A system and method of controlling and monitoring a cementing process injecting a cement slurry down a well that causes a return of a drilling fluid includes a first and second flowmeters disposed in the primary return conduit configured to generate a flow rate measurements of the returned drilling fluid, a first control valve receiving control signals from a microprocessor to regulate conducting the returned drilling fluid to a reservoir, a choke valve disposed downstream from the first and second flowmeters receiving control signals from a microprocessor to regulate diverting the returned drilling fluid in the primary return conduit in response to a detection of the presence of gas in the returned drilling fluid, and a mud-gas separator disposed in the primary return conduit configured to receive the diverted drilling fluid and separate the diverted drilling fluid into a mud component for return to the reservoir and a gas component for controlled burn off.

In oil and gas production, cement is used to hold the casing in place and to prevent fluid migration between subsurface formations. "Cementing," one of the most critical steps, is the process of pumping a slurry of cement, cement additives, and water down through the casing to critical points in the annulus around the casing or in the open hole below the casing string. The cement slurry flows to the bottom of the wellbore through the well casing and displaces the drilling fluids still located within the well and allows the drilling fluids to come back up the well. The cement slurry flows to the bottom of the wellbore through the casing, which will eventually be the pipe through which the hydrocarbons flow to the surface. From there it fills in the space between the casing and the actual wellbore and hardens. This creates a seal so that outside materials cannot enter the well flow, as well as permanently positions the casing in place. Cementing achieves many objectives: it provides a hydraulic seal, creates zonal isolation, protects the environment, provides structural support for the casing, protects the casing from corrosion, and isolates the casing seat for subsequent drilling.
A gas kick is an unscheduled and unwanted entry of gas into the wellbore, which travels up the well and rapidly expands due to change in atmosphere pressure in an uncontrolled fashion. Serious consequences of a gas kick include unsafe conditions for operators where return gas or kick gas has the potential to reach an ignition source, or be released to the atmosphere in an uncontrolled manner in a blowout.

System and method for intelligent flow control system for production cementing returns


A method of manufacturing a multilayer electronic component comprises steps of: preparing first insulating sheets having internal electrode patterns formed thereon; moving one or more of the first insulating sheets having the internal electrode patterns formed thereon onto a lower mold; arranging a second insulating sheet to be disposed between an internal electrode pattern disposed in an uppermost position among the internal electrode patterns formed on the lower mold and an upper mold and pressing the first insulating sheets having the internal electrode patterns formed thereon by the upper mold to form a laminate; and sintering the laminate to form a multilayer body. In a cross section in a width-thickness direction of the internal electrode pattern included in the multilayer body, 0.45≦t2/t2≦1.0, where t1 is a thickness of one side of the internal electrode pattern in relation to a central line connecting both vertices of the internal electrode pattern in a width direction and t2 is a thickness of the other side of the internal electrode pattern in relation to the central line and t2 is larger than or equal to t1.

A multilayer electronic component, such as a multilayer inductor, a multilayer capacitor, or the like, may be manufactured as follows. First, internal electrode patterns are formed on insulating sheets, the insulating sheets on which the internal electrode patterns are formed are stacked and pressed to form a laminate, and the laminate is cut and fired to form a multilayer body.
External electrodes for electrically connecting internal electrodes to external circuits are formed on outer surfaces of the multilayer body to manufacture the multilayer electronic component.

Multilayer electronic component and method of manufacturing the same


In a microscope having one or more separate lenses 11a to 11d arranged in side-by-side relationship within an area equal to or smaller than that of an objective lens for guiding separate beams of viewing light L respectively, the separate lenses 11a to 11d are located off the optical axis S which extends across the center of the objective lens, and a single illumination input 13 is provided across the optical axis S for directing an illumination light R along the optical axis S through the objective lens to a target area to be viewed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an illumination structure in a microscope.
2. Prior Art
In a common optical system of a microscope, a light flux reflected from a target area to be viewed is guided through an objective lens and a set of different lenses to an eyepiece for having an enlarged view of the target area.
FIG. 8 shows one of such known optical systems (which is disclosed in German Patent Application laid open under No. 2932486), in which a pair of objective lenses 20 and 21 are provided; the lower 20 is fixed and the upper 21 is vertically movable. Upward and downward movements of the upper objective lens 21 varies the focal length of the optical system. The upper objective lens 21 has a slit 23 provided therein for accepting a light shielding sheet 24. While the light shielding sheet 24 is anchored to a prism P, it allows the upper objective lens 21 to vertically move along.
A flux of viewing light L is returned along the center axis of the two objective lenses 20 and 21. An illumination light R is projected through the prism P along a tilted path separated by the light shielding sheet 24. Since the path of the illumination light R is separated by the light shielding sheet 24, no straying portion of the illumination light R will interfere the viewing light L.
However, the illumination light R in the conventional microscope is projected at an angle to and off the center axis of the objective lenses 20 and 21 thus creating shadows on the target area or if the target area is deep and narrow, hardly reaching the lowermost of the target area.
It is recently required for allowing more than one person to view the target area simultaneously or recording the target area with a video camera or the like while viewing it to guide and distribute the viewing light L as a group of separate beams through their respective lenses. As shown in FIG. 8, the objective lenses 20 and 21 are limited in use since their specific region defined by the light shielding sheet 24 is used for passing the illumination light R, and allow the viewing light L to pass across the remaining region. Hence, a desired number of separate beams of the viewing light L will hardly be obtained.
The present invention has been developed in view of such a prior art and its object is to provide an illumination structure in a microscope capable of illuminating the lowermost of a deep, narrow target area to be viewed and distributing the viewing light as a desired number of separate beams with ease.


The invention provides methods of modulating gastric acid secretion by administering an amount of a prokineticin receptor antagonist effective to alter one or more indicia of gastric acid secretion, wherein the antagonist contains an amino acid sequence at least 80% identical to amino acids to 7 to 77 of SEQ ID NO:3, which includes (a) the 10 conserved cysteine residues of SEQ ID NO:3, and (b) from 0 to 9 of amino acids 78 to 86 of SEQ ID NO:3, wherein amino acids 1 to 6 of the antagonist do not consist of amino acids AVITGA (SEQ ID NO:21). In another embodiment, the antagonist contains an amino acid sequence at least 80% identical to amino acids to 7 to 77 of SEQ ID NO:6, which includes (a) the 10 conserved cysteine residues of SEQ ID NO:6, and (b) from 0 to 4 of amino acids 78 to 81 of SEQ ID NO:6, wherein amino acids 1 to 6 of the antagonist do not consist of amino acids AVITGA (SEQ ID NO:21).

This invention relates generally to gastrological diseases and, more specifically, to modulating gastric acid and pepsinogen secretion to reduce or treat such diseases.
Gastrointestinal problems are common. Most people have experienced some form of gastrointestinal upset in their lives: nausea, vomiting or diarrhea associated with the flu, or indigestion after eating excessively. Over 95 million Americans have experienced gastrointestinal upset, and over 10 million Americans are hospitalized each year for care of gastrointestinal problems. While many digestive problems are more common as people get older, they can occur at any age, even in children, and strike regardless of gender, ethnic or socioeconomic backgrounds. Heartburn and ulcers are well known examples of common gastrointestinal problems. These disorders result from and are exacerbated by excessive secretion of gastric acid in the digestive tract.
Heartburn, also known as acid indigestion or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), is caused by the backward flow of acid from the stomach up into the esophagus. People with heartburn experience burning chest pain localized behind the breastbone that moves up toward the neck and throat. Some even experience a bitter or sour taste of acid in the back of the throat. The burning and pressure symptoms of heartburn can last as long as 2 hours and are often worsened by eating food. At least 60 million Americans experience heartburn at least once a month and some studies have suggested that over 15 million Americans experience heartburn daily.
Peptic ulcers are crater-like lesions of the gastrointestinal tract that can be caused by an inflammatory, infectious, or malignant condition. People with ulcers can experience a gnawing, burning pain in the upper abdomen; nausea; vomiting; loss of appetite; and weight loss. About 20 million Americans will suffer from an ulcer in their lifetime. Duodenal ulcers often occur between the ages of 30 and 50, and are twice as common among men. Stomach ulcers are more common after the age of 60 and are more commonly seen in women.
Medications for treating gastrointestinal disorders relating to excessive acid secretion are currently available. However, these medications fail to alleviate symptoms in a significant number of patients, up to 50% of patients for certain classes of medications. Such patients continue to experience gastrointestinal discomfort that many would agree has reduced their quality of life.
Thus, there exists a need for methods for modulating gastric acid and pepsinogen secretion. The present invention satisfies this need and provides related advantages as well.

Methods for modulating gastric secretion using prokineticin receptor antagonists

The Regents of the University of California


Embodiments of an apparatus including a first processor core having a local agent running thereon, the agent comprising a local process and a proxy agent and a second processor core having a remote agent running thereon, the remote agent being an instance of the local agent. A shared memory wherein coupled to the first processor core and the second processor core, wherein the local agent and the remote agent communicate via the shared memory. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Microprocessors using multiple cores have improved computing speeds for many applications, although not all applications benefit significantly from multi-core processing. For those types of application that do benefit from a multi-core implementation, the required code can be complex and difficult to maintain because of the need to communicate and coordinate between cores.
One implementation of multi-core software uses Remote Procedure Calls (RPCs) for communication and coordination among cores, but this approach has some shortcomings, notably the associated over-head and software complexity required for client and server cores to implement RPCs. Implementation of the RPC layer involves separating the code onto the two processors or cores, one of which is referred to as the client and the other as the server, and providing a layer to transparently connect the function calls between the client and server. This involves an RPC module on both cores and does not provide an easily maintainable or upgradeable architecture. Furthermore, transfer of data between the cores can consume processing time and memory bandwidth. Finally, in most RPC implementations there is no provision for the client to actively participate in the processing provided by the server, meaning that the processing is completely delegated to the server or remote routine.

Multi-core distributed processing using shared memory and communication link


A vacuum cleaner is provided with a canister assembly and a nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly includes both a main inlet and an edge cleaning inlet. A dirt container and a fan and motor assembly/suction generator are carried on either the nozzle assembly or the canister assembly. An airflow system conveys a vacuum airstream from the nozzle assembly to the dirt container. The airflow system includes a control valve, a first conduit between the main inlet and the control valve, a second conduit between the edge cleaning inlet and the control valve and a third conduit between the control valve and the dirt container.

Over recent years upright vacuum cleaners have enjoyed ever-increasing popularity. Upright vacuum cleaners generally incorporate a nozzle assembly which rides on wheels over the floor surface to be cleaned. A canister assembly is pivotally mounted to the nozzle assembly. The canister assembly includes an operating handle that is manipulated by an operator to move the vacuum cleaner back and forth across the floor. The canister assembly also includes either a bag-like filter or a cyclonic separation chamber and filter combination that traps dirt and debris while substantially clean air is exhausted by a fan that is driven by an onboard electric motor. It is this fan and motor arrangement that generates the drop in air pressure necessary to provide the desired cleaning action.
In most upright vacuum cleaners sold today, a rotary agitator is provided in the main inlet cavity of the nozzle assembly. The rotary agitator includes tufts of bristles, brushes, beater bars or the like to beat dirt and debris from the nap of a carpet being cleaned while the pressure drop or vacuum is used to force air entrained with this dirt and debris into the nozzle of the vacuum cleaner. Generally, the rotary agitator is mounted transversely across the nozzle assembly and is supported on bearings at each end.
While a number of arrangements are utilized, it should be appreciated that the sidewalls of the nozzle adjacent the ends of the rotary agitator must incorporate some structural reinforcement to properly hold the agitator in position. As a result, there is not only a gap between the lateral ends of the rotary agitator and the sidewalls of the nozzle assembly but also generally a gap between the main inlet cavity and the outer edge of the sidewalls. Thus, with each passage of the nozzle assembly a narrow strip of underlying floor along each side of the nozzle assembly is not subjected to effective cleaning. Since dirt has a tendency to collect in the corner where the floor meets a wall along a baseboard and/or toestrip, ineffective edge cleaning along the sidewall of a nozzle assembly can be a serious problem that frustrates a vacuum cleaner user. The present invention is directed to a vacuum cleaner that very effectively addresses and resolves this problem.


A wheel for an automobile and a manufacturing method therefor wherein, in manufacturing a disc material portion from a substantially flat square plate, a length of the side of the substantially flat square plate is selected so that, after the subsequently formed disc is pressed into a rim, a most recessed portion of a ventilation is located axially outside a center of curvature of a well radius of the rim.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wheel for an automobile and a manufacturing method therefor which can lighten the wheel to a great extent without decreasing its fatigue strength.
2. Description of Related Art
As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, an automobile wheel includes a disc 1 and a rim 2 connected to each other by spot welding 3. The spot welding 3 necessarily includes a stress concentrated portion 5 (FIG. 10) which tends to weaken the wheel. To compensate, the rim 2 and the disc 1 are engaged with each other axially over a relatively large length m' (FIG. 9). Clearance between the rim and the disc 1 is kept as small as possible because a tight engagement increases the strength of the wheel and decreases automobile vibration.
Disc 1 is manufactured, as generally illustrated by two dotted lines in FIG. 3, by die-cutting a substantially square flat plate having a side of length L' along a circle having a diameter D' greater than L', thereby obtaining a disc material portion 4. Disc material portion 4 is then formed into a disc shape to obtain a disc. In this instance, an arcuate portion 4a of the disc material portion 4 is formed into an axial end 4a of the disc flange shown in FIG. 9. Straight portion 4b of the disc material is formed into an arcuate recessed portion (or ventilation) 4b of the disc of FIG. 9. To increase the strength at the weld portion and to suppress radial displacements of the rim wall from a true circle, as described above, a most recessed portion 4c of the ventilation 4b is located axially inside a center of curvature 6 of the well radius between a rim well 8 and a rim side wall 9 so that a disc flange 7 contacts the rim well 8 at all circumferential portions of the disc flange 7. It has been thought from past experiences that if the most recessed portion 4c of the ventilation 4b were located axially outside the center of curvature 6 of the well radius, the strength of the welding portion would be greatly decreased and radial displacements of the rim from a true circle would increase. As a result, the length L' of the side of the disc material portion 4 is determined from the position of the most recessed portion of the ventilation when the disc 1 is pressed into the rim 2. More particularly, an axial length m' of 5 to 7 mm remains for engagement between the rim 2 and the disc 1 at the most recessed portion of the ventilation.
Despite that, there are two situations where the most recessed portion of a ventilation is located axially outside the center of well radius of a rim: one is where a periphery of the ventilation is bent to reinforce the ventilation, as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, and another is where a specially shaped blank is used as a disc material as illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14. These situations have particular problems described below.
More particularly, in the disc shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the ventilation has an axially bent portion or rib G. Rib G is defined as a portion having a cross section of a different shape from that of a portion of the disc, other than the most recessed portion and located on the same radius as the most recessed portion with respect to a center of the disc. The bent portion G extends also circumferentially, and at each circumferential end the bent portion G of each ventilation has two curved portions having respective curvatures R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 opposite to each other. Because of this bent portion G: (1) A volume inside the wheel is reduced by .DELTA.R in radius so that the space available for mounting a brake is decreased. (2) Rigidity of the disc becomes large relative to that of the rim, so that relatively large radial displacements are caused in the rim, which lower the fatigue strength and life of the weld portion. Increased rigidity of the circumferential ends of the ventilation also increases rim deformation, which increases the radial displacements of the rim. (3) It is necessary to increase a size of the disc material portion in proportion to an axial length L.sub.1 of the bent portion.
Further, in the disc shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, since the disc material has an angularly cut portion K, the disk also has an angular portion K' in the ventilation which shortens the fatigue life of the wheel. Use of this type of disk in automobiles is therefore restricted.
However, in the wheel of the type generally shown in FIG. 9, the rim and the disc are frequently welded to each other by a weld which is continuous, at least locally, in a circumferential direction of the wheel. As a result, excess strength and rigidity of the wheel is created.

Wheel for an automobile and a manufacturing method therefor


A firearm barrel tray having a barrel channel and a firearm accessory mounting interface, wherein the firearm barrel tray is configured to be attached to a firearm stock such that the barrel channel sits on a first side of the firearm stock and the firearm accessory mounting interface is configured to align with a recess on a second side of the firearm stock.

Users of longarms often have a desire to attach accessories to them. There are several places on a rifle upon which accessories may be mounted, but some are most usefully mounted along the sides and bottom of the forend. Such accessories include slings, bipods, lights, alternate grips, lasers and other useful accessories.
There are existing mounting systems for various types of accessories; certain mounting systems are designed to work with accessories made by many different manufacturers. Some such mounting systems are designed to securely fasten accessories and provide a very low tolerance for movement, especially upon firing of the firearm itself. Such systems often work best with heavy, durable material to keep such movement tolerances low and for various other reasons. However, it is undesirable to use heavy, durable materials in some areas of a firearm, such as an entire stock, because such materials can increase the overall weight of the firearm. There remains a need for a lightweight firearm stock that provides a user with the ability to securely attach an accessory to a forward region of the firearm.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Firearm barrel tray, stock, and related methods


A row address strobe signal input buffer and method for converting an external input row address strobe signal to an internal signal and protecting the internal signal from background noise in the circuit. In the preferred embodiment the invention level-shifts the row address strobe signal to an internal signal of CMOS signal level. It then latches the internal signal to its current state and opens a transmission gate cutting off the internal signal from the external row address strobe signal. This prevents glitches in the internal signal due to noise in the circuit introduced due to the external row address strobe signal being of a TTL level. The gate remains open for a delayed period of time, the delay determined by a delay circuit or by the length of a pulse from a pulse generator. After the delay period, the gate is closed, restoring the signal connection between the external row address signal and the internal signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a row address strobe signal input buffer of a semiconductor memory device and, more particularly, to a row address strobe signal input buffer for receiving a row address strobe signal of a TTL (Transistor-Transistor Logic) level and generating an internal signal of a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) level.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a row address strobe signal input buffer is a circuit for converting a row address strobe signal RAS which is an externally applied chip enable signal, into a chip internal signal. The row address strobe signal RAS is externally supplied to the row address strobe signal input buffer at a TTL level and converted into the internal signal of a CMOS level, enabling the DRAM. That is, when the row address strobe signal RAS is changed from logic "HIGH" to logic "LOW", it drives the row address strobe signal input buffer which generates a signal that activates the DRAM. However, since the row address strobe signal RAS is not a signal of the CMOS level, the output state of the row address strobe signal input buffer may fluctuate due to power noise generated within the DRAM. In other words, the output of the row address strobe signal input buffer may be affected by various power noise sources within a chip, such as bit line sensing noise, data output noise, etc. The affected output of the row address strobe signal input buffer leads to a glitch in the signal level of the internal signal.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a conventional row address strobe signal input buffer. An inverter I1 receives a power-up reset signal VCCH. A PMOS transistor T1 supplies a voltage of logic "HIGH" to the source of a PMOS transistor T2 in response to an output signal of the inverter I1. The PMOS transistor T2 and an NMOS transistor T3 having the channels serially connected between the drain of the transistor T1 and a ground voltage termin RASal constitute an inverter and generate an inverted output of the row address strobe signal. An NMOS transistor T4 has the gate connected to the output signal of the inverter I1 and has the channel connected between a node N1 and the ground voltage terminal. Inverters I2 and I3 are serially connected between the node N1 and an internal signal PR. The transistors T1-T4 are a circuit having the construction of a NOR gate.
In operation, the power-up reset signal VCCH is used for cutting off the operation of internal circuits of a semiconductor memory device until VCCH is raised to a predetermined level, about 2 V for instance. When VCCH is changed from logic "LOW" to logic "HIGH" its activated state, the row address strobe signal input buffer is initialized. Once the circuit is initialized the internal signal PR in response to the row address strobe signal RAS. In the initialized state, if the row address strobe signal RAS is changed from logic "HIGH" to logic "LOW," its activated state, the internal signal PR is changed from logic "LOW" to logic "HIGH," its enabled state. However, as shown in FIG. 2, a timing chart of the signals indicated in FIG. 1, during the activated interval of the row address strobe signal RAS, if the row address strobe signal RAS is sensed as logic "HIGH" by the power noise within the chip, such as the bit line sensing noise, data output noise, etc., the node N1 is inverted from logic "HIGH" to logic "LOW," and the internal signal PR is changed from logic "HIGH" to logic "LOW," its disabled state. This sequence of events causes a glitch in the internal signal.


At the transmitter side, carrier waves are modulated according to an input signal for producing relevant signal points in a signal space diagram. The input signal is divided into, two, first and second, data streams. The signal points are divided into signal point groups to which data of the first data stream are assigned. Also, data of the second data stream are assigned to the signal points of each signal point group. A difference in the transmission error rate between first and second data streams is developed by shifting the signal points to other positions in the space diagram expressed at least in the polar coordinate system. At the receiver side, the first and/or second data streams can be reconstructed from a received signal. In TV broadcast service, a TV signal is divided by a transmitter into, low and high, frequency band components which are designated as a first and a second data streams respectively. Upon receiving the TV signal, a receiver can reproduce only the low frequency band component or both the low and high frequency band components, depending on its capability. Furthermore, a communication system based on an OFDM system is utilized for data transmission of a plurality of subchannels, wherein the subchannels are differentiated by changing the length of a guard time slot or a carrier wave interval of a symbol transmission time slot, or changing the transmission electric power of the carrier.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication system for transmission/reception of a digital signal through modulation of its carrier wave and demodulation of the modulated signal.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Digital signal communication systems have been used in various fields. Particularly, digital video signal transmission techniques have been improved remarkably.
Among them is a digital TV signal transmission method. So far, such digital TV signal transmission system are in particular use for e.g. transmission between TV stations. They will soon be utilized for terrestrial and/or satellite broadcast service in every country of the world.
The TV broadcast systems including HDTV, PCM music, FAX, and other information service are now demanded to increase desired data in quantity and quality for satisfying millions of sophisticated viewers. In particular, the data has to be increased in a given bandwidth of frequency allocated for TV broadcast service. The data to be transmitted is always abundant and provided as much as handled with up-to-date techniques of the time. It is ideal to modify or change the existing signal transmission system corresponding to an increase in the data amount with time.
However, the TV broadcast service is a public business and cannot go further without considering the interests and benefits of viewers. It is essential to have any new service appreciable with existing TV receivers and displays. More particularly, the compatibility of a system is much desired for providing both old and new services simultaneously or one new service which can be intercepted by either of the existing and advanced receivers.
It is understood that any new digital TV broadcast system to be introduced has to be arranged for data extension in order to respond to future demands and technological advantages and also, for compatible action to allow the existing receivers to receive transmissions.
The expansion capability and compatible performance of the prior art digital TV system will be explained.
A digital satellite TV system is known in which NTSC TV signals compressed to an about 6 Mbps are multiplexed by time division modulation of 4 PSK and transmitted on 4 to 20 channels while HDTV signals are carried on a single channel. Another digital HDTV system is provided in which HDTV video data compressed to as small as 15 Mbps are transmitted on a 16 or 32 QAM signal through ground stations.
Such a known satellite system permits HDTV signals to be carried on one channel by a conventional manner, thus occupying a band of frequencies equivalent to the same channels of NTSC signals. This causes the corresponding NTSC channels to be unavailable during the transmission of the HDTV signal. Also, the compatibility between NTSC and HDTV receivers or displays is hardly concerned and data expansion capability needed for matching a future advanced mode is utterly disregarded.
Such a common terrestrial HDTV system offers and HDTV service on conventional 16 or 32 QAM signals without any modification. In any analogue TV broadcast service, there are developed a lot of signal attenuating or shadow regions within its service area due to structural obstacles, geographical inconveniences, or signal interference from a neighbor station. When the TV signal is an analogue form, it can be intercepted more or less at such signal attenuating regions although its reproduced picture is low in quality. If the TV signal is a digital form, it can rarely be reproduced at an acceptable level within the regions. This disadvantage is critically hostile to the development of any digital TV system.
It is an object of the present invention, for solving the foregoing disadvantages, to provide a communication system arranged for compatible use for both the existing NTSC and introducing HDTV broadcast services, particularly via satellite and also, for minimizing signal attenuating or shadow regions of its service area on the grounds ground.
The present invention provides a communication system comprising: input means for inputting an image signal; image compression means for compressing said image signal to generate a digital image compression signal; error correction encoding means for adding an error correction code to said digital image compression signal to generate an error correction coding signal; modulating means for modulating said error correction coding signal into an n-value VSB modulation signal; transmitting means for transmission transmitting said n-value VSB modulation signal; receiving means for receiving a transmission signal transmitted from said transmitting means; demodulating means for demodulating said transmission signal into a receiving digital signal; error correction means for error correcting said receiving digital signal to generate an error-corrected digital signal; image expansion means for expanding said error-corrected digital signal to generate an image output signal; and output means for outputting said image output signal.
It is preferable that the n-value of the VSB modulation signal is 8. Furthermore, a Trellis decoder will be used for the error correction means.
Moreover, the receiving digital signal is divided into a high priority signal and a low priority signal, and the error correction means includes a first error correction means with a high code gain and a second error correction means with a low code gain, so that the high priority signal is corrected by the first error correction means.
The high priority signal contains address information of data. And, the Trellis decoder will be preferable as the first error correction means.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


In this assembly the spout attachment has at the top of its vertical wall a flat annular wiper flange having an upstanding sealing bead. The flange is clamped between the top of the mouth of the bottle and the undersurface of the closure so that the bead seals against the closure and no liner is necessary in the closure. To keep the attachment from uncontrolled rotation as the closure is screwed on and off, the vertical wall of the attachment is provided with a pair of horizontally aligned closely spaced lugs which straddle an inward protrusion in the mouth of the bottle.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to spouted plastic bottles. More specifically, this invention relates to spout attachments which include sealing means so that it is not necessary to provide a liner in the bottle closure. It also relates to means to maintain the attachment against rotation in the mouth of the bottle.
2. Description of Related Art including Information Disclosed under .sctn..sctn.1.97 to 1.99
The prior art includes a number of molded spout attachments for plastic molded bottles. As an example, the U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,829, which issued Nov. 17, 1987 to Li discloses an attachment which has an inverted U-shaped margin which snaps over the top of the mouth of the bottle. The closure for this bottle has a seal or a liner that is engaged by a bead at the top of the U-shaped margin.
Other spout attachments are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,763,403 which issued Sept. 18, 1956 to Livingstone. Some of the disclosures in Livingstone include spout attachments in which a flange rides on the top of the mouth of the bottle between the mouth and the closure. The disclosure suggests that it is possible to eliminate the use of a liner in the closure, but presumably the result is often that as the closure is tightened, the spout turns relative to the mouth, disorienting the spout. This is a critical shortcoming when the bottle is formed with a integral handle and direction of spout pour should be opposite the handle.
Other patents which disclose spout attachments are: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,078,700; 4,128,189; 4,550,862; 4,671,421; 4,696,416;


The present disclosure relates to an adjustment mechanism for aligning a hanging structure, such as a door panel, window, art work, ladder, curtain, or decorative element.

Hanging objects have become a common part of contemporary architecture and design. Many consumers are interested in hanging door panels, windows, curtains, art work, ladders, and the like, within a room. Aligning these hanging structures can be challenging and minor adjustments are often needed. In some arrangements, these hanging structures need to be aligned with respect to the wall or another structure within the room. In other arrangements, one hanging object needs to be aligned with respect to another hanging object (and perhaps the wall or another structure within the room). These hanging structures are often secured to a wall or another structure at or near the ceiling of a room, which leaves little space within which to adjust the hanging structures so they can be aligned. Many of the known hardware is bulky and difficult to adjust within such a small space, and often times even requires the mounting holes in the hanging object to be re-drilled several times until alignment is perfected.


A display device includes: a display layer; a surface film disposed to face a display surface of the display layer; and a moisture-proof film disposed between the display layer and the surface film and including a projecting section. The projecting section projects outwardly of an end face of the display layer and an end face of the surface film.

The present technology relates to a display device including a moisture-proof film for a display layer, and to an electronic apparatus including the display device.
Today, while liquid crystal display devices are widely used as flat display devices such as televisions, display devices such as organic EL (electroluminescence) display devices that achieve reduction in thickness and power consumption are drawing attention.
In such display devices that have been actively developed in recent years, a moisture-proof function is important because a display layer configured of an organic layer is easily degraded by moisture, for example. In view of this, a technique has been proposed in which a display layer is protected by a moisture-proof film having low moisture permeability for prevention of infiltration of moisture (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-301816).


The present invention provides a read sensor that can acquire data from the read object reliably, with a simple configuration, by making it possible to acquire data from the read object using both a magnetic field and an electric field. A read sensor 10 has conductive elements 30 that have a shape in which first elements 31 and second elements 32 are connected with each other along a first plane 20a, as if drawn unicursally in one stroke, so that the angle θ1 formed between a first element 31 and a second element 32 becomes a predetermined sharp angle, and a metal plate 40 that covers a second plane 20b of the dielectric plate 20, which is the back plane of the first plane 20a.

The present invention relates to a read sensor and a management system that are used to read information stored in radio tags and/or the like in a non-contact manner.
In recent years, management systems to manage articles by attaching radio tags to the articles to store on an article management shelf have come to be known. If articles can be managed by means of radio tags like this, it is possible to reduce the cost of labor, effort and working time required for the management of articles significantly.
Under this circumstance, patent literature 1 discloses a management system that has a radio tag which is attached to an article to store, in which dedicated information is stored, and which is capable of non-contact communication, a loop antennas that communicates with the radio tag in a non-contact manner using a magnetic field, and a management means that manages the dedicated information acquired from the radio tag via the loop antenna. The method of communicating with radio tags using a magnetic field, disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-72919, is generally used when acquiring data from radio tags that are close in distance.
Also, a method of communicating with radio tags by means of a dipole antenna using an electric field has been known heretofore. In comparison with the method of communicating with radio tags using a magnetic field, the method of communicating with radio tags using an electric field is generally used when acquiring data from radio tags that are far in distance.
In this way, heretofore, when acquiring data from radio tags, communication with the radio tags has been conducted using either a magnetic field or an electric field, depending on the purpose.


A transmitter equipped with a plurality of transmission path ports and a relay section. The relay section has a routing table and a router. In the routing table, information about the relay of the received packet to one of the transmission path ports connected to a relay transmission path is stored, correlated with both a port identifier of each the transmission path port and the source address of the transmitter that transmitted the packet. The router extracts the port identifier of the transmission path port that received the packet and the source address contained in the received packet, and routes the received packet to the transmission path port connected to the relay transmission path by referring to the routing table for the extracted port identifier and the extracted source address.

1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to transmitters and a method of transmission that are used in a network where data packets are transferred between a source transmitter and a destination transmitter via a relay transmitter, and relates more particularly to transmitters and a transmission method that are suitably employed in a vast and complex network where data transmission between certain points is performed via a redundant path structure (consisting of a plurality of paths) to ensure reliability.
2) Description of the Related Art
In networks, in which transmission path ports in transmitters are connected through transmission paths such as optical fiber paths, data communications is performed between transmitters.
In a first method of transmission, it is judged whether a data packet received by one transmission path port in a transmitter is relayed to another transmission path port which relays the received data packet to its destination, and based on the result of judgement, the received data packet is relayed from the receiving port to the relay port. In a second method of transmission, a transmission path port to relay a data packet is determined by referring to a routing table, based on a destination address contained in the header of a data packet.
A conventional transmitter adopting the above-described first transmission method is shown in FIG. 12 by way of example. The conventional transmitter is typically configured to include receiving port sections 111, 121, 131, 141, transmitting port sections 112, 122, 132, 142, and a relay section 150.
The receiving port sections 111, 121, 131, and 141 consist of O/E (Optical/Electrical) converters 113, 123, 133, 143, reception controllers 114, 124, 134, 144, and first-in first-out (FIFO) memories 115, 125, 135, 145, respectively. The transmitting port sections 112, 122, 132, and 142 consist of transmission controllers 116, 126, 136, 146, FIFO memories 117, 127, 137, 147, and E/O converters 118, 128, 138, 148, respectively.
The relay section 150 consists of relay units 151 to 154, which relay packets received via the receiving port sections 111, 121, 131, and 141. The relay units 151 to 154 store the connection status of the transmitting port sections 112, 122, 132, and 142 to which a received packet is transmitted from the receiving port sections 111, 121, 131, and 141. This makes it possible to relay a packet received via the receiving ports 111, 121, 131, or 141 to a relay transmitter from which the received packet reaches its destination (destination transmitter).
For example, in the case where transmitters 1-1 to 1-n (where n is an integer≧3), 2-1 to 2-4, 3-1, and 3-2 such as the one shown in FIG. 12 are arranged as shown in FIG. 13 and construct a network 4, packets are transmitted within the network 4 by the above-described first transmission method. In the relay units 151 to 154 of the relay section 150 in each of the transmitters 1-1 to 1-n, 2-1 to 2-4, 3-1, and 3-2, relay methods in the transmitting and receiving port sections 111, 121, 131, 141, 112, 122, 132, and 142 are set.
The network 4 consists of three network portions, depending on the form of connection of transmitters. The first network portion 1 consists of transmitters 1-1 to 1-n connected in tandem, the second network portion 2 consists of transmitters 2-1 to 2-4 connected in ring form, and the third network portion 3 consists of transmitters 3-1 and 3-2 connected in tandem. The transmitter 1-n and the transmitter 2-1 are connected to each other, so the first network portion 1 and the second network portion 2 are connected to each other. The transmitter 2-4 and the transmitter 3-1 are connected to each other, so the second network portion 2 and the third network portion 3 are connected to each other.
The transmitter 2-1 is constructed so packets can be relayed according to settings shown in FIG. 14 by the relay units 151 to 154 of the relay section 150. Note in the figure that the transmission path ports 110, 120, 130, and 140 of the transmitter 2-1 are provided with transmitting and receiving port sections 112 and 111, transmitting and receiving port sections 122 and 121, transmitting and receiving port sections 132 and 131, and transmitting and receiving port sections 142 and 141 (see FIG. 12).
More specifically, the first transmission path port 110 is provided with the receiving port section 111 for receiving packets from the transmitters 1-n, and the transmitting port section 112 for transmitting packets to those transmitters 1-n. Similarly, the second transmission path port 120 is provided with the transmitting port section 122 and receiving port section 121 for transmitting and receiving packets to and from the transmitter 2-2. The third transmission path port 130 is provided with the transmitting port section 132 and receiving port section 131 for transmitting and receiving packets to and from the transmitter 2-4.
In the network 4 shown in FIG. 13, in order to perform communications from the transmitter 2-4 to the transmitter 2-2, in the relay transmitter 2-1 data packet received from the transmission path port 130 is relayed to the transmission path port 120. To perform communications from the transmitter 2-4 to the transmitters 1-1 to 1-n, the data packet from the transmission path port 130 is also relayed to the transmission path port 110. In other words, the data packet received by the receiving port section 131 of the transmission path port 130 is copied in the relay unit 153 of the transmitter 2-1 and relayed to the transmitters 1-1 to 1-n and to the transmitter 2-2.
Likewise, to perform communications from the transmitter 2-2 to the transmitter 2-4, a data packet received from the transmission path port 120 is relayed to the transmission path port 130. To perform communications from the transmitter 2-2 to the transmitters 1-1 to 1-n, the data packet from the transmission path port 120 is also relayed to the transmission path port 110. In other words, the data packet received by the receiving port section 121 of the transmission path port 120 is copied in the relay unit 152 and relayed to the transmitters 1-1 to 1-n and transmitter 2-4.
In addition, to perform communications from the transmitters 1-1 to 1-n to the transmitter 2-2, a data packet received from the transmission path port 110 is relayed to the transmission path port 120. To perform communications from the transmitters 1-1 to 1-n to the transmitter 2-4, the data packet from the transmission path port 110 is also relayed to the transmission path port 130. In other words, the data packet received by the receiving port section 111 of the transmission path port 110 is copied in the relay unit 151 and relayed to the transmitter 2-4.
Another conventional transmitter adopting the above-described second transmission method is shown in FIG. 15. The transmitter, as with the transmitter shown in FIG. 12, includes receiving port sections 111, 121, 131, 141, transmitting port sections 112, 122, 132, 142, and a relay section 160.
Unlike the case of FIG. 12, the relay section 160 consists of a routing processing section 170 and a table register 180. The routing processing section 170 is equipped with a receiving part 171, a destination address extracting part 172, a judging part 173, and four transmitting parts 174 to 177. The table register 180 dynamically or statically stores a transmitting port number for relaying data for each destination address.
More specifically, in the routing processing section 170 of the transmitter adopting the second transmission method shown in FIG. 15, the destination address extracting part 172 extracts a destination transmitter address (destination address, DA) from the header of a data packet received by each of the receiving port sections 111, 121, 131, and 141. The judging part 173 extracts the number of the transmitting port section 112, 122, 132, or 142 connected with a destination transmitter, by referring to the statically or dynamically set table register 180. The judging part 173 further commands the transmitting parts 174, 175, 176, and 177 connected with the extracted transmitting port sections 112, 122, 132, and 142 to transfer data packets received by the receiving part 171.
For instance, in a network 4A with transmitters 5-1, 5-2, 6, 7, 8-1, 8-2, and 9 connected as shown in FIG. 16, when packets are transmitted by the above-described second transmission method, each of the transmitters 5-1, 5-2, 6, 7, 8-1, 8-2, and 9 is constructed as shown in FIG. 15.
Note that the network 4A has a redundant transmission path structure between the transmitters 7 and 9, which consists two routes. In the first route, packets are relayed to the transmitter 8-1 connected to the transmission path port 140. In the second route, packets are relayed to the transmitter 8-2 connected to the transmission path port 130.
In the relay transmitter 7, a data packet is relayed according to settings shown in FIG. 17 by the routing processing section 170 of the relay section 160. That is, a destination address (DA) in the header of a data packet (DP), received by the receiving port section 111 of the transmission path port 110 (see FIG. 15), is extracted by the destination address extracting part 172. When the extracted destination address is the address of the transmitter 9, that data packet DP is transferred to the transmission path port 140. In this way, the data packet DP received by the transmitter 7 is transferred to the transmitter 9 via the transmitter 8-1.
Note that in order to construct a virtual local area network (VLAN), conventional network frame relay units store information about the corresponding relationship between the address of a terminal in the destination of a network frame and a port connected to that terminal, and also store information about the corresponding relationship between the address of a terminal in the source of a network frame and a port connected to a terminal in the destination of a network frame transmitted from the address of that source terminal (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. HEI 9-186715).
In addition, in conventional packet switches, if a packet is received, an IP flow table is searched for the IP source address and IP destination address of that packet in order to reduce microprocessor's routing load and security load. If the IP flow table has a corresponding IP flow, the packet is transferred to an appropriate output port according to the routing process shown in the IP flow without being routed by a microprocessor (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-295274).
However, the network 4 shown in FIG. 13 has the following problems when transmitting data packets by the aforementioned first transmission method, using transmitters such as that shown in FIG. 12.
For instance, if a data packet is transmitted from the transmitter 3-2 to the transmitter 1-1, the data packet is copied in the relay section 150 of the transmitter 2-1 and is relayed to the transmission path port 110 connected with the transmitters 1-1 to 1-n and to the transmission path port 120 connected with the transmitter 2-2. Because of this, the data packet relayed to the transmitter 2-2 returns to the transmitter 2-1 through the transmitters 2-3 and 2-4. Since the network portion 2 in the form of a ring has a closed transmission path, data packets can circulate through the ring path.
In the above-described case, the transmitter 2-1 relays a data packet toward the transmitter 2-2 as well as to the transmitter 1-1, so the data packet is also added onto the ring network portion 2. To avoid this, the number of hops (the number of relays from the transmitter 2-4 to the transmitter 1-1) is typically set to the header of a data packet, and a subtraction is made each time the data packet is relayed. After a predetermined number of relays, the data packet is discarded.
However, if a distance to the transmitter 1 (the number of hops) is long like the network 4 shown in FIG. 13 (particularly, if the value of n in reference numeral "1-n" is 4 or more, and 4 or more transmitters are connected in tandem), the number of hops at the transmitter 2-1 will reach a predetermined number.
If, in the network 4, a data packet is transmitted from the transmitters 1-1 to 1-n to the transmitters 2-2 to 2-4, data congestion will easily occur in the transmission path port 120 of the transmitter 2-1 because of the presence of data packets being circulated through the ring network portion 2, and consequently, an increase in traffic and the loss of transmitted packets will easily occur.
In the case where a network like FIG. 13 is constructed with transmitters having the same structure as that shown in FIG. 15, a data packet can be relayed only to a specified transmitter and therefore it is possible to solve the above-described problems, but since transmitting special data packets (such as multi-address transmission) is the equivalent of transmitting multi-destination packets, the same data congestion as the case of the above-described network 4 sometimes occurs. In this case, the problem of an increase in traffic and the loss of transmitted packets will easily arise and result in a reduction in the quality of transmission paths.
In addition, the network 4A shown in FIG. 16 has the following problems when transmitting data packets by the aforementioned second transmission method.
As shown in FIG. 16, both a data packet to be transmitted from the transmitter 5-1 to the transmitter 9 and a data packet to be transmitted from the transmitter 5-2 to the transmitter 9 have the same destination address, and the relay transmitter 7 relays these data packets through the same transmission path port without discriminating between the two.
In that case, the two data packets are transferred to the transmitter 9 through the same route (connected to the transmission path port 130), even when the path between the transmitters 7 and 9 has a redundant transmission path structure. Because of this, the network load on the route onto which data packets were transmitted is increased, and consequently, an increase in traffic and the loss of transmitted packets tend to take place.
On the other hand, even if the transmitter 7 relayed data packets to both ports in the manner shown in FIG. 12, the same data packet would be copied and transmitted and the traffic between the transmitters 7 and 9 would double.
The technique described in the aforementioned Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. HEI 9-186715 is a technique to construct a virtual local area network (VLAN). Therefore, even if this technique is used in the transmitters of the networks 4 and 4A shown in FIGS. 13 and 16, an increase in traffic and the loss of transmitted packets can not be prevented.
In addition, the technique described in the aforementioned Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-295274 is a technique for reducing microprocessor's routing load and security load. Therefore, even if this technique is employed in the transmitters of the networks 4 and 4A shown in FIGS. 13 and 16, an increase in traffic and the loss of transmitted packets can not be prevented.


Provided is a breather pipe structure for a liquid reducing agent storage tank which ensures that a liquid reducing agent can be supplied without trouble even if a breather pipe in the liquid reducing agent storage tank is clogged with frozen liquid reducing agent. In a breather pipe structure for a liquid reducing agent storage tank (10) which stores a liquid reducing agent (5) and which has a breather pipe (20) for introducing/discharging air attached on top of the liquid reducing agent storage tank (10), a lower end (20c) of the breather pipe (20) in the liquid reducing agent storage tank (10) is arranged to extend along a liquid reducing agent defrosting piping (16) provided in the liquid reducing agent storage tank (10).

Exhaust gas purification systems which have been developed for purifying NOx in diesel engine exhaust gas include, for example, a urea SCR system using a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2000-27627 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2005-83223).
This urea SCR system is configured to supply an aqueous urea solution (with a urea concentration of 32.5%), for example, serving as a liquid reducing agent to an upstream part in the direction of exhaust gas flow of the SCR device, so that urea is hydrolyzed to generate ammonia by heat of the exhaust gas, and NOx is reduced by this ammonia on a SCR catalyst.
As shown in FIG. 4, an exhaust pipe 3 is connected to an exhaust manifold 2 of a diesel engine 1. A SCR device 4 for NOx reduction is connected to the middle of the exhaust pipe 3, and a reducing agent supply pipe section 8 having an injection nozzle 7 for supplying a liquid reducing agent (urea aqueous solution) 5 to a SCR catalyst 6 in the SCR device 4 is connected to an upstream part in the direction of exhaust gas flow in the SCR device 4.
A liquid reducing agent storage tank 10 is connected to the injection nozzle 7 of the reducing agent supply pipe section 8 via a liquid reducing agent supply pipe 9. This liquid reducing agent storage tank 10 is configured to pressure feed the liquid reducing agent 5 from a liquid feeding pump 11 to the injection nozzle 7 via the liquid reducing agent supply pipe 9.
The liquid reducing agent storage tank 10 is provided with a filler pipe 12, so that the tank 10 is refilled with the liquid reducing agent 5 through the filler pipe 12 after removing a cap 13 provided on the filler pipe 12.
This liquid reducing agent storage tank 10 is installed in a small place on a side of a vehicle in the vicinity of the exhaust pipe 3, and the filler pipe 12 is attached to an upper edge 10e of the liquid reducing agent storage tank 10 on the vehicle side such that the filler pipe 12 is inclined obliquely upward to facilitate the injection of the liquid reducing agent 5.
Further, a breather pipe 14 is provided on top of the liquid reducing agent storage tank 10 in order to introduce air from the outside and to discharge air according to change of the liquid surface level in the tank.

Breather pipe structure for liquid reducing agent storage tank


The present invention relates to a method of preparing a strain of sugar fermenting Saccharomyces cerevisiae with capability to ferment xylose, wherein said method comprises different procedural steps. The method comprises mating a first sporulated Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain with a second Saccharomyces cerevisiae haploid strain. Thereafter, screening for mated cells is performed, growing such mated cells, and verifying that mated cells exhibit basic morphology by microscopic inspection. Thereafter, creation of a mixture of the mated cells is performed, subjecting the mixture to continuous chemostat lignocellulose cultivation and obtaining the sugar fermenting Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells with capability to ferment xylose is performed. The invention also comprises strains obtained by said method.

Strains of the genus Saccharomyces are used widely in the industry for brewing, distilling, baking, bioethanol production and various other applications. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is one of the most widely used microorganisms in industrial applications in view of it's ability to convert sugars such as glucose, fructose, mannose, maltose and sucrose to cell mass, and fermenting these sugars to ethanol. Strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae are used in the fuel industry in view of their ability to rapidly convert sugars into ethanol. Saccharomyces cerevisiae has a better tolerance towards fermentation inhibitors and ethanol compared to bacteria and other yeast species.
Unlike bacteria and several yeast species, wild-type Saccharomyces cerevisiae is not able to use pentoses such as xylose and arabinose as carbon source. The ability of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to grow on abundant carbon sources such as side streams and residual material from other processes, such as agricultural residual material from e.g. maize and bagasse, and residual material from e.g. paper manufacture, is of great environmental, but also economical, value. Agricultural residual material and hardwood derived streams comprise a rather large fraction of hemicellulose, which is built from many different sugar monomers. For instance, besides glucose, these sugar monomers can include xylose, mannose, galactose, rhamnose and arabinose. Glucose and xyloseare the sugar monomers that are present in the largest amount and thus represents an important carbon source for the manufacturing of ethanol using yeasts, providing a huge economic and environmental advantage. The abundance of xylose in mentioned materials and the possibility to use yeasts, such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, to produce ethanol using xylose as carbon source has led to intense research within this field of technology. The conversion of xylose has however sometimes been poor resulting in a poor ethanol production. Further the production of the byproduct xylitol has been rather large.
Genes encoding enzymes giving the ability to use xylose as carbon source have previously been introduced in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
A comparison using a blast search of the amino acid sequences Xyl1 (xylose reductase) and Xyl2 (xylitol dehydrogenase) from Scheffersomyces stipitis with all proteins in S. cerevisiae show that the closest homologues are Gre3p (Sc) E-value: 3E-100 with Xyl1, and Xyl2 is closest to Sor1p, Sor2 E-value 1.4E-86 to 1 E-77. The smaller the E value the larger homology of the genes. Thus, a large homology between sequences is observed. EP 1 282 686 discloses recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains having incorporated genes for the enzymes xylose reductase, xylitol dehydrogenase and xylulokinase as well as having been subjected to a specific mutation. Said strains have the ability to ferment lignocellulose raw materials to ethanol. The strain deposited in Ep 1 282 686 is CBS 102679 (TMB3400, Taurus01) is generally recognised to be efficient in the prior art. The ethanol produced by the strain CBS 102679 has been considered very good compared to other prior art recombinant yeasts, but there is also a production of the undesirable byproduct xylitol. Therefore, there is still a need within the art to provide new strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae having an even better ethanol production, better xylose conversion as well as lower xylitol production.
WO2012/067572 discloses Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains Taurus03 with deposit number CBS128138, Taurus04 with deposit number CBS 128139, Taurus07 with deposit number CBS128140, Taurus10 with deposit number CBS128141, which all are xylose fermenting yeast strains producing beneficial ethanol yields.
The β-lactamase gene is included in at least the strains Taurus01, Taurus04 and Taurus07 as mentioned above. The authorities in the US do not allow the use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains, which contain the β-lactamase gene, in larger production facilities in view of risk for genetic transfer of the gene to another organism which then potentially can obtain antibiotic resistance.
There is still a need within the technical field to provide robust Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains providing high ethanol yields from both 5- and 6-carbon sugars and in addition exhibiting low by-product yields of eg xylitol. Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains not having the above mentioned β-lactamase gene in the genome are especially needed.


A high speed passband phase modulation apparatus and method are provided. In the phase modulation apparatus, an RF phase shifter modulates a phase of a local signal that is generated in a VCO according to a digital input. The RF phase shifter is controlled by a phase-controlled loop so that a baseband phase shifter is phased locked to a modulation reference signal from the local signal and a reference clock signal according to the digital input. The phase-controlled loop phase-locks using the modulation reference signal so that the phase-modulated signal generated in the RF phase shifter has a phase value according to the digital input.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a phase modulator of a radio frequency (RF) transmitter and, more particularly, to a high speed phase modulator employing a polar modulation scheme for multi-band processing and a method of the same.
2. Description of Related Art
A superheterodyne or a polar modulation scheme may be utilized as a transmission method in a system for transmitting/receiving high speed wireless data, such as, for example, a mobile phone, a digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) phone and a personal digital assistant (PDA).
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a transmitter 100 employing a superheterodyne scheme according to a conventional art. Referring to FIG. 1, the transmitter 100 includes an intermediate frequency processing unit 110, a carrier processing unit 120, a surface acoustic wave (SAW) filter 130 and a power amplifier 140. In this system, the phase-modulated I and Q signals in the baseband are up-converted to an intermediate frequency band in the intermediate frequency processing unit 110. Then, the output of the intermediate frequency processing unit 110 is up-converted to a frequency band of the carrier signal in the carrier filter 120. When the baseband signal is being processed in the intermediate frequency processing unit 110 and the carrier processing unit 120, an image tone, analogous to noise, may be generated. When this occurs, the generated image tone is removed in the SAW filter 130. The signal output from the SAW filter 130 is amplified by the power amplifier 140 to an appropriate power level.
However, the conventional transmitter 100 employing a superheterodyne scheme as described above requires the SAW filter 130 in order to remove the image tone. Therefore, because the power amplifier 140 has to cover the resulting changes in linearity for a modulation scheme such as, for example, quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) and binary phase shift keying (BPSK), the transmitter 100 is not suitable for multi-band processing.
In contrast, a polar modulation scheme is suitable for multi-band processing in an ubiquitous system that can up-convert a baseband signal in a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system, a global positioning system (GPS), a personal communication system (PCS), an International Mobile Telecommunication (IMT) 2000 system, Wireless Broadband Internet (WiBro) system, a wireless local area network (WLAN), an Ultra Wideband (UWB) system and a WiMax system.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a transmitter 200 employing a polar modulation scheme according to a conventional art. Referring to FIG. 2, the transmitter 200 includes a phase-locked loop (PLL) 210, a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) 220, a power amplifier 230, a modulation unit 240 and a controller 250. In the polar modulation scheme described above, the operation of the PLL 210 and the modulation unit 240 is in accordance with baseband signals I and Q. The PLL 210 and the modulating unit 240 control the phase of the passband signal that is output from the VCO 220. Also, as the phase is shifted, the power level of the signal is appropriately amplified before and after the phase shift by the controller 250.
However, the conventional transmitter 200 employing a polar modulation scheme as described above shifts the phase of the VCO 220 using the PLL 210. Accordingly, a loop filter (not shown) that is provided in the PLL 210 needs a fast response time in order to provide a fast phase shift. However, high speed phase modulation is difficult to achieve because of loop bandwidth limitations. Also, in the polar modulation scheme that directly controls the VCO 220 in order to shift the phase, a momentary frequency change is unavoidable at the instant of the phase shift. In this case, it may not be possible to design a power amplifier that has a sufficiently wide bandwidth corresponding to the frequency change.

High speed passband phase modulation apparatus and method of the same


Methods, devices, and computer program products for CMOS visible image sensors incorporating multiple image sensing elements with different integration times to extend dynamic range are disclosed herein. In one aspect, a method of taking an image using a CMOS visible image sensor that includes at least one first light sensing element with a first well capacity and at least one second light sensing element with a second well capacity, where the second well capacity is greater than the first well capacity is disclosed. The method includes determining a first integration time for each of the at least one first light sensing elements. The method further includes determining a second integration time for each of the at least one second light sensing elements, where the second integration time is different than the first integration time.

In digital imaging, the dynamic range of a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) sensor may, at times, be insufficient to accurately represent outdoor scenes. This may be especially true in the more compact sensors which may be used in mobile devices, such as in the camera on a mobile telephone. For example, a typical sensor used in a mobile device camera may have a dynamic range of approximately 60-70 dB. However, a typical natural outdoor scene can easily cover a contrast range of 100 dB between light areas and shadows. Because this dynamic range is greater than the dynamic range of a typical sensor used in a mobile device, detail may be lost in images captured by mobile devices.
Previous attempts to extend the dynamic range of image sensors each have their own advantages and their own disadvantages. For example, some previous approaches involve combining two frames, one with a shorter exposure time and one with a longer exposure time. In this approach, the frame with the longer exposure time may be used to show details in dark regions while the frame with the shorter exposure time may be used to show details in bright regions. This approach may yield good results for objects which are stationary, and may produce excellent wide dynamic range (WDR) pictures. Unfortunately, when moving objects are photographed, the time difference between the two different frames used to create such an image may cause motion ghost effect. This approach may also require a full frame memory in such a device.
To reduce such motion artifact, another approach is to start the integration of the short exposure frame immediately after readout of the long exposure frame. To explain how this scheme works, let us assume the short exposure time is S line-time and the long exposure time is L line-time. With a typical rolling shutter operation, an imager will start integration of first row at time 0 and then second row at one line-time later, and so on. At time L line-time, we will readout the first row for the long-exposure frame and immediately start integration for the second, short exposure frame, followed by readout and reset of second row one line-time later, and so one. Thus, for example, at time L+S line-time, a readout of the short exposure frame of row 1 will occur, while at time L+S+1, a readout of row 2 of the short exposure frame will occur. This continues until both frames are read out completely. While motion artifact may be reduced compared to the previous approach, this approach will still require S lines of memory buffer in order to reconstruct the complete WDR frame.
In order to minimize motion artifacts from dual-frame approaches and to reduce amount of required line buffers, a different scheme may be used where different integration times are implemented within the same readout frame. For example, one possible scheme is to have two rows having a longer integration time, Tlong, and another two rows having a shorter integration time, Tshort. This scheme may be used for color sensing imagers where the color filter sub-pattern usually comes in pairs, such as the well-known Bayer pattern, which has a 2×2 sub-pattern with two green pixels in one diagonal and a red and a blue pixel on the other diagonal, as illustrated in FIG. 1.
Similar to other approaches, the rows with Tlong are used to show details in dark regions while rows with Tshort are used to show details in bright regions. With such approach, motion artifacts are minimized and no line buffer is needed. However, this approach will result in resolution loss in the vertical direction. Another improved approach is presented in U.S. Pat. No. 8,059,174 where the long and short integration time are tightly interleaved, i.e., some pixels in a row will have longer integration time while the other pixels in the same row will have shorter integration time, resulting in a much better resolution in the vertical direction. However, this still results in some resolution loss, in both vertical and horizontal directions. In a similar scheme, one row of pixels with long integration time may be used and the next row of pixels may have short integration time, with both pixels having the same color filter. However, this approach results in a different aspect ratio and vertical resolution loss.
Yet another approach to this problem may be to use non-linear response pixels, such as logarithmic pixels. While such pixels provide very high native dynamic range, images created using these pixels suffer from other issues, such as higher fixed-pattern noise (FPN).
Besides different integration time, other techniques such as in-pixel manipulations can also be implemented to achieve WDR. For example, in the so-called lateral over-flow integrated capacitor (LOFIC) scheme, a small capacitor is added in each pixel to accumulate charges when a particular pixel is near saturation. In this scheme, higher dynamic range may be achieved at the expense of a more complex layout.
In each of these schemes, each pixel has one light sensing element and the pixels are usually arranged in a square pattern, with same increment in both horizontal and vertical direction.
Another possible scheme is illustrated by U.S. Pat. No. 7,019,274, which shows a scheme in which a small light sensing element and a large light sensing element are incorporated in each pixel. By adjusting the light shield on top of the pixel to allow more exposure to the larger element and less exposure to the small element, the combined picture can have higher dynamic range. For such approach, however, the dynamic range extension is fixed once an imager is fabricated because the dynamic range extension depends only on the ratio of small and large elements and their aperture ratio. In practice, however, for different scenes, different dynamic ranges are needed. For example, in low light situations, it may be preferable to not use any high dynamic range image information, and instead, it may be desirable to expose each pixel to as much light as possible in order to achieve higher signal to noise ratio (SNR). However, the scheme used in U.S. Pat. No. 7,019,274 may not be optimized for such different schemes.

System and method for capturing images with multiple image sensing elements


The invention relates to the diagnostic and therapeutic uses of a miRNA molecule, an equivalent or a source thereof in a neuronal deficiency or a disease and condition associated with neuronal deficiency.

Deficient neuronal function is involved in several diseases or conditions. For example, loss of cognition, neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease or the traumatic spinal cord injury are all characterized by a loss of neurons and their connections. Current therapeutic options are still very limited and display a limited if any efficacy.
To tentatively restore complete neuronal function (neurorestoration), different therapeutic approaches are considered (Enciu et al, BMC Neurology 2011, 11:75; Kraev et al, PLoS ONE, 10 Aug. 2011, Vol 6, Issue 8).
Neuroplasticity could be improved. Neuroplasticity is a comprehensive term that illustrates the brain's capacity to adapt, structurally and functionally, to environmental enhancement. Neuroplasticity is particularly important for cognitive abilities such as learning and memory formation.
Neuronal regeneration could be improved. It implies that new neurons or new projections, generated either through proliferation of endogenous stem/progenitor cells or by administration of exogenous stem/precursor cells with potential to substitute for lost tissue, will differentiate, survive, and integrate into existing neural networks. Neuroprotection could be promoted using growth factors (Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), Brain-Derived Nerve Factor (BDNF), Glial-Derived Nerve Factor (GDNF)) and their pro-survival effect on neuronal cells.
Neurite extension, or neurite outgrowth, plays a fundamental role in embryonic development, neuronal differentiation, and nervous system function. Neurite outgrowth is also critical in some neuropathological disorders as well as neuronal injury and regeneration. A variety of neurite parameters, including length and number of neurites, are sensitive to the intra- or extracellular environment and pharmacological agents. Retinoic acid, plannexin and neuropeptide galanin are examples of these candidates which are able to induce neurite outgrowth of neuronal cells.
However, the mechanisms and factors that regulate the regeneration of neurons in the adult after nerve injury remain poorly understood. Damage to a peripheral nerve causes major changes within the cell bodies of the sensory neurons which are thought to promote regeneration by stimulating neurite outgrowth and enhancing survival of the damaged neuron.
Another neuronal disfunction is epilepsy. Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder and is characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures, caused due to abnormal and synchronous neuronal discharges within the brain (Chang and Lowenstein, 2003). In some cases, epilepsy is caused by single gene mutations mainly of genes encoding ion channels, but the reason for most epilepsies is unknown. Temporal lobe Epilepsy (TLE) is a subclass of epilepsy, accounts for about one third of all patients with epilepsy (Engel, 2001). It consists of several subgroups of which Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy with Hippocampal Sclerosis (MTLE-HS) is the most severe one. MTLE-HS presents with a typical set of diagnostics, clinical and pathological characteristics (neuron loss, gliosis and axonal sprouting) and is known to be most resistant to pharmacological treatment (Wieser and Epilepsy, 2004). For many patients, surgical removal of the hippocampus is the only alternative to achieve seizure control (Semah et al., 1998). The pathological mechanisms underlying TLE are largely unknown. Anticonvulsant and anti-epileptic drugs are used to treat these patients. But, unfortunately these only reduce the occurrence of seizures but do not treat the underlying pathophysiology. Hence there is an urgent need to develop novel treatment strategies for this disabling condition. A need for developing disease-modifying drugs is increasingly recognized by research community and in clinical practice (Loscher et al., 2013).
The pathological mechanisms underlying MTLE are still largely unknown. Animal models of epilepsy and human tissue studies suggest that epileptogenesis involves a cascade of molecular, cellular and neuronal network alterations (Rakhade and Jensen, 2009). Approaches starting from the transcriptome have revealed that patterns of gene expression are significantly altered in human MTLE (van Gassen et al., 2008) and during epileptogenesis in animal models for TLE (Gorter et al., 2006; Pitkanen and Lukasiuk, 2009; Rakhade and Jensen, 2009). This dysregulation effects entire gene regulatory networks that normally control gene expression that regulate pathways involving inflammation, gliosis, synaptic structure and neuronal function. Insight into whether or how these mechanisms are altered may not only provide important new insights into the pathogenesis of TLE, but could also yield novel targets for therapy.
Examples of known drugs for managing epilepsy are lamotrigine, phenytoin, carbamazepine, levetiracetam, oxcarbazepine, clobazam, diazepam, lorazepam, Seroquel, pregabaline, and restoril. These drugs are generally anti-seizure or anticonvulsant agents. For example, lamotrigine suppresses the release of glutamate and aspartate, two of the dominant excitatory neurotransmitters in the CNS; phenytoin is believed to protect against seizures by causing voltage-dependent block of voltage gated sodium channels. Carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine are sodium channel blockers, levetiracetam inhibits presynaptic calcium channels. Clobazam is a GABAA receptor agonist and may affect sodium channels and voltage-sensitive calcium channels. These drugs are generally prone to causing drug-drug interactions because they are metabolized via e.g. CYP2C19, CYP3A4 and CYP3A5. Also they mostly treat symptoms, not underlying causes of epilepsy.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNA molecules, approximately 20-22 nucleotides long. They function as translational repressor, and thereby control many cellular processes. In humans, around 1500 miRNAs have been identified of which approximately 50% is present in the brain. This suggests that these miRNAs are part of all kinds of neuronal development and maintenance; however the actual function of most miRNA is unknown. Several brain specific miRNAs are described, of which miR-124 is the most popular. The domestic pig is considered to be an excellent, alternate, large mammal model for human-related neurological studies, due to its similarity in both brain development and the growth curve when compared to humans. Considering these similarities, studies examining microRNA expression during porcine brain development have been performed to predict the expression profile and role of microRNAs in the human brain (Podolska et al., PLoS One. 2011 Jan. 6; 6(1): e14494, doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0014494). Numerous developmental stage or tissue-specific microRNAs including, miR-17, miR-18a, miR-29c, miR-106a, the miR-135s, miR-221 and miR-222 were detected by microarray analysis. However, no biological functions in neuron development have been identified so far. At least two miR-135s are known, namely miR-135a and miR-135b. The main description of the miR-135 family has been reported in cancer cells such as the regulation of the Adenomatous Polyposis Coli gene in the colorectal cancer (Meijer and Agami, Cancer Res 2008; 68(14): 5795-802). Inactivation of the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene is a major initiating event in colorectal tumorigenesis. Most of the mutations in APC generate premature stop codons leading to truncated proteins that have lost β-catenin binding sites. APC-free β-catenin stimulates the Wnt signaling pathway, leading to active transcription of target genes. miR-135a and miR-135b target the 3′ untranslated region of APC, suppress its expression, and induce downstream Wnt pathway activity. Interestingly, a considerable up-regulation of miR-135a and miR-135b in colorectal adenomas and carcinomas significantly correlated with low APC mRNA levels. This genetic interaction is also preserved in full-blown cancer cell lines expressing miR-135a and miR-135b, regardless of the mutational status of APC. miR-135a is also reported to contribute to anticancer drug resistance in tumor cells (Holleman et al, 2011 Oncogene). miRNA arrays were used to screen for differentially expressed miRNAs in paclitaxel-resistant cell lines. The role of miRNA-135a was evaluated in an in vivo model of paclitaxel resistance. In paclitaxel-resistant cell lines, established either in vitro or in vivo, blockage of miR-135a sensitized resistant cell lines to paclitaxel-induced cell death. Upregulation of miR-135a was associated with reduced expression of the adenomatous polyposis coli gene (APC). APC knockdown increased paclitaxel resistance in parental cell lines. These results indicate that paclitaxel resistance is associated with upregulation of miR-135a, both in vitro and in vivo.
miRNA-124 is downregulated in nerve-injured motor neurons and it potentially targets mRNAs for KLF6 and STAT3 (Nagata et al., doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.10.055). Also, it was demonstrated that HDAC5 acts as an inhibitor of neurite elongation and that HDAC5 is regulated by the brain enriched microRNA miR-124 (Gu et al., doi: 10.1002/jcp.25927). Additionally, brain regeneration in planarians (flatworms) is mediated by precise spatiotemporal control of gene expression and is crucial for multiple aspects of neurogenesis. The role of the miR-124 family of microRNAs in planarian brain regeneration has been reported by Sasidharan et al., (doi: 10.1242/dev.144758). The miR-124 family (miRNA-124) is highly conserved in animals and regulates neurogenesis.
There is a need for better diagnostic markers for assessing the generation or regeneration of a neuronal cell, as well as better strategies for promoting generation, regeneration, or functionality of a neuronal cell.

MiRNA molecule, equivalent, antagomir, or source thereof for treating and/or diagnosing a condition and/or a disease associated with neuronal deficiency or for neuronal (re)generation


A copolymer including a monomer A with a molar ratio a varying between around 0.01 and around 0.20, a monomer B with a molar ratio b varying between around 0.2 and around 0.4, and a monomer C with a molar ratio c varying between around 0.50 and around 0.70, the monomer A being a hydrophilic monomer including a pendant chain of poly(ethylene oxide) (POE) with low molar weight, the monomer B being a hydrophobic monomer with a glass transition temperature (Tg) of around −30° C. or less, the monomer C being a monomer that is more hydrophobic than the monomer B and having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of around 80° C. or more, said monomers being organised in a hydrophilic segment, a hydrophobic segment and an intermediate segment located between the hydrophilic segment and the hydrophobic segment.

Secondary lithium-ion batteries are used as energy sources in laptop computers, cellular telephones, electric tools and electronic and communication devices, where they make it possible to reduce size and weight. In recent years, lithium-ion secondary batteries have also been used for electric cars and hybrid cars. There is a strong demand for secondary lithium-ion batteries with a high performance, large capacity, and long lifetime for the latter applications.
A secondary lithium-ion battery typically includes a positive electrode including a lithium metal compound such as a lithium and cobalt oxide or a material of the olivine type (for example LiMPO4 (where M=Fe, Mn, Co and/or Ni) as active material; a negative electrode including a carbonaceous material such as graphite as active material; and an electrolytic solution (electrolyte) typically including carbonates as solvent. A secondary lithium-ion battery is charged and discharged by the movement of the lithium ions between the positive electrode and the negative electrode.
The positive electrode is typically obtained by applying a fixed suspension made up of the active material and a binder on the surface of a positive electrode current collector such as an aluminum sheet, by drying the suspension, then cutting the current collector to an appropriate size.
Similarly, the negative electrode is obtained by applying a fixed suspension made up of the active material and a binder on the surface of a negative electrode current collector such as a copper sheet, by drying the suspension, then cutting the current collector to an appropriate size.
The binders used for the electrodes of secondary lithium-ion batteries serve to bind the active materials to one another and to bind the active materials to the current collector to prevent the unsticking of the active materials from the surface of the current collector.
Polymeric binders are widely used to assist with the cohesion and adhesion of the active materials of batteries on the collector. These binders are typically electrochemically inactive, stable and chemically inert polymers. They contribute significantly to the mass and the stability of the battery.
At this time, the most used polymer as binder is poly(vinyl difluoride) (PVDF). This polymer is typically dissolved in a toxic solvent (N-methyl pyrrolidone, NMP)) with a very high boiling temperature (202° C.). Although this polymer is very effective as a binder and is electrochemically inert, it comprises substantial problems in terms of its industrial use, such as a high production cost and a substantial energy demand to evaporate the solvent during the manufacture of electrodes. Furthermore, from an electrochemical perspective, its use in a battery with a liquid electrolyte causes LiF formation, which accelerates the chemical breakdown of the PVDF. Another factor that accelerates the breakdown speed of the electrode is the lack of flexibility of the PVDF; the contraction and expansion effects caused by the cycling creating the formation of cracks in the electrode.
Another polymeric coating traditionally used consists of a mixture of styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and methylcellulose (CMC). The SBR allows good adhesion to the collector, while the CMC helps thicken the dispersion and the adhesion of the active materials to one another. However, the SBR has a negative impact on the conductivity of the electrode. Furthermore, although this mixture is very effective in the case of LiFePO4 and LTO (Li4Ti5O12), it is not very effective in the case of LCO (LiCoO2) for example.
Poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN), poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and poly(vinyl acid) (PVA) have also been used as polymeric binder for electrodes. However, their glass transition higher than the ambient temperature causes a lack of flexibility.


A fiber type optical wavelength converter has a core made of nonlinear optical crystal and a clad surrounding the core. The core and clad have an effective refractive index N.sup..omega. satisfying the following inequality EQU .vertline.(n.sub.G.sup.2.omega.).sup.2 -(N.sup..omega.).sup.2 .vertline.<0.093(.lambda./a).sup.2. wherein n.sub.G.sup.2.omega. represents a refractive index of the core to the second harmonic wave corresponding to a dielectric tensor effectively utilized in the conversion, .lambda. represents a wavelength of the fundamental wave and a represents a radius of the core in the cross-section. The optical wavelength converter converts the fundamental wave .lambda. into the second harmonic wave .lambda./2 at a high efficiency.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical wavelength converter, in particularly to a fiber type wavelength converter using Cerenkov radiation phase matching.
2. Description of the Related Art
Wavelength converters have been actively developed, which use nonlinear optical crystal to constitute an optical waveguide passage to guide an optical wave to a minute area, and effectively generate a second harmonic wave. These wavelength converters are generally classified into two types depending on the methods satisfying phase matching. The first type matches the phase velocity of a nonlinear polarization wave excited by an incident light of a fundamental wave with that of the second harmonic wave, and executes the phase matching between both the guide modes of the fundamental wave and of the second harmonic wave. The other type executes so-called Cerenkov radiation phase matching, i.e., the phase matching between the guide mode of the fundamental wave and the radiation mode of the second harmonic wave.
An optical wavelength converter is known, which is constituted in the shape of an optical fiber comprising a core made of nonlinear optical crystal and a clad surrounding the core. This optical wavelength converter employs the Cerenkov radiation phase matching. This optical wavelength converter is also known as an optical fiber type second harmonic wave generator (hereinafter referred to as "SHG").
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of an SHG 3, which comprises a columnar core 10 and a cylindrical clad layer 20 concentrically surrounding the core 10. When the fundamental wave propagates through the core 10 from the left to the right in the diagram, a second harmonic wave is generated. In other words, the nonlinear polarization wave propagates at the same phase velocity and generates the second harmonic waves with a predetermined angle to the clad layer. The second harmonic waves are reflected within the inside surface of the clad layer 20 and propagate from the left to the right in the diagram. The phase matching between the guide mode of the fundamental wave and the radiation mode of the second harmonic wave is executed in the clad layer and the core.
The second harmonic wave and reflected wave at the boundary between the clad layer 20 are emitted from the end of the fiber in a corn shape as shown in FIG. 1. The equiphase wave surface of the wavefront of the thus emitted second harmonic wave is conical with the center axis of the fiber as its axis.
According to the Cerenkov radiation system, it is possible to generate the second harmonic wave whose optical phase is almost automatically matched. The SHG is therefore applied to a short-wave light generator. As shown in FIG. 3, the short-wave light generator comprises a semiconductor laser 1, a coupling lens 2, an SHG 3 of which core is constituted by nonlinear optical crystal, and an axicon lens 4. The coupling lens 2 collects and guides the light emitted from the semiconductor laser 1 onto the end face of the SHG 3. The axicon lens 4, shapes the wavefront of the second harmonic wave, irradiated after conversion done by the optical wavelength converter, to form the second harmonic wave in the form of the parallel flux of light.
In this way, the short-wave light generator module is constituted by the above SHG. However, the optical nonlinear material of this type is not found yet which has an efficiently large nonlinear polarization constant. In addition, it is difficult to select a material of claddings having a suitable refractive index for the core surrounded by the clad. Consequently, the wavelength converting efficiency (the output power of an second harmonic wave to be emitted/the output power of the semiconductor laser, i.e. The output power of the second harmonic wave) is about 0.1% at maximum.