An apparatus for predictive coding processing a digital signal comprises a selective predictive filter, responsive to an input signal for outputting a predictive residual signal, an adaptive predictive filter, responsive to the predictive residual signal, for outputting an optimal predictive residual signal, and a re-quantizing unit means for re-quantizing and outputting the optimal predictive residual signal. The positions of the selective and adaptive predictive filters may be interchanged and the processing apparatus may be either feed forward or feed back type.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for processing a digital signal and more particularly to an apparatus for processing a digital signal employing a method of predictive coding suitable for high quality recording, reproduction, and transmission of such signals as an audio signal.
There has so far been known an apparatus for processing digital signals employing a method of adaptive predictive coding (APC). In a feed-forward predictive coding apparatus, an optimal predictive residual signal, which is a difference between an input signal and an output of an adaptive predictive filter to which the input signal is supplied. On the other hand, in a feedback predictive coding apparatus, while an optimal predictive residual signal being a difference between an input signal and an output of an adaptive predictive filter is obtained, a sum of the optimal predictive residual signal and the output signal of the adaptive predictive filter is supplied to this predictive filter as the input signal thereto.
In either type of these, the adaptive predictive filters are adapted to change their characteristics according to the spectral form of the input signal at a predetermined length of time, and the parameters representative of the filter characteristics are transmitted together with the optimal predictive residual signal or its requantized signal.
There has therefore been a problem that the quantity of the information to be transmitted is increased by the quantity corresponding to the parameters representing the filter characteristics and the efficiency of transmission is lowered accordingly.
To solve this problem, there has been proposed a so-called selective predictive coding apparatus, in which a plurality of predictive filters having predetermined, mutually different, filter characteristics are provided, so that an optimal predictive filter thereof can be selectively used. With this apparatus, a signal for selecting a predictive filter may be transmitted instead of the above described parameters representative of the filter characteristics, and therefore, the efficiency of transmission can be improved accordingly.
However, there has been a problem with the use of the selective predictive filter that the quality of sound of the voice signal obtained by decoding the transmission signal becomes inferior to that obtained with the use of the adaptive predictive filter.


Provided are a subframe configuration method and device. The method includes: determining a configuration of second type subframes according to a configuration of first type subframes and a bitmap sequence of subframe configuration of a resource pool, where the second type subframes are reserved subframes, and mapping of the bitmap sequence is not performed on the reserved subframes; and mapping the bitmap sequence according to the configuration of the first type subframes and the configuration of the second type subframes.

In a device-to-device (D2D) communication system in a related art, when a service needs to be transmitted between user equipments (UEs), service data between the UEs is directly transmitted from a data source UE to a target UE through an air interface without being forwarded by a base station. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a D2D communication structure in the related art. As shown in FIG. 1, a radio link between D2D UEs is referred to as a sidelink (SL). The D2D communication mode has distinct characteristics from the traditional cellular system communication mode. For short-distance communication users capable of using the D2D communication mode, the D2D transmission not only saves radio spectrum resources, but also decreases the data transmission pressure of a core network, thereby reducing occupied system resources, increasing spectrum efficiency of the cellular communication system, reducing the transmitting power consumption of a terminal and saving network operation costs to a large extent. A Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) system refers to a system which provides vehicle information through devices mounted on vehicles such as sensors, vehicle-mounted terminals and electronic tags, implements Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V), Vehicle-to-Pedestrian (V2P) and Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) intercommunication by using various communication technologies, effectively uses information by way of extraction, sharing, etc. on an information network platform, and effectively controls vehicles and provides comprehensive services for vehicles. The V2X may perform communication-based vehicle information notification and collision hazard warning, and, through advanced wireless communication technologies and a new generation of information processing technologies, performs real-time information interactions between vehicles and between vehicles and roadside infrastructure, informs each other of the current status (including position, speed, acceleration and traveling path of the vehicle) and the learned road environment information, cooperatively senses road hazard conditions and provides various collision warning information in time to prevent road traffic accidents, and thus become a new way to solve road traffic safety problems.
In recent years, with the development of new mobile communication technologies, it has become a research hotspot to solve V2X communications on the basis of a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system. The D2D communication mode may be applied to short-distance communications between vehicles as a special application of the D2D communication mode.
However, there is a problem in the process of the D2D/V2V communication: when subframes included in a resource pool are configured through repeated mappings of a designated bitmap sequence, the mapping of a bitmap may not match system subframes in the LTE system, thus causing unstable delay when the UE transmits D2D/V2V information in the subframes included in the resource pool.
In view of the above problem in the related art, no effective solution has yet been proposed.

Subframe configuration method and device


Markers for TSE that are present prior to formation of detectable pathological prion protein are useful to detect this infection prior to clinical signs. Additional markers are useful to detect the stage of TSE infection and distinguish it from other conditions which have similar clinical symptoms. Determinations on isolated cell preparations are particularly useful, especially those derived from peripheral (non-brain) sources.

There are a number of infectious diseases in mammalian subjects that appear to be associated with mis-folded forms of native protein—i.e., are characterized by high levels of normal and abnormal prion protein (PrP). Among these are bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in bovine subjects, scrapie in sheep, Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in ungulates, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in humans. Collectively, these conditions are called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE's) and this terminology will be used in the present application.
The infectious agent for these conditions has not been identified, but it is known that the infection can be transmitted through the food supply as well as through peripheral routes including white blood cells in experimental animals and in humans. Manuelidis, E. E., et al., Science (1978) 200:1069-1071; Manuelidis, E. E., et al., Lancet (1985) 2:896-897. Two strains of CJD have been identified—an attenuated SY strain and a more virulent FU strain. Manuelidis, L., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (2003) 100:5360-5365. The ability of the SY strain to protect against infection by the FU strain was ascribed to a successful immune response (ibid.). It has been shown that the infectious particle for CJD has a viral size of about 25 nm and infectivity is markedly reduced by conditions that disrupt viral core components. Manuelidis, L., Viral Immunol. (2003) 16:123-139. Myeloid cells are believed to play a significant role in the spread of infection (ibid.). Long nucleic acids have also been identified in some high titer preparations of the infectious strain (ibid.). See also Manuelidis, L., et al., Neurosci. Lett. (2000) 293:163-166.
The effect of FU and SY strains in neuronal cell lines with differing patters of PrP resistant to proteolysis (PrP-res) was also studied by Arjona, A., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (2004) 101:8768-8773. It has also been shown that CJD is transferred from brain via the blood to the gut at early stages of infection. Radebold, K., et al., BMC Infectious Diseases (2001) 1:20. Other animals besides humans, sheep and cattle have also been affected by the same or analogous agents, including pigs, rodents, primates, cats, and various zoo animals. See, for example, Manuelidis, L., et al., Science (1997) 277:94-98.
Earlier work by the present applicants has shown that certain genes are highly expressed in microglia comprised of a specialized type of brain myeloid cells isolated from CJD infected brains. Baker, C. A., et al., J. Virol. (2002) 76:10905-10913 and Baker, C. A., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (2003) 100:675-679 isolated microglia cells from the brains of both normal mice and mice infected with a strain of CJD about 130 days after inoculation (after symptoms appear) and determined comparative levels of gene expression using mRNA isolated from the samples and gene microarray technology. It was found that mRNA's involved in inflammatory functions were substantially increased by 5-20 fold in CJD microglia; these included IL1 molecules responsible for macrophage respiratory bursts (gp91phox and p22phox) and several other leukocyte surface molecules, as well as complement cascade components C1q, properdin, and factor H. Also elevated was the complement receptor subunit CD18, lipoprotein lipase, CD36, and CD68. Also elevated was serum amyloid A3 (SAA3) and molecules associated with interferon signaling. The most potently induced transcript was lysozyme M. Extensive profiles were provided in both articles and compared to profiles of expression obtained when normal cells were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide to mimic bacterial infection or by interferon γ to mimic inflammation. Alterations were found in the profiles of normal cells thus stimulated, but these profiles did not replicate those obtained from cells isolated from rodents that had been inoculated with CJD and exhibited symptoms of this condition. Similarly, treating normal cells with prion protein resistant to proteolysis (PrP-res) did not appear to produce the type of changes in expression levels shown in cells derived from CJD inoculated animals.
More recently, Baker, C. A., et al., J Neurovirol. (2004) 10:29-40 further investigated certain interferon-sensitive transcripts as upregulated in brain and in cells of the microglia obtained as soon as 10 days after inoculation. Additional studies of early markers were reported by Lu, Z. Y., et al., J. Cell. Biochem. (2004) 93:644-652.
In addition, Harrison, J. K., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1998) 95:10896-10901 showed that elevated levels of CX3CR1 is associated with mediation of microglial-neuronal interactions; Hashimoto, S. I., et al., Blood (2000) 96:2206-2214 showed that the protease inhibitor cystatin F is specifically expressed in human activated and mature dendritic cells.
It is known that abnormal PrP is formed in the brain about 90 days after infection, i.e., experimental inoculation with rodent-passed CJD or similar CJD strains. Thus, at the time the markers enumerated above were determined, the abnormal PrP presence in the brain was well established. The markers described in the present invention are present at detectable levels before the appearance of abnormal PrP. Furthermore, the markers appear not only in the microglia, but also in the peripheral system, including blood, gut, urine and the like, and in cells isolated from these sources. Thus, these markers provide a convenient early warning assay for TSE infection prior to the appearance of alternative symptomologies, including the appearance of PrP in the microglia. Because these markers are present in the peripheral system, the assessment can be made on accessible body fluids and cells. Further, because some of the markers are different from those in Alzheimer's disease brain, they can be used to distinguish TSE infection from Alzheimer's in symptomatic patients. In addition, use of the markers may distinguish various TSE strains.

Pre-symptomatic markers for diseases associated with transmissible spongiform encephalopathies


A well completion system and method including a landing adapter which can be interlocked with a landing ring. A split ring is retained within a groove in the landing adapter which operates to lock the landing adapter with the landing ring. The groove into which the shear ring is positioned has two effective diameters. A first diameter allows the shear ring to compress and pass within the landing ring. The second diameter prevents extraction without shearing of the ring. A by-pass tool is positioned with a liner assembly 14 having a landing adapter. The by-pass tool includes a valve sleeve having a first position allowing flow down the center bore into a stinger extending to a wash-in shoe. Once the liner assembly has been washed in, the valve sleeve assumes a second, open position. Gravel packing may then occur through the central bore with return through a by-pass passage through the tool. Cleaning of the liner and tool can also occur through reverse flow to the gravel packed area.

The field of the present invention is oil well completion tools and techniques.
Wells are conventionally drilled through production zones with casings installed to adjacent the production zones. Such casings may extend through certain production zones where multiple zones exist. In such cases, the casings may be strategically placed or later perforated to provide access to additional zones. Typically a casing does not extend to the bottom of unconsolidated sand in the production zone of the well as drilled. In sandy conditions, the bottom of the well may fill in before completion. Under many circumstances, a liner is to be placed in the well with perforations at the productive zones. Additionally, gravel packing about the liner is common.
Upon the completion of such wells, sand control adapters are frequently employed to seal the joints between the upper ends of the liners and the casings. Such devices prevent sand from being entrained into the production. One such adapter is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,483, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
For well completion, it is frequently necessary to clear out the bottom of the hole, insert an appropriate liner, gravel pack the production zone or zones and seal the liner off at the casing. Multiple trips down a well are frequently required to accomplish each of these tasks. The pulling of tools is, of course, expensive. Mechanisms have been designed for accomplishing a variety of tasks with one trip down the well. U.S. Pat. No. 5,425,423, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, illustrates a well tool which can drill, under ream and gravel pack with one trip down the well. U.S. Pat. No. 5,497,840, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses another completion system for drilling in, placing and hanging a liner, cementing portions of the well and providing a seal between the casing and the liner. This may be accomplished with one trip down the well. Of course all systems allow for retraction of the drill string. Some equipment may be sacrificed in the well.
The present invention is directed to well completion, minimizing trips down the well. A well may be lined, the liner locked in place, the production zone or zones gravel packed, the well cleaned and the equipment removed, all with a single trip.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide improved well completion methods. Other and further objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.


A spacer assembly includes a first clamping body having first and second ends and first and second protrusions extending from the first and second ends, respectively. A second clamping body has third and fourth ends and third and fourth protrusions extending from the third and fourth ends, respectively. A first gripping member disposed between the first and third ends has first and second openings for receiving the first and third protrusions, respectively, such that the first and third protrusions pass completely through the first and second openings to contact a first conductor received by the first gripping member. A second gripping member disposed between the second and fourth ends has third and fourth openings for receiving the second and fourth protrusions, respectively, such that the second and fourth protrusions pass completely through the third and fourth openings to contact a second conductor received by the second gripping member.

In the electrical utilities industry, conductor bundles can be used to transmit bulk power with reduced loss, thereby increasing transmission efficiency. A conductor bundle is a series of two, three or four conductors spaced apart by spacers to maintain spacing between each of the conductors. Bundled conductors are used on high-voltage power lines to help reduce energy losses (due to the corona effect), audible noise and radio interference. As a result, the conductor bundles improve the power transmission process.
However, one disadvantage associated with conductor bundles is that they may have conductor clashing due to subspan oscillation in high wind conditions or fault current. The spacers must maintain separation between the conductors of the bundle to minimize the effects of both subspan oscillation and fault current. Accordingly, a need exists for a spacer assembly that facilitates maintaining separation between conductors.
Elastomeric gripping members of spacer assemblies for conductor bundles are sometimes disposed between clamping bodies of the spacer assemblies and the received conductors. Elastomeric gripping elements reduces stress concentration on the conductor surface but typically result in a lower force when clamp slip occurs. However if slippage does occur, the elastomeric gripping members do not damage the surface of the conductor. Because a metal-to-metal clamp interface without the elastomeric gripping members typically has higher clamp slip, it is less likely for the metal-to-metal clamp interface to slip unless very severe forces occur on the power lines or the product was improperly installed. If slippage does occur, the metal only clamping interface can create higher stress concentration on the conductor surface, specifically at the conductor entry, thereby resulting in a higher chance for the conductor surface/outer strands to be damaged. Also, the metal-to-metal clamp interface without the elastomeric gripping members are more prone to fretting at the conductor entry/exit. After prolonged exposure to high temperatures, which can exceed 250° C., the ability of the elastomeric gripping members to substantially prevent such slippage decreases. Accordingly, a need exists for a spacer assembly for conductors in which both metal-to-metal and elastomer-to-metal clamp contact exists.
Additionally, some conventional spacer assemblies provide entirely elastomer-to-metal contact between the gripping members of the spacer assemblies and the received conductors. Accordingly, a need exists to provide a spacer assembly in which both metal-to-elastomer and metal-to-metal contact substantially prevents slippage between the spacer assembly and the received conductors after prolonged exposure to high temperatures.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Elastomeric gripping member for spacer assembly


An improved developer application method and apparatus for use in electronic film development, wherein the developer is applied to a photographic film using controlled, aerial deposition of one or more stream(s) of droplets of one or more developer agents or developer components such that the droplets adhere to a targeted region of the film, rather than run off, and chemically react to allow scanning of a latent image in the film as it moves through an electronic film development scan mechanism.

In electronic film development, the developing negative is scanned at a certain time interval using infrared light so as not to fog the developing film and to see through antihalation layers. Color is derived from a silver image during development by taking advantage of the milkish opacity of unfixed silver halide to optically separate the three layers sensitive to blue, green, and red. Viewed from the top during development, the top layer is seen clearly, while the lower layers are substantially occluded by the milkish opacity of the top layer. Viewed from the rear during development, the back layer is seen, while the other layers are mostly occluded. Finally, viewed under transmitted light, the fraction of light that does penetrate all three layers is modulated by all, and so contains a view of all three. If the exposures of "front", "back", and "through" views were mapped directly to yellow, cyan and magenta dyes, a pastelized color image would result. However in digital development these three scans, "front", "back" and "through", are processed digitally using color space conversion to recover full color. Electronic film development is described in greater detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,519,510, issued May 21, 1996 to Edgar.
Conversion of analog images into digital data, or scanning, has become widespread for a variety of uses, including storing, manipulating, transmitting and displaying or printing copies of the image. In order to convert a photographic image into a digital image, the film image frame is transported through a film scanning station, and illuminated in each scan line with a linear light beam of uniform, diffuse illumination, typically produced by a light integrating cavity or integrator. The light transmitted through the illuminated scan line of the image frame is focused by a lens system on a CCD-array image detector which typically produces three primary color light intensity signals for each image pixel that are digitized and stored. Film scanners take a variety of forms and the various common aspects of film image frame digitizing, particularly line illumination and linear CCD array-based digitizers, are described in greater detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,155,596.
In electronic film development, developer can be applied to the film substrate using a developer pod applied as a viscous fluid under a clear cover film with rollers as more fully described in the aforementioned Edgar et al. patent. Methods of application of developer to film are common knowledge in film development generally, and include sprays, washes, direct dunking, reel dunking, and tank immersion. In one example, developer is delivered through spray pipes which maintain a curtain of developer which cascades over the film. The run-off of excess developer may then be recirculated through the spray pipes for use in the development of other parts of the film. This process utilizes the traditional "wash" method which is followed by a rinse.
In another method of developer application, a film unit passes between two rollers and the force from the rollers ruptures a pod containing a processing fluid. The rollers then proceed to spread the processing fluid along the length of the film which results in the development of the film.
Despite the substantial advantages of electronic film development over conventional film development, which include reduced cost, smaller system size, and minimization of chemical handling, electronic film development is not in common use. One reason is that developer application as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,519,510 was unreliable and inconsistent in large scale use. Thus, methods and an apparatus for electronic film development which permit controlled application of developer or other chemical solutions without producing run-off are desirable.

Method and apparatus for electronic film development


A method for producing high reactive polybutene (HRPB), in which carbon-carbon double bond is positioned at an end of polybutene, is disclosed. The high reactive polybutene having 300˜5000 of number average molecular weight (Mn) can be produced from a raw material containing isobutene, wherein a polymerization reaction of the isobutene is carried out in the presence of a catalyst system including secondary alkylether, tertiary alcohol, and boron trifluoride, the amount of boron trifluoride is 0.05˜1.0 weight part per 100 weight part of isobutene, the mole ratio of a co-catalyst including secondary alkylether and tertiary alcohol:boron trifluoride is 1.0˜2.0:1, and the mole ratio of secondary alkylether:tertiary alcohol is 0.5˜1.2:1.

Polybutene is generally produced by polymerizing C4 olefin including isobutene in the presence of Friedel-Craft type catalyst, and has about 300˜5000 of number average molecular weight (Mn). Remains after extracting 1,3-butadiene from C4 olefin is called as C4 raffinate-1, and the C4 raffinate-1 comprises paraffin such as iso-butane and normal-butane, and olefin such as 1-butene, 2-butene, and isobutene. The isobutene content in the C4 raffinate-1 is generally about 30˜50 weight %. The C4 raffinate-1 is generally used for producing methyl-t-butylether (MTBE) which is useful as an octane number improver, or polybutene. The produced polybutene is mainly composed of isobutene units since the isobutene has the highest an octane number improver, or polybutene. The produced polybutene is mainly composed of isobutene units since the isobutene has the highest reactivity among the olefins in the C4 raffinate-1. Polybutene can also be produced from butane-butene oil (B—B oil) which is a C4 mixture derived from crude oil refining process. Alternatively, polybutene can be produced from pure isobutene.
The viscosity of polybutene increases as its molecular weight increases and the viscosity is about 4˜40000 cSt (centi-stocks) at 100° C. Polybutene is pyrolyzed at the temperature of more than 275° C. without leaving residue, and has high solubility in lubricant or fuel because of its branched alkyl structure. For these reasons, polybutene is used as an anti-scuff agent or a viscosity index improver in engine oil, or used as detergent by being mixed with fuel of internal-combustion engine of a vehicle. In the past, the high reactive polybutene is not preferred since the same is mainly used for adhesive or insulating oil. However, the demand for high reactive polybutene constantly increases. This is due to the fact that the use of high reactive polybutene having a polar group as fuel detergent or lubricant additive gradually increases.
The most widely used polybutene formed by introducing a polar group is polyisobutenyl succinic anhydride (PIBSA) manufactured by reacting polybutene with maleic anhydride. Most of lubricant additive or fuel detergent is produced with PIBSA as an intermediate. In case that the double bond of polybutene is positioned at its end, PIBSA can be obtained in high yield. However, when the double bond is positioned in the interior of the polybutene and the number of alkyl group substituted to the double bond increases, reactivity of polybutene is lowered, which decreases the PIBSA yield. For increasing the reactivity of polybutene, a method of chlorinating polybutene with chlorine gas and then, reacting the chlorine product with maleic anhydride is known. However, this method is not preferable in an economic and/or an environmental aspect since it costs much due to the expensive equipment for preventing corrosion of a reactor, and a large quantity of basic solution should be used to neutralize the un-reacted chlorine gas. In addition, when PIBSA containing a large amount of chlorine is used for fuel additives, it may cause a corrosion of engine. Accordingly, researches for increasing the reactivity of polybutene by changing its polymerization condition are constantly in progress. Types of double bond that effect the reactivity of polybutene depend on the number of alkyl group substituted to the double bond as shown in equation 1.

As Friedel-Craft type catalyst for producing polybutene, aluminum trichloride or boron trifluoride are generally used. The high reactive polybutene that contains relatively large amount of terminal double bond is obtained when boron trifluoride is used. For example, it is reported in Journal of Polymer Science, Symposium no. 56, 191-202(1976), that content of terminal double bond increases up to 40% for 5˜7 minutes of contact time when boron trifluoride or complex compound of boron trifluoride are used with co-catalyst such as acetic acid or water. According to this method, polybutene which contains high content of terminal double bond can be obtained, while the content of terminal double bond is 5˜20% when conventional aluminum trichloride is used. However, there is also disclosed that as the contact time is longer, the position of the vinylidene (terminal double bond) of the produced polymer moves to the internal position of the polymer, and therefore, the reactivity of polybutene decreases. This is indirectly shown in Khim I Teknol, Topliv 1 masel, vol. 10, pp 23-26, written by Mullin M. A. According to this literature, methanol or mixture of methanol/ethanol and complex compound of BF3 are used, and the contact time is 30˜40 seconds. This means that the catalyst should be very carefully used in the polymerization. The fact that the contact time should be maintained to be short when boron trifluoride catalyst is used for the isobutene polymerization is also emphasized in European Patent No. 016312 A1. There is disclosed that the contact time and the concentration of catalyst should be strictly controlled, and especially, the contact time should be maintained within 40 seconds to prevent the double bond isomerization.
European Patent No. 400,905 A1 discloses that when boron trifluoride-ethanol complex is used, the contact time can be prolonged to more than 1 minutes, possibly 8˜70 minutes, and more preferably 12˜20 minutes without inducing the isomerization of double bond in the product, and therefore, reaction variables can be effectively controlled. European Patent No. 400,905 A1 is regarded as an advanced one because the product can maintain the content of terminal vinylidene of more than 70% while maintaining the contact time of more than 8 minutes.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,688,887 discloses a method for producing polybutene having more than 80% of terminal vinylidene content by using boron trifluoride-ether complex catalyst, wherein the ether have at least one tertiary alkyl group. In this method, less isomerization is induced even though the contact time is prolonged. The reason of the less isomerization under the prolonged contact time is that the catalyst does not induce an initiation reaction of the isomerization. That is, the catalyst does not produce proton, and thus prevents that proton decreases the content of the terminal vinylidene by isomerization. According to the examples of the above-mentioned patent, the most desirable result is obtained when ether having both a secondary alkyl group and a tertiary alkyl group (for example, isopropyl t-butylether) is used. However, the above-mentioned ether compound is not a commercialized material. Therefore, to use the material as the co-catalyst (initiator), an additional equipment to produce the compound is required. For this reason, the above-mentioned method is not commercially implemented.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,408,018 discloses a method for producing polybutene containing more than 80% of terminal vinylidene content and having a narrow molecular weight distribution by using secondary alcohol-boron trifluoride complex as a catalyst system. However, this method has disadvantages in that the reaction condition, for example, reaction temperature, is difficult to control since the reaction temperature is relatively low, and the contact time should be controlled within 9 minutes.


An apparatus for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device is disclosed. A first robot arm at a loading side of the thru-conveyor receives a substrate coated with photoresist and conveys the substrate to a thru-conveyor. A softbake hot plate (SHP) at the unloading side of the thru-conveyor removes solvent from the substrate. A cool plate lowers the substrate temperature from which the solvent is removed. A buffer temporarily stores the substrate having the lowered temperature. A second robot arm between the thru-conveyor, the SHP, the cool plate and a loading side of the buffer, loads/unloads the substrate. A temperature control unit adjusts the substrate temperature unloaded from the buffer. A third robot arm between the unloading side of the buffer, the temperature control unit and an exposure unit that exposes the substrate, loads/unloads the substrate.

Generally, an exposure unit of an apparatus for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device is provided to perform an exposure process by applying ultraviolet radiation to a glass substrate coated with ph otoresist after providing a photo-mask having a predetermined pattern. Before performing the exposure process, the glass substrate is unloaded from a coating unit for coating the photoresist. At this time, there are a plurality of robot arms and conveyors between the coating unit and the exposure unit for conveying the substrate.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exposure layout according to the related art. The exposure layout explains a sequential process for conveying the glass substrate to the exposure unit.
As shown in FIG. 1, a related art exposure layout is provided with thru-conveyors 11 and 12, a solvent removing unit 20, a temperature reduction unit 30, an in-out turn unit 40, a titler 50, a buffer 60 and a plurality of robot arms 71, 72 and 73.
The thru-conveyor 11 is provided to load a substrate, and the thru-conveyor 12 is provided to unload the substrate.
Then, the substrate coated with photoresist by a coater 2 is conveyed to the solvent removing unit 20 from the thru-conveyor 11. The solvent removing unit 20 removes solvent from the substrate coated with photoresist. The solvent removing unit 20 is formed of an oven having a softbake hot plate SHP. The temperature reduction unit 30 is formed of a cool plate CP for reducing a temperature of the substrate unloaded from the SHP 20. The in-out turn unit 40 changes the progressing direction of the substrate so as to provide the substrate to the next process.
The robot arms 71, 72 and 73 are positioned between each of the components for loading and unloading the substrate. The robot arms include the first robot arm 71, the second robot arm 72 and the third robot arm 73.
The first robot arm 71 receives the substrate coated with photoresist from the coater 2, and then conveys the substrate to the thru-conveyor 11. The first robot arm 71 is provided between the coater 2 and the substrate loading side of the thru-conveyor 11.
The second robot arm 72 receives the substrate unloaded from the thru-conveyor 11, and then conveys the substrate to the SHP 20. Also, the second robot arm 72 receives the substrate from the SHP 20, and then conveys the substrate to the temperature reduction unit 30. Further, the second robot arm 72 receives the substrate from the temperature reduction unit 30, and then conveys the substrate to the in-out turn unit 40.
The SHP 20 is positioned at the substrate unloading side of the thru-conveyor 11. The second robot arm 72 is positioned among the SHP 20, the temperature reduction unit 30 and the in-out turn unit 40, for conveying the substrate to the respective components 20; 30 and 40.
The third robot arm 73 receives the substrate from the in-out turn unit 40, and then conveys the substrate to the exposure unit 3. After completing the exposure process, the substrate is conveyed to the in-out turn unit 40 by the third robot arm 73.
The third robot arm 73 is positioned among the titler 50, the buffer 60, the exposure unit 3 and the in-out turn unit 40, for selectively conveying the substrate to the respective components 50, 60, 3 and 40.
Before performing the exposure process, the substrate is conveyed to the titler 50 by the third robot arm 73 for forming an identification code ID for each substrate.
The buffer 60 includes a cassette for temporarily storing the substrate before being conveyed to the next process. That is, the substrate having the identification code ID is conveyed to the buffer 60 by the third robot arm 73 to be stored temporarily before the exposure unit 3.
Reference number 4 is a vacuum dry unit VCD for drying a coating layer of the substrate unloaded from the coater 2 under low vacuum conditions. The VCD 4 and the SHP 20 are positioned parallel to the thru-conveyor 11.
A method for performing the exposure process on the substrate according to the related art exposure layout may be explained as follows.
First, after coating the substrate with photoresist by the coater 2, the substrate is conveyed to the VCD 4 by the first robot arm 71. After completing the curing process of the substrate in the VCD 4, the substrate is conveyed to the thru-conveyor 11 by the first robot arm 71 (S1).
The second robot arm 72 receives the substrate from the thru-conveyer 11, and then conveys the substrate to the SHP 20 (S2). The SHP 20 removes the solvent from the substrate.
After removing the solvent from the substrate, the substrate is unloaded from the SHP 20 (S3), and then the substrate is conveyed to the temperature reduction unit 30 by the second robot arm 72. After reducing the temperature of the substrate by the temperature reduction unit 30, the substrate is unloaded from the temperature reduction unit 30 (S4), and then is conveyed to the in-out turn unit 40 by the second robot arm 72 (S5).
At this point, the in-out turn unit 40 changes the direction of the substrate conveyed by the second robot arm 72. Then, the third robot arm 73 receives the substrate, which has had its direction changed by the in-out turn unit 40 (S6), and conveys the substrate to the titler 50.
The titler 50 forms the ID for each substrate. Then, the substrate having the ID is unloaded from the titler 50 (S7) and is conveyed to the exposure unit 3 (S9) by the third robot arm 73.
If the exposure unit 3 is in an operation mode, the third robot arm 73 conveys the substrate to the buffer 60 so that the substrate may be temporarily stored in the buffer 60.
After completing the exposure process of the substrate, the substrate unloaded from the exposure unit is conveyed to the in-out turn unit 40 by the third robot arm 73 (S10), and also is conveyed to the thru-conveyor 12 (S11).
In the exposure layout according to the related art, even though the temperature reduction unit is provided so as to adjust the temperature of the substrate before loading the substrate to the exposure unit 3, it is difficult to maintain the most appropriate temperature for each substrate.
The adjustment of the temperature of the substrate by an additional chamber 5 affects the entire exposure layout, or a portion of the layout, including the in-out turn unit 40, the third robot arm 73 and the buffer 60. As a result, it is difficult to adjust precisely the temperature of each substrate.
If the substrate does not have the precise temperature before the exposure process, the dimensions of the substrate may be changed due to the temperature difference. As a result, the position for exposure may be incorrect, and consequently the product may be defective.
Also, the third robot arm 73 performs eight conveyances for the substrate each cycle. Accordingly, a tact time for each cycle is high.
To decrease the tact time for each cycle, another layout for providing an additional robot arm has been proposed. In this case, it is necessary to provide a space for the additional robot arm, and thus the problem of an increased footprint (length of the entire layout) arises. Further, it requires an increase in plant size for the exposure layout.

Method of carrying out an exposure process for a liquid crystal display device


An amplitude control device for controlling an amplitude of a data signal having an reference amplitude includes an A/D converter which converts the data signal to an n-bit digital signal, an extraction circuit for extracting the reference amplitude from the n-bit digital signal, a compactor for comparing the extracted reference amplitude with a predetermined amplitude to produce a first signal when the extracted reference amplitude is greater than the predetermined amplitude, and a second signal when the extracted reference amplitude is smaller than the predetermined amplitude. A counter counts up and down on receipt of the first signal and second signal, respectively, and produces an m-bit digital signal representing the counting result. A ROM stores a table in which the n-bit digital signal and the m-bit digital signal are used as an address for designating a value equal to the n-bit digital signal multiplied by a coefficient determined by the m-bit digital signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an amplitude control device for automatically controlling the amplitude of a digital signal and, more particularly, to an amplitude control device for a digital signal comprising an amplitude reference signal component time-base multiplexed thereto.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An automatic gain control device is often used to obtain the correct amplitude in a digital signal resulting from analog/digital (A/D) conversion of an analog signal such as a video signal. The most common automatic gain control method used during A/D conversion is a feedback control method whereby an amplitude reference signal is time-base multiplexed to the input analog signal and referenced to obtain the specified signal amplitude in the output digital signal.
There are two primary signal amplitude control methods: directly controlling the signal amplitude before A/D conversion using a variable gain analog amplifier; and controlling the digital signal after conversion by regulating the reference voltage of the A/D converter to vary the input dynamic range of the A/D converter.
There are drawbacks to each of these known methods, however. With the former method, the analog variable gain device must be adjusted after assembly to assure correct operation. With the latter method the signal to noise (S/N) ratio deteriorates because the dynamic range of the A/D converter is used at a less than optimum band width.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


The present invention includes one pair of magnetic field straightening plates made from a high magnetically permeable material disposed about the passage area of a base film at the outlet side of an orienting device so as to form a gap between the magnetic field straightening plates and the outlet of the orienting device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an orienting method of a magnetic recording medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
A magnetic recording medium is prepared as a product by running a base film, applying a magnetic coating on the base film, putting the base film applied with the magnetic coating through an orienting device so as to orient magnetic particles in the magnetic coating, drying it with a drier, winding it on a winding core, forming slits according to the product width, and further, cutting it according to the product length, and winding it on a spool.
However, the following problems are involved in the conventional orienting method of a magnetic recording medium:
(i) Magnetic flux leakage generated at the output side of the orienting device face outside at both end portions in the coated film width direction of the base film so that a magnetic field cannot be applied evenly on the base film in the coated film width direction. As a result, the orientation of the magnetic particles is disturbed at both end portions in the coated film width direction of the base film (FIG. 3B). Therefore, an even square ratio cannot be obtained in the coated film width direction of the base film so that it is difficult to maintain a stable output. PA1 (ii) Since a higher recording density of a magnetic recording medium causes a decrease of the number of magnetic particles corresponding to a unit recording wavelength, a sufficiently high output needs to be ensured stably with a small number of magnetic particles. This means that an even high square ratio needs to be ensured in the coated film width direction of the base film.

Orienting method of a magnetic recording medium


Systems and method are provided to protect devices from damage due to floodwaters. For example, a system includes a floating platform assembly, an apparatus securely disposed on the floating platform assembly, first and second platform retaining members connected to the floating platform assembly, and first and second vertical support members disposed on opposite sides of the floating platform assembly. Upper ends of the first and second vertical support members are connected to an outer sidewall of a dwelling, and bottom ends of the first and second vertical support members are fixedly secured at ground level. The first and second platform retaining members insertably receive the first and second vertical support members, respectively. The first and second platform retaining members are configured to slide along the respective first and second vertical support members when the floating platform assembly vertically rises and lowers in response to a changing level of floodwater.

Many residential homes and commercial buildings are located in regions that are prone to flooding. Such flooding can occur for various reasons. For example, some homes and commercial buildings are located close to waterways such as bays, canals, rivers, etc., which occasionally can have abnormally high water levels due to storm surges and other natural phenomena. Moreover, other homes and buildings can be located in low-lying areas with high water tables. In such circumstances, severe weather such as torrential rainstorms or hurricanes, for example, can cause flash flooding due to an increase in the water table, and the resulting inability for sewer systems to drain away flash flooding. Unfortunately, such flooding can cause significant financial damage to individuals and business owners whose dwellings, structures, and personal property are destroyed by rising floodwaters.

System and method for protecting generators from damage due to floodwater


A tuning peg incorporates an internal planetary gear reduction mechanism so that a stringed instrument, such as the cello, violin or viola, can be easily and precisely tuned. In order to change the pitch of a string, the head of each peg is rotated which in turn rotates the carrier that holds the string. Turning the head drives a toothed input shaft that runs the entire length of peg. The input shaft engages and rotates a plurality of planetary gears that engage a ring gear that is affixed to the peg box. Thus, rotation of the head rotates the carrier that changes the tension on the string, but the number of turns of the head required to rotate the carrier once is a multiple of one so that the carrier can be rotated more easily and the instrument can be tuned more precisely.

Tuning pegs have been used in stringed instruments for hundreds of years. Traditionally, tuning pegs comprise a tapered piece of wood that is in frictional engagement with a tapered hole in the peg box of the stringed instrument. The string is secured at one end to the instrument and at the opposing end to the peg. Rotating the peg changes the tension on the string.
In order to maintain string tension, friction between the hole and the peg is necessary; however, the friction also creates difficulty in tuning the instrument because it must be overcome to change tension. For the larger strings that produce lower musical notes especially, accurate tuning can be difficult and time consuming.
In order to tune a stringed instrument, sufficient torque must be applied to overcome not only the friction between the hole and peg but also the friction of the string at the nut. In applying such torque, it is easy to turn the peg too far thereby requiring repeated attempts in tuning the string to the desired pitch; clearly, fine tuning a stringed instrument is a painstaking task. Moreover, exerting fine motor control with strength to tune the instrument is difficult for young students. In most cases, the teacher must spend considerable time in class tuning instruments for the students since they have difficulty tuning the instruments accurately by themselves.
Previous attempts to improve the tuning peg have been unsatisfactory. These pegs are often complex devices with numerous parts. One attempt at solving this problem, for example, was a six-piece tuning peg with a member fixed in a peg box hole and having a screw extending from the head through the member for creating the clamping force to maintain string tension; thus, to tune the instrument, the screw must be loosened. These pegs have not overcome the difficulty of accurately tuning large strings. Moreover, these pegs require musicians to carry screwdrivers if they want to tune their instruments or replace their strings. Therefore, there is a need for a tuning peg that facilitates the tuning of stringed instruments by reducing the torque required to turn the peg, especially a device that can be back-fitted to existing instruments having traditional pegs.


A system and method is disclosed for configuring and administering control over operations of a utility device. The utility device is described herein as being a warewash machine, but other utility devices are contemplated. A warewash controller administers control over operations of the warewash machine based on operational settings defined by the process disclosed herein. The operational settings are derived based on environmental parameters (e.g., water type, soil level, selected chemical product, etc.) specified by a field service person through a graphical user interface. If an environmental parameter is changed during the operational life cycle of the warewash machine, the operational settings are modified to accommodate for such a change. Thus, the service performed by the warewash machine is maintained at a consistent quality regardless of changes in the environment. A method for selecting the specific chemical product that will be input as an environmental parameter is also disclosed.

A warewash machine is a utility dishwasher used in many restaurants, healthcare facilities and other locations to efficiently clean and sanitize cooking and eating articles, such as, dishes, pots, pans, utensils and other cooking equipment. Articles are placed on a rack and provided to a washing chamber of the warewash machine. In the chamber, rinse agents and cleaning products are applied to the articles over a predefined period of time referred to as a "wash cycle." A wash cycle includes a cleaning cycle and a rinsing cycle. At least one cleaning product is applied to the articles during the cleaning cycle. The cleaning product is typically a chemical solution formed by dissolving one or more chemical products in water. The term chemical product is used broadly to encompass, without limitation, any type of detergent, soap or any other product used for cleaning and/or sanitizing.
At least one rinse agent is applied to the articles during the rinsing cycle. The rinse agent is typically water with one or more wetting and/or sanitizing agents. The article racks contain holes that enable the cleaning product and rinse agent to pass through the racks during the cleaning and rinsing cycles, respectively. At the end of the wash cycle, the rack is removed from the washing chamber so that other racks carrying other articles may be moved into the washing chamber. The wash cycle is then repeated for each of these subsequent racks. Wash cycles may be customized for specific types of racks and the articles that the racks carry.
The cleaning products (hereinafter, "chemical solutions") applied to the articles by the warewash machine are formed and contained in a solution tank typically located on the underside of the warewash machine. A wash module is provided above the solution tank and in the lower portion of the washing chamber. The wash module extracts a chemical solution from the tank and applies the solution to the articles contained in the rack during the cleaning cycle. Following the cleaning cycle, a rinse module, which is provided in the upper portion of the washing chamber, administers the rinsing cycle by applying a rinse agent to the articles thereby rinsing the chemical solution from the articles.
Operation of a warewash machine is dependent on various operational settings that affect the quality of a wash process. Such settings include, without limitation, a conductivity setpoint defining a target concentration of chemical product relative to all other chemicals (e.g., rinse agents, etc.) and particles (e.g., soil from articles, ions, minerals, etc.) within the chemical solution, an amount of rinse agent that is to be dispensed during a rinse cycle, a delay for dispensing the rinse agent and the chemical product upon initiation of a rinse cycle and a wash cycle, respectively, and a delay in signaling an alarm for indicating that the chemical product needs replenishing. In a commercial setting, operations of a warewash machine are typically monitored and controlled by a field service person employed by a service contractor or other like organization. As such, the field service person is responsible for setting these operational settings as part of his/her duty to ensure quality wash processes by the warewash machine.
Conventional systems require that the field service person set the operational settings based on information gathered on the environment in which the warewash machine will be or is being used. Such environmental information may be, for example, the hardness/softness of the water being used by the machine with the rinse agent, the actual or expected soil load that will be washed by the wash processes of the machine and the chemical characteristics of the chemical product used by the machine. This current approach is limited in that these operational settings are defined based on manual approximations by the field service persons taking into account the various types of environmental information. As with any manual approximation, the chance of human error affects the reliability that wash processes by the machine will satisfy a desired, or sometimes regulated, quality.
Further, if any of this environmental information were to change without the appropriate operational settings also being modified accordingly, the quality of the wash processes performed by the resident warewash machine is consequently affected. Service visits by field service persons are typically periodically scheduled for each particular warewashing location. Unfortunately, thus, it may be days, if not weeks, until a warewash machine associated with such an environmental change is serviced.

Method and system for installation and control of a utility device


An ophthalmic lens (1) has a front surface (2) and a rear surface, each of the front and rear surfaces comprising a central optical zone (4) which is surrounded by a peripheral zone (3). The ophthalmic lens (1) further comprises a unique lens identification code which is arranged in the peripheral zone (3) of one of said front and rear surfaces. The unique lens identification code has the form of an N×M dot matrix (5) comprising N rows and M columns of matrix elements (50), and the N×M dot matrix (5) represents a binary code.

In mass production of soft contact lenses, specifically soft contact lenses which are worn only once and which are disposed of after use, a large number of soft contact lenses must be manufactured in a relatively short period of time. This may be performed with the aid of reusable molds comprising male and female mold halves in a closed-loop production process. Typically, a lens forming material is introduced into one of the male and female mold halves, the mold halve are then assembled to form the mold, and the lens forming material between the molding surfaces of the male and female mold halves is then polymerized and/or cross-linked, to form the lens. After demolding of the lens, the reusable molds are cleaned and dried and are then reused for production of the next lens. Suitable lens forming materials include, but are not limited to, polymers and prepolymers based on polyvinyl alcohols (PVA) or silicone hydrogels (SiHy).
In order to meet the needs of the large number consumers large numbers of contact lenses having different lens parameters must be produced. Such lens parameters include, for example, refractive power, base curve radius, axes of toric lenses, etc. Thus, in order to be able to carry out all incoming orders within a short time large numbers of different types of contact lenses must be produced and held on stock, the different types of contact lenses being distinct from each other in at least one lens parameter. Depending on the incoming orders, lenses of one particular type must be produced in larger numbers than others in order to refill the stock so as to be in a position to carry out all incoming orders within a short time.
In the closed-loop production process, a certain number of contact lenses which may or may not be of different types are produced in one run through the loop, that is to say until the male and female mold halves are re-used again in a further run through the loop. Accordingly, a corresponding number of pairs of male and female mold halves are used in the production line. Each such pair of male and female mold halves used in the production line is called a "lot", so that the number of lots corresponds to the number of pairs of male and female mold halves actually used in the production line. All contact lenses produced in the various loops of the production process with the same pair of male and female molds halves belong to the same lot.
For each contact lens produced, a clear allocation of the contact lens produced to the respective lot is vital for various reasons, and also a mix-up of lots must be avoided. By way of example, in case a problem is reported by a customer with respect to a particular contact lens (a contact lens having a particular set of lens parameters) it is helpful if the corresponding lot can be identified (that pair of male and female mold halves which has been used for the production of the particular contact lens that has caused the problem). Only identifying the lens parameters of the contact lens that has caused the problem is not sufficient, since it is possible that contact lenses having the same lens parameters have been produced on the production line even in the same loop but with different pairs of male and female mold halves. Thus, it is vital that each contact lens can be clearly allocated to the respective lot and also to avoid lot mix-up. In case each contact lens can be allocated to the respective lot, it is possible to check whether the mold halves that have been used for production of the particular contact lens that has caused the problem are in optimum condition. This is even more important in case a problem reoccurs within the same lot.
For a clear allocation of a contact lens to a respective lot and in order to avoid lot mix-up, it is already known to apply the lot number to the contact lens in a peripheral portion of the contact lens outside the central optical portion so that application of the lot number is not experienced by the person wearing the contact lens.
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved ophthalmic lens, in particular a contact lens such as a soft contact lens, which comprises additional information applied to the lens. It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved process of manufacturing such ophthalmic lenses in an automated production line.

Ophthalmic lens comprising a unique lens identification code


The composition of an alloy is inhomogeneous, so that the Fermi level of electrons in the surface of the alloy differs depending upon positions. It is accordingly considered that a part susceptible to corrosion and a part less susceptible thereto will coexist in the alloy. The corrosion rate of the alloy is indicated as the exponential function of a potential difference (.DELTA..PHI..sub.H) within an electric double layer. The potential difference remains unchanged as long as the Fermi level lies within the forbidden band of the electrons. However, in a range in which the Fermi level falls within the valence band of the electrons, the lowering thereof leads to the increase of the potential difference. Accordingly, a corrosion-resisting alloy is designed in accordance with the following guidelines: a) The electron energy level (Ev) of the valence band is low, b) an oxide film to be formed on the alloy is an n-type semiconductor, c) a band gap (Ec-Ev) is wide where Ec denotes the conduction band of the electrons, and d) a flatband potential (E.sub.f1) is low. Further, the operation of a plant and the evaluation of a corrosional damage can be based on such a theory.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to measuring the corrosion of a metal material. More particularly, it relates to a method of evaluating the corrosion resistance of a metal material, a method of designing an alloy of high corrosion resistance, a method of operating a plant, and a method of diagnosing the corroded state of a metal material. These methods are based on the analyzed results of a theoretical model for the corrosional damage mechanism of a plant material.
2. Description of the Related Art
The lifetime of a material in a plant directly affects that of the plant. It is therefore important, when designing a plant, to design the material and operation of the plant to reduce stress-corrosion cracking (SCC) which is especially undesirable among various types of corrosional damages of the material.
At present, techniques to be stated below are proposed as contrivances for countering SCC.
Disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 333189/1993 is a technique wherein the remaining lifetime of a material which embrittles under irradiation with neutrons is measured from variations in the mechanical characteristic values of the material.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 223300/1992 discloses a method for prolonging the lifetime of a member in a newly built nuclear reactor or that of a member newly replaced in an existing nuclear reactor.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 179407/1993 discloses a method for providing a high-chromium stainless steel alloy whose SCC resistance is enhanced with respect to SCC in elevated-temperature water.
The prior-art techniques explained above are all considered as being phenomenal countermeasures to the SCC among various types of corrosional damage.
SCC is a phenomenon which arises when certain conditions of the environment, stress and material coincide. Regarding, for example, the structural material of a plant, SCC takes place initially in the case of coincidence of the conditions; (1) oxidation by oxidants (e.g., oxygen and hydrogen peroxide being those radiolytic products of water which exist in the cooling water of the plant), (2) the presence of a stress which acts on the material, and (3) the depletion or deficiency of chromium in the material. Accordingly, when any of the three elements is absent, SCC does not take place. The concentrations of oxygen etc. in the cooling water, for example, are environmental factors.
The intensity of the oxidizing power of a certain environment, in other words, the driving force thereof for the oxidation, can be indexed by a corrosion potential. As the oxidizing power of the environment is higher, the corrosion potential is higher. That is, as the corrosion potential is higher, SCC is more likely to arise. It is known, for example, that the SCC of the so-called "sensitized stainless steel", in which a chromium content at the grain boundary of the material has been lowered by carbonization of the chromium attributed to heat in a welding operation, arises at or near about -230 (mV vs. SHE (the potential of a standard hydrogen electrode)) in terms of the corrosion potential, and that it is conspicuously observed in the environment whose corrosion potential is higher.
At present, the fundamentals of the stress mode etc., the sensitized process, the basic theory, and so forth are elucidated up to a considerably high level, but phenomena at the boundary between the material and the cooling water environment (herein, especially the damaging phenomenon of the material) are not theoretically elucidated to satisfaction. It is the present situation that even the critical corrosion potential for the initiation of SCC, -230 (mV vs. SHE) as mentioned above cannot be theoretically interpreted.
In one of the prior-art techniques stated above, the critical corrosion potential for the initiation of SCC is assumed to be about -200 ((mV vs. SHE), and the oxidant concentration of the cooling water is controlled so as to render the corrosion potential thereof higher than the assumed value. However, various test conditions are involved in the experimental value (-200 mV), the significance of which is not clarified as explained above.
Accordingly, a question remains to whether or not the plant may actually be operated by setting the critical breakdown potential at -200 (mV).
If an environmental threshold value for the initiation of stress-corrosion cracking (herein, the critical corrosion potential for the initiation of SCC) can be theoretically supported, meritorious methodological approaches will be found for evaluating material, designing testing a material, for improving the environment of cooling water, etc. Heretofore, no technique has been proposed on the ground of a mechanism which uses common parameters in three regions; the corrosive environment of the material, a passive film to be formed on the material, and the metal matrix of the material.
There has not been any example in which the environmental threshold value in the breakdown of a passive film (especially, with the corrosion potential set as an index) is theoretically obtained using an electrochemical model for the semiconducting oxide film. Neither has been any example in which a method of operating a plant, a technique for designing an alloy or a technique for evaluating a corrosional damage is taught from such a viewpoint.
Incidentally, a theory for the dissolution of an ionic oxide film is disclosed in "Journal of Electrochemical Society", 113, 1067 (1966). The dissolution theory offers a theory according to which a potential gradient in an electric double layer predominates the dissolution rate of passive film, the predominance being the important point of a model for the breakdown of the passive film in the present invention. In the paper, however, the relationship of the potential gradient with a corrosional damage parameter is not stated at all, and material factors, corrosive environment factors and a stress which concern SCC are considered.
Information on the semiconducting film of an iron-chromium alloy disclosed in the Journal "Corrosion", 48, 229 (1992). It has been revealed that, when the chromium content of a semiconducting film increases, a flatband potential thereof lowers, whereupon the film exhibits more n-type characteristics. The paper, however, does not describe the relationship between the flatband potential and a corrosional damage parameter material factors, corrosive environment factors and stress which concern SCC are also not considered.

Method of evaluating corrosion resistance of metal material, method of designing alloy of high corrosion resistance, method of diagnosing corroded state of metal material, and method of operating plant


An inverter apparatus that includes an inverter that is interposed between an AC rotary electric machine and both a DC power supply and a smoothing capacitor and that includes a plurality of switching elements; a controller that controls driving of the plurality of switching elements; and a current sensor that detects a current flowing through a wire connecting the DC power supply and the inverter together, wherein the controller determines whether or not to stop driving of all of the plurality of switching elements based on the current detected by the current sensor while the AC rotary electric machine is caused to perform a regenerative operation of generating power.

The present disclosure relates to an inverter apparatus including an inverter interposed between an AC rotary electric machine and both a DC power supply and a smoothing capacitor and including a plurality of switching elements, and a control apparatus that controls driving of the plurality of switching elements.
As inverter apparatuses as described above, for example, apparatuses described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-083123 and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H4-069096 are already known. In a technique in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-083123, an inverter apparatus is configured such that in order to release electric charge stored in a smoothing capacitor when a relay electrically connecting a DC power supply and an inverter together is set to an open state, both a switching element on a positive electrode side and a switching element on a negative electrode side are set to an on state to short-circuit both terminals of the smoothing capacitor.
In a technique in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H4-069096, an inverter apparatus is configured such that when a voltage between the terminals of a smoothing capacitor is increased by regenerative power generated by an AC rotary electric machine, a switching element provided in an overvoltage protection circuit is turned on to connect the terminals of the smoothing capacitor together via a resistor, and thus the increase in voltage is suppressed.


A thermal therapy device for applying temperature controlled therapy to a therapy site on a mammalian body, comprising: a therapy pad for applying a selected therapy temperature to the therapy site; a recirculating fluid loop comprising a fluid channel defined by the therapy pad; a pump for circulating fluid through the recirculating fluid loop; a thermal reservoir; a heat exchanger coupling the thermal reservoir with the recirculating fluid loop; and a control mechanism coupled to the heat exchanger for enabling adjustable control of therapy temperature. The heat exchanger selectively mixes fluid recirculating in the fluid loop with fluid from the thermal reservoir in an adjustable mixing ratio to achieve the selected therapy temperature at the therapy site.

This invention relates to devices and methods for applying thermal therapy to living tissue.
Thermal therapy involves the application of heat or cold to tissue to heal and rehabilitate injuries, such as, bruises, sprains, or other trauma to bone, muscle, ligaments, tendons, and skin. Cold therapy can be used to reduce swelling, reduce pain and promote healing of injured tissue. Heat therapy can be used to loosen joint tissue, such as, ligaments and tendons, to increase range of motion, e.g., before strenuous activity. Thermal therapy can be used after surgery to reduce pain and swelling and promote healing. Thermal therapy can also be used as part of an orthopedic therapy program, a sports medicine program, and to heal and rehabilitate animals, such as, thoroughbred race horses.
Common thermal therapy methods, e.g., application of an ice bag or a hot water bottle, are difficult to hold in place, are statically applied, cause uneven cooling or heating across the treatment site, and do not allow the cooling or heating temperature to be readily controlled.
A number of devices have been proposed for applying cold therapy to living tissue, with or without pressure. One device that has been developed for cooling a human knee includes a large cooler that contains chilled water which is circulated through a tube and into a cooling pad. The cooling pad is applied to a desired therapy site and held in place by a strap. The cooling rate is adjusted by increasing or decreasing the flow resistance through the tube leading to the cooling pad. Miller U.S. Pat. No. 2,531,074 describes a device which includes a flexible, multi-chamber thermal pad into which heated or cooled water is alternately injected at high and low pressures to provide temperature-controlled message therapy. Chessey U.S. Pat. No. 2,726,658 describes a system in which a coolant is pumped directly from a thermostatically-controlled refrigeration system into a cooling pad. Grossan U.S. Pat. No. 3,993,053 describes a massaging pad that includes a set of elastic tubing coils through which temperature controlled fluid is pulsed at high and low pressures to achieve a massaging effect. Copeland U.S. Pat. No. 4,149,529 describes a system that delivers heated or cooled liquid into a dry appliance for performing temperature and intermittent compression treatment; the system also provides a thermal therapy bath treatment.

Applying thermal therapy to living tissue


An antenna apparatus is configured to include: a DUT scan mechanism that executes total spherical scanning on a DUT having an antenna in an internal space of an OTA chamber around a reference point; a plurality of antennas disposed at a distance within a near field measurement range from the reference point; and signal analysis devices that respectively perform a near field measurement process related to total radiated power (TRP) based on reception signals of the antennas which receive radio signals in a spurious frequency bandwidth radiated from the antenna transmitting and receiving radio signals in a specified frequency bandwidth, during execution of the total spherical scanning.

In recent years, with the development of multimedia, wireless terminals (smartphones and the like) in which an antenna for wireless communication, such as cellular and wireless LAN, is mounted are actively produced. In the future, in particular, there is a demand for a wireless terminal which transmits and receives radio signals corresponding to IEEE 802.11ad, 5G cellular, and the like using broadband signals in a millimeter wave band.
In a wireless terminal manufacturing plant, a performance test is performed in which an output level or reception sensitivity of a transmission radio wave defined for each communication standard is measured for an antenna for wireless communication provided in a wireless terminal to determine whether or not a predetermined standard is satisfied.
The test method is changing with generation of the wireless terminal. For example, in a performance test in which a wireless terminal (hereinafter, a 5G wireless terminal) for 5G new radio system (NR system) is set as a device under test (a DUT), an OTA test using an anechoic box (an OTA chamber) referred to as a compact antenna test range (hereinafter, a CATR) not affected by the surrounding radio wave environment is executed.
In the OTA test, a DUT and a test antenna are accommodated in the CATR, a test signal is transmitted from a test antenna to a DUT and a signal under measurement transmitted from an antenna of the DUT (hereinafter, an antenna under test) which receives the test signal is received by the test antenna with wireless communication, and a radio signal in a frequency bandwidth (a target frequency bandwidth) used by the antenna under test is measured.
Specifically, in an OTA test for a 5G wireless terminal as a target, it is also required to perform spurious measurement in addition to measurement of a radio signal in a target frequency bandwidth. The spurious measurement is a process of measuring a non-target frequency signal radiated from an antenna of a DUT during a test, that is, a radio signal of a spurious frequency bandwidth (a spurious signal).
As one measurement method according to a performance test for a wireless terminal in the related art, there is known a technology in which a wireless module to be measured disposed in a room in which an electromagnetic wave can be shielded is set as a target and a measurement apparatus measures a three-dimensional radiation pattern of the wireless module to which a radio signal is transmitted from an antenna while respectively rotating a rotation seat and a module rotation arm constituting a rotation mechanism by 180 degrees and 360 degrees based on a first rotation shaft and a second rotation shaft (for example, see Patent Document 1).
Further, as a measurement method for a performance test of a 5G wireless terminal in the related art, there is known a technology of measuring total radiated power (TRP) based on an equivalent isotropically radiated power (EIRP) sample of a near field area (excluding a reactive near field) (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1).

Antenna apparatus and measurement method


The invention generally relates to the field of nuclear transport modulators, e.g., CRM1 inhibitors, and more particularly to new substituted-heterocyclic azole compounds, the synthesis and use of these compounds and their pharmaceutical compositions, e.g., in the treatment, modulation and/or prevention of physiological conditions associated with CRM1 activity such as in treating cancer and other neoplastic disorders, inflammatory diseases, disorders of abnormal tissue growth and fibrosis including cardiomyopathy, pulmonary fibrosis, hepatic fibrosis, glomerulonephritis, and other renal disorders, and for the treatment of viral infections (both acute and chronic).

Cells from most major human solid and hematologic malignancies exhibit abnormal cellular localization of a variety of oncogenic proteins, tumor suppressor proteins, and cell cycle regulators (Cronshaw et al, 2004, Falini et al 2006). For example, certain p53 mutations lead to localization in the cytoplasm rather than in the nucleus. This results in the loss of normal growth regulation, despite intact tumor suppressor function. In other tumors, wild-type p53 is sequestered in the cytoplasm or rapidly degraded, again leading to loss of its suppressor function. Restoration of appropriate nuclear localization of functional p53 protein can normalize some properties of neoplastic cells (Cai et al, 2008; Hoshino et al 2008; Lain et al 1999a; Lain et al 1999b; Smart et al 1999), can restore sensitivity of cancer cells to DNA damaging agents (Cai et al, 2008), and can lead to regression of established tumors (Sharpless & DePinho 2007, Xue et al, 2007). Similar data have been obtained for other tumor suppressor proteins such as forkhead (Turner and Sullivan 2008) and c-Abl (Vignari and Wang 2001). In addition, abnormal localization of several tumor suppressor and growth regulatory proteins may be involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases (Davis 2007, Nakahara 2009). Crm1 inhibition may provide particularly interesting utility in familial cancer syndromes (e.g., Li-Fraumeni Syndrome due to loss of one p53 allele, BRCA1 or 2 cancer syndromes), where specific tumor suppressor proteins (TSP) are deleted or dysfunctional and where increasing TSP levels by systemic (or local) administration of Crm1 inhibitors could help restore normal tumor suppressor function.
Specific proteins and RNAs are carried into and out of the nucleus by specialized transport molecules, which are classified as importins if they transport molecules into the nucleus, and exportins if they transport molecules out of the nucleus (Terry et al, 2007; Sorokin et al 2007). Proteins that are transported into or out of the nucleus contain nuclear import/localization (NLS) or export (NES) sequences that allow them to interact with the relevant transporters. Chromosomal Region Maintenance 1 (Crm1), which is also called exportin-1 or Xpo1, is a major exportin.
Overexpression of Crm1 has been reported in several tumors, including human ovarian cancer (Noske et al, 2008), cervical cancer (van der Watt et al, 2009), pancreatic cancer (Huang et al, 2009), hepatocellular carcinoma (Pascale et al, 2005) and osteosarcoma (Yao et al, 2009) and is independently correlated with poor clinical outcomes in these tumor types.
Inhibition of Crm1 blocks the exodus of tumor suppressor proteins and/or growth regulators such as p53, c-Abl, p21, p27, pRB, BRCA1, IkB, ICp27, E2F4, KLF5, YAP1, ZAP, KLF5, HDAC4, HDAC5 or forkhead proteins (e.g. FOXO3a) from the nucleus that are associated with gene expression, cell proliferation, angio genesis and epigenetics. Crm1 inhibitors have been shown to induce apoptosis in cancer cells even in the presence of activating oncogenic or growth stimulating signals, while sparing normal (untransformed) cells. Most studies of Crm1 inhibition have utilized the natural product Crm1 inhibitor Leptomycin B (LMB). LMB itself is highly toxic to neoplastic cells, but poorly tolerated with marked gastrointestinal toxicity in animals (Roberts et al, 1986) and humans (Newlands et al, 1996). Derivatization of LMB to improve drug-like properties leads to compounds that retain antitumor activity and are better tolerated in animal tumor models (Yang et al, 2007, Yang et al, 2008, Mutka et al, 2009). Therefore, nuclear export inhibitors could have beneficial effects in neoplastic and other proliferative disorders. To date, however, small-molecule, drug-like Crm1 inhibitors for use in vitro and in vivo are uncommon.
In addition to tumor suppressor proteins, Crm1 also exports several key proteins that are involved in many inflammatory processes. These include IkB, NF-kB, Cox-2, RXRα, Commd1, HIF1, HMGB1, FOXO, FOXP and others. The nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB/rel) family of transcriptional activators, named for the discovery that it drives immunoglobulin kappa gene expression, regulate the mRNA expression of variety of genes involved in inflammation, proliferation, immunity and cell survival. Under basal conditions, a protein inhibitor of NF-kB, called IkB, binds to NF-kB in the nucleus and the complex IkB-NF-kB renders the NF-kB transcriptional function inactive. In response to inflammatory stimuli, IkB dissociates from the IkB-NF-kB complex, which releases NF-kB and unmasks its potent transcriptional activity. Many signals that activate NF-kB do so by targeting IkB for proteolysis (Phosphorylation of IkB renders it "marked" for ubiquitination and then proteolysis). The nuclear IkBa-NF-kB complex can be exported to the cytoplasm by Crm1 where it dissociates and NF-kB can be reactivated. Ubiquitinated IkB may also dissociate from the NF-kB complex, restoring NF-kB transcriptional activity Inhibition of Crm1 induced export in human neutrophils and macrophage like cells (U937) by LMB not only results in accumulation of transcriptionally inactive, nuclear IkBa-NF-kB complex but also prevents the initial activation of NF-kB even upon cell stimulation (Ghosh 2008, Huang 2000). In a different study, treatment with LMB inhibited IL-1β induced NF-kB DNA binding (the first step in NF-kB transcriptional activation), IL-8 expression and intercellular adhesion molecule expression in pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (Walsh 2008). COMMD1 is another nuclear inhibitor of both NF-kB amd hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF1) transcriptional activity. Blocking the nuclear export of COMMD1 by inhibiting Crm1 results in increased inhibition of NF-kB and HIF1 transcriptional activity (Muller 2009).
CRM1 Inhibition affects gene expression by inhibiting/activating a series of transcription factors like ICp27, E2F4, KLF5, YAP1, ZAP
Crm1 inhibition has potential therapeutic effects across many opthamologic indications including macular edema (diabetic and nondiabetic macular edema), aged related macular degeneration wet and dry forms, aged disciform macular degeneration, cystoid macular edema, palpebral edema, retina edema, diabetic retinopathy, chorioretinopathy, neovascular maculopathy, neovascular glaucoma, uveitis, iritis, retinal vasculitis, endophthalmitis, panophthalmitis, metastatic ophthalmia, choroiditis, retinal pigment epithelitis, conjunctivitis, cyclitis, scleritis, episcleritis, optic neuritis, retrobulbar optic neuritis, keratitis, blepharitis, exudative retinal detachment, corneal ulcer, conjunctival ulcer, chronic nummular keratitis, ophthalmic disease associated with hypoxia or ischemia, retinopathy of prematurity, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy, retinal angiomatous proliferation, retinal artery occlusion, retinal vein occlusion, Coats' disease, familial exudative vitreoretinopathy, pulseless disease (Takayasu's disease), Eales disease, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, leukemic retinopathy, blood hyperviscosity syndrome, macroglobulinemia, interferon-associated retinopathy, hypertensive retinopathy, radiation retinopathy, corneal epithelial stem cell deficiency or cataract.
Crm1 inhibition has potential therapeutic effects across many dermatolgic syndromes including inflammatory dermatoses (atopy, allergic dermatitis, chemical dermatitis, psoriasis), sun-damage (Ultraviolet/UV damage), and infections. CRM1 inhibition, best studied with LMB, showed minimal effects on normal keratinocytes, and exerted anti-inflammatory activity on keratinocytes subjected to UV, TNFa, or other inflammatory stimuli (Kobayashi & Shinkai 2005, Kannan & Jaiswal 2006). Crm1 inhibition also upregulates NRF2 (nuclear factor erythroid-related factor 2) activity, which protects keratinocytes (Schafer et al, 2010, Kannan & Jaiswal 2006) and other cell types (Wang et al, 2009) from oxidative damage. LMB induces apoptosis in keratinocytes infected with oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) strains such as HPV16, but not in uninfected keratinocytes (Jolly et al, 2009). Together, these data suggest that Crm1 inhibition could.
Crm1 also mediates Retinoid X receptor α (RXRα) transport. RXRα is highly expressed in the liver and plays a central role in regulating bile acid, cholesterol, fatty acid, steroid and xenobiotic metabolism and homeostasis. During liver inflammation, nuclear RXRα levels are significantly reduced, mainly due to inflammation-mediated nuclear export of RXRα by Crm1. Lep B is able to prevent IL-1β induced cytoplasmic increase in RXRα levels in human liver derived cells (Zimmerman 2006). NOTE: This result strongly suggests that inflammation itself stimulates Crm1 mediated nuclear export, and therefore, blocking nuclear export can be potentially beneficial in many inflammatory processes across multiple tissues and organs including the vasculature (vasculitis, arteritis, polymyalgia rheumatic, atherosclerosis), dermatologic (see above), rheumatologic (rheumatoid and related arthridities, psoriatic arthritis, spondyloarthropathies, crystal arthropathies, systemic lupus erythematosus, mixed connective tissue disease, myositis syndromes, dermatomyositis, inclusion body myositis, undifferentiated connective tissue disease, Sjogren's syndrome, scleroderma and overlap syndromes, etc.).
Crm1 also mediates the transport of key neuroprotectant proteins that may be useful in neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's Disease (PD), Alzheimer's Disease, and Amytrophic Lateral Sclerosis. For example, (1) forcing nuclear retention of key neuroprotective regulators such as NRF2 (Wang 2009), FOXA2 (Kittappa et al, 2007), parkin in neuronal cells and/or by (2) inhibiting NFκB transcriptional activity by sequestering IκB to the nucleus in glial cells, Crm1 inhibition could slow or prevent neuronal cell death found in these disorders. There is also evidence linking abnormal glial cell proliferation to abnormalities in CRM1 levels or CR1 function (Shen 2008).
Intact nuclear export, primarily mediated through Crm1, is also required for the intact maturation of many viruses. Viruses where nuclear export, and/or Crm1 itself, has been implicated in their lifecycle include human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), adenovirus, simian retrovirus type 1, Boma disease virus, influenza (usual strains as well as H1N1 and avian H5N1 strains), hepatitis B (HBV) and C(HCV) viruses, human papilomavirus (HPV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Dungee, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus, yellow fever virus, West Nile Virus, herpes simplex virus (HSV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV). (Bhuvanakantham 2010, Cohen 2010, Whittaker 1998). It is anticipated that additional viral infections reliant on intact nuclear export will be uncovered in the near future.
The HIV-1 Rev protein, which traffics through nucleolus and shuttles between the nucleus and cytoplasm, facilitates export of unspliced and singly spliced HIV transcripts containing Rev Response Elements (RRE) RNA by the Crm1 export pathway. Inhibition of Rev-mediated RNA transport using Crm1 inhibitors such as LepB or PKF050-638 can arrest the HIV-1 transcriptional process, inhibit the production of new HIV-1 virions, and thereby reduce HIV-1 levels (Pollard 1998, Daelemans 2002).
Dengue virus (DENY) is the causative agent of the common arthropod-borne viral disease, dengue fever (DF), and its more severe and potentially deadly dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). DHF appears to be the result of an over exuberant inflammatory response to DENV. NS5 is the largest and most conserved protein of DENY. Crm1 regulates the transport of NS5 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, where most of the NS5 functions are mediated Inhibition of Crm1 mediated export of NS5 results in altered kinetics of virus production and reduces induction of the inflammatory chemokine interleukin-8 (IL-8), presenting a new avenue for the treatment of diseases caused by DENV and other medically important flaviviruses including Hepatitis C virus (Rawlinson 2009).
Other virus-encoded RNA-binding proteins that use Crm1 to exit the nucleus include the HSV type 1 tegument protein (VP13/14, or hUL47), human CMV protein pp 65, the SARS Coronavirus ORF 3b Protein, and the RSV matrix (M) protein (Williams 2008, Sanchez 2007, Freundt 2009, Ghildyal 2009).
Interestingly, many of these viruses are associated with specific types of human cancer including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) due to chronic HBV or HCV infection, cervical cancer due to HPV, and Merkel cell carcinoma associated with MCV. Crm1 inhibitors could therefore have beneficial effects on both the viral infectious process as well as on the process of neoplastic transformation due to these viruses.
Crm1 controls the nuclear localization and therefore activity of multiple DNA metabolizing enzymes including histone deacetylases (HDAC), histone acetyltransferases (HAT), and histone methyltransferases (HMT). Suppression of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy with irreversible Crm1 inhibitors has been demonstrated and is believed to be linked to nuclear retention (and activation) of HDAC 5, an enzyme known to suppress a hypertrophic genetic program (Monovich et al, 2009). Thus, Crm1 inhibition may have beneficial effects in hypertrophic syndromes, including certain forms of congestive heart failure and hypertrophic cardiomyopathies.
CRM1 has also been linked to other disorders. Leber's disorder, a hereditary disorder characterized by degeneration of retinal ganglion cells and visual loss, is associated with inaction of the CRM1 switch (Gupta N 2008). There is also evidence linking neurodegenerative disorders to abnormalities in nuclear transport.

Nuclear transport modulators and uses thereof


A telescopic rod antenna according to the present invention includes an antenna element and a waterproof ring-shaped seal member which is inserted in a ring-shaped gap in a joint between two rods of the antenna element. The ring-shaped seal member is obtained by shaping a thermoplastic resin film strip, on which at least one projecting portion is formed in its longitudinal direction, like a ring and compressing and inserting a ring-shaped film into the ring-shaped gap. A plurality of ring-shaped contact portions are formed on both sides of the film strip in its longitudinal direction while the projecting portion of the film strip serves as a basic contact portion. The ring-shaped contact portions are adhered to the inner surface of the larger-diameter rod and the outer surface of the smaller-diameter rod at a predetermined pressure. The tip portion of the smallest-diameter rod is provided with a short cylinder member fitted to the outer periphery of the tip portion of the smallest-diameter rod, and a stopper member for sealing an open end of a hollow of the short cylinder member.

The present invention relates to a telescopic rod antenna and a method for manufacturing the same and, more particularly, to a telescopic rod antenna having a waterproof means for preventing rainwater or the like from soaking into an antenna element through a gap in a joint between a smaller-diameter rod and a larger-diameter rod.
As illustrated in FIG. 14, a prior art telescopic rod antenna generally includes an antenna element 80 constituted by slidably coupling a plurality of rods 81, 82 and 83 of conductive tubes formed of, e.g., brass and having different diameters (three rods are used in this prior art case). The antenna element 80 is insertably held in an antenna element holding tube 90. A certain waterproof means is provided at a joint or a coupling portion X between rods of the antenna element 80.
FIG. 15 is a partly cutaway enlarged sectional view showing the coupling portion X of FIG. 14. In FIG. 15, for example, Ra indicates a smaller-diameter rod corresponding to the rod 81 and Rb represents a larger-diameter rod corresponding to the rod 82.
Referring to FIG. 15, a ring-shaped recess is formed by cutting the inner surface of the larger-diameter rod Rb at the coupling portion X. First and second collars 101 and 102 each shaped like a ring are fitted into the recess, and an O-shaped ring 103 formed of highly elastic member or the like is interposed between the collars 101 and 102. An opening of the tip portion of the larger-diameter rod Rb is constituted as an end-narrowed portion 104 which is narrowed axially by the narrowing process.
In the telescopic rod antenna having the above constitution, as indicated by the broken lines in FIG. 15, water W such as rainwater will soak into the antenna element 80 through a gap between the outer surface of the smaller-diameter rod Ra and the end-narrowed portion 104 at the tip of the larger-diameter rod Rb. Since, however, the water W is blocked with the O-shaped ring 103 which is mounted fluid-tightly between the outer surface of the smaller-diameter rod Ra and the inner surface of the larger-diameter rod Rb, it does not soak below the O-shaped ring 103.
In an antenna element the rods of which are formed of stainless steel, the above-described cutting process is hardly performed since the stainless steel is hard and the rods are formed relatively thin, and usually an O-shaped ring is supported only by narrowing the tip portion of each rod.
FIG. 16 is a partly cutaway enlarged sectional view of an example of a coupling portion X of the stainless steel rods described above. In this example, a ring-shaped swelling portion 105, which is swelled outward by the narrowing process, is formed on the inner wall of the open end portion of the larger-diameter rod Rb, and an O-shaped ring 103 is held in a recess formed in the inner surface of the ring-shaped swelling portion 105.
The foregoing prior art telescopic rod antenna has the following drawbacks.
In the brass rod antenna as shown in FIG. 15, since the inner surface of the larger-diameter rod Rb has to be cut, the manufacturing steps are increased and so are the manufacturing costs. The fluid-tightness between the smaller- and larger-diameter rods Ra and Rb is lost in a relatively short time by variations in the inside and outside diameters of the rods Ra and Rb, wear due to sliding between the O-shaped ring 103 and the smaller-diameter rod Ra, and the like. Therefore, a waterproof function cannot be maintained satisfactorily for a long period of time.
In the stainless steel rod antenna as shown in FIG. 16, since the material of the rods is hard, there occurs no decrease in fluid-tightness due to wear, unlike in the brass rod antenna shown in FIG. 15. In this antenna, the inner surface of the larger-diameter rod Rb need not be cut but the ring-shaped swelling portion 105 has to be formed and the O-shaped ring 103 is fitted into the recess formed in the inner surface of the ring-shaped swelling portion 105. Consequently, there is no great difference in number of manufacturing steps between the rod antennas shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, and the manufacturing cost are increased inevitably.
As described above, conventionally, a relatively expensive O-shaped ring, which is formed of a highly elastic member or the like, is required as a waterproof element to be provided at a joint or a coupling portion X between rods, and any special processing is applied to the rods in order to stably fit the O-shaped ring into a recess. Since there is a case where the waterproof function is not fulfilled completely only by the O-shaped ring 103, grease for sealing or the like is used to make the waterproof function perfect, resulting in increasing in manufacturing steps and manufacturing costs.
Of the rods constituting the antenna element 80, the smallest-diameter rod 81 is provided with a so-called top portion 85 at the tip portion thereof. More specifically, the top portion 85 is attached to the rod 81 in such a manner that a columnar portion 85a projected from the lower end of the top portion 85 is compressed into a hollow of the tip portion of the rod 81 and then the outer circumference of the tip portion of the rod 81 is caulked with rings. In FIG. 14, reference numeral 86 indicates a ring caulking portion. The ring caulking causes some irregularities or distortion on the outer surface of the smallest-diameter rod 81. If the irregularities or distortion is relatively great, the rod 81 is not held smoothly into the subsequent rod 82, and a gap due to the irregularities or distortion occurs between the outer surface of the rod 81 and the inner surface of the rod 82 when the antenna element is retracted. It is thus likely that rainwater or the like will soak into the antenna element through the gap.

Telescopic rod antenna and method for manufacturing the same