The subject invention identifies changes in gene expression related to treatment of marine invertabret cell cultures.

Marine sponges are the focus of biological, chemical and ecological research aimed at understanding and exploiting their unique characteristics. As sessile benthic animals renown for their distinctly elementary metazoan organization, sponges are an exceptional target for studies of self recognition, immunity, and chemical ecology. Many are sources of pharmaceutically important compounds (Faulkner, D. J. 2000, Nat Prod Rep 17:1–6). Thus, controlled cellular and molecular studies in sponges present the opportunity to learn more about our multicellular condition, and to understand systems that are sources of compounds with human therapeutic value.
There have been numerous attempts to develop a classic in vitro model (i.e., a cell line) as a tool for marine sponge cell research. While some progress has been made, the ultimate goal of a clonal, axenic, continuously dividing marine sponge cell line has yet to be achieved. Despite this limitation, research is progressing with development of alternative culture systems (Custodio, M. R. et al. 1998, Mech Ageing Dev 105(1–2):45–59; Kreuter, M. H. et al. 1992, Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 101C(1):183–187; Munro M. H. et al. 1999, J Biotechnol 70(1–3):15–25; Muller, W. E. et al. 2000, J Ant Prod 63(8):1077–1081), reports of cell proliferation (Krasko, A. et al. 2002, DNA Cell Biol 21(1):67–80), and elucidation of some of the basic cellular and molecular traits of marine sponge cells (Muller, W. E. et al. 2001, Gene 276(1–2):161–173; Schutze, J. et al. 2001, J Mol Evol 53(4–5):402–415).
One advance is the discovery that marine sponge cells respond to the mitogenic lectin, phytohemagglutinin (PHA) (Pomponi, S. A. and R. Willoughby 1994 "Sponge cell culture for production of bioactive metabolites" In: van Soest, van Kempen, and Braekman, editors. Sponges In Time and Space. Rotterdam: Balkema. p 395–400). Previously, this sponge cell culture phenomenon has been documented only by noting cell numbers, protein content, esterase activity, and DNA content in primary cultures of PHA-treated cells (Willoughby, R. and S. A. Pomponi 2000, "Quantitative assessment of marine sponge cells in vitro: development of improved growth medium" In Vitro Cell Dev Biol—Animal 36:194–200). Even in mammalian cell lines, the molecular basis of the PHA response has been poorly understood, though some recent work has begun to identify some associated molecules.
The Model Sponge
The marine sponge Axinella corrugata (Phylum Porifera, Class Demospongiae, Order Axinellida, Family Axinellidae) (FIG. 1) has been used as a model system for more than ten years. It is relatively easy to collect and maintain, and produces the bioactive compound stevensine (Wright, A. E., S. E. Chiles, S. S. Cross 1991, J Nat Prod 54(6):1684–1686) (FIG. 2), which has antitumor properties (U.S. Pat. No. 4,729,996) and also functions as a neurotransmitter blocker (Coval, S. J. et al. 1996, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/644,138). The production of this compound, which is believed to be of sponge origin, makes A. corrugata an appropriate candidate for cell culture studies that focus on biosynthesis as a model for in vitro production of potentially therapeutic products (Andrade, P. et al. 1999, Tetrahedron Lett 40(26):4775–4778). Success in establishing primary cell cultures of this species (Pomponi, S. A., R. Willoughby, and M. Kelly-Borges 1997a, "Sponge Cell Culture" In: Cooksey K, editor. Molecular Approaches to the Study of the Ocean. Chapman & Hall. p 423–429; Pomponi, S. A. et al. 1997b, "Development of techniques for in vitro production of bioactive natural products from marine sponges" In: Invertebrate Cell Culture: Novel Directions and Biotechnology Applications. Maramorosch K, Mitsuhashi J, editors. Science Publishers, Inc. p 231–237; Pomponi, S. A. et al. 1998. "In vitro production of marine-derived antitumor compounds" In: Le Gal Y, Halvorson HO, editors. New Developments in Marine Biotechnology. New York: Plenum Press p 73–76) and in vitro production of stevensine (Pomponi et al. 1997b, 1998 supra) have been demonstrated. In addition, A. corrugata has been used as an in vitro model for the analysis of the effects of culture medium factors on DNA, protein, and esterase activity (Willoughby and Pomponi 2000 supra).
Marine Sponge Genes and Gene Expression
Previously, some insight into marine sponge potential for molecular response has been achieved by comparing individual sponge nucleic acid sequences to those of model organisms, thus accomplishing gene discovery by database homology analysis.
Many of these previous studies have focused on phylogeny and evolutionary genetics, rather than characterization of in vitro (or even in situ) physiology for functional purposes. Indeed, few have looked at the actual expression of the characterized genes, though a recent contrary trend is evident. In one of the earliest expression studies, Schroder et al. 1988 (J Biol Chem 263(31):16334–16340) used immunoprecipitation to quantify ras expression in marine sponge cells. Biesalski et al. 1992 (Oncogene 7(9):1765–1774) reported down-regulation of a myb-related gene in cells of Geodia cydonium. Also, Pfeifer et al. (1993b, J Cell Sci 106 (Pt 2):545–553) reported increased polyubiquitin expression in response to homologous aggregation factor. These studies employed dissociated cells and were therefore an early look at the function of sponge cells in vitro.
More recent studies, many of which utilize intact sponge tissue or re-aggregated cells, include those by Wiens et al. (2000b, J Mol Evol 50(6):520–531) and Kruse et al. (1999, J Cell Sci 112(part 23):4305–4313), who looked at differential expression in response to allograft rejection in marine sponge tissue. Profilin expression was also up-regulated in the presence of non-self sponge molecules (Muller, W. E. et al. 1999b, DNA Cell Biol 1(12):885–893). Potential self-recognition molecules were up-regulated in autografts according to Wimmer et al. (1999b, Cell Adhes Commun 7(2):111–1124), Fernandez-Busquets et al. (1998, J Biol Chem 273(45):29545–29553), and Blumbach et al. (1999, Immunogenetics 9(9):751–763.). Molecules associated with immune responses were reviewed by Muller et al. (1999c, Transplantation 68(9):1215–1227.). Scheffer et al. (1997, Biological J Linnean Soc 61:127–137) used whole sponges to study SRF expression in response to heat stress. Whole sponges were also used to document increased MA-3 expression (Wagner, C. et al. 1998, Mar Biol 131:411–421). Weins et al. (1999a, Tissue Cell 31(2):163–169) reported down-regulation of a putative tumor suppressor in response to cadmium exposure, and Krasko et al. (1999, J Biol Chem 274(44):1524–1530) reported up-regulation of a protein kinase and a potential ethylene-responsive protein in sponge tissues exposed to ethylene. Utilizing intact tissue, Weins et al. (1999c, Marine Biol 133:1–10) documented increased HSP70 and thioredoxin expression in response to 17β-estradiol. Increased HSP70 expression was also noted in response to tributyltin (Batel, R. et al. 1993 Mar Ecol Prog Ser 93:245–251.). Phosphorylation of p38 was detected in sponge primmorphs treated with hypertonic medium (Bohm, M. et al. 2000, Biol Cell 92:95–104). A similar culture system was used to study differential expression of a longevity assurance-like gene (Schroder, H. C. et al. 2000 Mech Devel 95:219–220) as well as collagen and silicatein genes (Krasko, A. et al. 2000 Eur J Biochem 267:4878–4887.). Actual cell cultures (not tissue or primmorphs) were once again used to demonstrate ras up-regulation in response to sponge aggregation factor by Wimmer et al. (1999b, Cell Adhes Commun 7(2):111–1124.). Intact sponges stressed by exposure to UV light demonstrated increased expression of an excision repair gene homologue as measured by Northern blot comparisons (Batel, R. et al. 1998 Mutat Res 409(3):123–33.).
Recently, researchers have begun to directly explore sponge functional genetics in relation to that of other organisms. Muller and colleagues have begun to present multiple cases for genetic homology, as well as functional similarities, between sponges and higher organisms (Muller, W. E. et al. 2001, Gene 276(1–2):161–173; Gamulin, V. et al. 2000, Biological Journal—Linnean Society 71( ):821–828; Seack, J. et al. 2001, Biochim Biophys Acta 1520(1):21–34; Bohm, M. et al. 2000, Biol Cell 92:95–104; Wiens, M. et al. 2000a, Cell Death Differ 7(5):461–469; Pahler, S. et al. 1998c, Proc R Soc Lond B Biol Sc. 265(1394):421–425).
DNA Microarray Technology
DNA microarray technology is relatively new, and is of great interest to the biology community due to its power to simultaneously analyze gene expression for thousands of genes. It offers a functional means to begin to resolve some of the complexities of regulation in biological systems. The technique is based on hybridization of complementary DNA molecules on two-dimensional surfaces upon which thousands of oligonucleotides or DNA fragments (probes) are attached, thus facilitating the simultaneous screening/hybridization of thousands of probes and thousands of targets (Ramsay, G. 1998 Nature Biotechnology 16:41–44.).
Since no sponge DNA array currently exists, labeled sponge target molecules were applied to an existing array of human gene sequences. The system uses nylon microarrays and radioactive detection. Since the identities of the probes are known, they provide indications of the identities of the hybridizing sponge gene sequences.
Phytohemagglutinin
Phytohemagglutinin was known for some time as simply a T lymphocyte mitogenic activator (Robbins, J. H. 1964, Experientia 20(3):164–168.). More recently, it has been drawn into the explosion of gene expression research following the development of powerful technologies such as microarray analysis. It has now been shown to have mitogenic effects in a number of cell types, including intestinal epithelia (Otte, J. M. et al., 2001, Digestion 64(3):169–178.) and fibroblasts (Mustafa, M. et al. 2000, Cytokine 12(4):368–373). The details of the genetic response to PHA are beginning to emerge in greater complexity beyond the well-known and long-observed cytokine production response (Janefjord, C. K and M. C. Jenmalm M C. 2001, Clin Exp Allergy 31(10):1493–1500; Beppu, R. et al. 2001, Immunol Invest 30(2):143–156). The complexity of the immune response is suggested by the finding that PHA stimulation elevates serotonin receptor mRNA levels (Abdouh, M. et al. 2001, J Biol Chem 276(6):4382–4388). Broad physiological effects such as elevations in ion transport mRNAs have also been reported (Vereninov, A. A. et al. Cell Physiol Biochem 11(1):19–26). Levels of c-fos and c-jun mRNA were elevated 30 minutes after PHA treatment of human lymphocytes (De Palma, L., E. Brown, and R. Baker 1998, Vox Sang 75(2):134–138.).
PHA stimulates intracellular signaling pathways related to production of cytokines and cell proliferation. Though details of its action in sponge cell cultures are unknown, it is associated with elevated sponge cell numbers in vitro (Pomponi, S. A. et al. 1997b "Development of techniques for in vitro production of bioactive natural products from marine sponges" In: Invertebrate Cell Culture: Novel Directions and Biotechnology Applications. Maramorosch K, Mitsuhashi J, editors. Science Publishers, Inc. p 231–237).
Receptors. PHA can function in concert with other stimulatory agents and its effects can vary qualitatively according to its concentration (Modiano, J. F. et al. 1999, Cell Immunol 197(1):19–29). In addition, multiple isoforms of PHA exist, some of which exhibit different activities in certain cell types (Rebbaa, A. et al. 1996, J Neurochem 67(6):2265–2272). The exact role of PHA in receptor activation is still being elucidated. It has been shown to directly bind the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor, though details of its function at this site are not clear. Although receptor binding was demonstrated, PHA abrogated expected phenotypic events dependent on EGF receptor signaling in a human cell line (Rebbaa et al. 1996 supra). PHA seems to mimic effects of agents known to function via receptor protein-tyrosine kinases as well as G protein-coupled receptors. It has been shown to modulate both the expression and activity of G protein-coupled receptors (Consorzio et al. 1995; De Blasi A. et al. 1995, J Clin Invest 95(1):203–210). The monomeric G protein Ras is activated by PHA, resulting in stimulation of a signaling pathway known to promote T cell proliferation (Downward, J. et al. 1990, Nature 364(6286):719–723) and to participate in promotion of interleukin 2 production (Ohtsuka, T., Y. Kazario, and T. Satoh 1996, Biochim Biophys Acta 1310(2):223–232). Thus, activation of a variety of receptors by PHA can result in progression of multiple intracellular signals.
Signal Transduction. Specific effects of PHA are consistent with its role in promotion of cell replication and the cell cycle. Induction of immediate-early gene transcription via the AP-1 transcription factor is evident in PHA-induced up-regulation of fos and jun following PHA treatment of lymphocytes (Bulanova, E. G. 1997, Biochemistry 62(9):1021–1025). PHA has also been shown to promote mitogen-activated protein kinase activity and G1-phase cyclin-dependent kinase activation (Modiano et al. 1999, Cell Immunol. 197(1):19–29). Interleukin 2 production is a well-known result of PHA stimulation in lymphocytes (Mills, G. B. et al. 1990, J Cell Physiol 142(3):539–551).
Phospholipid and calcium signals. PHA is known to cause elevations of intracellular free Ca2+ in the form of peaks, plateaus, or oscillations associated with initial internal mobilization of calcium from intracellular stores and subsequent influx from outside the cell (Maltsev, V. A. et al. 1994, Immunol Lett. 42(1–2):41–47). SH2-type protein tyrosine kinases as well as G-type receptors phosphorylate phospholipase C (PLC) and result in PLC translocation to the cell membrane, initiating a series of intracellular events related to control of cell proliferation (Cooper, G. M. 1997, "The Cell: A Molecular Approach" ASM Press and Sinauer Associates, Inc. 673). Subsequent hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-biphosphate (PIP2) produces diacylglycerol, resulting in activation of protein kinase C and subsequent activation of MAP kinase cascades and/or translocation of NF□B to the nucleus, where it can mediate transcription of proliferation-associated genes (Kirillova, I., M. Chaisson and N. Fausto 1999, Cell Growth Differ 10(12):819–828) as well as genes involved in apoptosis (Kuhnel, F. et al. 2000, J Biol Chem 275(9):6421–6427). PIP2 hydrolysis also yields inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3), which prompts the release of stored Ca2+ from the endoplasmic reticulum, initiating a cascade of calcium signaling maintained by calcium influx from outside the cell (Hess, S. D., M. Oortgiesen, and M. D. Cahalan 1993, J Immunol 150(7):2620–2633). Sufficient increases in cytosolic calcium result in activation of calmodulin, which in turn activates a variety of proteins including kinases. In concert with calmodulin, calcium and calcineurin B activate the protein phosphatase calcineurin A, resulting in nuclear translocation of the nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT), facilitating secretion of interleukin 2 (an autocrine promoter of proliferation) (Mills, G. B. et al. 1990, J Cell Physiol 142(3):539–551; Baldari, C. T. et al. 1991, J Biol Chem 266(28):19103–19108) and coordination with other transcription factors regulating proliferation (Crabtree, G. R. 1999, Cell 96:611–614).
Calcineurin B. Calcineurin B is a regulatory sub-unit that is highly conserved among eukaryotes (Rusnak, F. and P. Mertz 2000, Physiol Rev 80(4):1483–1521). Indeed, the amino acid sequences for human and bovine calcineurin B are identical (Nargang, C. E., D. A Bottorff and K. Adachi 1994, DNA Seq 4(5): 313–318). Along with calcium and calmodulin, calcineurin B activates the catalytic subunit, calcineurin A (Sugiura, R, S. O. Sio, H. Shunto and T. Kuno 2001, Cell Mol Life Sci 58:278–288). Activated calcineurin participates in regulatory functions in multiple cellular processes, including translocation of transcription factors to the nucleus (Masuda, E. S. et al. 1998, Cell Signal 10(9):599–611) and control of mitosis (Mizunuma, M. et al. 1998, Nature 392(6673):303–306). Differing roles have been observed in mammals, yeasts, and even scallops (Uryu, M. et al. 2000, J Biochem 127:739–746). Calcineurin activation is associated with binding of calcium, while calcium elevations are associated with PHA treatment (Orie, N. N. W. Zidek and M. Tepel 1999, Exp Physiol 84(3):515–520). In yeast, calcineurin is a requirement for a calcium-induced G2 delay (Mizunuma, M. et al. 1998, Nature 392(6673):303–306). In an inverse scenario, increased expression of calcineurin was associated with reduced proliferation in leukemic cells (Kihira, H. et al. 1998, Int J Oncol 12(3): 629–634 and Omay, S. B. et al. 1996, Blood 87(7):2947–2955) Calcineurin B mRNA levels peak during differentiation of flagellate amoebas (Remillard, S. P. et al. 1995, Gene 154(1):39–45). Plant calcineurin B-like protein exhibits increased transcription in response to stress (Kudla, J. et al. 1999, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 96(8):4216–4218). Additional studies implicate calcineurin as a major factor in the execution of apoptotic signals (Springer, J. E. et al. 2000, J Neurosci 20(19):7246–7251; Saito, S. et al. 2000, J Biol Chem 275(44):34528–34533; Tombal, B. et al. 2000, Prostate 43(4):303–317; Jayaraman, T. and A. R. Marks 2000, J Biol Chem 275(9):6417–6420; Asai, A. et al., 1999, i 274(48):34450–34458).

Analysis and modification of gene expression in marine invertebrate cells

Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Inc.


Ear cushion assemblies, and headphones incorporating ear cushion assemblies, the ear cushion assembly including an ear cushion coupled to a mounting plate, where the mounting plate defines plural openings for a passage of sound, and defines plural openings for fasteners; and where the ear cushion grips an outer circumference of the mounting plate to form an annular, circumferentially-fixed, and substantially airtight sealing surface.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,654,898 describes a flat, flexible cushion attached to a small-format earpiece housing a transducer (i.e. speaker) with the aid of a hook-and-loop closure strip firmly attached to the cushion. The cushion has three "sides"; the middle one with a fitting hole is placed on the ear-facing side of the earpiece housing, and the other two are folded around the earpiece housing and attached with the hook-and-loop closure strip. The acoustics obtained in this way are completely undefined, the fit on the earpiece housing is problematic (as is the wearing comfort), and the lifespan is short.
Usually, the (two) cushions of a headphone are either fixed on the housings of the earpieces, or they are mounted by means of an elastic element, such as a rubber ring, etc., in a groove or behind corresponding projections on the earpiece housing. An example of a design in which the headphone cushions are mounted in a groove by means of an elastic element is described in US 2013/0077800. The fixed mounting of the cushion on the headphones has the disadvantage that, given the inevitable amount of wear and tear, the overall service life of the headphones will be determined by the most mechanically sensitive and most stressed part. Forcing it on, in the style of US 2013/0077800, is acoustically unsatisfactory due to the lack of sealing around the cushion, and it is usually also optically suboptimal.
Another publication in this area is JP 5131097, where an ear cushion ring is screwed between two ring-shaped elements, the outer of the two rings being positively connected to a transducer carrier plate. Although this enables the headphone cushion to be replaced, there is also an undefined seal between the transducer carrier plate and the upholstery, with the effect that this solution, too, is both visually and acoustically unsatisfactory.
There is thus a need for an easily removable and replaceable ear cushion assembly that can be mechanically, acoustically, and (preferably) also visually satisfactorily mounted on the earpiece or its housing.


In various embodiments, a support system includes a multi-layer support system with a number of layers. Systems and methods of removing moisture vapor from an environment surrounding patient are disclosed that accomplish such removal.

Patients and other persons restricted to bed for extended periods incur the risk of forming decubitus ulcers. Decubitus ulcers (commonly known as bed sores, pressure sores, pressure ulcers, etc.) can be formed when blood supplying the capillaries below the skin tissue is interrupted due to external pressure against the skin. This pressure can be greater than the internal blood pressure within a capillary and thus, occlude the capillary and prevent oxygen and nutrients from reaching the area of the skin in which the pressure is exerted. Moreover, moisture and heat on and around the person can exacerbate ulcers by causing skin maceration, among other associated problems.
The following are incorporated by reference: Reger S I, Adams T C, Maklebust J A, Sahgal V: Validation Test for Climate Control on Air Loss Supports; Arch. Phys. Med Rehab. 2001; 82:597-603; U.S. Patent Publication No.: US 2008/0022461 A1 (application Ser. No. 11/780,119) filed Jul. 19, 2007; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/116,095, filed Nov. 19, 2008; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/799,526, filed May 11, 2006, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/874,210, filed Dec. 11, 2006; U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2007/0261548 A1 (application Ser. No. 11/746,953), filed May 10, 2007.


A picture electrode of an MVA liquid crystal display device has a configuration where sub-picture electrodes are successively provided, while a cross-shaped slit is provided as an alignment restriction member on a common electrode of the side of a counter substrate. A columnar spacer is provided on a signal line of a TFT substrate in conformity to a position of a singular point of an alignment of liquid crystal molecules, the singularity occurring in a display region. This structure makes it possible, when a panel surface is depressed, to cause quick re-aligning of the liquid crystal molecules at the singular point of +1, as a base point, which has occurred at a center of the cross-shaped slit and in the vicinity of the columnar spacer, hence achieving a speedy recovery of displaying.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device and particularly to a multi-domain vertical alignment liquid crystal display where a columnar spacer is provided on a wiring part.
2. Description of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display device has various features of the thin type, lightness, and low power consumption, or the like. The liquid crystal display devices have been widely used as not only the display monitor for a personal computer, a word processor, office automation (OA) equipment, personal digital assistance (PDA), and an in-vehicle navigation but also a display device of the LCD TV, and the like.
The display operation mode of a liquid crystal device, which is currently used most, is a normally white mode using a twisted nematic (TN) liquid crystal.
The liquid crystal display includes electrodes which are respectively formed on the opposed faces of two sheets of glass substrates placed opposite to each other, and alignment films formed on the both electrodes. The two alignment films are processed for aligning in the directions perpendicular to each other by means of rubbing and the like. On the outer face of each substrate, a polarization plate which is adjusted with the polarization axis is disposed so as to be in parallel with the rubbing direction of the alignment film on the respective substrates.
When a nematic liquid crystal with positive dielectric anisotropy is inserted in between these substrates, liquid crystal molecules contacting with the alignment film are aligned along the rubbing direction, and the alignment directions of the liquid crystal molecules on the both substrates are orthogonal. The liquid crystal molecules between the both substrates, then, align in a direction perpendicular to the faces of the substrates, as they rotate their alignment directions in sequence within a plane in parallel to the faces of the substrates.
Subsequently, the liquid crystals are aligned between the substrates with the angle of 90 degrees twisted.
For a TN liquid crystal display device having such a structure, light entering at the face of one substrate passes through a polarization plate, and enters a liquid crystal layer. When passing through the liquid crystal layer, the direction of polarized light is rotated by 90 degrees along the twist of the liquid crystal molecules, and the light passes through a polarization plate of the other substrate having the polarization axis which is perpendicular to that of the one substrate. This produces a display in a brightness state when no voltage is applied.
When a voltage is applied to common electrodes, a long axis of the nematic liquid crystal molecules with positive dielectric anisotropy is aligned in a direction perpendicular to a substrate face, hence eliminating the twist. For the straight polarized light which enters the liquid crystal layer in this state, the liquid crystal molecules do not exhibit refractive index anisotropy, whereby the polarizing direction of the entered light does not change. As a result, the light cannot pass through the other polarization plate. This produces a light in a darkness state when a predetermined maximum volt is applied. When putting back into a state where no voltage is applied, a display in a brightness state is back due to an alignment regulation force. Displaying in gray scale is made possible by controlling the inclinations of the liquid crystal molecules while varying the applying voltage, and thereby changing transmission optical power from the other polarization plate.
A TN-TFT liquid crystal display device is a display device of an active matrix type where a thin film transistor (TFT) is provided on each picture element as a switching element to control an applying voltage between common electrodes for every picture element. Since the TN-TFT liquid crystal display device is thin and light, and is provided with a large screen and a high resolution, it has been widely used for a display monitor of a personal computer, a portable television, or the like.
While enhancement of display quality is expected in such applications, the TN-TFT liquid crystal display device has a problem where an angular field of view provided thereby is narrow. As a technology for solving a problem related to the characteristic of an angular field of view of the TN liquid crystal display device, a vertical alignment (VA) mode liquid crystal has drawn attention. In the VA mode liquid crystal, in comparison with TN mode liquid crystal, which has been adopted in a number of liquid crystal display devices, a display quality in black is high, and alignment processing such rubbing is not necessary. Among the VA modes, a multi-domain vertical alignment (MVA) mode liquid crystal display device (hereinafter, referred to as MVA liquid crystal display device) has especially drawn attention because it can achieve a wide angular field of view. The MVA liquid crystal display device has not only been applied to a transmission liquid crystal display, but is also beginning to be applied to a reflection liquid crystal display device and a semi-transmission liquid crystal display device.
Various technologies have been disclosed with respect to alignment control technologies for an MVA liquid crystal display device. In Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2001-249340 (hereinafter, referred to as Patent Literature 1), there is disclosed an MVA liquid crystal display device in which a singular point (+1 or −1) formed in an alignment vector field for liquid crystal molecules is controlled, and decreasing of transmissivity is curbed, thereby improving a response characteristic. This singular point is defined as a point where, among liquid crystal molecules, one in the middle is vertically aligned, while the other liquid crystal molecules are fallen down and aligned. When vertically seeing a liquid crystal layer from above, a singular point where liquid crystal molecules around the singularity fall down toward the singular point or draw away therefrom is called a singular point of +1 (hereinafter, referred to as +1 singular point) in an alignment vector field for the liquid crystal molecules. Meanwhile, a singular point where some of liquid crystal molecules around the singular point fall down toward the ssingular point and the other draw away therefrom is called a singular point of −1 (hereinafter, referred to as −1 singular point) in an alignment vector field for the liquid crystal molecules.
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a face of a liquid crystal display device for explaining a prior art on an alignment control technology in Patent Literature 1. FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 are sectional views taken along the lines I-I, II-II, and III-III, respectively. As shown in FIG. 1, at a +1 singular point 10, a liquid crystal molecule 6 is aligned toward a point, while, at a −1 singular point 11, some of the molecules are oriented in directions different from a point. Referring FIGS. 2 to 4, on the opposed faces of a lower substrate 20 and a upper substrate 21, both of which are placed opposite to each other with a predetermined space therebetween, a picture electrode 3 and a common electrode 7 are formed, respectively. On the picture electrode 3 and the common electrode 7, vertical alignment films (not shown) are formed. Between the upper and lower substrates, liquid crystal molecules 6 with negative dielectric anisotropy are inserted. On the picture electrode 3 and the common electrode 7, a protruding structure 9 and a protruding structure 8 are respectively formed as control parts on singular points for the alignment of liquid crystal molecules. The protruding structure 8 has a cross-shape when it is seen in a direction perpendicular to the face of the substrate. The protruding structures 8 are disposed in such a manner that the cross-shaped parts are adjacent one another at predetermined intervals. When voltages are applied to the picture electrode 3 and the common electrode 7 in such a liquid crystal display, a distortion is formed in an electric field where voltages applied through the protruding structure 8 and the protruding structure 9. Because of this distortion in the electric field, the alignment of liquid crystals is restricted on the protruding structure 8, the protruding structure 9, and in the vicinity thereof. As shown in FIG. 1, in the middles of the protruding structure 8 and the protruding structure 9, +1 singular point 10 are formed, while −1 singular point 11 are formed at ends of the protruding structure 8.
In Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2001-264773 (hereinafter, referred to as Patent Literature 2), there is disclosed an MVA liquid crystal display device where non-uniformity in a gap between the substrates is reduced, and thereby a display quality is improved. In this liquid crystal display device, as shown in FIG. 5, for a pair of substrates which are placed opposite for achieving a multi-domain, a plurality of waveform protrusions 22 are formed on at least one of the opposed faces of the pair of substrates. A waveform protrusion 22 has a continuous triangular waveform in one direction. In a second direction crossing the above direction, a plurality of columnar spacers 24 are disposed. The columnar spacers 24 work as keeping the distance between the pair of substrates to be constant, and are disposed on a shaft passing angles of the waveform protrusions 22. A configuration designed in such a manner is expected to be able to prevent occurrence of non-uniformity in gap. The waveform protrusions are contained in a concept of a singular point control part for the liquid crystal molecules alignment. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 23 indicates a picture element formed on a color filter (not shown).
In recent years, applying of an MVA liquid crystal display device to a mobile phone and a personal digital assistance has been considered. In such an application, a transparent touch panel may be provided for inputting information by pressing a liquid crystal panel with a finger or a pen point.
As in Patent Literature 2, when the waveform protrusion 22 is formed of a triangular waveform, singular points may be placed anywhere on a line of the waveform protrusion 22, and are the positions thereof are not to be determined at once. So long as it is on the line of the protrusion, electric potential is the same, and thus, there is no specific location in terms of electric potential. Since liquid crystal molecules are successively aligned, unless the positions of the singular points for the alignment of liquid crystal molecules are determined, the alignment of liquid crystal molecules in another region will not be determined. Therefore, it requires a certain period of time until the alignment of liquid crystal molecules in a picture element comes to a final state. In Patent Literature 2, there arises a problem where, when a panel surface of a liquid crystal display device is depressed, a wavy alignment irregularity occurs in liquid crystal molecules, and it takes a time in the order of seconds until restoring.
Furthermore, in the prior art of Patent Literature 1, singularities for the alignment of liquid crystal molecules, the singularities occurring on a signal line, are controlled by thickening or thinning a part of an electrode used for a signal line. The position of the singular point for the alignment of the liquid crystal molecule is influenced easily by the difference of the pattern formation accuracy when the signal line is formed in such a method. As a result, a parasitic capacitance between a signal line and a picture electrode tends to vary for every picture element, and thereby a flicker tends to occur. In addition, since the columnar spacers are not provided, a change in gap occurring when a panel surface is depressed is large, thus causing a wavy alignment irregularity in the liquid crystal molecules.

Liquid crystal display with common electrode having cross shaped alignment members


A method of inhibiting complement activation mediated by C3b inhibitors in a subject includes administering a C3b inhibitor to the subject to inhibit at least one of C3b binding to factors B and properdin, inhibit C3 cleavage, inhibit the activation of neutrophils, monocytes, platelets, and endothelium; or inhibit the formation of C3a, C5a, and MAC.

The complement system is activated via three distinct pathways; the classical pathway, the lectin pathway and the alternative complement pathway (AP). The classical pathway is activated via antigen-antibody complexes. The lectin pathway is a variation of the classical pathway and the alternative pathway is activated by foreign material, artificial surfaces, dead tissues, bacteria, dead yeast cells.
The classical complement pathway is important for host defense against pathogens. Activation of the classical pathway generates C3a, C4a, C5a and C5b-9 molecules, which activates a variety of cells in response to host defense. In pathological conditions, as a result of activation of the alternative pathway, anaphylatoxins C3a, C5a are formed and tissues damaging C5b-9 molecules, also known as the membrane attack complex (MAC), are formed. These molecules mediate inflammation via cellular activation and release of inflammatory mediators. In addition to its role as a lytic pore-forming complex, there is strong evidence that the depositing of sublytic MAC may play an important role in inflammation.
The alternative complement pathway is activated in pathological inflammation. Elevated levels of C3a, C5a, and C5b-9 have been found associated with multiple acute and chronic disease conditions. These inflammatory molecules activate neutrophils, monocytes and platelets. Therefore, inhibition of disease-induced AP activation is important for clinical benefit in the diseases where complement activation plays a role in disease pathology.
In addition to its essential role in immune defense, the complement system contributes to tissue damage in many clinical conditions. The activities included in the complement biochemical cascade present a potential threat to host tissue. An example includes the indiscriminate release of destructive enzymes possibly causing host cell lysis. Thus, there is a pressing need to develop therapeutically effective complement inhibitors to prevent these adverse effects.
In a disease condition where AP activation contributes to disease pathology, elevated levels of C3a, C5a and C5b-9 molecules are found in serum, plasma, blood or other body fluids representative of the disease. Production and inhibition of each of these molecules via different mechanisms is important for diseases. One possible mechanism for inhibiting the formation of active C3 convertase is via the use of an anti-C3b antibody. Thus blocking/inhibiting or preventing AP activation via depleting C3b, neutralizing C3b, C3c or inactivating C3b remains an important therapeutic strategy.
The application developed humanized and chimeric antibody sequences that are novel and provide targeted binding to C3b. The binding of C3b to B, and not C3b to C5, is inhibited by this antibody. C3a, C5a, and C5b-9 all drive inflammation and also amplify the AP activation process. Anti-C3b agents that bind C3b and prevent B interaction include but not limited to monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, chimeric, humanized, fully human, and nano-antibodies, Full length and fragments thereof including IgG, Fab, Fab′, F(ab′)2, and IgGs. Apatamers, small molecules, and SiRNA can also neutralize C3b binding to B and prevent production of AP induced production of C3a, C5a, and C5b-9. As a result, cellular activation, inflammation and release of inflammatory mediators are also prevented. Because AP activation is linked to various acute and chronic human diseases, the blockade with anti-C3b agents will also block the inflammation process providing clinical benefit to mammals treated with the anti-C3b monoclonal antibodies.
Complement is one of several factors involved in pathogenesis and could be a significant pathological mechanism that offers an effective point for clinical control. The need for effective complement inhibitory drugs is signified by growing recognition of the importance of complement-mediated tissue injury in a variety of disease states. Despite this, currently there is a complete absence of approved drugs for human use that specifically target and inhibit complement activation.
Based upon the available clinical and research data, it appears that in most acute and chronic settings, production of C3a and C5a is mediated by the activation of the complement pathways. In clinical settings, both C3a and C5a have been independently shown to be involved, developing suitable methods of inhibition for all pathways would be highly desirable. Both of the anaphylatoxins C3a and C5a are known to activate leukocytes and platelets. A frequent indicator of cellular activation is the cellular expression of CD11b on leukocytes, and CD62P on platelets. The release of several inflammatory molecules is triggered by the platelet-leukocyte binding mediated by these activation markers. One result of such conjugate formation is the removal of platelets from the circulation, a phenomenon that can contribute to the development of thrombocytopenia.
This invention is designed to inhibit the functional activity of C3b and its progressive effects in pathological conditions by use of an anti-C3b antibody.

Humanized anti-factor C3b antibodies and uses thereof


An inspection method for a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes providing a semiconductor device, performing heat treatment on the semiconductor device, and inspecting the semiconductor device utilizing electron beam to acquire an analysis image. The semiconductor device comprises a substrate, a plurality of gate electrodes protruding on the substrate, a blanket dielectric layer overlying the substrate and gate electrodes, and a plurality of polycrystalline silicon plugs, respectively disposed on the substrate between the gate electrodes, in the dielectric layer. A piping defect is detected by the analysis image showing an area with voltage contrast difference.

The invention relates to inspection technology and in particular to inspection of a piping defect inducing short circuit in a semiconductor device.
As the integrity of integrated circuits increases, the size of semiconductor device is reduced. In interconnection technology of an IC, for example, boron phosphosilicate tetra-ortho-silicate (BPTEOS) is typically utilized as a dielectric layer. When the line width is reduced to approximately 0.18 μm or less, piping defects occur frequently, negatively affecting the process yield.
FIGS. 1 through 3, 4A, and 4B show generation of a piping defect during an interconnection process for a semiconductor device.
In FIG. 1, first, a substrate 100, such as single crystalline silicon, comprising a transistor structure, is provided. The substrate 100 comprises a plurality of source/drain regions 132 individually arranged on an active surface of the substrate 100. The substrate 100 comprises isolation regions 110 respectively disposed between the source/drain regions 132 along direction Y in FIG. 1. The substrate 100 comprises a plurality of gate electrodes 120 protruding from the active surface thereof between the source/drain regions 132 along direction X in FIG. 1. The gate electrodes 120 typically comprise multi-layer structures comprising conductive layers as desired. The gate electrodes 120 comprise spacers 126 on sidewalls thereof, and thus, the exposed source/drain regions 132 between two spacers 126 of two neighboring gate electrodes 120 are typically less than 0.15 μm wide when the line width is reduced to approximately 0.18 μm or less by design rule of the semiconductor device.
In FIG. 2, a blanket dielectric layer 140, acting as a pre-metal dielectric layer, is formed overlying the substrate 100. The blanket dielectric layer 140 is shown transparently for subsequent description. A piping defect 145 extending across at least two source/drain regions 132 appears in dielectric layer 140 during formation thereof using BPTEOS when the design rule is reduced to less than about 0.18 μm.
In FIG. 3, the dielectric layer 140 is patterned to form vias 142 exposing the source/drain regions 132. Simultaneously, the former piping defect 145 becomes piping defect 145′ connecting two neighboring vias 142.
In FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, cross-sections along line AA in FIG. 4A, the vias 142 are respectively filled with a conductive layer, and thus, plugs 162a through 162c are formed respectively connecting to the corresponding source/drain regions 132. Simultaneously, the piping defect 145′ is also filled with the conductive layer. Thus, the plugs 162a and 162b, intended to be electrically isolated by the isolation regions 110 and dielectric layer 140 in design, bridge via the piping defect 145′, inducing short circuit.
The piping defect 145′ cannot be identified by naked eye or optical microscope due to typically deep embedment in the dielectric layer 140. Conventionally, the piping defect 145′ is detected by wafer probing after completion of the wafer fabrication process. Alternatively, the piping defect 145′ can be detected by sample destructive testing after formation of the dielectric layer. The destructive testing is performed by removal of the dielectric layer 140 to expose the plugs 162a through 162c utilizing an etchant or etch method with high etch selectivity of the dielectric layer 140 to the plugs 162a through 162c. Thus, the piping defects between the plugs 162a through 162c are identified by SEM.
The period between the formation of the conductive layer and wafer probing, however, can be between two and three months. Discovery of piping defects in wafer probing indicates occurrence of the piping defect potentially during the two to three months, affecting the process yield. Further, shutdown, check, and repair of the production line, and overall inspection for the products are required, and thus, internal failure cost increases substantially.
When destructive testing is performed, the sampling unit is per piece of wafer. These sacrificed wafers increase the product loss.

Inspection methods for a semiconductor device


The present invention is a method and apparatus for automatically detecting the characteristics of a document object placed on the platen of a digital copier or similar scanning system. The invention accomplishes the detection by processing a digitized image in a highly efficient manner using binary moments, and using the moments characterizes the shape of a boundary about the object. Once determined, the shape of the object may be employed to further process the image to automatically crop, derotate, and register the image at a predefined location in an output image suitable for rendering on a document substrate.

To improve the ease of use of scanning systems, in particular digital copiers, it is desirable to automatically register scanned objects (e.g., a hard copy document) on the platen of the input scanner. To facilitate automated registration or positioning of an object, it is necessary to identify the position, shape and rotation angle of the object. Such a capability can enhance productivity by decreasing the time required for scanning documents and reduce the requirement for accurate presentation placed upon document feeding mechanisms.
The present invention is directed to a system intended to automatically determine the boundaries of an object within a scanned image. The present invention combines a number of graphics and image processing techniques into an automated system that provides productivity enhancement for digital copiers and scanning systems.
The present invention accomplishes these objectives by:
Heretofore, a number of patents and publications have disclosed image registration or the use of moments in pattern recognition, the relevant portions of which may be briefly summarized as follows:
U.S. Pat. No. 485,568 to Venable et al., issued Jan. 16, 1996, and hereby incorporated by reference, discloses a method and apparatus for representing a complex color raster image as a collection of objects in a structured image format--a hierarchical, device-independent format. A structured image document, generated using the techniques described by Venable, is a representation of data that may be rendered into a raster image. The data includes simple raster images as well as a hierarchical collection of sub-objects and raster processing operations. The possible data types for objects in the structured image include a raster image, text, graphics, image processing description, and files containing multiple image representations
U.S. Pat. No. 5,528,387 to Kelly et al., issued Jun. 18, 1996, teaches electronic image registration in a scanner. In particular, the edge data of a document is detected and skew angle calculated. The image is then rotated based upon the skew angle and nonimage areas are filled using an image generation feature.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,922,350 to Rombola et al., issued May 1, 1990, discloses a two-pass scanning apparatus for detecting the size and position of an original document on a scanner platen. Image signals captured on a first scan are employed to determine boundaries and a best-fit magnification so that the image may be fit to a recording sheet using image signals generated on a subsequent scanning pass.
U.S. 5,253,765 to Moorehead et al, issued Oct. 19, 1993, teaches a system for sorting randomly sized objects (e.g., mushrooms). Invariant moments are employed, utilizing the complete pixel information for all pixels within the border of a captured image, to extract information about the mushroom size and orientation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,220,398 to Horn et al. teaches an analog VLSI microchip that uses moments to determine the position and orientation of an object in a scene.
In "Invariant Fitting of Planar Objects by Primitives," published in 1996 IEEE Proceedings of ICPR '96, pp. 508-512 Voss et al. teach a method of pattern recognition using primitives such as triangles, rectangles, circles ellipses, superquadratics, etc. The authors further describe a technique for describing the primitives using moments in a normalized manner; resulting in a decrease in the numerical effort.
In "MANAGING AND REPRESENTING IMAGE WORKFLOW IN PREPRESS APPLICATIONS", Technical Association of the Graphic Arts (TAGA) Vol. 1, 1995 Proceedings pp. 373-385, hereby incorporated by reference for its teachings, Venable et al. teach the use of structured images to manage prepress workflow.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an imaging apparatus, comprising:
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for processing an image including:
One aspect of the invention deals with a basic problem in digital image processing, that of identifying an object within a digitized image. The solution to this problem is leveraged to accurately control the placement of an object within a digital document. The techniques described herein enable a user to expediently scan a document or other object, automatically recognizing the shape of the document within the digitized image, and composing a digital document incorporating the object. The invention employs binary moments in the recognition of the object to provide a robust recognition method.
The techniques described above are advantageous because they improve the efficiency of a scanning process, reducing the need for accurate registration of the object on the platen of the image input device. In addition, the techniques allow for the automatic re-registration of the object image in an output document without user intervention.

Automatic image registration using binary moments


A cylindrical vibration-damping device includes: a rubber bushing having a rubber elastic body elastically connecting an inner sleeve and a resin outer sleeve; a rigid mounting member having a cylindrical bore into which the rubber bushing is press fit; an engaging stepped face formed on an inner surface of the mounting member; and an engaged stepped face produced on an outer surface of the outer sleeve once the outer sleeve is press fit into the cylindrical bore of the mounting member, by means of elastic deformation of the outer sleeve. The engaged stepped face is opposed to the engaging stepped face in an axial direction of the device, and is brought into engagement with the engaging stepped face so as to exhibit a resistance to dislodging of the rubber bushing from the mounting member in at least one of opposite axial directions. The method of producing the same is also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cylindrical vibration damping device in which a rubber bushing is retained in a condition of being press fit into a mounting member of cylindrical configuration, and more particularly relates to such a device in which an outer sleeve of the rubber bushing is formed of resin.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, cylindrical vibration damping devices have been widely used as trailing arm bushings, suspension bushings including torque rod bushings, engine mounts and the like for use in automotive vehicles. A typical cylindrical vibration-damping device has a design in which a rubber bushing, which includes rigid inner and outer sleeves elastically connected together via a rubber elastic body interposed therebetween, is held in press-fit fashion within a cylindrical bore of a mounting member, with an outer surface of the outer sleeve held in contact with an inner surface of the cylindrical mounting bore of the mounting member.
In a cylindrical vibration damping device of this kind, the outer sleeve, inner sleeve and mounting member of the rubber bushing are all made of metal. The outer sleeve of the rubber bushing is press fit into the cylindrical bore of the mounting member with a predetermined tightening allowance. This arrangement generates strong frictional force between the outer surface of the outer sleeve and the inner surface of the cylindrical bore of the mounting member, thus preventing undesirable dislodging of the rubber bushing from the mounting member.
Recently, fabricating the rubber bushing outer sleeve from resin has been considered. However, an inherent problem is that the elastic recovery force of a resin outer sleeve is depressed by means of stress relaxation, and when subjected to the effects of heat, even greater stress relaxation can be produced. Despite the predetermined tightening allowance during initial press fitting, changes over time result in depressed elastic recovery force of the outer sleeve vis-a-vis the mounting member, so that resistance to dislodging declines.
An exemplary countermeasure for this problem is disclosed in Reference 1 given hereinbelow. FIG. 28 shows a specific example, wherein 200 is a rubber bushing having a metal inner sleeve 202, a rubber elastic body 204 integrally disposed onto an outer surface of the inner sleeve 202, and a resin outer sleeve 206 integrally disposed onto an outer surface of the elastic body 204. 208 is a metal mounting member of cylindrical shape. The rubber bushing 200 is press fit into a bore of this mounting member 208 and retained fitting therein.
The resin outer sleeve 206 has a flange portion 210 at an axial end (the lower end as viewed in FIG. 28). This flange portion 210, by abutting the axial end face of the mounting member 208, prevents the rubber bushing 200 from dislodging in the upward direction in FIG. 28. The outer sleeve 206 has a partially thick-walled engaging portion 218, on the axial end thereof opposite from this flange portion 210 and projecting out in the axial direction from the mounting member 208. The partially thick-walled engaging portion 218 has sloping faces 214, 216 that incline in mutually opposite directions. Once the rubber bushing 200 has been press fit into the mounting member 208, the rubber bushing 200 is prevented from dislodging from the mounting member 208 in the downward direction in FIG. 28, by means of this engaging portion 218 becoming engaged with an axial end face of the mounting member 208, specifically, the axial end face on the opposite end from the flange portion 210.
[Reference 1]
JP-U-5-77637
However, the device taught in Reference 1, or shown in FIG. 11, has no specific provision for preventing rotation of the rubber bushing 200 relative to the mounting member 208, and if the resin outer sleeve 206 of the rubber bushing 200 that has been press fit into the mounting member 208 experiences depressed elastic recovery force due to stress relaxation, resulting in a likelihood of rotation of the rubber bushing 200 relative to the mounting member 208.
The cylindrical vibration damping device shown in FIG. 28 has the additional drawback that a portion of the outer sleeve 206, i.e., the area of the engaging portion 218, projects out in the axial direction from the mounting member 208 and lies exposed to the outside or the atmosphere. This makes it susceptible to deterioration. Another problem is that the portion lying exposed outside and projecting out from the mounting member 208 is susceptible to being struck by a flying pebble or the like and cracked.
A further problem with this cylindrical vibration damping device is that the axial length of the rubber bushing 200, specifically, the axial length of the portion excluding the flange portion 210, must be larger than that of the mounting member 208, and is therefore subject to limitations regarding shape.


A suspension apparatus for vehicles capable of changing the characteristic of the suspension by controlling supply/release of fluid into/from hydraulic cylinders which are respectively provided between a vehicle body and-at least two wheels provided on the right and left side of the vehicle body. The suspension apparatus includes a pressure detection sensor for detecting a pressure in the hydraulic cylinders and an acceleration detection sensor for detecting a lateral acceleration signal of the vehicle body. A target pressure difference is set to control supply/release of the fluid into/from the right and left cylinders based on the detected pressure differences of the right and left cylinders. The target pressure difference is corrected based on the detected lateral acceleration, and a flow amount supplied into and drawn from control-objective cylinders of the hydraulic cylinders is controlled using signals detected so that a pressure difference within the right and left cylinders goes toward the corrected target pressure difference.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a suspension apparatus for vehicles capable of changing the characteristics of suspension by controlling supply and release amounts of hydraulic flow to hydraulic cylinders.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional suspension apparatus, an active control suspension apparatus (ACS apparatus) is well known as disclosed in Japanese Kokai No. Hei 3-182826. This ACS apparatus is provided with a hydraulic cylinder between a vehicle body and each wheel, and changes the characteristic of the suspension in accordance with a driving state by independently controlling the fluid flow amount to each hydraulic cylinder by a flow control valve.
In the conventional technique, as shown in FIG. 10, a vehicle height signal and vertical acceleration signal are collected on each wheel, and a bouncing component, pitching component, and rolling component of vehicle movement are extracted from those signals. Flow control signals (Q.sub.1, Q.sub.2, Q.sub.3) are calculated for hydraulic cylinders to suppress a movement of the vehicle body on each of bouncing mode, pitching mode, and rolling mode. The signal Q.sub.1 is a vehicle-height control signal, signal Q.sub.2 is a height displacement suppression signal, and signal Q.sub.3 is a vertical displacement suppression signal. In the conventional suspension apparatus, a pressure signal of the cylinder and a lateral acceleration signal as well as the above vehicle-height signal and vertical acceleration signal are inputted as parameters for active control of the suspension, and flow control signals Q.sub.4 and Q.sub.5 are outputted for correction of the rolling suppression control (warp/twist suppression control). Note that an acceleration is referred to as "G" hereinafter.
In the above-described conventional technique, a lateral G signal is used other than a height signal and vertical G signal in order to determine if a transitional rolling movement of the vehicle body is caused by vibration from the wheels or from the vehicle body along with turn. The rolling of the body may be caused when a part of the body is vertically vibrated or when the vehicle is turning. However, the lateral G signal is caused only when the vehicle is turning. Accordingly, when the lateral G signal has occurred, which means that the vehicle is in a turn, the suspension control for rolling suppression based on the vertical G signal is performed with consideration of the lateral G signal. On the other hand, when the lateral G signal does not occur, the suspension control based on the vertical G signal is applied stronger. Thus, the rolling suppression control can be accurately executed regardless of whether a turning operation is in process or not.
As shown in FIG. 10, the feature of the conventional technique is in that the control to generate a signal Q.sub.4 based on pressures in the four hydraulic cylinders is independently performed with the control to input a lateral G signal and generate a signal Q.sub.5. Accordingly, when a pressure difference occurs between a left cylinder and a right cylinder, the signal Q.sub.4 is generated in accordance with the difference, while when a lateral acceleration G signal occurs, the signal Q.sub.5 is generated in accordance with the acceleration.
Consider the case where the vehicle approaches and turns a corner as shown in FIG. 11. When the vehicle is located at the position A, the movement of the vehicle is a straight drive, therefore, neither signal Q.sub.4 nor Q.sub.5 is generated. When the vehicle is at the position B, the vehicle body is rolled since it has approached the corner, and the signals Q.sub.4 and Q.sub.5 are both generated. Furthermore, when the vehicle is at the position C, it is in a constant turning state. In this state, since the amount of the lateral G is constant, the signals Q.sub.4 and Q.sub.5 should be constant. However, when a pressure difference is generated between the right cylinder and left cylinder, the pressure difference generates the signal Q.sub.4, resulting in a change of the vehicle movement. Furthermore, it generates the lateral G, and the signal Q.sub.5 is changed, resulting in the change of the vehicle movement. It further causes a pressure difference. Accordingly, in the case where the vehicle turns, even when the turn has started and the vehicle is in a constant turning state, a rolling direction inversion of the vehicle body is repeated and the movement is unstable. That is, as shown in FIG. 12, the rolling control at the position C is delayed.
As shown in FIG. 10, since the control based on the cylinder pressure and control based on the lateral G signal are independently performed, if one of these tries to perform the most suitable control at some point, that control may not be preferable to the other (that is, a continuity of the rolling is insufficient). The problem arises not only when the vehicle is in turn, but also when a rolling state is generated in the ACS apparatus.

Suspension apparatus for changing characteristics of a vehicle suspension by controlling hydraulic cylinders


An optical disk having an increased data storage capacity and accessible randomly, the positional shift of which can be quickly detected. An optical disk access device and access method are also disclosed. The optical disk (1) has a track (T1) constructed of two kinds of the first sector (S1) having an ID portion (12) and succeeding sectors (S2) having only a sector mark portion (13), and sector marks of the tracks are different from one another. The data area is increased by compressing the ID portion, and the different marks of the tracks enable quick detection of access positional shift.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a recording medium represented by an optical disk optically rewritable, an access device and an access method. More particularly, the present invention relates to an optical disk which enables a quick random access operation if the disk is formed into a large capacity, an access device and an access method.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, there is a recording medium provided with data identification information for each information unit of a predetermined data length in order to carry out a random access operation to data on a medium. The typical examples are such optical disks as magneto optic disk (hereinafter referred to as MO) using magneto optic recording and DVD disk (hereinafter referred to as DVD), which uses a change in phase of the medium. These optical disks are used as a large-scale external recording medium for computer. Additionally, they are used for recording visual information such as movie. As the computer has handled larger and larger data or higher-quality, longer-hour visual recording has been demanded, a further larger capacity has been demanded.
An optical disk 100 based on the conventional art shown in FIG. 9 is so constructed that information unit group constituted of plural information units are composed of tracks T100, which are formed of each single circle, the tracks being formed spirally. Each track T100 is divided to sectors S100 as information unit, which has a predetermined data length, so that data recording format is constructed. In an enlarged view of four tracks 100A on the optical disk 100 shown in FIG. 9, the sector S100 comprises data portion 120 which is a region in which data is to be written and control information portion 110, which includes ID portion 112 as data identification information for identifying the content of the data portion 120 and a sector mark portion 111 which is recognition information for recognizing the start position of the sector S100.
FIG. 10 shows an enlarged view of the bit structure on a boundary region of the control information portion 110 and data portion 120 on the optical disk 100. Referring to FIG. 10, data is recorded on only land L100 on the data portion 120 of the optical disk 100. In the meantime, although not indicated, data may be recorded in only the groove G100. Here, each data bit pattern 125 in the data portion 120 is a rewritable data pattern, which is constructed by magneto optic recording in case of MO or phase change recording in case of DVD. Contrary to this, the sector mark portion 111 on the control information portion 110 and each control information bit pattern 115 on the ID portion 112 are uneven patterns processed in the disk 100 by etching or the like, that is, a fixed pattern constituted of so-called emboss pit pattern.
As for the data bit pattern 125, as compared to beam spot such as pick-up laser beam or the like, even if the bit pattern size or the bit pattern pitch is miniaturized, data reading corresponding to highly integration of the data bit pattern 125 is enabled by development of so-called magnetic super-resolution (MSR) technology or the like, which reads out by using temperature distribution in a beam spot.
Next, FIG. 11 shows a high-density optical disk 200 in case where the data portion 220 is formed in high density. An enlarged view of four tracks 200A like the case of FIG. 9 is shown here. The high-density optical disk 200 adopts a land groove recording type as shown in FIG. 12 for integration into a higher density. The data bit pattern 125 (see FIG. 10), which has conventionally been recorded in only the land L100 or the groove G100, is recorded both in the land L200 and groove G200 by narrowing the bit pattern pitch using magnetic super-resolution (MSR) technology and the like. Thus, as compared to a case where the track T100 is constituted of any one of the land L100 or the groove G100 (see FIGS. 9, 10), the quantity of the tracks T200 constituted of both the land L200 or the groove G200 is doubled thereby achieving high density.
However, because in case of the control bit pattern 115, 215, the bit pattern is formed with the emboss pit pattern at the time of manufacturing the optical disk 100 and the high density optical disk 200 as compared to the data bit patterns 125, 225, processing accuracy in manufacturing process needs to be improved for miniaturization and however, the miniaturization has not been progressed. Therefore, the pitch of the track T100 on which the data bit pattern 125 is to be recorded in the optical disk 100 is specified by the size of the emboss pit pattern of the control bit pattern 115, so that achievement of high density cannot be attained, which is a problem to be solved.
In the high-density optical disk 200 intending to achieve high density shown in FIG. 11, a control information portion 210 is assigned to a two-truck width consisting of two lands L200 and two grooves G200 and the control information portion 210 and the two-truck width are arranged in a row. That is, subsequent to a sector mark portion 211, two ID portions 212, 213 are arranged in line to record. In the data portion 220, the ID portion 212 is allocated as data identification information of the data 222 and the ID portion 213 is allocated as data identification information of the data 223. With miniaturization of the data bit pattern 225 in the high density optical disk 200, the overhead of the control information portion 210 in the track T200 is increased, thereby obstructing intensification in the density of the high density optical disk 200, which is a problem to be solved.
Further, to achieve miniaturization in the emboss pit pattern of the controlling bit patterns 115, 215 in the control information portions 110, 210, the processing accuracy in manufacturing process needs to be improved thereby inducing an increase in production cost.
Further, if the size of the emboss pit pattern in the controlling bit pattern 115, 215 is miniaturized, it is necessary to use short wavelength laser such as blue laser as the wavelength of a pick-up laser beam, inducing an increase in part cost.
To reduce the overhead of the control information portion 210 in the high-density optical disk 200, it can be considered to adopt a method of sharing the ID portion for multiple sectors instead of the ID portions 212, 213 provided for each sector as the data identification information. However, in this case, if a beam spot of laser or the like suffers from a positional error generated from a normal access position, detection of normal access position is disabled or it takes an extremely long time for the detection, so that there is a fear that an access to a mistaken position may be made, which is a problem to be solved.

Optical disk, optical disk access device and access method


A device for storing utensils, especially tools, comprises at least one storage tray unit (1) for accommodating utensils to be stored, which storage tray unit can be connected to a carrying unit (5) for carrying the storage tray unit (1) and can be removed from the carrying unit (5). The storage tray unit (1) comprises at least one lug (12, 13, 14) which can be inserted into a receiving groove (8) of the carrying unit (5) in order to connect the storage tray unit (1) to the carrying unit (5), the storage tray unit (1) connected to the carrying unit (5) projecting from the carrying unit (5). In order to connect the storage tray unit (1) to the carrying unit (5) in various angular positions, different lugs (12, 13, 14) of the storage tray unit (1) can be inserted into the receiving groove (8) of the carrying unit (5).

The invention relates to a device for storing utensils, in particular tools, said device including at least one storage tray unit for accommodating utensils to be stored which is connectable to a carrying unit for carrying the storage tray unit and is removable from the carrying unit, wherein the storage tray unit comprises at least one lug which is insertable into an accommodating groove of the carrying unit for connecting the storage tray unit to the carrying unit, and wherein the storage tray unit connected to the carrying unit extends out from the carrying unit and at least one storage tray unit is connectable to the carrying unit in at least two different angular positions with reference to a horizontal axis.
Tool cabinets, the drawers of which are provided with compartments, are known. To use a tool, the corresponding drawer has to be pulled open and the tool taken out and subsequently put away again into the corresponding compartment. If the tools are to be used at a remote site, the required tools have to be removed out of the tool cabinet and subsequently put away again in the compartments provided. Maintaining a predefined system of order is consequently laborious.
Placing rigid foam liners, in which recesses are provided which are adapted precisely to the tools to be accommodated and form compartments adapted to the respective tools, with the tools inserted therein in drawers of tool cabinets is also known such that the rigid foam liners with the tools accommodated therein can be removed, when required, and moved to the site of use. Such handling, however, is also relatively awkward and involved. In addition, metal trays with plastics material inserts which comprise compartments for accommodating tools are also known.
The device emanating from DE 603 07 171 T2 provides tray-shaped carrying units which are mounted at different heights on a vertical stand and are pivotable about the vertical axis of the stand. Tray storage units which comprise compartments for accommodating utensils to be stored, in particular tools, can be inserted into the indentations of the respective carrying unit, and removed out of said indentations.
A device where tool containers, which can be seen as tray storage units, can be suspended on an upwardly extend web by hook-like elements, which can be seen as lugs, proceeds from US 2007/0012636 A1. This web forms the lower boundary of an accommodating groove. In the case of the device known from DE 203 14 773 U1, hook-shaped elements of storage tray units are suspended on the upper edge of a rail-shaped carrying unit. In the case of both devices, additionally there are projecting elements which protrude into a groove of the carrying unit, by which unintentional raising of the storage tray unit is to be restricted.
US 2010/0326930 A1 shows a device of the type mentioned in the introduction where the carrying unit comprises two portions which are at an angle with respect to one another. Hook-shaped elements of a container can be suspended selectively on one of the two portions, the container being connectable to the carrying unit in two different angular positions.

Device for storing utensils, especially tools


A continuously variable transmission, a vehicular powertrain that includes a continuously variable transmission and a method of limiting belt slippage in a continuously variable transmission in a vehicle. The continuously variable transmission includes a pulley assembly, shafts, a clutch and hydraulic system. The hydraulic system is cooperative with both the clutch and the pulley assembly so that hydraulic pressures and associated clamping forces sent to both allow the clutch to preferentially absorb any driving load coming from the axle and wheels that is in excess of the normal load experienced at the continuously variable transmission. This in turn means that any additional load that would ordinarily cause slippage in the belt is instead experienced by the clutch. By providing such a clutch, the pump of the hydraulic system does not need to be oversized in order to provide excess clamping force, as any excess load experienced by the shaft that is coupled to the wheels of the vehicle will be taken up by slippage in the clutch so that slippage-related wear to the belt is avoided.

A vehicular continuously variable transmission (CVT) typically employs a belt that runs between two sheaved pulleys. Each pulley defines an axially-split construction so that the spacing between the respective halves can be varied by hydraulic, spring or centrifugal means as a way to continuously adjust the radial spacing (and hence the gearing ratio) between the driving pulley that receives rotational power from the vehicle's engine and the driven pulley that delivers rotational power to the vehicle's wheels. The belt is subject to a varying clamping force from the halves of each pulley to prevent slippage under different driving loads where as a general matter, increasing the driving loads require increasing clamping forces.
In the hydraulic-based configuration, a pump working in concert with oil or a related hydraulic fluid supplies the axial clamping force, as well as provides selective clamping force needed to engage one or more clutches that are used to couple the engine to the CVT. Typically, such pumps are oversized beyond their capacity to supply clamping forces under normal driving loads in order to accommodate large spikes in driving loads experienced at the CVT; examples of such a large spike is that associated with driving the vehicle on a rough road or under heavy braking, where higher loads from the vehicle's driven wheels are being fed back to the CVT. This pump oversizing, which is done to avoid the inefficiencies and excessive wear that accompany belt slippage, leads to larger, heavier and more expensive pumps than would otherwise be necessary.

Downsized CVT oil pump achieved by slip device

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.


An exemplary apparatus for determining the thicknesses of individual layers in a multilayer article comprises an ultrasonic transducer coupled to the multilayer article with a buffer rod of similar acoustic properties, a pulser-receiver-amplifier which generates ultrasonic waves to produce discernible, time resolved pulse echoes, a digitizing oscilloscope which may be used to view the received pulse echoes, and a computer for controlling data acquisition and analysis. The computer is programmed to execute the exemplary method, which comprises the steps of selecting a center frequency of a transducer such that respective pulse echoes produced at the interfaces between layers of the multilayer article each have a common distinguishing feature with a signal to noise ratio greater than or equal to a predetermined value, and the pulse echoes are resolved in time; determining a transit time correction factor for the layer of the multilayer article based on an actual transit time measured with the transducer adjacent to the layer and an apparent transit time measured with the transducer not adjacent to the layer; propagating a pulse through the multilayer article to produce pulse echoes at the interfaces between the layers of the multilayer article; determining a measured transit time of the pulse through the layer based on the pulse echoes at the interfaces of the layer; and calculating a thickness of the layer based on the measured transit time and the transit time correction factor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to ultrasonic thickness determination, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for nondestructively determining the thickness of individual layers in multilayer articles.
2. Description of the Related Art
The determination of thickness by propagation of ultrasonic waves through an article is well known in the art. Typically, a transducer is used to generate an ultrasonic pulse which propagates through the article and is reflected off an acoustic interface and received by a receiving transducer. By knowing the velocity of the pulse through the article and the time of flight of the pulse, the thickness can be easily determined.
In many engineering applications, it is important to be able to monitor the thickness of individual layers in multilayer articles. For example, in the automotive industry, body panels and bumpers are commonly made from multilayer sheets which are extruded and subsequently thermoformed into a final shape. The top and bottom cap layers may comprise a pure LEXAN polycarbonate, for example, which produces a fine cosmetic finish, while the middle layer may comprise LEXAN reinforced with glass fibers for strength. During the thermoforming process, the multilayer sheets are typically stretched in a non-uniform manner, with some local areas experiencing a large degree of strain. If a cap layer is initially too thin, it may be strained to such a degree in some areas during thermoforming that cosmetic defects result, such as blistering or delamination. The ability to monitor and control the thickness of individual layers during the extrusion and thermoforming processes can thus be very important in avoiding cosmetic defects which can occur if the layer thicknesses deviate beyond specified tolerances.
Systems are known for ultrasonically monitoring layer thicknesses in certain multilayer articles. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,038,615 to Trulson et al. discloses a method for measuring the thickness of individual paint layers on a substrate. The Trulson method involves propagating ultrasonic waves through the object, averaging several pulse echoes indicative of each layer interface, and comparing the averaged waveform to a stored reference waveform.
The Trulson method, however, has limited applicability. For example, the Trulson method is designed to operate with layers, such as paint layers, which have very distinct interfaces, so that the pulse echoes correspond well with the stored reference waveform. However, in applications in which the interfaces between layers are indistinct and variable, the resulting pulse echoes have an uncertain shape, phase, and amplitude. In such applications, the Trulson method can not reliably correlate the pulse echoes with a reference waveform. The Trulson method also does not take into account the effects of attenuation of high frequencies of the pulse bandwidth, which can introduce significant measurement errors.
It would be desirable, therefore, to have a method and apparatus capable of determining the thicknesses of individual layers in a multilayer article in which the interfaces between the layers are unpredictable and indistinct, and where the layers may significantly attenuate the high frequencies of the pulse bandwidth.

Method and apparatus for thickness determination in multilayer articles


A method and apparatus for polling a status register selectively delays the returning of status data in the status register. Prior to polling, a match register is loaded via a system bus with a desired status. Status data is presented to the system bus when the status data is the same as the desired status. The features of the invention also permit the masking of selective bits of the status register during the comparison of the status data with the desired status. A mode register selectively inhibits the delayed presentation, and a timer ensures that status data is presented to the system bus within a predetermined interval even if the status data is not the same as the desired status.

Modern digital computer systems typically include a plurality of central processor units (CPUs), memory, and a plurality of peripheral input/output (I/O) devices connected by means of a common system bus. The CPUs, memory, and I/O devices in such a computer system operate generally asynchronously, communicating data over the system bus at randomly occurring intervals.
However, from time to time, the operations in a complex computer system need to be synchronized to coordinate processing control and bus communications. The two main methods that have been used to synchronize the various CPUs and I/O devices in a computer system are interrupts and polling.
Interrupts are used generally to signal the occurrence of primarily sporadic and unanticipated events requiring immediate attention. Where the occurrence of a future desired event is anticipated, polling is generally used. Computers commonly perform polling by having a polling program repeatedly examine, via the system bus, a status register until the occurrence of the desired event is reflected by the status data in the status register. The occurrence of the event is generally indicated by the transition of the various bits in the status register to some predetermined or desired value.
However, inherently, polling has some fundamental deficiencies severely impacting system bus bandwidth and system throughput. The repeated reading of the status data in the status register during polling, over the system bus, may saturate bus throughput by consuming all of the available read/write cycles on the system bus while polling. The bus, when thus saturated, becomes essentially unavailable for communicating other transactions between the various devices connected to the bus.
These adverse consequences of polling have been minimized by decreasing the frequency of status register sampling during polling. But if the status register is examined on a less frequent basis, then it is likely that the detection of the desired event is delayed unnecessarily, severely retarding system synchronization. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a method and apparatus that afford improved polling without adversely affecting computer system operations, and it is to these ends that the present invention is directed.

Polling of I/O device status comparison performed in the polled I/O device


A system and method for mounting a shock absorber to a bicycle frame. The system preferably includes at least one spacer having a first spacer member and a second spacer member. Each of the first and second spacer members include a curved contact surface configured to contact the respective surface of the other spacer member. A first one of the spacer members is located relative to the bicycle frame and the second one of the space members is located relative to the shock absorber. The shock absorber and the second one of the spacer members may be rotated relative to the first spacer member and the bicycle frame to achieve a desired alignment between the shock absorber and the bicycle frame to compensate for misalignment between the mounting structures on the bicycle frame for a respective first and second ends of the shock absorber.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to shock absorber mounting assemblies in general and, more specifically, to a shock absorber mounting assembly well-suited for use in securing at least one end of a shock absorber to a bicycle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many bicycles, especially those intended for off-road use, incorporate a suspension assembly associated with one or both of the front and rear wheels. In one common arrangement of a bicycle incorporating a rear wheel suspension assembly, the bicycle frame includes a main frame portion and a sub-frame portion, which is moveable relative to a main frame. The rear wheel is carried by the sub-frame and a rear shock absorber is connected at a first end to the main frame and at a second end to the sub-frame. The shock absorber is configured to provide a force tending to attenuate force inputs applied to the rear wheel of the bicycle and passed on to the main frame and, thus, the rider of the bicycle.
Typically, each end of the shock absorber includes a mounting eyelet. Each mounting eyelet commonly defines a mounting aperture. The main frame and sub-frame typically each include a mounting aperture that corresponds to the respective mounting apertures of the first and second ends of the shock absorber. A support shaft, such as a bolt, is typically passed through the mounting aperture of the main frame and the mounting aperture of the first end of the shock absorber. Another support shaft is passed through the mounting aperture of the sub-frame and the mounting aperture of the second end of the shock absorber. Accordingly, the shock absorber is operably connected between the main frame and sub-frame of the bicycle.
A common shock absorber includes two portions which are telescopically engaged for movement relative to one another along a longitudinal axis of the shock absorber. Due to variations and imperfections inherent in many manufacturing processes, the axes of the mounting apertures of the main frame and the sub-frame often will not be perfectly aligned with one another. That is, the mounting apertures of the main frame and sub-frame are often not perfectly parallel to one another. When the shock absorber is mounted to a bicycle frame having such misaligned mounting apertures, the moveable portions of the shock absorber tend to align with their respective support shaft, or bolt, and thus are misaligned with one another. As a result, the forces applied to the shock absorber by the sub-frame and main frame may not be perfectly aligned with the longitudinal axis of the shock absorber and, therefore, a force component is applied to the shock absorber in a direction perpendicular to its longitudinal axis. This condition is referred to as "side loading" of the shock absorber. Side loading of the shock absorber causes wear and often premature failure of certain components of the shock absorber, such as various seal members, for example.

Shock absorber mounting assembly for a bicycle