The error determination section determines whether or not an acceleration data set has been received properly with no error. Received data memories store a plurality of the received acceleration data sets. Collision judgment control unit judges a possibility of a collision on the basis of a latest error-free proper data of the received acceleration data sets stored in the received data memories. Further, in case of occurrence of a data deficiency, an error-free proper data set is constantly stored in memory.

The present invention relates generally to collision judging systems, and more specifically to an improved collision judging system which is particularly suitable for use with, for example, a hood actuating apparatus of a vehicle to protect pedestrians.
Among examples of the conventional collision judging systems is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-80545, which is used with a hood actuating apparatus of a vehicle. FIG. 10 hereof schematically shows the disclosed collision judging system, which includes a vehicle speed sensor 101 for detecting a traveling speed of the vehicle 100, at least one acceleration sensor 103 for detecting acceleration produced by an external force acting on a bumper 102 from ahead of the vehicle 100, a deformation rate calculation section 104 for calculating a deformation rate of the bumper 102 on the basis of the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor 103, and a smoothing section 105. The disclosed collision judging system also includes a vehicle-speed-vs-threshold map 106 for varying a threshold value of the bumper deformation rate in accordance with the detected vehicle speed, a hood actuator 108 for flipping up the hood 109 by a predetermined amount, and a control section 107 for controlling the operation of the hood actuator 108. Once the calculated bumper deformation rate exceeds a predetermined threshold value while the vehicle speed detected by the speed sensor 101 is over a predetermined speed value, the control section 107 determines that the vehicle 100 hits a certain external object (e.g., a pedestrian) M considered to be one of predetermined external objects to be protected from a collision against the vehicle, and then it causes the hood actuator 108 to flip up the hood 109. Thus flipping up the hood 109 via the hood actuator 108 can significantly lessen an impact when the external object M collides against the hood 109.
In such a collision judging system, the acceleration sensor 103 is provided at a front end of the vehicle, while the control section 107, which receives acceleration data and makes a collision judgment, is provided within a vehicle compartment because the control section 107 is in the form of a high-precision electronic control unit (ECU) to be installed in a good operating environment. Therefore, the acceleration sensor 103 has to be connected to the control section 107 via a relatively long signal transmission path; the relatively long signal transmission path would lead to a higher possibility that unwanted electrical noises, such as electromagnetic wave and static electricity, are introduced in the acceleration data transmitted from the acceleration sensor 103 to the control section 107. The electrical noises sometimes prevent the acceleration data from being properly received by the control section 107. As one measure to cope with such electric noises, it has been known to interconnect the acceleration sensor 103 and control section 107 via a serial communication line and use a particular data format, where a check code, such as a parity bit, is inserted before or behind the acceleration data indicative of the sensor-detected acceleration, to permit reliable determination as to whether the acceleration data set has been properly received by the control section 107; this anti-noise measure may more or less contribute to improved communication reliability.
However, with the above-discussed conventional collision judging technique, the acceleration data having been prevented from being properly received by the control section 107 is not used at all in the collision judgment, i.e. no collision judgment is made at all with respect to the acceleration data received improperly during a vehicle collision, and the collision judgment is made only on the basis of subsequent acceleration data properly received by the control section 107. As a consequence, the convention collision judging technique would present very poor collision judging performance. Further, the collision judgment tends to be made intermittently due to the improper reception of the acceleration data, which would also lead to poor collision judging performance
In view of the foregoing prior art problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved collision judging system which achieves enhanced collision judging performance by allowing acceleration data to be successively input to a control section so that the control section can make collision judgment with no unwanted intermission and achieves enhanced collision judging performance.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a collision judging system which comprises: a sensor unit that includes: an acceleration sensor for detecting acceleration; a data conversion section for converting the acceleration, detected by the acceleration sensor, into an acceleration data set including a check code; and a transmission section for transmitting the acceleration data set converted by the data conversion section; a received data control unit that includes: a reception section for receiving the acceleration data set transmitted from the transmission section of the sensor unit; an error (e.g., data deficiency or shortage) determination section for determining, with reference to the check code included in the acceleration data set, whether or not the acceleration data set has been received properly from the transmission section via the reception section, and outputting the received acceleration data set as a proper data set when it is determined that the acceleration data set has been received properly with no error involved but as an erroneous data set when it is determined that the acceleration data set has not been received properly; and a first storage section for storing a plurality of the acceleration data sets output by the error (data deficiency) determination section; and a collision judgment control unit for making a collision judgment on the basis of a latest proper data set of the plurality of the acceleration data sets stored in the first storage section.
In the collision judging system of the present invention, acceleration values detected successively by the acceleration sensor are each converted into an acceleration data set including a check code, and then the received data control unit determines, on the basis of the check code, whether or not the acceleration data set has been received properly with no error. Each acceleration data set determined as having been received properly is classified as an error-free normal or proper acceleration data set while each acceleration data set determined as not having been received properly is classified as an erroneous acceleration data set, and a predetermined plurality of these classified acceleration data sets are stored in the first storage section. With such arrangements, the present invention can significantly enhance the reliability of data communication between the sensor unit and a controller unit (e.g., an ECU: Electronic Control Unit). Further, because a plurality of the acceleration data sets received in succession are stored in advance for each collision judgment and the collision judgment is made on the basis of the latest proper data set of the stored acceleration data sets, the present invention can make the collision judgment successively with no interruption or intermission.
The collision judgment control unit may include a second storage section for storing the latest proper data set of the plurality of the acceleration data sets stored in the first storage section. When the collision judgment control unit has made an error determination that all of the plurality of the acceleration data sets stored in the first storage section are erroneous data sets, the collision judgment control unit may make the collision judgment on the basis of the proper data set stored in the second storage section. In this embodiment, when the collision judgment control unit has determined, with reference to the received acceleration data sets stored in the first storage section, that all of the acceleration data sets having been received for a predetermined time period up to a current time point are erroneous data sets, it judges that some data deficiencies have occurred in the received data sets, in which case it makes the collision judgment on the on the basis of the proper data set stored in the second storage section. With such arrangements, even when the received data sets have been determined as erroneous data sets in succession, the present invention can make the collision judgment successively with no interruption and can reliably prevent deterioration of the collision judging performance.
The collision judgment control unit may further include a compensating-value calculation section for calculating a predetermined compensating value on the basis of the proper data set stored in the second storage section, a post-determination proper data set input after termination of the error (data deficiency) determination and the number of times the error determination has been made. In this case, when the post-determination proper data set is input immediately after the error determination has been made by the collision judgment control unit at least once, the collision judgment control unit uses, in the collision judgment, a value obtained by adding the compensating value to an acceleration value represented by the post-determination proper data set. Namely, because, in this case, the collision judgment control unit calculates a compensating value on the basis of the proper data set stored in the second storage section, the post-determination proper data set input after termination of the error determination and the number of times the error determination has been made and then makes the collision judgment using the thus-calculated compensating value, it is possible to minimize the deterioration of the collision judging performance.
Preferably, the compensating-value calculation section calculates the compensating value in accordance with a mathematical expression of (Bxe2x88x92A)N/2, where A represents the proper data set stored in the second storage section, B represents the post-determination proper data set, and N represents the number of times the error determination has been made.
Preferably, the collision judgment control unit includes a detected data output section for outputting, as a detected acceleration data set, the latest proper data set of the plurality of the received acceleration data sets stored in the first storage section, a collision-judging-value calculation section for adding respective acceleration values represented by a plurality of the detected acceleration data sets output from the detected data output section and thereby outputting, as a collision judging value, a resultant sum of the acceleration values represented by the detected acceleration data sets, and a comparison section for comparing the collision judging value to a preset collision-judging threshold value. Because, in this case, the acceleration values represented by the detected acceleration data sets output from the detected data output section are added together to calculate the collision judging value and the collision judgment is made by comparing the thus-calculated collision judging value to the preset collision-judging threshold value, the present invention can make the collision judgment with enhanced reliability.
In one embodiment, the second storage section of the collision judgment control unit stores the detected acceleration data set. In this case, when the detected data output section has made an error determination that all of the plurality of the acceleration data sets stored in the first storage section are erroneous data sets, i.e. have data deficiencies, the collision-judging-value calculation section uses, as substitute data, the detected acceleration data set stored in the second storage section to calculate a collision judging value; here, the collision judging value is calculated by adding together the respective acceleration values represented by a plurality of the detected acceleration data sets including the substitute data. With the arrangement that, when it is determined that some data deficiencies have occurred in the acceleration data sets stored in the first storage section, the collision-judging-value calculation section calculates the collision judging value is calculated by adding together the respective acceleration values represented by a plurality of the detected acceleration data sets including the detected acceleration data set stored in the second storage section, the present invention can prevent deterioration of the collision judging performance.
The collision-judging-value calculation section may further include a compensating-value calculation section for calculating a predetermined compensating value on the basis of the detected acceleration data set stored in the second storage section, an post-determination detected acceleration data set input after termination of the error determination and the number of times the error determination has been made. In this case, when the post-determination detected acceleration data set is input immediately after the error determination has been made by the collision judgment control unit at least once, the collision judgment control unit outputs the collision judging value calculated by adding respective acceleration values represented by a plurality of the detected acceleration data sets that include an acceleration value obtained by adding the compensating value to the acceleration value represented by the post-determination detected acceleration data set. By thus using the compensating value when a proper data set has been input after a plurality of data deficiencies occurred in succession, the present invention can prevent deterioration of the collision judging performance with further enhanced reliability.
The compensating-value calculation section may calculate the compensating value in accordance with a mathematical expression of (Bxe2x88x92A)N/2, where A represents the detected acceleration data set stored in the second storage section, B represents the post-determination detected acceleration data set, and N represents the number of times the error determination has been made.
Preferably, the reception section receives an acceleration data set from the transmission section in each predetermined reception cycle, and the detected data output section outputs, as the detected acceleration data set, the latest proper data set of the plurality of the received acceleration data sets stored in the first storage section, in each operating cycle set to an integral multiple of the predetermined reception cycle.
Further, in the collision judging system of the invention, the sensor unit is suitably provided on a deformable member in a front end portion of a vehicle, so as to judge a possibility of a collision with a certain external object at the front of the vehicle. The sensor unit may also be provided in left and right sides of the vehicle.


A power converter constituted of: a control circuitry; an electronically controlled switch responsive to the control circuitry; a power transformer exhibiting a primary winding and a secondary winding; a sense transformer comprising a primary current sense winding, an error current sense winding and a feedback winding, the primary current sense winding of the sense transformer and the primary winding of the power transformer coupled in series with the electronically controlled switch; a transconductance error amplifier coupled to an output of the secondary winding of the power transformer, the transconductance amplifier arranged to drive a current through the error current sense winding of the sense transformer whose value reflects an electrical characteristic of the output of the secondary winding of the power transformer, wherein the feedback winding of the sense transformer is coupled to a feedback input of the control circuitry.

Isolated power supplies, particularly primary side switched power supplies, typically required feedback of a metric of an electrical characteristic from a secondary side to a primary side. The electrical characteristic may be an output voltage, an output voltage error, an output current or an output current error without limitation. Feedback of an output electrical characteristic according to the prior art may be accomplished by any of a plurality of methods. In a first method, known as a coupled winding feedback, the secondary side electrical characteristic is reflected to the primary side by the turns ratio of the power transformer. In case where high voltage isolation is required, the coupled winding feedback presents a conflict between the need for close coupling, required for feedback, and the need for high isolation voltage. In a second method, a feedback or bias winding is added to the power transformer, the feedback or bias winding voltage reflecting the secondary side electrical characteristic to be controlled. Close coupling between the feedback or bias winding and the secondary winding is required, and in high power cases cross-regulation limits the load-regulation range. Thus, neither of the above solutions is suitable for high power, high voltage situations.
In a third method an opto-isolator or transformer coupler feedback is provided to pass information regarding the electrical characteristic metric from the secondary side to the primary side. Opto-isolators waste energy, and in addition their transfer characteristics vary, inter-alia, with age and temperature. Transformer coupled feedback is stable, however requires additional modulating and demodulating circuitry since transformers are unable to pass DC voltage or current in the absence of additional circuitry.
What is desired, and is not provided by the prior art, is a method of providing feedback of an electrical characteristic from a secondary side to a primary side, suitable for use with high voltage and high loads without requiring an additional transformer with associated electronics.

Feedback of output voltage error via current sense winding


An image-receiving sheet, including a sheet substrate, an image-receiving layer which is formed on said substrate and which receives the dye migrated by heating from a heat transfer sheet and a release layer formed on said image-receiving layer, characterized in that said release layer is formed with a releasable resin having a molecular weight of 3500 to 20000.

This invention relates to an image-receiving sheet having excellent releasability.
An image-receiving sheet is superposed on a heat transfer sheet having a heat transfer layer during heat transfer recording, and when heat corresponding to the image information is applied from the heat transfer sheet side by a heating means such as a thermal head, there has been the problem that releasability from the heat transfer sheet is impaired for such reason as the occurrence of thermal fusion between the heat transfer layer and the image-receiving sheet.
For this reason, the image-receiving sheet of the prior art, for ensuring good releasability from the heat transfer sheet during heat transfer recording, for example, had an image receiving layer formed with a release agent generally incorporated in the resin for formation of the image-receiving layer. This imparted releasability to the image-receiving sheet by permitting the release agent to bleed onto the surface side of the image-receiving layer after coating of a resin composition for formation of the image-receiving layer containing the release agent, thereby consequently forming the release agent layer on the surface of the image-receiving layer.
However, since the release agent used for formation of the release agent layer as described above comprises a resin having a molecular weight of less than 3500, although compatibility with the resin for formation of the image-receiving layer may be relatively good, a long time and high temperature heating treatment is required for formation of a release layer by permitting the release agent to bleed sufficiently onto the surfacer and yet the bled state of the release agent layer may sometimes be insufficient, therefore making the release effect of the mold release agent layer still insufficient.


In a file management system a plurality of information processing devices are provided with files of tree structure. The information processing devices are linked through a communication line and dispersed files are utilized by a plurality of users in common. Each of the users can construct his own file without having any influence on the others. A table is provided including a column indicating the relation of links for the case where an arbitrary branch of a tree structure, included within at least one information processing device, is linked with a part of files included within another information device and a column specifying groups, for which the relation of links is valid. Linking is only permitted for access demands from members belonging to the group for which the relation of links is indicated as valid, to the part of the files of the other information processing device.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a file management system and more in detail to a file management system, in which a plurality of workstations, each of which includes a respective file, are linked through a network, and which is suitable for a plurality of users to share distributed files.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A file management system, which enables a plurality of users to share files distributedly stored in a plurality of memory devices, is disclosed e.g. in USENIX 1986, Conference Proceedings, pp. 248-259.
FIG. 4A and 4B illustrate the concept of file sharing according to the prior art. In FIG. 4A reference numerals 1a and 1b represent the structure of files stored in disk devices on different workstations, node 1 and node 2. Each workstation independently manages its local files in the tree structure form, and each structure of files 1a and 1b is equivalent to what is viewed by users at each workstation when each workstation is used as a stand-alone system. For example, a user at the node 1 views "A0", called a root file, at the root position of the file structure, and three files "A1","A2" and "A3" under "A0". These files are divided into two category files. The content of the directory file is the information to point other files and to construct tree structure. "A0", "B0", "B1" and "B2" in FIG. 4A are examples of directory files. All files at leaf positions of tree structure are not files in the other category except said directory files. Since there exists a directory file which points no file at present, the directory file may appear at leaf positions of tree structure. "A1" and "A3" in FIG. 4A are the examples.
Files which are not directory files are in the other category. Generally these files are called "ordinary files". They always appear at leaf positions of tree structure. In FIG. 4A "A2", "B11", "B12", "B13", "B21" and "B22" are the examples. Each of the files contains data base data, or some object program. Arbitrary types of data may be stored in the files. An user can read or write the files and if they contain object programs he can also execute the files. There also exits a special file which corresponds to a real device. For example, read or write request to a special file corresponding to a terminal is treated as getting an input from a keyboard or displaying image on a screen respectively.
A method for managing local files in each workstation is disclosed, e.g., in Communications of the ACM, Vol. 17, pp. 365-375, July 1974. FIG. 5 shows the method by using the example of the node 1 in FIG. 4A. To manage local files, file control information 20a, directory information 21a and file body 22a are stored in the local memory device 6a. File control information 20a is a set of file control tables (30a, 30b, . . . ) corresponding to each file. Each file control table 30a consists of following fields:
file type, owner, protection, file size and address etc. PA1 1. the original file indicated by the matches entry; and PA1 2. the remaining path name of the specified file which is not processed by the management program 90a.
The file type field 31a corresponding to the file "A0" indicates "directory", and the file type field 31b corresponding to the file "A2" indicates "normal (ordinary)". Each data in address fields 32a and 32b indicates each address on the local memory device in which the content of each the file resides. For example, data on address field 32 b indicates that the content of the file "A2" resides in the area 40 in the file body area 22a.
Directory information 21a is the content of directory files. Reference numeral 40a shows the content of the directory file "A0". As stated above, a directory file contains the information for each file which is pointed by the directory file. Each information indicates what a name of the pointed file is and where a file control table for the pointed file is. In this example directory file "A0" contains the information for "A1", "A2" and "A3". Directory information 21a is distinguished from the file body 22a in this figure, but it does not mean that directory information and file body are physically separated.
Using the above method users can access any local file in each workstation by specifying a path from the root file to it on the tree structure. For example, the file "A2" (in FIG. 4A) can be specified with "A0/A2" from a user at the node 1. Omitting "A0" and specifying only "A2" is allowable in this example. A file control table for the root file "A0" is located at the predetermined position and an operating system can trace the specified path by reference file control tables and the contents of directory files corresponding to the path.
The above method enables users only to access local files stored in a workstation that the users are using, and the users cannot access remote files in another workstation. The reference numeral 3a in FIG. 4A represents a file link to extend the local file structure in node 1 to the structure including remote files in the node 2. The file link 3a links a subtree 2a, headed by a directory file "B2" in the structure of files 1b in node 2, to a branch "A1" in the structure of files 1a in the node 1. With this file link 3a, the file structure viewed from users at the node 1 becomes a new shape in which the subtree 2a is virtually attached under the directory file "A1" as shown in FIG. 4B. In other words, the file link 3a has an effect that a user can directly access to the file "B2" in the node 2. Therefore, users at the node 1 can specify and access the files "B2" and "B21" in the subtree 2a with names "A1" and "A1/B21" respectively.
FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the file link. Before a file link is done, definitions of linkable subtrees are made at the workstation in which the subtrees reside. When a user program 12b makes a request of linkable subtree definition by specifying the head file of the subtree, for example, "B2" in FIG. 4A, the file system management program 90b searches the specified head file by referring file control information 20b and directory information 21h, and set the linkable subtree information to a management table. The management table 70 has columns to indicate a linkable subtree, accessibility to the subtree, etc. For example, the information of pointing to a file control table for the specified head file is registered in the column 71 to specify the linkable subtree.
Subtrees defined the above procedure are linkable from other workstations. For example, when a user program 12a at the node 1 makes a file link request, as shown in FIG. 4A, the file system management program 90a searches a destination file "A1" by referring file control information 20a and directory information 21a, and if found, sends a message to the file system management program 90a that a subtree headed by "B2" is requested to be linked, and waits for the answer from the file management program 90b. When the management program 90b receives the message, it checks the management table 70 and sends back the answer to the management program 90a, whether the request is granted or not. Receiving the answer, the management program 90a sets the file link information to a management table 60 if the request is granted, and answers the result to the user program 12a. The management table 60 has a column 61 for storing information indicating a destination file in the workstation, a column 62 for storing information indicating an original file to be linked in another workstation and a column 63 for storing information indicating the accessibility, etc. As for the column 61, for example, the information pointing to a file control table for a for a destination is used. As for the column 62, the information indicating a workstation in which an original file resides should be included as well as the information pointing a file control table for the file.
After the file link has been done, a file access request from a user program is treated as follows. When a user program 12a specified a file to be accessed, the file system management program 90a searches along the file tree structure by tracing a path name of the file one by one from a root file "A0". At each point of the tree, the management program 90a refers the management table 60 first. If there is no entry indicating said accessed file in link destination column 61 at the position that the management program 90a is currently processing, the management program 90a advances next position in the tree structure by referring file control information 20a and directory information 21a. If there is an entry indicating said accessed file, the management program 90a sends a file access message to a file system management program in another workstation in which the subtree indicated by an original file column of the matched entry resides, and waits for the answer. The file access message includes the following information:
When a file system management program in the another workstation receives the file access message, it searches the requested file from the position of the specified original file with the remaining path name passed by the message, and sends the answer. The algorithm of management program in the another workstation is the same as that in the management program 90a. When the answer is received, the management program 90a returns the result to the user program 12a. For example, when the user program 12a makes a file access request of "A2", the request is locally processed by the management program 90a. When the user program 12a makes a file access request of "A1/B21", however, the management program 90a finds at the position of "A1" that a file access message should be sent to a management program 90b. The message that the original file is "B2" and that the remaining path name is "B21". Receiving the message, the management program 90b starts accessing "B21" through "B2", and sends back the answer when the file management program 90b finds file "B21". In the above explanation, a user program which accesses a remote file by using the file link is the same program, but they may be different programs.
According to the conventional system described above, there is a problem that the extension of the file structure by the link of file structures has influence on all the users utilizing the same workstation. For example, in the case where a plurality of users utilize a workstation, if one of them effects the extension of the file structure, the file structure viewed from the other users varies without their knowing it. Further, in the case where a plurality of users utilize successively a workstation, if a preceding user has extended the file structure and leaves it as it is, this gives rise to a problem that the succeeding user utilizes the extended file.

File management system for permitting user access to files in a distributed file system based on linkage relation information


A recording medium enabling formation of an image on any desired material is disclosed. The recording medium comprises a base sheet, a thermoplastic resin layer formed on at least one side of the base sheet, and a color developer layer formed on the thermoplastic resin layer and capable of color development by reaction with a dye precursor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image recording medium having a layer of color developer capable of color development by the reaction with a dye precursor encapsulated in microcapsules upon press development.
2. Description of Related Art
Photosensitive pressure-sensitive recording media have been known, such as: a self-contained type recording medium comprising a support having on the surface thereof microcapsules encapsulating a photocurable resin, a photopolymerization initiator and a dye precursor as main components, and a substance capable of color development (a so-called "color developer") by reacting with the dye precursor; and a separate-sheet type recording medium composed of a photosensitive sheet coated with photocurable microcapsules as described above and another separate sheet coated with a color developer (color developer sheet), as described, for example, in Japanese Patent Application (OPI) Nos. 23025/83, 88739/83 and 88740/83. (The term "OPI" means unexamined, published application).
These recording media utilize the property of microcapsules that become cured upon light-exposure due to the photocurable resin, etc. encapsulated therein. Such a recording medium is mounted on a device which effects the steps involving exposing the microcapsules to light in conformity with image information and rupturing unexposed and uncured microcapsules to bring the dye precursor encapsulated therein in contact with the color developer which is provided on the same surface of the recording medium or coated on another sheet, whereby a color-forming reaction occurs between the dye precursor and the color developer to form an image.
However, in the above-described systems, recording can only be effected on the specifically processed sheets, i.e., the photosensitive pressure-sensitive sheet or the color developer sheet but not on ordinary paper or other substrates such as cloth, PET film, etc.
A recording medium for solving the above problems is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application (OPI) No. 36482/89 which corresponds to U.S. patent application No. 07/184,096. This recording medium has a color developer medium which includes a base sheet made of polyethylene terephthalate, a color developer layer formed on the base sheet, and a thermoplastic resin layer formed on the color developer layer.
The manner of forming an image on ordinary paper is described with reference to the color developer medium. Initially, the ordinary paper and the thermoplastic resin layer of the color developer medium are superposed and heated, thereby causing the ordinary paper and the color developer to be bonded together. Subsequently, the base sheet of the color developer medium is removed thus forming a color developer layer on the surface of the ordinary paper. A photosensitive sheet which has been exposed to light in conformity with an image of an original and the color developer layer on the ordinary paper are then superposed and pressed by means of a press-developing device. By such pressing, uncured microcapsules on the photosensitive sheet are ruptured whereupon a dye precursor and the color developer react with each other, thereby forming an image conforming to the image of the original on the ordinary paper.
However, there are some materials on which no image can be formed when using the above color developer medium. More particularly, the above-described developer medium requires a pressing force exerted from the press-developing device as high as about 600 kg/cm.sup.2. The application of such a high pressure will break or deform certain kinds of materials such as glass, hard plastics and the like. Thus, no image can be formed on these types of materials with the above-described process. It is not possible to form clear images on some materials such as cloth which are not flat and are stretchable because a pressing force from the press-developing device cannot be uniformly applied.

Image recording medium comprising a color developer layer formed on a thermoplastic resin layer


Provided herein are chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) comprising an antigen binding domain (e.g., CD19, CD30, GD2, etc.), transmembrane domain (e.g., CD28), and a cytoplasmic domain (e.g., CD27, 4-1BB, etc.). In some aspects, the disclosure relates to use of the CARs in T cells, compositions, kits and methods.

Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CARs) are engineered T cell receptors displaying specificity against target antigens based on a single chain FV (scFv) antibody moiety. Although CARs show promise as therapeutic agents, several challenges (e.g., the induction of antigen-specific toxicities targeting normal tissues expressing the target-antigen, and the extreme potency of CAR-T cell treatments resulting in life-threatening cytokine-release syndromes) limit their use in a clinical context. Therefore, there is a need to develop safer and more clinically effective CARs.

Chimeric antigen receptors and uses thereof

University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.


The present invention is directed to a system and method that allows a central election office to maintain control over actions taken on voting devices located at various polling locations. In an exemplary embodiment, a poll worker or other user contacts the central election office with a request to perform an action on a voting device. An election management system located at the central election office executes a hashing algorithm to generate a first hash code associated with the action. The central election office communicates the first hash code to the polling location, and the poll worker or other user inputs the first hash code into the voting device. The voting device executes the same hashing algorithm to generate a second hash code associated with the action, and compares the second hash code to the first hash code to verify the validity of the first hash code. If the validity of the first hash code is verified, the voting device permits the poll worker or other user to perform the action on the voting device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to voting systems, and, more particularly, to a system and method for maintaining control over actions taken on voting devices located at various polling locations.
2. Description of Related Art
A variety of different types of voting devices are used in the United States and throughout the world. For example, many jurisdictions use electronic poll books that allow a poll worker to access a database of all the voters registered to vote in a particular election. When a voter enters a polling location, the poll worker uses the electronic poll book to search for the voter's record in the database, confirm that the voter has not yet voted in the election, and issue a voting credit to the voter. In many jurisdictions, the database resides locally on the electronic poll book, which may be periodically synchronized with a central voter database. Alternatively, the electronic poll book may communicate with the central voter database in real-time, in which case the validation of a voter's eligibility to vote and issuance of a voting credit is made directly against the central voter database.
Upon validation of a voter's eligibility to vote, several different types of voting devices are available for use by voters to cast their votes in a particular election. For example, in many jurisdictions, a voter receives a traditional paper ballot on which is printed the various races to be voted on. The voter votes by darkening or otherwise marking the appropriate mark spaces on the paper ballot. The marked paper ballot is then inserted into a ballot tabulation device for tabulation of the votes marked on the paper ballot.
In jurisdictions that use traditional paper ballots, an electronic ballot marking device may also be provided for use by voters who are blind, vision-impaired, or have a disability or condition that would make it difficult or impossible to manually mark a paper ballot in the usual way. In operation, a voter receives a paper ballot from a poll worker and takes the paper ballot to the ballot marking device. The voter inserts the paper ballot into the device, whereby the paper ballot is scanned and the various races to be voted on are presented to the voter either visually on a touch screen display or audibly via headphones. The voter then selects his/her votes using one of several different types of input devices (e.g., a touch screen display, Braille-embossed keys, etc.). Once the voter confirms that the selected votes are correct, a printer marks the paper ballot by printing marks in the appropriate mark spaces on the paper ballot. The voter or a poll worker then inserts the marked paper ballot into a ballot tabulation device for tabulation of the votes marked on the paper ballot.
In recent years, many jurisdictions have turned to electronic voting machines (such as direct recording electronic (DRE) voting machines) in lieu of traditional paper ballots. Typically, an electronic voting machine includes a touch screen display for displaying the various races to be voted on and allowing the "touch" selection of votes. Once the voter confirms that the selected votes are correct, the voting selections are recorded in the memory of the voting machine and electronically tabulated with the voting selections of other voters. The electronic voting machine may also include an audio ballot function for use by voters with disabilities.
In view of the different types of voting devices that are used at various polling locations, poll workers are trained to perform routine actions on the voting devices so as to enable the voting process to run smoothly on election day or during an early voting period. However, it is difficult to train poll workers to perform every action that may be required to be performed on the voting devices. In addition, many election adminstrators are cautious about allowing poll workers to perform certain actions that are out of the ordinary routine. In some cases, an election administrator may not allow a poll worker to perform a particular action and will send in a qualified county employee to perform the action. In this case, it takes time for the county employee to arrive at the polling location, which causes delay for the voters waiting to cast their ballots.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for controlling actions taken on voting devices


A tablet including active substance affected by lubricant, wherein the tablet is comprised of compressed mixture of active substance and adjuvant except for lubricant, and lubricant exists only on the surface of the tablet but is not included in the tablet. Such a tablet production method comprising the steps of producing mixture of active substance affected by lubricant and adjuvant, mixing lubricant powder with positive pulsating vibration air for dispersion, spraying the lubricant powder dispersed by the positive vibration air on a lower surface of an upper punch, an upper surface of a lower punch and an inner circumferential wall of a die, and tabletting the mixture by means of the upper and lower punches and the die.

This application is a 371 of PCT/JP99/05463 filed Oct. 05, 1999.
The present invention relates to a tablet and a tablet production method, specifically to a tablet of which active substance (namely medicament) is kept stably without being affected by lubricant in case active substance is colored, decomposed or deteriorated in its potency, when such active substance touches lubricant, and to its production method.
A tablet is a widely used because it is convenient for carrying and dosing and is easy to be taken for an elder person or a child because it doesn""t float on the water when dosing with water.
Lubricant powder other than active substance powder, adjuvant powder and so on is added in molding material (powdered or granular material) to be compressed and tabletted in order to prevent grinding between punches and dies of a molding machine while tabletting and to prevent tabletting problems such as sticking, laminating and capping of produced tablets.
The present inventors have found that some active substances are colored, decomposed or deteriorated in their potencies when such active substances touch lubricant.
In order to avoid such phenomenon, it can be expected to tablet molding material without adding lubricant. However, grinding between punches and dies of a molding and tabletting problems such as sticking, laminating and capping of produced tablets are caused and as a result continuous tabletting can""t be executed.
Therefore, under the present situation, lubricant is usually added in molding material giving a preference to industrial production basis even though a tablet is colored or stability of active substance in a tablet is deteriorated.
However, it isn""t desirable because colored tablet causes a patient and health personnel such as a doctor and a pharmacist anxiety when such a tablet can be observed from outside like a naked tablet. Further, when potency of active substance in a tablet is deteriorated, objective clinical effect of the tablet may not be adequately brought out.
The present invention has been proposed to solve the above-mentioned problems. The object of the invention is to provide a tablet in which active substance doesn""t touch lubricant and grinding between punches and dies of a molding machine and tabletting problems such as sticking, laminating and capping when producing tablets aren""t caused in case active substance included in the tablet is colored, decomposed or deteriorated in its potency when such active substance touches lubricant and to provide a method for producing such a tablet.
According to the tablet of the present invention, it includes active substance affected by lubricant and is comprised of compressed mixture of active substance and adjuvant except for lubricant, and lubricant exists only on the surface of the tablet but isn""t included in the tablet.
The term xe2x80x9cactive substance affected by lubricantxe2x80x9d in this specification means active substance which is colored, decomposed or deteriorated in its potency when such active substance touches lubricant.
It is difficult to specify such active substance, however, it includes active substances of which coloring degree of a mixture of active substance, adjuvant except for lubricant, and lubricant after a fixed time is larger than that of a mixture of active substance and adjuvant except for lubricant comparing with that at a start time, or content of active substance in a mixture of active substance, adjuvant except for lubricant, and lubricant after a fixed time is larger than that in a mixture of active substance and adjuvant except for lubricant comparing with that at a start time when coloring degree test (absorbance analysis, color analysis and so on) and stability test are performed respectively.
Further, xe2x80x9cactive substance affected by lubricantxe2x80x9d includes active substance which is affected by moisture in air, proton and so on produced in a tablet, and lubricant.
The term xe2x80x9cadjuvant except for lubricantxe2x80x9d in this specification is material used for producing a tablet and means material other than lubricant.
More specifically, xe2x80x9cadjuvant except for lubricantxe2x80x9d may include excipient (filler) for increasing the amount for facilitating handling and for giving required volume as pharmaceutical drugs, binder, disintegrator, and other substance if required, except for lubricant.
xe2x80x9cLubricantxe2x80x9d in this specification includes lubricant in narrow sense which is added in molding material for dispersing force applied between powdered particle of molding material at a time of compression (tabletting) and for preventing adhering of powdered material on the punches and dies of a tabletting machine, and also includes glidants which is added in molding material for improving fluidity of molding material.
Such lubricant isn""t limited if it is usually used and may include light anhydrous silicic acid, stearic acid, and stearic acid metal salt.
Preferable examples of lubricants are stearic acid metal salt (Mg salt, Ca salt, Al salt, K salt, Na salt) and metal salt such as hydrated aluminum silicate, preferable examples of glidants are metal salt (oxide) such as talc and so on.
The lubricant existing on the surface of the tablet isn""t applied on purpose. A part of lubricant applied on the surfaces of the punches and the dies of the tabletting machine used for tabletting is attached on the surface of the tablet at the time of compressing.
As such a tablet doesn""t include lubricant therein, the active substance included in the tablet doesn""t touch lubricant. Therefore, the active substance isn""t colored, decomposed or its potency isn""t deteriorated so that the active substance can show high stability.
According to the tablet of the present invention, the active substance affected by lubricant is chemical substance having functional group.
The term xe2x80x9cfunctional groupxe2x80x9d in this specification includes carboxyl group, amino group, hydroxyl group, ester group, amide group, phosphate group, carbonyl group, sulfonyl group, sulfonyloxy group, guanidyl group, sulfonamide group, halogen (chlorine, fluorosis, iodine, bromine and so on) and so on.
If lubricant is above-mentioned metal salt and active substance having such functional group touches the lubricant, the active substance reacts with metal component (magnesium, calcium and so on) of the lubricant so that it is colored, decomposed or its potency is deteriorated.
However, as the tablet doesn""t include lubricant therein, active substance, namely chemical substance having functional group doesn""t touch the lubricant. Therefore, the active substance included in the table is stably kept without being colored, decomposed or deteriorating its potency.
According to the tablet in the present invention, the active substance affected by lubricant may be one of ascorbic acid and acetylsalicylic acid.
Ascorbic acid and acetylsalicylic acid are accelerated to be decomposed and colored by stearic acid metal salt (Mg salt, Ca salt), hydrated aluminum silicate, and talc. However, as the tablet doesn""t include lubricant therein, ascorbic acid and acetylsalicylic acid included in the tablet doesn""t touch the lubricant. Therefore, ascorbic acid and acetylsalicylic acid in the tablet aren""t colored, decomposed or their potency isn""t deteriorated so that the active substance can be kept stably.
According to the tablet in the present invention, a formulation of the active substance is granule, a formulation of the adjuvant except for lubricant is granule, and the active substance granule and the adjuvant granule are substantially same in particle diameter.
The term xe2x80x9cgranulexe2x80x9d in this specification is a granulated material in which powdered material is grown to be with a fixed particle diameter using binder according to a fluid-bed granulation method.
The phrase xe2x80x9cthe active substance granule and the adjuvant granule are substantially same in particle diameterxe2x80x9d more specifically means that the average particle diameter and the particle size distribution of the active substance granule and the adjuvant granule are substantially same.
As a mixture of active substance granule and adjuvant granule, not a mixture of active substance powder and adjuvant powder, is compressed, active substance granule and/or adjuvant granule are deformed or broken so that mechanical force applied therein can be dispersed.
Therefore, pressure caused by compressing doesn""t concentrate on active substance granule so that tabletting can be achieved without denaturing the active substance even if physical property and chemical property of the active substance is apt to be denatured by high pressure.
As the particle diameter of the active substance granule and that of the adjuvant granule in the tablet are substantially same, those granules are spontaneously mixed uniformly in mixing process.
Further, when the mixture is filled in the die to which a lower punch is inserted to a fixed position at a material charge point of a rotary type tabletting machine, active substance granule doesn""t substantially cause particle segregation in the mixture filled in the die.
Namely, active substance granule is homogeneously dispersed in a tablet.
Therefore, such a tablet is superior as a dividable tablet.
The tablet production method of the present invention comprises the steps of producing mixture of active substance affected by lubricant and adjuvant except for lubricant, mixing lubricant powder with positive pulsating vibration air for dispersion, spraying the lubricant powder dispersed by the positive vibration air on a lower surface of an upper punch, an upper surface of a lower punch and an inner circumferential wall of a die, and tabletting the mixture by means of the upper and lower punches and the die.
The term xe2x80x9cpulsating vibration airxe2x80x9d in this specification means air of which pressure is changed in time.
More specifically, xe2x80x9cpulsating vibration airxe2x80x9d means air wave of which high pressure part (peak) and low pressure part (valley) are alternately shown at a fixed period.
The term xe2x80x9cpositive pressurexe2x80x9d in this specification means that air pressure in the tablet production system used in the present invention is higher than atmospheric pressure out of the system.
The term xe2x80x9cpositive pulsating vibration airxe2x80x9d may include pulsating vibration air of which both peak and valley are positive and pulsating vibration air of which peak is positive pressure and valley is substantially equal to the atmospheric pressure out of the tabletting machine.
When positive pulsating vibration air is used for mixing lubricant powder with air for dispersion, lubricant powder is well dispersed by air comparing with the case when lubricant powder is dispersed by air having constant pressure.
Thus according to the tablet production method of the present invention, as lubricant powder dispersed by positive pulsating vibration air for dispersion is sprayed on the lower surface of the upper punch, the upper surface of the lower punch and the inner circumferential die wall, lubricant powder is uniformly applied thereon.
As a result, even if lubricant isn""t added in the molding material, grinding between the upper punches, the lower punches, and the dies while tabletting and tabletting problems such as sticking, laminating, capping and so on aren""t caused.
Therefore, according to such a tablet production method, a tablet which isn""t colored and doesn""t cause any deterioration of the potency of the active substance contained in the tablet during a storage of the tablet can be easily produced in case such active substance contained in the tablet is affected by lubricant, because lubricant isn""t required to be added in molding material.
According to the tablet production method of the present invention, the spraying step is comprised of substantially vertically spraying at a blast the lubricant powder dispersed by the positive pulsating vibration air onto the upper surface of the lower punch when the lower punch is inserted in a predetermined position of the die, producing upward air flow directing substantially vertically for the lower surface of the upper punch around the lower surface of the upper punch, and gradually spraying the lubricant powder dispersed by the positive pulsating vibration air onto the lower surface of the upper punch while carrying the lubricant powder by the air flow.
According to such a tablet production method, lubricant powder dispersed by positive pulsating vibration air is sprayed at a blast on the upper surface of the lower punch on which extra lubricant is apt to be piled by gravitation so as to shorten the time for exposing the upper surface of the lower punch to lubricant powder. Further, extra lubricant powder piled on the upper surface of the lower punch by gravitation is blown out from the upper surface of the lower punch. Therefore, powder lubricant is uniformly applied on the upper surface of the lower punch.
Moreover, as part of lubricant blown from the upper surface of the lower punch is designed to be attached on the inner circumferential wall of the die into which the lower punch is inserted at a predetermined position, almost the same amount of lubricant as the amount applied on the upper surface of the lower punch is uniformly attached on the inner circumferential wall of the die on which lubricant has difficulty to be applied comparing with the upper surface of the lower punch.
As for the lower surface of the upper punch on which lubricant powder is difficult of applying, air flow going upward in almost vertical direction against the lower surface of the upper punch is generated around the lower surface of the upper punch.
Therefore, lubricant powder dispersed by positive pulsating vibration air flow sequentially runs into the lower surface of the upper punch to be applied thereon carrying the lubricant powder by the upward air flow.
Further according to the tablet production method, the lower surface of the upper punch is designed to be exposed in lubricant powder longer comparing with the upper surface of the lower punch. Almost the same amount of lubricant powder is uniformly applied on the lower surface of the upper punch by adjusting the exposure time like the upper surface of the lower punch, and the inner circumferential die wall.
Thus almost the same amount of lubricant powder is uniformly applied on the lower surface of the upper punch, the upper surface of the lower punch, and the inner circumferential die wall, so that molding material doesn""t adhere on the punches and dies while tabletting if lubricant isn""t added in the molding material. As a result, because grinding between punches and dies of a molding machine and tabletting problems such as sticking, laminating and capping of produced tablets are further prevented, continuous tabletting of molding material can be more completely achieved and a tablet without containing lubricant therein can be produced at high productivity.
Therefore, as a tablet without containing lubricant therein can be produced easily and at high productivity according to the present invention, the tablet which isn""t colored, or deteriorated in its potency during the storage of the tablet even if active substance contained in the tablet is affected by lubricant.

Tablet and process for producing tablets


A spool valve, in particular for an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle, having a valve housing, which houses a guide element, in which an axially movable valve spool is arranged, and the valve housing having at least one radial pressure connection and a radial tank connection being axially distanced therefrom, and a frontal working connection. The guide element has at least one pressure connection opening connected to the pressure connection and one tank connection opening, axially distanced therefrom and connected to the tank connection and one working connection opening, which is axially positioned between the pressure connection opening and the tank connection opening and is connected to the working connection. In the valve housing a partially axially extending connection duct is present, which connects the working connection opening to the working connection.

The invention refers to a spool valve, in particular for an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle, having a valve housing, which houses a guide element, in which an axially movable valve spool is arranged, and the valve housing having at least one radial pressure connection and a radial tank connection being axially distanced therefrom, and a working connection, wherein on the guide element′ at least one pressure connection opening connected to the pressure connection and one tank connection opening, axially distanced therefrom and connected to the tank connection and one working connection, which is axially positioned between the pressure connection opening and the tank connection opening and is connected to the working connection are provided, and wherein in the valve housing a partially axially extending connection duct is present, which connects the working connection opening to the working connection.
A spool valve of above mentioned kind is known from WO 2015/055340, for example. In this disclosure, the guide element, the spool sleeve, is completely injection coated by the plastic material of the valve housing. Thus, also the channel is delimited on all sides by plastic material. The injection molding tool which is used to this end is complex, thus increasing the cost of production of such a spool valve. At the same time, the flow cross-section of this invention is relatively small, causing relatively high-pressure losses during operation.
Also, Japanese patent application JP-H07206634 discloses a spool valve according to the state of the art, in which the guide element has a complex structure, since a plurality of channels is provided in the same, and their production is onerous.


A method is provided for protecting a vehicle network of a vehicle against manipulated data transmission. The vehicle network includes multiple network nodes. At least one first network node in the vehicle network compares received messages with messages assigned to the first network node and detects the manipulated data transmission if one of the received messages coincides with a message assigned to the first network node, but the first network node did not send the message. At the same time, the first network node compares only selected messages of the received messages with the messages assigned to the first network node or compares the received messages only with selected messages assigned to the first network node.

A method for averting a manipulation on a CAN bus by a node connected to the bus with the aid of a CAN controller is described in German Patent Application No. DE 10 2015 219 996 A1. In this method, a secured transmission module of the first node monitors the bus and detects transmission processes of the CAN controller in a normal operation of the first node. The transmission module also detects a message inadmissibly transmitted on the bus in a manner that deviates from the normal operation and, if the transmission module detects the message, initiates countermeasures provided against the manipulation.
German Patent Application No. DE 10 2009 026 995 A1 describes a method for operating a bus system, in particular, a CAN bus, to which multiple stations are connectable. A transmitted message includes an identifier, whereby a particular identifier may always only be used by a single station. Each of the stations compares the identifier of a transmitted message with the identifiers used by the station itself. An error message is generated in the event of coincidence.

Method for protecting a vehicle network against manipulated data transmission


Methods for depositing nanomaterial onto a substrate are disclosed. Also disclosed are compositions useful for depositing nanomaterial, methods of making devices including nanomaterials, and a system and devices useful for depositing nanomaterials.

A number of industries, e.g., electronics, displays, lighting, optoelectronics, and energy industries, rely on the formation of layers, coatings and/or patterns of materials to form pixels, circuits, and other features on substrates. The primary methods for generating these patterns are screen printing for features larger than about 100 microns and thin film and etching methods for features smaller than about 100 microns. Other subtractive methods to attain fine feature sizes include the use of photo-patternable pastes and laser trimming.

Composition including material, methods of depositing material, articles including same and systems for depositing materials


A safety pants with removable knee pads for providing a user with a pair of pants that would incorporate pockets which could house knee protection. The safety pants with removable knee pads include a pair of pants. The pants have a lower torso portion and two legs. Each of the legs has a front knee portion. Each one of a pair of pads has a size designed for covering one of the front knee areas. Each one of the pads provides a cushioning between a horizontal support surface and knees of a user when the user is in a kneeling position. A fastening assembly is for fastening each one of the pair of pads to an associated one of the legs for covering the knees of a user.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to pants and more particularly pertains to a new safety pants with removable knee pads for providing a user with a pair of pants that would incorporate pockets which could house knee protection.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of pants is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,920,902 describes knee pads for work pants having a pad held in place between the inside of the knee area of work pant leg and a rectangular fabric piece that is attached to the pant leg. Another type of pant is U.S. Pat. No. 5,038,408 describes work pants for use when performing work in which sitting and kneeling take place frequently. U.S. Pat. No. Des. 393,141 describes an ornamental design for work pants with kneeling pad pockets. U.S. Pat. No. 4,831,666 describes a garment especially adapted for protecting the knees while gardening. U.S. Pat. No. 4,613,991 describes a pair of work pants particularly designed for kneeling work activity having removable leather patches covering the knee area. U.S. Pat. No. 4,561,124 describes knee padding for work pants.
The object of the present invention is to provide a new safety pants with removable knee pads that would provide a cushioned surface for the knees to prevent nerve or cartilage damage.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new safety pants with removable knee pads that could be easily removed for laundering, replacement, or when not needed.
To this end, the present invention generally comprises a pair of pants. The pants have a lower torso portion and two legs. Each of the legs has a front knee portion. Each one of a pair of pads has a size designed for covering one of the front knee areas. Each one of the pads provides a cushioning between a horizontal support surface and knees of a user when the user is in a kneeling position. A fastening assembly is for fastening each one of the pair of pads to an associated one of the legs for covering the knees of a user.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.


The interdental wedge is particularly intended for use in the insertion of approximal fillings of light-curing synthetic materials and consists of a combination of a wedge body and an underlying compressible sole comprising a rim which projects on both sides of the wedge body. The sole portion is preferably made of a thermoplastic elastomer and the wedge body of a translucent synthetic material. A wedge of this kind provides a strong spreading force, and the two rims are deformed when inserted, thereby ensuring a firm retention and a tight application of the matrix to the dental anatomy, and they form sealing lips in order to keep away the saliva from the treated area and to gently displace the papilla.

The present invention refers to an interdental wedge, particularly for use in the insertion of approximal fillings of light curing synthetic materials, composed of a combination of a wedge body and of an underlying compressible sole portion.
An interdental wedge of this kind is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,738 to the applicant of the present invention. This prior art interdental wedge is essentially composed of a compressible sole portion of an elastomeric material and of an insert of a preferably light-conducting material with means allowing to conduct the light to the synthetic filling to be cured. In the application of this interdental wedge, which offered significant advantages over the prior art of the time, it has been found that this wedge is capable of being further improved. In particular, it has been found that it would be desirable to protect the treated area from penetrating sulcus liquids and to provide a better adaptation of the matrix to the dental anatomy under the approximal shoulder in the approximal space.
On the background of this prior art, it is the object of the present invention to provide an interdental wedge offering an improved retention, on one hand, as well as an improved sealing of the treated area and a better adaptation of the matrix to the dental anatomy under the approximal shoulder in the approximal space. This object is attained by an interdental wedge wherein the sole portion comprises a rim projecting on both sides of the wedge body. Further improvements and details are described in the dependent claims. An effective and easily manufacturable identification means of different wedge types is indicated in dependent claim 6.


An apparatus includes a wrist, an end effector, a cable pair, and a transmission. A proximal wrist portion is coupled to a distal end portion of a shaft. Actuation of the wrist moves a distal wrist portion relative to the proximal wrist portion. The end effector is coupled to the distal wrist portion, and can be actuated to move relative to the wrist. The transmission is coupled to a proximal end portion of the shaft, and can move an end of the cable pair to actuate the end effector. The end of the cable pair is routed through a transmission cable path within the transmission. The transmission includes an adjustment mechanism having an input portion that receives a force exerted by the end of the cable pair. The adjustment mechanism is configured to change a length of the transmission cable path in response to a change in the force.

The embodiments described herein relate to mechanisms for conserving cable length, more specifically to medical devices, and still more specifically to endoscopic tools. More particularly, the embodiments described herein relate to devices that include a mechanism for conserving the cable length during a range of motion of a wrist joint.
Many known medical instruments for minimally invasive procedures may employ one or more joints or wrists along an elongated shaft sometimes referred to herein as the main shaft of the medical instrument. Typically, a wrist provides multiple degrees of freedom of movement, and a wrist at or near the distal end of the main shaft may be attached to or may incorporate a distal tool such as a biopsy needle, a scalpel, forceps, scissors, or a cautery tool. Such known wrists are often operated via cables that extend through the interior of the main shaft of the instrument and connect to a drive system in a transmission or actuator (also referred to as a backend). The backend is generally at the proximal end of the medical instrument and may be configured to engage or interface with a robot that mechanically powers the backend to move the cables, thereby operating the wrist. For robotic or teleoperated systems, the backend mechanism is motor driven and can be operably coupled to a processing system to provide a user interface for a user to control the instrument. During a minimally invasive procedure, medical personnel may operate the system to insert the distal portion of a medical instrument through a small incision, a cannula, or a natural lumen until the distal tip of the medical instrument is at a work site in a patient, and the medical personnel may then operate the robot to drive the cables and control the wrist as needed to move the distal tool and perform a clinical function at the work site.
Known medical instruments define one or more cable paths through which the cables are routed from the backend, through the instrument shaft, and to the wrist. Because known wrists can provide for multiple degrees of freedom, the cable paths (and therefore the length of the cables through the cable paths) can change when the medical instrument is in use. For example, when some known wrists rotate about a pitch axis, the cable path length for cables routed on a first side of the pitch axis increases while the cable path length for cables routed on a second (or opposite) side of the pitch axis decreases. The increased cable path length tends to stretch or increase tension in the cables on the first side of the pitch axis, and decreased cable path length allows the cables on the second side of the pitch axis to go slack or operate under reduced tension in the cables. In general, it is desirable to maintain the tension in cables within a suitable range to prevent slack cables from derailing and to prevent tight cables from deforming or damaging other components. Thus, some known medical instruments include cable paths within the wrist that are routed to minimize the change in the cable path length during actuation. This is sometimes referred to herein as cable length conservation.
For example, FIGS. 1A and 1B show top and side schematic views of a known medical instrument 100. The medical instrument 100 includes a wrist 130 that is at a distal end of a main shaft 120 of the medical instrument 100 and is actuated via a backend 110. Wrist 130 includes actuated mechanisms 140 and 150 that together are capable of multiple degrees of freedom of movement. In the illustrated configuration, actuated mechanism 140 is a joint that may be actuated to provide a degree of freedom corresponding to pitch motion. The actuated mechanism 140 includes a link 142 coupled to main shaft 120 and a link 144 coupled to the actuated mechanism 150. A pair of cables 126a and 126b coupled to actuated mechanism 140 extend through main shaft 120 and couple to a drive mechanism (not shown) in the backend 110. Thus, the drive mechanism can pull either cable 126a or 126b to rotate link 144 (and more distal portions of medical instrument 100) relative to link 142 as shown in FIG. 1C.
The actuated mechanism 150 (also referred to as an end effector) includes jaws 152 and 154, which may act as another wrist degree of freedom (e.g., yaw motion) when they rotate together and as a surgical tool such as forceps or scissors when they rotate in opposite directions. Jaws 152 and 154 are mounted on a pivot 156, which may be offset from and perpendicular to rotation axis 146 (i.e., the pitch axis) of joint 140. A pair of cables 122a and 122b couple to jaw 152 and extend through joint 140 and main shaft 120 to a drive mechanism 112 in backend 110, and drive mechanism 112 can pull either cable 122a or 122b to rotate jaw 152 about pivot 156. Similarly, another pair of actuation cables 124 couple to jaw 154 and extend through actuated mechanism 140 and main shaft 120 to backend 110, and another drive mechanism (not shown) in backend 110 can pull either cable 124 to rotate jaw 154 about the shared pivot 156. FIG. 1B illustrates how drive mechanism 112 for cables 122a and 122b may include a capstan 112 from which cables 122a and 122b extend. In use, an actuator, such as a motor in the control robot, can rotate capstan 112 to reel in a length of cable 122b or 122a and simultaneously pay out the same length of cable 122a or 122b, resulting in rotation of jaw 152. Another motor and capstan (not shown) can drive cables 124 to rotate jaw 154.
As shown in FIG. 1A, cables 122 and 124 have crossing paths and are routed through the rotation axis 146 of joint 140 so that rotation of joint 140 does not change the path length of cables 122 and 124 between backend mechanism 110 and actuated mechanism 150. In this manner, the cable paths within the joint 140 maintain a substantially constant length of cables 122 and 124 between backend 110 and actuated mechanism 150, even when the joint 140 is moved about the pitch axis 146 (see e.g., FIG. 1C). Thus, this known joint assembly can be considered as a cable length-conserving device.
In certain situations, however, defining cable length-conserving paths within a wrist joint is not practical. For example, medical instruments that include many functional elements or other components routed to an end effector (e.g., wires) may not accommodate cable length-conserving paths. Similarly, medical instruments having joints with a small cross-sectional area or diameter may not have sufficient space to accommodate routing of multiple cables for cable length conservation. In particular, as wrist architectures for medical instruments are scaled down to diameters of 5 mm or less, space limitations make joints with cable length-conserving cable paths challenging to implement, while still using cables having sufficient strength for the desired medical capabilities.
Thus, a need exists for improved mechanisms to accommodate different cable path lengths between a medical instrument's distal and proximal ends that result from a distal component's range of motion.

Cable length conserving medical instrument


Teachings herein include a base station for propagating system information changes from the base station to the relay node. Upon transmitting system information changes to the relay node, the base station defers data transmission between the base station and the relay node until a set time period. In many embodiments, the base station is configured to actually apply the system information changes during this time period, while the relay node applies the changes before then, e.g., by applying them immediately upon reception. The base station's deferral of data transmission until the set time period thus ensures that data transmission does not occur until both the base station and the relay node have applied the pending changes. This in turn prevents radio link failure from occurring due to use of different system parameters by the base station and relay node.

The 3rd-Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is currently standardizing relay nodes (RNs) for the Long Term Evolution (LTE) radio access technology. From a radio propagation perspective, a relay node is positioned between a base station (BS, or called an eNodeB in the LTE standard) and one or more mobile terminals (MT, or called user equipment, UE, in the LTE standard). This way, communications between the base station and the mobile terminals are relayed by the relay node.
Specifically, a relay node connects to an associated base station using the same, standard radio link used by ordinary mobile terminals. The relay node then provides radio access to mobile terminals, effectively emulating a base station from the perspective of the mobile terminals, and uses its radio link to the base station as backhaul transport for terminal data.
While relay nodes improve system coverage and capacity, the nodes introduce complexities to the process of propagating system information changes throughout the system. System information includes parameters that describe general information about the system, including the Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) ID, the system bandwidth, and the like. System information also includes parameters that describe information specific to certain cells in the system, such as the allocation of control channels, paging channel information, cell selection information, and so on.
Known approaches to propagating changes in system information parameters throughout systems that do not support relay nodes effectively ensure that a base station and its associated mobile terminals apply the changes at the same time. In this regard, the base station and terminals are configured to only apply system information changes during or at the start of predefined modification periods that recur periodically. When system information is to be changed, the base station sends a change notification to the terminals over a paging channel. The change notification informs the terminals that the base station will be broadcasting system information changes at the start of the next modification period. When that period eventually starts, the base station broadcasts the changes, and applies the changes itself. The terminals immediately apply the changes upon receipt so that the changes are applied at approximately the same time as when the base station applies them.
Complexities occur in systems that support relay nodes because the relay nodes may not be able to receive the change notification sent by the base station over the paging channel. Moreover, even if relay nodes are able to receive the change notification, the relay nodes may still not be able to receive the actual changes subsequently broadcasted. For example, relay nodes may transmit and receive using the same frequency band. These "in-band" relay nodes are therefore configured to receive transmissions from the base station during certain time slots (i.e., "downlink time slots"), and to transmit to the mobile terminals during other time slots (i.e., "uplink time slots"). If the base station transmits a change notification or actual changes during an uplink time slot, the relay node will not receive that notification or those changes.
Known proposals suggest transmitting system information changes to a relay node via dedicated signaling, so that the relay node can at least receive the changes. However, under some circumstances, transmitting changes via dedicated signaling in this way can cause radio link failure and/or cause unnecessary system interference.

Propagating system information changes to relays


An animal training apparatus including an electrical conductor embedded within a flexible member, and a housing having a through-opening for receiving the electrical conductor therethrough. The flexible member is molded around the electrical conductor and the antenna, while the electrical conductor is positioned such that it extends into the housing through the through-opening. As a result of the molding process, the flexible member shields the housing through-opening, discouraging substances such as water from accessing the interior of the housing via the through-opening.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to an external antenna for use with an electronic animal training device. More specifically, the invention relates to an antenna embedded within a flexible collar.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is a growing demand for animal collars that incorporate electronic components, such as transmitters, receivers, or transceivers. Generally, such an electronic component is protected by enclosing it in a housing that is integrated into the animal collar. It is well established that transmitters, receivers, and transceivers require an antenna to radiate or receive radio waves effectively. Generally, as the length of an antenna increases, the efficiency of an antenna increases. Lengthening the antenna often is the simplest way of increasing the range of a transmitter, receiver, or transceiver. A relatively long antenna, unlike a relatively short antenna, cannot be enclosed in the housing, however. Instead, such an antenna is external to the housing, and it conductively connects to the electronic component via a through-opening defined by the housing. An animal collar having an external antenna is disadvantaged in at least three respects. First, the antenna, itself, is more susceptible to damage because it protrudes from the housing and, therefore, is exposed to the elements, among other things. Second, the interface of the antenna and the housing, i.e., the through-opening, provides another avenue for water to penetrate the housing and potentially harm any electronic components therein. Finally, an external antenna can impede the movement of an animal in certain environments. For example, underbrush can easily snag an external antenna.

Antenna enclosed within an animal training apparatus


A method of traversing a travel joint with a line can include, after the travel joint has been installed in a well, activating a connector which provides sealed fluid communication between sections of the line on respective opposite sides of the travel joint. A travel joint system for use with a subterranean well can include a travel joint comprising a releasing device which permits relative displacement between sections of the travel joint, and a connector which provides fluid communication between sections of a line.

This disclosure relates generally to equipment utilized and operations performed in conjunction with a subterranean well and, in an example described below, more particularly provides for traversing a travel joint with a fluid line.
It is known to use a travel joint in a production tubing string to allow for dimensional variations between a wellhead and a packer or other tool engaged by the tubing string. Travel joints can be released for telescoping or otherwise longitudinally extending or compressing by means of various devices, such as shear pins, J-slots, metered hydraulic time releases, etc.
However, travel joints do not usually provide for extending fluid lines across the travel joints. It would be particularly difficult to traverse a travel joint with a chemical injection line, due in large part to relatively large diameters of typical chemical injection lines.
It will be appreciated that improvements are continually needed in the arts of constructing and operating travel joints.

Traversing a travel joint with a fluid line


The present invention is a wearable mood and activity monitoring system comprising a wrist worn device, further comprising an adjustable wrist band and a health monitoring assembly further comprising a faceplate with an interactive touchscreen display, a microchip processor in wired communication via a plurality of circuitry cables with a health sensor for detecting real-time physiological data of the user, an accelerometer, a tracking system for tracking a relative location of the user, an information receiver and transmitter unit, and a power source, a plate securer, and a backplate; and a remote monitoring device. The user selects a user-reported mood using the interactive touchscreen display. The health sensor generates the real-time physiological data of the user. The microchip processor is configured to evaluate the real-time physiological data with the user-reported mood to provide an overall mental health of the user.

Generally, parents and other caregivers are dependent on second hand information and guesswork rather than real-time actionable data that can be used to improve the health and wellbeing outcomes for their kids.
Additionally, mental health issues in youth are on the rise. Youth are increasingly diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and other behavior anomalies including attention deficits, hyperactivity, stress disorders, oppositional behavior, reactivity, and aggression. Further, autism and autism spectrum diagnosis rise each year as do the numbers of children categorized as overweight or obese. Increasing numbers of youth experience poor performance and truancy in school. The prevalence of social media use by youth compounding poorly developed interpersonal skills, negatively impacts self-esteem and body image, and can negatively impact sleep. Identifying patterns in activity and mood can lead to early discovery of potential problems and correlations and can provide valuable insight into the connections between mental health and physical health. In order to achieve measurable results, it is essential to examine patterns of behavior and activity in combination. The present invention will provide a comprehensive report of physical activity, sleep patterns, and mood changes over time.
In general, youth communicate differently than their adult parents and caregivers. For kids and teens, emojis can be the gateway to aspects of communication previously closed to them, such as active participation in emotional well-being, self-awareness, and being heard in educational and care settings. Further, kids with special needs have a tendency to wander. This wandering leads to risky behavior and according to awaare.org, 49% of children with autism "engage in elopement behavior with a substantial number at risk for bodily harm".
Additionally, youth need motivation as they develop healthy habits that include physical activity and awareness. It is indisputable that an increase in physical activity impacts youth in both a mental and a physical capacity. Currently, the U.S. is facing a childhood obesity epidemic. Being overweight or obese in childhood is associated with $14.1 billion in additional prescription drug, emergency room, and outpatient visit healthcare costs annually. The present invention solves the problems above by providing a wearable device with an interactive touch screen display that tracks a user-reported mood along with physical activity levels. This allows users to take an active role in tracking physical activity and allows the wearer and caregiver to set unique goals that are most beneficial to the individual wearer.
It is well known that exercise and other physical activity can improve mood and mental health. For example, exercise and physical activity has been shown to have positive effects on stress, depression, and anxiety to name a few. In addition, psychological mechanisms influence the effects of exercise on mood states. Exercise has also been shown to reduce inflammation via several different processes (inflammation, cytokines, toll-like receptors, adipose tissue and via the vagal tone), which can contribute to better health outcomes in people suffering from mood disorders. The present invention correlates physiological data with a user-reported mood to provide an overall mental health of the user.
Any discussion of prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of the common general knowledge in the field.

Wearable mood and activity monitoring system


A support beam for stabilizing a motorcycle on the wheel lift of a tow truck is provided. The support beam includes a mount that positions the beam horizontally on a rear portion of the tow truck at a level generally equal to the level of the motorcycle's handlebars when the motorcycle is resting on the wheel lift. The beam includes a first end attachable to the motorcycle's left handlebar using a left strap, and a second end attachable to the motorcycle's right handlebar using a right strap. With the motorcycle resting on the tow truck's wheel lift, and the beam configured to provide support to the motorcycle's handlebars, the motorcycle is secured to the wheel lift, stabilized, and able to be towed. In some embodiments, the mount is designed to be received into a wheel lift cable guide through-hole thereby securing the beam to the wheel lift.

Conventional tow trucks equipped with wheel lifts are designed to tow vehicles with two front wheels and two rear wheels. The conventional wheel lift is designed to support the front of an automobile's chassis from below while lifting the vehicle's front two wheels off the ground and leaving the vehicle's rear two wheels grounded. Because the rear two wheels remain grounded, the automobile is stable and may be towed by the truck.
However, because motorcycles only include one front wheel and one rear wheel, conventional wheel lifts are not designed to provide adequate stability to a motorcycle for towing. Accordingly, conventional tow trucks equipped with conventional wheel lifts cannot be used to tow motorcycles.
Accordingly, there is a need for a support assembly that may be used with a conventional wheel lift and that provides stability to motorcycles for towing.


An apparatus and method of blind detection of binauralized audio. If the input content is detected as binaural, a second binauralization may be avoided. In this manner, the user experience avoids audio artifacts introduced by multiple binauralizations.

The present invention relates to binaural audio, and in particular, to blind detection of binauralized audio data.
Unless otherwise indicated herein, the approaches described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
Binauralization of multi-channel or object-based audio content is a common technique for simulating the effects of surround sound on headphones. Often, simulated or synthesized Head Related Transfer Functions (HRTFs) are used to perform this simulation, resulting in magnitude and phase response changes. Binauralization may also be referred to as virtualization, and the generated sound may be referred to as binaural audio or virtualized audio.
Multiple examples of consumer applications of binauralization exist, such as with Dolby's headphone binaural rendering solutions. One typical configuration to achieve binauralization is to connect a source device, capable of performing the processing, to a headphone. Alternately, content may be transmitted to an advanced headphone capable of performing the binaural processing.
A scenario exists where the source device and headphone could both apply binaural processing. This can have adverse effect on the audio, as the magnitude and phase responses from both binaural processes would compound, resulting in a negative user experience.
One means to avoid dual processing in the above configuration is to support a uni-directional communication from the source to the headphone indicating when binaural processing is active, so that the headphone may disable its processing stage. However, in wireless applications such as the IEEE 802.15.1 standard (e.g., Bluetooth™ audio), there exists no shared profile for communicating such information. Furthermore, if such a profile were to exist, there is no guarantee that the source device would properly signal such processing.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,311,923 discusses performing feature extraction on an audio signal to generate a conditional probability score that is used for subsequent processing of the audio signal. However, such discussion does not provide much detail regarding the specific problems involved in binaural processing.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,933,989 discusses rendering input audio into binaural audio using binaural rendering metadata. However, such discussion does not contemplate the situation where the input audio has already been binauralized.

Blind detection of binauralized stereo content

Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation