In a wireless communication system, a method and apparatus for closed loop transmission is disclosed. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a time frequency portion of an uplink frame is dynamically reserved as a sounding zone for uplink channel sounding. A first message is transmitted to a first subscriber station in a downlink frame assigning a time-frequency resource within the sounding zone, and a sounding waveform. Furthermore, a signal is received from the subscriber station within the assigned time-frequency resource, a partial channel response is determined from the received sounding signal, and the subsequent transmission to the subscriber station is tailored based on the at least partial channel response.

In mobile broadband cellular communication systems, there are several physical layer techniques that require the transmitter to be provided with knowledge of the channel response between the transmitter and receiver. Transmission techniques that make use of the channel response between the transmitter and receiver are called closed-loop transmission techniques. One example of closed-loop transmission is the use of a closed-loop transmit antenna array at the transmitter. A closed loop transmit antenna array is an array of multiple transmit antennas where the signals fed to each antenna are weighted in such a way as to control the characteristics of the transmitted signal energy according to some pre-defined optimization strategy. Generally, the closed-loop transmit antenna array weights the transmitted antenna signals based on knowledge of the space-frequency channel response between each transmit antenna and each receive antenna and attempts to optimize the characteristics of the received signal processed by the receiving device. For single antenna transmitters, the transmitter can use the knowledge of the channel to pre-equalize the channel so as to reduce or even eliminate the need for complex receive equalization at the receiver. Having knowledge of the channel response at the transmitter can also be used to select the best modulation and coding rate to use when transmitting data to the receiver.
In general, there are two methods for providing a transmitter with knowledge of the channel between each transmit antenna and each receive antenna. This discussion is focused at the downlink of a cellular system where the base station (BS) is the transmitter and a subscriber station (SS) is the receiver.
The first method is based on feedback messages from the SS, where the SS measures the channel response between the BS antennas and the SS antennas and transmits a feedback message back to the BS containing enough information that enables the BS to reconstruct the downlink channel response and perform closed loop transmission. For example, the SS could feedback a quantized version of the downlink channel estimates.
The second method is based on the reciprocity of the RF channel response in a TDD system. In a static (i.e., zero velocity) TDD system, the RF propagation channel is reciprocal, which means the downlink RF channel matrix (where the matrix refers to the channel gains between each transmit and receive antenna) at a given time-frequency point is simply the matrix transpose of the uplink RF channel matrix at the same time-frequency point. Therefore in a TDD system, a downlink channel response can sometimes be derived from an uplink data transmission if the data transmission includes pilot signals. However, in modern digital communication systems, traffic (such as web browsing) is often asymmetric, meaning that there may not be an uplink transmission associated with each downlink transmission. Or, in a broadband system a typical uplink data transmission may be of a smaller bandwidth than the typical downlink data transmission. These issues can severely degrade the performance of closed loop transmission in systems based on reciprocity. Therefore, there is a need for a closed loop transmission methods and associated signaling methods that can overcome these limitations.

Method and apparatus for closed loop transmission


The disclosure is directed to an aqueous composition comprising a waterborne polymer, a non-ionic surfactant, a levelling component, an IR absorber, and at least one UV absorber.

Window coatings that absorb light radiation have been developed. Conventional coatings are impractical in that they are typically cut to fit the size of an existing window, and require additional steps to apply. Chemicals that can be developed to make window treatments contain toxic chemicals that make their use impractical. Additionally, current coatings have limitations in achieving optical clarity, consistency, and practicality of application.
There remains a need to develop a coating system that can be used on a hard surface and provide an even and thin coating while still evenly and consistently absorbing infrared and ultraviolet light radiation. The disclosure addresses these and other needs.

Waterborne light radiation absorbing polyurethane mixed polyester polymer coating system


Embodiments herein include implantable medical devices including chemical sensors with bioerodible masking layers to allow for staged activation of the sensors. In an embodiment, an implantable medical device includes a substrate defining wells and a first chemical sensor and a second chemical sensor disposed within separate wells of the substrate. The first chemical sensor and the second chemical sensor can be configured to detect one or more analytes. The device can include a first bioerodible masking layer disposed over the second chemical sensor, sealing off the second chemical sensor. The device can further include a protective planarization layer disposed over at least one of the first chemical sensor and the second chemical sensor such that the outermost surface of the medical device over the first sensor is flush with the outermost surface of the medical device over the second sensor. Other embodiments are also included herein.

Data regarding physiological analytes are highly relevant for the diagnosis and treatment of many conditions and disease states. As one example, potassium ion concentrations can affect a patient's cardiac rhythm. Therefore, medical professionals frequently evaluate physiological potassium ion concentration when diagnosing a cardiac rhythm problem. However, measuring physiological concentrations of analytes, such as potassium, generally requires drawing blood from the patient. Blood draws are commonly done at a medical clinic or hospital and therefore generally require the patient to physically visit a medical facility. As a result, despite their significance, physiological analyte concentrations are frequently measured only sporadically.
Implantable chemical sensors can be used to gather data about physiological analytes while a patient is away from a medical care facility and without needing to draw blood or another fluid from the patient. However, many implantable chemical sensors have a limited useful life span due to intrinsic design limitations, biofouling, the host's foreign body response, and the like.

Implantable chemical sensor with staged activation


A method for assembling a gas turbine engine is provided. The method includes providing a combustor having a combustor liner assembly defining a combustion chamber. An outer combustor liner includes a radially extending first end that defines a combustion chamber input opening. An axially extending second end of the outer combustor liner defines a combustion chamber output opening. The first end transitions into the second end to form an arcuate cross-sectional shape of the outer combustor liner. A dome assembly is coupled to the first end of the combustor liner that extends downstream from the dome assembly. A fuel nozzle is positioned within a cyclone formed on the dome assembly and configured in a radial configuration.

This invention relates generally to combustors and, more particularly, to gas turbine combustors.
Air pollution concerns worldwide have led to stricter emissions standards both domestically and internationally. Aircraft are governed by both Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. These standards regulate the emission of oxides of nitrogen (NOx), unburned hydrocarbons (HC), and carbon monoxide (CO) from aircraft in the vicinity of airports, where they contribute to urban photochemical smog problems. In general, engine emissions fall into two classes: those formed because of high flame temperatures (NOx), and those formed because of low flame temperatures that do not allow the fuel-air reaction to proceed to completion (HC and CO).
At least some known gas turbine combustors include between 10 and 30 mixer assemblies, which mix high velocity air with a fine fuel spray. These mixer assemblies usually consist of a fuel nozzle located at a center of a swirler for swirling the incoming air to enhance flame stabilization and mixing. Both the fuel nozzle and the mixer assembly are located on a combustor dome. In conventional gas turbine combustion systems, the fuel nozzles are inserted into the dome assembly in an axial orientation. This approach leads to several drawbacks that must be dealt with during a combustor design phase. Axial configured fuel nozzles require an open volume upstream from the dome face to allow for the insertion and extraction of the fuel nozzle without removing the combustor. This additional volume or envelope adds extra length, cost and/or weight to the engine, without adding any benefit to the operation of the engine. Additionally, a long fuel nozzle stem is needed to connect the fuel nozzle tip to a flange of the dome assembly, which also adds cost and/or weight to the engine, and adversely affects the natural frequency of the fuel nozzle and/or the heat transfer within the fuel nozzle.

Method and apparatus for assembling gas turbine engine


A system and method for providing call management services in a Virtual Private Network of the present invention uses the advantages of end-to-end Internet Protocol signaling. The system and method of the present invention includes a user profile which offers both a customer address and a user name as search keys. The method includes locating the called party who may be at a multiplicity of possible physical locations, evaluating the calling and called party privileges, routing preferences and busy/idle status for establishing permission to set up the call, determining an optimum route to establish the telephone call. Due to the system and method of the present invention, the telephone call takes the optimum route and preferably the most direct route to the destination with a high probability of completion.

Call Management Services (CMS) allow the calling and called parties to exercise control over call set-up functions within a network. Call set-up includes dialing, wait time and time to move through central offices and long distance services. Typically, there are both originating and terminating versions of these Call Management Services. Originating versions address decisions such as which route to take to complete the call, or what action to take upon encountering a busy signal. Terminating versions include the ability to selectively ignore calls, or route them to a handling mechanism. The handling mechanism provides for a treatment for a call and results in an outcome other than a successful call completion to the desired party. It includes, but is not limited to a busy signal, message service, attendant or administrative assistant answering.
Call Management Services are widely deployed in the Public Switched Telephone Network, having been marketed for many years under the acronym CLASSSM, which stands for Custom Local Area Signaling Services. Most private networks, such as Virtual Private Networks (VPN), have deployed proprietary versions of these services, which function in an equivalent manner using capabilities of the current Signaling System 7 (SS7). Virtual Private Networking is a widely deployed generic business service offering which provides customers with a closed user group environment across a plurality of physical locations. There are several subsets of Virtual Private Networking, one of the better-known being Wide Area Centrex (WAC). The CLASS services include Automatic Recall (AR), Automatic Callback (AC), Selective Call Forwarding (SCF), Selective Call Acceptance, Selective Call Rejection (SCR), and the variations thereof. Automatic Callback and Automatic Recall are similar services. Automatic Recall attempts to call back the last party who called the customer, where as Automatic Callback is invoked during an initial attempt by the customer when a busy line is encountered. Automatic Recall is typically not used in private networks since these networks strive to provide a correct disposition for all incoming calls.
Traditional Call Management Services suffer from several serious shortcomings such as:
1) the features are invoked after the network has made major routing decisions, for example, a call is allowed to progress through the network to the called party's line before it is redirected;
2) the features recognize calling and called network interface points or endpoints instead of specific users, making them useless and inappropriate in an environment where users roam amongst a multiplicity of network interface points; 3) the end-to-end signaling capability is limited by antiquated technology; and 4) service portability, the ability to roam while retaining access to personalized CMS features, is not supported.
Several Voice or Video over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony solutions have been proposed and/or implemented. However, these solutions tend to emphasize the new capabilities provided by Internet Protocol technology, such as multimedia integration, rather than addressing improvements to existing call-based services. Moreover, these solutions often introduce questionable practices which may undermine the Quality of Service (QoS) to which business customers have become accustomed. Overly aggressive, compression of bandwidth, lack of regard for the scarcity of global Internet Protocol addresses, or alerting the target station or endpoint before call completion is guaranteed are a few examples of some of the issues that result from current solutions.
Therefore, it is desirable to enhance Call Management Services to overcome various shortcomings of the present day services and to extend these enhancements to cover new multimedia calls, without jeopardizing Quality of Service (QoS).

System and method for providing call management services in a virtual private network using voice or video over internet protocol


A clamp for freely connecting sheet metal terminals made of a battery in a lateral or vertical direction suitable for working environment is provided. A bolt and a nut connecting both walls are parallel to each other at an open end. Wedge-shaped recesses, into which chamfers of the terminal units are inserted, are formed on inner sides of the walls facing each other. The clamp tightens the terminal units using the wedge-shaped recesses and enables a vertical connection and a lateral connection.

In general, a battery provided in a vehicle generates and supplies electricity to operate various electric devices used in the vehicle. The battery is installed at a side of an engine compartment or a trunk compartment to be charged by a generator and supplies electric power necessary for ignition of an engine and the various electric devices such as head lights. For example, a charging device is activated to supply electricity to the various electric devices when the engine of the vehicle is driven at a desired revolution per minute (RPM), but the battery supplies the electricity in behalf of the charging device when the engine is driven at low RPM or stopped.
In general, the battery is provided with a positive post and a negative post which are connected to power cables. For example, the posts of the battery protrude from an upper side of the battery and cable terminals provided at ends of the power cables, such as the cable terminals are connected to the battery posts, have accommodating recess to accommodate the battery posts and open sides for easy insertion. The open sides of the cable terminals are coupled by bolts and nuts with a clamp so that the battery is electrically connected to the power cables.
The existing connecting structure of battery terminals, for example sheet metal battery terminals, as illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, are classified by a vertical connecting type and a lateral connecting type based on a connecting direction. However, the connecting direction of the existing battery terminals is fixed. Therefore, since the battery terminals are suitable for the working environment, another type of battery terminals need to be developed.
In order to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, Korean Patent No. 10-0900314 has proposed a structure of connecting a battery terminal in several directions with a circular clamp. However, the structure using a circular clamp has difficulty of keeping a fixed state at a desired angle, so that a connecting force is poor and the clamp is moved due to aging, shock, and vibration resulting in inferior connection of the terminal.


A fastener for securing a cargo container includes a first fastener component and a second fastener component. The first fastener includes a pair of rails which bridge a first and a second fixed body. A lock body is slidably mounted on the rails, and has two opposite ends abutting respectively against the rails and a locking hole between the opposite ends. The second fastener component includes a threaded stem which extends between the pair of rails through a screw hole formed in the first fixed body, and a locking portion extending into the locking hole. An engagement unit provides engagement of the locking portion in the locking hole such that relative rotation of the stem and the lock body is permitted only in one single direction that causes the stem to move toward the second fixed body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fastener, more particularly to a fastener for securing a container on the deck of a cargo vessel or ship in which the fastening tension can be easily and simply adjusted and ineffective fastening can be avoided.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, when containers are being transported in a cargo vessel or ship, in order to prevent undesired movement or toppling down of the containers 11 stacked on the ship as shown in FIG. 1, lashing ropes 2 and fastening assemblies 3 are used to secure the containers 11 to deck fittings (not shown) on a deck 12 of the ship. The conventional fastening assembly 3 includes a connecting member 31 and a connecting rod 32 that are connected in threaded engagement. However, when the ship pitches and rolls in a stormy sea, the threaded connection may be loosened thus resulting in disengagement of the connecting member 31 from the connecting rod 32 and, hence, ineffective fastening.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,666,634 proposes a "Positioning assembly for positioning a container on a platform," which was intended to overcome the aforesaid drawback of the conventional fastening assembly. The positioning assembly includes a limiting seat formed with a limiting hole, and a platform-connecting rod that engages threadedly a container-connecting unit and that has an engaging stud portion for engaging the limiting hole to arrest rotation of the platform-connecting rod, thereby preventing undesired disengagement of the platform rod from the container-connecting unit. However, the limiting seat may still disengage from the platform-connecting rod due to severe rocking of the ship.
In U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/868,288 entitled, "Fastener for Securing a Container on a Vehicle and now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,908,268," a first fastener component of a fastener assembly disclosed therein includes a lock body mounted slidably on two rails which bridge a pair of fixed bodies. A threaded stem of a second fastener component extends between the two rails as it is passed threadedly through a screw hole formed in one of the fixed bodies. In use, the stem is not rotatable when connected to a deck fitting. The first fastener component is connected to a rope and is turnable relative to the stem to tension or loosen the rope. The lock body, when engaging a locking portion on the stem, restraints relative rotation between the stem and the first fastener component so that the rope is prevented from becoming loosened undesirably.
There is still, however, room for improvement of such a fastener in terms of providing a more reliable engagement between the lock body and the stem of the second fastener component and of preventing undesirable loosening of the rope caused by the relative rotation between the stem and the first fastener component. The present invention is directed to such improvement, or at least aims to provide the public with a useful alternative.


This invention belongs to the field of optical chemical sensors. Specifically, it relates to sensors based on the absorbance and emission of light by an indicator molecule where the optical properties of the indicator molecule change in response to a particular analyte. These indicator molecules are immobilized in a transparent substance that is exposed to light, where the substance is typically a solid such as a sol-gel or a polymer. More specifically, it is a new process for manufacturing a material (a medium or matrix) to hold or encapsulate sensing molecules. This new material has an improved resistance to exposure to hydrocarbons. These materials are used to immobilize colorimetric and/or fluorescence indicators in a matrix that repels hydrocarbons in general and non-polar hydrocarbons (i.e. aromatics hydrocarbons) in particular.

Indicator Molecules Chemical sensors are generally known for use in a wide variety of areas such as medicine, scientific research, industrial applications and the like. Fiber optic and electrochemical approaches are generally known for use in situations where it is desired to detect and/or measure the concentration of a parameter at a remote location without requiring electrical communication with the remote location. Structures, properties, functions and operational details of fiber optic chemical sensors can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,577,109 to Hirschfeld, U.S. Pat. No. 4,785,814 to Kane, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,842,783 to Blaylock, as well as Seitz, "Chemical Sensors Based on Fiber Optics," Analytical Chemistry, Vol. 56, No. 1, January 1984, each of which is incorporated by reference herein.
More generally, luminophores have been used to facilitate optical sensing. As used herein, a "luminophore" is a chemical species which reacts to the presence of a substance to produce an optical result. A fluorophore is thus one type of luminophore. Another type of luminophore changes color in accordance with changes in the amount of a substance of interest. A sensor which utilizes this principle to detect pH and CO.sub.2 is disclosed in Weigl, Holobar, Trettnak, Klimant, Kraus, O'Leary, and Wolfbeis, Optical Triple Sensor for Measuring pH, Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide, 32 JOURNAL OF BIOTECHNOLOGY 127 (1994)
For oxygen sensors, a ruthenium-based compound or "ruthenium complex" has been used as the fluorophore to provide the requisite fluorescence. The use of ruthenium complexes in oxygen sensors has been described in the following publications: Hartman, Leiner and Lippitsch, Luminescence Quenching Behavior of an Oxygen Sensor Based on a Ru(II) Complex Dissolved in Polystyrene, 67 ANAL. CHEM. 88 (1995); Carraway, Demas, DeGraff, and Bacon, Photophysics and Photochemistry of Oxygen Sensors Based on Luminescent Transition-Metal Complexes, 63 ANAL. CHEM. 337 (1991); and Bacon and Demas, Determination of Oxygen Concentrations by Luminescence Quenching of a Polymer-Immobilized Transition-Metal Complex, 59 ANAL. CHEM. 2780 (1987). In addition to ruthenium complexes, other fluorophores have also been used to detect oxygen, as described in the following publications: Wolfbeis, Posch and Kroneis, Fiber Optical Fluorosensor for Determination of Halothan and/or Oxygen, 57 ANAL. CHEM. 2556 (1985); and Wolfbeis, Offenbacher, Kroneis and Marsoner, A Fast Responding Fluorescence Sensor for Oxygen, I MIKROCHIMICA ACTA EEWIEN! 153 (1984). U.S. Pat. No. 5,176,882 to Gray et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,155,046 to Hui et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 4,861,727 to Hauenstein et al. also disclose various fluorophores which may be used to detect oxygen.
Such indicator molecules are specific in their excitation and emission wavelengths. The fluorescent emission from an indicator molecule may be attenuated or enhanced by the local presence of the molecule being analyzed. For example, a tris(4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline)ruthenium (II) perchlorate molecule particular for oxygen sensing is excited by shining light onto the substance at 460 nm (blue). The molecule's fluorescent emission immediately occurs at 620 nm (orange-red). However, the emission is quenched by the local presence of oxygen interacting with the indicator molecule, to cause the intensity of the fluorescence to be related to the ambient oxygen concentration. Consequently, the more oxygen that is present, the lower the emission intensity and vice-versa and when zero or no oxygen is present, the maximum fluorescent intensity of emitted light is present.
The quenching of the luminescence of an emitter at the end of an optical fiber has also been used in temperature sensors. For temperature probes the emitters are generally solid phosphors rather than an aromatic molecule embedded in plastic, since access by molecules from the environment is not desirable. Various methods have been used to measure the amount of quenching: (i) Quick et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,223,226 ratios the intensity at one wavelength of the emission against another; (ii) Quick et al. also proposes determining the length of time it takes for the signal to fall from one level to another; (iii) Samulski in U.S. Pat. No. 4,245,507 (reissued as U.S. Pat. No. Re. 31,832) proposes to measure quenching by determining the phase of the emitted life. In a patent for temperature sensing at the end of an optical fiber, Hirschfeld in U.S. Pat. No. 4,542,987 proposes, in addition to method (i), that (iv) emission lifetime be used to measure quenching and that (v) Raman scattered light can be used as a reference.
Compounds other than those containing ruthenium are also known. Eastwood and Gouterman (1970) noted generally with respect to Pd and Pt porphyrin complexes that their "relatively high emission yields and short triplet lifetimes . . . may make these systems useful as . . . biological probes for the presence of oxygen." More recently, Bacon and Demas in UK Patent Application No. 2,132,348A propose the use of, inter alia, porphyrin complexes of V02+, Cu2+, Pt2+, Zn.sup.2+ and Pd2+ or dimeric Rh, Pt, or Ir complexes for monitoring oxygen concentration by emission quenching of intensity or lifetime. Suitable ligands would reportedly be etioporphyrin, octaethylporphin, and porphin.
The fluorescence of the indicator molecules employed in the device described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,517,313 is modulated, e.g., attenuated or enhanced, by the local presence of the analyte. For example, the orange-red fluorescence of the complex, tris(4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline)ruthenium(II) perchlorate is quenched by the local presence of oxygen. This complex can, therefore, advantageously be used as the indicator molecule of an oxygen sensor. Similarly, other indicator molecules whose fluorescence is affected by specific analytes are known.
Optical Sensing Devices These fluorescent indicators described above have classically been used in fluorescence spectrophotometers. These instruments are designed to read fluorescence intensity and/or the decay time of fluorescence. The indicator molecules and samples are classically in a solution or liquid phase and are assayed in discrete measurements made on individual samples contained in cuvettes.
Fluorescence indicators trapped in a solid substance typically are deposited as a thin layer or a membrane onto a fiber optic waveguide, the waveguide and trapped analyte forming a fiber optic sensor. The sensor is introduced to the sample in a manner such that the indicator will interact with the analyte. This interaction results in a change in optical properties, as discussed above, where this change is probed and detected through the fiber optic waveguide by an optical detector. The optical detector can be a single photodetector with an optical filter, a spectrometer, or any optical detection system capable of measuring light intensity or the change in light intensity through time. These optical properties of chemical sensor compositions typically involve changes in colors or in color intensities, or fluorescence intensity or fluorescence lifetime. In these types of sensors, it is possible to detect changes in the analytes being monitored at the tip of the fiber sensor by a detector which is located remotely to the sample, in order to thereby provide remote monitoring capabilities. In such systems, the amount of light reaching the detector will limit the sensitivity and signal to noise of the analyte measurement.
A second area of fluorescence sensor state-of-the-art is in fiber optic devices. These sensor devices allow miniaturization and remote sensing of specific analytes. The fluorescent indicator molecule is immobilized via mechanical or chemical means to one end of an optical fiber. To the opposite end of the fiber is attached a fiber coupler (Y shaped fiber) or a beam splitter. Incident excitation light is coupled into one leg of the fiber typically via a filter and a lens. Excitation light is carried via the fiber to the distal end where the fluorescent indicator molecule is immobilized to the tip.
Upon excitation, the indicator molecule uniformly radiates the fluorescent light, some of which is recaptured by the fiber tip and propagated back through the fiber to the Y junction or "coupler". At the junction, a substantial portion (typically half) of the fluorescence is conveyed back to the emitter or point of origin thereby unavailable for signal detection. To offset the inefficiencies of the system, lasers are often used to raise the input power and highly sensitive photomultiplier tubes are used as detectors thereby raising costs by thousands of dollars. The other half travels along the other leg of the Y to the detector and is recorded.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,024,923 issued to Melendez et al. on Feb. 15, 2000 entitled Integrated Fluorescence-Based Biochemical Sensor, discloses an integrated biochemical sensor for detecting the presence of one or more specific samples having a device platform with a light absorbing upper surface and input/output pins. An encapsulating housing provides an optical transmissive enclosure which covers the platform and has a layer of fluorescence chemistry on its outer surface. The fluorophore is chosen for its molecular properties in the presence of the sample analyte. The detector and light sources are all coupled to the platform and encapsulated within the housing. A filter element is used to block out unwanted light and increase the detector's ability to resolve wanted emission light.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,910,661 issued to Colvin, Jr. on Jun. 8, 1999 entitled Fluorescence Sensing Device discloses a fluorescence sensing device for determining the presence or concentration of an analyte in a liquid or gaseous medium. The device is constructed of an optical filter, which is positioned on a photodetector and which has a thin film of analyte-permeable, fluorescent indicator molecule-containing material on its top surface. An edge-emitting, light-emitting P-N junction is positioned on the top surface of the optical filter such that the P-N junction from which light is emitted is positioned within the film. Light emitted by the fluorescent indicator molecules impacts the photodetector thereby generating an electrical signal that is related to the concentration of the analyte in the liquid or gaseous medium. Fluorescence sensing devices according to this invention are characterized by very compact sizes, fast response times and high signal-to-noise ratios.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,517,313, also issued to Colvin describes a fluorescence sensing device comprising a layered array of a fluorescent indicator molecule-containing substance, a high-pass filter and a photodetector. In this device, a light source, preferably a light-emitting diode ("LED"), is located at least partially within the indicator material, such that incident light from the light source causes the indicator molecules to fluoresce. The high-pass filter allows emitted light to reach the photodetector, while filtering out scattered incident light from the light source.
None of these devices, however, incorporate a highly resistant medium for the encapsulation of an optical sensor material thereby enabling the use of said sensor in harsh environments containing solvent hydrocarbon compounds.
Optical Sensors for Use in Detecting Oxygen Because oxygen is a triplet molecule, it is able to quench efficiently the fluorescence and phosphorescence of certain luminophores. This effect (first described by Kautsky in 1939) is called "dynamic fluorescence quenching." Collision of an oxygen molecule with a fluorophore in its excited state leads to a non-radiative transfer of energy. The degree of quenching is related to the frequency of collisions, and therefore, to the concentration, pressure and temperature of the oxygen-containing media.
There are several issued patents that concern optical sensors designed to sense the presence of oxygen in addition to those devices described above.
An oxygen sensor based on oxygen-quenched fluorescence is described in U.S. Pat. Reissue No. 31,879 to Lubbers et al. Lubbers et al. describe an optrode consisting of a light-transmissive upper layer coupled to a light source, an oxygen-permeable lower diffusion membrane in contact with an oxygen-containing fluid, and a middle layer of an oxygen-quenchable fluorescent indicating substance, such as pyrenebutyric acid. When illuminated by a source light beam of a predetermined wavelength, the indicating substance emits a fluorescent beam of a wavelength different from the source beam and whose intensity is inversely proportional to the concentration of oxygen present. The resultant beam emanating from the optode, which includes both a portion of the source beam reflected from the optrode and the fluorescent beam emitted by the indicating substance, is discriminated by means of a filter so that only the fluorescent beam is sent to the detector. In a second embodiment, the optrode consists of a supporting foil made of a gas-diffusable material such as silicone in which the fluorescent indicating substance is randomly mixed, preferably in a polymerization type reaction, so that the indicating substance will not be washed away by the flow of blood over the optode.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,612,866 to Stevens describes a method of calibrating an oxygen-quenchable luminescent sensor. The Stevens device includes an oxygen-sensitive luminescent sensor made of pyrene and, disposed adjacent thereto, an oxygen-insensitive reference sensor also made of pyrene but which is covered with an oxygen-impermeable layer. The oxygen concentration is evaluated by comparing the outputs of the measuring and reference sensors.
Substances Indicator molecules that are incorporated at the distal end of fiber optic sensors are often configured as membranes that are secured at the distal tip end of the waveguide device or optrode. The indicator-containing substance is typically spread as a thin layer or membrane for mechanical support. Sensors of this general type are useful in measuring gas concentrations such as oxygen and carbon dioxide, monitoring the pH of a fluid, and the like. Ion concentrations can also be detected, such as potassium, sodium, calcium and metal ions.
A typical fiber optic oxygen sensor positions the sensor material at a generally distal location with the assistance of various different support means. Support means must be such as to permit interaction between the oxygen indicator and the substance being subjected to monitoring, measurement and/or detection. With certain arrangements, it is desirable to incorporate membrane components into these types of devices. Such membrane components must possess certain properties in order to be particularly advantageous. Many membrane materials have some advantageous properties but also have shortcomings. Generally speaking, the materials must be selectively permeable to oxygen molecules, and of sufficient strength to permit maneuvering of the device without concern about damage to the oxygen sensor in addition to being inert and non-solvent to the environment in which measurements are to be taken.
It is known that a luminescent aromatic molecule embedded in plastic is subject to quenching by oxygen present in the gas or liquid in contact with the plastic. This phenomenon was reported by Bergman (Nature 218:396, 1966), and a study of oxygen diffusion in plastic was reported by Shaw (Trans. Faraday Soc. 63:2181-2189, 1967). Stevens, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,612,866, ratios the luminescence intensities from luminescent materials dispersed in oxygen-permeable and oxygen-impermeable plastic films to determine oxygen concentration. Lubbers et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,003,707 proposed the possibility of positioning the emitting substance at the end of an optical fiber. Peterson et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,476,870 also employs the quenching of an emitting molecule in plastic at the end of an optical fiber. Both Lubbers and Peterson reference emission against scattered exciting light.
According to the invention disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,015,715, a sensitive single-layer system is produced in such a way that the fluorescence indicators are adsorbed on to a filling material, and in connection therewith a mixture is produced with a material permeable to the analyte to be investigated. The mixture produced is then compressed under the action of pressure, advantageously at an applied pressure of 12 to 20×104 Pa, preferably 15×104 Pa on a substrate, the layer thickness being formed in dependence on the applied pressure used. The sensitive layer thus applied is polymerized, polycondensed or hardened, this preferably being carried out in an extrusion mould to be used. The layer is additionally homogenized by swelling in a fluorescence indicator solution.
In the sensor described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,517,313, the material which contains the indicator molecule is permeable to the analyte. Thus, the analyte can diffuse into the material from the surrounding test medium, thereby affecting the fluorescence emitted by the indicator molecules. The light source, indicator molecule-containing material, high-pass filter and photodetector are configured such that at least a portion of the fluorescence emitted by the indicator molecules impacts the photodetector, generating an electrical signal which is indicative of the concentration of the analyte in the surrounding medium.
Another pO2 sensor probe utilizing an oxygen-sensitive fluorescent intermediate reagent is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,476,870 to Peterson et al. The Peterson et al. probe includes two optical fibers ending in a jacket of porous polymer tubing. The tubing is packed with a fluorescent light-excitable dye adsorbed on a particulate polymeric support. The polymeric adsorbent is said to avoid the problem of humidity sensitivity found with inorganic adsorbents such as silica gel. The probe is calibrated by using a blue light illuminating signal and measuring both the intensity of the emitted fluorescent green signal and the intensity of the scattered blue illuminating signal. Again, none of these patents describe the high performance materials used as a medium and described in this disclosure.
Hydrocarbon and Other Environment Media In U.S. Pat. No. 6,139,798 issued to Klimant et al. on Oct. 31, 2000 entitled Sensor Membrane of an Optical Sensor, there is disclosed a sensor membrane of an optical sensor for detection of O.sub.2, H.sub.2 O.sub.2, SO.sub.2 or halogenated hydrocarbons in a sample. The membrane contains an indicator substance that is homogeneously immobilized in the polymer matrix of the sensor membrane and is, at least indirectly, in contact with the sample, changing at least one of its optical properties upon a change of the parameter to be measured. The indicator substance contains an inorganic salt of a transition metal complex with alpha-diimine ligands. The indicator substance is homogeneously distributed in the polymer matrix, which essentially consists of at least one substance belonging to the group of cellulose derivatives, polystyrenes, polytetrahydrofuranes, or their respective derivatives.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,441,055 issued to Katerkamp et al. on Aug. 27, 2002, entitled Sensor Membrane For Determining Oxygen Concentrations And Process For The Preparation Thereof, there is disclosed sensor membranes for determining oxygen concentrations and to a process for the preparation thereof, in which, in a polymer matrix which is permeable to oxygen, an indicator is present whose optical and physicochemical properties can be influenced by the respective analytes. Starting from the disadvantages of known sensor membranes, it is the object of the Katerkamp invention to provide a sensor membrane which is thermally and also dimensionally stable, and can be prepared simply and flexibly. This object is achieved according to the invention in that the polymer matrix which contains the optical oxygen indicator is formed from a polymer containing sulfur, preferably in the main chain, particularly preferably containing sulfide and/or sulfone functionalities in the main chain.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,254,829 issued to Hartmann et al. on Jul. 3, 2001, entitled Optochemical Sensor there is disclosed an optical sensor including a matrix containing a luminescence indicator whose luminescence may be quenched by oxygen. The optical sensor contains at least one agent capable of deactivating singlet oxygen and has an enhanced stability relative to oxygen.
The stability of a sensor against washing out of the indicator also is the topic of proposals in U.S. Pat. No. 5,070,158 to Holloway and U.S. Pat. No. 5,128,102 to Kaneko, which disclose the possibility of chemically binding indicator molecules to a polymer matrix. Another way of improving the stability of a sensor against the loss of its indicator and hence the deterioration of the photophysical properties of the membrane is set forth by Markle in U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,547. A special silicone matrix comprising polar carbinol groups serves to enhance the interaction between indicator (e.g., tris(4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline)ruthenium(II) chloride) and matrix in order to reduce the washing out, and also the aggregation, of the indicator molecules. Those measures are, however, not suitable for substantially enhancing the photostability of the membrane per se. Finally, Jensen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,242,835 describes a method for determining the concentration of oxygen in a sample by detecting the emission of the singlet oxygen itself, which is excited by energy transmission during the extinction of the luminescence, occurring at a wavelength of approximately 1270 nm. Also, that method is prone to photodecomposition of the indicator or the matrix by exactly that reactive singlet oxygen, the latter returning into its ground state without radiation during a photochemical reaction, thus causing also the sensitizer molecules (indicators) serving the production of the singlet oxygen to be attacked.
Thus, as can be seen by the above review of the prior art there is a need for a process that produces a matrix or medium for the fabrication of optical chemical sensors and appropriate support media that can be used in the presence of non-polar volatile hydrocarbons such as those present in solvents, fuels, and other products containing volatile hydrocarbons while still having permeability to oxygen. Also there is a need for a matrix that prevents the degradation of the sensor material by preventing leaching, and accelerated photo bleaching which have been observed in sensors that do not use the new resistant materials wherein said matrix does not exhibit any signal interference.

High performance materials for optical sensors for hydrocarbons environment


Provided is a method of sensing biomolecules using a bioFET, the method including: forming a layer including Au on a gate of the bioFET; forming a probe immobilized on a substrate separated from the gate by a predetermined distance, and a biomolecule having a thiol group (—SH) which is incompletely bonded to the probe; reacting the probe with a sample including a target molecule; and measuring a current flowing in a channel region between a source and a drain of the bioFET.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of detecting a biomolecule using a field effect transistor (FET), and more particularly, to a method of electrically sensing a bond between a probe biomolecule and a target biomolecule.
2. Description of the Related Art
Biosensors, which include transistors, are sensors that electrically sense biomolecules. Biosensors are manufactured using semiconductor processes, quickly convert electric signals, and can be easily applied to integrated circuits (ICs) and MEMS. Due to these advantages, much research has gone into biosensors.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,238,757 was the first Patent regarding the detection of biological reactions using a FET, and is directed to a biosensor capable of identifying an antigen-antibody reaction by detecting a current that varies due to a change in the surface charge concentration of a semiconductor inversion layer. This patent is directed toward a biosensor for sensing proteins. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,777,019 biological monomers are adsorbed onto the surface of a gate, and hybridization between the biological monomers and complementary monomers is measured using a FET. U.S. Pat. No. 5,846,708 discloses a method of sensing hybridization using a charged coupled device (CCD). In this method, the hybridization can be identified using a phenomenon that bonded biomolecules absorb light. In U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,466,348 and 6,203,981, a TFT is used and a S/N ratio is improved by application to a circuit.
A thin film transistor (TFT) has lower manufacturing costs than a transistor formed on a silicon substrate, and a TFT enables the formation of an array-type chip with increased integrity by increasing the area of a substrate. An FET used as a biosensor has lower costs and requires less time than other conventional methods. In addition, an FET can be easily applied to integrated circuit (IC)/MEMS processes.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a typical bioFET. Referring to FIG. 1, a source 12a and a drain 12b are respectively formed in side portions of a substrate 11 doped with an n- or p-type material. The source 12a and the drain 12b are of an opposite conductivity type to the substrate 11. A gate 13 contacting the source 12a and the drain 12b is formed on the substrate 11. The gate 13 typically includes an oxidized layer 14, a poly silicon layer 15, and a metal layer 16. A probe biomolecule 17 is bonded to the metal layer 16 of the gate 13. When a predetermined target biomolecule is bonded to the probe biomolecule 17 by, for example, hydrogen bonding, the current changes. The change in the current is measured and the bonding of the probe biomolecule 17 and the predetermined target biomolecule can be identified.
The above-described conventional techniques, however, cannot retain reliable accuracy and be reliably reproduced when charged biomolecules are sensed in an electrolyte 10. In detail, the target biomolecule is bonded to the probe biomolecule 17 immobilized on the surface of the gate 13 in an electrolyte of a bioFET. At this time, when charged biomolecules are separated from the surface of the gate 13 by a debye length or farther, the charged biomolecules cannot affect an electric potential at the surface of the gate 13 due to ionic shielding of ions adjacent to biomolecules in the electrolyte 10, and it is difficult to accurately measure the electrical potential of the surface of the gate 13. Accordingly, the detection of immobilization of the probe biomolecule 17 to the surface of the gate 13 and hybridization of the probe biomolecule 17 with the target biomolecule has low reproducibility and accuracy.
In order to prevent ionic shielding, ionic concentration of the electrolyte can be decreased to increase the debye length. However, when the ionic concentration is decreased, for example, when the concentration of NaCl is 0.01 M or less, the detection efficiency decreases.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,466,348 discloses an apparatus for sensing biomolecules in a dry environment to prevent ion shielding. However, practical use of the apparatus is limited and a separate apparatus is required.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,203,981, two transistor are used to decrease noise, and thus, increase the S/N ratio. However, desired effects of signal amplification cannot be obtained.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,482,639 B2, charged biomolecules and uncharged biomoleclues are detected through a change in capacitance due to adsorption/bonding of biomolecules between a reference electrode and a gate surface. However, reproducibility and accuracy for sensing using a bioFET are not reliable.

Method of electrically detecting biomolecule


An implantable heart stimulator has an electrically conductive housing containing a pulse generator, with an electrode lead connected to the housing. The electrode lead has a proximal portion extending substantially from the housing to a location, after implantation, which is beyond the entry of the lead into the venous system and before the entry of the lead into the superior vena cava. A current source supplies an infection control current between the housing and an electrically conductive surface on the exterior of the proximal portion of the electrode lead, for counteracting bacterial growth. The housing may have a header to which the electrode lead is connected, in which case the header is provided with an electrically conductive surface as well, which can serve as an electrode for the infection control current.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an infection control apparatus for an implantable heart stimulator of the type having a pulse generator for delivering electric stimulation pulses to a patient's heart through a lead connectable to the pulse generator, through a connector top on a pulse generator housing, the pulse generator housing being electrically conductive.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Implantable heart stimulator pocket infection is a severe complication which often ends up in explantation of the stimulator. The reason therefor is that conventional treatment with antibiotics cannot eradicate the infection. This seems to depend on the circumstance that the bacteria live in a biofilm formed around the exterior surfaces of the implanted stimulator, which film blocks antibiotics. The bacteria may also live passively on a very low metabolism and can therefore not be treated successfully by antibiotics.
A method of enhancing the effect of antibiotics by applying an electrical field across the bioflim is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,312,813. This method is based on findings by J. W. Costerton et. al. Their studies have shown that the infection can be completely cured and no explantation has to take place by applying an electric field or a small current across the biofilm during antibiotic treatment, cf. also ASAIO Journal 1992, p. M174–M178, Khoury et. al, "Prevention and Control of Bacterial Infections Associated with Medical Devices", and Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, Vol. 38, No. 12, December 1994, p. 2803–2809, Costerton et. al., "Mechanism of Electrical Enhancement of Efficacy of Antibiotics in Killing Biofilm Bacteria". In these studies, generally, a low electric current of the order of 15–400 μA/cm2 is applied onto the infected surface while immersed in a buffer with antibiotics. In the most successful studies a total killing of microorganisms was reported after only 8 hours of current and antibiotic treatment—tobramycin 2.5 mg/l, 15–400 μA/cm2, during 8 h. This effect has been termed "the bioelectric effect".
These studies suggest that the electric field needs to be applied in close proximity to the infected implant. A possible explanation for the observed effect is that electrochemically generated products are needed for the bioelectric effect to occur. At the titanium surface, titanium being normally used in heart stimulator housings, the following electrochemical processes take place.
At the anode:2H2O→O2+4H++4e−  1)2Cl−.→Cl2+2e−  2)Ti+2H2O→TiO2+4H++4e−  3)
At the cathode:O2+2H2O+4e−→4OH−  1)2H2O+2e−→H2+2OH−  2)
It is supposed that primarily the produced oxygen and chloride gases have an influence on the biofilm attached to the surface. It is also supposed that the fact that the pH-value is lowered at the anode and increased at the cathode is significant for the influence and viability of the biofilm.
An infection that is initiated in the stimulator pocket will also often start to spread along the lead. The polymer surface of the lead may be a substrate for the bacteria and makes it easy for the bacteria to attach. At the time when a pocket infection is clinically manifested, in many cases the infection has already spread some distance from the stimulator pocket along the lead.
As the bioelectric effect is concentrated to parts in conjunction with or in close proximity to conducting surfaces of the implant, it is one purpose of the present invention to extend these conducting active surfaces.

Implantable heart stimulator with electrodes for an infection control current


A method and apparatus for controlling electronic tone generation determines a type of gesture used by a player to contact a performance surface provided with an array of pressure sensors. The performance surface repeatedly is scanned to determine which of the sensors has been activated at each scan time. When a player contacts the performance surface, parameter data associated with the incoming gesture is compared with gesture recognition rules corresponding to various reference gestures. The gesture recognition rules may be preset, and/or the control system may be provided with an optional programming capability which allows the player to establish individualized gesture recognition rules in accordance with reference gestures input by the player. An electronic tone generator is controlled in accordance with the reference gesture which is determined to best fit an incoming gesture. Furthermore, the electronic tone generator may be controlled to generate a tone having a particular tone characteristic determined in accordance with a corresponding parameter of a particular gesture type such that a player may achieve a timbral variation simply by modifying the corresponding parameter of the particular reference gesture.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling electronic tone generation in accordance with a type of gesture used to contact a performance surface, and more specifically to a percussion-type tone controller which detects various parameters of a gesture used to contact a performance surface, determines a type of gesture used in accordance with the detected parameters, and controls the generation of a tone based on a determined type of gesture. In general, the present invention relates to the control of tone generation in accordance with a detected type of contact of a striking member with a performance surface. The striking member may be anything which can be used to strike the performance surface (e.g., a hand, stick, or brush). For ease of discussion, reference to a hand is made herein.
Certain percussive musical instruments provide widely varying sounds in response to the manner in which they are played. For example, a conga drum is played by contacting the percussive surface of the instrument with a hand. By changing the type of hand gesture used, a player can achieve a wide variety of tones. For example, the player may slap the drum surface with the full surface of his or her open hand (i.e., full hand slap) to produce a loud, dull sound. Alternatively, the player may tap the drum surface with the tip of a finger (i.e., finger tap) to yield a sharp sound of short duration. Additionally, the player may vary an amount of striking force to achieve variation in timbre. Although striking of a drum surface yields a single drum sound (e.g., conga), the same gesture (e.g., full hand slap) has slightly different tone coloration depending on the intensity of the gesture. For example, a hard full hand slap sounds a different tone than a soft full hand slap. Furthermore, the player may selectively hit a particular area of the drum surface in order to achieve a desired sound. For example, a finger tap made at the center of the drum surface yields a sound having more bass than a finger tap made at the edge of the drum surface. Hence, a player can vary any of a type of hand gesture, an amount of striking force, and a drum surface contact location to achieve a performance rich in expression.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Current percussion-type tone generation systems are provided simply with tone controllers having conventional on/off switches or velocity sensors. These tone controllers control tone generation in accordance with on/off switch operations and a detected velocity, respectively. The tone variation afforded by these types of switches or sensors is limited, and hence a player using these tone controllers is not able to produce a performance rich in expression.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho. 61-183695 describes an apparatus having a segmented performance surface, each segment being provided with an on/off switch. The apparatus selects a stored waveform from memory in accordance with an operation of an on/off switch by a player. Thus, by contacting a particular area of the performance surface, that is, by operating a particular switch, a player can designate a type of tone to be generated. However, tone variation is limited simply to the tones corresponding to the stored waveforms. Expressive effects associated with different types of gestures are not possible.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho. 61-183694 describes another apparatus having a segmented performance surface in which each segment is provided with an on/off switch. Two musical waveforms corresponding to musical tones performed at two different points on the performance surface are stored in memory. The apparatus mixes the two waveforms in accordance with the distance between a point at which a player contacts the performance surface (i.e., operates an on/off switch) and the two points, and generates an output musical tone waveform. Tone variation is achieved by changing the point at which the performance surface is contacted, that is, by operating a different on/off switch. Musical tone control in accordance with a recognized type of performance gesture is not possible.

Method and apparatus for controlling electronic tone generation in accordance with a detected type of performance gesture


The present application discloses a method, an apparatus, a system, and a storage medium for calibrating an exterior parameter of an on-board camera, relating to the field of autonomous driving technologies. A specific implementation scheme of the method in the application is: preprocessing two frames of images of a former frame and a latter frame collected by the on-board camera; performing feature point matching on the two preprocessed frames of images to obtain matched feature points; determining a moving posture of the on-board camera according to the matched feature points; determining a conversion relationship between a vehicle coordinate system and an on-board camera coordinate system according to the moving posture, and obtaining the external parameter of the on-board camera relative to a vehicle body.

In areas such as mobile robotics, automotive electronics, autonomous driving, etc., it is often necessary to calibrate a posture of an on-board camera in a vehicle body coordinate system.
There are three existing methods to calibrate an external parameter of a camera. A first method is to extract and match feature points of a calibration object in a customized calibration space or feature points of a known position in a specific calibration scene, so as to calibrate the external parameter of the camera. A second method is to perform iterations using characteristics of lane lines to obtain the external parameter, or to calculate an intersection of lane lines to obtain a vanishing point, and then obtain the external parameter of the camera. A third method is to determine a vanishing point of an image by obtaining an intersection point through using a connection line of matched feature points of a former frame and a latter frame in a natural scene, and perform calibration based on the vanishing point to obtain the external parameter of the camera.
However, the first method requires additional usage of a specific calibration object, or needs to perform calibration in a specific calibration scene, which limits a use condition of calibration. The second method relies on straightness and clarity of lane lines, and relies on accuracy and stability of lane line detection, and can only calibrate a pitch angle. The third method requires a vehicle to keep strictly straight during driving, no turning is allowed between the former and the latter frames, and turning data cannot be eliminated to improve algorithm stability, and it can only calibrate a pitch angle and yaw of a camera, but not a roll angle.

Method, apparatus, system, and storage medium for calibrating exterior parameter of on-board camera

Beijing Baidu Netcom Science Technology Co., Ltd.


A method for providing a desired portion of a data object document is disclosed. The method comprises receiving, from a client device, an Application Program Interface (API) request for a data object document, where the API request includes a parameter identifying the desired portion of the data object document, and the desired portion is less than all of the data object document. The method continues with transmitting the API request for the data object document to an origin server, and receiving an API response from the origin server that includes the data object document including more than the desired portion of the data object document. The method further includes automatically selecting, from the received data object document, the desired portion of the data object document based on the parameter, and transmitting, to the client device, the desired portion instead of all of the data object document.

Data object documents are used to exchange data between devices in web services. For example, Extensible Markup Language (XML), and JavaScript Object Notation are languages and formats used to transmit data objects between client devices (e.g., client devices running web applications, browsers, etc.) and Internet servers. A majority of web application program interfaces (APIs) used to implement web applications return to the client devices data object documents that are quite large in size.
The communication of these large documents between Internet servers and the client devices that requested them can consume a significant amount of bandwidth. In addition, the size of the documents may affect the response time.

Methods and apparatuses for providing a desired portion of a data object document


A method and system for controlling a fail safe of a transmission for a vehicle are provided. The method includes detecting an oil temperature of the transmission for the vehicle and determining whether an oil pump has been driven for a set time or more based on the detected oil temperature. An output of an engine is then limited when the set time elapses.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a system and method for controlling a fail safe of a transmission for a vehicle, and more particularly, to a system and method for controlling a fail safe of a transmission for a vehicle capable of performing a fail safe control based on a temperature of the transmission during a failure in a transmission control unit (TCU).
2. Description of the Related Art
A transmission for a vehicle, particularly, an automatic transmission includes a transmission control unit (TCU) configured to change a shift level based on a driving state and a load state of the vehicle and sense a state of the transmission in real time, to perform a control of the transmission. The transmission is configured to operate as an intermediate leg that connects power of the vehicle to a driving shaft. Therefore, when a shift is not appropriately performed or when a transfer of the power is suddenly blocked, the transmission is not under a control of a driver. Therefore, driveability of the vehicle may be threatened and safety of a passenger may also be threatened.
Accordingly, a related art has developed a method "that includes performing communication between a TCU that is configured to operate a transmission and an electronic shift lever; drive a motor to pull an override cable connected to a parking sprag engaged with a parking gear when the electronic shift lever determines that the TCU is in a fail state after the communication; again determining, by the electronic shift lever, whether the TCU is in the fail state after the override cable is pulled; determining, by the electronic shift lever, a vehicle speed in response to determining that the TCU is in the fail state; and allowing, by the electronic shift lever, a driver to recognize that the vehicle speed is greater than a predetermined speed. However, even in the related art as described above, when a failure occurs in the transmission control unit while the vehicle is being driven, such that a hydraulic pressure change does not occur, safety may not be secured.
The matters described as the related art have been provided merely for assisting in the understanding for the background of the present invention and should not be considered as corresponding to the related art known to those skilled in the art.

System and method for controlling fail safe of transmission for vehicle


An improved skin conditioner, incorporating alpha hydroxy acids, is an emulsion stabilized by the combination of a high molecular weight polyethylene glycol and a quaternary ammonium salt phosphate cationic surfactant, specifically, an alkyl amidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride phosphate type cationic surfactant. The composition may include other active agents, non-ionic emulsifying surfactants, emollients and additives. The resulting composition has a desirable "feel" and storage stability, even at relatively high temperatures.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to skin conditioning compositions which comprise relatively high loadings of alpha hydroxy acids in a stabilized, aesthetically pleasing form. Specifically, these compositions are emulsions stabilized by a complex of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and a cationic surfactant.
2. Background of the Prior Art
It is well established that alpha hydroxy acids have a variety of utilities in connection with skin conditioning. Alpha hydroxy acids have been documented in the treatment of a variety of skin conditions having to do with keratinazition, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,091,171 and 4,363,815. U.S. Pat. No. 5,618,850 describes problems encountered in connection with use of these acids in skin treatments, including problems resulting from lack of stabilization of the vehicle incorporating them. U.S. Pat. No. 5,616,332 describes the preparation of a variety of cosmetic and pharmacological formulations employing alpha hydroxy acids (AHA's). U.S. Pat. No. 5,621,006 describes the use of certain alpha hydroxy acids and related compounds for topical treatment of a variety of skin disorders.
Although the application of alpha hydroxy acids at significant loadings has been documented as having value in the treatment of skin conditions, as noted, the delivery of these acids to the skin in appropriate amounts is problematical. One particular difficulty encountered is the stabilization of conventional oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions, which, due in part to the acidic nature of the preparation, are unstable, have a relatively short shelf life, and upon storage, tend to develop an aesthetically unpleasant character. Further, to achieve the best possible skin treatment (treatment can broadly encompass addressing specific skin disorders, moisturizing, de-keratinazition, etc.) it is desirable to provide a preparation, such as a lotion or creme, which is resistant to be washed off upon rinsing of the skin. Such compositions are addressed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,013,763, for delivery of agents other than alpha hydroxy acids. Other formulations are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,389,418.
Other skin conditioning active agents are known. As one example, various oatmeal preparations, oatmeal extracts and the like, are known to provide a soothing skin effect. The delivery of oatmeal in a stable O/W emulsion itself presents stability problems.
Accordingly, it remains an object of those of ordinary skill in the art to provide a skin conditioning treatment, an O/W emulsion, which is stable, is a suitable carrier for one or more AHA, is a suitable carrier for topically active agents such as sunscreens, and the like.

Stabilized skin conditioner with alpha hydroxy acids


A method is described for manufacturing an item of terry cloth that incorporates a decorative panel. The item of terry cloth is woven with a panel that is loopless and double-sided. At least one face of the panel is formed of a synthetic fusible fiber. The fusible fiber is at least partially fused by applying heat and pressure to the face of the panel, thereby forming a smooth patterned surface on the face of the panel.

THIS INVENTION relates to the weaving of textile formed of terry cloth such as towels and the like.
In order to apply a pattern to terry cloth, there are several limitations upon the manner in which the pattern can be applied. The principal reason for this difficulty relates to the nature of the terry cloth which by its nature does not lend itself to a detailed pattern. Generally, in the past, a pattern has been applied to items formed of terry cloths such as a towel by weaving a pattern into the cloth. Though proposals have been made in the past for printing patterns onto towels and other terry cloth items, these methods have-generally been unsatisfactory for several reasons. One of the principle reasons comprises the textured characteristic of the terry cloth which prevents a detailed and distinct pattern being printed onto the towel.
In order to achieve an improved definition in design reproduction, proposals have been made to shear the terry loops from the cloth, however this is costly arid can substantially detract from the principal function of the towel which is to absorb and store moisture. Another proposal for applying printed or relief patterns to towels has comprised utilising a panel which may comprise a header panel at one or both ends of the towel and weaving into that panel a decorative pattern. There have also been proposals to apply printed or relief patterns to the panels.
It is however, not generally possible to apply a printed pattern directly onto the header panel of a towel since the dyes used in the printing process are washed from the cotton fibre in normal use of the towel. To date, the only successful means of providing a printed header panel has generally comprised the application of a separate piece of printed fabric over the towel in the region of the header panel. This technique however suffers from the difficulty that the separate piece of material is of a different nature to the terry cloth of which the towel is formed and therefore can have differing shrinkage characteristics to the remainder of the towel. Furthermore, the stitching retaining the separate piece of fabric to the towel can be damaged causing the separate piece to be separated from the towel resulting in a rapid deterioration of the appearance of the towel.
In situations where the pattern is three dimensional, it has been the practice to shear the terry loops from the cloth to form the pattern. However, this as indicated above, is costly and detracts from the absorption characteristics of the towel. Other methods have included use of a specialised weaving technique to achieve the relief pattern however, this can add significantly to the cost of the towel.
It is an object of this invention to provide a technique whereby a pattern can be applied to a panel of a item formed of terry cloth whereby the pattern is stable.

Method of manufacture of terry cloth items


A vehicle driving control system and method for selecting a driving pattern using a predetermined program (or application) and for operating vehicle driving via a terminal that provides driving information of the selected driving pattern. The vehicle driving control system may include a terminal configured to transmit a selected driving pattern mode and driving pattern control information on the selected driving pattern mode to a vehicle controller when a predetermined vehicle driving pattern control program is executed. A vehicle controller is configured to operate an object of a vehicle related to driving based on the driving pattern mode and the driving pattern control information transmitted by the terminal. A transceiver is configured to transmit and receive signals between the terminal and the vehicle controller.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle driving control system and method for selecting a driving pattern by a predetermined program (or application) and controlling vehicle driving in line with a terminal that provides information on driving control based on the selected driving pattern.
(b) Description of the Related Art
Recently, information technology devices are being actively applied to vehicles with the rapid development of information technology. For example, a method of controlling an audio and video navigation (AVN) and an electronic control unit (ECU) of a vehicle using a portable terminal have been developed.
Furthermore, due to popularization of smart phones, various technologies of connecting smart phones to vehicles are being developed to be applied to vehicles. For example, a function of starting a vehicle or opening a door of a vehicle using a smart phone has been developed for a vehicle. On the other hand, various driving pattern modes such as an eco mode and a sports mode are being applied to a recently manufactured vehicle to improve drivability, economic feasibility, and convenience.
The eco mode is a driving pattern mode in which fuel consumption is improved and the sports mode is a driving pattern mode in which a driver may drive a vehicle that has an automatic transmission like a vehicle with a manual transmission to improve acceleration performance.
According to an exemplary embodiment of a related art, a selection switch for selecting a driving pattern mode such as the eco mode and the sports mode is installed in a vehicle. A driver may manipulate the selection switch to drive a vehicle in a desired driving pattern mode.
The method of determining the desired driving pattern mode via the driving pattern mode selection switch is inconvenient since a selection switch of a corresponding mode may be installed within a vehicle. However, in the method of determining the desired driving pattern mode via the driving pattern mode selection switch, performing an update when an additional mode is generated or when the driving pattern mode is to be corrected may be difficult.
The above information disclosed in this section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Vehicle driving control system and method


An improved appliance and dispensing container for common plastic sheeting roll goods of all sizes and types. The rectangular container is provided with an removable end-cap, and has a pay-out aperture located above the base plate. The container is of sheet metal or plastic construction. A flat base-plate extends outwardly from the dispenser and is provided with a parallel "knife groove" or slot. A common construction tape-measure is removable, mounted to an end-cap, for convenient measure of roll-good payout length. A handle is affixed to the top panel of the dispenser, and a compartment for knife or scissors is provided.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a durable, convenient and reliable means for the secure containment, dispensing and measure of wide, plastic roll-goods of differing lengths and widths, primarily for use in the construction trades. When properly utilized, the present invention allows tradespeople to quickly and accurately mask-off large areas of a site, desired to be protected from painter other over-spray damage, utilizing the more durable wide plastic sheeting for this purpose. Additionally, the dispenser allows for a convenient and secure residence for a tape measure and a knife or scissor tool, and further permits visual inspection of the amount of roll goods remaining inside the dispenser without the need of opening it.
2. Description of the Prior Art
During construction of buildings and such, it is desirous for a tradesperson to quickly "mask-off" areas of the site, to help protect from "overspray" of paint or other materials. Additionally, during remodeling, it is desirous to protect and mask off furnishings and finished areas from dust infiltration and overspray, to provide for a clean, safe and well defined work.
To this end, a variety of masking devices have been developed to address this need. One type of such device is marketed in the U.S. as the "Scotch Hand Masker," which carries U.S. Pat. No. 3,587,557 and 3,950,214, and requires the use of roll paper goods, and can accommodate various widths and relatively short lengths of roll paper goods. The "Hand Masker" is a hand-held device which is cumbersome and prone to breakage during hard use in the trades, and requires a tradesman to apply multiple layers of masking paper to completely cover a large area, such as a sliding glass door. In practice, when paint or texture overspray resides on the paper masking, the masking paper becomes soggy and will not reliably permit a second coat without a lengthy wait, without "re-masking" the area.
Today, many plastic roll goods are packaged in durable cardboard containers. However, the cardboard containers provide no means for dispensing and measuring the roll goods contained therein.
Accordingly, these devices are generally unsatisfactory and relatively time consuming as reliable dispensers of wide plastic sheeting.
Other prior art devices which contain and dispense plastic roll goods are those as presented in U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,486 and 4,714,191. These devices which contain and dispense plastic trash bags and the like offer a convenient storage and dispensing means for pre-perforated plastic trashbags.
Further prior art roll good dispensers are embodied by tissue container, U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,452; and magazine for dispensing light-sensitive (plastic) materials, both of which provide pay-out aperture, as is found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,821,876, 5,053,795, and 5,038,934.
These devices which contain and dispense plastic roll material are all suitable for the utility upon which they received a patent, but none provide for a reliable and accurate measuring means. Presently there are no products which are designed to allow for a combination of storage, carrying, dispensing of various widths, and which provide a cutting surface in conjunction with a measuring means for the plastic roll good sheeting, to be used primarily as masking for the construction industry, all of which are address by the present invention in an easy-to-use package, as previously disclosed to the Office in the Disclosure Document program, Ser. No. 270,207.

Dispensing carrier and cutting guide for plastic sheeting


A jet dispenser is provided with a giant magnetostrictive actuator which expands or contracts in response to electric currents. A set of flexural elements is coupled to first and second ends of the giant magnetostrictive actuator and flexes when the giant magnetostrictive actuator expands or contracts. The jet dispenser further comprises a chamber containing fluid and the fluid is dispensable through a nozzle which is in communication with the chamber. A piston coupled to the set of flexural elements is slidably located in the chamber and is actuable by flexion of the flexural elements to apply a force against the fluid for dispensing fluid through the nozzle.

In the semiconductor industry, dispensing systems are commonly used for dispensing finite volumes of fluid material. Dispensing systems are deployed in applications such as underfill, encapsulation, supplying adhesives and die attachment.
One conventional method of dispensing uses syringe dispensers which apply time pressure dispensing or dispensing using volumetric valves. A disadvantage of using a syringe dispenser is the problem of stringing or sticking of a bead of the fluid material to a nozzle, which adversely affects the ability of the delivery system to dispense precise, quantitative amounts of fluid material. Stringing is likely to occur at lower pressures, such as when the pressure in the syringe is ramping up or ramping down. For the same reason, stringing also occurs frequently as dispensing time gets shorter.
Jet dispensers may overcome the problem of stringing. In jet dispensing, pressure is generated to act on finite volumes of fluids so that the fluids can be ejected at a high outflow velocity before being stopped with high deceleration. A droplet is then formed and dropped onto a substrate. A single or a continuous stream of micro-droplets from the nozzles can be dispensed in this manner. As nozzles of the jet dispensers do not contact the substrates during jet dispensing, stringing does not occur. This improves reliability and repeatability of dispensing. Jet dispensers may also allow for dispensing finite volumes of fluids with high accuracy. Further, dispensing with jet dispensers is faster since the dispensers do not have to raise their nozzles to break up fluid filaments. Therefore, jet dispensing provides greater flexibility for varied applications.
Jet dispensing can be conducted using actuators which produce thermal pulse, impact force or pressure waves. Pressure waves may be generated by thermal ink jets, piezoelectric vibration actuated jets or mechanical jets. Thermal ink jets create nucleate boiling by heating a resistor to form a bubble on the resistor. When power is turned off, the surrounding ink cools the bubble till it collapses. The actions of forming a bubble and subsequent collapsing of the bubble have an impact on the momentum of the fluid directly above the bubble. Thermal ink jets work well with fluids of low viscosity of, for example below 30 cps.
Piezoelectric vibration actuated jets work by rapidly changing the volume of a fluid chamber to generate acoustic pressure waves. As the pressure waves propagate, the nozzle dispensing pressure will be changed between positive and negative quickly. Thus, the droplet can be formed and ejected out. This technology is limited primarily to fluids with low viscosity.
Mechanical jets use a needle piston held against a nozzle seat. The fluid in the chamber is under low pressure. Pressure is applied to lift the needle piston off the nozzle seat. After a prescribed time, the pressure is released and the needle piston plunges at a controlled rate. When the piston hits the nozzle seat, pressure of the fluid directly between the seat and the piston increases so rapidly that a jet of fluid can be extruded from the nozzle. The impact also generates a shock wave which snaps the fluid from the nozzle.
There are various ways to drive the needle piston. Spring, piezoelectric and magnetostrictive actuators are all suitable actuators to generate a quick and strong impact force. Mechanical jets create very high local pressure at the nozzle and may therefore dispense fluids of high viscosity.
One prior art which uses magnetostrictive material as an actuator is U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,504 entitled "Magnetostrictive Pump for Applying Pastes and Adhesives". In this prior art, a piston is connected to a magnetostrictive rod. The piston is displaced when the magnetostrictive rod changes in length in response to a changing magnetic field generated by an electric current flowing through a coil around the rod. Rapid dispensing can be achieved using such magnetostrictive actuators, but as the piston stroke is limited by the low strain of the giant magnetostrictive material, the outlet velocity of fluid is not high enough to dispense highly viscous fluid. Additionally, a two valves volumetric system is used in this prior art whereby an upper valve controls the supply of fluid and a lower valve maintains the volume of fluid in the fluid chamber. The action of such a two valves system affects the accuracy of the dispensing volume and the dispensing speed.
Another prior art is U.S. Pat. No. 6,508,196 entitled "Device for Applying Drops of a Fluid on a Surface" which discloses the use of a high speed piston to generate pressure waves for ejecting droplets of fluids. Unlike U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,504, this prior art does not use a two valves volumetric system. Nevertheless, this dispenser cannot dispense highly viscous fluid. Furthermore, the working distance between a nozzle and a substrate has to be less than 0.5 mm, which limits flexibility.
Yet another prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,747,102 entitled "Method and Apparatus for Dispensing Small Amounts of Liquid Material" discloses a mechanical jet dispenser using a piston actuated by an air solenoid. This dispenser can dispense adhesives with high viscosity but the stroke motion of the piston requires manual adjustment. Furthermore, when the piston hits the nozzle seat, the impact may damage the structure and a loud noise is also produced. The system is inflexible and the parameter window is narrow. Likewise, jet dispensers actuated by electric solenoids have the same problems as dispensers actuated by air solenoids.
Therefore, it would be desirable to devise a dispensing system which is capable of dispensing fluids of high viscosity, at a high frequency and in large quantities when required.

Jet dispenser comprising magnetostrictive actuator


Novel, stable formulations of bupropion hydrochloride are provided which will maintain at least 80% of initial bupropion hydrochloride potency after one year. Methods of inhibiting degradation of bupropion hydrochloride are also provided.

Bupropion hydrochloride is a common antidepressant sold in immediate release, modified release, and extended release tablet forms. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,819,706 and 3,885,046. As with many pharmaceuticals, the stability of bupropion hydrochloride is affected by a number of factors including formulation microenvironments and storage conditions.
One formulation of bupropion hydrochloride is taught by Ruff et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,358,970 to prevent or inhibit degradation of bupropion hydrochloride using one of the stabilizers L-cysteine hydrochloride, glycine hydrochloride, malic acid, sodium metabisulfite, citric acid, tartaric acid and L-cystine dihydrochloride.

Pharmaceutical composition containing bupropion hydrochloride and an inorganic acid stabilizer


The present invention provides a method of performing an immunological assay separately and in parallel for each of at least a first sample containing or prospectively containing a first binding moiety, which can be an antigen or an antibody, and a second sample containing or prospectively containing the first binding moiety, the method comprising: placing the first sample and the second sample into an array comprising a solid substrate, a plurality of wells and channels, wherein at least one channel is a crossover channel formed in the upper surface of the substrate and is situated above another channel formed in the lower surface of the substrate, thereby forming crossovers comprising crossing but non-intersecting channels; moving said first sample into a first well containing a second binding moiety, which can be an antigen or an antibody, that binds to the first binding moiety, wherein the second binding moiety is bound to the walls of the first well; moving said second sample into a second well containing the second binding moiety bound to the walls thereof; and parallelly pumping one or more fluids through the first and second wells to develop a detectable result that varies depending on the amount of the first binding moiety present in the first or second wells.

Traditional methods of making a homologous series of compounds, or the testing of new potential drug compounds comprising a series of like compounds, has been a slow process because each member of the series or each potential drug must be made individually and tested individually. For example, a plurality of potential drug compounds is tested by using an agent to test a plurality of materials that differ perhaps only by a single amino acid or nucleotide base, or have a different sequence of amino acids or nucleotides.
Recently the process has been improved somewhat by combining the synthesis of various compounds having potential biological activity, for example, and traditional semiconductor techniques. A semiconductor or dielectric substrate for example is coated with a biologic precursor having such amino groups with a light-sensitive protective chemical thereover, and a series of masks are placed over the substrate, each mask having an opening. A coupling agent, such as a photosensitive amino acid, is illuminated through the opening, forming a particular compound by reaction with the amino compound. Additional masks are used with different coupling agents to form an array of different peptides on the substrate which array can then be tested for biologic activity. Suitably this is done by exposure of the array to a target molecule; such as an antibody or a virus The array is exposed to a biologic receptor having a fluorescent tag, and the whole array is incubated with the receptor. If the receptor binds to any compound in the array, the site of the fluorescent tag can be detected optically. This fluorescence data can be transmitted to a computer which can compute which compounds reacted and the degree of reaction. This technique permits the synthesis and testing of thousands of compounds in days rather than in weeks or even months.
However, the synthesis of each coupling reaction is not always complete, and the yield decreases as the length of the biopolymer increases. The process of aligning a plurality of masks and forming openings in the masks in sequence requires careful alignment and takes time.
The above synthesis is made possible by two other recent technical developments that allow various manipulations and reactions on a planar surface. One is the detection and analysis of DNA fragments and their identification by reaction with specific compounds. Probes, RNA and DNA fragments can be resolved, labeled and detected by high sensitivity sensors. The presence or absence of DNA fragments can identify diseased cells for example.
Another step forward is the ability to separate materials in a microchannel, and the ability to move fluids through such microchannels. This is made possible by use of various electro-kinetic processes such as electrophoresis or electro-osmosis. Fluids may be propelled through very small channels by electro-osmotic forces. An electro-osmotic force is built up in the channel via surface charge buildup by means of an external voltage that can "repel" fluid and cause flow. This surface charge and external voltage produces an electro-kinetic current that results in fluid flow along the channel. Such electro-kinetic processes are the basis for a device is described by Pace in U.S. Pat. No. 4,908,112 for example.
Thus real progress has been made using electrophoresis and/or electro-osmosis to move very small amounts of materials along microchannels. Such movement can be used for synthesizing very small samples of potential drug compounds in an array and testing very small amounts of materials for bioactivity. Further progress in fully automating the fluidic processes will result in the synthesis and testing of vast numbers of compounds for bioactivity of all types, which information can be made available for future drug selection and will greatly reduce the time and expense of such testing.

Immunological assay conducted in a microlaboratory array


A wind turbine is provided having a first converter connected between an electric generator of the wind turbine and a DC link and a second converter connected between the DC link and an output of the wind turbine connectable to a utility grid. The wind turbine further includes a wind turbine controller adapted to control at least one of an output current of the wind turbine, an output voltage of the wind turbine, a reactive output power of the wind turbine, an output voltage of the DC link and an output current of the DC link. The wind turbine further includes a communication device adapted to receive a control signal and to set a control parameter of the wind turbine controller in accordance with the control signal. A network converter, method of operating a wind turbine, methods of operating a wind park and computer-readable storage medium are also provided.

The share of wind power in the total electricity production has grown significantly during the last decades and continues to grow as more and also more efficient wind turbines and off-shore wind parks are constructed. A prominent problem caused by the steady increase of wind power production is that the fluctuating amount of power provided by wind parks can lead to stability problems in the utility grid. This is aggravated by the fact that many wind parks are located far away from the power consumers such that the wind power has to be transported over long distances and from poorly developed rural to metropolitan areas. In order to ensure proper network operation and interaction between different power providers and consumers in the same utility grid, wind turbines and wind parks have to comply with certain requirements which are tested using grid compliance tests. E.g., the electricity provided by a wind turbine needs to comply with strict demands with regard to output phase and frequency. However, as wind speed varies, so does the rotor speed of the wind turbine and thus the phase and frequency of the power provided by the generator of the wind turbine. To overcome this problem a common configuration includes a first converter used for rectifying the alternating voltage generated by the generator and to provide it to a DC link (DC, direct current) which includes a storage capacitor. Since the DC link inevitably has a very limited storage capacity, the power provided to the DC link needs to be fed to the utility grid or a collector grid interconnecting several to hundreds of wind turbines in the wind park. Hence, a second converter converts the voltage of the DC link to an AC current (AC, alternating current) having a desired phase and frequency and outputs the AC current. A control circuit, the wind turbine controller, is employed that varies at least one of an output current of the wind turbine, an output voltage of the wind turbine, a reactive output power of the wind turbine, an output voltage of the DC link and an output current of the DC link in accordance with the varying amount of power provided to the DC link by the generator through the first converter in order to keep the voltage of the DC link substantially constant. This control circuit has a certain bandwidth and needs to operate in a stable condition. Sometimes a loss of stability may occur in the control circuit. A common remedy for such a loss of stability is to reduce the bandwidth of the control circuit. However, it may happen that due to the reduced bandwidth the wind turbine fails the grid compliance test.