A recording apparatus includes: a first transporting path which is a transporting path that transports a medium, passes along a recording portion that performs recording on the medium, and extends to an upstream side and a downstream side of the recording portion; a second transporting path which is a transporting path that is connected to the first transporting path, and switches back and transports the medium in a direction reverse to a feeding direction after the medium which passes along the recording portion is fed; and a third transporting path which is a transporting path that is connected to the second transporting path, makes the medium transported in the reverse direction detour an upper side of the recording portion, reverses the medium, and makes the medium merge at a position on the upstream side of the recording portion in the first transporting path.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a recording apparatus which performs recording on a medium.
2. Related Art
In a recording apparatus which is represented by a facsimile or a printer, particularly in a recording apparatus which can perform recording on both surfaces of a medium, a medium transporting path for reversing the medium is necessary. There are various types of medium transporting paths for reversing the medium, and for example, there is a case where a configuration in which a reversing path for bending and reversing the medium and a path for switching back the medium are combined is employed.
If the medium transporting path is complicated in this manner, when a paper jam occurs in the medium transporting path, an operation for removing the jammed paper becomes a problem. In JP-A-2002-274727, a configuration in which a part of a paper transporting path is opened by opening a manual feeding paper supplying stand is disclosed. In addition, in JP-A-2008-214020, a configuration in which a part of a paper transporting path is opened by opening a manual feeding tray is disclosed. Furthermore, in JP-A-2010-253754, a configuration in which a part of a paper transporting path is opened by detaching a bending and reversing unit is disclosed.
In addition, as one type of the recording apparatus, an ink jet type printer, which performs printing (recording) by ejecting ink with respect to the medium, such as a paper sheet, from a line head (recording portion) which has a fixed type head, is known (for example, refer to JP-A-2013-136242). In the printer, an apparatus casing, in which an upper casing provided with a paper discharging portion on an upper surface thereof can rotationally move around an axial line that extends in a horizontal direction with respect to a lower casing, is provided.
In other words, the upper casing is configured to be rotationally movable between a proximity position which is proximate to the lower casing and a separation position which is separated from the lower casing. Since a line type head is loaded on the upper casing, the printer can perform maintenance of the head by accessing the head of the upper casing from an opening on a front side which is formed when the upper casing rotationally moves to the separation position.
On an apparatus layout, when the reversing path for reversing the medium is formed to go around a recording head, the recording head becomes an obstacle when jam processing is performed, and particularly, it is not possible to move the recording head for a jam processing operation when the recording head is provided to be fixed, and it is difficult to perform the jam processing operation. However, in a configuration in which the recording head which is provided to be fixed is movable, a size of the apparatus becomes large, and the positional accuracy of the recording head deteriorates.
In addition, in the above-described printer, a head is attached to the upper casing. In other words, the head is provided in the upper casing which is different from the lower casing having the transported medium on which printing is performed by the head. For this reason, it is necessary to ensure accuracy of a hinge with respect to the lower casing in the upper casing, which is supposed to ensure the printing accuracy. However, since it is difficult to ensure the accuracy of the hinge, in some cases, there is a problem that the positional accuracy of the head cannot be ensured.


In accordance with the present invention, binding sites are defined based upon the individual information content of a particular site of interest. Substitutions within the binding site sequences can be analyzed to determine whether the substitution will cause a deleterious mutation or a benign polymorphism. In addition, new binding sites can be identified using individual information content. Further a computer system is described for determining and displaying individual information content of a binding site sequence.

When studying molecular binding sites in DNA or RNA, it is conventional practice to align the sequences of several sites recognized by the same macromolecular recognizer and then to choose the most common bases at each position to create a consensus sequence (see Davidson et al., 1983. Nature (London), 301, 468-470). Consensus sequences are difficult to work with and are not reliable when searching for new sites (Sadler et al., 1983b. Nucl. Acids Res. 11:2221-2231; 26 Hawley & McClure, (1983) Nuc. Acids Res.; 11:2237-2255).
This is partly because information is lost when the relative frequency of specific bases at each position is ignored. For example, the first position of Escherichia coli translational initiation codons has 94% Adenine ("A"), 5% Guanine ("G"), 1% Uracil ("U") and 0% Cytosine ("C"), which is not represented precisely by the consensus "A". To avoid this problem, four histograms can be made that record the frequencies of each base at each position of the aligned sequences. Such histograms can be compressed into a single curve by the use of a .chi..sup.2 function (Gold et al., 1981. Annu. Rev. Microbiol. 35, 365-403; Stormo et al., 1982. Nuc. Acids Res. 10, 2971-2996). Although these curves show where information lies in the site, they have several disadvantages: the .chi..sup.2 scale is not easily understood in simple terms; it is difficult to compare the overall information content of two different kinds of sites, such as ribosome binding sites and restriction enzyme sites; and .chi..sup.2 histograms are not directly useful in searching for new site sites (Stormo et al. 1982 Nuc. Acids Res. 10, 2997-3011).
Many general methods exists for identifying sequence changes which are deleterious. However, these methods require experimentation in the laboratory. The most common method is the identification of a disease state and a corresponding genetic mutation in a particular sequence element. This method is quite labor intensive and requires that the mutation produce an identifiable phenotype. Another method uses restriction fragment length polymorphisms to identify alterations within the genome. This method is also experimental, but can only detect alterations in the genome at restriction sites, whether or not a phenotype results.
The average information contained in a set of nucleic-acid binding sites can be calculated by using the methods of information theory, and this has been useful for understanding a number of genetic control systems (Schneider et al., 1986. J. Mol. Biol., 188, 415-431; Schneider & Stormo, 1989. Nuc. Acids. Res., 17, 659-674; Eiglmeier et al. 1989. Mol. Microb., 3, 869-878; Penotti, 1990. J. Mol. Biol., 213, 37-52; Penotti, 1991 J. Theor. Biol. 150, 385-420; Schneider & Stephens, 1990. Nuc. Acids. Res., 18, 6097-6100; Herman & Schneider, 1992. J. Bact., 174, 3558-3560; Gutell et al., 1992. Nuc. Acids. Res., 20, 5785-5795; Papp et al., 1993. J. Mol. Biol., 233, 219-230). However, thus far an effective method does not exist for working with information content of single sequences or for predicting the effect of changes in information content due to sequence alterations--be it through biological evolution or by genetic manipulation.
Information analysis of normal splice junctions reveals partially conserved nucleotide sequences that are not always reflected in the corresponding consensus sequence (Stephens & Schneider, 1992. J. Mol. Biol. 228:1124-1136). Information content may be represented by a sequence logo, which depicts the relative contribution of each position of the splice site and the relative frequencies of each nucleotide at every position (Schneider & Stephens, 1990. Nucl. Acids Res. 18:6097-6100). The logo illustrates the full range of normal variants in the splice junction.
The present invention is principally directed to binding sites on a sequence. In particular, the present "Walker" program enables a scientist or clinician to identify mutations within a nucleic acid binding site which are deleterious, without extensive experimentation. This method generates a model of the binding site which is called the R.sub.i (b,l) weight matrix, which can then be used to evaluate other individual sites for their information content. The present invention allows one to analyze the effect on the binding site of changing a base at a particular position within the site.
The weight matrices of the present invention are not found in the prior art in several respects. R.sub.i values, which represent the sum of all weights at each position within a site, are on an absolute scale, rather than the relative scale found in the prior art. R.sub.i =0 is a cutoff point for functional sites within the present invention. This feature is lacking in both Staden's method (1984 Nuc. Acids Res., 12:505-519) and Berg & von Hippel's method (1987 J. Mol. Biol., 193:723-750; 1988 J. Mol. Biol., 200:709-723; 1988 Nuc. Acids Res., 16(11):5089-5105). Hence, these methods draw no distinction between polymorphisms and mutations.
Moreover, the Berg & von Hippel's method relies upon the consensus sequence as the ideal, i.e. the best binding sequence. Therefore, Berg & von Hippel had no way of distinguishing a polymorphism from a deleterious mutation.
In addition, unlike the prior art (Berg & von Hippel's statistical-mechanical theory, in particular), no assumption about the relationship between energy and information is required to obtain R.sub.i in the present invention. The statistical-mechanical approach assumes that the energy of binding, "discrimination energy", is equal to the information contained within a recognition sequence. This assumption does not allow for a situation where more than one protein could bind to a particular site and thus increase the apparent information contained within that site.
Further, the R.sub.i method described in the present invention is much more sensitive to sequence changes than the widely and almost universally used consensus sequence method. The consensus sequence destroys data by taking the most frequent base at every position as the base used in the consensus model, whereas the R.sub.i method does not alter the frequency data and so can be used to detect subtle effects.
One object of the present invention relates to the use of individual information content of the site and its comparison with the overall distribution of individual information in a set of binding sites, to determine whether a substitution is a polymorphism or a mutation.
Another object of the present invention relates to designing binding sites to adjust the activity of the site. The present invention further relates to a computer system capable of determining the individual information content of a binding sequence and identifying new binding sequences.
Yet another object of the present invention relates to the use of individual information content to determine the effect of a particular position change in a sequence acting as a binding site.
Another object of the invention is to use the "Ri" and "Walker" computer program to display the reaction of a binding macromolecule at every position in a sequence and to determine the change in information content when a particular position within a binding site is altered.
Objects and advantages of the invention set forth herein and will also be readily appreciated here from, or may be learned by practice with the invention. These objects and advantages are realized and obtained by means of instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the specification and claims.

Computational analysis of nucleic acid information defines binding sites

The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services


An electromagnetic fuel injector and novel method for assembly and calibration having a solenoid assembly with a pole piece, a valve assembly including an armature, and a working air gap separating the valve assembly from the pole piece when the injector is in a de-energized state. A shim having a thickness equivalent to the length of the working air gap is placed between the pole piece and the valve member during construction of the injector. Following assembly, a solvent is introduced into the injector to dissolve the shim, which is constructed of a material readily dissolvable in the desired solvent, to define the working air gap and, therefore, the static flow through the injector.

Electromagnetic fuel injectors are used in fuel injection systems for internal combustion engines to effectively control the discharge of fuel per unit time to the engine intake. Such electromagnetic fuel injectors are typically calibrated so as to inject a predetermined quantity of fuel per unit time prior to their installation in the fuel system.
Calibration of the fuel injector requires that both static and dynamic flow through the injector be precisely set and controlled. Typically, the static flow rate of such an injector is a function of the stroke of the valve assembly and is calibrated using a threaded spray tip. As the tip is rotated, the armature stroke, defined by the working air gap between the valve assembly and the solenoid pole piece, is increased or decreased. This method of adjustment is costly, and prone to thread damage and contamination which causes assembly difficulty. Additionally, as stroke is adjusted to accommodate static flow, the changing air gap length affects the magnetic circuit and therefore the dynamic flow rate of the injector.

Fuel injector stroke calibration through dissolving shim


A method of processing raw coal using activation agents (e.g., solvents and extractants) in a high shear reactor, which creates high shearing forces to break apart the coal and selectively extract and remove contaminants such as ash, sulfur, and other heavy metal impurities resulting in clean, high caloric-value coal.

Increase in global energy consumption imposes an immediate increase in energy demand A new or alternative and sustainable form of fuel/energy is required to meet the ever-growing energy demand. Currently, the energy infrastructure relies heavily on oil and natural gas, which is being slowly depleted, and will require an alternative form of fuel for sustainability. [U.S. Energy Information Administration, Annual Energy Outlook, 2018]. Coal, having a highly abundant reserve, is a form of fuel that can be converted into a liquid fuel. However, the application of coal is limited due to its harmful environmental impacts as a result of burning (e.g., sulfur emission and ash residue), as well as high processing, emission controls, and mitigation and conversion costs. Many countries are enforcing an even more stringent emission protocol that calls for the reduction of sulfur and ash emissions to a non-hazardous level. This would require commercial processes to spend additional capital to develop a new process or upgrade an existing process to ensure a tighter control on hazardous emissions.
When coal is burned directly, such as at a power plant, a substantial amount of ash residue is generated. In some instances, for lignite coal, roughly 19% of the coal burned is ash content, which has negative heating value. This ash output varies depending on the rank of the coal. The disposal of such ash has become an enormous economic and environmental problem. The accumulation of ash residue in the ash pit is also a severe environmental problem. For example, excessive rainwater can carry the contents of the ash and transfer those contents into the ground. The contents may percolate into ground water and neighboring water systems thereby endangering the water quality of the drinking water and environment. Federal and State regulatory authorities require coal-fired power plants to prepare a decisive plan to mediate and/or dispose of such hazardous accumulation, such plans can incur billions of dollars in costs.
As briefly mentioned, coal is ranked based on the degree of coalification or metamorphism. There are four main types of coal, ranked from lowest to highest based on age of metamorphism (See Table 1), the ranks are as follows: lignite, sub-bituminous, bituminous, and anthracite. [Radovic, Ljubisa R. and Schobert, Harold H., "Energy and Fuels in Society: Analysis of Bills and Media Reports", McGraw-Hill, 1997. Indiana Center for Coal Technology Research, http://www.purdue.edu/dp/energy/CCTR/.]
TABLE 1Age of formation and carbon content of different ranks of coalApproximate Approximate Carbon Coal RankAge (years)Content (%)Lignites 60,000,00065-72Subbituminous Coals100,000,00072-76Bituminous Coals300,000,00076-90Anthracites350,000,00090-98
Lignite coal is a soft coal, usually black or brown, conventionally used for industrial heating. It has low amounts of fixed carbon (25% to 35%) and more volatile matter (>48%) and high moisture content (usually between 30% to 60% moisture, but can be as high as 73% by weight for some regional sources) and therefore has a low caloric (heating) value. The next rank is the sub-bituminous coal which has a slightly higher fixed carbon of 35% to 45% with 10% to 45% volatile matter, and lower moisture content (10% to 45%) compared to the lignite. This rank of coal also has a lower sulfur content (˜1%) in comparison to the lignite coal (<2% sulfur). Bituminous is the next rank higher than the sub-bituminous coal with 45% but up to 80% fixed carbon content, only about 14% to 32% volatile matter, with the balance being moisture (2% to 15%), air, hydrogen, sulfur and other impurities. Of note, the bituminous coal is named as such because it contains higher amounts of "bitumen", which is a low-grade tarry substance, and is usually divided into two classes: "Thermal" for energy generation and "Metallurgical" for steel making Lastly, the highest ranked coal is the anthracite coal. It has the highest carbon content (between 85% to 98%) compared to the lower ranks, and only 1% to 14% volatile matter, which also makes it the most expensive coal and constitutes about 1% of the world's coal reserve. The anthracite coal has the lowest moisture and oxygen/volatile matter content of all the coal. Lower oxygenate volatile matter content also makes it hard to ignite, but when ignited, it burns the longest (highest fixed carbon). Details of the different characteristic properties of the coals are presented herein in Table 2. [Radovic et al.; Indiana Center for Coal Technology Research]. Different coal ranks will have varying amount and types of sulfur impurities and ash. The quantity and variability of sulfur content in coal makes it difficult to achieve commercial and emission standards.
TABLE 2Characteristics and Properties of Coal by RanksCoal PropertiesLigniteSub-bituminousBituminousAnthraciteHeat Content (Btu/lb)a4,000-8,0008,500-13,00011,000-15,00013,000-15,000Moisture 30-60%10-45% 2-15%  <5%Volatile Matterb  >48%10-45%14-32% 1-14%Ash 10-50%<=10% 3-12%10-20%Fixed Carbon 25-35%35-45%45-85%85-98%Sulfur (all forms)0.4-1.0% <2%0.7-4.0% 0.6-0.8% aAsh-free, moisture containing basis;bdry-ash-free basis
The presence of sulfur will cause carbon deposits on the process catalysts (commonly referred to as coke), which will shorten the lifespan of the catalyst, thereby incurring high capital and operating costs. Moreover, the burning of sulfur-containing fuel releases the sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere, which forms acid rain and endangers the aquatic life and environment.
Sulfur may present itself in various forms in coal such as organic sulfur, inorganic sulfur (e.g., pyrite (FeS2)), and as ferrous sulfate (FeSO4.7H2O). Nonetheless, the two main forms of sulfur measured in coal are discussed herein separately as inorganic and organic, and each requires a different process technology for removal. Due to the limitations of current coal desulfurization and de-ashing technology, the removal of impurities is limited to the surface or near-surface of the coal particles and not from the deeper core of a coal particle. These present methods limit the overall effectiveness of the process and require additional steps to achieve similar compliant coal. In one example, performing a standard oxidative desulfurization on Indian coal using hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid removes about 24% to 37% of sulfur for 1 to 4 hours of processing. [Saikia, 2013].
Based on the foregoing, a need exists for efficiently and effectively removing impurities from coal. These and other inefficiencies and opportunities for improvement are addressed and/or overcome by the assemblies, systems and methods of the present disclosure.

Process for producing clean coal using chemical pre-treatment and high shear reactor


A poultry loading apparatus for transporting poultry from a confinement area such as a poultry house to a transport vehicle to allow transport of poultry from farm-to-farm or from farm-to-processing plant. The mobile poultry loading apparatus includes a conveyor system whereby poultry ride from a confinement area to the transport vehicle during loading. The conveying system includes a telescoping end that extends into and retracts from a coop during the loading process. A system of hydraulics controls the speed of the conveyor, aids in the transverse leveling of the machine, adjusts both the angle and tier of loading, and levels and controls the telescoping end of the conveyor.

The present invention relates generally to a system for handling poultry and more particularly to a means, device or apparatus to effect the efficient handling of live poultry in the loading of the same at a farm site for transport therefrom.
Historically, poultry farming was carried out by raising poultry in houses on farm sites until such poultry was ready for delivery either at a particular time in its life, or during a particular season. The poultry was then caught, loaded, and transported to a final destination.
The poultry was customarily gathered manually at the houses, boxed or crated with numerous birds per crate, manually loaded aboard an open truck or van, and transported. The problems created by such a procedure are both numerous and significant. The manual handling of the poultry not only creates a materially high cost involved in raising the poultry and preparing them for market, but it also creates certain physical dangers to both the poultry as well as the personnel.
During hand catching and subsequent handling of poultry, some birds are bruised, injured, or even killed due to violent reaction from the birds or unintentional rough handling. Additionally, fowl inevitably beat their wings in an effort to escape upon capture, frequently resulting in a bird striking the handler with sufficient force to cause physical injury.
In light of the preceding problems, there has been an effort in the art to develop a method of loading poultry for transport with a minimal amount of manual labor. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,7060,300, issued Dec. 19, 1972 describes a system for handling poultry and transferring the same from poultry house to processing plant or purchases. This is accomplished by a process in which suction is applied to the poultry in the house to urge the poultry into a conveying conduit where air pressure is subsequently applied for forcing the poultry along the conduit and into a suitable bin. Air pressure is again used to urge the poultry out of the bin and into the processing plant. Although this system utilizing air pressure does solve some of the problems associated with that of manual labor, it does not solve all of the problems and even creates a few new ones. Air pressure tends to force the poultry through the loading system, and does not allow for a smooth and even flow. This constant forcing inevitably damages the poultry in some way, including broken legs and/or wings, which results in an adverse affect on their grading when dressed, and consequently a loss of revenue to the producer.
Another attempt to solve the problems associated with loading poultry on a transport vehicle was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,916,835, issued Nov. 4, 1975. This patent describes a complete conveying system that utilizes conveyors on the poultry transport vehicle that may be operated in conjunction with other external conveyors to effect embarkation and debarkation of the transport. If external conveyors are desired, this disclosure provides for an elevator and coupling assembly for coupling an external conveyor unit at selective heights to the various tiers of the poultry conveying transport apparatus.
Although manpower and its associated high costs are reduced with the use of such a conveying system, problems still remain. This patent discloses the combination of a main conveying apparatus, external conveyors and an elevator and coupling assembly. This assembly is integral to the main apparatus, and the changing of tier positions during loading and unloading cannot be accomplished solely by the external conveyors. Additionally, manual labor is still needed to load and unload the bottom of the external conveyors. Still another problem with this external conveyor is the steep angle at which the poultry are handled, causing the poultry to become uneasy, and "Roll Back" to occur.
In view of the afore-mentioned needs and the shortcomings of the prior art, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that overcomes the deficiencies of the current practices whereby an apparatus and system is provided for loading poultry for transport with a minimum amount of labor and with maximum efficiency at a minimum cost.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a poultry loading apparatus whereby the manual and perhaps rough handling of the poultry is eliminated thereby eliminated damage sustained by laborers and minimizing any damages sustained to the poultry.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a mobile poultry loading apparatus that can be shared among poultry houses, farms, or even town due to its adaptability to all trailers.
Still another object of the present invention to provide a self-cleaning and disinfecting poultry loading apparatus.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a user friendly poultry loading apparatus that may be operated effectively by a single person.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be clearly understood through a consideration of the following detailed description.


A surgical stapling device includes a tool assembly and a drive assembly. The tool assembly includes an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly that define longitudinal axes. The drive assembly is movable from a retracted position to move the tool assembly from an open position in which the longitudinal axes of the anvil and cartridge assemblies define an acute angle, to a partially clamped position in which the longitudinal axes of the anvil and cartridge assemblies are substantially parallel, and to a clamped position in which the longitudinal axes of the anvil and cartridge assemblies are substantially parallel.

Surgical stapling devices for simultaneously cutting and stapling tissue are known in the art and are commonly used during surgical procedures to reduce the time required to perform the surgical procedures and to facilitate endoscopic access to a surgical site. Performing a surgical procedure endoscopically reduces the amount of trauma inflicted on a patient during the surgical procedure to minimize patient discomfort and reduce patient recovery times.
Typically, endoscopic stapling devices include a tool assembly that has first and second jaws that are pivotally coupled at their proximal ends and can pivot in relation to each other between an open position and a clamped position. One of the jaws supports a cartridge assembly that includes a plurality of staples and the other of the jaws supports an anvil assembly. The anvil assembly includes an anvil that has staple deforming pockets that receive and form legs of the staples when the staples are ejected from the cartridge assembly.
When tissue is clamped between the first and second jaws of the tool assembly, the pivotal movement of the first and second jaws as the tool assembly is moved from the open positions towards the clamped position applies an uneven force on the tissue positioned between the anvil and cartridge assemblies that tends to extrude the tissue from a distal end of the tool assembly. The uneven force makes it difficult to monitor the force being applied to the tissue.

Surgical stapling device with parallel jaw closure


The present invention relates to the use of compounds which are capable of producing a cooling sensation when they are brought into contact with the human body. In particular, the present invention relates to the use of compounds modulating TRPM8, and optionally to the use of compounds selectively exhibiting agonist activity at the TRPM8 channel. Such compounds have applications in many fields, particularly in oral and personal hygiene products and foodstuffs, but also in pharmaceutical composition products, cosmetics, textile products and packaging products. The present invention further relates to products containing such compounds and to the medical use of such compounds.

The transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channel family is a group of ion channels located mostly in the plasma membrane of numerous human and animal cell types. There are about 28 TRP channels that share some structural similarity to each other. Many of these channels mediate a variety of sensations like the sensations of pain, hotness, warmth or coldness, different kinds of tastes, pressure and vision. In the body, some TRP channels are thought to be involved in thermosensation and to be used in animals to sense hot or cold. Some TRP channels are activated by the pungent ingredients of spices like garlic, chilli pepper, wasabi; others are activated by menthol, camphor, peppermint, and cooling agents; yet others are activated by drugs like cannabinoids, e.g. marijuana. Some act as sensors of cellular stress such as osmotic pressure, volume, stretch, and vibration.
Six protein families are comprised by the mammalian TRP superfamily: the classic TRPs (TRPCs), the vanilloid receptor TRPs (TRPVs), the melastatin or long TRPs (TRPMs), the mucolipins (TRPMLs), the polycystins (TRPPs), and ankyrin transmembrane protein 1 (ANKTM1, TRPA1). With the exception of some polycystins, TRPs are generally assumed to have six transmembrane domains. The TRP channels are a family of ion channel proteins that mediate ion influx of Na+ and Ca2+ and, in several cases, Mg2+ and other divalent cations. Since TRPs are intimately linked with intracellular Ca2+ signaling, they are implicated in the control of cell cycle progression, cell migration, and programmed cell death.
The TRPM subfamily comprises eight members, including the cold and menthol receptor TRPM8, also designated as TRP melastatin 8, cold and menthol receptor 1 (CMR1) or transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M member 8. In 2002, using divergent approaches, two scientific groups simultaneously identified and described TRPM8 (McKemy D D et al., Nature 2002, 416(6876):52-58; Peier A M et al., Cell 2002, 108(5):705-15). The channel is expressed, e.g., in small-diameter primary sensory neurones, where it presumably functions as a thermosensor. TRPM8 consists of six putative transmembrane spanning segments, a pore-forming loop and intracellularly located NH2 and COOH termini. Assembly of channel subunits as tetramers results in the formation of cation-selective channels that permeate calcium ions. TRPM8 is involved in the detection of sensations such as coolness triggered, inter alia, by cooling agents and/or by cold (i.e. temperatures ranging from about 8° C. to about 28° C.).
Cooling agents are used extensively by flavor and fragrance suppliers in order to evoke associations with freshness and cleanliness. Hence, over the last 30 years a considerable number of compounds have been synthesized and evaluated for the physiological sensation of "cooling". For instance, the international patent application WO 2010/017609 discloses the use of the ingredients of Mentha and Eucalyptus oil as antiperspirants, the ingredients presumably acting as TRPM8 agonists. Furthermore, menthol, a cyclic terpene alcohol found in leaves of the genus Mentha, is used in a wide range of products, such as confectionary, candy, toothpastes, vaporubs, and aromatherapy inhalations. When applied at low concentrations to the skin or the oral mucosa, menthol elicits a pleasant cool sensation, while higher doses can cause burning, irritation, and pain.
It is known in the art that menthol can act as natural modulator of TRPM8 (McKemy D D et al., Nature 2002, 416(6876):52-58; Peier A M et al., Cell 2002, 108(5):705-15; McKemy D D, Molecular Pain 2005, 1:16). Upon activation, a signal transduction cascade is mediated by TRPM8, producing the perception of cold in the nervous system. For instance, activation of TRPM8 can induce an increase of intracellular calcium ions in cold-sensitive neurones. This calcium influx subsequently produces an inward current that provokes cold sensing.
In addition to menthol, a number of further cooling agents, including icilin (also designated as AG-3-5), Cool-actP, Cooling Agent 10, FrescolatMGA, FrescolatML, geraniol, hydroxycitronellal, linalool, PMD38, WS-3, and WS-23 are known in the art to activate TRPM8 in vitro (McKemy D D et al., Nature 2002, 416(6876):52-58; Weil A et al., Mol. Pharmacol. 2005, 68(2):518-27; Behrendt H J et al., Br. J. Pharmacol. 2004, 141(4):737-45). Of these icilin, was first identified as a super-cooling agent in the early 1980s and bears little resemblance to menthol structurally (WO 2004/026840).
A number of methanol derivatives or other cooling agents which may exhibit a similar action at TRPM8 are known in the art. For instance, the international patent application WO 2010/026094 relates to modulators of TRPM8, to a method of modulating the TRPM8 channel, to the use of the modulators for inducation of cold sensation and to the objects and means produced using said modulators. High concentrations of menthol can trigger other ion channels (e.g. TRPA1), presumably leading to these unpleasant sensations through activation of nociceptive sensory neurons (see e.g. review by McKemy D D, Mol. Pain 2005, 1:16). In addition menthol has a typical flavour and aroma which sometimes is disadvantageous for industrial applications in the food and cosmetic industry. Hence, there is a need for compounds which selectively modulate TRPM8, e.g. compounds which exhibit distinct activation concentrations at TRPM8 and TRPA1.
TRPA1 is a member of the TRPA branch of the TRP ion channel gene family. TRPA1 was identified as a potential mediator of noxious cold stimuli in nociceptive sensory neurons. Moreover, recent studies found evidence that TRPA1 is involved in sensory neural responses to mustard oil, allicin, and other chemical irritants (Jordt S E et al., Nature 2004, 427(6971):260-65; Bandell M et al., Neuron. 2004, 41(6):849-57). Hence, TRPA1 channels respond to a multitude of irritants with diverse origins and chemical structures, leading to, amongst others, sensations of pain, coughing, apnea, and lachrymation.
Some of the above-mentioned cooling agents have cooling effects at least to some extents, but may be insufficient and unsatisfactory in the retainability of the cooling effect. Hence, there is a strong demand in the art for providing cooling agents that have an improved sensory stimulating effect. Furthermore, some of the cooling agents known in the art may be insufficient with regard to their efficacy, their period of action, their scent, their taste, their solubility, and/or their volatility, and/or may cause irritation of the mucous membranes, itching of skin, tearing and/or the urge to cough. Accordingly, there is a need for alternative cooling agents that may overcome one or more of these drawbacks.

Small molecule modulators of the cold and menthol receptor TRPM8

B.R.A.I.N. Biotechnology Research and Information Network AG


Each subscriber is provided with an optical heterodyne detection circuit. An oscillation light of an optical local oscillator is divided to a local oscillation light for the heterodyne detection and a transmitting light for data communication. A channel for those lights is selected from vacant communication channels. The transmitting light may be obtained from a transmission light oscillator which is controlled by a control unit common to the optical local oscillator.

Optical fiber communication systems have been developed quickly as communication systems having excellent characteristics of high speed modulation and long distance communications. Especially, a coherent optical communication system, in which optical frequency modulation or optical phase modulation is carried out in a transmitting apparatus and the optical signals are detected by optical heterodyne detection in a receiving apparatus, has been attractive among such optical fiber communication systems for its high receiving sensibility in high density frequency division multiplexing which contribute to a large capacity communication as well as a long distance communication. The high density frequency division multiplexing communication method is expected to realize extremely fine motion picture communications, in which it is possible to provide many subscribers with communication services by a relatively small number of stations and a small scale of transmission facilities.
In the coherent optical communication between subscribers and the station by using the high density frequency division multiplexing method, a communication method with a network topology of double star type in which each subscriber is allocated with a predetermined wavelength of optical signals has been reported. In such communication method, it is possible to transmit different kinds of information to different subscribers simultaneously, although it is impossible in a network of tree type topology adopted in CATV now in use, however, a number of wavelength channels corresponding to a number of subscribers are required, so that usage efficiency of wavelengths is not high. In order to improve the usage efficiency, there is a communication method in which a vacant wavelength channel available for communication is selected to be used as a channel in case of each talking occasion without allocating a specific wavelength to each subscriber. Such a communication method is called as Demand Assign frequency division multiplexing method already open to public. This communication method has an advantage in that the number of wavelength channels required in the communication is less than the number of subscribers, so that the usage efficiency of wavelengths increases and station facilities are not required to be large in number and scale.
According to the conventional method for transmission and receipt of coherent light signals, however, there is a disadvantage in that there is no study and report on means in a subscriber for setting a wavelength of a transmitting light source, and adjusting the wavelength to an absolute wavelength for a reference wavelength or a selected wavelength of the station in bilateral communications. In the Demand Assign wavelength division multiplexing communication method, it is required to select a wavelength for communication in each call, so that each subscriber is required to prepare a receiver and a transmitter of wavelength selecting type. A receiver of wavelength selecting type for unilateral communications has been described in detail in Japanese Patent Publication No. KOKAI 1-77325. In this receiver of wavelength selecting type, it is possible to select a desired wavelength channel by controlling a current supplied to a local oscillating light source to be one of memorized currents. However, as explained above, there is no disclosure about transmitter or receiver for bilateral communications.

Method for transmission and receipt of coherent light signals


The invention concerns a method of forming a graphene device, the method comprising: forming a graphene film (100) over a substrate; depositing, by gas phase deposition, a polymer material covering a surface of the graphene film (100); and removing the substrate from the graphene film (100), wherein the polymer material forms a support (102) for the graphene film (100).

Graphene is a substance composed of carbon atoms forming a crystal lattice one atom in thickness. Various applications have been proposed for graphene, including its use in radio-frequency transistors and for forming transparent highly conductive and flexible electrodes, such as for displays. It is of particular benefit in applications where high mobility conductors are desired. Most applications of graphene require a macroscale-sized graphene layer, comprising one or a few layers of carbon atoms, which is transferred onto a substrate of a material selected based on the particular application.
Graphene is generally formed using a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process, wherein graphene is deposited over a base substrate such as a copper foil. However, a difficulty is that it is relatively difficult to remove the graphene layer from the base substrate without damaging or polluting the graphene layer and/or degrading its conductivity.
Furthermore, in some embodiments it would be desirable to provide a method of forming a three-dimensional (3D) graphene device.
There is thus a need in the art for an improved method of forming a graphene device, and to one or more graphene devices formed based on such a method.

Method of forming a graphene device using polymer material as a support for a graphene film

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique


A retractable lens barrel that improves shock resistance without obstructing miniaturization. In the retractable lens barrel, pins formed in the lens barrel are engaged with grooves formed in a cam ring, and the lens barrel is caused to move in a direction of an optical axis by rotation of the cam ring. The pins include a cam pin for moving the lens barrel, and a slip-off preventive pin for preventing the cam pin from slipping off the groove. The grooves include a cam groove with which the cam pin is engaged, and a slip-off preventive groove with which the slip-off preventive pin is engaged. In an area close to a retracted position of the lens barrel, the cam groove and the slip-off preventive groove overlap to be shared grooves with which the cam pin and the slip-off preventive pin are engaged.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a retractable lens barrel, and in particular to a zooming mechanism in which cam pins are engaged with cam grooves.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, optical apparatuses such as digital cameras having a zoom lens barrel of a retractable type (hereinafter referred to as a retractable lens barrel) have been in widespread use. As a zoom lens extension mechanism in a retractable lens barrel, there has been known a drive mechanism that engages cam pins formed in the lens barrel with cam grooves formed in a movable cam ring, and rotatively drives the movable cam ring to move the lens barrel forward and backward in a direction of an optical axis along the cam grooves. In such a zoom lens extension mechanism in which cam pins are engaged with cam grooves, it is necessary to prevent the cam pins from slipping off the cam grooves to render the lens barrel incapable of moving forward and backward when external force is applied.
As this slip-off preventive technique, there has been proposed, for example, a technique described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2005-128188. According to the technique described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2005-128188, a slip-off preventive pin as well as a cam pin are formed in a lens barrel, a cam groove and a slip-off preventive groove that are to be engaged with the respective pins are formed in a movable cam ring, and a first projection is formed on one side of the slip-off preventive groove in a direction of an optical axis. With this arrangement, the slip-off preventive pin comes into abutment with the first projection during extension of a zoom lens so that the cam pin can be prevented from slipping off the cam groove.
However, according to the technique described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2005-128188, the cam groove and the slip-off preventive groove are identical in shape, and also, the cam groove and the slip-off preventive groove are formed as separate grooves independent of each other.
Thus, according to the technique described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2005-128188, the cam groove and the slip-off preventive groove must be spaced out in the direction of the optical axis in order that the lens barrel can move in synchronization in the direction of the optical axis, in other words, in order that cam paths can be the same.
For this reason, according to the technique described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2005-128188, the movable cam ring is long in the direction of the optical axis, and this presents an obstacle in miniaturizing the lens barrel, and by extension an optical apparatus such as an image pickup apparatus having the lens barrel.

Retractable lens barrel with high shock resistance


Systems and methods for enabling a user (e.g., a pilot) to input information to a computer at a flight deck display station using both a split keyboard and a touch screen. The split keyboard provides space in front of the touch-screen display device, which space is available for a pilot to use as an arm or wrist rest while manually interacting with the touch screen. For example, the split keyboard may be mounted to a shelf having an empty central or middle portion in front of the touch-screen display device. The split keyboard concept entails placing one keypad on one side and another keypad on the other side of the empty middle shelf portion, both keypads being communicatively to the keyboard controller of the computer that controls the display device. The open space between the keypads may also be used for meal trays or tablet computers.

The present disclosure relates in general to systems and methods for inputting information into a computer system. In particular, the present disclosure relates to systems and methods for inputting information into a computer at a display station (e.g., on a flight deck of an aircraft).
As used herein, the term "display" means a visual representation of information which is presented in an area on a display medium (e.g., a screen) of a display device. As used herein, the terms "keyboard" and "keypad" each refer to a device including an array of manually operable buttons or keys and a microcontroller for converting mechanical key presses into electronic key codes. As used herein, the term "split keyboard" means a keyboard comprising at least two keypads which are physically separated.
A typical flight deck of an aircraft has a forward instrument panel and a control pedestal. Instruments and display devices are distributed over the forward instrument panel and control pedestal for easy access by the pilots. The display devices are electronically controlled by respective display processors to present various visual displays of information, such as primary flight displays, an engine display, and multi-function displays. For example, without limitation, such displays may include navigation displays, system displays, communication displays, information displays, flight management displays, checklist displays, other appropriate displays, or various combinations of displays.
The information displayed on the flight deck of an aircraft may be controlled to display flight information as needed. The ability to control the information displayed on the flight deck of an aircraft may simplify aircraft operation and navigation and may allow the aircraft operator to focus on the most pertinent information.
A typical flight control system for a commercial airplane comprises a flight management computer and a control display unit (CDU). The conventional method of entering and displaying information on the CDU requires multiple inputs by the pilot.
Alternative means for inputting flight information into a flight control system have been employed. For example, some flight decks are outfitted with touch-enabled screens (hereinafter "touch displays") for the pilots to interact directly with the information displays, compared to the use of an intermediary control device (e.g., a touchpad or dial). Because of the unique environment of flight, pilots contend with vibrations and turbulence, which affect their ability to smoothly, easily, and accurately interact with touch screens. Given the design constraints of displays and hardware on the flight deck, the touch screens are typically at arm length from the pilots, requiring them to nearly or fully extend their arms to reach the portion of the touch screen they wish to interact with. Since aircraft displays are typically anchored to the flight deck, vibration and turbulence can be transmitted directly to the display without any damping, making it difficult for the pilot to move his hand or fingers rapidly and precisely during flight.

Flight deck display station with split keyboard


Carbon dioxide contained within exhaust gas is combined with bivalent metal ions such as calcium ions or the like in concentrated salt water to form precipitated calcium carbonate and then can be expelled out. Such an environmental friendly design is realized by a bottle upside down device with a bottle neck exit on a bottom. A piston inside the device can be elevated to a top portion to produce a near vacuum air pressure inside the device. All the brine, exhaust gas, and oxygen, ozone drawn together into the device can be accelerated to form, at least, precipitated calcium carbonate to reduce carbon dioxide contained within the exhaust gas. Chemical reaction is accelerated by a high voltage discharger below the piston and by flashing a portion of water to atomize the brine. A heater can heat up the near vacuum device to accelerate chemical reaction.

Global warming affects our ecosystem; wherein carbon dioxide solely takes two thirds of the total anthropogenic greenhouse gas. Up to now, carbon dioxide concentration existed in the atmosphere one third higher since industrial evolution era. Once carbon dioxide content reaches up to two times higher than pre-industrial times, human-induced climate change causes global temperature has risen by degrees; sea level rises over hundred year records. Climate change around the world precipitates droughts, floods and hurricanes happened to us more frequently. Fires, infectious diseases or insect pests caused great damages to crop production. Rising sea level impacts animal habitat, ecosystem or even entire seaside community removed. To meditate on global warming problems, how to implement and elaborate an effective carbon dioxide absorption measure is expected by the present invention.


In an inside/outside air switching device, a rotary door includes a circumference wall provided at an upper side of a rotation shaft to extend in a rotation direction, both fan-like side plates connecting the circumference wall and the rotation shaft at both sides in an axial direction of the rotation shaft, a protrusion wall provided along an entire periphery of the circumference wall and the side plates to protrude to an outside of the rotary door, and a packing member provided at both surface sides of the protrusion wall. A clearance equal to or larger than a predetermined dimension is provided between the protrusion wall around a lower side of the rotation shaft and a seal surface of an inside/outside air switching box, for preventing a water storage.

This application is related to Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-196546 filed on Jun. 29, 2000, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an inside/outside air switching device using a rotary door. More particularly, the present invention relates to a structure for preventing a freeze lock of the rotary door due to rainwater introduced from an outside of the inside/outside air switching device.
2. Description of Related Art
In a conventional inside/outside air switching device of a vehicle air conditioner described in JP-A-9-188124, a rotary door 113 shown in FIG. 6 is used for opening and closing inside and outside air introduction ports. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the rotary door 113 includes a rotation shaft 113c, a circumference wall 113a provided at an upper side of the rotation shaft 113c to extend in a rotational direction of the rotary door 113, both fan-like side plates 113b connecting the rotation shaft 113c and the circumference wall 113a at both sides in an axial direction of the rotation shaft 113c, and protrusion walls 113d, 113e protruding toward outside from outer peripheral portions of the circumference wall 113a and the side plates 113b. In addition, packing members 114, 115 are provided on face and back surfaces of the protrusion walls 113d, 113e, respectively.
However, in the rotary door 113, the rotation shaft 113c is provided at a lower side of the circumference wall 113a through the fan-like side plates 113b, and seal surfaces of an inside/outside air switching box are tilted downwardly toward the rotation shaft 113c to contact the packing member 115. Accordingly, rainwater introduced from the outside air introduction port readily stays between the seal surfaces of the inside/outside air switching box and lower parts of the packing member 115 proximate to the rotation shaft 113c. Thus, the rotary door 113 may be frozen in a cold season due to rainwater.
In view of the foregoing problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an inside/outside air switching device with a rotary door, which prevents a freeze of the rotary door due to rainwater.
According to the present invention, in an inside/outside air switching device, a rotary door for selectively opening and closing an inside air introduction port and an outside air introduction port includes a rotation shaft disposed rotatably, a circumference wall provided at an upper side of the rotation shaft to extend in a rotation direction, both fan-like side plates connecting the circumference wall and the rotation shaft at both sides in an axial direction of the rotation shaft, a protrusion wall provided along an entire periphery of the circumference wall and the side plates to protrude an outside of the rotary door, and a packing member made of an elastic member, and provided at both surface sides of the protrusion wall. An inside/outside air switching case has seal surfaces provided around both the ports to contact the packing member, at least one of both the first and second ports has a circumference opening provided to opposite to the circumference wall, and the rotary door is disposed in the case to form a clearance between the protrusion wall around a lower side of the rotation shaft and the seal surface. In addition, the clearance has a size equal to or larger than a predetermined dimension for preventing a water storage in the clearance. Accordingly, it can prevent rainwater from staying in the clearance, and it can prevent a freeze of the rotary door due to rainwater.
The rotation shaft is disposed at the lowest position in the rotary door. In this case, rainwater introduced from the outside air introduction port readily stays in the clearance lower than the rotation shaft. However, in the present invention, the clearance has a size equal to or larger than the predetermined dimension, rainwater introduced into the clearance readily flows downwardly.
Preferably, the packing member is separated around the lower side of the rotation shaft, and the clearance is defined at least by the protrusion wall on the lower side of the rotation shaft and the seal surface. Therefore, regardless a rotation position of the rotary door, rainwater introduced from the outside air introduction port moves along the side plates and the seal surface, and it can accurately prevent rainwater from staying under the rotation shaft.
Preferably, the seal surface for defining the clearance has a taper portion tilted downwardly in the case, at a position around the lower side of the rotation shaft. Therefore, rainwater introduced into the clearance can be effectively discharged downwardly, and it can effectively prevent a freeze of the rotary door due to rainwater.

Inside/outside air switching device with rotary door


A transmission device includes a first connecting module for connecting a DC/DC power converter to a telephone wire line or to a CPE wire line, and a second connecting module between the telephone and CPE wire lines, a detection module configured to detect a power feeding request signal on the CPE wire line, and a switching module configured to controls the second connecting module in its open state, and send a power ready signal on the CPE wire line, and a not control the second connecting module and not send a signal on the CPE wire line in a standby-by state, so that a total power consumption of the detection and switching modules is lower than a threshold in a stand-by state and higher in the active state, and the detection module is configured to control the switching module in response to a detection of the power feeding request signal.

A transmission device for an access network, for example a Distribution Point, may be reverse-powered from the customer premise equipment (CPE), thereby avoiding the need of a connection to the electrical network. The wire line between the Distribution Point and the CPE may be shared by a data service and a telephone service (POTS for plain old telephone service), for example.
The DC component of the POTS signal needs to be blocked to avoid conflict with the reverse power provided by the CPE. However, the DC component of the POTS should not be blocked when the Distribution Point is not powered from CPE, for example in case of power failure at the customer premises, so as to allow continuity of the POTS. For this purpose, the Distribution Point may include a lifeline relay having an open state wherein the DC component of the POTS signal is blocked and a closed state wherein said DC component is not blocked.
In that case, before starting the reverse power, it is necessary to switch the lifeline relay from the closed state to the open state. This requires power, which may be provided by batteries. However, batteries need maintenance, have to be replaced after some time, and are only operational in a limited temperature range.


Dependencies can be specified between jobs that are constituent to a unit of work, which are automatically determined or identified by processing a work request that defines the work. For example, a second job can be specified as depending on a first job meeting a particular condition. Furthermore, sub-works of the second job are not scheduled for execution until the first job has met the condition, thus allowing the second job to be placed into an active state. First, a work request is received, which specifies a first job that includes a first set of sub-works and a second job that includes a second set of sub-works. The work request is interpreted and processed to determine that the second job has the dependency on the first job. The first job is placed into an active state to enable the first sub-works to be scheduled for execution. The second job is placed in a pending state and it is determined whether the first job has met the condition. If it has, the second job is placed into an active state and the second sub-works are scheduled for execution. In an embodiment, the first job is caused to be executed without initiation by the second job, that is, its dependent job.

A server farm can be defined generally as a group of networked servers or, alternatively, a networked multi-processor computing environment in which work is distributed between multiple processors. A server farm provides for more efficient processing by distributing the workload between individual components or processors of the farm and expedites execution of computing processes by utilizing the power of multiple processors. The networked servers constituent to a server farm are typically housed in a single location, however, they can be geographically dispersed such as in grid computing, which can be thought of as distributed and large-scale cluster computing and as a form of network-distributed parallel processing. Grid computing can be confined to a network of computer workstations within a company or it can be a public collaboration sometimes referred to as a form of peer-to-peer computing.
Often, a server farm environment includes many different classes of resources, machine types and architectures, operating systems, storage facilities and specialized hardware. Server farms are typically coupled with a layer of load-balancing software to perform numerous tasks, such as tracking processing demand, selecting machines on which to run a given task or process, and prioritizing and scheduling tasks for execution. Other terms used for load-balancing include load sharing and distributed resource management (DRM). In general, DRM applications are used to manage the resources associated with a server farm. One example of a commercially available distributed resource management application is Platform LSF 5 available from Platform Computing Inc.
Combining the processing power of servers into a single computing entity has been relatively common for years in the areas of research and academia. However, companies are increasingly utilizing server farms to efficiently perform the vast amount of task and service computing that they encounter in their respective businesses. For example, development of large-scale software platforms can benefit from use of networked multi-processor computing for repetitive processes associated with compiling, releasing and testing of software code.
Prior approaches to using a server farm for compute-intensive software development tasks operate by executing many small programs, or scripts, to perform numerous functions, including the following: (1) establish run-time environments for executable task commands; (2) execute task commands to perform actual work, such as compile, release and test; (3) coordinate the execution and interdependencies of various task commands (e.g., high-level processes to coordinate low-level processes); and (4) generate reports regarding the execution of the task commands. Jobs typically implement the myriad of interwoven tasks/processes that perform the work. Often, developers within a working group of a company might create scripts for performing desired functions which are specifically tailored to group-specific operations, goals, computing platforms, etc. In practice, the processes that the developers use to complete their work functions are often not written down and much of the operational set-up involves manual processes.
Additionally, different working groups within a single company, and even within a single company location, often procure, maintain and administer their respective computing environments and platforms separately and independently from other groups within the company. In such a scenario, a machine going off-line can result in having to modify many scripts that were tailored to that machine, platform, or environment. Not only does this manner of operating contribute to a waste of resources, such as unused processor capacity, but also the task of managing the large number of scripts and the computing resources on which the scripts run becomes a non-trivial, highly complex effort.
Based on the foregoing, it is clearly desirable to provide a mechanism for managing the parallel execution of processes, including interdependent processes, in a networked multi-processor computing environment. Furthermore, it is clearly desirable to provide a mechanism for managing runtime execution environments for processes executing in a multi-processor computing environment. There are more specific needs associated with the foregoing needs, which include formalizing processes with respect to executing work across multiple processors whereby the type of platform on which the work runs is transparent to a user, and for providing a common control and management layer on which users can define and run their work.
Computing platforms typically generate log files detailing various runtime and termination statistics associated with the execution of a command, task, job, process, or the like. Historically, a single log file (e.g., a "flat file") is generated for a grouping of executable tasks, jobs, etc., that are run together as a unit of work on a computer or a networked multi-processor computing environment. In the context of complex, interdependent software development tasks running together as a unit of work, the number of different tasks that perform the work can be enormous. Since runtime and termination statistics are usually generated for each executable unit of work, a corresponding log file can likewise be enormous. Consequently, such a log file is not easy to analyze and to glean information from. Analysis of a very large log file (possibly thousands of lines of text) typically requires manual parsing or filtering or the like, to find the relevant information of interest to a user. Such a manual process is not an efficient use of time and resources.
Hence, based on the foregoing, there is a clear need for a mechanism for providing log information related to processing in a more orderly and useful manner than in prior approaches. A more specific need exists for providing a logging mechanism that overcomes the shortcomings associated with prior approaches by facilitating rapidly locating information of interest.

Mechanism for managing execution of interdependent aggregated processes


The zoom lens according to the present invention comprises three lens units. More specifically, there is a front lens unit of positive refractive power, a middle lens unit of positive refractive power, and a rear lens unit of negative refractive power. The front lens unit has a positive lens element and a negative lens element airspaced from the positive lens element. During zooming from a wide-angle to a telephoto position, the front and the rear lens units simultaneously move the toward an object side. The middle lens unit also moves toward the object side, but by a shorter net axial distance than the distance traveled by the front and rear lens units. The "net axial distance" refers to the axial distance between one zoom and another zoom position of a lens unit. The lens elements have sufficient optical powers, spacings and radii of curvature to provide for a large zoom ratio ZR and to maintain an overall compactness so that L.sub.v /f.sub.t <0.9 and ZR =f.sub.t /f.sub.w >2.5, where L.sub.v is the distance from the front vertex of the zoom lens to the film plane in the telephoto position, f.sub.t is the focal length of the zoom lens in the telephoto position, and f.sub.w is the focal length of the zoom lens in the wide-angle position.

Zoom lenses generally are formed of a plurality of groups (also referred to as units) of one or more lens elements. It has been known to make three-unit zoom lenses with a positive front lens unit, a positive middle lens unit, and a negative rear lens unit. However, because of the desire to reduce the size, weight and costs of cameras with zoom lenses, efforts are being made to create more compact zoom lenses with a small number of lens elements and a minimum number of independent zooming lens units, while still producing high quality images over a large focal length range.
More specifically, a zoom lens must maintain high image quality in each zoom position and retain a flat field over a range of field angles. In addition, it is desirable to have a minimum front vertex to image distance in the telephoto position. This provides a small package size and decreases the overall zoom lens volume. It is also desirable to have a minimum number of lens elements and a minimal number of separate zooming lens units in order to reduce cost and to decrease mechanical complexity. However, the requirement to produce a compact zoom lens with a minimum number of independently movable zooming lens units and a minimum number of lens elements often conflicts with the requirement to produce high quality images over a large focal length range. This conflict occurs because when (i) the air spaces between lens units are reduced and (ii) the front vertex to the image plane distance is also reduced (provided that the optical power of the lens units does not change), the lens units can not move far enough during zooming. The lack of travel distance, in turn, decreases the zoom ratio. The zoom ratio ZR is measured by the ratio of focal lengths, i.e. ZR=f.sub.t /f.sub.w, is the focal length of the zoom lens in the wide-angle mode and f.sub.t is the focal length of the zoom lens in the telephoto position. If the optical power of the lens units increases (without additional lens elements) in order to provide a larger zoom ratio, lens surfaces become stronger, compromising the performance of the zoom lens. In addition, the shorter the focal length of the zoom lens in the wide angle mode, the more difficult it is to control field aberrations such as coma, astigmatism and field curvature. Controlling these aberrations in a zoom lens that has a minimum number of independently movable lens units and provides a zoom ratio of over 2.5.times. often results in excess of axial color aberration in the wide angle mode and in lateral color aberration in both wide angle and the telephoto modes. These color aberrations can be controlled by additional lens elements, but this further increases the complexity and size of a zoom lens.
Thus, as the optical powers of lens units increase in order to increase the zoom ratio to about 3.times., it becomes more difficult to maintain the optical performance of the zoom lens. Because of this, zoom lenses with large zoom ratios require larger numbers of lens elements. This, in turn, increases the cost of the zoom lenses and often makes the zoom lens less compact. As stated above, if the number of lens elements in a zoom lens is reduced, the performance of the zoom lens suffers.
The compactness of the zoom lens can also be measured by the ratio L.sub.v to f.sub.t, where L.sub.v is the distance from the front vertex of the zoom lens to the film plane in the telephoto position. The smaller the ratio, the more compact the zoom lens. However, as stated above, the compactness of the zoom lens should not come as a result of reduced zoom ratio or reduced optical performance.
The following U.S. patents all describe zoom lenses which have three lens units of positive, positive and negative optical power, respectfully.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,825,556 and No. 5,726,810 disclose compact zoom lenses. These zoom lenses provide an excellent performance with only 5 lens elements and a minimum amount of independently moving lens units. More specifically, the front and the rear lens units move together for zooming and the middle lens unit moves independently. The compactness ratio L.sub.v /f.sub.t, of the zoom lenses disclosed in these patents are about 0.9. The disclosed zoom lenses provide a zoom ratio of 2.times..
U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,096 also discloses a compact three-unit zoom lenses. However, during zooming, all lens units move independently of one another-i.e., they move at different rates. These zoom lenses provide a zoom ratio of over 3.times. (the focal length f.sub.w in the wide angle mode is 29 mm and its focal length f.sub.t in the telephoto mode is 96.5 mm). The compactness ratios L.sub.v /f.sub.t, of the zoom lenses disclosed in this patent are about 0.9. However these zoom lenses require more complex driving means than the zoom lenses disclosed in the U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,825,556 and 5,726,810. The disclosed zoom lenses have lateral color aberration. The maximum amount of lateral color is about 0.02, 0.03, 0.02 in a first, second and third embodiment, respectively.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,668, issued Feb. 23, 1988, discloses a zoom lens with three lens units of positive, positive and negative optical powers, respectfully. An aperture stop is located within the middle lens unit. The front and the rear lens units move independently of each other while the second unit, which contains an aperture stop, is held stationary during zooming. This zoom lens has six lens elements and the total length from the front vertex of the zoom lens to its rear vertex is 46.95 mm at the telephoto position. At the wide-angle position, the maximum amount of distortion is 5% and the amount of astigmatism is 0.8 millimeters. In the telephoto position, the distortion amount is again about 5% and the maximum astigmatism is greater than 0.8 millimeters. It is desirable to have a zoom lens that has better performance with respect to astigmatism and distortion, fewer lens elements and that is more compact.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,160, issued Oct. 4, 1994, discloses a zoom lens which has either four or five lens elements arranged into three movable lens units. The zoom lens has a zoom ratio ZR=f.sub.t/f.sub.w of only 2.0, and its compactness ratio L.sub.v /f.sub.t is 0.93.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,325,235, issued Jun. 28, 1994, has relatively few lens elements (four). Its zoom ratio ZR is only 1.6 and its compactness ratio is about 1.0 (for example, it is 0.96 and 1.13 in the embodiments 3 and 5, respectfully). Thus, this zoom lens is even less compact and has an even smaller zoom ratio than the zoom lens described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,160.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,159, issued Oct. 4, 1994, discloses a zoom lens with three lens units that move during zooming. The zoom lens has a zoom ratio ZR of only 1.87, and a compactness ratio of about 1.01. This zoom lens has 8 or 9 lens elements.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,216,547, issued Jun. 1, 1993, discloses a zoom lens with three lens units that move during zooming. The zoom lens has a zoom ratio ZR of only 1.87, and a compactness ratio of about 0.94. This zoom lens has 7 lens elements.
Other patents also provide a three unit zoom lenses, but they are either substantially less compact than the lens systems of the above described U.S. patents, or have a substantially greater number of lens elements or have a substantially smaller zoom ratio.


A safety pin having an axially extending coil type torsion spring, thereby avoiding pinching fabric to which it is attached. Alternative embodiments provide arrangements assuring alignment of the wire sections of the safety pin with the head. In one alternative embodiment, the wire sections of the safety pin bend toward the middle of the spring, and enter the head in parallel orientation. In a second embodiment, the head is angled with respect to the coil spring, and the wire sections form a V relative to one another.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improvement to a safety pin, the improvement being specifically that the coils of the torsion spring are spaced apart so as not to entrap fabric threads therein.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
The problem of a safety pin pinching threads of a fabric in the torsion spring has long been recognized in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 1,170,508, issued to James H. Boye on Feb. 8, 1916; U.S. Pat. No. 1,501,627, issued to Nathaniel L. Silverman on Jul. 15, 1924; and U.S. Pat. No. 1,623,532, issued to Andrew Dudas et al. on Apr. 5, 1927 all disclose structure provided to prevent pinching of fabric in a safety pin. Boys bends the straight sections of the pin as they extend from the spring coils, forming concavities which ward off fabric that might otherwise be pinched in a crevice that would ordinarily be defined between one straight section and a coil. Silverman provides a stop formed by a band, recited in the specification but not illustrated, which prevents fabric from advancing into such intimate relation therewith so as to become enmeshed with the coil. Dudas forms a bend in the coil serving as a stop, which bend is clearly illustrated in the drawings.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,174,485, issued to Mason B. Franklin on Mar. 7, 1916, discloses a pin having a conventional coil spring. The spring is illustrated as being axially extended, but no further details are provided in the discussion of the invention. An open receptacle for holding the pointed end is formed by bending the wire at the other end of the pin, and this open receptacle has great width compared to the ordinarily employed, U-shaped head or sheath. The open coil spaces apart straight segments of wire to enable the sharp member of the pin to be centered in the receptacle. The issue of pinching the fabric being retained is not addressed by Franklin.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,141,952, issued to Chelcias E. Faulks on Jun. 8, 1915, discloses a pin which separates two pieces of cloth so that one may be released while maintaining attachment to the second. This is accomplished by a stop formed by a bend in the pin.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.


In a method and system, one or more communication devices within a communication network are provided with a dynamically and remotely configurable probe element, implemented at least partially in software and controllable by the network operator via one or more communication links, capable of monitoring, measuring and capturing user interaction data flowing from voice and/or data transactions occurring in the network. User interaction data reflects a user's experience on the network and thus provides valuable raw data usable by the network operator for improving network quality from the user's perspective, especially when received from a statistically significant number of network user devices. Collected user interaction data can include network engineering metric data and/or user profile data.

The advent and rapid expansion of communication networks in which mobile communication devices are installed, such as wireless cellular telephone networks, have placed ever-increasing demands on the network operator to maintain and improve network quality. To this end, service providers and other network operators have typically deployed a dedicated Mobile Test Unit (MTU) measurement tool in the network as needed to perform field measurements in response to consumer complaints and other indicators of poor network quality. The MTU is a dedicated hardware test solution deployed on a limited basis to collect measurement data and the number of units deployed is very small in relation to the subscriber population, yielding a statistically small measurement base.
The problems associated with the collection of network field measurements in this way are many. Since the MTU or equivalent is a statistically small sampling of the actual population of users at any given time, the collected data may be statistically suspect on a day-to-day operational basis. The collection of measurement data does not necessarily reflect the occurrence of problems as experienced by an actual user of the network since the deployment of the test units are so sparse relative to the device population. In other words, the MTU may not actual "see" the problem as it is seen by an actual user on the network. Moreover, the deployment of MTUs in an indoor environment is performed in a very limited, diagnostic way, thereby yielding statistically insignificant sampling in that environment. Statistical switch information has been used to try to provide broader statistical sampling that more closely approximates the number of subscriber units. However, the amount of detail provided is often compromised when the network is experiencing significant network problems. Also, collection of data at the switch does not necessarily reflect the actual experience of individual network users.
There is therefore an unmet need in the art to be able to quickly, accurately, and dynamically respond to perceived quality problems occurring within communication networks, in both indoor and outdoor environments, with broad statistical sampling in order to be able to enhance quality of network services perceived by individual network users.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and system for improved monitoring, measurement and analysis of communication networks utilizing dynamically and remotely configurable probes


An aircraft cockpit display device for information concerning surrounding traffic includes devices to receive information coming from outside the aircraft, to know the flight parameters of the aircraft, to calculate projected trajectories of the aircraft and of a detected aircraft in the immediate vicinity, and to display a representation of the surrounding traffic through symbols and potential messages based on instructions received. A display command device is connected to an on-board calculator to know the flight phase of the aircraft. The display command device has a filtering device to define for each flight phase and/or crew task the nature and the level of information to be displayed.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention concerns an aircraft cockpit display device for information concerning surrounding traffic.
2. Discussion of the Background
In planes of a certain size and/or capable of transporting a preset number of passengers, the pilot has a device to help avoid collisions with other planes. This type of device is known as TCAS for "Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance Systems," which is therefore a system for air traffic collision alert and avoidance. This system makes it possible to monitor the air space close to the plane in question using radar. A display system makes it possible to display the surrounding aircraft detected by the system. In case of any risk of collision, the TCAS system issues alerts that are classified into two levels depending on the imminence of the risk of collision. Additionally, it establishes communication between the aircraft that are at risk of colliding with one another and suggests a maneuver suited to each of their situations. The system then gives each pilot instructions; for example, it orders one of the planes to ascend and the other to descend. The indications displayed on the screen corresponding to the TCAS are relatively abbreviated. Geometric shapes (lozenge, circle and square) are used depending on the proximity of the other plane and the imminence of the risk of collision.
Another system called ADS-B for "Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast" has been developed but is not yet in service. This system makes it possible to provide information concerning air space monitoring in an expanded space often exceeding 100 miles (1 mile=1,852 m). The information provided by the ADS-B is used to show the surrounding traffic on a display device. This makes it possible to give the crew a better understanding of the surrounding traffic. In the ADS-B system, each aircraft so equipped transmits information concerning its position, its speed, its direction, etc. This information may be received by air surveillance radar and also by planes equipped to receive and interpret the information transmitted.
Several applications are envisioned with an ADS-B system. The information collected by an ADS-B system can be used to supply a pilot with the position of surrounding aircraft by means of a display screen called CDTI for "Cockpit Display of Traffic Information." This type of display can already be found in any airplane cockpit equipped with a TCAS. Thus, a first application allows the crew to better locate another airplane, for example under particular meteorological conditions. Another application is to make it possible to improve a visual approach by identifying the aircraft seen by the crew and providing it with information related to this aircraft. When the aircraft is on the ground, the system can also be used to indicate to the crew the situation of its own aircraft at the airport and also to provide information concerning the other aircraft surrounding its own aircraft. Before landing, during final approach, an ADS-B system also makes it possible to alert the pilot if the runway is occupied, for example. This type of system can also be used to help the pilot keep his distance from an aircraft preceding him both during flight phases and landing and takeoff.
There is also another system called TIS-B for "Traffic Information System-Broadcast." The principle here consists in transmitting information developed by ground control. Thus, the planes benefit from information in the possession of ground control. This system allows wider coverage than the coverage obtained with ADS-B systems. However, the accuracy with a system using TIS-B can be different than that obtained with ADS-B. This can be explained more particularly by the delay necessary to retransmit the information received to the ground.

Aircraft cockpit display device for information concerning surrounding traffic


This disclosure relates to a demountable rotary cam with upper and lower portions that can be coupled and securely mounted on a rotatable shaft, and can also be demounted and interchanged with other similar eccentrics having different throws. The demountable rotary cam is particularly suited to vary the stroke of the needle bar in a tufting machine and an adjusting means is provided to maintain the proper relationship between the needles and loopers over a range of strokes.

This invention pertains to demountable cams or eccentrics, and more particularly to demountable cams of varying throw lengths which can be easily interchanged to alter the length of the stroke of the needle bar in a tufting machine, including an adjusting means for maintaining the position of the bottom of the stroke.
In some manufacturing applications, it is desirable to be able to vary the stroke of connecting rods, which are imparted with longitudinal motion by the shape of an eccentric on a rotating shaft or axis. It is particularly desirable to be able to change the length of the needle stroke of tufting machines, and to be able to make such a change without the necessity for removing the entire driveshaft of the machine. In tufting machines, one or more rows of yarn carrying needles are reciprocally driven through a backing material fed through the machine across a bed plate to form loops that are seized by loopers oscillating below the backing material and bed plate in timed relationship with the needles. To change the depth of pile height produced by a tufting machine, it is necessary to change the length of the stroke of the needle, and the elevation of the bed plate relative to the loopers, as is well known in the art and described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,977,905. The actual bottom point of the stroke of the needle must remain constant so that the loopers and needles retain their proper relationship. Otherwise, the loopers will not properly seize the loops of yarn from the needles. To maintain this relationship a variety of methods have been utilized including interchanging push rods, or connecting rods of varying lengths; using shims; or using adjustable length push rods or connecting rods. In order to properly maintain the relationship between the needles and loopers, changes to the length of the needle stroke as well as the attendant adjustments are generally performed with the tufting machine at bottom dead center of the needle stroke.
Changing the stroke in high speed tufting machines has previously been accomplished by two general constructions. In one construction, the eccentrics are adjustable. The most widely used adjustable eccentrics involve two non-adjustable hubs which can be clamped tightly against the eccentric. When the hubs are loosened, the eccentric can be adjusted to alter its throw. Other types of adjustable eccentrics have generally either involved too many parts and adjustments to make changes in stroke length quickly and correctly, or have lacked the structural stability required to withstand the radial forces of driving the connecting rod and needle assembly at high speeds. Examples of such adjustable eccentrics are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,857,345 and 4,515,096. In the other general type of construction, two eccentrics of different throws are mounted on the rotating shaft adjacent to each connecting rod. To adjust the stroke, the eccentric strap is loosened and the eccentric with the desired throw is engaged. This leaves unused eccentrics mounted on the rotating shaft.
In tufting machines using either type of construction, there are a considerable number of eccentrics on each machine because there is an eccentric for each push rod, and there may be from 8 to 12 push rods in a full size tufting machine. Each time a stroke adjustment must be made, it is necessary to make adjustments at each push rod internal of the tufting machine head, and the head of the machine must be opened and substantially disassembled for changes to be performed. Because of the expense due to the number of parts involved, as well as the machine down-time involved in adjusting the eccentrics, these mechanisms are generally only used for specialized or high speed machines. In tufting machines that operate at higher speeds, it is desirable to reduce the vibration and rotating mass of the drive mechanism.
In the constructions utilizing adjustable eccentrics a great deal of undesirable weight is added to the drive shaft by the two hubs which support the eccentric. This is aggravated by the need to add different balancing weights depending upon the setting of the eccentric to minimize the vibration attendant to high speed rotation. The weight on the drive shaft may be further increased by the addition of "dummy" push rods that operate in opposite reciprocation with the actual push rods so that the force necessary to power the machine remains fairly constant, with resulting smoother operation. The aggregate weight places tremendous stress upon the main driveshaft with a corresponding reduced useful life for the shaft or the need to use a stronger and more expensive shaft.
A substantial amount of undesirable weight also is added to the drive shaft in the constructions using a plurality of cams for each push rod, because the unused cams remain on the driveshaft. In addition, as only two cams can reasonably be placed on the driveshaft for each push rod, the possible adjustments are limited to only two throw lengths.

Demountable rotary cam for tufting machine


Methods of providing diffusing risers on a fresnel lens die having a plurality of optical facets, wherein adjacent optical facets are separated by a riser, the method including the steps of depositing a difflusing layer on the plurality of optical facets and the risers, and selectively removing the diffusing layer from the plurality of optical facets, wherein the diffusing layer remains substantially intact on the risers. The diffusing layer can be deposited in an electrolyte bath substantially free of grain refiners.

Fresnel lenses include a series of optical facets, wherein each optical facet is separated by a riser. That construction provides for a substantially planar lens useful in many different applications.
One application in which fresnel lenses are particularly useful is in overhead projectors where they help to focus light from beneath the stage and onto the mirror elevated above the stage. In that application, however, light refracted through the risers in the fresnel lens causes what is commonly referred to as "stage glare." Stage glare typically affects the operator of the overhead projector by disrupting their view of the materials on the stage of the projector.
Attempts to reduce stage glare have involved providing a diffuse surface on the risers to diffuse the light refracted through those surfaces, thereby reducing the glare. The diffuse risers have been provided by chemically etching or attacking the finished lenses or the dies used to form the lenses. Typically the entire lens/die is treated, including the optical facets as well as the risers. After etching, the optical facets are recut or otherwise processed to restore them to a smooth, specular finish while the risers remain etched to provide the desired diffuse surface.
Etching the lens itself to provide diffusing risers adds significantly to the cost of the lens because each individual lens must be processed separately. Attempts at etching the dies used to form stamped fresnel lenses have reduced stage glare to some degree, but that approach is not compatible with all types of dies used to form lenses. That is particularly true where the materials used to form the dies are not susceptible to etching or, when etched, do not provide a surface that has the desired roughness or diffusing properties.
Thus, a need exists for a process of providing diffuse risers on a fresnel lens die.

Method of providing diffuse risers on a fresnel lens die


An extractor hood changes an air volume of a fan in response to a temperature of a cooking subject on a cooker. The hood includes an infrared sensor that detects an average temperature between the cooking subject temperature and an ambient temperature of the cooking subject, a temperature sensor that detects an ambient temperature of the cooker, a signal receiver, and an air-volume controller. The air volume controller calculates the cooking subject temperature based on the average temperature by using the ambient temperature of the cooker as the ambient temperature of the cooking subject, and then determines the air volume of a fan based on the cooking subject temperature and a cooker signal.

A conventional extractor hood, which changes an air volume from a fan in response to a temperature of a food to be cooked or a cooking pan (hereinafter referred to as "cooking subject"), includes an exhaust fan motor, a temperature sensor of thermal electromotive force type, and a controller. The exhaust fan motor discharges oil soot and smell, generated in cooking, outside the kitchen. The temperature sensor of thermal electromotive force type detects far-infrared radiation around the cooker. The controller converts the result detected by the thermal sensor into a temperature. The extractor hood identifies the usage state of the cooker based on the temperature converted by the controller, and then drives or stops the exhaust fan motor. (This structure is disclosed in, e.g. Patent Literature 1.)
The extractor hood disclosed Patent Literature 1 compares the temperature detected this time by the temperature sensor of thermal electromotive force type with a temperature to be detected next time after a certain time by the sensor, and when the difference between these two temperatures becomes a predetermined one, the extractor hood starts driving the exhaust fan motor.
The extractor hood disclosed in Patent Literature 1, however; is greatly affected by a temperature at the beginning of temperature detection and a heating state of cooking, because the extractor hood starts controlling the air volume when the difference between the two temperatures becomes the predetermined one.

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