Described are uses of A2a adenosine receptor antagonists and agonists to provide long term modulation of immune responses. A2a receptor antagonists in particular are provided to enhance immune responses by reducing T-cell mediated tolerance to antigenic stimuli and agonists are provided to enhance effectiveness of immunosuppressive agents. The application provides methods of treatment and prevention based on the long term effects of the compounds on T cell responses.

Immune modulation is a critical aspect of the treatment of a number of diseases and disorders. T cells in particular play a vital role in fighting infections and have the capability to recognize and destroy cancer cells. Enhancing T cell mediated responses is a key component to enhancing responses to therapeutic agents. However, it is critical in immune modulation that any enhancement of an immune response is balanced against the need to prevent autoimmunity as well as chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation and self-recognition by T cells is a major cause for the pathogenesis of systemic disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Furthermore, long term immunosuppression is required in preventing rejection of transplanted organs or grafts.
The mechanisms that prevent T-cell mediated autoimmune reactions are collectively known as T cell "tolerance". Tolerance can occur by removing antigen specific T cells from the population, which occurs both in the thymus and the periphery. In addition, tolerance can be maintained by 'turning off' certain antigen specific T cells or rendering them anergic. When T cells recognize an antigen under conditions that promote anergy, these same cells later fail to respond to antigen upon rechallenge even under normally activating conditions. Anergy is induced when T cell receptor engagement (Signal 1) occurs in the absence of co-stimulation (Signal 2). A major set of co-regulatory molecules is in the B7-CD28 family.
In addition to anergy and deletion, recently it has become clear that regulatory T cells play an important role in maintaining tolerance. Regulatory T cells suppress auto-reactive T cells. Thus, as the level of regulatory T cells decreases, the potential for autoimmunity rises. Interestingly, tumors have been shown to evade immune destruction by impeding T cell activation through inhibition of co-stimulatory factors in the B7-CD28 and TNF families, as well as by attracting regulatory T cells, which inhibit anti-tumor T cell responses (see Wang (2006) Immune Suppression by Tumor Specific CD4+ Regulatory T cells in Cancer. Semin. Cancer. Biol. 16:73-79; Greenwald, et al. (2005) The B7 Family Revisited. Ann. Rev. Immunol. 23:515-48; Watts (2005) TNF/TNFR Family Members in Co-stimulation of T Cell Responses Ann. Rev. Immunol. 23:23-68; Sadum, et al. (2007) Immune Signatures of Murine and Human Cancers Reveal Unique Mechanisms of Tumor Escape and New Targets for Cancer Immunotherapy. Clin. Canc. Res. 13(13): 4016-4025).
Autoimmune diseases develop when the body's immune system fails to recognize normal body tissues and attacks and destroys them as if they were foreign rather than attacking an outside organism. There are nearly 150 autoimmune disorders with no currently known cures. Although the cause is not fully understood, pioneering work by Rose, Witebsky, Roitt and Doniach provided evidence that autoimmune diseases result at least in part from loss of T cell tolerance. An essential prerequisite for the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases is indeed the breakage of immunological tolerance, which leads to the immune system mounting an effective and specific immune response against self determinants. Several theories exist as to what causes this breakdown, including the breakdown of "clonal deletion theory", according to which self-reactive lymphoid cells are destroyed during the development of the immune system in an individual, the breakdown of "clonal anergy theory", in which self-reactive T- or B-cells become inactivated in the normal individual and cannot amplify the immune response, the breakdown of "idiotype network theory", wherein a network of antibodies capable of neutralizing self-reactive antibodies exists naturally within the body, and the "suppressor population theory", wherein regulatory T-lymphocytes prevent or limit autoaggressive immune responses.
Adenosine modulates diverse physiological functions including induction of sedation, vasodilatation, suppression of cardiac rate and contractility, inhibition of platelet aggregation, stimulation of gluconeogenesis and inhibition of lipolysis (see, Stiles (1986) Trends Pharmacol. Sci. 7:486; Williams, (1987) Ann. Rev. Pharmacol. Toxicol. 27:315; Rarnkumar et al., (1988) Prog. Drug. Res. 32:195). In addition, adenosine and some adenosine analogs that non-selectively activate adenosine receptor subtypes decrease neutrophil production of inflammatory oxidative products (Cronstein et al., (1986) Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 451:291; Roberts et al., (1985) Biochem. J., 227:669; Schrier et al., (1986) J. Immunol. 137:3284; Cronstein et al., (1987) Clinical lmmunol. Immunopath. 42:76).
Adenosine binds to P1 purinergic receptors, which are members of the G protein-coupled receptor family. Four subtypes of adenosine receptors have been cloned: A1, A2a, A2B, and A3. The four subtypes have the hallmark structural characteristics that are common to G protein-coupled receptors, including seven putative transmembrane spanning domains, an extracellular NH2 terminus, cytoplasmic COOH terminus, and a third intracellular loop that is important in binding G proteins.
The A2a receptor cDNA, which has been cloned from several species including humans, encodes a protein of 45 kDa, larger than the molecular masses of the other subtypes. This is primarily due to the additional 80-90 amino acids of the COOH-terminal tail. The overall amino acid identity is 90% among species, with most of the differences occurring in the second extracellular loop and the long COOH-terminal domain. The COOH-terminal domain has several serine and threonine residues that are potential phosphorylation sites. A2a adenosine receptors stimulate adenylyl cyclase and increase the production of cAMP by coupling to stimulatory G proteins (Gs) or to Golf in certain tissues. In addition to the cAMP-protein kinase A (PKA) pathway, recent studies indicate that serine/threonine protein phosphatase, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP kinase), PKC, and phospholipase D may participate in mediating the effects of A2a adenosine receptor activation. Further, the Epac family of cAMP-regulated guanine nucleotide exchange factors (cAMP-GEFs, also known as Epac1 and Epac2) may also participate in mediating the effects of these receptors.
Studies have indicated that adenosine has a direct effect on hematopoietic and endothelial cells to reduce inflammation (for a review, see Linden (2001) Molecular approach to adenosine receptors: receptor mediated mechanisms of tissue protection. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 41: 775-787). Evidence for an anti-inflammatory role of A2a adenosine receptor activation comes from a variety of studies both in vivo and in vitro (Cronstein et al. (1990) The adenosine/neutrophil paradox resolved: human neutrophils possess both A1 and A2 receptors that promote chemotaxis and inhibit O2− generation, respectively. J Clin Invest 85: 1150-1157; Schrier and Imre (1986) The effects of adenosine agonists on human neutrophil function (Abstract). J Immunol 137: 3284; Sullivan et al. (1995) The specific type IV phosphodiesterase inhibitor rolipram combined with adenosine reduces tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a)-primed neutrophil oxidative activity. Int J Immunopharmacol 17: 793-803). This physiological role of endogenous adenosine became apparent after the demonstration that activated neutrophils or endothelial cells release and respond to adenosine. Monocytes accumulate more slowly at sites of inflammation than neutrophils and contribute to the inflammatory process by producing and releasing cytokines. The results of several studies indicate that the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α, is regulated by A2a adenosine receptors (Bouma et al. (1994) Differential regulatory effects of adenosine on cytokine release by activated human monocytes. J Immunol 153:4159-4168; Eigler et al. (1997) Endogenous adenosine curtails lipopolysaccharide-stimulated tumour necrosis factor synthesis. Scand J Immunol 45: 132-139; Hasko et al. (1996) Adenosine receptor agonists differentially regulate IL-10, TNF-a, and nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 macrophages and in endotoxemic mice. J Immunol 96: 4634-4640; Reinstein et al. (1994) Suppression of lipopolysaccharidestimulated release of tumor necrosis factor by adenosine: evidence for A2 receptors on rat Kupffer cells. Hepatology 19: 1445-1452).
On the basis of the evidence that activation of A2a adenosine receptors regulates factors that attenuate inflammation, studies have been performed using selective A2a agonists in tissue to determine whether activation of A2a receptors confers tissue protection. In many of these studies, the observation that A2a agonist-induced tissue protection was associated with a reduction of factors associated with inflammation suggested that A2a agonists contribute to tissue protection by attenuating inflammation, although a direct causal relationship between tissue protection and attenuation of inflammation by A2a agonists has not been proven.
Evidence has accumulated that adenosine accumulation in hypoxic conditions can lead to activation of A2a receptors and, in certain instances, can cause inhibition of immune cells, in particular, of T lymphocytes.
Ohta and Sitkovsky have proposed that adenosine, when acting on A2a receptors, protects tissues from excessive inflammation (Ohta, and Sitkovsky (2001) Role of G-protein-coupled adenosine receptors in down-regulation of inflammation and protection from tissue damage. Nature 414(6866):916-20). Using an A2a receptor knock-out mouse, Ohta et al. showed that, while sub-threshold doses of an inflammatory stimulus caused minimal tissue damage in wild-type mice, such doses were sufficient to induce extensive tissue damage, more prolonged and higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and death of animals deficient in the A2a adenosine receptor. Additional observations were made in studies of model systems of inflammation and liver damage as well as during bacterial endotoxin-induced septic shock.
Kinsel and Sitkovsky overviewed possible targeting of certain G protein coupled receptors, including A2a receptors, in manipulating inflammation in vivo with ligands (Kinsel J F, Sitkovsky M V. (2003) Possible targeting of G protein coupled receptors to manipulate inflammation in vivo using synthetic and natural ligands. Ann Rheum Dis. 62 Suppl 2:ii22-4). The authors state that targeting of these receptors by selective agonists may lead to better protocols of anti-inflammatory treatments, and that inhibiting the Gs protein coupled mediated signaling with antagonists could be explored in studies of approaches to enhance inflammation and tissue damage.
Ohta, et al. have also proposed that the A2a adenosine receptor protects tumors from anti-tumor T cells (Ohta, et al. (2006) A2a adenosine receptor protects tumors from antitumor T cells. PNAS 103(35):13132-7). Again using A2a receptor deficient mice, the investigators showed that approximately 60% of tumor cells were rejected when compared to no rejection in normal mice. The investigators also showed that treatment using an A2a receptor antagonist improved inhibition of tumor growth, destruction of metastases and prevention of neovascularization by anti-tumor T cells. In all cases, the treatment was continuous during the timeframe, with no suggestion of long term effects.
PCT Publication No. WO 03/050241 by Sitkovsky and Ohta describes the methods to increase an immune response to an antigen, increasing vaccine efficacy or increasing an immune response to a tumor antigen or immune cell-mediated tumor destruction by administering an agent that inhibits extracellular adenosine or inhibits adenosine receptors.
Sullivan described the role of endogenous adenosine in blocking potentially destructive inflammatory cascades by binding to A2a adenosine receptors and decreasing activation of platelets, leukocytes and endothelial cells (Sullivan G W. (2003) Adenosine A2a receptor agonists as anti-inflammatory agents. Curr Opin Investig Drugs. 4(11):1313-9). Sullivan also reviews potential disease targets for A2a receptor agonist treatment, including in allergen-induced inflammation, ischemia-reperfusion injury, sepsis and autoimmune diseases.
Kinsel and Sitkovsky overviewed possible targeting of certain G protein coupled receptors, including A2a receptors, in manipulating inflammation in vivo with ligands (Kinsel J F, Sitkovsky M V. (2003) Possible targeting of G protein coupled receptors to manipulate inflammation in vivo using synthetic and natural ligands. Ann Rheum Dis. 62 Suppl 2:ii22-4). The authors state that targeting of these receptors by selective agonists may lead to better protocols of anti-inflammatory treatments.
Ulusal et al. conducted in vivo experimental studies to investigate whether A2a receptor agonists reduce allostimulatory functions of dendritic cells, for example through modulation of surface expression of the costimulatory molecules and down-regulation of cytokines (Ulusal B G, et al. (2006) The effect of A2a adenosine receptor agonist on composite tissue allotransplant survival: an in vivo preliminary study. J Surg Res. 131(2):261-6). The authors state that the results from this study showed that A2a adenosine receptor agonist treatment does not prolong composite tissue allograft survival.
Sevigny, et al. investigated the in vitro and in vivo effect of A2a receptor agonists to attenuate allogenic immune activation (Sevigny C P, et al. (2007 Apr. 1) Activation of adenosine2a receptors attenuates allograft rejection and alloantigen recognition. J Immunol 178(7):4240-9). The authors state that the results indicated that A2a receptor agonists attenuate allogenic recognition by action on both T lymphocytes and APCs in vitro and delayed acute rejection in vivo and may represent a new class of compounds for induction therapy in organ transplantation.
Nemeth, et al. investigated adenosine receptor activation in type I diabetes and suggest that adenosine receptor ligands could be potential candidates for treatment of type I diabetes and could be promising targets in autoimmune disease (Németh Z H, et al. (2007) Adenosine receptor activation ameliorates type 1 diabetes. FASEB J. epub).
There remains a need for therapies that provide long term enhancement of immune responses to specific antigens, particularly for treatment and prevention of abnormal cell proliferation and for treatment of infectious diseases and disorders. There also remains a need for treatments that provide long term, targeted immune suppression and reduce the need for standard immunosuppressive therapies in certain disorders, in particular in the area of transplantation and autoimmunity.
It is an object of the present invention to provide methods of treatment that allow simplified treatment protocols and enhance immune responses against certain antigens. It is a specific object of the invention to provide improved methods of preventing or treating abnormal cell proliferation and infectious diseases in a host. It is a separate object of the present invention to provide more effective therapeutic regimes to reduce the need for long term treatment with immunosuppressive therapies in a host.

Adenosine receptor agonists and antagonists to modulate T cell responses


An ozone generating apparatus which is provided with a discharge suppressing member formed of a metal plate and covering an outer circumferential surface of a portion of a dielectric tube facing to a tube sheet, the discharge suppressing member being electrically in contact with a metal tube or the tube sheet, wherein the discharge suppressing member is formed by curling the metal plate longer than a circumferential length of the dielectric tube into a circular shape so as to have an overlapping portion, and by joining together, in the overlapping portion, a part of the metal plate placed outside and a part of the metal plate placed inside, at a near-end portion of the metal plate placed outside in the overlapping portion, and wherein the discharge suppressing member has, on the part of the metal plate placed outside in the overlapping portion, a spring portion.

Heretofore, among ozone generating apparatuses used in a water treatment and the like, many of them have utilized silent discharge. A basic configuration of the ozone generating apparatuses that utilize silent discharge, comprises such a structure in which a cylindrical dielectric tube with a metal film formed on the inner surface thereof, is inserted in a cylindrical metal tube so that a predetermined gap is given between the inner wall of the metal tube and the outer wall of the dielectric tube. By flowing an oxygen-containing source gas (air, oxygen gas, etc.) in the gap, and by applying a high-voltage AC voltage between the metal tube and the metal film on the inner surface of the dielectric tube to thereby generate an AC field in the gap through the dielectric material of the dielectric tube, the source gas is discharged and oxygen in the source gas is ozonized, so that ozone is produced.
Recently, for such an ozone generating apparatus used in a treatment of huge volume of water, because of increasing treatment volume, it is required to enhance its treatment capacity without size increase. In order to fulfill such a requirement, it is necessary to increase an amount of ozone produced per unit size of the apparatus, and for that reason, it is necessary to increase a discharge power density. However, with the increase in the discharge power density, heat-related problems are also increased. In particular, there is a problem that cooling unevenness emerges near an end portion of the metal tube. In order to suppress this, such a measure has been taken that a discharge suppressing member is provided in a portion of the gap at the end portion (for example, Patent Document 1).
Heat generated by the discharge is taken away by cooling water that circulates outside the metal tube, so as to inhibit the dielectric tube from becoming too high temperature. If the dielectric tube becomes too high temperature, since its breakdown voltage decreases, it no longer withstand the applied high voltage and will be dielectrically broken down, resulting in damage of the apparatus. Meanwhile, in a case of no discharge suppressing member, because the discharge occurs space between the dielectric tube and the metal tube whereas no cooling water circulates in a tube sheet portion, a temperature near the tube sheet portion becomes highest, so that a temperature of the dielectric tube in contact therewith becomes highest at a portion facing to the tube sheet portion. Feedable power to the apparatus is determined so that the highest temperature of the dielectric tube equal to or less than a reference temperature. Thus, if the temperature of the dielectric tube at the portion facing to the tube sheet portion can be decreased, feedable power becomes larger, so that an amount of ozone produced by the apparatus can be increased. Accordingly, when the discharge suppressing member is placed at the tube sheet portion to thereby suppress the discharge thereat, such an effect vided that the temperature of this portion is decreased, so that the average power can be made larger to thereby increase the amount of ozone produced by the apparatus.


A data communications system is disclosed. The data communications system comprises two clock domains. A first clock domain includes a transmitter and a first clock signal. A second clock domain includes a receiver and a second clock signal. The transmitter conveys the first clock signal and a data signal to the receiver. The receiver: (a) counts a first number of transitions of the second clock signal in response to detecting a transition of the first clock signal; (b) maintains a first count of the number of transitions of the second clock signal; (c) samples the data signal and maintains a second count of the number of transitions of the second clock signal in response to detecting the first count equals a first pre-determined value; and (d) samples the data signal and resets the second count in response to detecting the second count equals a second pre-determined value.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to digital data communication and, more particularly, to reliable communication of digital data between different clock domains.
2. Description of the Related Art
New techniques to ensure the reliability of the communication of digital data have become necessary as the speed of communication links has increased. Particularly within computer memory systems, a reference clock may accompany parallel digital data so as to provide a mechanism for determining the appropriate time to sample the data. However, it is often the case that multiple clock domains are established within a given communications system due to the difficulties involved in distributing a single clock throughout a large system. Although the clocks of each individual clock domain may have the same frequency, it is to be expected that the phase relationship between any two clocks in different domains will vary depending on changes in voltages and temperature between the domains over time. Jitter in the phase offset between a transmitting clock and a receiving clock tends to move the sampling point away from the ideal point in the received data signal, resulting in poor timing margins and/or a higher bit-error-rate (BER). The higher the speed at which a communications link is clocked, the more significant the effects of phase jitter become. Therefore, it is desirable to have a mechanism to determine when to sample the data at the receiver while maintaining a robust time margin thereby reducing the impact of phase changes between clock domains and enabling higher communication speeds.
In addition to the above considerations, the use of serial communication links to convey digital data within computer memory subsystems has become commonplace. For example, banks of fully buffered dual inline memory modules (FB-DIMMs), which may be used to provide increased memory capacity in computer systems, are commonly connected to each other via a serial ring bus. Each serial link in the ring bus may be equipped with a serializer/deserializer (SerDes) device whose serialization function converts parallel data from within the FB-DIMM to serial data for transmission on the ring bus. A typical SerDes includes a shift register for this purpose. The clock that clocks the shift register may be part of a different clock domain than the clock that clocks the parallel data within the FB-DIMM. It is desirable for the shift register to be loaded at a time that is near the midpoint of the parallel data clock to provide for adequate timing margin. It is also desirable for the shift register to be loaded at a time after the last bit of a parallel data sample has been shifted out so as to preserve frame alignment in the serial data. Accordingly, what is needed is a technique for simultaneously satisfying the constraints of sampling parallel data with adequate time margin and synchronization of the shift register's load time and serial clock.


Provided are systems and methods of using of optical delay lines in RF imagers, e.g., Ultra-wideband (UWB) imagers. In an embodiment, a modulator can be configured to convert radio-frequency signals to optical signal. First and second optical delay lines delay respective first and second optical signals converted by the modulator, and a photodetector can convert the delayed optical signals to at least one electrical signal corresponding to at least one pixel of a radio frequency image. The disclosed systems and methods can also further form a radio-frequency image based on output from the photodetector. In still further embodiments, the photodetector can receive modulated optical signals from an array of optical delays. Also provided are related methods of using the disclosed systems and devices.

Ultra-wideband (UWB) RF/mm-wave/THz imaging systems can achieve high depth resolution and image through optically opaque objects, thereby enabling many applications ranging from tracking and positioning, surveillance, communication, localization, vehicular radar, imaging in various weather conditions, radar, and low power communication for internet-of-things (IoT). In medicine, UWB systems have been used, for example, for cancer cell detection, human vital sign monitoring, patient monitoring; and imaging of heart motions and respiration rate.
UWB imagers are conventionally implemented using either scanning antenna arrays or multi-beam antenna arrays. True-time delay (TTD) based implementations are commonly used to avoid signal distortion caused by narrowband phase shifters. However, large delay element size, high power consumption due to electrical loss, and electromagnetic interference susceptibility are all challenges in these system, thus limiting large scale implementations.
In addition, integrated UWB imagers with large number of on-chip pixels can form and steer a narrow beam enabling realization of high resolution, low power, low cost, and portable UWB imaging systems. The major challenges in integration of such imaging system on conventional electronic platforms (such as standard CMOS processes) are the realization of on-chip wide-band variable TTD lines with small steps and large overall delay as well as the delay-sum beam forming network.
The signals received by the antenna are passed through an electrical delay line. The area required for the electrical delay lines, however, makes the realization of an RF imager with large number of pixels impractical. Moreover, due to limited quality factor of inductors and capacitors at RF frequencies in standard CMOS processes, these electrical delay lines, e.g., LC (Lumped Constant) delay lines, introduce a large propagation loss. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for improved imaging systems.

Optically assisted ultra-wideband (UWB) imager

The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania


An exemplary plural component heater assembly includes a plurality of heater modules each having a plurality of bores forming at least a first component path and a second component path, and at least one heating element receptacle configured to receive a heating element for heating the first and second component paths.

Plural component systems provide a number of different liquid materials that are combined or mixed at a particular ratio to generate a composition that is delivered for coating a surface, for example. Some plural component applications include, but are not limited to, building construction and various applications within automotive, agricultural, marine, and industrial environments. More specifically, some particular applications include, but are not limited to, spraying foam insulation and spraying protective coatings on pipes and tanks, structural steel, and marine vessels, to name a few.
In many instances, plural component coatings can deliver benefits over single component coatings in particular applications, such as improved durability, better chemical resistance, increased flexibility, etc. Typically, when two or more components are combined in a plural component system a reaction is created between the components which can be both time and temperature dependent. Maintaining accurate temperatures of the plural components can be important.
The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. The claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in the background.


There is provided a pump system including; a base unit which has an input portion operatively connected to a driving source on a first end face and has a plurality of output portions capable of outputting a power transmitted from the input portion on a second end face at the opposite side of the first end face, the first end face capable of being directly or indirectly mounted on a support member; a pump unit which has a plurality of pump shafts driven by each of the plurality of output portions, a plurality of hydraulic pump bodies driven by each of the plurality of pump shafts, and a pump case surrounding the plurality of hydraulic pump bodies, the pump case being detachably connected to the second end face of the base unit; and a PTO unit which has a PTO shaft driven by the power transmitted from the input portion and is accommodated in the base unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pump system provided with a plurality of hydraulic pump bodies and a PTO unit.
2. Related Art
A pump unit, which is provided with a single input shaft, a plurality of pump shafts operatively connected to the input shaft, a plurality of hydraulic pump bodies to be driven by each of the plurality of pump shafts, a PTO unit that is operatively connected to the input shaft and has a PTO shaft, a pump case for accommodating the plurality of hydraulic pump bodies and the PTO unit and supporting the input shaft, the plurality of pump shafts and the PTO shaft, and a port block (or a center section) connected to the pump case, has been conventionally used in various fields (for example, refer to JP-A 2003-291674).
More specifically, according to this conventional pump unit, it is possible to configure a first transmission path including the plurality of hydraulic pump bodies and a second transmission path including the PTO unit from a single input path by operatively connecting the input shaft to a driving source by way of an input transmission mechanism, with the pump case connected to a supporting member such as a vehicle frame.
Accordingly, this pump unit is particularly available for a working vehicle or the like requiring two transmission paths including a traveling transmission path and a PTO transmission path.
However, in the conventional pump unit, there is room for improvement in workability of replacement and workability of maintenance of the hydraulic pump bodies.
In other words, in this conventional pump unit, the pump case is connected to the supporting member such as the vehicle frame or the driving source.
Accordingly, in the case of carrying out the replacement or maintenance operations of the hydraulic pump body, it is necessary that the pump unit including the input shaft is entirely separated from the supporting member or the port block is separated from the pump case.
According to the former method, it is necessary that the engagement between the input shaft and the input transmission mechanism is released and the engagement between the PTO shaft and a transmission shaft following thereto is also released.
According to the later method, it is necessary that the port block is separated from the pump case with the pump case connected to the supporting member such as the vehicle frame. Therefore, the operability is not good and it is feared that the parts configuring the hydraulic pump bodies and the PTO unit drop out against a user's will.
The present invention has been made taking the foregoing problems into consideration, and an object thereof is to provide a pump system having hydraulic pump bodies and a PTO unit, the pump system being capable of efficiently carrying out the replacement work and the maintenance work of the hydraulic pump bodies.


Various systems and methods for automated air suspension pressure drop are disclosed.

Trailers are commonly used for transporting goods, equipment, materials, and the like. Many trailers include a plurality of axles, which may be separated from one another to distribute the load of the trailer more evenly. In some instances, these axles may be separated by 10 feet or more.
One problem associated with trailers having axles separated from one another is high lateral forces experienced in the tires of those axles during tight turning maneuvers. The high lateral forces may cause premature deterioration in the tires, which may lead to dangerous and costly tire failure. Also, trailers having separated axles may experience a strain as a result of the high lateral forces experienced in the tires of the axles.
Axles using air springs may be raised by decreasing pressure in the air springs, and may be lowered by increasing pressure in the air springs. Decreasing pressure in air springs associated with at least one axle will cause that axle to raise, and will transfer a majority of the load from the raised axle to an axle having air springs with higher pressure. The trailer may then pivot on the remaining axle (having air springs with higher pressure), thereby preventing high lateral forces to be experienced in the tires.
What is needed is a system for automatically decreasing pressure in a trailer's air spring.

Systems and methods for automated air suspension pressure drop

Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC


An insulated, flexible, canvas container which attaches to a boat when in use. The bag has several parallel, longitudinal fasteners for closing the bag thereby providing means for adjusting the size of the bag to fish of various diameters. The bag has an internal flap which provides a means for shortening the length of the bag. The bag is made from rugged, water-impervious material.

This invention relates to a collapsible container, and particularly to a container especially adapted for use aboard a boat to store a large fish, such as a tuna fish.
Fishing for large fish, such as tuna, marlin, sailfish, swordfish, and the like, may well take place twenty to one hundred miles from shore. This means that the fish must be stored in refrigeration or ice if it is to be preserved in weight, edibility and/or appearance for consignment purposes. A fishing boat is typically equipped with a container to store ice and fish. Such a container usually comprises a rigid box forming a permanent part of the boat. One problem with this construction is that the box is a permanent part of the boat thereby taking up a substantial amount of space regardless of whether the box is actually being used. The box also adds undesired weight to the boat. In order to overcome this, portable rigid chests have been utilized which may be placed in and removed from a boat depending on the need at the time. Generally, these types of chests are bulky, heavy and difficult to manipulate.
In the case of boats fishing for tuna, marlin, sailfish, swordfish, and the like, the normal size of the boat utilized does not afford enough practical space for a large permanent or rigid fish box that would be required to contain such a fish which commonly vary in length from six to twelve feet. The cost and weight of such a container would be substantial due to the size required. Since the degree of dehydration of the fish often determines the weight and appearance, and therefore the commercial value of the fish, in the case of large, non-consignable fish, the only current alternative to having a large fish box is to return to port after each day's catch to avoid spoilage. This requires considerable amounts of fuel, time and related expenses.
Several attempts have been made in the prior art to address the above problems. U.S. Pat. No. 4,301,920 to John N. Boggs, discloses a bag device for preserving and protecting game-fish. The Boggs bag includes a layered insulating sheathing which is foldable about a fold line for partially enclosing and insulating the fish in ice. Velcro fastening tape carried around the periphery of the sheath and fold line effectively seals the main body portion therein and around the extended portions of the fish. When folded, the bag has normal dimensions of eight feet by three feet. When the fish is enclosed in the Boggs bag it is then laid out on the cockpit deck. The Boggs bag does not have the capability of holding brine.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,716,938 to Walter D. Ammons, discloses a suspended fish box. The fish box is comprised of a collapsible tubular frame over which a flexible, water-tight sheet is fashioned. Hooks are fixedly attached to a boat and a top bar of the frame engages said hooks.
Neither the Boggs or Ammons bags are adjustable in size. The Boggs bag is simply laid out on a deck. There are no means for fastening the bag to the boat. The Boggs bag will easily shift and slide around during moderate to heavy seas. The Ammons bag is dependent on a tubular frame to give the bag shape and affix the bag to the boat. For large fish, i.e., two hundred pounds or more and a diameter in the range of sixteen inches, the tubular frame would require tremendous strength. The placement of a large fish into the Ammons bag would require some nonstandard rigging or several men to avoid damage to the frame while placing the fish into the bag.

Portable and adjustable brine tank for consignable tuna fish


A telecommunications system includes a first fiber management apparatus having a rear-trough architecture, a second fiber management apparatus having a front-access architecture, and a transition panel interposed between the first and second fiber management apparatuses, to transition fibers from the rear-trough architecture of the first fiber management apparatus to the front-access architecture of the second fiber management apparatus.

Optical fibers can be used to transmit large volumes of data and voice signals over relatively long distances, with little or no signal degradation. For this reason, optical fibers have become widely used in the telecommunication field. As the use of optical fibers has increased, various different systems have been developed for managing and organizing optical fibers.
Typical fiber management systems include a series of racks or frames having fiber management structures for storing the fibers or connecting the fibers to one or more other fibers and/or fiber optic devices, such as attenuators, connectors, switches, multiplexers, splitters/combiners, or splices. Slack storage panels have also been interspersed with the racks/frames to store extra slack in the fibers. The racks or frames typically have either a rear-trough architecture for routing fibers to the fiber management structures of the rack/frame from the back side, or a front-access architecture for routing fibers to the fiber management structures of the rack/frame from the front. Traditionally, rear-trough architecture and front-access architecture racks/frames have not been readily compatible with one another.


An achromatic shearing phase sensor generates an image indicative of at least one measure of alignment between two segments of a segmented telescope's mirrors. An optical grating receives at least a portion of irradiance originating at the segmented telescope in the form of a collimated beam and the collimated beam into a plurality of diffraction orders. Focusing optics separate and focus the diffraction orders. Filtering optics then filter the diffraction orders to generate a resultant set of diffraction orders that are modified. Imaging optics combine portions of the resultant set of diffraction orders to generate an interference pattern that is ultimately imaged by an imager.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to sensors used to align mirror segments of a segmented telescope. More specifically, the invention is an achromatic shearing phase sensor that can be used in the detection of out-of-plane alignment errors between segments of a segmented telescope's mirrors.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to reduce some of the mechanical and financial burdens associated with a large aperture telescope, multiple mirror or segmented telescopes have found a place in the family of space-based and Earth-based optics. The difficulty in using a segmented telescope is that the mirror segments must be aligned such that they perform as a contiguous surface. When this is accomplished, two benefits are obtained. First, the energy from each segment coherently sums at the segments' focus. Second, the higher spatial frequency information from the source is preserved, i.e., spatial frequency ξ∝1/x where x is the largest spatial dimension of the telescope's aperture. The result is a much brighter and much smaller image of each point of the source.
To behave as a contiguous surface, each mirror segment must produce an image at the same place in all three spatial dimensions. Alignment in the x and y dimensions perpendicular to the direction of propagation, is relatively straightforward. This task can be achieved by direct measurement of the irradiance from a particular segment. The third dimension (i.e., z-axis) is more difficult to align because it involves measurement of the phase of a wavefront. To achieve this measurement, the phase is typically inferred from irradiance patterns.
The alignment of a mirror segment's wavefronts (or phase alignment) must be accurate to a small fraction of the operation wavelength of light for coherent imagery to occur. Measurement of the wavefront's phase must be even more precise to achieve sufficient alignment for a given application.
Phase alignment of most segmented telescopes can be achieved in stages. The first stage or course alignment phases the mirror segments to within a few wavelengths using a large capture range sensor that can be somewhat inaccurate. The next stage finely aligns the system to a fraction of the operating wavelength using a sensor with a comparatively small capture range but very good accuracy. Finally, alignment can be maintained by a third sensor that is fast and efficient. Combinations of wavefront sensing techniques, such as a Shack-Hartmann and a wavefront curvature sensor, have been investigated for some extra large telescope (ELT) designs. Since phasing may be achieved in many stages by many sensors, the attributes of a useful sensor varies. The application of the sensor to a telescope that is space-based looking out, spaced-based looking in, or Earth-based, can change the sensor's requirements dramatically.
Currently, there are five categories of phasing techniques used to address the segmented telescope phasing problem. The first technique is a mechanical approach commonly represented by inductive or capacitive sensors (i.e., edge sensors as they are known) located on the structure of the segments. The second technique is the accurate but sometimes mathematically complex phase retrieval techniques. Related to the phase retrieval techniques are the third and fourth techniques known as curvature sensing techniques and image metric techniques, respectively. The fifth technique utilizes adjacent segment interferometry.
Mechanical edge sensors are typically inductive coil or capacitive sensors located on the structure of a segment for measuring the position of one segment relative to an adjacent segment. However, the physical size of the edge sensors and spacing therebetween limits the capture range thereof. Further, edge sensors and their measurements can be affected by physical changes to the mirror segment's edges induced by environmental conditions. Thus, edge sensors are not well suited to long-term use where the physical properties of a segmented telescope may change.
Phase retrieval techniques are based on what is known as the phase diversity concept. The phase diversity method utilizes two or more simultaneous, monochromatic images (i.e., one in-focus and one out-of-focus) to calculate the wavefront at the telescope's pupil plane. The in-focus image is mathematically described as the convolution of the point spread function with the object. The out-of-focus image is similar except there is a known defocus term in the second point spread function. Since the defocus term is well quantified, the point spread function of the optical system and the object irradiance distribution can be mathematically estimated. In general, phase diversity techniques are quite complex and time consuming making them impractical for use with dynamic telescopes or telescopes that drift at a faster rate than the time it takes for the phase diversity calculation to be completed. (More recently, modified phase diversity techniques, i.e., phase-diverse phase retrieval and phase diversity wavefront sensing, have been proposed. These updated techniques somewhat simplify the mathematics involved by removing one or more Fourier transforms required.) Phase retrieval techniques are also somewhat limited in that they generally must be used with point sources, although an extended source could be used if sufficient spatial information is provided. However, use with a broadband source requires a substantial amount of sensing and processing sophistication.
Similar to phase retrieval techniques are curvature sensing techniques that also compare two images, one before focus and one after focus, to compute the curvature of the wavefront. Variations on this concept have been applied to segmented telescopes by a number of research groups. For example, phase discontinuity sensing is a curvature sensing technique that compares two images of a point source formed by a segmented mirror. The images are far enough away from the focal plane that each of the mirrors are distinguishable from the others. The after-focus image is rotated 180° to compensate for the inversion upon going through an image plane. The two images are then subtracted pixel-by-pixel. The difference image is compared to a library of template difference images. The comparison correlation coefficient varies linearly with (mirror segment) piston error. When a segment is aligned appropriately, the images before and after focus are identical and the difference irradiance distribution is zero. When this occurs, the correlation coefficient between the measured image and the template image will also be zero. As the mirror becomes misaligned, the images change relative to each other and the difference irradiance increases as does the correlation coefficient. The correlation coefficient continues to increase until the piston exceeds λ/8 where it begins to decline. While the curvature sensing technique utilizes a fast algorithm for analyzing the piston errors of a segmented telescope, it is an iterative process and has a limited capture range.
Image metric techniques are based upon calculating a single number (or a few numbers) from the image of a segmented telescope. The number or metric is recalculated after an adjustment has been made to the telescope. If the new calculation is improved compared to the original, the adjustment to the telescope is maintained as the new configuration. There are many different metrics to indicate improved alignment such as maximum irradiance, Strehl ratio, and total encircled energy. However, image metric techniques can only optimize alignment with regard to the particular metric being employed which, typically, is only indicative of one aspect of alignment. Thus, image metric techniques may not provide the necessary information for overall mirror segment alignment.
Adjacent segment interferometry techniques compare the piston positions of two adjacent mirror segments using interferometry methods. The relative piston positions from each pair is reported by a sensing system to an algorithm that calculates the optimum mirror alignment. The sensing system can be a phasing camera system (PCS) that analyzes the interference pattern generated by a mask having small circular (or square) apertures located at each of the telescope's inter-segment edges when the mask is placed over the telescope's image. The size of each aperture is chosen to be smaller than the Fried parameter, which is the atmospheric turbulence coherence length.
For computational simplicity, the interference pattern transmitted through the apertures is compared to a simulated set of templates. The templates are irradiance patterns that would be observed if the phase difference between the two segments (each filling one half of the circular sub-aperture) were translated from in-phase to out-of-phase, then back in-phase in small steps.
The technique is first performed using broadband sources and then performed using narrowband sources for increased accuracy. That is, the measured data are first collected using a series of broadband sources. Each consecutive source has a broader band (i.e., a shorter coherence length) than the previous source to ultimately find the absolute phase position of the segments. For each source, multiple measurements are collected as one segment scans through a distance corresponding to the coherence length of the source. When a particular measured interference pattern correlates well with a template, this indicates that the segments are positioned within the coherence length of the source. The scanned mirror is then returned to the appropriate position where interference occurred. This process is applied with successfully broader sources to "walk" the mirror segments into alignment.
After achieving segment alignment to within one wavelength phase difference using broadband sources, a similar process is performed using narrowband sources. Specifically, a monochromatic source is used to generate the interference pattern data set. This data set is also compared with the original templates to find the absolute phase alignment position for each mirror as opposed to the degree of interference. After the two images with the highest correlation coefficient are determined, a quadratic interpolation is used to achieve finer resolution of piston measurement. However, the algorithm used for narrowband phasing is limited in its accuracy.
Another adaptive segment interferometry technique uses a dispersed fringe sensor (DFS). Like the PCS method, DFS uses a mask having an array of apertures aligned with the inter-segment edges of the telescope to compare the irradiance from adjacent segments. The apertures are rectangular with the longer dimension being parallel to the gap between mirror segments. In DFS, the transmitted irradiance from two adjacent mirrors interfere. A dispersing optic such as a prism or diffraction grating separates the interference pattern generated by a white light source into a series of monochromatic fringe patterns perpendicular to the aperture orientation. Along the vertical axis of the interference pattern, the wavelength is constant, while along the horizontal axis, the wavelength varies. Each vertical cross-section of the pattern indicates the piston difference of the two mirrors as measured by the corresponding wavelength. The period of the fringe pattern along the wavelength axis, measured as a function of space, is used to calculate the piston difference between two segments of a telescope. The sign of the error is determined by slightly moving one element and then re-measuring the phase difference. The accuracy of the DFS technique reduces as the piston difference approaches zero and the period of the overall pattern becomes large or infinite.
More importantly, both of the above-described mask-based sensors (i.e., PCS and DFS) are limited to measuring very small edge portions of each mirror segment. As a result, information generated by these sensors is "silent" with respect to any mirror segment deformations which can be critical in segmented telescope alignment.

Achromatic shearing phase sensor for generating images indicative of measure(s) of alignment between segments of a segmented telescope's mirrors

The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration


A synchronous coherent orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, SC-OFDM, system, method, software and device include a plurality of SC-OFDM transmitters and a plurality of SC-OFDM receivers. Each of the plurality of SC-OFDM transmitters is synchronized to a reference where the reference is derived from a common source, for transmitting SC-OFDM signals. The plurality of SC-OFDM receivers is arranged to receive the SC-OFDM signals from at least one of the plurality of SC-OFDM transmitters. The SC-OFDM signals each have a cyclic extension, and the SC-OFDM signals from each SC-OFDM transmitter include at least one pilot code in accordance with a predetermined pilot code scheme.

Prior art OFDM systems use either differential modulation or pilot symbol based coherent modulation. With differential modulation, there is little need for the transmission of known, or pilot, symbols. The use of differential modulation reduces overhead but does not allow for measurement of the channel response, also referred to as the complex channel gain, of the desired signal.
Pilot symbol based coherent modulation enables the channel response of the desired signal to be measured. With pilot symbol based coherent modulation, known pilot symbols are periodically transmitted along with the data symbols. The pilot symbols are typically spaced in time and frequency according to the expected rate of channel variation in time and frequency, respectively. The receiver compares a received pilot symbol to the known transmitted pilot symbol value at each pilot symbol location to measure the channel response at the pilot symbol locations within the time-frequency grid. Filtering is then used to interpolate values of the channel response between pilot symbols and reduce the noise on the estimates. This information is used by the receiver in the coherent data symbol detection process.
However, a limitation of both differential modulation and pilot symbol coherent modulation is that neither provide the capability to individually measure the channel responses of co-channel interfering signals. This limitation could be detrimental in communication systems which re-use frequencies, such as cellular radio communication systems which employ cellular frequency re-use patterns.

Synchronous coherent orthogonal frequency division multiplexing system, method, software and device


Pulsed-energy controllers and methods of operation thereof for driving inductive loads such as the actuator coil or coils of electromechanical actuators. The controllers utilize an inductor through which an initial current is established through a first circuit. The inductor is then switched across the actuator coil or other inductive load in a second circuit and the first circuit is opened. The back EMF of the inductor, limited by a high voltage protective device, causes a rapid rise in the current through the actuator coil, the rise being much faster than could be achieved by merely coupling the supply voltage, as used to establish the current in the inductor, directly to the actuator coil. By proper selection of the controller circuit and its parameters, the initial rapid current rise may continue to a current higher than a steady state current, after which the current will decrease to or toward the lower steady state current until the current pulse is terminated. Various embodiments are disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of DC driven electromagnetic actuators and drive circuits therefor.
2. Prior Art
DC driven electromagnetic actuators of various types are well known in the prior art, both in linear and angular actuator form. In many DC powered actuators, the moving member of the actuator remains in the actuated position so long as the power to the actuator is maintained, with a return spring returning the moving member of the actuator to the unactuated position on removal of power from the actuator.
DC powered electromagnetic actuators of the latching type are also well known in the prior art. In such actuators, power is applied to electromagnetically attract the moving member of the actuator to the actuated position, after which power may be removed. The moving member remains in the actuated position by the residual magnetic field due to the retentivity of the material or materials in the actuator. In some cases, the residual magnetic field is provided by a permanent magnet somewhere in the magnetic circuit, or by the inherent retentivity of the material or materials making up the magnetic field which would not normally be considered permanent magnets per se. In the latter case, latching may be provided by low retentivity materials by having a substantially zero air gap magnetic circuit when the electromagnetic actuator is in the actuated condition.
In some applications, DC electromagnetic actuators of the latching type have operated against return springs, with the latched actuator being unlatched by a controlled pulse of limited opposite magnetization polarity from the original latching pulse to demagnetize the magnetic circuit. Such latching actuators have the advantage of latching and unlatching on appropriate current pulses and to remain in either the latched or the unlatched condition for any desired length of time without further dissipation of power. Latching actuators of this kind are described, by way of example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,683,239, 4,107,546, 4,409,638 and 4,811,221, to name a few.
DC latching electromagnetic actuators of the foregoing kind have also been used in opposing pairs, the second latching actuator replacing the return spring so that the common moving member or moving assembly for the two actuators effectively latches in either of two positions. Though demagnetizing the magnetic circuit of one actuator while magnetizing the magnetic circuit of the other actuator could be done to effect actuation in either direction, normally the opposing actuators are each provided with sufficient pulling force to overcome the force caused by the retentivity of the magnetic circuit of the other actuator, making use of demagnetizing pulses unnecessary. Actuators of this general type are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,743,898, 5,460,329, 5,598,871, and 5,640,987, to name a few. The foregoing latching electromagnetic actuators have the advantage of only requiring short bursts of power when the same change state, and accordingly, as in some of the prior U.S. patents herein before referred to, are suitable for use in battery powered systems such as battery powered sprinkler systems which operate pilot-valve controlling latching actuators a few times a day or less.
Whether used in a battery operated system or not, such actuators normally require a short current pulse of substantial current for proper operation. This usually is provided by charging a capacitor of substantial size and coupling the capacitor across the actuator coil to provide the current pulse, partially or completely discharging the capacitor in the process. In battery operated systems where battery power is very limited, the current obtained in the pulse can exceed the current the battery is capable of safely providing. Even when excess power is available, capacitors are often used adjacent the actuator to avoid resistive voltage drops and noise from the switching of substantial currents through long lines. Such capacitors, however, have the disadvantage of a shorter life and lower reliability than other components of a typical system.
In some applications, speed of operation of the actuator is of prime importance. By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,329 discloses a high speed fuel injector which uses a double solenoid spool valve to control the flow of a working fluid that is used to move an intensifier piston of an intensifier type fuel injector, typically used for diesel engine fuel injectors. As shown in that patent, an ideal diesel engine fuel injector will provide a small pre-injection (also referred to herein as a pilot injection), followed by a short delay, followed by the main injection (the graph of FIG. 3 of the foregoing patent has the abscissa inadvertently labeled in seconds instead of milliseconds). The purpose of the pilot injection is to initiate combustion, by way of a small injection, before the main injection is initiated, so that main injection combustion may start at the beginning of main injection and proceed uniformly throughout the main injection period. Without the pilot injection, there is a similar delay after the initiation of main injection before combustion begins, resulting in the characteristic diesel engine knock and energy conversion inefficiencies.
As may be seen from FIG. 3 of the foregoing patent, the ideal pilot injection lasts for a fraction of a millisecond, with a delay between the end of pilot injection and the beginning of main injection being another fraction of a millisecond in a typical diesel engine application. Also as described in the patent, ideally the full main injection flow rate is instantly established at the beginning of main injection and instantly terminated at the end of main injection. In reality, however, prior art fuel injectors have taken considerable time to reach maximum injection rate on initiation of the main injection, and similarly have been slow to terminate main injection. This varying injection rate provides further inefficiencies because much of the main injection is with non-optimum fuel droplet size, resulting in incomplete combustion and a heavy black exhaust.
Thus it may be seen that in applications such as the diesel fuel injector just described, the speed of operation of the actuator is of particular importance.
A method of rapidly energizing an electromagnetic actuator having at least one energizing coil to move a movable member, comprises establishing a current in an inductor through a first circuit; coupling the inductor in series with the coil in a second circuit; and, interrupting the first circuit and directing the current in the inductor of the first circuit to flow through the coil in the second circuit. A method of rapidly energizing a solenoid coil to move a movable member of a solenoid valve for a controlled fuel injector comprises establishing a current in an inductor through a first circuit; coupling the inductor in series with the solenoid coil in a second circuit; and, interrupting the first circuit and directing the current in the inductor of the first circuit to flow through the solenoid coil in the second circuit. A method of rapidly energizing an electromagnetic actuator having at least one energizing coil having first and second coil leads comprises providing an inductor having first and second inductor leads; coupling the first coil lead and the first inductor lead to a first power supply terminal; coupling the second inductor lead through a first diode to the first coil lead and through a first switch to a second power supply terminal; coupling the second coil lead through a second switch to the second power supply terminal; turning on the first switch to establish a current in the inductor; turning on the second switch to couple the inductor in series with the coil; and, turning off the first switch to direct the current in the inductor into the coil. A controller circuit for electromagnetic actuators having at least one energizing coil with first and second coil leads comprises first and second switches; an inductor having first and second inductor leads, the first inductor lead being coupled to a first power supply terminal, the first and second inductor leads being coupled to the first coil lead through first and second diodes, respectively; the first switch controllably coupling the second inductor lead to a second power supply terminal; the second switch controllably coupling the second coil lead to the second power supply terminal, and, a third switch and a third diode coupled in series together and in parallel with the inductor between the first and second inductor leads.


A round baler of the variable chamber type is provided with a pivot arm having mobile rolls which in cooperation with stationary rolls form loops of a baling member. The pivot arm is journalled substantially above a bale chamber and is pivotably mounted so as to be able to pivot through an upper front area of the bale chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a round baler having at least one flexible bale forming means trained over stationary and mobile rolls. More specifically, it relates to such a round baler where at least some of the mobile rolls are provided on a pivot arm.
2. Related Technology
Round balers are generally well known and typically include a bale chamber enclosed by a series of belts that are trained over a tension arm. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,662,309, the tension arm carries two rolls, which form two loops of the belts about two stationary rolls in the upper rear part of the round baler. A series of other rolls is provided in the front area of the round baler. As such, a tensioning mechanism of the tension arm has to extend over the upper edge of the round baler in order to keep the belts tensioned. During unloading a finished bale, with this construction, the tension arm has to be kept in a raised position.
One problem with the above construction is seen with increased dimensions of the round baler. When the pivot arm is fully raised, difficulties arise during bale unloading.


An information recording medium includes a plurality of first information pieces each of which is reproduced successively in time by a reproducing apparatus; a plurality of second information pieces each of which is successively positioned on the information recording medium, one or more of the second information piece constituting the first information piece; a plurality of third information pieces each of which is individually reproducible and is a unit for jump reproduction by the reproducing apparatus, one or more of the third information piece constituting the second information pieces; at least one related information piece included in the third information piece and relating to a reproduction order and a reproduction method of the second information pieces; at least one reproduction control information piece referred to by the reproducing apparatus and relating to a reproduction order and a reproduction method of the first information pieces. At least one of the related information piece and the reproduction control information piece includes a jump reproduction method selection information piece indicating one of a plurality of jump reproduction methods performed by the reproducing apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information recording medium such as an optical disk of a high recording density type, which is capable of recording information such as video information, audio information and the like at a high density, and which is represented by a DVD (Digital Video or Versatile Disk). The present invention also relates to a recording apparatus for recording the information onto the information recording medium, and a reproducing apparatus for reproducing the information from the information recording medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a so-called LD (Laser Disk) and a so-called CD (Compact Disk) are generalized as optical disks, on which information such as video information, audio information and the like is recorded.
On the LD or the like, the video information and the audio information are recorded together with time information indicating a time at which each information is to be reproduced with respect to a reproduction start position, which each LD or the like has, as a standard position. Thus, other than a general normal reproduction to reproduce the recorded information in the order of recording, various special reproductions are possible, such as a reproduction to extract and listen to an only desirable music out of a plurality of recorded musics, a reproduction to listen to the recorded musics in a random order and so on, in case of the CD, for example.
However, there is a problem that, according to the above mentioned LD or the like, a so-called interactive and variegated reproduction is not possible in which the audience can have a plurality of selection branches as for the video or audio information to be displayed or sound-outputted and in which the audience can select them to watch or listen to it.
Namely, it is impossible for a user to choose the language used in the subtitle displayed on the screen (e.g., from subtitle of Japanese and the original language) in the case of watching a foreign movie recorded on a LD or to choose the voices of a song (e.g., fromEnglish voices or Japanese Voices) in the case of listening to the music recorded on a CD.
Nowadays, apart from the above-mentioned conventional CD, it has been proposed and developed a DVD which is an optical disc which disc size is identical to CD and which recording capacity is enhanced to be approximately ten times larger than that of CD. In DVD, there is a problem as to how a special reproduction, such as a search reproduction and/or a jump reproduction, for reproducing a desired position of a user is performed. Particularly, in the case of the recording medium, such as DVD, on which a plurality of information pieces are independently recorded, it is impossible to apply the technique of the special reproduction, i.e., search reproduction and/or jump reproduction, as used in the recording medium, such as a LD, on which information is successively and continuously recorded.

Information recording medium with interleaved data, apparatus for recording same and apparatus for reproducing same