An automotive member or a feed oil pipe includes: a member made of a ferritic stainless steel containing predetermined components containing 10.5% to 18.0% of Cr in mass %; a metal fitting made of an aluminized stainless steel sheet, the metal fitting being attached to the member; and a gap structure defined between the member and the metal fitting, the gap structure being exposed to a chloride environment, where the metal fitting has an Al-plating weight per unit area of 20 g/m2 or more and 150 g/m2 or less on a surface corresponding to a gap of the gap structure, and surfaces of the metal fitting and the non-aluminized member other than the gap are coated with a cation electrodeposition coating film having a thickness of 5 μm to 35 μm.

United States laws and regulations obligate a feed oil pipe for an automobile to assure life of 15 years or 150,000 miles running. A feed oil pipe made of stainless steel (SUS436L: 17 Cr-1.2Mo) has been already put into practical use.
An automobile traveling in North America or Europe is exposed to an environment of a snow melting salt. Therefore, a material applied to a feed oil pipe requires excellent salt corrosion resistance, and SUS436L has been conventionally applied. However, in response to the recent increase in resource prices, reduction in material cost has come to be demanded. SUS436L contains about 1% of expensive Mo. Therefore, only by replacing SUS436L with AISI439 steel (17 Cr) not containing Mo, cost is significantly reduced. In a district other than North America or Europe (e.g. India, China, or South and Central America), since salt corrosion resistance at such a level as in North America or Europe is not necessary, the quality of SUS436L is excessive and a lower-grade and more inexpensive material has been demanded.
However, when the amount of an alloy element is excessively reduced in order to reduce cost, corrosion resistance is deteriorated. Therefore, a technology to compensate weakness due to a lower-grade material by another method is important.
A portion having a concern about corrosion in a feed oil pipe is crevice corrosion which occurs in a gap on an outer surface of the feed oil pipe exposed to a chloride environment. Conventionally, coating such as cation electrodeposition coating has been applied as a means for improving salt corrosion resistance in the gap.
For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a production method of subjecting a feed oil pipe assembled by projection welding using a SUS436 pipe as a material to cation electrodeposition coating. However, this technology uses SUS436 as a material. According to knowledge of the inventors, rust prevention is not completely achieved even in SUS436. Therefore, it cannot be estimated that this technology can offer a sufficient rust prevention effect when a lower-grade material is used.
Patent Literature 2 discloses a technology of preventing crevice corrosion by subjecting a feed oil pipe assembled using SUS436 as a material to electrostatic coating. Alternatively, Patent Literature 3 discloses a technology of subjecting a stainless steel feed oil pipe to coating for chipping resistance and assuring a sufficient rust prevention property even when the feed oil pipe is subjected to chipping. However, these technologies require higher cost for coating than electrodeposition coating. Meanwhile, an inside of a gap cannot be coated, and therefore there is no guarantee that a sufficient rust prevention effect is obtained in the gap.
Patent Literature 4 discloses a technology of providing a projection on a gap-forming member and controlling an opening amount of the gap to 0.2 mm or more for covering an inside of the gap by electrodeposition coating.
On the other hand, a rust prevention method other than coating is also proposed. For example, Patent Literature 5 discloses a technology of applying sacrificial corrosion prevention by disposing a zinc sacrificial anode in a gap or a portion in which a passive state film is impaired by welding, brazing, plastic working, or the like in assembling a stainless steel feed oil pipe. However, it is troublesome and takes time to dispose zinc at all the portions having a concern about corrosion. As described in Non Patent Literature 1, zinc is consumed easily in a chloride environment, and therefore a large amount of zinc is disadvantageously required. In Patent Literature 6, a galvanized steel plate is used for an inlet pipe to eliminate a gap by filling the gap with melted zinc. However, as described above, zinc is consumed very easily in a chloride environment. Further, since an oil inlet enters an inlet pipe, melted zinc is likely to invade the inlet pipe to be reacted with water, so that a corrosion product such as zinc hydroxide may be formed to cause clogging of fuel injection equipment.

Inexpensive automotive member and feed oil pipe, exhibiting excellent salt corrosion resistance

NIPPON STEEL & SUMIKIN STAINLESS STEEL CORPORATION


An antenna includes a first substrate, a first pattern, a second substrate, a second pattern, and an anisotropic conductive material. The first substrate has an insulating surface. The first pattern is formed over the insulating surface of the first substrate, and made of a conductive material. The second substrate is provided so as to face the surface over which the first pattern of the first substrate is formed and has an insulating surface. The second pattern is formed over the insulating surface facing the first substrate of the second substrate, and made of a conductive material. The anisotropic conductive material electrically connects the first pattern and the second pattern. The whole region of the first pattern overlaps with the second pattern with the anisotropic conductive material interposed therebetween.

Identification technology where an ID (identification number) is assigned to an individual object so as to clarify the history thereof, which is utilized for production, management, and the like has been attracting attention. Above all, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology using a semiconductor device for inputting/outputting data through radio communication, such as a radio tag (also referred to as an IC tag, an IC chip, an RF (Radio Frequency) tag, an RFID, an RFID tag, an electronic tag, or a transponder), has started to be employed. Such a semiconductor device for inputting/outputting data by radio communication includes an antenna and a semiconductor integrated circuit electrically connected to the antenna.
An antenna can be formed over a film formed of plastic or the like by screen printing using a conductive paste. An antenna which is formed by screen printing and has a plated surface has been suggested (see Patent Document 1). Further, a coiled antenna is formed for each of a planarity of substrates by screen printing, and the coiled antennas of the plurality of substrates are arranged so as to overlap with each other and electrically connected in series. Such a configuration where a coiled antenna with many coils is employed has been suggested (see Patent Document 2).    [Patent Document 1] Japanese Published Patent Application No. 2000-113147    [Patent Document 2] Japanese Published Patent Application No. 2002-183696

Antenna and manufacturing method thereof, semiconductor device including antenna and manufacturing method thereof, and radio communication system

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A gear selector apparatus for a transmission having a first gear and a second gear selectively engageable to a shaft through a synchronizer. The gear selector apparatus includes a hydraulic actuator, a gear selection fork engaged with the actuator, a guide bar fixed for common movement to the gear selection fork, a detent mechanism disposed in contact with a first edge of the guide bar, a position sensor disposed in contact with a second edge of the guide bar, a first and a second pressure control valve in communication with the hydraulic actuator, a controller in electrical communication with the position sensor and the first and second pressure control valve. The controller includes a control logic sequence.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may or may not constitute prior art.
Typical gear selector apparatus for dual-clutch or automated manual transmissions employ a hydraulic, electro-mechanical or electromagnetic actuator to achieve closed-loop position control of a synchronizer. However, these systems require the use of expensive position sensors to identify the position of the synchronizer. Utilizing these techniques in gear selector apparatuses have proven costly and typically require complicated operating algorithms.
Another alternative for actuation of a dual-clutch or automated manual transmission uses a dual-piston or three-area hydraulic actuators. Whereas these types of actuators do not require position sensors in operation, the three necessary positions of the synchronizer are monitored with position switches. Still, the dual-piston or three area actuators are themselves complicated and require larger packaging space.
While these piston actuators are useful for their intended purpose, there is a constant desire to reduce the complexity of the both the control algorithm and the assembly and to improve the packaging efficiency of the gear selector apparatus while providing robust and reliable operation at a lower cost. Accordingly, there is room in the art for an improved gear selector apparatus having a compact package for a confined space application, improved cost and a simpler control algorithm.

Gear selector apparatus and control for a vehicle transmission


A system and method are disclosed for allowing a target web page to be edited on a host web page by a Designer. A scaled view of the target web page may be displayed on the host web page so that the Designer may view the target web page during the editing process. An editing palette may be selected, from a menu of editing palettes, for editing the target web page. An overlay, corresponding to the selected editing palette, may be positioned next to or superimposed over the scaled view of the target web page. The overlay may provide positioning or other types of information to assist the Designer in using the selected editing palette. Different overlays may be used as different editing palettes are selected. Once the target web page is customized, it can be made accessible via the Internet.

The Internet is a worldwide network of computers and computer networks arranged to allow the easy and robust exchange of information between the users of the computers. Hundreds of millions of people around the world have access to computers connected to the Internet via one of the hundreds of Internet Service Providers (ISPs). Content providers place multimedia information, i.e. graphics and sounds, and other forms of data at specific locations on the Internet referred to as web sites that are typically hosted by website hosting providers. Each web site may include one or more interconnected web pages. Web sites typically have a structure or design whereby a User may easily move back and forth, using menus or links, among the web pages in the web site. The combination of all the web sites and their corresponding web pages on the Internet is generally known as the World Wide Web (web or WWW).
Web pages may be created using HyperText Markup Language (HTML) to generate a standard set of tags that define how the web pages associated with a web site will be displayed. Users of the Internet may access content providers' web sites using a software program known as a browser. After the browser has located a desired web page, it requests and receives information from the web page, typically in the form of an HTML document, and then displays the web page's content for the user. The user may thereafter view other web pages at the same web site or may move to an entirely different web site using the browser.
Browsers are able to locate different web sites because web sites on the Internet generally have a unique Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with them. IP addresses are 32 bit binary numbers, but are typically shown in dotted decimal notion, e.g. 126.96.36.199, to improve human readability. However, IP addresses, even in dotted decimal notation, are difficult to remember and use by people. Domain names are much easier to remember and may be associated with an IP address.
Individuals, companies, and other entities that provide content on the web generally want to use their name or one of their trademarks as part of their domain name. Thus, domain names are generally company trademarks, personal names or short phrases concatenated with a top level domain name (TLD) extension (e.g. .com, .net, .org, .us, .biz, etc.). The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names & Numbers (ICANN) approves all TLDs and delegates the responsibility to a particular organization (hereinafter Registry) for maintaining an authoritative source for the registered domain names within a TLD and their corresponding IP addresses. There is one organization, or Registry, for each of the ICANN approved TLDs. For certain TLDs, e.g. .biz, .info, .us, the Registry is also the authoritative source for contact information related to the domain name. For other TLDs, e.g. .com, .ws, .net, a Registrar is the authoritative source for the contact information related to the domain name. The Shared Registration System (SRS) is a central system for all accredited registrars to access, register and control domain names.
The process for registering a domain name with a particular Registry allows a Customer to use an ICANN-accredited Registrar. For example if John Doe wishes to register the domain name "JohnDoe.com", John Doe may initially verify whether the desired domain name is or is not available by contacting a Registrar. The Customer may make this contact using the Registrar web site and typing the desired domain name into a field in the Registrar web site created for this purpose. Upon receiving the request from the Customer, the Registrar may ascertain whether "JohnDoe.com" has already been registered by checking the WHOIS database of the Registry associated with the TLD of the domain name or with the open SRS WHOIS database of the Registrar. The results of the search may then be displayed on the web site to thereby notify the Customer of the availability of the domain name. If the domain name is available, the Customer may proceed with the registration process. Otherwise, the Customer may have to keep selecting alternative domain names until an available domain name is found.
In an effort to increase the number of domain names they register, Registrars may enable Resellers to offer domain name registration services to the Resellers' Customers. In this system, Resellers may coordinate their efforts with a Registrar in registering domain names to the Resellers' Customers by allowing the Reseller's Customers to hyperlink to a web page or web site designed or customized by the Reseller, but operated by the Registrar. This approach has the advantage of allowing each Reseller to be able to customize the Registrar's web page or web site so that each Reseller may continue to use its brands, trademarks, color schemes, etc. to retain and build the Reseller's Customers' loyalty and confidence in the Reseller.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Target web page edited using overlay on host web page


A photovoltaic junction box includes a housing, a circuit board received in the housing, a plurality of metal brackets, and a plurality of bypass diodes. The plurality of metal brackets are secured to the circuit board, each of the plurality of metal brackets defines a receiving space receiving a spring sheet. The plurality of bypass diodes are respectively secured to the plurality of metal brackets and electrically connected to the circuit board. Each of a plurality of ribbons is clamped between the spring sheet and a corresponding metal bracket, and the ribbon directly and electrically contacts the corresponding metal bracket.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure generally relates to photovoltaic (PV) power generation systems, and more particularly to a photovoltaic junction box for a photovoltaic power generation system.
2. Description of Related Art
A photovoltaic (PV) power generation system comprises a plurality of PV panels connected together through cables and PV junction boxes. One of the plurality of PV panels is electrically connected to a circuit board of a PV junction box via a plurality of ribbons soldered onto the circuit board. The PV junction box is structured on one corresponding PV panel and comprises a plurality of bypass diodes configured on the circuit board. The bypass diodes generate heat when the PV panel could not receive solar radiations, and an overheated bypass diode may damage the PV junction box. Furthermore, the ribbons are prone to fall off from the circuit board of the PV junction box due to mis-soldering between the ribbons and the circuit board.
Therefore, a need exists in the industry to overcome the described problems.


A fluorescence based oxygen sensor can be prepared comprising a polyaniline polymer doped with one or more pyrene carboxylic acids. The polyaniline has the formula:

Determination of oxygen concentration is important in various fields such as automotive applications, medical devices, anesthesia monitors, and environmental monitoring. Recently, devices based on the fluorescence quenching of organic molecules have been developed to determine the concentration of oxygen. When exposed to light at an appropriate wavelength, the fluorescent substances absorb energy and are promoted from their ground state energy level (So) into an excited state energy level (S1). Fluorescent molecules are unstable in their excited states and can relax by different competing pathways.
Fluorescence based oxygen sensing elements work on the principle that relaxation of the S1 state can also occur through interaction with a second molecule through fluorescence quenching. Molecular oxygen (O2) is an efficient quencher of fluorescence because of its unusual triplet ground state. Fluorophores used for oxygen sensing include: pyrene and its derivatives, quinoline, decacyclene and its derivatives, phenantrene, erythrosine B, and aluminum 2,9,16,23-tetraphenoxy-29H,31H-phthalocyaninehydroxide. These fluorophores are doped into a polymer matrix such as: silicones, polystyrene, and ethyl cellulose that are selectively permeable to oxygen and adhere to glass.
One difficulty with doping fluorescent molecules into a polymer is that the fluorescent molecule may have poor solubility and may crystallize or aggregate within the polymer matrix upon coating and drying.
It would be useful to provide an oxygen sensor that does not crystallize or aggregate within the polymer matrix upon coating and drying.

Abstract: and the pyrene carboxylic acids have the formula:Pyrene-R—COOH  (II);wherein R is an aliphatic linking group having 1 to 11 carbon atoms, n represents half the degree of polymerization, x is about 0.5, and (1−x) is about 0.5. The sensor can be coated onto a support. Upon excitation with an appropriate wavelength, the polyaniline/pyrene coating fluoresces. Upon exposure to oxygen the fluorescence rapidly decays.


A dispersion medium is filled in a display section and is dispersed with charged particles that migrates in accordance with a direction of an electric field. An image forming section applies, upon receiving an image forming request, an electric voltage between a first electrode and a second electrode to generate the electric field in the dispersion medium, thereby performing an image forming operation. A refresh controlling section switches, before the image forming section performs the image forming operation, the direction of the electric field alternately at predetermined timing to uniformly disperse the charged particles in the dispersion medium, thereby performing a refresh operation. An image-formation-elapsed-time measuring section measures a first elapsed time from a previous image forming operation performed by the image forming section until the image forming request. A refresh determining section determines whether the refresh controlling section performs the refresh operation based on the first elapsed time.

An electrophoretic display device that displays an image by using an electrophoretic phenomenon is generally known. Such an electrophoretic display device includes a display substrate that is transparent, a back substrate disposed in confrontation with the display substrate, and a gap spacer interposed between the display substrate and the back substrate and provided along the periphery of the substrates. A hermetically-sealed space having a predetermined gap is formed between the display substrate and the back substrate via the gap spacer. The hermetically-sealed space is filled with dispersion medium made of colored liquid or gas in which charged particles that are colored spherical particles are dispersed, thereby forming a display section.
With such a configuration, for example, in an electrophoretic display device in which white charged particles are dispersed in dispersion medium made of black liquid, the two substrates generate an electric field in the display section to migrate the charged particles in the dispersion medium to the display substrate side for displaying white color of the charged particles on a front surface of the display substrate, or to migrate the charged particles to the back substrate side for displaying black color of the dispersion medium on the front surface of the display substrate. A desired image is obtained in this way.
With such a conventional electrophoretic display device, the charged particles may agglutinate or aggregate in a part of the display section as time elapses. Further, the charged particles may settle out in the display liquid when an image is not displayed for a long time. If the charged particles agglutinate, aggregate, or settle out in this way, the charged particles cannot migrate sufficiently even when an electric field is generated in the display liquid, leading to problems of degraded image quality such as color heterogeneity in an image and a low contrast of an image.
In order to prevent such degradation of image quality, it is conceivable to apply a higher voltage with electrodes to generate a stronger electric field for preventing agglutinate of the charged particles and the like. With this method, however, there are problems that a power consumption of the electrophoretic display device increases substantially and that handling of the device becomes more difficult because of high voltage.
Hence, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-321605 discloses a method in which pulse voltages with opposite polarity are applied alternately prior to image formation. With this method, separation of charged particles adhering to a wall surface can be facilitated, thereby promoting electrophoresis of the charged particles.

Electrophoretic display device that executes refresh operation at appropriate timing


A pressure gauge has an indicator needle and a scale plate. A preset pressure indicating member extending along a pressure scale in a circular arc pattern is slidably attached to a front wall of a case, and provided with a first display section. An opaque shield portion provided with a second display section at one end thereof is provided to a transparent cover rotatably attached to the front wall. The transparent cover drives the preset pressure indicating member to set a preset pressure range between the first display section and the second display section which is observable from the outside through the transparent cover.

A pneumatic circuit for supplying compressed air from an air pressure source to an actuator such as a pneumatic cylinder includes a fluid pressure equipment which has a switching valve for switching a flow path, a pressure control valve for controlling pressure, a filter for removing dust, water and the like from the compressed air, and a pipe arrangement for connecting the above components. Similarly, a hydraulic circuit for supplying hydraulic pressure from a hydraulic pressure source to a hydraulic actuator includes a fluid pressure equipment such as a pressure control valve. A pressure gauge for measuring pressure of fluid is used in such a fluid pressure equipment included in a fluid pressure circuit for driving an actuator which is actuated by air pressure or hydraulic pressure as described above.
There is an analog pressure gauge which displays measured pressure using an indicator needle, and a Bourdon tube type pressure gauge provided with a Bourdon tube is frequently used in this type of pressure gauge. In an analog pressure gauge provided with an indicator needle, a scale based on a measurable range of the pressure gauge is marked as a pressure scale of a scale plate indicated by the indicator needle so that the pressure gauge can be used for various fluid pressure circuits. For example, in a pressure gauge used in a pneumatic circuit, a pressure scale based on a measurable range from a minimum value of 0 Mega Pascal (MPa) to a maximum value of several MPa is marked. However, in many cases, air pressure actually supplied to a pneumatic circuit is within a range smaller than a measurable range of the pressure gauge. For example, even if up to 1.0 MPa can be measured by a pressure gauge, in a pneumatic circuit, the pressure gauge may be used within an operating pressure range between 0.4 MPa and 0.6 MPa. In such a case, it is necessary for an operator to check whether or not air pressure supplied to each pneumatic device included in the pneumatic circuit is within a designated operating pressure range by observing the pressure gauge.
Japanese Patent No. 3717621 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 06-52215 disclose a pressure gauge provided with a preset marker indicating a pressure range.
A pressure gauge described in Japanese Patent No. 3717621 includes a front cover covering an indicator needle and formed with a transparent circular plate provided with a scale of measurable range, and an opaque holding member for holding the transparent circular plate. Two preset markers are movably provided to correspond to an upper limit value and a lower limit value of a preset pressure range in a gap between the holding member and the circular plate, and each preset marker is disposed on the rear surface side of the scale and protrudes toward the rear surface of the front cover.
In this way, when the preset markers are disposed on the rear surface side of the transparent circular plate provided with the scale of measurable range, the preset markers are overlapped with the scale. Therefore, to check whether or not the indicator needle is located within a preset pressure range, it is necessary to visually check the preset markers that display the upper limit value and the lower limit value through the scale, so there is a problem that it is difficult to identify the preset pressure range at first glance. Furthermore, to change the preset pressure range, it is necessary to remove the front cover and adjust the positions of the preset markers on the rear surface side of the front cover. Therefore, to check whether the adjusted positions are appropriate or not, it is necessary to reverse the front cover and check the positional relationship between the positions of the preset markers and the scale from the front side, so the change of the preset pressure range is troublesome.
On the other hand, a pressure gauge described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 06-52215 includes a scale plate provided with a scale of measurable range and a pair of cover plates rotatably attached along the outer circumferential portion of the scale plate. A display band is formed on the outer circumferential portion of the scale plate, and the preset pressure range is displayed by an area of the display band which is not covered by the cover plates by relatively rotating the pair of cover plates that partially cover the display band.
In this way, the cover plates are disposed on the front side of the scale plate and the cover plates are supported by the scale plate, an excessive load is applied to the scale plate during a rotation operation of the cover plates, and there is a risk that the scale plate is deformed or damaged. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the strength of the scale plate by forming the scale plate using a metal material or unduly firmly fix the scale plate. As a result, the fixing operation of the scale plate becomes complex and the cost of the operation increases.


A method of forming a film on a substrate includes activating a gas precursor to form a material on the substrate by irradiating the gas precursor with electromagnetic energy at a frequency tuned to an absorption frequency of the gas precursor.

Fabrication of electronic devices such as integrated circuits is performed through a series of processes, where each process has its own thermal characteristics. Some processes require high temperatures, while others not requiring high temperatures are performed at temperatures elevated over ambient. The elevated temperatures, whether small or large, provide an energic environment in which reactants, or precursors, interact chemically to form a desired material composition. This material composition may be an intermediate composition or the final composition forming an integral portion of the electronic device or system being constructed.
A chemical reaction to form a desired material composition is conducted by providing energy to reactant gases. This energy is typically provided by heating the reactant gases, the reaction environment, and/or a substrate on which the resultant composition of the chemical reaction is to be formed. These heating processes may place limitations on the fabrication process. For instance, reactant gases that can provide the desired resultant composition upon chemical reaction may be eliminated from being used because the chemistries of these gases may be sensitive to heating, making thermal control difficult. In other instances, conventional heating methods may be inefficient for a wide variety of gases. As these gases are heated, a significant percentage by mass volume may decompose into unwanted gas compositions prior to undergoing the intended chemical reaction with other materials or gases. Then, only the non-decomposed portion of the volume of reactant gas contributes to the fabrication process, limiting the reaction efficiency. Thus, control of the thermal characteristics for forming various materials to be used in electronic devices and systems provides a significant challenge for fabrication processes.


The present invention relates to a compound having a structure in which methotrexate and a peptide are connected via a covalent bond, and an anticancer or anti-inflammatory pharmaceutical composition comprising same. The compound having a structure in which methotrexate and a peptide are connected via a covalent bond of the present invention has excellent biological activity such as anticancer or anti-inflammatory action and has markedly reduced toxicity with respect to cells, and thus, may be usefully used in various fields such as medicine and medical supplies.

Methotrexate (MTX) is the most commonly used drug for the treatment of various childhood cancers, including acute lymphoblastic leukemia, osteosarcoma, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and is used as an important drug in in consolidation and maintenance therapy of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Methotrexate is an antimetabolite and is a drug that exhibits the anti-proliferative cytotoxic effect by binding to dihydrofolate reductase, an essential enzyme for converting dihydrofolate (FH2) to tetrahydrofolate (FH4) and inhibiting FH4 production, thereby inhibiting DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis. When administered at high doses, 90% of the dose is excreted in the urine, and thus, the excretion of methotrexate is closely related to renal function. Since delayed excretion after the administration of methotrexate increases the likelihood of side effects due to the accumulation of drugs, monitoring the drug concentration after administration is very important. Common side effects that may occur after the administration of methotrexate are hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, hematological toxicity, stomatitis, and neurological symptom, and the like, and mortality from toxicity was reported to be about 5-6%. Methotrexate is present in cells in combination with polyglutamic acid such as folic acid.
In addition, methotrexate is known to be useful in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. In this regard, Korea Patent Laying-Open No. 2009-0079876 discloses the use of methotrexate solution for the treatment of inflammatory autoimmune diseases; Korea Patent Laying-Open No. 2007-0100261 discloses a method of treating inflammation, comprising administering a combination of an effective amount of methotrexate and an A3 adenosine receptor agonist (A3AR agonist); Korea Patent Laying-Open No. 2007-0083862 discloses a transdermal pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of autoimmune disease, comprising a conjugate of methotrexate and protein transduction domain (PTD), and an excipient; and Korea Patent Laying-Open No. 2002-0032079 discloses a composition for transdermal administration for the treatment of arthritis, containing methotrexate as an effective component.
However, it is known that the use of such methotrexate may cause side effects such as bone marrow destruction, plaque destruction due to excessive bleeding, bleeding in the digestive organs, gastrointestinal perforation, hair loss, impairment of liver and kidney function, and the like.
Therefore, there is a need for the development of novel compounds that can reduce the side effects of methotrexate having characteristics as described above, and further enhance the physiological efficacy.


In an aspherical spectacle lens having a negative degree and an aspherical surface of rotational symmetry located on an object side, a surface power of the aspherical surface of rotational symmetry at a center portion located on an axis of rotational symmetry is substantially 0 diopter, and the aspherical surface of rotational symmetry is of an apparent convex shape.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an aspherical spectacle (viewing) lens whose power (back vertex power) is a negative value, and more precisely it relates to a negative aspherical spectacle lens having a small thickness.
2. Description of Related Art
In a spectacle lens consisting of a spherical lens, once a surface power of the lens is determined, an allowable base curve which defines the lens profile is automatically determined in accordance with the degree of the lens to restrict aberration of the lens within a tolerance. As the power increases, the base curve becomes steep, resulting in a considerable thickness (total thickness and edge thickness) of the lens. Consequently, it is impossible to realize a thin spherical spectacle lens whose aberration is within the tolerance.
To solve the problem of the spherical spectacle lens discussed above, it is known to use an aspherical lens instead of the spherical lens to realize a thinner lens while preserving the same power. The spectacle lens, consisting of an aspherical lens having an aspherical surface located on the object side, can be made thinner than the spherical spectacle lens without increasing the aberration.
Nevertheless, in conventional aspherical spectacle lenses, it has been proposed that the base curve of the lens profile to be corrected by the aspherical surface be only slightly less steep than the base curve for the spherical lens. The inventors of the present invention have found that one cannot expect to remarkably reduce the lens thickness with such a base curve for the conventional aspherical spectacle lenses.


A portable receiver provides an output of a local oscillator to a mixer for converting the received signal from an antenna to an intermediate frequency so that the intermediate frequency signal is demodulated. An oscillation generating unit outputs a low frequency signal by switching a plurality of low frequency signals in accordance with a channel designation and a dynamic phase shifter shifts a frequency of the output of the local oscillator before it is input to the mixer, by rotating the phase of the output of the local oscillator using the output signal of the oscillation generator. Therefore, the consumption of the power by this receiver can be decreased.

The present invention relates to a radio receiver, and more particularly to a portable receiver which may be called a pager receiver and in which a plurality of frequencies can be switched.
The pager receiver can be easily carried and thus it is desired to develop a system capable of receiving a radio signal continuously by switching a frequency in any location even if the pager receiver moves to various remote locations in a manner similar to an automobile telephone.
FIG. 1 shows a structure of a portable receiver which has been used and comprises an antenna 1, a mixing unit 2, a local oscillator 3, an intermediate frequency/low frequency processing unit 4, controller 5, and a display portion 6. The output of the local oscillator 3 is provided to a mixing unit 2 to convert a signal received from an antenna 1 to an intermediate frequency signal. The intermediate frequency signal is demodulated by the intermediate frequency/low frequency processing unit 4 and the demodulated signal is displayed on the display portion 6 through the control unit 5.
In order to provide a single oscillation frequency of the local oscillator, this example adapts a zero .intermediate frequency system in which the oscillation frequency of the local oscillator 3 is equal to the frequency of the received carrier. In this case, as it is not known whether the frequency modulation component of the received signal appears on the plus side or on the minus side with regard to a carrier frequency, in the mixing unit 2, two mixers receive the signal from a common antenna. A mixer 22 mixes the output of the local oscillator 3 with the received signal and a mixer 21 mixes the output of the local oscillator 3 with the signal whose phase is shifted by .pi./2 from the output of the local oscillator 3.
Mixers 21 and 22 output the frequency deviation signal is the input difference component (and the input sum component) and the intermediate frequency/low frequency processing unit 4 demodulates the frequency deviation signal. Control unit 5 receives the demodulated data and determines the data to be displayed, thereby displaying a message from the transmitting side on the display unit 6.
Generally speaking, a crystal oscillator is used for the local oscillator 3 used in a conventional portable receiver. A single crystal oscillator is provided corresponding to a single frequency. When the local oscillator 3 adopts a multi-frequency switching system, that digital synthesizer system of a phase lock loop (PLL) method which is mainly used in a radio receiver provided in a car or in a portable radio receiver is firstly considered.
As shown in FIG. 2, the synthesizer system compares a reference signal obtained from the reference signal generator 11 with a frequency signal channel-designated by a programmable divider 12 in a phase comparator (PD) 13, and the phase difference output from the phase comparator (PD) 13 is applied to the voltage control oscillator (VCO) 15 through a low pass filter 14 so that the control voltage of the voltage control oscillator 15 is controlled , thereby varying. The oscillation frequency of the voltage control oscillator 15. The output of the voltage control oscillator 15 is applied to the programmable divider 12, thereby forming a PLL circuit. Namely the PLL circuit operates so that 1/N (N is equal to a dividing ratio of the programmable divider 12) of the oscillation frequency of the voltage control oscillator 15 becomes equal to the generation frequency generated from the reference signal generator 11. Therefore, the PLL circuit outputs N times the generation frequency of the reference signal generator 11 as the local oscillation output.
Based on this synthesizer system, a pager receiver in which the frequency is switchable can be realized, thereby extremely improving the flexibility of the received frequencies. This synthesizer system is not suitable for a portable receiver that receives signals intermittently because power consumption increases with the speed of the operation and it takes time to start-up the receiver. This is because a certain time is required for the PLL circuit to output the same frequency signal as the frequency of the reference signal generator 11. Further, the digital synthesizer has difficulty in operating at low voltages because it uses a digital divider.
On the other hand, in the conventional analog oscillator, shown in FIG. 3, i (i=1 to n) channels contain a crystal oscillator X.sub.i, diode D.sub.i and an input resistor R.sub.i, respectively. A voltage is applied to an input resistor of the designated channel, the other terminal of the corresponding crystal oscillator is grounded and thus the oscillator 3 oscillates at the frequency of the crystal oscillator X.sub.i. The oscillator 3 can sufficiently operate even at a low voltage but it requires many crystal oscillators, thereby increasing the cost of the analog oscillator and occupying a relatively larger space.


The liquid ejection device includes: a platen configured to hold a recording medium by suction through the use of a plurality of suction holes; a suction unit configured to generate a negative pressure for holding the recording medium to the platen by suction; a suction flow passage configured to transmit the negative pressure generated by the suction unit to the platen, the suction flow passage being disposed between the suction unit and the platen; and a communication control unit configured to control communication between the suction unit and the suction holes not blocked by the recording medium, through the use of a flow of air suctioned from the suction holes not blocked by the recording medium.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a liquid ejection device such as an inkjet printer, for example.
2. Related Art
Inkjet recording devices are widely known as one type of conventional liquid ejection device. An inkjet recording device is provided with a carriage for mounting a recording head (liquid ejection head), and ink (liquid) is ejected from the recording head onto a paper sheet or other recording medium on which recording (printing) is performed while the head and the recording medium are moved relative to each other.
In this type of recording device, as shown in FIG. 11, in a case in which numerous suction holes 101 are provided to a platen 100, and a paper sheet 104 is suctioned by a suction fan 102 through a suction flow passage 103, a flow of air between the platen 100 and a head 106 mounted on a carriage 105 is created by the suction holes 101 that are not being used for suction, which causes flight deflection of ink particles and landing deviation (print misalignment) to occur. In Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2009-234128, a configuration is described in which a shield for blocking the suction holes is moved synchronously with the carriage (head), and the suction holes near the head are thereby always blocked so that a flow rate does not occur.


Automatically accesses, from a database, the rate of power consumption of each object on a displayed list and automatically calculating the power consumption of each object over a planned period time of use of the object. Then, during actual use, the actual power consumption of each object on the list is automatically tracked over the planned period of time of use and the difference between the planned and actual power consumption of each object on the list is automatically calculated. The difference for each object on the list is displayed so that the user may take action interactively.

In this time of turbulent change in the way business is conducted world wide, there is pressure on businesses of all sizes and across all industries. A major challenge is the control and optimization of power consumption in all endeavors. For example, since computer control and related computer functions are pervasive in all human activities, the reduction of power usage and power consumption optimization should be considered in the information technology industries. It has been estimated that for every $1.00 spent on hardware, an additional $0.50 is spent on power and cooling. It has also been estimated that over the next five (5) years, the expense to cool the already installed base of servers is projected to increase at four (4) times the growth rate of new server spending. The cost of electricity is rapidly rising. Utilities available to the public often may not have the capacity to satisfy IT customer demands.
The recognition of the above challenges has led to developments such as "Smart Planet", "Go Green" and the like. These efforts demonstrate that reduction of power consumption is very beneficial for business profits and establish the business as a good community member.

Method for optimizing power consumption in planned projects

International Business Machines Corporation


A system for inspecting seal integrity of a sealed package including a visual inspection system and a medical packaging system having an integral peel testing device.

A basic medical sealer requires four basic components to work properly: a solenoid or pneumatic piston, a jaw mechanism, a heating element, and a microprocessor. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the machine 10 of a basic medical sealer includes a solenoid 12 (FIG. 3) and a jaw mechanism 13 comprised of an upper jaw 14 and a lower jaw 16. Solenoid or pneumatic piston 12 engages the jaw mechanism to pull the upper jaw 14 down onto lower jaw 16 in order to apply the necessary pressure to the flexible package or pouch. Solenoid 12 has a pre-defined pressure that is fine-tunable by a control knob 18 on the upper jaw assembly.
As shown in FIG. 3, a heating element 20 flash heats to the required temperature to melt the packaging material. Heating element 20 maintains the temperature for a specific time to create a bond. Pieces of Teflon, Sarcon, and glass cloth are disposed on either side of heating element 20 and prevent the packaging materials from sticking to the upper and lower jaws. The heating element is controlled by a microprocessor 22, shown in FIG. 2, with a thermocouple interface to assure the accuracy of the temperature. Microprocessor 22 also controls the cooling time during which the jaws stay closed before the material can be removed from the machine.
Packages sealed by medical sealers must meet government standards; therefore, the seal integrity of packages must be routinely tested during production. There are different tests for inspecting seal integrity, the most common being peel testing and visual testing. Peel testing is the most common way to determine seal strength utilizing destructive methodology. These test modalities are used when developing the Design of Experiments for the validation processes. The visual process is used most often as an in-process system of seal inspection as it is non-destructive. Peel testing measures the strength of seal in pounds while visual testing analyzes seal integrity for pleating, cracking, bubbling, etc. Basic medical sealers used in the art today do not include a mechanism for thorough inspection of seal integrity of the package being sealed. Currently, when a medical packager seals a pouch using a medical sealer, he or she must occasionally pull a pouch out of production to test the seal. Testing the seal usually involves taking it to a lab where the material is cut into a one-inch strip and pulling the material apart using, for example, an industrial ASTM F-88 seal strength test to determine the integrity of the seal. Alternatively, devices such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,515,159 to Sikes, U.S. Pat. No. 6,097,427 to Dey et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,529 to Dey et al. are used, wherein the medical packager removes the package from production after it has been sealed and inspects the package with a light and a video camera.

Method and device for inspecting and monitoring the seal integrity of sterile packages


A speaker includes a case, a dome, a diaphragm, a first voice coil, a second voice coil, a first pole plate, a second pole plate, a first magnet, a second magnet and a yoke. The case is supported on the frame to form a receiving room therebetween. The yoke includes a bottom portion and a side portion perpendicularly extending upward from the center of the bottom portion. A first magnetic gap is formed between the inner wall of the side portion and the outer wall of the magnet for receiving the first voice coil, and a second magnetic gap is formed between the outer wall of the side portion and the inner wall of the second magnet for receiving the second voice coil.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to the art of speakers and, particularly to a micro-speaker used in an electronic device which is improved the sound output quality thereof and is prevented from being adversely affected due to static electricity.
2. Description of Related Art
With the continuing development of audio and sound technology, micro-speakers have been widely used in electronic devices, such as mobile phones, PDAs (personal digital assistants), and so on.
A conventional micro-speaker includes a case defining a sound hole, a frame attached to the case for forming a chamber therebetween, a diaphragm located in the chamber, a voice coil attached to the diaphragm, a magnet and a circuit board electrically connected to the voice coil. When an oscillating electric current is supplied to the voice coil from the circuit board, a corresponding oscillating magnetic field is generated by the voice coil. The oscillating magnetic field is superimposed onto a magnetostatic field generated by the magnet. This compels the voice coil to vibrate, and the oscillating voice coil drives the diaphragm to push ambient air to generate sound. Furthermore, when a suddenly shaken is supplied to an electronic device embedded with the micro-speaker, this compels the diaphragm to vibrate, thereby the voice coil is driven to oscillate in the magnetostatic field to generate a static electricity. However, in the above process, static electricity is easily generated due to friction between the diaphragm and the ambient air, or the voice coil oscillating in the magnetic field generated by the magnet. The static electricity and the oscillating electric current in the voice coil interfere with each other. Thus, the sound output quality of the micro-speaker may be adversely affected. Even worse, the static electricity may burn out the circuit board and the voice coil electrically with the circuit board.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a micro-speaker which can overcome the above-mentioned problems.

AAC Acoustic Technologies (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.


The present invention is related to a method for reconstruction of the coronary arteries and an examination apparatus for reconstruction of the coronary arteries. To provide improved coronary artery information, an apparatus and a method are provided where a gating signal is provided (32) and a first gated X-ray image sequence of one of the left or right branches of the coronary arteries is acquired (34) with injected contrast agent into the one of the left or right branches of the coronary arteries. Further, a second gated X-ray image sequence of the other branch of the coronary arteries is acquired (36) with injected contrast agent into said other branch. Then, a gated reconstructing (38) of the left and the right coronary artery is suggested and a volume data (40, 42) of the coronary arteries is generated. The volume data of the left and right coronary arteries is registered (44) in relation to time and space. Further; the registered volume data (48, 50) of the left and the right coronary arteries is combined and a combined coronary artery tree volume data set (52) is generated (54). Finally, the combined coronary tree volume data set is visualized (56).

During interventions, for diagnosis purposes, treatment planning or outcome control of an intervention, it is known to visualise the left and right coronary arteries partly surrounding the heart by using X-ray image generating devices of the so-called C-type. The visualisation is usually based on a reconstruction of the coronary arteries by the means of at least two acquired images. For acquisition, the left or the right branch of the coronary arteries (LCA or RCA) are selectively injected with a contrast agent. In other words, images are acquired for the left branch separately from the acquisition of the images of the right branch. Usually the acquisitions are analysed independently for a diagnosis on the whole coronary artery tree. But it has shown that this provides inadequate information to the user, i.e., for example, a surgeon or cardiologist. However, a need may exist to provide comprehensive information about the current coronary artery situation.

Visualization of the coronary artery tree


Magnetic field sensors and sensing methods are provided. A magnetic sensor configured to measure a magnetic field whose magnitude oscillates between a first extrema and a second extrema. The magnetic sensor includes a plurality of magnetic field sensor elements, each configured to generate a sensor signal in response to the magnetic field impinging thereon. The plurality of sensor elements are grouped into a first group from which a first measurement signal is derived and a second group from which a second measurement signal is derived, and the first measurement signal and the second measurement signal having phase difference of 90°. The magnetic sensor further includes a sensor circuit configured to receive the first measurement signal and the second measurement signal, and apply a signal conversion algorithm thereto to generate a converted measurement signal having an increased frequency with respect to the first measurement signal and the second measurement signal.

Today, vehicles feature numerous safety, body and powertrain applications that rely on magnetic position and/or angle sensors. For example, in Electric Power Steering (EPS), magnetic angle sensors and linear Hall sensors can be used to measure steering angle and steering torque. Modern powertrain systems can rely on magnetic speed sensors for camshaft, crankshaft and transmission applications, along with automotive pressure sensors, to achieve required CO2 targets and smart powertrain solutions.
In the field of speed sensing, a sinusoidal signal may be generated by a magnetic sensor in response to a rotation of a target object, such as a wheel, camshaft, crankshaft, or the like. The sinusoidal signal may be translated into pulses, which is further translated into a movement detection or a speed output. Both anti-lock braking system (ABS) applications and transmission applications, for example, have a trend for requiring more pulses per revolution for increased accuracy. In both ABS and transmission applications it is desired that the number of pulses per revolution be increased by a factor 2, 4, or even higher.
In the field of position sensing, in a similar sense, sinusoidal signals may be used to calculate accurate angle information, for example, for steering wheel position sensing. For position sensing, a higher degree of resolution is desired.
Currently, higher accuracy requirements in speed sensing applications may be realized with an increase of number of poles or teeth on a target object. However, the number of poles or teeth on a target object depends on the object diameter and, in general, there is a technical limit to the minimum size of a single pole or tooth. In addition, the higher the number of pole pairs or tooth/notches, the higher the manufacturing costs. Thus, increasing the numbers of poles or teeth relates in a trade of between cost and accuracy. In addition, an increase in the number of poles or teeth may also increase bandwidth requirements.
Therefore, an improved sensing device without increasing the number or poles or teeth of a sensing target may be desirable.

Frequency increasing sensor protocol in magnetic sensing


Environmental stabilizing agents are stored in an adhesive adjoining, directly or indirectly, a film or membrane that requires protection from the environment. Such stabilizing agents include ultra-violet protectors and anti-oxidants. Migration of such environmental stabilizing agents from an adhesive to a film or membrane permits the use of new and different materials for such films and membranes because their method of manufacture no longer needs to accommodate the heat and processing sensitivities of the stabilizing agents.

Image graphics are omnipresent in modern life. Images and data that warn, educate, entertain, advertise, etc. are applied on a variety of interior and exterior, vertical and horizontal surfaces. Nonlimiting examples of image graphics range from advertisements on walls or sides of trucks, to posters that advertise the arrival of a new movie, to warning signs near the edges of stairways.
Image graphics are increasingly made using digital techniques. Among popular digital techniques are electrographic processes and ink jet printing.
Electrographic printing processes can use dry or liquid toners. Electrographic printing processes can employ either (a) electrophotographic printers where the means of imaging consists of applying a latent charged image to a drum, developing this image with a toner and transfering this to paper or film or (b) electrostatic printers where a nib array writes a latent image on a dielectic coated paper or film which then passes a series of toning stations to generate a visible image.
Conventional liquid toner comprises pigmented resin particles, isoparaffinic hydrocarbon carrier liquid (such as Isopar.TM. branded liquid), and charge control agent to effect electrical properties. Although pigment, resin, and charge control agent will each be present in the liquid toner, proper toning of the latent image occurs only when the toner particle is composed of all three components.
Nonlimiting examples of commercial electrostatic printers are multi-pass and single-pass electrostatic printers, such as those marketed by Raster Graphics of Sunnyvale, Calif., the ColorgraiX division of Xerox Corporation of San Jose, Calif., Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company (3M) of St. Paul, Minn., and Nippon Steel Calcomp Corporation of Tokyo, Japan. 3M markets a number of media, toners, and overlaminates under the Scotchprint.TM. brand to be used in electrostatic printing. 3M also markets Graphic Maker Electrostatic Printing software useful in converting digital images from the Internet, ClipArt, or Digital Camera sources into signals to electrostatic printers to print such images.
The use of thermal and piezo ink jet inks have greatly increased in recent years with accelerated development of inexpensive and efficient ink jet printers, ink delivery systems, and the like.
Thermal ink jet hardware is commercially available from a number of multinational companies, including without limitation, Hewlett-Packard Corporation of Palo Alto, Calif., USA; Encad Corporation of San Diego, Calif., USA; Xerox Corporation of Rochester, N.Y., USA; LaserMaster Corporation of Eden Prairie, Minn., USA; and Mimaki Engineering Co., Ltd. of Tokyo, Japan. The number and variety of printers changes rapidly as printer makers are constantly improving their products for consumers. Printers are made both in desk-top size and wide format size depending on the size of the finished image graphic desired. Nonlimiting examples of popular commercial scale thermal ink jet printers are Encad's NovaJet Pro printers and H-P's DesignJet 650C, 750C, 2500CP, and 3500CP printers. Nonlimiting examples of popular desk-top thermal ink jet printers include H-P's DeskJet printers and OfficeJet printers.
3M also markets Graphic Maker Ink Jet software useful in converting digital images from the Internet, ClipArt, or Digital Camera sources into signals to thermal ink jet printers to print such images.
Ink jet inks are also commercially available from a number of multinational companies, particularly 3M which markets its Series 8551; 8552; 8553; and 8554 pigmented ink jet inks. The use of four principal colors: cyan, magenta, yellow, and black permit the formation of as many as 256 colors or more in the digital image.
Media for ink jet printers are also undergoing accelerated development. Because ink jet imaging techniques have become vastly popular in commercial and consumer applications, the ability to use a personal computer to print a color image on paper or other receptor media has extended from dye-based inks to pigment-based inks. And the media must accommodate that change. Pigment-based inks provide more brilliant colors and more durable images because pigment particles are contained in a dispersion before being dispensed using a thermal inkjet print head.
Ink jet printers have come into general use for wide-format electronic printing for applications such as, engineering and architectural drawings. Because of the simplicity of operation and economy of ink jet printers, this image process holds a superior growth potential promise for the printing industry to produce wide-format, image-on-demand, presentation-quality graphics.
Image quality is what the viewing public and paying customers will want and demand to see. From the producer of the image graphic, many other obscure demands are also placed on the ink jet media/ink system, or electrostatic media/toner system, from the print shop. Also, exposure to the environment can place additional demands on the media and ink (depending on the application of the graphic).
Image quality must outlast the intended duration of the image graphic in its placement, i.e., the image graphic must be durable in its intended environment. For example, it is expected that an outdoor image graphic adhered to the side of a tractor trailer must maintain its image quality for as much as seven to ten years, while the trailer travels through all types of inclement and sometimes brutal weather conditions. Often, it is a combination of ultra-violet light, heat, humidity, cold, wind, and other environmental extremes that causes a beautiful image to succumb to these natural elements that cause image fading or other weathering effects. Stabilizing agents (e.g., ultra-violet light absorbers, ultra-violet light stabilizers, antioxidants, heat stabilizers, and a variety of other additives) are often included in receptor media compositions to protect those media and the image on those media from weathering effects. The amount of the stabilizing agent can be limited by the composition or thickness of the film/membrane or solubility/compatibility of the stabilizing agents. This limit may be less than that required for the intended life of the graphic.
Often the image on the graphic is protected by the nature of the receptor media on which the image is printed if the media uses such stabilizing agents, regardless of the printing method described above. But more often, particularly for extremely durable image requirements, clear overlaminates are adhered to, or clear coatings cover, the image graphic.
Overlaminate films or clear coatings (also known as "clears" in the graphics industry) are expensive to produce and are limited in types of materials because of the clarity required for the exposed layer in the final, protected image graphic. Overlaminates and clears need the same environmental protection as the remainder of the graphic and often require more intense protection because of the purpose of the overlaminate or clear to protect and the requirement of continued clarity during image graphic placement for long durations of time.

Method of stabilizing films or membranes using adhesive as a reservoir


There is provided an information processing system including: a plurality of survey markers each including a GNSS reception unit that receives a signal from a GNSS satellite; a first position measurement unit that measures a ground position of at least one survey marker on the basis of the signals received by the plurality of survey markers; and a processing unit that detects the survey marker from a captured image captured by a UAV and including the survey marker, and associates a position of the detected survey marker in the captured image with the ground position.

The present disclosure relates to an information processing system, an information processing device, and an information processing method.
Recent years have seen research on a technology of capturing a plurality of images including survey markers installed on the ground surface from the sky, detecting a survey marker from a captured image obtained by the image capturing, and measuring a ground position (e.g., latitude, longitude, and altitude) of the survey marker in the captured image at the same time, thereby correcting 3D model data created in advance on the basis of the captured image. In the technology, it is important to measure the ground position of the survey marker with higher precision in order to enhance the precision of 3D model data.
Note that JP 2005-263112A discloses a technology of creating, by a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver mounted on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a flight plan to cause the UAV to fly to a desired position. In addition, JP 2002-211494A discloses a UAV flight planning device in which a user records ground positions of endpoints while moving among the endpoints on the perimeter of a flight region of a UAV, and uses the record for flight planning of the UAV. In addition, JP 2006-27331A discloses a technology of correcting a position detection error by a GNSS receiver mounted on a UAV on the basis of a measurement result of a separation distance between the UAV and a ground control point, thereby accurately finding the position of a camera used for aerial photography and improving the precision of 3D model data.

Information processing system, information processing device, and information processing method


Disclosed are methods, systems, and non-transitory computer-readable medium for automatic cross-checking of an electronic checklist. One method may include: receiving a first user and/or system input associated with a graphical user interface (GUI) of the electronic checklist; determining whether the first user and/or system input triggers an error; in response to determining that the first user and/or system input triggers the error, displaying an error message on the GUI; receiving a second user and/or system input; determining whether the second user and/or system input resolves the error; and in response to determining the second user and/or system input resolves the error, removing the error message from the GUI.

Generally, aircraft checklists contain tasks which require users of an aircraft (e.g., flight crew, pilots, maintenance engineers, etc.) to verify the correct performance of actions between an instruction of the aircraft checklist and a component or control of the aircraft (e.g., of a cockpit of the aircraft). However, the users may sometimes commit errors due to the unintentional omission of tasks or perform tasks out of order. For instance, a checklist task may instruct the user to turn the "RH ISOL and LH ISOL buttons OFF," but the user may unintentional only turn off one of the RH ISOL and LH ISOL buttons.
User errors may increase user cognitive workload through increased cognitive demands, increase user time on tasks to complete checklists, and/or cause accidents. Therefore, there is a challenge to inform users when action(s) have been omitted or performed out of order, so as to reduce cognitive workload, reduce user time associated with completion of checklists, and/or avoid accidents.
The present disclosure is directed to overcoming one or more of these above-referenced challenges.

Methods and systems for automatic cross-checking of electronic checklists


A system and method for increasing force density of a valve actuator particularly suited for use in actuation of intake and/or exhaust valves of an internal combustion engine include at least one electromagnet having a coil wound about a core, and an armature fixed to an armature shaft extending axially through the coil and the core, and axially movable relative thereto. The actuator includes a flux generator, such as at least one permanent magnet positioned between the coil and the armature, oriented so that magnetic flux of the generator travels in a direction opposite to magnetic flux produced by the coil through the core during coil energization to reduce saturation of the core, but in the same direction as the magnetic flux produced by the coil through the armature, to increase an attractive force between the armature and the electromagnet, resulting in an actuator with an increased force density.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system and method for electronic valve actuation (EVA) using an electromagnetic actuator having a permanent magnet, particularly for actuation of intake and/or exhaust valves of an internal combustion engine.
2. Background Art
Conventional internal combustion engines use a camshaft to mechanically actuate the intake and exhaust valves of the cylinders or combustion chambers. The fixed valve timing of this arrangement, or limited timing adjustment available for variable cam timing systems limits control flexibility. Electronic valve actuation (EVA) offers greater control authority and can significantly improve engine performance and fuel economy under various operating conditions. Electromagnetic actuators are often used in EVA systems to electrically or electronically open and close the intake and/or exhaust valves.
Electromagnetic actuators may use electromagnets or solenoids to attract an armature attached to the valve stem. In a typical application, two opposing magnetic actuators are used in combination with associated springs to control an armature connected to an engine valve stem. The upper actuator provides the upper force that attracts the armature and holds the valve in the closed position while the lower actuator provides the downward force that attracts the armature and holds the valve in the open position. The upper spring pushes the valve downward after the upper actuator is turned off while the lower spring pushes the valve upward after the lower actuator is turned off. The opening and closing or landing speed of the valve is a function of the spring force and the excitation current of the actuator.
Because of the magnetic property of the materials used for the armature and the core in these actuators, the magnetic flux generated by the current supplied to the actuator saturates the magnetic material after the current exceeds a certain level. As a result, the magnetic force of the actuator increases very little once the current reaches the saturation level. For example, in a typical material used for valve actuators in an internal combustion engine, once saturation of the core and armature is reached, an increase of 300% in the excitation current may result in only a 14% increase in the magnetic force.
For many applications, it is desirable to provide fast, controlled valve actuation to improve engine performance without a significant increase in the power consumption of the actuator, which would adversely affect fuel economy. As such, it is desirable to provide actuators having high force density (force/volume), which leads to faster valve actuation and lower power consumption.
Permanent magnets have been used in combination with electromagnets to provide a holding force and/or to increase the magnetic force of the actuator without significant additional power consumption. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,779,582 and 4,829,947 disclose actuators that have permanent magnets. However, the disclosed constructions having permanent magnets positioned laterally to the outside of the armature of these actuators makes it difficult to control the magnetic flux because the permanent magnets impede the flux produced by the current of the electromagnet. As a result, it may be very difficult to control the armature and valve landing speed, which may result in undesirable noise and/or wear of the valve or valve seat. In addition, the flux through the permanent magnets of these arrangements varies over a wide range as the armature moves. This may lead to undesirable eddy current losses in the permanent magnets. Furthermore, because these actuators are designed to provide a holding force for the armature without any current supplied to the electromagnet, the permanent magnet flux results in a corresponding magnetic force after the current in the coil becomes zero such that the release of the armature from the core is delayed and the power consumption of the actuator is increased.
The present invention provides a valve actuator particularly suited for use in actuation of intake and/or exhaust valves of an internal combustion engine. In one embodiment, the actuator includes at least one electromagnet having a coil wound about a core, and an armature fixed to an armature shaft extending axially through the coil and the core, and axially movable relative thereto. The actuator includes at least one permanent magnet positioned between the coil and the armature. The permanent magnet(s) is/are preferably oriented so that magnetic flux of the permanent magnet(s) travels in a direction opposite to magnetic flux generated by the coil through the core to reduce saturation of the core, but in the same direction as the magnetic flux generated by the coil through the armature, to increase an attractive force between the armature and the electromagnet. The actuator may also include a valve that functions as an intake or exhaust valve for an internal combustion engine. The valve includes a valve stem operatively associated with the armature shaft for axial movement therewith. At least one spring is associated with the valve stem or armature shaft to overcome the magnetic attractive force of the permanent magnet and move the armature away from the electromagnet when the electromagnet coil is de-energized. In a typical application, upper and lower electromagnets and springs are provided to open and close the intake/exhaust valve in response to energization of the corresponding upper (close) and lower (open) electromagnet coils.
Alternative embodiments of the present invention include an E-core actuator having a generally oval coil and two rectangular permanent magnets positioned between the coil and the armature, and a pod-core actuator having a generally circular coil and a single annular permanent magnet positioned between the coil and the armature.
The present invention provides a number of advantages. For example, actuators incorporating the present invention have the same flux controllability of conventional actuators because the permanent magnets do not block the flux produced by the current in the coil. As such, the present invention allows acceptable control of the armature speed. The construction of the present invention positions the permanent magnets so the majority of the associated flux travels through the core such that it does not vary significantly as the armature moves. Therefore, the eddy current losses in the permanent magnets are much lower than that of the previous actuators utilizing permanent magnets. Additionally, because most of the permanent magnet flux travels through the core and not to the armature, the magnetic force produced by the permanent magnet flux is very small. Therefore, the armature can be released with little delay and without higher power consumption compared to the conventional actuators.
Positioning of one or more permanent magnets according to the present invention allows the associated flux to travel against the flux produced by the coil in the core, while traveling with the flux produced by the coil in the air gap and through the armature. This reduces saturation of the core while increasing the attractive force of the armature such that the overall magnetic force produced by actuators according to the present invention is significantly higher for the same level of current relative to previous constructions. This increased force production capability can be used to decrease the transition time of the actuator through the use of stiffer springs to provide faster valve actuation, which improves the engine performance, and lower power consumption, which improves the engine fuel economy. Alternatively, the higher force density (force/volume) actuators according to the present invention allow a reduced size/weight actuator.
The above advantages and other advantages, objects, and features of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Electromagnetic actuator with permanent magnet


An output distortion correction amplifier system includes an input stage; a current mirror connected to the input stage; an output stage having its input connected to the input stage and a current mirror and its output connected to the input stage; a compensation impedance connected to the input of the output stage; and a distortion correction circuit for directly sensing the distortion voltage across the output stage and providing to the current mirror a current representative of the distortion voltage for delivering to the compensation impedance a correction current to develop a correction voltage at the input of the output stage to nullify the effect of the distortion voltage.

This invention relates to an output distortion correction amplifier system.
Voltage feedback amplifier systems typically employ a differential transconductance input stage including a current mirror to drive an output stage which drives a load. The output of the output stage is fed back to the inverting input of the input stage. A compensation capacitor is connected to the high impedance node at the input to the output stage. These amplifier systems work well, drawing little current at their inverting and non-inverting inputs yet supplying at the output stage significant current to drive a load. One problem with these amplifier options is that the output stage is non-linear and introduces distortion due to transistor xcex94Vbe. To combat this problem, in one approach, an internal distortion correction network is introduced between the output of the output stage and the current mirror and input stage, U.S. Pat. No. 5,166,637. This approach adds a buffer stage between the high impedance node and the current mirror, a capacitor between the current mirror and the output of the output stage and also adds a current source in series with the current mirror. This added current source supplies a fixed amount of current. Thus, in systems where the signal can vary widely requiring a wide range of current, this current source can limit the operation and application of the system and limit the voltage headroom. Another issue with that approach is that the error voltage is sensed not directly across the output stage but indirectly using another buffer amplifier and current source.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved output distortion correction amplifier system.
It is a further object of this invention to provide such an improved output distortion correction amplifier system compatible with voltage feedback amplifiers, or any others that have an output buffer that may introduce xcex94vbe distortion.
It is a further object of this invention to provide such an improved output distortion correction amplifier system which is simple and effective, and does not require adding a current source in series with the current mirror where it would limit the current range and voltage headroom.
It is a further object of this invention to provide such an improved output distortion correction amplifier system which corrects for the distortion locally at the output stage where it occurs and does not interfere with the input stage.
It is a further object of this invention to provide such an improved output distortion correction amplifier system which directly senses the distortion voltage across the output stage.
This invention results from the realization that a simple, more effective distortion correction amplifier system for any amplifier that may experience xcex94Vbe distortion in the output stage can be achieved without added current sources in series with the current mirror and without limiting voltage headroom by sensing the distortion voltage locally, directly across the output stage, generating a current representative of that distortion voltage and providing it to a current mirror associated with the input stage for delivering to the compensation impedance a correction current to develop a correction voltage at the input of the output stage to locally nullify the effect of the distortion voltage without interfering with the input stage.
This invention features an output distortion correction amplifier system including an input stage, a current mirror connected to the input stage, and an output stage having its input connected to the input stage and current mirror and its output connected to the input stage. A compensation impedance is connected to the input of the output stage. A distortion correction circuit directly senses a distortion voltage across the output stage and provides to the current mirror a current representative of the distortion voltage for delivering to the compensation impedance a correction current to develop a correction voltage at the input of the output stage to nullify the effect of the distortion voltage.
In a preferred embodiment, the compensation impedance may include a capacitor. The distortion correction circuit may include at least one buffer amplifier and a nullifying impedance. The nullifying impedance may include a capacitor. The nullifying impedance may be proportional to the compensation impedance and the ratio of the current representative of the distortion voltage to the correction current. The distortion correction circuit may include two-buffer amplifiers with their low impedance outputs connected to the nullifying impedance. The two buffer amplifiers may have their inputs connected across the output stage, and their high impedance outputs connected to the current mirror.

Output distortion correction amplifier system


Described herein are methods for treating interstitial cystitis in a subject comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a compound which is                a modified hyaluronan or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof, wherein said hyaluronan or its pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester comprises at least one sulfate group and the primary C-6 hydroxyl proton of at least one N-acetyl-glucosamine residue is substituted with an unsubstituted alkyl group or fluoroalkyl group.

Urological inflammation is significant health concern for many individuals. For example, neurogenic bladder (NGB) disease can result from excess inflammation that leads to subsequent fibrosis of the urinary bladder. In children, many congenital diseases result in NGB disease, including posterior urethral valves, bladder/cloacal exstrophy, and myelomeningocele (MMC)/Spina Bifida. NGB disease still remains one of the most common causes of renal failure and renal transplantation in children. These processes in children share overlap in adults, in whom chronic inflammatory bladder disorders such as interstitial cystitis (IC), results in significant pelvic pain and debilitating urinary symptoms. More than 4 million people in the United States have IC, with the bulk involving primarily women. The underlying physiology is based on inflammation, but the exact etiology remains elusive. Recently, the cost and disease burden associated with IC was analyzed by the Urologic Diseases in America Project and found to exceed $750 million dollars annually. Presently, the treatment of this condition has been suboptimal because of its uncertain cause and pathogenesis. A fundamental lack of understanding of the inflammatory cascades that perpetuate the disease process has resulted in a paucity of therapeutic options.
Painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis (PBS/IC) is an indolent bladder disorder that has continued to be a debilitating disease with few truly effective treatment options.1-4 Affecting primarily women, PBS/IC is a chronic disease characterized by urinary frequency, bladder pain, nocturia, urgency, and pelvic pain. While the underlying physiology is based on inflammation, the disease etiology is multifactorial;4 contributing mechanisms include deficiencies in the GAG layer and mast cell-mediated neuroinflammation.5 In 1997, PBS/IC was estimated to affect approximately 1 million people in the United States;6 more recent estimates range from 0.1%-1% of all women.2 Recently, the cost and disease burden associated with PBS/IC was analyzed by the Urologic Diseases in America Project and found to exceed $750 million dollars annually.7
Two anti-inflammatory sulfated polysaccharides are currently available medical therapeutics, but neither is particularly effective. First, heparin is administered intravesically, but off-target effects, expense, and modest efficacy limit its regular usage.8-10 Second, oral Elmiron (pentosan polysulfate), alleged to replenish the GAG layer, has a long lead time for onset of efficacy, is only effective in <50% of women, is poorly bioavailable (<6% of ingested) to the bladder, and has many undesirable off-target effects.11, 12 Two other treatments include intravesical instillation of Cystistat13 (unmodified 0.04% hyaluronic acid, HA), and CystoProtek,14, 15 or 0.2% chondroitin sulfate. Options for management of PBS/IC include oral hydroxyzine, quercetin, amitriptyline, gabapentin, and narcotics; intravesical DMSO, resiniferatoxin and botox have also been used, as well as combination therapies.2-4 Reviews of therapeutic options agree that more effective treatments are needed.2, 3
In order for the bladder to store urine it must be compliant (pliable). This means it is imperative to hold variable volumes of urine at low pressures. Failure results in elevated bladder pressure, transmitting urine to the kidney resulting in glomerular injury, renal parenchymal fibrosis and renal failure. Excess deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) within the bladder wall is the main mechanism for loss of bladder wall pliability. This fibrosis can result from multiple mechanisms, one of which includes chronic inflammation. In response, bladder fibrosis is part of a wound healing process with accumulation of ECM proteins (collagen types I and III). Also, during chronic tissue inflammation, damage to fibroblasts and myofibroblasts activates cell proliferation, motility, contractility, and ECM synthesis. The final result is fibrosis, loss of compliance, and bladder dysfunction.
Other conventionally accepted treatments of inflammation may involve UV phototherapy, corticosteroids and glucocorticoids, acitretin, cyclosporine, and methotrexate. However, each of these treatments may cause serious side effects ranging from immune suppression and liver disease to thinning skin and causing birth defects. Due to partial or complete ineffectiveness, these treatments often leave patients unsatisfied with their results.
As indicated above, heparin treatment has also been experimentally explored. Heparin, a sulfated polysaccharide, has traditionally been used almost exclusively as an anti-coagulant, but its anti-inflammatory properties are well known. Heparin and its derivatives have shown some promise in treating these inflammatory diseases. Particularly heparin and its derivatives disrupt at least three important events in inflammatory cascades. First, heparin attaches to and blocks the leukocyte integrins P- and L-selectin. Second, heparin and its derivatives reduce the inflammatory cascade by binding to and inhibiting the cationic PMN protease human leukocyte elastase and cathepsin G, which reduces proteolytic tissue injury by PMNs that escape the first heparin barrier of selectin inhibition. Third, heparin and its derivatives potentially inhibit the interaction of the receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) with its ligands.
Although heparin and its derivatives have shown promise in treating inflammation, treatment with heparin and its derivatives exhibits several major drawbacks. First, heparin and its derivatives are porcine-derived; thus leading to concerns of cross-species transfer of viruses. Second, because of heparin's anticoagulant properties, diabetics treated with this compound are at risk of excessive bleeding. Third, heparin may induce thrombocytopenia in certain individuals who produce an antibody to the complex of heparin with the cationic protein platelet factor-4 (PF-4), resulting in catastrophic platelet aggregation and generalized paradoxical arterial and venous clotting. Thus, an important unmet need is to formulate compounds which may be used to treat urological inflammation while avoiding the myriad of side effects seen in other treatments.

Methods for treating interstitial cystitis