Authenticity output method and apparatus for outputting a verification result of authenticity based on digital data. An authenticity output method constructed by the steps of: registering information which is outputted together with the verification result of the authenticity based on the digital data into a personal table for verification; verifying the authenticity based on the digital data; and when the verification result of the authenticity based on the digital data is outputted, reading out the information registered in the personal table for verification and outputting it in accordance with the verification result. An apparatus for realizing those functions.

The invention relates to an authenticity output apparatus for outputting a verification result of authenticity of information and, more particularly, to a technique which is effective when it is applied to an authenticity output apparatus for preventing a false authenticity display by the third party.
In EC (Electronic Commerce) activities or the like on a network, an authenticating technique for authenticating the real existence, person himself, further, a credit, and the like of a transaction partner is extremely important. Although there are encrypting techniques (public key system, secret key system) as a foundation technique for realizing such an authenticating technique, a password or the like is also widely used.
Also in the handling of a homepage or other digital contents, a condition such that it is not altered is necessary and it is necessary to confirm that it is a script. For this purpose, although there is an electronic seal or the like which can confirm the authenticity, a method which is similarly based on the encrypting technique and other various methods are used as foundation techniques.
As a technique which is used in the WEB site, there is a technique for confirming by using marks for confirmation of the authenticity (JP-A-11-239129). In such an example, in order to verify the authenticity of digital data such as page data or the like, mark image data in which authentication information has been embedded as a digital watermark is added to the digital data and an authenticating process is executed by using the authentication information in the marks, thereby enabling whether the digital data has been altered or not to be verified and enabling whether the site has been authenticated as a superior site by a mark issuing institution or not to be verified. In the electronic authentication foundation, means for verifying by using the public key encrypting system has been realized in order to certify the person himself on the Internet.
According to the conventional technique, there is a problem such that when a behavior (dialog display) of an authenticity display which is outputted by a result of a legal authenticating process or a false display which imitates a display of an image change is executed by the third party having an evil intention via an on-line or by sending some program to a client terminal, or by another means, it is difficult to distinguish a display as a result of a legal authenticating process from a display as a result of a false authenticating process.

Authenticity output method and its apparatus, and processing program


The baseplate of a power semiconductor device module makes reliable and superior thermal contact with a heatsink when fixed to the heatsink. The baseplate includes a rectangular plate portion, a first downward-extending peripheral heel extension portion, and a second downward-extending peripheral heel extension portion. In one example, the plate portion has four mounting holes for receiving mounting bolts. There is one mounting hole located adjacent each of four corners of the rectangular plate portion. The central portion of the bottom surface of the plate portion has a slightly convex downward shape. The strip-shaped first heel extension portion extends along a first edge of the bottom surface. The strip-shaped second heel extension portion extends along a second edge of the bottom surface opposite the first edge. Each of the first and second heel extension portions extends downward from the bottom surface for a distance of between thirty and five hundred microns.

Power semiconductor device modules often have metal baseplates. When employed in a larger device, the module is typically fixed to a heatsink. Generally, an amount of thermal grease or a thermally conductive pad or a thermally conductive phase change material is disposed between the bottom metal surface of the baseplate and the top metal surface of the heatsink. It is desirable that there be good thermal transfer from electronic devices inside the module, through the baseplate, through any intervening amount of thermal grease or thermal pad or thermally conductive phase change material, and to the heatsink.

Power semiconductor device module baseplate having peripheral heels


A signalling light including a light source, a fresnel lens having an area to provide an output beam, and a reflective surface. The reflective surface partially surrounds the light source and defines an opening directed toward the fresnel lens. The opening has an area substantially less than the area of the fresnel lens so that light that is available for the production of phantom signals is reduced with respect to any external light that enters via the fresnel lens. In use, a portion of said fresnel lens is directly radiated through said opening by light from said source and said reflective surface directs substantially any remainder of the light from said source toward said fresnel lens to substantially evenly illuminate all of the available fresnel lens area.

The function of traffic signalling lights is to project a beam of light at specific angles through an aperture of predetermined cross sectional area. Endeavouring to achieve this end, an internal light source provides illumination to a suitable lens. To facilitate more efficient illumination a reflective surface, usually of parabolic shape, is employed to re-direct toward the lens light from the internal source which would otherwise be wasted. The combined action of the reflective surface and reflection from the filament and envelope of the internal source also causes light from external sources, such as the sun, to be re-directed toward the lens, which can lead an observer to believe that the light is on, when in fact the internal source is off. Such an occurrence is known as a "phantom signal".

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation


An apparatus and method for testing asphalt in the field is described. The apparatus includes a motor for rotatively driving a chamber containing the asphalt to be tested. The chamber is rotated while cooler, ambient air is circulated through the asphalt particulate. After cooling the particles of the asphalt, the asphalt particles are separated by tumbling action.

The invention relates to field test equipment and, more particularly, to a separating and sorting apparatus and method for treating and processing asphalt particulate in the field.
In field tests of asphalt products the separating and sorting of asphalt particulate has always been done by hand. There is no commercial apparatus for doing this, mainly because field-testing is a hands-on, civil engineering trade. The frequency of doing this test, however, warrants something be done to facilitate and/or automate the procedure. Anyone who has ever separated and sorted asphalt can attest to the laborious difficulties encountered in performing this task.
The present invention seeks to provide a new field-testing apparatus to separate and sort asphalt particulate.
The current invention comprises a motor driven, rotating container for holding asphalt. The container has input and output vents for conveying cooler, ambient air through the container, as the asphalt is made to tumble therein. Cooler, ambient air is introduced into the container through the input vent. An electric blower produces the cooler, ambient air, which circulates about the tumbling asphalt particles, causing the particles and liquid asphalt in the asphalt mix to cool. The heat from the mix is discharged through the output vent. The cool, dried-asphalt particles then sink to the bottom of the container, which features a releasable latch. Opening the latch discharges the processed asphalt particulate into a trough disposed below the rotating container. The trough directs the particulate into a receptacle disposed below it.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an apparatus and method for processing asphalt in the field. The apparatus comprises a motor driven rotating container for holding the asphalt to be processed. The container has input and output vents for conveying ambient air through the container as the asphalt is made to tumble therein. Ambient air is introduced into the input vent. An electrically powered blower generates the cooler, ambient air, which circulates about the tumbling asphalt particles causing the components in the asphalt mix to cool, and allowing the hot gases to discharge through the output vent. A baffle plate disposed adjacent the output vent deflects the ambient air and cooler particles from being directed at the field test operator, thus preventing the possibility of burns. The cool, dried asphalt particles sink to the bottom of the container where a spring-loaded latch can be released. Releasing the latch causes the processed asphalt particulate to drop into a trough. The trough gathers the cooled particle portion and then directs it into a receptacle or bucket disposed below the trough.
The process of the invention comprises the steps of: (a) passing cooler, ambient air through the container having asphalt particulate to be processed; (b) tumbling the asphalt particulate while continuing to pass the cooler air through the container to drive off heat; (c) discharging the cooled asphalt particulate into a collecting receptacle. The tumbling action keeps the particles from sticking together as they cool, since at room temperature or below, asphalt particles no longer stick to each other.
It is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus and method for separating and cooling asphalt particulate in the field.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a compact apparatus and method for cooling, field-testing, processing, and separating asphalt particulate.

Separating and sorting apparatus for asphalt


A device for producing shaped meat portions, the device including a sorting device for sorting meat into a first set of pieces having a weight which is below a desired weight, a second set of pieces having a weight which corresponds to a desired weight, and a third set of pieces having a weight which is above a desired weight. The device further includes a cutting device which cuts each of the third set of pieces to a desired weight so that the cut pieces having a desired weight define a set of selected meat pieces. A transport device transports the set of selected meat pieces and a freezing facility through which the transport device conveys the set of selected meat pieces and which freezes the set of selected meat pieces. The device further including a shaping device which presses or presses and punches the frozen set of selected meat pieces in a mold and thus transforms the frozen set of selected meat pieces into a final shape or a plurality of final shapes, wherein the shaping device produces in a controlled manner meat portions having a predefined weight and a predefined three-dimensional shape.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device and a method for producing shaped meat portions from whole natural meat pieces, which includes two separate sub-processes carried out one after the other: On the one hand meat pieces are checked and are brought to a target weight without any shaping cutting being required, and on the other hand meat pieces are checked and are transformed into a predefined, three-dimensional product.
This method includes the following method steps:                introducing pieces of whole natural meat into a processing line,        rejecting those meat pieces which do not reach a desired weight of the meat portions, or combining clusters of meat pieces from individual meat pieces having a fraction of the desired weight,        cutting those meat pieces having a weight which exceeds a desired weight of the meat portions,        selecting those meat pieces or clusters of smaller meat pieces having a weight which corresponds to a desired weight,        freezing the selected meat pieces to form frozen meat portions, and        shaping the frozen meat portions by placing them in a shaping cavity and pressing them or pressing and punching them to form the shaped meat portions.
This method is intended to encompass the processing of all types of natural meat, in particular beef, pork, mutton, lamb, game, poultry or fish, including the respective offal.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the food industry, it is known to cut natural meat pieces to the correct weight and shape in one single step. This is carried out for example by cutting by a water jet or conventionally using knives. One disadvantage here is that a large quantity of off-cuts or undesired products are obtained which cannot be used in the rest of the process. Furthermore, the height profile of the product can be controlled only to a limited extent.
A method of this type is known from DE 101 64 637 A1. In this method, whole natural meat pieces are sorted and cut to size where necessary so that the required portions can be produced. If the minimum weight is not reached, a number of smaller meat pieces are processed together.
However, this known method has the disadvantage that the customer often asks for a piece of meat which includes not several parts but rather one single piece of natural meat. The reason for this may lie on the one hand in the notion expressed by the subsequent end customer that the meat should be in one piece "like an wiener schnitzel", and on the other hand in the risk that the individual parts will fall apart again during the subsequent cooking process.
A disadvantage of the known methods is that too many off-cuts are obtained which cannot be used in the process if the portion or portions are to be made from just one single piece. The present invention overcomes this disadvantage in that the weight control and shape control are carried out in separate sub-processes. This results in much lower restrictions with regard to the shape of the meat portions during weight control and/or a much higher flexibility when designing the three-dimensional final shape than in the known methods.
However, if the part that is too small cannot be made up to the desired weight by adding another part, then it is only possible to use those parts which right from the start either already have precisely the required size or which exceed the desired weight, so that the desired weight can be achieved by cutting off part of the natural meat.
Another disadvantage of this method is that the natural meat pieces are cut to the correct weight, with the size of the piece initially playing only a subordinate role. A very thin piece could thus pass the weight check and would then be deep-frozen, even though this piece would not really be suitable for the shaping process in the shaping machine since, due to the fact that its width is much too large, it cannot be pressed into the shaping cavity without part of the product shearing off and thus no longer being further processed. This would mean that the required quantity of meat would no longer be contained in the end product, thereby giving rise to a quality problem.
DE 101 41 989 A1 discloses a method for punching a meat portion having a defined size out of a mass preshaped into a slab. In this method, the desired pieces are punched out of the slab-shaped material already in the subsequently desired shape, for instance a round disc for a special hamburger.
The disadvantage of this method is that, particularly in the case of smaller pieces, the slab of material is naturally very small so that usually only one piece can be punched out of the raw material, while the remainder which cannot be used has to be supplied to another method, even though the total quantity of the processed piece would have provided sufficient volume for a second piece.
A similar method is also known from DE 10 2005 016 159 A1, in which again a number of sub-pieces are combined to form a common part, from which the individual shaped bodies can then be punched out.
Also generally known is a method in which the natural meat piece is rolled in a first step to form a flat shaped piece, and the desired shape is cut out in a second step. The disadvantages of this method are the poor control of the shape of the end product, the reduced possibility of obtaining a genuine three-dimensional product, and the fact that there is still a large quantity of off-cuts which cannot be used in the further process.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and device for producing shaped meat portions from whole natural meat pieces


A branch prediction device capable of preventing degradation of branch prediction accuracy and a delay in processing speed is provided. The branch prediction device includes a branch prediction information accumulation processing section which stores branch prediction groups in which a plurality of pieces of branch prediction information are grouped, and performs accumulation-processing of the branch prediction information. The branch prediction device further includes a pipeline access control section which performs processing, upon request, by pipeline processing, including first selection control processing for selection-controlling at least one branch prediction group from the branch prediction groups, and second selection control processing for selection-controlling one or a plurality of pieces of branch prediction information from the branch prediction group, and controls an access to the branch prediction information accumulation processing section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a branch prediction device, a hybrid branch prediction device, a processor, a branch prediction method, and a branch prediction control program.
2. Related Art
Branch prediction in computer architecture is a function provided in a processor for predicting whether or not a condition branch command branches in a program executing procedure. The processor fetches and executes a command by the branch prediction function before it is actually determined whether or not branching is performed. Particularly, branch prediction is required in a pipelining processor because commands are fetched sequentially in order not to interrupt the pipeline.
As related art of branch prediction devices for performing such branch prediction, first related art (Andre Seznec et al, "Design Tradeoffs for the Alpha EV8 Conditional Branch Predictor" to appear in proceedings of the 29th IEEE-ACM International Symposium on Computer Architecture, 25-29 May 2002, Anchorage, Non-Patent Document 1), and second related art (JP 2003-5956 A, Patent Document 1) have been known.
The first related art discloses an exemplary configuration of a branch prediction device of an active branch prediction system, which is shown in FIG. 15. FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing an example of the first related art of a branch prediction device.
In a branch prediction device 700 shown in FIG. 15, a branch prediction result is generated using the readout results of pattern history tables 720-1, 720-2, and 720-3. Specifically, index information of the pattern history tables 720-1, 720-2, and 720-3 is generated using hash logic circuits 710-1, 710-2, and 710-3 (see pp. 7-8 in Non-Patent Document). In FIG. 15, the hash logic circuits 710-1, 710-2, and 710-3 carry out a hashing operation according to global branch history information from a global branch history 702 (information storing unit) and a branch command address corresponding to an subject command from a command counter 740.
The branch prediction device 700 of the first related art configures a hybrid branch prediction device of "2Bc-gskew" type which outputs the final branch prediction result through selection by a prediction result generation logic 730 from among branch prediction results by multiple types of tables including the pattern history table 720-1 (Meta: global branch prediction device), the pattern history table 720-2 (G1: "e-gskew" type branch prediction device), the pattern history table 720-3 (G1: "e-gskew" type branch prediction device), and the pattern history table 720-3 (BIM: bimodal branch prediction device).
In the second related art (Patent Document 1), a branch prediction device includes an XOR circuit as a hash logic circuit immediately preceding a tagged PHT (Pattern History Table) unit which is a pattern history table (see FIG. 2 of Patent Document 1). The XOR circuit calculates XOR of the branch command address to be executed shown by a program counter and the content of a GHR unit. The GHR (Global History Register) unit is a register which records the history regarding whether or not recently executed branch commands were branched. The calculated XOR is supplied to the tagged PHT (Pattern History Table) unit as an index. The tagged PHT unit is a RAM which stores a tag and a count value with respect to each index which is an output of the XOR circuit. If the count value is 0 or 1, it is predicted not to branch, and if the count value is 2 or 3, it is predicted to branch.
However, in both of the first related art and the second related art, as a hash logic circuit is provided immediately before a pattern history table, there has been a problem that a delay in processing of branch prediction will become worse when an access to the pattern history table is performed, which lowers the processing speed of the processor.
Further, in the branch prediction device of the first related art, when hash logic circuits 710-1, 710-2 and 710-3 perform operations according to a branch command address from a command counter 740, the branch command address from the command counter 740 is not known until immediately before the fetch stage. As such, operations by the hash logic circuits 710-1, 710-2 and 710-3 cannot be performed in advance prior to the fetch stage of the processor pipeline processing. In this way, presence of the hash logic circuits 710-1, 710-2 and 710-3 impede a higher processing speed.
Additionally, if complicated hash logic operations are performed by the hash logic circuits 710-1, 710-2 and 710-3 according to the branch command address when the address has become known after starting the fetch stage of the processor pipeline processing, the arithmetic processing takes time. As such, a delay in the operations by the hash logic circuits causes a delay in branch prediction including an accessing process to the pattern history tables, leading to a delay of the fetch stage itself, and to a delay of the processor, consequently. As delays in branch prediction include delays of the hash logic circuits 710-1, 710-2 and 710-3, a clock cycle of the entire processor is limited due to the delay in branch prediction, which adversely affects the processing speed of the processor.

Branch prediction device and method that breaks accessing a pattern history table into multiple pipeline stages


A real-time controller of devices such as computers, synthesizers, and processors. It consists of a portable ergonomic body housing a configurable pressure sensitive array of sensors. Ideally suited as a MIDI controller, it may be used to control musical sounds, lighting systems, media viewers, or video games in a real-time or performance environment.

Many prior popular input methods for computers and other machines have been based on outdated models such as the typewriter for text, adding machines for numbers, or the piano keyboard for music. These antiquated input methods, while familiar, leave considerable room for improvement.
Occasionally, departures from established methods in this field have lead to revolutionary results. An example of an input device or machine controller without an antecedent is the computer mouse. It is an input device that was conceived with the computer graphic user interface (GUI) in mind. Its functional excellence comes from its ability to continuously navigate and manipulate on two dimensions, matching the structure of the computer monitor. This excellent example of form following function makes the computer mouse intuitive to use and highly effective. Its third dimension of control, clicking or selecting, is Boolean however; an object is either selected or it is not. While not a major drawback for most applications, graphic artists have commented that real paint brushes and pencils have an additional level of expression due to their response to pressure variations that can not be reproduced by the mouse. To solve this problem, new interfaces have been invented such as the WACOM tablet and some touch screens, that address the third dimension by incorporating pressure into their range on control. While an improvement, these controllers do not allow for more than one input location to be manipulated at a time, making them ill suited for polyphonic music performance or true concurrent GUI object manipulation.
Musical instruments have traditionally been a combination of a mechanism that vibrates and a method of initiating and controlling that vibration. In the past, these two features were intrinsically related, e.g. the violin's fingerboard provides a means for shortening, and thus manipulating its vibrating string, which makes the sound. However, with the invention of electric, electronic, and digital oscillators, there is no longer the need for the design of the instrument to be based on the way it makes sound. Instead, an instrument in the form of an interface may be designed for the way humans think about, and physically make music.
In the art of electronic music and instruments, most devices played as an input to a music synthesizer are essentially switching devices that operate in conjunction with standardized digital control data called MIDI, or Musical Instrument Digital Interface. Although originally invented to provide a means for musical keyboards to communicate and control each other, MIDI is a powerful means of controlling all kinds of digital machines. MIDI controlled sound synthesizers, lighting systems, and media players, are popular among musicians and technicians today. In fact, machines whose only output is MIDI data are becoming increasingly common, and are known as MIDI controllers.
Keyboard organs have been in use since the tenth century. And today, the most popular input method for the production of music from the digital realm, is the piano/organ keyboard. However, the piano keyboard has some musical, ergonomic, and technical problems including: 1. limited chord-voicing and chord range possibilities, 2.limited dynamic control, 3. being a large instrument requiring the performer to sit or stand in one location, 4. not being chromatically intuitive (favors C Major, adding to difficulty in learning how to play), 5.limited percussive speed and precision, 6.limited sustain, vibrato, and portamento control.
Non-piano keyboard music control methods have been invented for electronic music. However they are often very specialized, limited in musical expression, not intuitive to learn, or physically difficult to use. For example, an early electronic musical instrument, the THEREMIN, had a new method for controlling pitch and dynamics. The elevation of the player's hand in the air near the instrument controls pitch, while a hand moving left or right controls the volume. However, it was very difficult to play, because it lacked tactile or visual references. It also had the limitation of being monophonic.
The AIRSYNTH by ALESIS, is a modern controller that, like the THEREMIN, uses the location in space of the players hands to effect musical changes. As is true with the THEREMIN, it also has difficulties in its ability to precisely control information and thus has limited musical expression.
The KEYTAR or ROLAND'S AX-7 makes the piano keyboard portable during performance. However, it sacrifices pitch range, and playability to do so.
Many patents have been issued for MIDI controllers that are based on acoustic instruments other than the piano. The guitar is a common model. These include, STAR LAB'S ZTAR and controllers taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,557,057; 4,336,737; 4,570,521; 6,444,891 and 4,630,520. They all have range and expressive restraints due to their attempted emulation.
Realizing the musical instrument design possibilities afforded by sensors or switches and MIDI, a few examples of arrayed sensor based instruments exist. STARR LAB's MT-48DD is a 4×12 array of 2″ rubber mounds that can be played with the feet or with mallets. More popular examples include AKAI's MPC/MPD series and a multitude of drum machines with their pressure sensitive pads. While excellent percussive input devices, none achieve full harmonic polyphony or range, or, can be played while the performer is moving across a stage.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,501,011 and 6,670,535 describe examples arrayed sensor MIDI controllers for music that, by attempting to build western harmonic music theory into their key layout, have made an instrument that is very difficult to understand and play in a traditional chromatic way.
Traditional controllers of audio recording equipment consist of large tabletop mixing "boards" or "desks". Because of their size, the operator has only one point of view of the program he or she is controlling. This is often a problem as sound is greatly influenced by environment and the proximity of the listener to the source. A portable control unit would be very useful to an audio technician adjusting sound to get an optimum quality throughout a space.
Like the audio engineer fixed to a location behind his or her controller, the lighting technician gets only one visual perspective of his or her lighting sets. This can lead to a number of problems both for the lighted performer and for the audience.
Video game controllers have advanced greatly from the days of the single "joystick" and "fire" button. However, many popular video game controllers require the player to hold the controller. This manual holding means that part of the hand is not being utilized for control functions. Often, as is true with SONY's PLAYSTATION controllers, only four fingers total, are available to actually play the game.
Today, with performers increasingly embracing media technology, more dynamic methods of control are needed.

Wearable sensor matrix system for machine control


Purified enzymatic preparation derived from Chromobacterium violaceum, having a dehydrogenase activity, method for preparing it and its use in the production of .alpha.,.beta.-dehydrotryptophanyl-peptides.. The said method for preparing .alpha.,.beta.-dehydrotryptophanyl-peptides and .alpha.,.beta.-dehydrotryptophanyl-proteins is characterised in that one brings into contact:. a peptide or a protein to be converted, and PA1 a purified enzymatic preparation having an L-tryptophan dehydrogenase activity and having a specific activity of between 35 and 45 units.seconds.sup.-1 per mole of heme for N-acetyl-L-tryptophanamide (NATA), an apparent molecular weight of the order of 680 kDa, an isoelectric point of the order of 4, a temperature optimum for activity greater than 80.degree. C. and a temperature stability, at a pH of between 3 and 8 and at a temperature of between 20.degree. and 60.degree. C.. Use of the dehydropeptides and dehydroproteins obtained as probes, reagents, drugs or cosmetic products.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a purified enzymatic preparation derived from Chromobacterium violaceum, having a dehydrogenase activity, to a method for preparing it and to its use in the production of .alpha.,.beta.-dehydrotryptophanyl peptides.
2. Discussion of the Background
A dehydrogenase activity, which acts on the side chain of tryptophan, has been described in Methods in Enzymology (1987, 142, 195-217; K. TAKAI and O. HAYAISHI). Tryptophan side chain oxidase (TSO), which is isolated from Pseudomonas XA (ATCC 29574), is a multi-enzymatic system which catalyses a dehydrogenation of tryptophanyl residues in the C.sub..alpha. and C.sub..beta. positions. However, the unsaturated compound (--.DELTA.Trp--) is only a by-product of the catabolism of tryptophan which is formed in equilibrium with the degradation products (.beta.-hydroxy and .beta.-keto) from a single indolyloxazoline intermediate and does not enable the production of dehydro compounds to be controlled satisfactorily because of the variation in the yield of synthesis of these compounds, especially as a function of the nature of the substrate and the experimental conditions (the pH in particular). Furthermore, this enzyme has a low specificity and converts L-tryptophan (L-Trp), D-tryptophan (D-Trp), residues whose indole ring is modified or substituted (5 OH-Trp) and decarboxylated residues (tryptamine).
P. J. DAVIS et al. have demonstrated the existence of a biotransformation of N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-tryptophan in a culture of the Gram-negative bacterium, Chromobacterium violaceum (ATCC 12472), which also results in the formation of a double bond between the C.sub..alpha. and C.sub..beta. carbons of L-tryptophan (BBA, 1975, 385, 133-144); they also studied the conversion of indole-3-propionic acid to indole-3-acrylic acid (J. Bacteriol., 1976, 126, 1, 544-546) and the stereochemistry of the dehydrogenation of the side chain of N-benzyloxycarbonyl-(S)-tryptophan (J.C.S. Chem. Comm., 1977, 821, 842-843).
However, this reaction has been demonstrated only on specific substrates whose only common characteristic is the presence of an indole ring, and this only during incubation of resting cells and in bacteria cultures.
It follows from the above that both the reactions described in TAKAI et al. and those described in DAVIS et al. do not permit their use in the production of pure dehydropeptides and dehydroproteins.

Purified enzymatic preparation derived from chromobacterium violaceum, method for preparing it and its use in the production of .alpha., .beta.-dehydrotryptophanyl-peptides


A sleeve for simple assembly of in-vivo devices, such as endoscopy capsules, is provided. The sleeve comprises grippers and leaf springs at either end to hold the rigid portions of a rigid-flex PCB (printed circuit board) in a folded configuration before the PCB is inserted into an in-vivo device's housing. A method of assembly of the rigid-flex PCB into the sleeve is provided.

Many devices, specifically devices that are intended to be inserted in-vivo, may need to maintain a small volume so as to enable free passage through in-vivo ducts. Many in-vivo devices, such as in-vivo endoscopy capsules, contain electronic and electrical components, e.g., image sensors, illumination sources, transmitters, antennas, etc. Typically, such components are supported by and are electrically connected to a printed circuit board (PCB). The PCB on which electronic components are mounted is typically a rigid printed circuit board. In-vivo endoscopy capsules normally comprise numerous electronic components, such that the electronic components are divided between at least two rigid portions. Such rigid portions are typically connected by a flexible portion, i.e., the PCB used in in-vivo devices is a "rigid-flex" PCB.
The rigid-flex PCB is inserted into a device with a predetermined low volume that is compatible with the known size and diameter of in-vivo lumens and ducts into which it is inserted. For example, a swallowable capsule should maintain a low volume compatible with the smallest diameter of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, such that the capsule can freely pass through the GI tract. In order for the device to maintain a low volume, the rigid-flex PCB needs to be kept within the device in a compact configuration.
During assembly, all the electronic and electrical components are mounted on the rigid-flex PCB prior to the PCB being folded into a compact configuration. Rigid-flex PCBs which are intended to be inserted in endoscopy capsules according to embodiments of the present invention may be similar to embodiments described in International Patent Application Number PCT/IL2005/001380, entitled "In-Vivo Sensing Device With A Circuit Board Having Rigid Sections And Flexible Sections", filed on Dec. 27, 2005, published on Jul. 6, 2006 as International Patent Application Publication Number WO 2006/070360 and/or in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/481,126, entitled "In-Vivo Sensing Device With A Circuit Board Having Rigid Sections And Flexible Sections", filed on Dec. 18, 2003, published on Sep. 2, 2004 as United States Patent Application Publication Number 2004/0171914, which describes a rigid-flex PCB that is folded and held in its folded configuration through mini-springs or spacers between one rigid portion and another. In this embodiment, the springs/spacers may hold the PCB in its folded configuration by gluing the ends of the rigid portions of the PCB to the ends of the springs/spacers, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
However, glue may be difficult to use during assembly, and glue may drip and/or may spread to areas where it is not needed, as well as reach areas where it may cause damage, e.g., cause a cut-off between electrical components on the PCB. During mass production, especially during production of devices of a small scale, e.g., swallowable endoscopy capsules, the use of glue complicates the assembly process, since it is difficult to control the amount of glue used and its polymerization.
There is, therefore, a need for a more simple way of assembly and folding of a rigid-flex PCB into an in-vivo device, while maintaining it in its folded position.
Furthermore, in an event of a short circuit in one of the electrical circuits in an in-vivo device, the batteries inside may over-heat. In order to prevent over-heating of the in-vivo device's housing which may lead to undesirable heating of tissue surrounding the device, there is a need for a mechanism that may distant the batteries from the in-vivo device's housing.

Device and method for assembling in vivo sensing devices


A broadhead for increased target penetrability in use with an arrow shaft. The broadhead includes a receiver that is configured to receive the arrow shaft. The receiver includes a central axis. The broadhead also includes a pair of oppositely-directed blades offset from the receiver central axis. The blades include a tapered geometry.

Archery is a very popular activity and arrows are commonly used for hunting game animals. In order to improve accuracy and effectiveness, an arrow should remain straight as it flies through the air towards a target. Fletching, for example feathers, can be applied to the arrows to increase stabilization and increase rotation during flight.
Broadheads are a popular tip attached to an arrow shaft when used for hunting game animals. These broadheads can be sharp, so that they can pierce the hide of the target game animals. Traditional broadheads are subject to wind plane and can have erratic and inconsistent flights even if used with fletching. Traditional broadheads also have several blades extending in a variety of axial directions to try to stabilize the flight path. But, these variable-axes blades hinder the penetration of the broadhead into the hide of the target animal.
Accordingly, it can be seen that needs exist for improved broadhead that provides stable flight and penetration. It is to the provision of solutions to these and other problems that the present invention is primarily directed.

Broadhead for improved rotation and bone-piercing capability


An instrument [particularly barometer ]movement includes a plurality of elements including a pressure transducer capable of sensing barometric pressure and converting the sensed pressure into electric signals, a stepper motor having an hour shaft used in a conventional quartz clock movement, a microprocessor, and a battery, operatively connected together so that the microprocessor controls movement of the stepper motor with power supplied by the battery in response changes in atmospheric pressure sensed by the pressure transducer; and a housing mounting the plurality of elements with the motor shaft extending outwardly from the housing. Other transducers, such as temperature or humidity, may alternatively be utilized. Other d.c. motors with positional feedback may sometimes alternatively be used in place of the stepper motor. The movement is operatively connected to a pointer (which may be much larger and heavier than in conventional analog instruments) which is accurately moved by the d.c. motor with respect to a dial with barometric or other indicia. An alarm, and battery voltage sensing circuitry, may be mounted within the housing and operatively connected to the microprocessor and activated by the microprocessor when the battery voltage drops below a predetermined threshold. The microprocessor preferably controls the battery so that the battery is substantially in an inactive mode more than 95% of the time. The microprocessor can also activate a second mode of the alarm if the change in the environmental condition sensed between two or more spaced transducer readings is greater than a predetermined threshold. A second dial with second pointer and motor may be utilized to indicate other environmental conditions (such as pressure rate of change, temperature, or humidity).

Aneroid barometers which use an evacuated chamber to detect changes in atmospheric pressure were developed as early as 1843. These devices are still very popular today and can be found in many homes. They also add aesthetic value because of their interesting design. Many consumers prefer the more traditional look of an analog barometer which uses a dial and a pointer to display current atmospheric conditions as opposed to the more modern digital devices which use an LCD type display [such as shown in the John Morley article "A Solid-State Barometer for the HCS II" in Home Automation & Building Control, October, 1995, pages 63-69; and the PIC based barometer instrument using a programmed PIC 16F876 Microcontroller described by Gary Sargent, Dec. 20, 2001, and available over the Internet at nutsvolts.com]. For the most part aneroid barometers work well enough for their intended purpose once properly calibrated but have several weaknesses which are hard to overcome.
First the construction of the aneroid chamber is very critical to the accuracy of the barometer and even when properly constructed over time the chamber may lose its ability to accurately respond to changes in air pressure as it was originally intended. This will cause the barometer to give incorrect readings and over time it may need to be re-calibrated. Also, in order to transmit the motion of the expansion and contraction of the aneroid chamber to the pointer a variety of mechanical linkages, levers and pivots need to be utilized. These mechanical linkages may cause further error to be introduced if they are not of the highest quality. This is why many consumers are turning their interest toward the newer, more accurate, digital barometers.
In the last few decades there have been many advances in electronic technology which have made it possible to produce very accurate digital barometers with LCD type displays. These barometers are now much more affordable due to the large volume of product being produced.
According to one aspect of the invention, a barometer is provided which combines the best of existing analog and digital barometers. The invention provides an analog dial type barometer which will retain the look and feel of a traditional barometer but have the accuracy and resolution of a modern digital barometer. This digital to analog barometer incorporates many features which makes it unique relative to anything that is currently available. While digital to analog pressure gauges are known per se [e.g. see U.S. Pat. No. 6,394,977, hereby incorporated by reference herein] they have not been used for a barometer, let alone with many of the advantageous features according to the invention.
An electronic barometer movement used in the invention is easy to use, install and calibrate. The movement will be more accurate than any aneroid movement currently available and will provide a level of resolution of plus or minus one millibar of pressure or less [e.g. about 0.5 millibar].
Using a movement according to the invention, instead of an existing conventional aneroid barometer movement, an existing manufacturer of clocks could easily be in production of an entirely new line of products within days of deciding to do so. The barometer movement of the invention can be installed into any existing clock housing as quickly as any quartz clock movement. The digital barometer movement is also far more robust and less difficult to handle than a typical aneroid movement. The only change that a manufacturer need make aside from using the barometer movement will be to change the artwork from that of a clock dial to that of a barometer dial.
An exemplary barometer according to the invention will fit into the same space as a quartz clock movement, that is approximately 2⅛ by 2⅛ by ⅝ inches [5.4 cm by 5.4 cm by 1.6 cm]. One of the primary advantages will be the ability of this movement to mount to a dial or housing using a threaded bushing and to also utilize a much larger hand or pointer than any conventional barometer. Most aneroid movements can only turn a hand that is balanced and even so there is a restriction on the weight of the hand due to the delicate mechanical nature of aneroid movement design. A typical aneroid barometer movement is usually not used to produce barometers with dial diameters of greater than eight inches [20 cm]. The average is between four and six inches [10 and 15 cm] for most barometers in use today therefore the typical pointer which an aneroid barometer may use is usually not more than three inches [7.5 cm] from center to tip. In addition if the pointer is not balanced the barometer will not function properly. This presents a problem if there is a desire to produce a barometer with a large diameter dial, for example about ten to twenty inches [25-51 cm] in diameter. There is no known prior art solution to this problem.
One of the problems associated with a large pointer is the increased weight of the pointer. A typical aneroid barometer can only tolerate a pointer that weighs a fraction of a gram. Some conventional aneroid barometer pointers weigh as little as 0.1 of a gram to about 0.25 of a gram. However, according to the electronic barometer of the invention a d.c. motor is used to drive the analog pointer, and the motor is geared so that the barometer will be capable of swinging a much larger pointer than any conventional aneroid barometer. A pointer weighing up to about 5 grams [e.g. about 3 to 5 grams], or even more, can be used; and the pointer does not have to be balanced though providing a balanced pointer will allow the use of an even larger pointer. The movement can use a pointer of up to ten inches [25 cm] from center to tip if balanced allowing the construction of a barometer which can exceed twenty four inches [61 cm] in diameter. A more typical pointer size is about six inches [15 cm] in length from center to tip and this size of pointer will not have to be balanced. By using this size pointer a manufacturer will be able to produce a barometer of sixteen inches [41 cm] in diameter, far greater than anything currently available on the market today.
One of primary features of the barometer movement according to the invention is its ability to use as a pointer any one of the thousands of readily available clock minute hands from hundreds of suppliers around the world. Current analog barometers are limited to the type of pointer they can use and are usually supplied by the barometer manufacturer. The biggest advantage of using a standard non-balanced clock hand as a pointer is that it allows the manufacturer the flexibility to select a style of pointer that suits its particular design. It is simple to match a new barometer to an existing clock that may already be part of an existing product line. The electronic barometer of the invention preferably has an output shaft which will allow any existing pointers, including conventional clock hands, to be conveniently used.
The invention also has a broader aspect than use in a pressure change indicator in general, or barometer in particular. The invention can also be used in association with temperature (alone) and/or humidity transducers. There are many known temperature transducers (which convert sensor readings into some sort of electrical signal), as well as humidity transducers. Some examples of temperature transducers are in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,201,840, 5,820,262, and 6,654,894, and some examples of humidity transducers are in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,608,374, 5,652,382, and 6,073,480.
Atmospheric pressure (or temperature or humidity) does not usually change very rapidly so to preserve battery life and still maintain accurate readings, the barometer/indicator of the invention will utilize a "sleep" or "idle" mode/feature. The software which controls the micro processor will put the device to "sleep". By running the microprocessor in sleep or idle mode, the device will only check the status of the pressure transducer once every minute, five minutes, or any other time interval deemed appropriate, and as desired by the parameters set in the software. The longer the sleep time interval the longer the battery will last. It is estimated that a sleep time interval of one minute will allow an exemplary 3.6 volt lithium battery to last two years or more, and a sleep interval time of five minutes will allow the battery to last for over five years [with similarly proportional times for other types of batteries]. If this feature is turned off or not used the battery will only last about five to ten days.
The instrument (e.g. barometer) movement according to the invention preferably uses a battery or batteries providing about 2.5-5 volts. A single 3.6 volt lithium battery is preferred, however two standard 1.5 volt alkaline batteries, or other conventional or to be hereafter developed, batteries can be used.
The movement preferably also has a low battery warning provision built into the software. The software will be able to be set to check the status of the battery voltage. When the voltage drops below the value set in the software the microprocessor will send an audible signal to a piezoelectric horn [or other audible, visual—such as a flashing light or LED—and/or tactile alarm] alerting the user that the battery needs to be changed. In one embodiment, for the 3.6 volt lithium battery, a voltage of 2.5 will cause the alarm to be activated.
The instrument (e.g. barometer) of the invention also has the ability to detect a significant change in environmental conditions (e.g. drop in barometric pressure) and to initiate a warning, e.g. using the piezoelectric horn, flashing light or LED, or other alarm. This alerts the user to an impending environmental condition change (e.g. bad weather). Typically the alarm type, period, or other characteristics will be varied to distinguish the low battery alarm from the bad weather alarm. For example the low battery alarm may be provided by short, intermittent, activations of the horn, while the bad weather alarm will be full scale continuous operation of the horn.
The microprocessor in the movement of the invention has the ability to store multiple pressure (and/or other environmental condition) readings over any period of time in memory. This information can be used to determine very specific rate of change of pressure data and can be used to detect adverse changes in weather. For example if the pressure drops by one millibar every five minutes for one hour the software can detect this and sound the alarm. The parameters can be set to any specified pressure drop over any duration of time and are from higher to lower pressures. The microprocessor will then send a signal to the piezoelectric horn or other alarm when that specified parameter is met. Alternatively, a second dial, pointer, and motor may be utilized to provide an analog indication of whether barometric pressure is steady, increasing, or decreasing, and by what rate.
Another desirable feature of the invention is the ability to configure the software to adjust the scale the barometer uses to display a particular pressure. The software can be adjusted to allow for wide variety of different scales. For example a standard barometer displays four inches of mercury on a 360 degree linear scale. However, it is sometimes desirable to display only two or maybe three inches [5-7.6 cm] of mercury on the same 360 degree linear scale. This gives the user much more activity of the needle/pointer and result in a high sensitivity barometer. In the case of a standard aneroid barometer it is impossible to change the scale unless the barometer is designed that way at the factory. In some parts of the world the changes in pressure are very small but they do occur, this is a particular situation when this use of a high sensitivity scale will be useful. The scale may even be adjusted [depending upon the pressure transducer utilized] so that the barometer functions as an altimeter. Of course the scale will also be adjusted if the indicator is used to display temperature or humidity in an analog manner.
The movement of the invention may have a simple push button switch [or other actuator] on the back of the housing to allow the user to set the pressure to the current conditions. The switch will interrupt the sleep mode when activated and allow the unit to be adjusted at any time.
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a digital to analog barometer comprising: A dial with barometric indicia. A pointer operatively connected to a shaft for movement with respect to the dial. A pressure transducer positioned to sense barometric pressure and convert the pressure sensed to an electrical signal. A d.c. motor operatively connected to the pointer shaft. A microprocessor; and a battery. The pressure transducer, d.c. motor, and battery are operatively connected to the microprocessor so that the microprocessor accurately controls movement of the motor with power supplied by the battery in response to changes in pressure sensed by the pressure transducer, the motor in turn changing the position of the pointer with respect to the barometric indicia on the dial.
That is, according to one aspect of the invention there is provided a barometer comprising: a pointer operatively connected to a shaft for movement with respect to a dial; a pressure transducer; a d.c. motor [preferably a stepper motor] operatively connected to the pointer shaft; a microprocessor; and a battery; the pressure transducer, d.c. motor, and battery operatively connected to the microprocessor so that the microprocessor controls movement of the motor with power supplied by the battery in response to changes in barometric pressure sensed by the pressure transducer, characterized by: the pressure transducer is capable of sensing barometric pressure and positioned to sense barometric pressure; and a dial having barometric pressure indicia thereon positioned adjacent the pointer so that the pointer sweeps over the dial; the motor accurately changing the position of the pointer with respect to the barometric indicia on the dial under the control of the microprocessor in response to changes in barometric pressure sensed by the pressure transducer.
The d.c. motor most desirably comprises a conventional stepper motor, such as one having an hour shaft used in a conventional quartz clock movement, with the pointer shaft operatively connected to the hour shaft. However other d.c. motors which have positional feedback and can rotate the shaft either clockwise or counterclockwise (anti-clockwise) may sometimes be utilized, including servo motors with feedback circuitry, and piezoelectric motors with feedback [such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,867,532]. The dial may have a diameter of at least about 10 inches [25 cm], and the pointer may have a radius of at least about 5 inches [12.5 cm], and the pointer may be balanced or unbalanced, and have a weight of at least 0.3 or 0.4 grams, e.g. at least about 2 grams.
The pressure transducer, battery, microprocessor, and stepper motor may be mounted in a housing operatively connected to the back of the dial. The dimensions of the housing may be approximately 2⅛ [5.4 cm] by 2⅛ [5.4 cm] by ⅝ [1.6 cm] inches, with the pointer shaft extending outwardly from the housing. A temperature sensor is preferably also mounted in the housing, and operatively connected to the microprocessor so that pressure determinations from the pressure transducer are temperature compensated. Still further, the housing may contain a battery voltage sensing circuit, and an alarm operatively connected to the microprocessor and activated by the microprocessor when the battery voltage as sensed by the battery voltage sensing circuit drops to or below a predetermined threshold. The alarm may also be activated, in a different mode than when the battery voltage drops, or a second alarm may be activated, if the pressure change between two or more substantially consecutive pressure readings [e.g. spaced more than about one minute apart] is greater than a predetermined threshold. Preferably the microprocessor controls the battery so that the battery is substantially in an inactive mode more than 90% (e.g. more than 95%) of the time. The battery may comprise a single about 3.6 volt lithium battery, or two or more about 1.5 volt alkaline batteries
The barometer may further comprise a second dial, and a second pointer having a second shaft operatively connected to a second d.c. motor with positional feedback, and the second motor connected to the battery, so that the microprocessor records pressure transducer readings over an extended period of time and controls the second d.c. motor to position the second pointer with respect to the second shaft to indicate atmospheric pressure trends.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an indicator comprising: A dial with indicia thereon. A pointer operatively connected to a shaft for movement with respect to the dial. A pressure, temperature, or humidity transducer positioned to sense pressure, temperature, or humidity. A d.c. motor with positional feedback operatively connected to the pointer shaft. A microprocessor; and a battery. The transducer, d.c. motor, and battery are operatively connected to the microprocessor so that the microprocessor controls movement of the motor with power supplied by the battery in response changes in pressure, temperature, or humidity sensed by the transducer, the motor in turn accurately changing the position of the pointer with respect to the indicia on the dial; and the transducer, battery, microprocessor, and d.c. motor are mounted in a housing operatively connected to the back of the dial, the housing having dimensions of approximately 2⅛ [5.4 cm] by 2⅛ [5.4 cm] by ⅝ [1.6 cm] inches, with the pointer shaft extending outwardly from the housing past the dial. The dial and pointer may have the dimensions and weights as set forth above. The indicator may further comprise an alarm, and battery voltage sensing circuitry, mounted within the housing and operatively connected to the microprocessor and activated by the microprocessor when the battery voltage, as sensed by the circuitry, drops to or below a predetermined threshold; and the microprocessor may control the battery so that the battery is substantially in an inactive mode more than 90% of the time. Where a pressure transducer is used, temperature compensation for the pressure transducer may also be provided, as described above.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a barometer, temperature, or humidity movement per se comprising: A plurality of elements including a pressure, temperature, or humidity transducer capable of sensing barometric pressure, temperature, or humidity and converting the sensed condition into electric signals; a stepper motor having an hour or minute shaft used in a conventional quartz clock movement; a microprocessor; and a battery, the elements operatively connected together so that the microprocessor controls movement of the stepper motor with power supplied by the battery in response changes in an environmental condition (e.g. barometric pressure) sensed by the transducer. And a housing mounting the plurality of elements with the motor shaft extending outwardly from the housing.
That is, according to this aspect there is provided an instrument movement comprising: a transducer capable of sensing barometric pressure, temperature, or humidity, a microprocessor, and a battery mounted in a housing, characterized by a stepper motor having an hour or minute shaft used in a conventional quartz clock movement with the motor shaft extending outwardly from the housing; the battery, stepper motor, transducer, and microprocessor being operatively connected together so that the microprocessor controls movement of the stepper motor with power supplied by the battery in response changes in atmospheric pressure, temperature, or humidity sensed by the transducer.
The movement may further comprise an alarm, and battery voltage sensing circuitry, mounted within the housing and operatively connected to the microprocessor and activated by the microprocessor when the battery voltage, as sensed by the circuitry, drops to or below a predetermined threshold. Preferably, the microprocessor functions so that the alarm is also activated, in a different mode than when the battery voltage drops, or a second alarm is activated, if the condition sensed [e.g. barometric pressure] change between two or more spaced readings [e.g. spaced more than about one minute apart] is greater than a predetermined threshold. Where a pressure transducer is provided, the housing also preferably includes a temperature sensor mounted within the housing and operatively connected to the microprocessor so that pressure determinations from the pressure transducer are temperature compensated. Preferably the microprocessor controls the battery so that the battery is substantially in an inactive mode more than 90% (e.g. more than 95%) of the time.
It is the primary object of the invention to provide a digital to analog indicator and movement that are versatile, relatively inexpensive, accurate, and simple to construct, and are particularly useful for displaying barometric pressure, but also useful for displaying other pressure values, temperature, and/or humidity. This and other object of the invention will become clear from the detailed description of the invention, and from the appended claims.


An optical disk device is provided with an optical pickup that includes a convergent optical system having an objective lens for converging a light beam emitted from the laser light source to form a microspot on an optical disk and an aberration correcting optical system for controlling a spherical aberration of the convergent optical system, and performs information recording or reproduction with respect to a multi-layer optical disk having at least a first recording layer and a second recording layer. In the optical disk device, an operation of changing a correction quantity of the spherical aberration from a value adequate for the first recording layer to a predetermined value is started before an operation of moving a focus position of the microspot from the first layer to the second layer is completed. This allows a focus control to be performed stably with respect to the second recording layer in a state in which the spherical aberration correction already has been carried out, thereby preventing the focus control from failing due to an unsuccessful interlayer jump.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an optical information device (hereinafter referred to as "optical disk device") provided with an optical pickup for recording, reproducing, or erasing information on an optical disk as an optical information medium, and to a recording/reproducing method for recording, reproducing, or erasing information on the optical disk. Herein, the "recording/reproducing" refers to an apparatus or method capable of carrying out one or both functions for the purposes of the present invention. Besides, the present invention also relates to various systems in which the foregoing optical disk device is utilized.
2. Related Background Art
An optical memory technology in which an optical disk having pit-like patterns is used as a high-density, large-capacity memory medium has been put to practical use while the technology has been applied in an increasingly wide range of fields including digital audio disks, video disks, document file disks, and data files. Functions required for carrying out the recording and reproduction of information to and from an optical disk with high reliability are classified roughly into a light collecting function for forming a microspot at a diffraction limit, focus control (focus servo) and tracking control functions of an optical system, and a pit signal (information signal) detecting function.
Recently, a technique of increasing a numerical aperture (NA) of an objective lens that forms a microspot at a diffraction limit on an optical disk by converging an optical beam has been examined with a view to obtaining an even higher recording density of an optical disk. However, a spherical aberration stemming from an error of a thickness of a substrate that protects a recording layer of the optical disk is proportional to the NA raised to the fourth power. Therefore, in the case where the NA is set to be great, for instance, 0.8 or 0.85, it is indispensable to provide a means for correcting a spherical aberration in an optical system. An example of the same is shown in FIG. 14.
In a pickup 11 shown in FIG. 14, 1 denotes a laser light source as a radiation source. A light beam (laser beam) emitted from the laser light source 1 is converted into parallel light by a collimator lens 3, passes through a liquid crystal aberration correcting element (aberration correcting optical system) 4, enters the objective lens 5, and is converged and directed to an optical disk 6. The light beam reflected by the optical disk 6 goes backwards along the foregoing optical path, and is converged by the collimator lens 3. Then, the light is guided by a light dividing means such as a diffracting element 2 toward photodetectors 9 and 10, and is incident thereto. By calculating electric outputs according to respective quantities of light incident on the photodetectors 9 and 10, servo signals (focus error signal and tracking error signal) and an information signal can be obtained. Here, the NA of the objective lens 5 is at least 0.8.
Though not shown, the objective lens 5 is provided with a driving means such as a coil and a magnet, for the focus control for controlling a position of the objective lens in the optical axis direction and the tracking control for controlling a position of the objective lens in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction. Besides, though not shown in the figures, either, a transparent substrate is provided over an objective-lens-5-side surface of an information recording layer of the optical disk 6, so that information is protected. Since errors in the thickness and the refractive index of the transparent substrate lead to spherical aberrations, the liquid crystal aberration correcting element 4 corrects a wavefront of the light beam so that reproduction signals are obtained in the optimal state. On the liquid crystal aberration element 4, patterns of transparent electrodes such as ITO are formed, and by applying voltages to the transparent electrodes, the in-plane refractive index distribution of the liquid crystal aberration correcting element 4 is controlled so that the wavefront of the light beam is modulated.
An optical disk device 116 in which such an optical pickup 11 as above is used is shown in FIG. 15. In FIG. 15, 8 denotes an aberration correcting element driving circuit for applying a voltage to the liquid crystal aberration correcting element 4, 117 denotes a motor for rotating an optical disk 6, and 118 denotes a control circuit for receiving signals obtained from the optical pickup 11 and controlling and driving the motor 117, the objective lens 5, the aberration correcting element driving circuit 8, and the laser light source 1. The control circuit 118 causes the laser light source 1 to emit light, drives the motor 117 so as to rotate the optical disk 6, and controls the objective lens 5 according to signals obtained from the optical pickup 11. Furthermore, the control circuit 118 drives the aberration correcting element driving circuit 8 so as to improve information signals obtained from the optical pickup 11.
An optical system used as the optical pickup 11 in the optical disk device 116 is not limited to the optical system shown in FIG. 14, but may be an optical system disclosed by JP 2000-131603A, which is shown in FIG. 16.
In FIG. 16, a laser light source, a collimator lens, and photodetectors of the optical system as the optical pickup are omitted. These may be configured in the same manner as in the optical system shown in FIG. 14. A light beam converted into a parallel light by a collimator lens, not shown, passes through an aberration correcting lens group 201 composed of a negative lens group 21 and a positive lens group 22, and is converged and directed to the optical disk 6 by an objective lens group 202 composed of a pair of a first objective lens 23 and a second objective lens 24. By changing a distance between the negative lens group 21 and the positive lens group 22 of the aberration correcting lens group 201, the spherical aberration of the optical system as a whole is corrected. To change the distance between the negative lens group 21 and the positive lens group 22, for instance, the lens groups may be provided with a driving means 25 and a driving means 26 for moving the same, respectively. Each of the driving means 25 and 26 may be formed with a voice coil, a piezoelectric element, an ultrasonic motor, or a screw feeder.
In the foregoing configuration, normally, the spherical aberration correction is carried out so as to improve the quality of the information signals on the premise that the focus control stably functions on a single information recording surface of the optical disk 6.
However, according to the DVD standard with an objective lens having an NA of 0.6, a two-layer disk having two information recording surfaces also is adaptable. Therefore, with an NA set to be greater, likewise the two-layer disk structure is effective so as to further increase the memory capacity per one optical disk. A two-layer disk 61 is composed of a substrate 62, an L0 layer (first recording layer) 63, an intermediate layer 65, an L1 layer (second recording layer) 64, and a protective layer 66 on a reverse side, which are laminated in the stated order from the optical pickup 60 side, as shown in FIG. 17. The substrate 62 and the intermediate layer 65 are made of a transparent medium such as a resin. Since the intermediate layer 65 is provided between the L0 layer 63 and the L1 layer 64, a thickness from the-optical-pickup-60-side surface of the optical disk 61 to the L1 layer 64 is greater than a thickness therefrom to the L0 layer 63 by the thickness of the intermediate layer 65. This thickness difference generates a spherical aberration. In the case of an optical system according to the DVD standard in which the objective lens has an NA of 0.6, however, the foregoing spherical aberration is within a tolerance, thereby making it possible to record/reproduce information without aberration correction.
In the case where an objective lens with a great NA of not less than 0.8 is used so as to further increase the recording density, a spherical aberration due to the thickness of the intermediate layer 65 cannot be ignored. In other words, it is impossible to record/reproduce information with respect to both recording layers with a common optical pickup without correcting a spherical aberration. In the case where the NA is increased to not less than 0.8, as described above, a spherical aberration correcting means is provided even in the case where information recording/reproduction is carried out with respect to a single recording layer. Therefore, in the case where the recording/reproduction is carried out with respect to the two-layer disk as shown in FIG. 17, the spherical aberration due to the thickness of the intermediate layer 65 is cancelled by optimally carrying out the spherical aberration correction with respect to each recording layer.
To the two-layer disk as shown in FIG. 17, a position at which a light beam is converged thereby forming a microspot (hereinafter referred to as focus position) occasionally is moved: for instance, from the L0 layer 63 to the L1 layer 64 while information is being recorded/reproduced to/from the L0 layer with the light beam converged onto the L0 layer 63, so that information is recorded/reproduced to/from the L1 layer 64; or to the contrary, from the L1 layer 64 to the L0 layer 63. (Such an operation of moving the focus position to another recording layer is hereinafter referred to as "interlayer jump".) JP 9(1997)-115146A, JP10(1998)-143873A, JP11(1999)-191222A and JP11(1999)-316954A disclose techniques of devising a pulse or an offset signal to be applied to a focus error signal, so as to stabilize the focus control upon such an interlayer jump.
The foregoing documents, however, do not disclose an idea that a correction quantity of the spherical aberration is changed for each recording layer upon an interlayer jump. In the case where the NA is not less than 0.8, when an interlayer jump is made without changing the spherical aberration correction quantity, the following problems arise.
FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when an interlayer jump is carried out. When the control circuit issues an interlayer jump command (or the control circuit receives an interlayer jump command from another circuit) while a recording/reproducing operation is carried out with the focus control being conducted with respect to a first recording layer (hereinafter referred to as "first layer") (Step 901), the control circuit generates an interlayer jump signal (Step 902), the focus position is moved to the second recording layer (hereinafter referred to as "second layer") (Step 903), and a recording/reproducing operation is carried out to a second layer (Step 904). FIG. 19 is a timing chart of respective signals in the foregoing operation. The interlayer jump signal varies in response to a signal corresponding to the interlayer jump command at Step 901 as a trigger (Step 902). The interlayer jump signal is, as shown in the figure, composed of a kick pulse KP for leaving a loop for focus control with respect to the first layer and starting to move the objective lens so that the focus position is moved to the second layer, and a brake pulse BP for stopping the moving of the objective lens and entering a loop for focus control with respect to the second layer.
In such an interlayer jump operation, during the recording/reproduction with respect to the first layer before a jump, the spherical aberration correction quantity is optimal with respect to the first layer: Therefore, if the focus position is moved to the second layer without any change to the correction state of the spherical aberration, a spherical aberration occurs due to the thickness of the intermediate layer 65 between the first and second layers. This results in the deterioration of the focus control signal (the deterioration of the amplitude and linearity of the focus error (FE) signal, the occurrence of an offset, etc.), thereby making the focus control with respect to the second layer unstable. Further, though it is effective to refer to a magnitude of a reproduction signal so as to confirm whether or not the focus control functions normally, this also raises the following problem. Namely, if a spherical aberration occurs when the focus position is moved to the second layer, the reproduction signal has a smaller amplitude, thereby making it impossible to check whether or not the focus control is carried out normally.

Optical disk device and information recording/reproducing method

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


Assembly of a lamp and of its support designed to be inserted into a printed circuit board or the like, characterised in that the lamp (2) is disposed on the support (1) perpendicularly to the axis of snapping the support home into the board, so that the lamp is parallel to the board in its position of use. The support (1) includes wires (5) that extend from the lamp and which are wound around the free ends of a resilient support beam (6) associated with the support (1). The support (1) includes snap catches (12, 13) for engaging the bottom of the board (14). The support (1) further includes a reflective surface (17) for achieving a gain in lighting supplied by the lamp (2).

The present invention has as its subject an assembly of a lamp and a support designed, more particularly, to be inserted into a printed circuit board or the like.
Lamp supports and lamps of this type have been known per se for some time. They are used in particular in the automobile industry, in order to equip the dashboards of vehicles. Of course, their application is not strictly limited to this field.
Although the known products generally give satisfactory results, it became apparent that it was desirable and possible to improve their performance both in terms of their service life and the quality of the lighting provided.


The present invention relates to methods for determining whether blood flow is restricted in a blood vessel of an individual suspected of compromised blood flow in the vessel, the method comprising the steps of delivering UTP, a derivative thereof, or a salt thereof to the vessel, assessing blood flow quantitatively in the vessel by obtaining a value that correlates to blood flow in said vessel, comparing the obtained value with a reference value, and determining whether the individual has compromised blood flow based on the results of the comparison. The invention also provides for methods of diagnosing atherosclerotic and ischemic heart diseases using UTP, a derivative thereof, or a salt thereof, as well as methods for inducing maximal hyperemia for diagnostic purposes.

The potent and widespread vascular actions of purine nucleotides and nucleosides have long been recognized. Naturally occurring extracellular purine nucleotides and nucleosides exert cardiovascular responses by stimulating various P1 and P2 receptors [1,2]. Adenine nucleotides and nucleosides are used for many diagnostic and treatment purposes in daily clinical practice such as assessment of coronary blood flow [3-8] and as anti-arrhythmic agents. Adenosine non-selectively activates 4 receptor subtypes: A1, A2A, A2B, and A3. Activation of cardiac A2A and A2B adenosine receptors vasodilates the coronary and peripheral arterial beds, increases myocardial blood flow (MBF), and causes sympathoexcitation, but also results in mast cell degranulation and bronchial constriction. Nevertheless, intracoronary and intravenous adenosine are employed in the clinic for assessment of fractional flow reserve (FFR).
Uridine 5-triphosphate (UTP) is also a naturally occurring compound in the circulation and is discharged during acute myocardial infarction. UTP stimulates P2Y2 and P2Y4 receptors, where the first are predominant in the human cardiovascular tree. UTP is highly selective for this receptor.
Previous assumptions underlying the use of UTP in treatment of cardiovascular disease have proved inaccurate in vivo. It was demonstrated in 2004 and 2008 [9, 10], by using local infusion of ATP and UTP, that these two agents were the only registered metabolites capable of opposing sympathetic vasoconstriction and concomitantly increasing blood flow (85% and 60% of maximum in the leg during hard exercise, respectively). However, the present inventor, using systemic infusion of UTP in pigs, has found that UTP can only maximally lower mean arterial pressure by 30% (Example 4), which is substantially less than that achieved by ATP because ATP can produce limitless lowering of blood pressure. Therefore, ATP is more potent than UTP systemically as well as locally in the healthy leg, although both ATP and UTP were shown previously to be equipotent in the peripheral vascular system for the P2Y2 receptor in the arms of humans [11].
The higher potency of ATP compared to UTP in the normal healthy leg was attributed to the degradation of ATP to ADP, AMP, and adenosine. These degradation products, in conjunction with ATP, could contribute to elevate blood flow higher than that achieved by UTP, which does not have any vasoactive degradation products. Thus, a comparison of the relative vasoactive potencies of exogenous nucleotides and adenosine revealed the following rank order: ATP (100)=UTP (100)>>adenosine (5.8)>ADP (2.7)>AMP (1.7), but only for blood flows around 3.5 Lmin−1 [9].
Comparative studies in the human leg of healthy and diabetic patients showed that UTP>>ATP with regard to vasodilation in legs of elderly patients and patients with type 2 diabetes [1,2]. This is clearly in contrast to previous findings, but is more clinically relevant as most cardiac patients are older. Interestingly, the discrepancy in vasoactive potency was not due to an up-regulation of the P2Y2 receptor, suggesting that up-regulation of other ATP-related (but not UTP) vasoconstrictive receptors must be relevant when people are of advanced age and poor general health. However, recent studies have shown that the ability to oppose sympathetic vasoconstriction during exercise is intact in patients with type 2 diabetes, suggesting that previous assumptions of a crucial involvement of the P2Y2 receptor in functional sympatholysis are inaccurate [9]. This conclusion is also supported by another study by the present inventor in pigs where ADP or UTP was infused during myocardial infarction. In that study, UTP increased the infarct area during acute myocardial infarction, whereas ADP diminished it (unpublished results). This suggests a pharmacological cardioprotective effect of ADP, but a detrimental effect of UTP, suggesting that caution must be exercised when using UTP in clinically acute conditions. Therefore, the previous assumptions in patent application WO 2007/065437 relating to the regulation of purinergic receptor activity to modulate vascular tone, particularly for treating hemodynamic conditions by overriding vasoconstriction activity, which could potentially have clinical applications for treatment with UTP agonists or antagonists, is incorrect.
In contrast to the vasodilating properties associated with UTP mentioned above, UTP has also been described to be a potent vasoconstrictor in the coronary circulation. Of particular note are the studies relating to human coronary arteries and bypass vessels [13-15]. In these studies, both UTP and UTPγS induced contractions in coronary arteries and the internal mammary artery in heart transplant patients, suggesting that P2Y2 receptors are important contractile receptors. UTPγS also induced contractions in the saphenous vein. Given that prolonged treatment with UTP has been shown to induce smooth muscle proliferation in vitro, it can be speculated that in case of endothelial dysfunction (such as with coronary artery disease), extracellular nucleotides derived from the blood may reach smooth muscle cells (SMCs), leading to UTP-mediated vasoconstriction of P2Y2 receptors. In human coronary arteries, the P2Y2-subtype has been presumed to play a major role in this speculated constriction [14, 15]. This is also seen in animal studies [16, 17]. In pigs, the P2Y2 receptor is up-regulated in SMCs of in vivo stented coronary arteries to mediate the mitogenic effects of nucleotides [1,8]. Therefore, the P2Y2 receptors are suspected to take part in the pathophysiological genesis of potentially life-threatening vasospasms [15].
Besides being looked at as evoking coronary vasoconstriction of damaged vessels, extracellular nucleotides have also been implicated to play an important role in the development of inflammatory vascular disease [19,20]. Seye et al. showed that UTP, acting at P2Y2 receptors, promoted intimal hyperplasia of collared rabbit carotid arteries [21]. In an animal model, porcine P2Y2 receptors were found to be overexpressed in stented coronaries and to play a distinct mitogenic role there [1,8]. It has thus been accepted that vascular remodeling, facilitated by extracellular nucleotides, is a key step in the genesis of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, potentially culminating in life-threatening states of stroke or heart attack. Therefore, no preceding clinical studies have ever been attempted involving in vivo coronary infusion of UTP in humans, because this compound, for all the above mentioned reasons, was believed to be hazardous to humans.
Angiographic assessment of coronary artery disease (CAD) has guided cardiac therapy for more than 30 years, however even experienced angiographers are unable to reliably assess lesion severity because angiography has significant intra-observer and inter-observer variability and is not a physiological assessment, but merely a visual one. Recent studies, such as the COURAGE trial, have re-emphasized what all current medical guidelines recommend: that for low risk patients, even those experiencing angina, optimal medical therapy should be the initial treatment. For those patients whose disease progresses, or for whom chest pain is not alleviated, revascularization, either through angioplasty and stenting or surgery, should be performed.
The new diagnostic tool fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) helps physicians to decide whether to intervene on a stenosis (i.e., abnormal narrowing of blood vessels) or not. Achievement of maximal hyperemia of coronary microcirculation is a prerequisite for the exact assessment of FFR in order to minimize the effect of microvascular resistance. Thus, the higher the flow, the larger the pressure drop across the stenotic vessel, i.e., the lower the FFR. For accurate FFR measurements, achievement of maximal hyperemia is imperative for minimizing the effect of microvascular resistance. Only at maximal hyperemia is flow and pressure linearly correlated. If there is only suboptimal hyperemia, the FFR index underestimates the functional severity of coronary stenosis. This can lead to injurious outcomes [22]. Therefore, it is crucial for clinical decision making, that the FFR response is accurate, otherwise over- or under-treatment of patients will occur, leading to higher mortality rates and more expensive treatment regimens.
The preferred standard hyperemic agent used today for inducing coronary hyperemia is adenosine. However, adenosine use is associated with side effects even with local infusions. For example, adenosine causes dyspnea and angina in nearly all patients, as well as second-degree AV block in some patients. Adenosine use is also associated with contraindications such as asthma, COPD, angina, hypotension, 2nd or 3rd-degree AV block, and sinus node dysfunction; and the need for abstinence from caffeine in order to get an accurate hyperemic assessment, because caffeine blocks P1 receptors, which are the vasodilatatory receptors the adenine compounds function through [23].
Given the foregoing limitations associated with the use of adenine-related compounds (e.g., adenosine and ATP) as hyperemic agents, more potent hyperemic agents with fewer side effects would be beneficial for diagnosing compromised blood flow in blood vessels.

Use of UTP for the diagnosis of stenoses and other conditions of restricted blood flow


This invention relates to a scarf and in particular to one including a middle flap and two side flaps of the same size and different patterns whereby the flaps may be folded in different ways thereby providing the scarf with different patterns.

It is found that the prior art scarf has a pattern only so that one must prepare several scarfs if desired to adapt the scarf with various dresses. Hence, there is a need for a scarf which may present different patterns so as to match various dresses.
Therefore, it is another object of the present invention to provide a scarf which may obviate and mitigate the above-mentioned drawback.


A bottom of a housing has a protruding support extending a predetermined distance toward a movable core, and the movable core has an annular boss extending a predetermined distance toward the housing. The annular boss is disposed in an annular space defined between the bottom of the housing and the protruding support of the housing.

1.Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a linear solenoid valve for generating an electromagnetic force in proportion to an amount of current supplied to a solenoid, for displacing a valve element under the generated electromagnetic force.
2.Description of the Related Art
There have been used in the art electromagnetic valves for displacing a valve element by attracting a movable core to a fixed core under an electromagnetic force that is generated when a solenoid coil is energized.
The applicant of the present application has proposed an electromagnetic apparatus as such an electromagnetic valve, including a movable core that is accurately responsive to a generated magnetic force.


This invention describes a compact, light weight, durable, quiet in operation, economical, chain tensioning device with means for controlling chain slack between two drive sprockets, found in all terrain vehicles or the like. The assembly comprises a chain tensioning device which is spaced between the two drive sprockets. The chain tensioning device is easy to assemble, install and adjust. The device exerts a modest pre-load tension pressure, requires infrequent adjustment and is suitable for reversed loads.

Over a number of years the following types of chain tensioning devices have been tested on prototype all terrain vehicles. The resulting observations have led to the development of my invention.
Type 1
Adjustable, but fixed in place tensioning arm devices are best suited for non-reversing industrial applications and bear against the unloaded side of a chain.
Typically, the arm with its slider or idler sprocket is adjusted to remove most of the chain slack and is locked in place. The tensioning device would be adjusted to compensate for wear as required.
This is not suited for use in an all terrain vehicle application, in that if the chain slack is adjusted out to eliminate chain slap, the chain becomes excessively tight as it warms up. This tightness creates wear and excessive tension on chains, sprockets and bearings. If the chain is left slack, it suffers sudden take-up loading when exposed to reversing loads. The abrupt take-up further stretches chains.
Type 2
When using self-adjusting heavy-spring tensioning devices it was found that for reversing load applications the required heavy springs exert a high pre-load force against the chain. These heavy-spring tensioning devices failed when used in an all terrain vehicle application, as they are heavy in weight, difficult to install and service. They have a high pre-load force creating noise and wear on chains, sprockets and bearings.
Type 3
The "Rosta"™ type tensioning devices employ rubber elements which are compressed within a section of square metal tube surrounding their arm pivot bolts. The bolts are cam shaped to compress the rubber elements within the square tube as the arm rotates approximately 45 degrees.
These tensioning devices are not suited for moderate or heavy duty reverse loading applications because the force on the rubber element is leveraged by the length of the arm from the slider or sprocket to the rubber element. The excessive force causes even moderate sized rubber elements to fail. Also the Rosta™ tensioning device is heavier, difficult to adjust in confined space and costly.
Type 4
The technology known in hydraulic damper type tensioning devices found in combustion engines to control slack in timing belts and chains could be used, however, they would be heavier, complex and costly.