microcorrections occur along in-track and cross-track directions and are computed using an auto-feedback controller based on instantaneous relative position and velocity deviations that are derived from the position and velocity of the center satellite. With this method, formation-keeping propulsion requirements are reduced using conventional on-orbit thrusters even for multi-kilometer diameter clusters in a low earth orbit (LEO). The frozen orbit selection and multiple micro-corrections per orbit enable formation keeping with minimum propellant usage without restriction as to the size of the sparse array.
Use of an inclined planar cluster of satellites as a distributed sparse array antenna with coherent signal combining can create custom beam patterns for radio frequency and microwave communications applications. The cluster orbit can have arbitrary inclination and eccentricity. The use of multiple microcorrections per orbit provides for rigid formation keeping during a mission. The method enables the creation of extremely narrow or user-defined beamwidths at VHF, UHF, and microwave frequencies without requiring kilometer size antennas on the satellite. Coherent signal combining allows for the simultaneous generation of multiple spot beams. The coherent signal combining allows for orders-of-magnitude more frequency reuse of the VHF through microwave spectrum for space communications. The method provides for a free-flying nongeosynchronous sparse aperture array with coherent signal combining that can operate at any orbit altitude. The individual antenna subsatellites may be dispersed at various radii and azimuth angles within the cluster suborbit plane to fill a given aperture with a predetermined planar density distribution. The dispersion enables higher densities near the cluster center for improved aperture efficiency and effectively enables a tapered illumination profile. The dispersion also allows for custom density distributions for generating non-circular beam footprints. These and other advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment.

Method for deploying an orbiting sparse array antenna


A bar screen system comprising two sets of interleaved bars. In each set, the height of the individual bars is staggered so that every third bar is higher than the other bars, which are the same height. The bars are driven such that the bars in one set are approximately 180.degree. behind the other set in their respective predetermined paths of movement, resulting in a tipping and agitation action which tends to present the wood chips loaded at a high rate onto the bar screen in their thickness dimension to the slots between adjacent bars.

One of the primary general performance goals for a bar screen apparatus is to combine a high capacity for receiving and sorting wood chips with a low accepts carryover rate, i.e., a low rate of chips of acceptable size for the particular bar screen proceeding off the outfeed end of the bar screen. This goal is applicable for all bar screen apparatus, regardless of the particular configuration and/or arrangement of the bar screen itself. For bar screens which are designed to process the wood chips in a thickness dimension, a chip loading rate in the range 0.30-0.50 units per hour per square foot of screen surface (UPHPSF) is typical. Within this loading range, with an overthick removal efficiency (ORE) of about 85% or greater, an accepts carryover rate (ACR) in the range of 5-20% is normally acceptable.
A bar screen which significantly exceeds the above performance would be very competitive in the industry, while a bar screen which performed below such a standard would be at a competitive disadvantage and likely would not be well accepted in the industry.
Various attempts have been made to improve bar screen performance by varying one or more of the following parameters: the direction and/or amount of inclination of the bars, the speed of the bars, and the configuration of the bars. These attempts, directed generally toward maximizing capacity while minimizing accepts carryover, while maintaining overthick removal at an acceptable level, have met with varying success.
One recent example is shown in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/918,645, in the name of Gevan R. Marrs and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. That application is directed toward a particular kind of bar screen using thin, blade-like bar elements on the order of 1/16 inch thick, instead of the relatively thick, rigid (approximately 1/2 inch thick) bars used in conventional bar screen systems. This "blade screen" arrangement, in which the bars are held in tension at opposing ends, has significant performance promise because the percentage of open area of the screen is quite high, within the range of 50-90%, compared to a much lower percentage of open area, usually around 35%, for bar screens using conventional bars. However, adequate loading capacities have been difficult to achieve with the blade screen arrangement.
In addition, bar screens using more conventional bars, with lower percentage of open area figures, would also benefit significantly in performance if loading capacity could be increased without affecting the accepts carryover rate.
Accordingly, it is desirable to increase the capacity of bar screens while maintaining a high overthick removal and an accepts carryover rate within an acceptable range, in order to improve overall performance. This is particularly desirable for bar screens using relatively thin bars; i.e. those bar screens having a large percentage of open area, which appear to possess a structure capable of achieving relative high loading capacity.

Bar screen with bars of staggered height


An apparatus for processing substrates is provided. The apparatus includes a receptacle for containing processing fluid, and at least one substrate support. Components of the receptacle and/or substrate support that come into contact with processing fluid have a protective layer. Guide or support members for the substrates are fused to the protective layer.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for processing substrates, and includes a receptacle containing a processing fluid and at least one substrate support, whereby the components of the receptacle and/or of the substrate support that come into contact with the processing fluid have a protective layer, and whereby guide and/or support elements for the substrates are fused onto the protective layer.
An apparatus of this type is known from WO 95/02473 A1.
Further apparatus for processing substrates, especially semiconductor wafers, are known from the publications DE 44 13 077 A1, and DE 195 46 990 A1 of the present applicant, and are furthermore described in the not yet published German Patent applications DE 196 16 402.8, DE 196 15 969.5, DE 196 37 875.3, DE 196 44 253.2 and DE 196 44 254.0. Receptacles or substrate supports made of metal, for example stainless steel, are coated with a protective layer that not only protects the receptacle wall and the substrate supports from corrosive processing fluid, but also prevents the processing fluid from being contaminated by metallic parts.
JP 6-28 34 86 A2 or DE 39 30 056 A1 disclose wafer cassettes or wafer baskets for transporting and supporting wafers, with guide and support elements being provided that have a shape or are rounded in order during introduction and removal of the wafers to avoid damage thereto. The publications JP 4-130 724 A1 and JP 6-204 197 A2 show wafer cleaning apparatus where the processing receptacle or the wafer support is made of quartz.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for processing substrates that in particular with regard to the guide and support elements for the substrates in the receptacle is optimally configured and can be economically manufactured, and in addition has a long service life.


Disclosed herein is an image processing apparatus, in which an object image focused by a lens is split into a plurality of images by means of a light splitting section. These images are converted into image data items by a plurality of imaging devices which are arranged with their imaging area overlapping in part. The image data items are stored temporarily in an image storing section. A displacement detecting section detects displacement coefficients (rotation angle R and parallel displacement S) from the image signals representing the mutual overlap region of two images which are to be combined and which are represented by two image data items read from the image storing section. The position of any specified pixel of the image displayed is identified by the pixel signal generated by the corresponding pixel of any imaging device. An interpolation section performs interpolation on the pixel values of the imaging device, thereby correcting the values of the other pixels of the image displayed and ultimately generating interpolated image signals. The interpolated image signals are combined with the image signals produced by the imaging device, whereby a display section displays a high-resolution image.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus for forming either images of the parts of an object or images of an object which are identical but different in color, and for combining the images into a wide high-resolution image of the object.
2. Description of the Related Art
Image processing apparatuses using a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD are generally used in electronic still cameras, video cameras, and the like. It is demanded that an image processing apparatus have a higher resolution, particularly so high a resolution that the apparatus may provide a wide image of an object. Also it is desired that the image processing apparatus have so high a resolution that it can form an image as wide as a panoramic image.
Two techniques are available for increasing the resolution of the image processing apparatus. The first technique is to use a solid-state imaging device with a sufficiently high resolution. The second technique is to use a plurality of solid-state imaging devices for obtaining images of parts of an object, respectively, and to combine the images into a single high-resolution image of the entire object.
More precisely, the first resolution-increasing technique is to use more pixels per unit area of the device chip. In other words, smaller pixels are arranged in a greater number in the unit area, thus increasing the pixel density of the imaging device.
The second resolution-increasing technique is classified into two types. The first-type technique comprises the first step of controlling the optical system incorporated in an image processing apparatus, thereby switching the view field of the apparatus from one part of an object to another part and thus enabling the imaging devices to produce images of parts of an object, and the second step of combining the images, thus produced, into a high-resolution image of the entire object. The second-type technique comprises the first step of dividing an optical image 600 of an object into, for example, four parts by means of prisms as shown in FIG. 1, the second step of applying the parts of the optical image to four imaging devices 611, 621, 631, and 641, respectively, and the third step of combining the image data items output by the devices, thereby forming a single image of the object. In the second-type technique, the imaging devices 611 to 641 are so positioned as to cover the predetermined parts of the object as illustrated in FIG. 2.
There is known another resolution-increasing technique similar to the second-type technique described in the preceding paragraph. This technique uses a detector 611 having four imaging devices 612 which are arranged in the same plane in a 2xc3x972 matrix, spaced apart from one another for a predetermined distance as is shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C. The view-field image 613 of an object (i.e., a broken-line square) is intermittently moved with respect to the imaging-device matrix by driving an optical system, in the sequence indicated by FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D. The optical image of an object need not be divided by prisms or similar means, unlike in the second-type technique.
The conventional resolution-increasing techniques, described above, are disadvantageous in the following respects.
The first technique can increase the resolution but to a limited degree, for two reasons. First, the number of pixels the existing manufacturing technology can form in the unit area of the device chip is limited. Second, the smaller a pixel, the less sensitive it is. A larger device chip may indeed be used to form more pixels on the chip. With the conventional manufacturing method, however, the ratio of defective pixels to good ones will increase if many pixels are formed on a large chip. Consequently, solid-state imaging devices having a large image-receiving surface can hardly be manufactured with a sufficiently high yield.
In the second resolution-increasing technique, the image data items output from the imaging devices (e.g., four devices) are combined to produce a single image. To render the reproduced image substantially identical to the original image of the object, the images of the object parts should neither be spaced apart nor overlap one another. The images will be spaced apart or overlap unless the pixels arranged along that edge of one device which abut on the edge of the next device are spaced by exactly the one-pixel distance from the pixels arranged along that edge of the next device. The imaging devices therefore need to be positioned with very high precision during the manufacture of the image processing apparatus. It takes much time to position the devices so precisely, inevitably reducing the manufacture efficiency and, ultimately, raising the cost of the image processing apparatus.
Also in the resolution-increasing technique similar to the second-type technique, the imaging devices must be positioned with high precision. In addition, the optical system must be driven with high precision in order to intermittently move the view-field image of an object (i.e., a broken-line square) with respect to the imaging-device matrix. A high-precision drive is indispensable to the image processing apparatus. The use of the drive not only makes it difficult to miniaturize or lighten the apparatus, but also raises the manufacturing cost of the apparatus.
A color image processing apparatus is known, a typical example of which is a so-called xe2x80x9cthree-section color camera.xe2x80x9d This color camera comprises a color-component generating system and three imaging devices. The color-component generating system decomposes an input optical image of an object into a red image, a green image, and a blue image. The three imaging devices convert the red image, the green image, and the blue image into red signals, green signals, and blue signalsxe2x80x94all being television signals of NTSC system or the like. The signals output from the three imaging devices are combined, whereby the red, green and blue images are combined, forming a single color image of the object. A color image with no color distortion cannot be formed unless the imaging devices are positioned or registered with high precision.
Images of parts of an object are combined, also in an image processing apparatus which has a plurality of optical imaging devices for photographing the parts of the object on photographic film, thereby forming a panoramic image of the object. To form a high-quality panoramic image, the images of the object parts should neither be spaced apart nor overlapping one another. Hence, the optical system incorporated in this image processing apparatus must be controlled with high precision. Consequently, the apparatus requires a complex device for controlling the optical system, and cannot be manufactured at low cost.
Accordingly it is the object of this invention is to provide an image processing apparatus in which either images of the parts of an object or images of an object which are identical but different in color, and for combining the images into a wide high-resolution image of the object.
In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus for combining a plurality of images into a single large image such that the images have overlap regions, comprising: image storing means for storing image data items representing the images; interpolation means for detecting a positional relation between a reference pixel and a given pixel in the overlap area of each image from image data read from the image storing means and representing the overlap area, and for interpolating the image data item read from the image storing means and representing the image, in accordance with a displacement coefficient indicating the positional relation, thereby to generate interpolated image data; and image-synthesizing means for combining the interpolated image data items generated by the interpolation means, thereby to form a single large image.
In a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus for combining a plurality of images into a single large image such that the images have overlap regions, comprising: light splitting means for splitting an object image; a plurality of imaging devices arranged such that an imaging area of each overlaps that of another; image storing means for storing image data items generated by the imaging devices and representing images overlapping one another and overlap regions of the images; displacement detecting means for detecting displacement (i.e., a displacement coefficient consisting of a rotation angle R and a parallel displacement S) representing a relation between a reference pixel and a given pixel in the overlap area of each image from the image data item read from the image storing means and representing the overlap area; interpolation means for interpolating the image data items read from the image storing means, in accordance with the rotation angle R and the parallel displacement S detected by the displacement detecting means, thereby to generate interpolated image data items; and image-synthesizing means for combining the interpolated image data items generated by the interpolation means, thereby to form a single large image.
In a third aspect of the invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus for combining a plurality of images into a single large image such that the images have overlap regions, comprising: imaging means for intermittently scanning parts of an object image, thereby generating a plurality of image data items; image storing means for sequentially storing the image data items generated by the imaging means; reference image storing means storing an image data item representing a reference image; motion vector detecting means for comparing each image data item read from the image storing means with the image data item read from the reference image storing means, thereby detecting correlation between the reference image and the image represented by the image data item read from the image storing means and detecting a motion vector; and image-synthesizing means for processing the image data items stored in the image storing means, in accordance with the motion vectors detected by the motion vector detecting means, thereby combining the image data items.
In a fourth aspect of this invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus for combining a plurality of images into a single large image such that the images have overlap regions, comprising: image storing means for storing image data items; a plurality of display means for displaying images represented by the image data items read from the image storing means; interpolation means for interpolating the image data items in accordance with displacement coefficients for the display means, thereby generating interpolated image data items representing images which are to be displayed by the display means, adjoining one another without displacement; and image-synthesizing and displaying means for combining the image data items stored in the image storing means and for displaying the images represented by the image data items and adjoining one another without displacement.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.


Method and an apparatus for controlling the production of thermomechanical pulp meter chips by metering elements (9, 10) into a feed chest (2), and by feed elements (3, 7) connected to the feed chest feeds chips for refinement between thermomechanical pulp refining discs (5). Water is added to the chips prior to feeding the chips between the discs (5). Moisture content of the thermomechanical pulp is measured after the thermomechanical pulp refiner at least in a semicontinuous fashion by at least one measurement device (21, 22, 23, 24) operating on-line, and on the basis of measured moisture content, the quantity of chips and water to be metered is controlled so as to regulate the moisture content to a desired level of having a constant value by, e.g., increasing the volume of metered chips and simultaneously decreasing the quantity of fed water for an increasing trend of moisture content, and correspondingly, applying an opposite strategy to counter a decreasing trend of moisture content. The implementation provides for a consistent quality of thermomechanical pulp.

In prior art methods, the feed of chips to the rotating thermomechanical pulp refiner was under manual control of set values for chip entry and water feed. In the manual control method, control delay of some process set values is naturally extremely long, typically in the order of several hours. The selection of set values is approximate and inconsistent. Furthermore, since the density and size variation of entering chips is random, this method is incapable of producing a consistent quality of thermomechanical pulp.
Efforts have been made to estimate the water quantity of the chips entering the refiner, but approaches to a reliable moisture content sensor for chips have been unsuccessful.
Also, adjustable systems are known in the art, in which an attempt has been made to maintain power consumed by the refiner constant by regulating the quantity of fed water. Yet, although the power input from the mains to the thermomechanical pulp refiner is maintained constant, thermomechanical pulp presents deviations due to variations in density of chips.
Water feed is also controlled by first measuring the freeness value of thermomechanical pulp which gives a standardized measure for pulp drainage and is characteristic of the fines of thermomechanical pulp, and then, on the basis of determined freeness, adjusting water quantity, production capacity, and disc clearance to obtain desired freeness value. This method, however, is insensitive to changes in consistency and density. In addition, freeness measurement is time consuming, and consequently, does not lend to real-time control, but rather presents an appreciable delay between the time of measurement to that of control.

Method and apparatus for controlling the production of thermomechanical pulp


Described examples include a microelectronic device with a high voltage capacitor that includes a high voltage node, a low voltage node, a first dielectric disposed between the low voltage node and the high voltage node, a first conductive plate disposed between the first dielectric and the high voltage node, and a second dielectric disposed between the first conductive plate and the high voltage node.

High voltage isolation capacitors are limited in voltage rating by the high electric field which occurs at the bottom edges of the metal that forms the high voltage capacitor metal. To prevent dielectric breakdown, high voltage capacitors can be oversized relative to the requirements of a given operating voltage level. However, oversized capacitors or other high voltage components occupy excessive microelectronic device area.

High voltage isolation structure and method


Primary light is directed to a light path control plate from at least one point-like light source. The light path control plate has an inner face on which projection-like transmission-reflection portions and curved-for-refraction portions are alternately formed along a leaving-direction from an optical axis direction of the point-like light source, wherein each transmission-reflection portion is composed of a transmission face permitting primary light to transmit through the transmission face and a reflection face which reflects the transmitted light as to bring changed light paths directed to an outer face of the light path control plate while each curved-for-refraction portion refracts primary light as to bring changed light paths directed to the outer face of the light path control plate. First light reaching the outer face via the transmission-reflection portions and second light reaching the outer face via the curved-for-refraction portions are generated from primary light. The first light and second light are emitted from the outer face. A plurality of sections each of which is equivalent to the above light path control plate may be formed on substrate for providing illumination for a large screen display.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a surface light source device, image display and light path control plate which employ point-like light sources as light emitting source.
2. Related Art
So-called "collective-type-LED display" is known as a display utilizing a surface light source device employing a plurality of point-like light sources, being disclosed, for example, in Tokkai-Hei 6-104489 (Japan). According to the disclosure, a casing accommodates a substrate on which a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) are mounted as point-like light sources like a matrix. Lenses are disposed immediately in front of light emitting faces of the LEDs. The lenses have lower faces providing flat faces and upper faces providing convergent lens structures convergence of which is higher in a upper-lower diction as compared with in a lateral direction.
This display is subject to problems such that light for displaying involves glaring or blurring occurs between pixels because light emitted from LED is converged. In such conventional displays, directivity of light emitted from LED is only modified as to be converged, with the result that viewing angle is narrow and image clearness falls when viewing direction is deviated from a frontal direction of the display screen. This problem is serious, in particular, for large screen size displays.

Surface light source device, image display and light control plate


An electronic device with a touch-sensitive display can obtain a plurality of alerts associated with dates and times. The device can detect a user input, and in response to the input display a notification interface. The notification interface can include a future notification representing a future alert with a date and time after the current date and time, and a past notification representing a past alert with a date and time before the current date and time. The future and past notifications can be separated by a graphical separator that has an indication of the current time. The future and past alerts correspond to different installed applications.

Reduced-size electronic devices (e.g., devices that are smaller than typical cellular phones) that are designed to be worn by a user can conveniently display notifications for a wide variety of alerts, such as calendar alerts, emails, clock alarms, stock market alerts, and text messages. The relatively small screen size of a reduced-size electronic device may limit the amount of information that can be comfortably viewed, however, thus limiting the number of notifications that can be displayed on a single screen and increasing the importance of prioritizing display of relevant information.


An orthopedic pillow that comprises several components of varying densities, which in combination provide improved and more immediate comfortable support for the head and neck region, while enhancing the multi-alignment features for the spine, head, and neck of a user in back-lying and side-lying body positions, and do not require the user to endure a break-in period to allow the pillow to conform to the shape of the user's head. The pillow comprises a firm core comprising a first and second lengthwise edge, a top surface, and a bottom surface; a recess located on the top surface of the core; a layer of soft, viscoelastic foam located within the recess; a layer of soft, Dacron fiber located along a top surface of the layer of foam; and a soft, C-shaped layer of viscoelastic foam wrapped around the core, whereby the C-shaped layer of foam covers the first lengthwise edge of the core, the bottom surface of the core, and the second lengthwise edge of the core.

Today, pillows come in a wide variety of forms. Traditional, non-orthopedic pillows typically consist of rectangular, fabric enclosures filled with feathers, down, chipped foam, or a polyester fill. These pillows may be shaped by the user to provide reasonably adequate support for the user while the user falls asleep. However, many people suffer from an uncomfortable night's sleep because of the inadequate support that their head and neck receive while using these traditional pillows throughout the night. This is because traditional pillows either have a body that is so soft that the neck support area compresses to result in no support, or the body is so firm that the head sits considerably higher than the shoulders of the user, resulting in an abnormal sleeping position. Chronic neck pain or stiffness and a tense upper back are often the result of these inadequate forms of support these traditional pillows provide.
For this reason, many people turn to orthopedic pillows in an attempt to furnish them a more comfortable and healthier night's sleep. Orthopedic pillows are designed to provide users with proper support and alignment of their head and neck. A multitude of different orthopedic pillow designs exist, many of which offer different methods for improved positioning of users heads and necks as they sleep. The many different cervical pillows do this to one extent or another through different designs. Cervical pillows in general work by providing a raised surface under the back of a user's neck, thereby supporting the neck forward and allowing the head to fall back, thus maintaining the lordotic neck curve while the user is back-lying, and to support the head and neck in the side-lying position. This action provides support to underlying muscles in the cervical spine region that tend to be weak, and it correctly aligns the spine, head, and neck. A well known and exemplary model of a cervical pillow is the Wal-Pil-O.RTM. pillow by Roloke Company, which utilized U.S. Pat. No. 3,521,310 issued to Greenawalt. This pillow allows the user four different combinations of head and neck support in both back-lying and in side-lying positions.
Many of these orthopedic pillows use a resilient foam material, such as a flexible polyurethane foam, to provide the necessary support to the head and neck. Another foam used in manufacturing the pillows is viscoelastic memory foam. Viscoelastic memory foam is designed to retain the shape or form of the user's head as the user sleeps on the pillow every night. This function of retaining the shape of a user's head aids in providing a more comfortable sleeping experience for the user.
One major drawback of ordinary polyurethane foam cervical pillows is that they typically have to be broken in before the pillows achieve their greatest level of comfort. "Breaking in" a pillow simply refers to the process of repeatedly compressing the foam of a pillow during its initial usage. The compression is caused by the weight of a user's head sleeping on the foam night after night. This repeated compression of the foam every time the user is sleeping compresses the internal structure of the foam and pushes air out from within the structure. The polymers of the foam tend to "remember" this compressed structure, and this "memory" makes the polymers tend to bias towards the compressed structure. Through this breaking-in process, the foam becomes softer and more resilient in the area of the compressed structure, and because the area of the compressed structure corresponds to the area where the user's head is pushing down on the foam, the foam is thus "conforming" to the shape of the user's head.
This break-in period can last anywhere from several days to a week or more before the foam adequately and comfortably retains the shape of a user's head. This long of a break-in period may be unacceptable to potential users who require the head and neck support these pillows offer, but are unable to endure the stiffness of a non-broken-in foam due to their medical conditions. For instance, users that have chronic or acute neck disorders, or that have suffered a recent head trauma or neck injury typically cannot withstand any length of a break-in period.
Accordingly, there is a need for a foam, orthopedic pillow that provides comfortable head and neck support, correctly aligns the spine, head, and neck, and requires no break-in period.

Orthopedic head and neck support pillow that requires no break-in period


The disclosure is directed to an exhaust efficiency increasing apparatus incorporating crossover ducts between dual exhaust conduits extending from an engine having two cylinder banks. The ducts are disposed to communicate with upstream entry and downstream exit apertures on the exhaust conduits and cross in an "X". Since where the ducts are positioned affects engine torque, torque curves can be adjusted or changed by adjustably positioning the crossover ducts within a housing which is placed in the exhaust system, to move the crossover ducts nearer to or further from the engine, by computer or manual control. A second embodiment incorporates at least two spaced duct pairs disposed to increase low end torque and high end output.

1. Field of the Invention (Technical Field)
The invention relates to increasing power and torque through increasing exhaust efficiency in internal combustion engines having two banks of cylinders and more particularly to an apparatus for cross-communicating between the exhaust conduits from each of the banks of cylinders to increase the power output of the engine and control its torque curve.
2. Description of the Related Art Including Information Disclosed under 37 C.F.R. .sctn.1.97-1.99 (Background Art)
Although much thought has gone into designing intake systems for existing internal combustion engines, the primary consideration for designing exhaust systems has been cost. However, just as the induction of gases into internal combustion engines is important, the extraction of gases is equally important.
The construction of an exhaust system should compliment the requirements of the engine. Diameter, length, and culmination of exhaust runners into one collector can significantly influence efficiency through pressure equalization and scavenging of the exhaust gases.
In V-8s, V-6s, and the like, automobile manufacturers at present typically use "crossover" pipes which provide pressure equalization between the two existing pipes exhausting gases from two cylinder banks.
In practicing the invention, an adjustable crossover apparatus is provided. It can be configured to provide desired torque characteristics for a particular engine or for a selected use and can be incorporated into the exhaust system of the engine. For example, more torque is usually needed for loaded conditions than for non-loaded conditions. Thus, more torque is needed for going uphill than downhill, and for towing a trailer than for not pulling a trailer.


The invention relates to a system in particular a quantum sensor system, for testing a device-under-test, DUT, comprising: an optically excitable medium which is arranged to receive electromagnetic, EM, radiation emitted by the DUT, at least one light source configured to irradiate the medium with at least one light beam, wherein the medium is optically excited by the at least one light beam, a field generator unit configured to generate an electric and/or magnetic field within the medium, wherein a resonance frequency of the excited medium is modified by an amplitude of the electric and/or magnetic field, wherein an optical parameter, in particular a luminescence, of the exited medium is locally modified if a frequency of the EM radiation corresponds to the resonance frequency at a position in the medium, an image detector configured to acquire an image of the medium, wherein the image shows an intensity profile that results from the modification of the optical parameter, a processor configured to analyze the DUT based on the acquired image.

Many electronic devices undergo testing at first manufacture or later during their life cycles. During testing, such devices are typically referred to as device-under-test (DUT).
For example, printed circuit boards (PCBs) are usually tested at some point during a production process to identify and remove PCBs which have a defect. Ideally, this testing is carried out as quickly as possible, for instance while the PCBs are on an assembly line, to avoid delaying the production process.
In a typical testing scheme, the device is connected to a test rig via a wire in order to test various device functionalities. However, this way of testing can be slow, because each PCB must be connected and disconnected from the test rig, and requires additional equipment.
PCBs are often designed to emit electromagnetic radiation, e.g. for communication, sensing or radar applications. During the testing of these devices, it should be analyzed, whether this radiation is emitted in the correct way, e.g. at a correct frequency or from a correct location on the device.
There are many measurement schemes to analyze electromagnetic radiation. For example, Simons, et al. "A Rydberg atom-based mixer: Measuring the phase of a radio frequency wave." Applied Physics Letters 114.11 (2019), 114101 discloses a device for analyzing a signal by means of a material with optical properties that can be modified by an optical excitation.
Thus, it is an objective to provide an improved system and an improved method for testing a DUT, which avoid the above-mentioned disadvantages.

System and method for testing a device-under-test


An automobile windscreen clearing and cleaning system in which cleaning of the windshield is accomplished primarily by a high velocity, essentially laminar flow of air from a distributed lineal nozzle located adjacent the surface of the windscreen. In one specific emodiment a foil-shaped body of rigid but flexible material is bonded to the outsdie lower surface of the windshield to form a plenum which in turn defines a lineal nozzle from which air is emitted at high velocity to flow up and over the windshield surface for cleaning the windshield surface as well as to create an air curtain. A turbine or other high velocity high pressure air source carried by the vehicle supplies air to the plenum. In another embodiment the foil-shaped rigid but flexible body is mounted for movement with a windshield wiper arm such that the plenum and nozzle are reversed in orientation relative to the windshield surface during each half cycle of travel to maintain the air curtain emitted by the nozzle in advance of the nozzle and in the direction of nozzle movement.

Current automotive vehicle windscreen cleaning and clearing systems are essentially based on the mechanical scrubbing and squeegee action of a flexible wiper blade on the windscreen surface. In essence, the conventional windshield wiper system makes no effort to prevent rain, snow, insects and other objectionable materials from striking the windshield surface; rather, the conventional windshield wiper system depends on periodically cleaning or clearing such materials from the windscreen surface. To assist in this function it is also known to spray the windscreen surface with cleaning and de-icing liquids by means of a reservoir and pump system carried on the vehicle.
The prior art also contains some limited recognition that flowing air can be used to clear a vehicle windscreen or rear window or to maintain a cleared condition once it has been achieved by another mechanism. For example, wind deflectors are commonly used in combination with vehicle top-mounted luggage racks to direct air flowing as a result of relative motion between a vehicle and ambient air downwardly over the backlight of the vehicle. In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 4,678,224 issued July 7, 1987 to Erwin F. Geppert discloses the use of plural discrete nozzles for the purpose of generating an air curtain on a military vehicle, which air curtain prevents the accumulation of airborne mud particles on small observation windows of the vehicle.
In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 1,717,904 issued June 18, 1929 to H. Abernethy discloses the use of an air curtain to clear and maintain the front windscreen of a trolley car. The Abernethy system comprises a pipe which is mounted so as to extend across the upper outside surface of the trolley windscreen. The pipe is provided with a plurality of discrete nozzles, non-uniformly spaced along the pipe, to direct a plurality of fan-shaped air blasts downwardly over and along the surface of the windscreen. A compressed air tank is mounted on and carried by the vehicle and may be supplied with air by the air brake system of the trolley.
The problems and disadvantages attending such prior art systems are generally well-known. Conventional windshield wipers are notorious for breakage, streaking and scoring of windscreen surfaces and, under heavy rain conditions, providing inadequate visibility as a result of the accumulation of water between clearing strokes. Use of conventional wipers for the removal of accumulated ice and frost from the outside surface of the windscreen is well-known to require by way of supplementation either manual scraping or extraordinary patience while the conventional interior heating system of the vehicle achieves an operative temperature. The Abernethy trolley car system, although interesting in concept, is aesthetically non-pleasing and hydrodynamically unfeasible for high speed vehicles.


The present invention relates to a method for treating anemia using a long-acting EPO formulation, and more specifically, a method for treating patients with anemia by confirmation of safe, long-acting, and optimal effective dosage and usage in administering a fusion polypeptide which comprises an EPO and an immunoglobulin hybrid Fc to patients with anemia. The method of administering the fusion polypeptide employs an appropriate dosage and usage which not only shows an excellent long-acting property compared to the existing EPO products but also minimizes cardiovascular side effects that may occur due to a rapid increase in hemoglobin level, which is an effect of anemia treatment.

An EPO is a glycoprotein hormone that promotes the production of red blood cells. It is produced by the kidneys according to the in-vivo oxygen concentration and is well known as a factor to control erythropoiesis. Red blood cells are blood cells essential for the transport of oxygen in-vivo. Patients with renal failure may develop a disorder in EPO release and thus affect the erythropoiesis thereby showing symptoms of anemia.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), anemia is defined as blood hemoglobin concentrations of lower than 13.0 g/dL for adult men and postmenopausal women, or lower than 12.0 g/dL for premenopausal women (World Health Organization. Nutritional Anaemias: Report of a WHO Scientific Group. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization, 1968). Based on the above standards, the blood hemoglobin has been reported to be lower than 10 g/dL in 90% or more of the anemia patients having the glomerular filtration rate (GFR)<25 mL/min to 30 mL/min (the fourth stage of renal failure) (Kazmi W H, Kausz A T, Khan S, et al. Anemia: an early complication of chronic renal insufficiency. Am J Kidney Dis 2001; 38:803).
Anemic conditions can be improved by administering EPO agents to alleviate anemia symptoms. For this purpose, the first generation products of EPO products prepared by genetic recombination, such as EPOGEN® and NEORECORMON® led by Amgen Inc., were released.
However, these first generation products were not convenient because they had to be administered three times a week due to their short half-lives. Accordingly, for the purpose of improving patient convenience, long-acting EPO products, such as ARANESP® and MICERA®, which can be administered once a week, once every two weeks, or once a month, have been released in the 2000s. However, there is still a need for the development of EPO products with longer half-lives for the sake of patient convenience, and there is also a need for the development of bio-friendly and long-acting EPO products prepared without utilizing chemical bindings. Additionally, in developing long-acting EPO agents, it has been highlighted that the risk of cardiovascular-related adverse effects due to a rapid increase or frequent changes in hemoglobin levels should be minimized, in addition to the need for the long-term in-vivo maintenance of their efficacies for improving patient convenience.
The present inventors have developed an EPO-hyFc fusion polypeptide (U.S. Pat. No. 7,867,491, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference), in which the EPO protein and an immunoglobulin hybrid Fc are fused, and it was confirmed that when the EPO-hyFc fusion polypeptide was administered to healthy adults, the in-vivo duration was maintained without showing any serious adverse effect by the drug, similarly to the existing conventional products (Clinical Drug Investigation June 2014, Volume 34, Issue 6, pp 373-382).
However, since the result was based on healthy adults, it was not certain whether the drug will show the same therapeutic effect on patients with anemia. In addition, the result only confirmed the safety of single administration of the drug and it did not reveal anything regarding the essential administration interval of the drug, which is necessary for a long-term administration therapy. Furthermore, since healthy adults have the physiological regulatory activities to maintain homeostasis when the administration of the EPO agent increases the hemoglobin concentration higher than the physiologically normal range, it was not possible to accurately confirm the changes in hemoglobin level, which serves as a pharmacodynamic parameter by the EPO-hyFc. Accordingly, the effect of single administration of the EPO agent could only be predicted by measuring the changes in reticulocytes, which are precursors of erythrocytes, as a leading indicator.
As such, there has been a request for the establishment of a safer and more sustainable method for administering an EPO-hyFc fusion polypeptide with an appropriate effective dose and interval for treating anemia.

Method of treating anemia using long-acting EPO formulation


Disclosed is an intelligent photography system including an intelligent tripod head, a search camera, a shooting camera, a communication component and a control component. The search camera is mounted on the intelligent tripod head, and configured to search for a target to be shot. The shooting camera is mounted on the intelligent tripod head, and configured to take a target image. The communication component is fixed on the intelligent tripod head. The control component includes a circuit board component electrically connected with the intelligent tripod head, the search camera, the shooting camera and the communication component respectively, so that remote control of the shooting camera for shooting is realized, photographers are freed, and better effects are achieved.

With the development of camera technology, there are more and more eco-photography enthusiasts and sports photography enthusiasts who take natural creatures as their subjects. This type of photography requires that the photographer must observe the state of the subject in real time. In most common photography methods, cameras are handheld for operation and mechanical tripod heads are manually operated. The photographer must be under extreme shooting conditions and difficult shooting methods for a long time.
In this way, the best shooting time will often be missed, which cannot meet the requirements of real-time shooting, image transmission quality and distance control in ecological and sports photography.


An indicator assembly for a wearable electronic device having a dial, a slotted opening therein and surface indicia to which an indicator can point and convey information thereby, wherein the indicator assembly comprises a track assembly comprising a first track and a second track spaced apart and aligned parallel thereto, wherein each track includes teeth running along at least a respective portion thereof, wherein the teeth of the respective tracks are in facing alignment; a track assembly gearing assembly that meshingly engages the teeth of the first and second tracks and the gears of a gear assembly so that the track assembly moves linearly; an indicating assembly coupled to the track assembly and extending through the slotted opening in the dial, wherein the linear movement of the track assembly causes the indicating assembly to move linearly in the slotted opening; whereby an indicator of the indicating assembly conveys information by referring to particular surface indicia on the dial.

The present invention is directed generally to wearable electronic devices of the type wherein indicia are provided, preferably on the dial, and an indicator is used to convey information by referring to particular surface indicia on the dial. In particular, the present invention is directed to an indicator assembly for use in such a wearable electronic device, wherein the indicator assembly utilizes an indicator that moves in a linear direction.
Generally speaking, use of indicators that move linearly are known. For example, U.S. Publication No. 2007/0070819 describes a linear time display that uses a driving gear train that comprises two screws that serve as the driving means and a guide rail that serves as guiding means.
However, it is believed that further advances to the state of the art are both desirable and achievable. For example, it would be desirable to provide a linear indicator in which a gearing assembly drives a track assembly to which the indicator is coupled, so that the indicator and the track assembly move together. It is believed that the present invention provides such advances in a novel and non-obvious manner.

Indicator assembly for a wearable electronic device


A mainstream gas monitoring system and method that includes using a mainstream airway adapter and a gas sensing assembly associated with the airway adapter to measure an analyte of a gas flow through the adapter. A gas sensing portion outputs a signal indicative of the analyte in a gas flow in the mainstream airway adapter. A processing portion receives the signal from the gas sensing portion and determines an amount of the analyte in the gas flow based on the signal from the gas sensing portion. The processing portion determines whether the oxygen measurements are of sufficient quality for their intended use, such as for measuring oxygen consumption or metabolic estimations. Quality measurements may be used to improve accuracy of derived metabolic estimations. Methods are provided by which carbon dioxide measurements can be processed and substituted for direct oxygen measurement for all or part of a respiratory cycle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to a system and method for monitoring a metabolic parameter of a user.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is well known to monitor the oxygen consumption or oxygen uptake of an individual for purposes of monitoring the physiologic condition of that person. The phrases "oxygen uptake" and "oxygen consumption" are used synonymously, and are both represented by the expression "VO2" or, for simplicity "VO2". Oxygen consumption is a measure of the amount of oxygen that the body uses in a given period of time, such as one minute. It is typically expressed as milliliters of oxygen used per kilogram of body weight per minute (ml/kg/min). Measuring the rate of oxygen consumption is valuable, for example, in anesthesia and intensive care situations because it provides an indication of the sufficiency of a patient's cardiac and pulmonary function. VO2 can also be used to monitor the fitness of an individual or athlete.
VO2 is conventionally calculated as the difference between the volume of oxygen inspired and the volume of oxygen expired. The standard or direct calculation of VO2 is given by the following equation:VO2=Vi*FiO2−Ve*FēO2,  (1)where: "VO2" is oxygen consumption, "Vi" is inspired volume, "FiO2" is the inspired oxygen concentration, "Ve" is the expired volume, and "FēO2" is the mixed expired oxygen concentration.
An alternative method of calculating VO2 uses only the expired breath volume, Ve. In this scenario, the inspired breath volume Vi is calculated (rather than measured) based on the assumption that the nitrogen volume is the same for both inspired and expired gas, which is usually true because nitrogen is not consumed or produced by the body. This is referred to as the nitrogen balance. The calculation of Vi, rather than measuring it, also assumes that the effect of temperature and humidity are the same for both inspired and expired gas volumes.
This modification of equation (1), which uses a calculation of Vi based on the nitrogen balance noted above, is known as the Haldane transform. According to this technique, Vi is calculated as follows:Vi=Ve*FēN2/FiN2,  (2)where "FēN2" is the concentration of expired nitrogen, and "FiN2" is the concentration of inspired nitrogen. Based on this, the Haldane transform becomes:Vi=Ve*(1−FēCO2−FēO2)/(1−FiCO2−FiO2),  (3)and the oxygen consumption calculation becomes:VO2=Ve*[FiO2*((1−FēCO2−FēO2)/(1−FiCO2−FiO2))−FēO2],  (4)where "FēCO2" is the expired carbon dioxide concentration, and FiCO2 is the inspired carbon dioxide concentration.
Calculating VO2 using the Haldane transform has the advantage that the effects of errors in volume measurements that are not "common mode" are eliminated, because only the expired volume measurement is used. Common mode errors are errors that effect both the Vi and Ve measurements, such as a calibration error in a flow sensor. Assuming, of course, the same sensor is used to measure Ve and Vi.
Conventional CO2 sensor technology is generally capable of very fast and accurate measurement of airway CO2 and can be sufficiently robust to track changes in respiratory CO2 over long periods of time. It is desirable to measure respiratory oxygen with similar speed and accuracy, so that one or more parameters such as oxygen consumption, energy expenditure, respiratory quotient, or related metabolic measurements can be accurately assessed. This can be used for various applications such as respiratory spirometry, for example.
Although mainstream oxygen sensing technology that is potentially fast and accurate enough to use for such applications is becoming available, speed and robustness may be inferior to available CO2 sensing technology. Estimations of oxygen consumption or metabolic parameters derived from measurements of respiratory gasses can only be accurate if all the gas measurements are sufficiently accurate. A method of determining if airway conditions interfere with the measurement of oxygen is also needed to ensure that a corrupted waveform is not used to calculate oxygen consumption or other metabolic parameters. Given that fast, accurate, and robust oxygen measurement may be the limiting factor in attaining respiratory measurements for oxygen consumption or metabolic assessment, methods to help identify corrupted oxygen waveforms and to correct such waveforms are desired.
It should also be appreciated, however, that the present invention can be applied to sensing of other gasses, and is not limited to measurements of oxygen or carbon dioxide.

Signal quality determination and signal correction system and methods