This super-wide lens substantially consists of a positive first lens group, a positive second lens group, and a negative third lens group, in this order from the object side. The first lens group and the third lens group are fixed and the second lens group moves toward the object side while focusing from an object at infinity to an object at the closest distance. The first lens group substantially consists of a negative first sub lens group, a positive second sub lens group, an aperture stop, and a positive third sub lens group in this order from the object side. Conditional expressions (1) and (2) are satisfied:0.15<f1/f2<0.60  (1)2.5<f2/f<7.0  (2), wheref1: the focal length of the first lens group,f2: the focal length of the second lens group, andf: the focal length of the entire system when focusing on an object at infinity.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a super-wide-angle lens and an imaging apparatus, and more particularly to a super-wide-angle lens which can be used for a digital camera, a broadcasting camera, a movie camera, and the like; and an imaging apparatus including the super-wide-angle lens.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, there is great demand for cameras in the above fields to have a small F-number which enables photography in dark places and to have high performance which can be compatible with recent high-definition imaging elements. Moreover, for example, some movie cameras and the like are provided with a mechanism for driving power focus of a focusing group (a lens group which moves while focusing) such as an autofocus mechanism and the like. As there are many opportunities to photograph subjects which are moving, there is demand for a lightweight focusing group and suppression of fluctuations in aberrations and fluctuations in the angle of view in order to have superior responsiveness to focusing when the distance to a subject is changed. Taking these circumstances into consideration, the inner focus lens system is often adopted. Examples of the inner focus lens system include the lens systems disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-186269 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-028009.
In contrast, many wide angle type lenses for movie cameras are conventionally of the fixed focus type from the viewpoint of optical performance, and are often used by changing a plurality of lenses according to the intended application. For example, the lens disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-056217 of a retrofocus type in which a negative first lens group, a positive second lens group, and a positive third lens group are arranged in this order from the object side is known as a wide angle lens.

Super wide angle lens and imaging apparatus


Method and systems are disclosed for providing a function as a service for an application. The application may comprise an email application. A user may define or select an application codes set for performing a specific functionality. The user may define rules that associate specific events with execution of the application code set. Upon detection of an event, a condition may be checked associated with the application. If the condition is satisfied, the application code set may be caused to be executed. The application code set may modify data, such as an email message.

IT administrators are tasked with a wide range of email-related responsibilities, from managing infrastructure to enforcing security policies to providing the right tools for their organizations to be as productive as possible. To build comprehensive solutions IT administrators typically must work with a combination of basic email features, 3rd party hardware and software, and custom scripting and servers. For some, this involves building complex data pipelines and storage infrastructure in order to track more sophisticated metrics around email usage, while others may buy expensive appliances or software which help them improve the security of the system. These solutions tend to require ongoing maintenance and significant development time, while still not always providing the flexibility the customer needs. Thus, there is a need for more sophisticated and flexible approaches to adding functionality to email.

User defined application code for electronic mail


An imaging lens comprises, in order from an object side: a first lens having a positive refractive power and a meniscus shape and having a convex surface directed to the object side; a second lens having a negative refractive power in the vicinity of an optical axis of the imaging lens; and a third lens having a positive refractive power in the vicinity of the optical axis, wherein at least one surface of each of the second lens and the third lens is an aspheric surface; and the imaging lens satisfies the following conditional expression expressions: 0.7 <If1/fl <0.8 . . . (1) 0.3<1f2/fl <0.8 . . . (2) 7.5 <vd1<96 . . .(3) TL/2Y <0.9 . . . (4) where f: focal length of the imaging lens; f1: focal length of the first lens; f2: focal length of the second lens; vd1: Abbe number of the first lens for the d-line; TL: length between the object-side surface of the first lens to an image forming position of the imaging lens; and Y: maximum image height.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fixed-focus imaging lens which is suitable for use in small imaging apparatus as exemplified by digital cameras using an imaging device such as a CCD (charge-coupled device) or a CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) sensor and cameras using a silver salt film.
The invention also relates to a camera module which converts an optical image formed by the above imaging lens into an imaging signal and to a portable terminal apparatus such as a cell phone with a camera or a personal digital assistant (PDA) which incorporates the above imaging lens and performs shooting.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, with the spread of personal computers to homes etc., digital still cameras (hereinafter referred to simply as digital cameras) capable of inputting image information obtained by shooting a scene, a person, or the like to a personal computer have spread rapidly. Furthermore, many cell phones have come to incorporate a module camera for image input (cell phone module camera).
Such imaging apparatus employ an imaging device such as a CCD or a CMOS sensor. In recent years, these imaging devices have become more compact and increased compactness has come to be required also for the entire imaging apparatus and an imaging lens mounted therein. At the same time, the number of pixels of imaging devices has been increased and imaging lenses have come to be required to be increased in resolution and performance.
In the above circumstances, JP-A-2004-302058, JP-A-2005-173319, JP-A-2005-227755 and JP-A-2005-292235 disclose imaging lenses which employ a three-lens structure and aspheric lens surfaces and are thereby increased in compactness and performance.
As described above, recent imaging devices have been reduced in size and increased in the number of pixels and, accordingly, a high resolution an increased compactness have come to be required for imaging lenses for digital cameras. On the other hand, recently, imaging lenses of cell phone module cameras, which were mainly required to be compact and of a low cost in the past, have also come to be required to be increased in performance with a tendency of increase in the number of pixels of imaging devices.
As a result, it is now desired to develop a wide variety of lenses that are improved in a total sense in terms of image forming performance and compactness. For example, it is now desired to develop high-performance imaging lenses which are compact enough to be incorporated in cell phone module cameras whereas exhibiting sufficiently high performance to be incorporated in digital cameras.
One method for satisfying the above requirements is to employ a three-lens structure for the purpose of increase in compactness and positively use aspheric surfaces for the purpose of increase in performance. Although the lenses disclosed in the above Patent documents employ a three-lens structure and aspheric surfaces, they are still insufficient in image forming performance and compactness, for example.

Imaging lens, camera module, and portable terminal apparatus


A mounting device for fastening a component, such as in particular a fixture, at a defined location has a base body having a holder or receptacle for the component and a suction device for retaining the component held in the holder at the defined location. In addition, the mounting device contains a pressing device to press the component held in the holder or receptacle to the defined location. A method for the validatable fixation of a component, such as in particular a fixture or bracket, at a defined location is also provided.

To transport products in a packaging, it is often necessary to keep the product in the package so that it cannot slip. For this purpose, inserts are known, which often consist of a foam or cardboard and are adapted to the product in such a way that a product placed in the packaging is held within the packaging in such a way that it cannot slip.
It is also known to stick lashing eyes/lugs and straps to the interior of a container, e.g. the interior of a blister pack, in order to hold the product in the blister pack in a precise position.
Such solutions are either material-intensive or labour-intensive when it comes to placing the holding devices inside the packaging and the secure positioning and holding of the product in the packaging.

Mounting device and method for validatable fixing


The present invention relates to a process for preparing mono-N-sulphonylated diamines by reacting diamines with sulphonyl halides in the presence of water, base and organic solvents.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for preparing mono-N-sulphonylated diamines by reacting diamines with sulphonyl halides in the presence of water, base and organic solvents.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Mono-N-sulphonylated diamines, especially in optically active forms, have gained high industrial significance, for example, as ligands in catalysis (see, for example, Noyori et al. J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 1995, 117, 7562).
The preparation of mono-N-sulphonylated diamines is known in principle. For example, R. A. Sheldon et al., Eur. J. Org. Chem. 1999, 2315 describe their preparation from diamines using sulphonyl halides in the presence of triethylamine.
However, a disadvantage of this process is that mixtures of unsulphonated, mono-N-sulphonated and di-N-sulphonated products are formed which have to be subjected to a complicated chromatographic separation (see also EP-A 1 174 426). In the existing processes, the selectivities range from 30 to 85%, based on the desired mono-N-substituted diamine, which is unsatisfactory for industrial implementation.
There was therefore a need to provide a process which enabled the preparation of mono-N-sulphonated diamines in an efficient manner with good selectivities.

Preparation of mono-N-sulphonylated diamines


A plurality of natural or LP gas-fired burners each having a port construction which produces a substantially even distribution of heat over the cooking surface of a griddle top is disclosed. Each burner includes a longitudinally extending portion having a first and a second series of ports, each series being positioned in a substantially linear orientation and each positioned substantially parallel to one another and to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinally extending portion of the burner. Each series of ports include a first grouping of ports having an orientation with respect to normal so as to produce flames directed toward the front of the griddle top and a second grouping of ports having an orientation with respect to normal so as to produce flames directed toward the rear of the griddle top. A pilot flame or gas ignition device is positioned at the transition point between the first plurality of ports and the second plurality of ports. Each burner is canted slightly downwardly so that the distance between the front of the burner and the front of the griddle top is less than the distance between the rear of the burner and the rear of the griddle top. The orientation of the ports and the downward canting of the burner results in substantially uniform heating of the griddle top and a reduction in the temperature variations over the surface thereof.

Griddle tops, such as those that are used for grilling foods, are typically electrically or gas heated and utilize a number of different types of constructions. Such griddle tops are usually fabricated from a steel or iron upper plate to provide a flat, durable and abrasion-resistant cooking surface. Because of the limited thermal conductivity of steel or iron, griddle tops typically provide a relatively even distribution of heat over the cooking surface only if the electrical or gas heating sources are positioned substantially evenly within or under the griddle tops. One type of griddle top construction uses a plurality of sub-plates or lower plates having cast-in electrical heating elements. These sub-plates are fabricated from a material that has a higher thermal conductivity then either steel or iron so as to more evenly distribute the heat from the electrical heating elements over the steel or iron upper plates. Alternatively, if natural or LP gas-fired burners are utilized, the sub-plate or lower plate may be configured to promote the distribution of the heat produced by the burners over the steel or iron upper plate. Regardless of whether the griddle plate is heated through the use of electrical heating elements or natural or LP gas-fired burners, due to convection and the resulting cooling produced by same, the front of the griddle top is typically at a lower temperature than the rear of the top resulting in an uneven distribution of heat over the cooking surface. Tests indicate that an uneven distribution of heat over the cooking surface of griddle tops results in unevenly cooked foods and the possibility that harmful bacteriological contaminants within the food may not be thermally destroyed during the cooking process.
In view of the foregoing, it has become desirable to develop a natural or LP gas-fired burner for a griddle top that provides a substantially even distribution of heat over the cooking surface of the griddle top.


An internal/external clock option for built in self test is provided. In one embodiment of the present invention, a clock selection circuit (150) is provided. The clock selection circuit (150) comprises an external clock source (152) and an internal clock source (177). A first multiplexer (164) is provided and has the external clock source (152) and the internal clock source (177) as data inputs and an internal clock selection bit value (B.sub.-- CLKMUXB 176) as a data select input. A second multiplexer (156) having the external clock (152) and the output of the first multiplexer as data inputs and a data select input (BCLK.sub.-- EN) based on whether a self-test mode is activated (BIST.sub.-- EN) and the internal clock selection bit value (B.sub.-- CLKMUXB) is also provided. The external clock source (152) or internal clock source (177) is selected based on the value of the internal clock selection bit value (B.sub.-- CLKMUXB 176) and whether the self test mode is activated (BIST.sub.-- EN).

In conventional testing of memory device, an external tester supplies control signals such as column address (CAS), row address (RAS), write enable (WE), address signals, and data to the device under test. Outputs from the device under test are sampled by the tester to determine whether the device passes or fails. As memory device density increases, testing time also increases. This increased testing time increases the manufacturing cost of integrated circuit memory devices.
In order to decrease the time it takes to test high density memory devices, parallel read and write schemes have been implemented. One drawback of implemented parallel read and write schemes is that an external tester is required. Also, parallel leads required to test the memory devices in parallel occasionally fail due to cross talk among the leads.
To avoid the drawbacks of parallel read and write schemes, built-in self-test arrangements have been used. The built-in self-test arrangement includes a read only memory that stores test algorithm instructions. The read only memory eliminates the need for external testers as well as parallel leads. Usually it is advantageous to perform built-in self-tests using an internal clock in order to prevent cross talk when memory chips are tested in parallel. However, there are other times when it is necessary to utilize an external clock to synchronize test results with the tester or for some other reasons. Therefore, it is desirable to provide for selecting an internal clock or an external clock.

Internal/external clock option for built-in self test


A traffic signal system for utilizing an efficient and simplistic structure to regulate vehicle and pedestrian traffic. The traffic signal system includes a support member including at least one receiver member and at least one light module including a plug member extending outwardly from the light module, wherein the plug member is positionable within a cavity of the receiver member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to traffic lights and more specifically it relates to a traffic signal system for utilizing an efficient and simplistic structure to regulate vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
2. Description of the Related Art
Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.
Traffic lights have been in use for years. Typically, traffic lights are used as signaling devices and are positioned at places, such as but not limited to road intersections and pedestrian crossings to indicate whether it is safe to proceed.
Traffic lights are generally comprised of a container holding a plurality of lights. When replacing or performing maintenance on the traffic lights it is generally required to hingedbly open and close the container to gain access to the traffic light. There is generally a wide array of movable parts and wiring associated with the container of the traffic lights, which makes performing maintenance on traffic lights tedious and cumbersome.
Traffic lights are also generally positioned at a high vertical height with a minimal amount of support structures nearby. Because of the lack of support structures, it is generally preferred to spend a minimal amount of time maintaining traffic lights. Traffic lights that include a wide array of parts and complicated container structures generally take longer to perform maintenance on because of the difficulty in accessing the traffic light.
While these devices may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they are not as suitable for utilizing an efficient and simplistic structure to regulate vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Traffic lights with complicated container structures can prove to be tedious in performing maintenance on and also generally have an unnecessarily large amount of parts that are subjectable to being lost over time.
In these respects, the traffic signal system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of utilizing an efficient and simplistic structure to regulate vehicle and pedestrian traffic.


A perpetual calendar is disclosed which contains base and top members and a rotating disk member in between. The top member has two arcuate window openings, through one of which is seen the days of the month, and through the other of which is seen numerical indicia corresponding to a particular year desired. The back of the base member carries a key to the year indicia in matrix form which is accompanied by instructions for its use.

Perpetual calendars existing until now either work only for a limited number of years, or require complicated instructions for their use. Instructions for using these calendars usually require various manual operations or mathematical computations to arrive at the month and year desired.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a perpetual calendar which works for over 5,000 years.
Another object of the invention is to provide a perpetual calendar which is pocket-sized, so that it can be easily carried.
A further object of the invention is to provide a perpetual calendar which is easy to use with respect to manual and mathematical operations.
Another object of the invention is to provide a perpetual calendar by which one can determine the day of the week and month of a particular year quickly.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a perpetual calendar which can be printed on various materials and in various colors and designs to accommodate the needs of those who distribute them or use them for advertisement.


A system and method for supplying communication service value is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes distributing indicia of an identifier to a merchant for distribution to a customer having a customer account. The identifier has an associated service value that is redeemable with a plurality of carriers. The method further includes activating the identifier upon distribution of the indicia to the customer. A central processor may verify whether the merchant is authorized to distribute the indicia to the customer. During distribution to the customer, the merchant may transmit prior transaction information to the central processor, and the central processor may reconcile past billing records based on such prior transaction information. The method also includes receiving a request from the customer to add the associated service value to the customer account and adding the associated service value to the customer account is disclosed. The system and method may be used with any type of stored-value card account, including prepaid emergency road service cards.

This invention relates stored-value cards associated with stored-value accounts. More particularly, the invention relates to adding stored value to a stored-value account managed by a third party. The invention also relates to amending a user's stored-value account managed by a third party. The invention also relates to verifying a source of a request for a stored-value card transaction. Finally, the invention relates to the above functions of stored-value cards as applied to specific embodiments of stored value cards, such as prepaid emergency road service cards.
Customers purchase stored-value cards and accounts. They also purchase value to add to existing stored-value accounts. For instance, a customer may purchase a PIN associated with a particular value of time or money and a particular telecommunications provider. The purchases may occur at merchant terminals. The merchants may comprise any store that sells stored-value cards, PINs, or stored-value accounts.
This process is described at length in the applications listed above, and those applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
The stored-value accounts are associated with product and/or service providers. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the stored-value accounts are associated with wireless telecommunications service providers (sometimes referred to as carriers). For instance, the customer may purchase a $20 PIN to enable $20 of wireless service in a wireless stored-value account.
As described in the above-referenced applications, a customer may purchase a PIN that can be associated with a stored-value card/account. The PIN may be associated with a value. The PIN may be associated with a stored-value account at purchase. In a preferred embodiment, the PIN is later associated with a product or service provider selected by the purchaser/customer/user.
The customer may then contact a central processor to process the PIN. The customer may also directly contact a carrier (or other product or service-provider) to add value to an account. For instance, the customer may access a website associated with the carrier or call a phone number (such as an 800 number) such as the phone number of the carrier. Methods of activating a PIN or otherwise processing a PIN are well known in the art.
Processing a PIN may comprise redeeming the value, adding the value to a stored-value account, or otherwise processing the PIN or changing the customer's stored-value account. The account may be maintained by the provider, by a system associated with the central processor, by a merchant, or by a third-party.
During the request, the central processor may prompt the user for various information. For instance, the processor may request the user's PIN and/or MIN. The processor may also request personal information, such as the user's name, address, social security number, cellular (or other) phone number, other account numbers, identification numbers, etc.
During the process request, the central processor may prompt the user to select a provider. For instance, the central processor may request that that the user select a telecommunications carrier. The user may then select a particular provider/carrier. The user may select a carrier/provider for which the user has a preexisting stored-value account, and the preexisting stored-value account may be an account for which value can be added via PIN processing.
Users may also select a redemption method.
The user may select a provider that is affiliated with the central processor. For instance, the central processor may manage a particular affiliated carrier's stored-value accounts. Other business and system arrangements can be considered.
When a customer selects an affiliated provider, the central processor may process the request and amend the user's stored-value account directly. For instance, the central processor may maintain a database of PINs and stored-value accounts for users, and such database may include the PINs and stored-value accounts for the affiliated providers. Processing the request may comprise amending the stored records in the database associated with the user's stored-value account.
The central processor may not maintain the database of stored-value accounts for other providers. In order to process a PIN request for such providers, a central processor may transfer the request to the provider. For instance, if a customer makes the PIN request via phone, then the central processor's IVR may transfer the call to the carrier's phone system, which may comprise another IVR for processing PIN requests. If the request is via the internet, the central processor website may redirect the user to the carrier website (or provide a link or embed the carrier site or otherwise direct the user to the carrier system). The unaffiliated carrier may then process the PIN request, for instance in a manner known in the art.
Stored-value cards can be authorized and distributed over communications networks. Examples of communications networks include dedicated telephone lines, public telephone links, and the internet or other networked communication. The data of the stored-value cards is related to services and/or products prepaid by the owner or end user of the card. Examples of prepaid services that may be accommodated by the stored-value data include long distance telephone communication, wireless communication, paging and internet-enabled communication services, including wireless web access. Other examples of prepaid services and/or products that may be accommodated by the stored-value card include gift cards, prepaid gas cards, prepaid grocery cards, prepaid entertainment cards, downloadable ring tone cards, downloadable game cards, downloadable music cards that use MP3, MP4, WMV, WAV, or other music formats, any other downloadable software card, customer rewards cards, and any other type of stored-value cards for products, services, or both, that may be prepaid by the owner of the card.
Stored-value cards, such as prepaid long distance phone cards, are generally used in the telephone industry to allow customers to pre-purchase long distance calling time. Each of the cards has a printed identification number. Associated identification information can be magnetically stored therein or printed in a barcode. The identification number is also stored in a file in a database maintained by the card issuer. In the traditional business model, when the cards are sent to the retail location from which they will be sold, the corresponding records in the database are activated, thus allowing the card to be used immediately by a customer. To use the card as a prepaid long distance card, the customer dials a toll free number to access the card issuer's system, enters the identification number, and then makes the desired long-distance call.
These prior art prepaid phone card systems have several disadvantages. For example, since the cards are active while on the shelf in the retail location, the cards may be stolen by a thief and easily used. One way to address some of the drawbacks of prior art prepaid phone card systems would be to install activation terminals unique to the prepaid card issuer. This is referred to as a "closed system." U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,109 to Stimson et al. discloses such a closed system. In the Stimson system, the cards are not preactivated. Each of the retail locations from which cards are to be sold is provided with a dedicated activation terminal which allows the retail operator to set the value of the card at the time of the sale. The activation terminal connects to the card issuer's system to pass along the value amount and to request activation of the card. Depleted cards can be recharged in the same manner as they are sold. A serious disadvantage of the Stimson system is that it requires single-function dedicated hardware to be installed in each retail location, resulting in a very inflexible and expensive system.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,000,608 to Dorf provides a multifunction card system including a prepaid phone card activating system which allows cards to be purchased in varying amounts and to be recharged without requiring the use of a closed system to handle the transactions. Although Dorf purports to alleviate some of the drawbacks of Stimson by using point-of-sale devices connected to a banking system, it is believed that Dorf fails to verify sources of card activation requests so as to enhance detection of potential security breaches that could ensue in any system accessible to a large number of users.
It would be further desirable to provide a system and method for selectively processing stored-value card requests, such as stored-value card activation, deactivation, and/or value change, based on the communications network over which the request is transmitted. Additionally, it would be further desirable to provide a system and method for selectively processing stored-value card requests based on the source of the request, wherein such request can be received over a variety of communications networks that are available to unauthorized users. It would be further desirable to provide a method of determining a plurality of communications networks and a plurality of sources of activation requests that are authorized to carry or make valid requests, respectively, either prior to or at the same time as such requests are made.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for distributing stored-value cards


A process for preparing a metal powder, comprising the steps of: bringing a solution comprising at least one metal salt to fine droplets; and heating the droplets to a temperature above the decomposition temperature of the metal salt, wherein at least one compound which is heat-decomposable to produce a metal, a semimetal or an oxide of the metal or semimetal capable of remaining unmelted upon heating at the heat temperature is added to the solution and at least one selected from the group consisting of the metal, semimetal and oxide is heat-segregated in the vicinity of the surface of the metal powder. The resultant metal powder has a uniform particle size and good dispersibility without fusing or aggregation and is useful for the preparation of thick film pastes used in electronic circuits or components.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for preparing a metal powder and particularly to a process for preparing a metal powder useful for a thick film paste.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the field of electronics, thick film pastes, such as conductor pastes and resistor pastes, have been used for the production of electronic circuits and components, such as resistors, capacitors, and IC packages. The thick film paste is prepared by homogeneously mixing and dispersing a conductive powder, such as a metal, an alloy, or a metal oxide, optionally together with a vitreous binder or other additive(s), in an organic vehicle to prepare a paste. The paste, after application onto a substrate, is baked at a high temperature or heat cured at a relatively low temperature to form a conductor film or a resistor film.
The metal powder or alloy powder used in the above thick film paste is required to have the following properties.
(1) Good dispersibility, in a paste, enough to form a dense, uniform film.
(2) Low content of impurities having adverse effect on electric characteristics.
(3) Sufficient crystallinity to offer a proper sinterability.
(4) Particles having a particle size of from about 0.1 to 10 .mu.m and a uniform shape.
Conventional processes for preparing the above metal powder include a spray pyrolysis method described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 31522/1988, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 172802/1994 and 279816/1994 and the like. According to this method, a solution containing at least one metal salt is atomized to form droplets which are then heated at a temperature above the decomposition temperature of the metal salt, preferably a temperature around the melting point of the metal or above to heat-decompose the metal salt, thereby depositing a metal or alloy powder.
According to the spray pyrolysis method, a metal or alloy powder can be easily prepared which, as compared with a metal or alloy powder prepared by wet reduction or the like, has better crystallinity, higher density and higher purity and possesses properties suitable for a thick film paste. The particle size of the metal powder can be controlled by properly setting the concentration of the metal salt, solvent, atomization and heating conditions, etc. Further, since the metal composition of the resultant particles is in agreement with that of the starting metal salt in the starting solution, making it easy to control the composition, which in turn renders the spray pyrolysis method suitable for the preparation of a multi-component powder.
In general, the spray pyrolysis method can provide a powder having very good dispersibility because metal particles are prepared in a vapor phase under such conditions that the particle concentration is relatively low. Exposure to a very high temperature in the course of formation of a metal powder, however, is likely to cause fusing among particles, sintering and aggregation depending upon various conditions such as remarkable increase in particle concentration or formation of the particle in a turbulent gas stream, even when the temperature is not above the melting point. Also, in the step of cooling the resultant powder, strong aggregation among particles often occurs in some handling methods. In many cases, it is difficult to break the aggregates into particles, leading to poor dispersibility in a paste. Further, fusing or aggregation of the powder causes adhesion or deposition in the production apparatus or requires classification of the aggregate, resulting in a reduction in yield of the product and, in addition, rendering continuous operation difficult. This phenomenon is significant and, hence, raises a problem, particularly in metals having a relatively low melting point, such as a silver powder or an alloy powder having a high silver content.


A printing apparatus includes a detection signal receiving device that receives a detection signal from a computer; where a printable condition determining device subsequently determines whether a predetermined printable condition is satisfied; where a power-ON device subsequently turns-ON the main power supply of the printing apparatus; and where a control device subsequently executes print preparation processing; wherein when the power-ON device turns-ON the main power supply of the printing apparatus, the printing apparatus is in sleep mode or energy saving mode in which electric power is supplied only to the control device and the detection signal receiving device; and the printing apparatus includes a power supply portion equipped with a battery, and when a power supply is started, first, the printing apparatus turns into sleep mode or energy saving mode in which electric power is supplied only to the control device and the detection signal receiving device.

Generally, if a printing apparatus is connected to a computer and print is executed by means of the printing apparatus following a print instruction from the computer, the operator needs to turn on each power supply of the computer and the printing apparatus before the print is started because the power turning ON/OFF section of the computer and the power turning ON/OFF section of the printing apparatus are provided individually. Although this is not so serious problem if the computer and the printing apparatus are provided in the vicinity, if it is connected via the network, the operator sometimes sends a print instruction without noticing that the power of the printing apparatus is turned OFF, resulting in wasting of time, or there is inconvenience in turning ON the power supply located far away.
For example, patent document 1 has disclosed a method capable of automatically turning ON the power switch of the printing apparatus by detecting a connection between a host unit and a printing apparatus. If the host unit and the printing apparatus are connected to each other through a USB connection, whether or not the USB cable is connected to the connector of the unit main body is checked by detecting rising or falling of the data line of the USB cable in a predetermined time period, and if the connection is detected, power ON processing is executed.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-178610

Printing apparatus which eliminated complexity of power-on operation and can enter in print preparation when print is enabled


Provided are mutant strains derived from Escherichia sp. GPU1114 (Accession No. KCCM-10536), having cumulative inactivation of deoD, aphA, appA, and hprt genes, and methods of using the same.

5′-guanylic acid (GMP) can be produced by microbial enzymatic or chemical breakdown of yeast RNA, direct fermentation for directly producing nucleotides using mutant strains cultured in media containing a sugar, a nitrogen source, and a phosphate source, or a combination method including the fermentative synthesis of nucleotide intermediates and the chemical or enzymatic conversion of the nucleotide intermediates to nucleotides. In recent years, a combination method that combines fermentative or chemical synthesis and enzymatic conversion is industrially widely used due to its economical advantages.
GMP production by the combination method consists of fermentative synthesis of 5′-xanthylic acid (XMP) and enzymatic conversion of XMP to GMP. At this time, two types of microbial strains are used. That is, an XMP-producing strain is used in the fermentative synthesis, and a microbial strain capable of inducing a continuous high-level expression of a gene encoding XMP aminase activity is used in the enzymatic conversion. In this case, the survival rate of the microbial strain used in the enzymatic conversion is remarkably reduced during a later culture period relative to during an initial culture period, thereby decreasing the production of GMP. Furthermore, it is known that the guaA gene encoding XMP aminase is fatal to host cells, and thus, the continuous high-level expression of XMP aminase hinders the growth of the microbial strain used in the enzymatic conversion during the later culture period. In addition, it is known that an internal gene responsible for GMP degradation in the microbial strain used for the enzymatic conversion is expressed, thereby facilitating the degradation of GMP.
In view of the above problems, the present inventors developed Escherichia sp. GPD1114 (Accession No. KCCM-10543) including an XMP aminase-encoding gene capable of expressing XMP aminase according to cellular growth state and an inactivated internal glnL gene. Furthermore, the present inventors developed Escherichia sp. GPU1114 (Accession No. KCCM-10536) derived from the Escherichia sp. GPD1114, in which the ushA gene encoding 5′-nucleotidase is inactivated to remove GMP degradability.
However, since the Escherichia sp. GPU1114 still contains internal genes associated with GMP degradation except the ushA gene encoding 5′-nucleotidase, GMP can be degraded into guanosine or guanine. Therefore, a microbial strain with simultaneous inactivation of all genes associated with GMP degradation is required in the art.

Escherichia strain capable of converting XMP to GMP and maintaining the inactivated state of gene(s) associated with GMP degradation and methods of using the same


A molding apparatus comprises an upper molding box, a lower mold box, an upper flexible membrane covering an opening of the upper mold box, a lower flexible membrane covering an opening of the lower mold box, a heating system located in the upper mold box, a set of ports located between the upper flexible membrane and the lower flexible membrane capable of being used to draw a vacuum between the upper flexible membrane and the lower flexible membrane, and a displacement system located in the lower mold box under the lower flexible membrane.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates generally to manufacturing components and in particular to a method and apparatus for manufacturing components using tools. Still more particularly, the present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing components using molding processes with tools.
2. Background
Molding is a process of manufacturing in which a material is shaped using a tool. This type of tool also may be referred to as a mold. These types of processes may be used during the manufacturing of aircraft and other vehicles. In particular, molding processes may be used to manufacture different parts of aircraft interiors. These parts may include, for example, without limitation, ceiling panels, wall panels, doors, side walls, and other suitable parts.
In manufacturing parts, a two part mold may be used. This two part mold may include a lower side and an upper side. Materials may be placed onto the lower side of the two part mold. These materials may be laid by hand and/or by a computer controlled tool or device. After placement of the materials on the lower side, the upper side may be placed over the lower side to encompass the materials laid on the lower side. Thereafter, the upper and lower sides with these materials may be cured in an oven and may be subjected to vacuum forces during the curing process.
The molds used to manufacture these parts may be dedicated for a specific part. These types of molds may be cost effective when enough parts are manufactured over a long enough period of time.
However, design changes may occur to a part. Even a slight design change may require a change to a mold for the part. Examples of design changes, without limitation, which can occur, include minor or major contour changes, and/or corrections or revisions to the molded part to accommodate interface with the addition of a new detail and/or subassembly. With a change in the design of the part, the mold may need to be modified. In some cases, a new mold may be needed to manufacture the part.
Modifying a mold may take time and may render the mold useless until the mold has been modified. Manufacturing a new mold may be costly and time consuming. A new mold may have to be ordered from an outside source. As a result, manufacturing the part with the design change may not occur until receipt of the new mold has occurred. As a result, interruptions and gaps in the supply of manufactured parts for an aircraft may occur. These gaps and interruptions may lead to increased time needed to manufacture an aircraft, as well as increasing the costs.
Accordingly, there is a need for a method and apparatus for minimizing the problems described above. In addition, the logistical issues of managing the utilization and/or availability of numerous molding tools within the defined confines of the factory floor may be present. Tool utilization and/or availability may be a major dynamic, which must be managed in any successful manufacturing operation.


Methods of separating ionized particles comprise the step of providing a particle separator comprising a housing, and an electric field disposed inside the housing. The electric field defines a magnitude E (volt/cm) which increases the farther ionized particles travel within the housing. The method further includes delivering a gas flow, wherein the gas flow defines a velocity, Vgas, and delivering ionized particles into the housing, wherein the ionized particles define a mobility value, K (cm2/volt*sec). The product of the mobility value K and the electric field magnitude E define a mobility velocity for the ionized particles, Vmob (cm/sec)=K*E. The method also includes stopping the ionized particles at a location where Vmob is equal and opposite Vgas.

Ion mobility spectrometry and ion mobility spectrometers are well established. The ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) device may include a sample inlet, ionization region, shutter grid, drift region, and ionized particle detector. Ion mobility spectrometers separate ions according to mobilities through a drift gas in a constant electric field. The ionization and separation processes occur under a wide range of pressures, for example, atmospheric pressure and a wide range of temperatures and drift gas composition. In operation, a uniform or linear field, for example, 200 V/cm, is applied across the drift region and the various ions upon release by the shutter grid or other means are allowed to drift through the drift region toward the ionized particle detector. After release by the shutter grid, the ions of a particular mobility, K0, are located at a particular location in the drift region at each instant of time. The ion detector provides a signal indicative of the number of ions arriving at a collector plate and the time lapse from the time the shutter grid was pulsed open to the time the ions arrive at the collector is an indication of the mobility of the ions collected. For additional details regarding ion mobility spectrometry, U.S. Pat. No. 4,855,595 has been incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. The present inventors have recognized the importance of improved systems and methods which utilize IMS to separate particles, for example, smaller particles of about 0.001 microns.


Disclosed are a system, a method, and article of manufacture to provide for managing data storage media to provide secure storage of the data storage media in an automated data storage library. A logical library partition vault is created in the automated data storage library that is not accessible by any host computer. Data storage media in the logical library partition vault may only be accessed by an operator using a secure means. The logical library partition vault may comprise various components of the automated data storage library by assigning storage shelves, service bays, data storage media, data storage drives or other library components to the logical library partition vault.

Automated data storage libraries are known for providing cost effective storage and retrieval of large quantities of data. The data in automated data storage libraries are stored on data storage media that are, in turn, stored on storage shelves or the like inside the library in a fashion that renders the media, and its resident data, accessible for physical retrieval. Such media is commonly termed "removable media." Data storage media may comprise any type of media on which data may be stored and which may serve as removable media, including but not limited to, magnetic media (such as magnetic tape or disks), optical media (such as optical tape or disks), electronic media (such as PROM, EEPROM, flash PROM, MRAM, MEMS based storage, Compactflash™, Smartmedia™, Memory Stick™, etc.), or other suitable media. Typically, the data stored in automated data storage libraries is resident on data storage media that is contained within a cartridge and referred to as a data storage media cartridge, data storage cartridge, data storage media, media and cartridge. An example of a data storage media cartridge that is widely employed in automated data storage libraries for mass data storage is a magnetic tape cartridge.
In addition to data storage media, an automated data storage library also typically contains data storage drives that store data to, and/or retrieve data from, the data storage media. The transport of data storage media between data storage shelves and data storage drives is typically accomplished by one or more robot accessors (hereinafter termed "accessors"). Such accessors have grippers for physically retrieving the selected data storage media from the storage shelves within the automated data storage library and transporting such media to the data storage drives by moving in the X and Y directions.
Typically, a host system, such as a host server, communicates with the library directly or through one or more data storage drives, providing commands to the library to access particular data storage media and to move the media between the storage shelves and the data storage drives. A common feature among automated data storage libraries is the ability to partition the library into several virtual libraries, often called logical libraries. This allows the library resources to be shared between different host computers and different host applications. When a library is shared between different host computers, media security may become a problem because it may be possible for a host computer to access media assigned to another host computer. One implementation to partition automated data storage libraries into multiple logical libraries is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,425,059. U.S. Pat. No. 6,425,059 describes logical libraries with host access to each logical library, however it does not provide for data storage media security by preventing host access to selected media. Other approaches to data storage media security typically involve security for the entire automated data storage library. For example, the library may be located in a secure room, the entire library may be locked, etc. Also, data storage media is often removed from the library and stored at another physical location outside of the library to provide data storage media security. Strict controls, procedures and restrictions must be applied to ensure that the media is not accessed by unauthorized parties. As the quantity of data storage grows, these security procedures become cumbersome, inefficient and ultimately ineffective.

Media vaulting in an automated data storage library

International Business Machines Corporation


Provided is an electronic controller which enables an opening direction of a connector to be set along an electronic circuit board. The electronic controller includes first guiding projections (7a) and second guiding projections (7b) formed on a cover (2), and first guiding grooves (8a) to be brought into engagement with the first guiding projections (7a) and second guiding grooves (8b) to be brought into engagement with the second guiding projections (7b), which are formed on pin headers (4). The first guiding projections (7a) and the second guiding projections (7b) move respectively along the first guiding grooves (8a) and the second guiding grooves (8b). As a result, the pin headers (4) turn to be assembled to housings (14).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic controller including an electronic circuit board carrying a pin header mounted thereon, which is received within a casing, and to a method of manufacturing the electronic controller.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electronic controller used to control a vehicle or the like generally includes electronic components such as an input/output circuit, a communication circuit, a microcomputer, and a power supply circuit, which are mounted on an electronic circuit board. In addition, a connector for connection to an external device is also provided on the electronic circuit board. The electronic circuit board, on which the electronic components and the connector are mounted, is received within a casing.
In the electronic controller, the electronic circuit board is sandwiched between a base and a cover formed integrally with the connector. The base and the cover are vertically separated from one another. Surfaces of the base and the cover, which are brought into contact with each other, are bonded by a water-proof sealing material or the like.
Further, there is known a connector, which is manufactured as follows. A pin header formed by inserting terminals into a pedestal made of a resin and a housing which surrounds distal end portions of the terminals are configured as independent bodies. Only the pin header is mounted in advance on the electronic circuit board. Thereafter, the housing is assembled at a position corresponding to the pin header. In this manner, the connector is manufactured (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei 02-66865, for example).
The following electronic controller and method of assembling the electronic controller are also known. Specifically, through the application of the above-mentioned technology to a structure of the electronic controller described above, the pin header is mounted in advance onto the electronic circuit board. The electronic circuit board is sandwiched between the base and the cover formed integrally with the housing of the connector. Then, the surfaces of the base and the cover, which are brought into contact with each other, are bonded by the water-proof sealing material.
For the electronic controller having the configuration described above, however, the pin header is necessarily required to be prevented from interfering with the cover when the electronic circuit board having the pin header mounted thereon is assembled to the cover formed integrally with the housing. Therefore, there is a problem in that an opening direction of the connector is necessarily restricted to a vertical direction with respect to a mounting surface of the electronic circuit board.
Moreover, in the case of a connector having a structure in which the distal end portions of the terminals inside the housing are located relatively on a far side, the opening direction of the connector can be sometimes exceptionally set to a horizontal direction with respect to the mounting surface of the electronic circuit board as long as the pin header does not project from an outer shape of the electronic circuit board. However, there is a restriction depending on the shape of the connector to be used. Therefore, there is a problem in that selectable connectors are extremely limited.

Electronic controller and method of manufacturing the electronic controller


An airbag assembly employs tape sensors to monitor the rate at which an airbag is deployed. The airbag is part of an airbag module that incorporates a vent that can be actuated if it is determined by logic associated with the airbag that the airbag has prematurely collided with an object. To better determine the dynamics of the airbag deployment, a sensor is positioned across a tear seam in the cover through which the airbag breaks. The sensor provides a direct indicator that the tear seam has opened, which is used as the starting time for monitoring the rate of airbag deployment. The tear seam sensor could also be used in conjunction with any airbag electronics to control a function of an airbag.

Airbags that deploy in the event of a vehicle crash are an important part of the overall safety system of an automobile. Airbags in combination with seatbelts and other safety systems reduce death and injury that can occur during a vehicle crash. However, in certain circumstances an airbag can present a hazard to a vehicle occupant if the vehicle occupant is positioned too close to the airbag as the airbag deploys. In such a circumstance the vehicle occupant is described as "out of position." If a vehicle occupant is "out of position" with respect to an airbag, it is better if the airbag does not deploy, or if deployment has begun, that deployment be terminated by venting the airbag. One known approach is to monitor the position of the vehicle occupant using sensors located within the passenger compartment and to use safety system logic to not deploy an airbag in those situations where the vehicle occupant is out of position. This approach has several difficulties: there is a time delay between when the decision to deploy is made and when the actual deployment takes place; and during this time delay the vehicle occupant may have moved closer to the airbag, and may be out of position during actual airbag deployment. Sensors located within the passenger compartment must operate in a crash environment where noise, debris, and electromagnetic interference may make reliable detection of a vehicle occupant's position difficult. Sensors located within the passenger compartment are typically required to be on at all times which consumes power.
Another approach to dealing with the "out of position" problem is to mount a sensor on the inside or outside of the airbag. One type of sensor is mounted inside the airbag and uses tapes sewn to the inside of the airbag, which are drawn out of tape cartridges passing by sensors which monitor the rate at which the airbag deploys by monitoring the rate at which tape is withdrawn from the cartridges. Examples of such systems are disclosed in EP 0990 567, and EP 0 812 741 and commonly owned U.S. patent applications Ser. No. 10/359257 published as 2004/0155445 A, Ser. No. 10/369697 published as 2004/0164533 A, and Ser. No. 10/382538 published as 2004/0174156 A which are incorporated herein by reference. If the rate of tape withdrawal slows down before the airbag has fully deployed, that is an indication that the airbag has collided with an object before full deployment, and the airbag can be vented. In order to obtain a better understanding of airbag deployment dynamics, a means for determining when the airbag deployment into the passenger compartment has begun is needed.

Airbag with tear seam sensor and deployment rate sensor


The invention provides for optical circulators which redirect light from port to port sequentially in one direction used to separate traffic in a bidirectional optical fiber transmission system. The invention provides for using two optical circulators in each span of bidirectional fiber so that the OSC channel can be transmitted in one direction opposite to the WDM channels. The invention also provides for a gigabit Ethernet path between chassis which is utilized for control traffic and customer traffic. The invention is placed in a non-critical region of the optical spectrum and is independent of all other chassis equipment. The invention also provides the advantage in alternate embodiments of providing the option of a second counter propagating WDM channel being transmitted along with the OSC to provide additional system capacity. The invention also provides the advantage in an alternate embodiment of allowing the OSC to be amplified through a raman source without the need of complete system retrofit.

Optical transmission systems often use an optical service channel to communicate status and control information between various transceivers, amplifiers and transponders in an optical transmission system. It is important to minimize the insertion loss of the wavelength multiplexing filter used to couple the optical channels used to transmit payload data such as wave division multiplex (WDM) channels and the optical service channel (OSC).
Several prior art approaches exist, but none have the features of the current invention. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 6,327,060 to Otani discloses an optical transmission system having an add drop station controlled by four optical circulators which allows signals to be added and dropped via fiber gratings which reflect selective wavelengths. The invention accomplishes a bypass of an optical supervisory channel but does not provide for the insertion and removal of an optical supervisory channel by optical circulators. Otani also suffers from adding additional unnecessary optical components which increase optical losses.
Another example is U.S. Pat. No. 6,122,095 to Fitehi. This patent discloses an optical add/drop multiplexor using one or more fiber gratings which are disposed along the length of rare earth doped fiber or between segments for reflecting optical signals which are added or dropped through circulators. However, Fitehi does not provide for a separate counter propagating optical service channel.
Another example is U.S. Pat. No. 5,299,048 to Suyama. This patent provides an optical communication system which employed a dichromic separator to distinguish between a signal light and a pumping light where the pumping light carries control information. However, Suyama suffers from the addition of losses in the dichromic separator and other losses associated with the addition of other optical components.
Therefore, a need exists for an optical transmission system which has an additional optical service channel for system management which has minimal impact on the WDM channels in the area of insertion loss.

Wave division multiplexed optical transport system utilizing optical circulators to isolate an optical service channel


A pump having an adjustable delivery volume, including: a pump housing featuring a delivery chamber which includes a delivery chamber inlet for a fluid and a delivery chamber outlet for the fluid; a delivery member, which can be rotated within the delivery chamber, for delivering the fluid; an adjusting device featuring a setting structure, which is mounted such that it can move back and forth within the pump housing in order to adjust the delivery volume of the pump, and a helical spring for applying a spring force, which acts in a setting direction, to the setting structure, wherein the windings of the helical spring are enclosed by an envelope lying on the outside of the helical spring wherein the cross-sectional area of the envelope as measured transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the spring changes progressively in the longitudinal direction of the spring.

Pumps, in particular rotary pumps, having an adjustable delivery volume are known from the prior art. Such pumps are for example used to deliver lubricating oil to consumers in the automotive sector, in particular engines. Pumps of this type usually have an adjusting device comprising a setting structure via which the delivery volume can be regulated. In order to regulate the delivery volume, the setting structure is mounted such that it can move, in particular pivot, in the pump housing, wherein a setting force is applied to the setting structure via a setting element. Cylindrical compression springs having a constant winding diameter, so-called helical springs, are generally used as the setting element. The bearing surface, i.e. the outer winding diameter, of these springs is limited by the size of the pump and in particular by the size of the setting structure. In conventional prior-art pumps, this often results in helical springs having a large ratio between the length of the helical spring L0 when not exposed to a load and the outer winding diameter D, wherein a ratio L0/D of greater than 4, in particular greater than 6, is not uncommon.
Such helical springs are often susceptible to buckling when exposed to an axial compressive load, i.e. the helical springs are subject to a loss of stability due to yielding transversely to their longitudinal direction when exposed to axial compressive stress. Buckling of the helical spring can have a negative impact on the pumps ability to be regulated and also either can destroy the helical spring immediately or exposes the spring material to additional stress with repeated buckling, thus promoting fatigue fracturing of the helical spring. In any event, a broken helical spring leads to a complete loss of the pump or at least to a malfunction of the pump, for example because the pump is throttled more prematurely or is no longer regulated at all.
The risk of buckling can be increased by the installation circumstances, in particular by how the helical springs are mounted. For instance, non-parallel bearing surfaces for the helical spring or bearing surfaces having a changing alignment with respect to each other promote buckling of the helical spring.
The changing alignment of the bearing surfaces is in particular a problem in pumps having a pivotable setting structure. The pivoting movement of the setting structure deflects the bearing surfaces for the helical spring, which are preferably aligned in parallel with each other, at an angle to each other. In addition to a force component in the axial direction of the helical spring, this additionally generates a radial force component additionally promotes yielding of the helical spring transversely with respect to its longitudinal direction.
The changing alignment of the bearing surfaces, when the setting structure can pivot, significantly shortens the critical spring travel sc at which the spring may buckle. The helical spring must be designed in such a way that the setting travel of the setting structure corresponds to at most the critical spring travel of the helical spring. In preferred embodiments, the helical spring must be designed such that the setting travel of the setting structure is smaller than the critical spring travel. Due to the limited installation space, this can usually only be achieved by selecting an appropriate material for the helical spring or a correspondingly large wire diameter for the helical spring, which often makes the helical spring expensive or means as applicable that the throttling characteristics of the pump cannot be optimally set. Solutions in the form of mandrels or sleeves for the helical spring, which are used to stabilize the helical spring and prevent the helical spring from buckling, cannot always be employed, depending on the type of pump, and also cause additional cost.

Helical spring for a pump having an adjustable delivery volume


A sensing coil arrangement including a pair of sensing coils connected in opposition is used to measure AC susceptibility and, using sample movement and a DC magnetization field source, also to sense signals for absolute DC moment measurements. Since the same sensing coil arrangement is used for both AC and DC measurements, the measurements can be made successively in situ without removing the sample from a sample space (e.g., within a cryogenic chamber). This is a big advantage, because the changed conditions associated with removing and replacing a sample between measurements can cause confusing, uncorrelated results. A high speed voltmeter is used to perform the signal analysis for the moment measurement. The system can be configured to yield high resolution DC moment measurements to 25 ppm and sensitivities to better than 5.times.10.sup.-5 emu.

AC susceptometry and DC magnetometry are two different widely used techniques for obtaining information about the magnetic characteristics of a sample. The following provides a brief background discussion of each of these well known techniques.
Briefly, in a typical dc magnetization measurement, a value for the magnetic moment m of the sample is measured for some applied dc field H.sub.dc. The magnetic moment m is a bulk sample property and is a measure of the magnetic field generated by the sample itself. The dc or static "susceptibility" is determined by dividing the magnetization by the applied field ( .chi..sub.dc =M/H.sub.dc ). When comparing different materials (or samples of the same material having different sizes), the macroscopic quantity of interest is magnetization per unit volume (or per unit mass) of the sample.
Techniques for measuring the dc moment have long been commercialized in a variety of system products such as vibrating sample magnetometers (VSMs), force magnetometers, and SQUID magnetometers. The most commonly used dc magnetometers, such as the vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) or SQUID magnetometer, generally use a detection coil to measure the change in magnetic flux due to the presence of a magnetized sample. If the sample does not have a permanent magnetic moment, an applied field is required.
FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a typical prior art commercial DC magnetometer. In many commercial DC magnetometers, a magnet 50 (e.g., an electromagnet or superconducting solenoid) is provided to apply a constant magnetic field H.sub.dc to the sample 52 in order to magnetize the sample to a magnetic moment (m). A detection coil 54 and associated detection circuit 56 are also provided. There is no output from the detection circuit 56 until there is a magnetic flux change within the detection coil 54 (Faraday's Law). The sample flux coupled to the detection coil 54 is commonly varied by moving the sample. In a VSM, the sample 52 is vibrated near detection coil 54. As the sample 52 moves, an ac signal is generated at a frequency determined by the sample oscillation. In a SQUID system, the sample 52 is simply passed through the detection coil 54. Typically, detection circuit 56 comprises a fluxmeter, lock-in amplifier, or SQUID electronics that is coupled to the detection coil 54 in order to measure the change in flux (i.e., the magnetic moment). A so-called "extraction technique" is known wherein the fluxmeter (detection circuit) 56 deflects in an amount proportional to the flux change (moment) as the sample is removed from the sensing coil. See Cullity, Introduction to Magnetic Materials, pages 61-81, and particularly, 65-66 (Addison-Wesley Publishing Co. 1972).
Traditionally, fluxmeters, which are essentially digital voltmeters, are used for measuring secondary coil output signals over time. However, most fluxmeters have a relatively low input impedance (which can present a problem when the sensing coils to be used have a large variable resistance). In addition, fluxmeters may present potential measuring difficulties in dealing with drifts and thermal emfs.
It is generally known to use an integrating digital voltmeter as a fluxmeter. It is apparently also known to use a digital voltmeter to measure voltages to indicate DC magnetization. For example, the Rebouillat and Sasaki references cited below each appear to teach using an integrating digital voltmeter as a fluxmeter for measuring magnetization. In addition, the Werle '142 patent (cited below) teaches a magnetic fluxmeter for measuring macro flux disturbances (e.g., caused by a ship passing by) which includes a digital voltmeter type indicator for indicating the level of a signal integrated in the analog domain. The Coley '990 patent (also cited below) appears to teach a digital voltmeter arrangement in his FIG. 4 tunneling susceptometer (see components 52-66).
When properly calibrated, the output from the VSM or SQUID magnetometer yields the value of the magnetic moment for the sample. With knowledge of the sample volume (V), the magnetization (M) can be determined. Magnetization and the dc susceptibility are thus derived quantities. Usually, the moment is measured as a function of field, and the materials' magnetization curve (i.e., m or M versus H.sub.dc) is determined (see FIG. 2) by repeating the measurement for different values of H.sub.dc. That is, in a dc magnetization measurement discrete points along some characteristic magnetization curve are measured. This permits measurement of several discrete points along the magnetization curve of the sample. If the magnetic field direction can be reversed, hysteresis curves can also be generated.
DC magnetization/susceptibility measurements are extremely useful (e.g., for high field studies and for measuring hysteresis curves). However, sometimes additional (or different) information about the magnetic properties of a sample is required that is not available from a DC type measurement. For example, there are instances in which "complex" (real and imaginary) magnetic susceptibility must be measured in order to provide more complete information about the magnetic characteristics (e.g., relaxation characteristics) of a sample. AC susceptometery provides certain information (e.g., information about such "complex" parameters) that is not available from DC magnetometry. Moreover, in the AC measurement, copper wound coils can be used to generate very small amplitude AC fields (e.g,>>1 Oe) without complications arising from the remanent fields associated with iron-core or superconducting magnets. This means that the AC technique is very valuable in the study of low-field magnetic characteristics of a sample.
In addition, with the capability to vary the frequency of the drive field in an AC technique, the magnetodynamics of the magnetic system can also be studied. Further, since in the AC measurement the slope of the magnetization curve is being measured, non-linear magnetization and magnetic transitions are often best studied using an AC measurement.
AC susceptometry has thus been widely used for the characterization of magnetic materials for many years. However, prior to 1988, there was no serious commercial product available and ac susceptometer usage was almost universally "build your own" (so that, for example, many ac susceptometers were "laboratory assembled" using available components). Unlike the dc technique (where actual values for the magnetic moment m are measured), changes in m (i.e., .DELTA.m) are measured in the ac technique. Thus, the ac susceptibility gives an indication of the slope (dm/dH) of the magnetization curve. This is a fundamental difference between the ac and dc measurement techniques.
The discovery of high T.sub.c superconductors led to a rapid increase in interest in magnetic measurements. High T.sub.c materials are characterized by relatively small first critical fields, H.sub.c1, and a small full penetration field, H.sub.p. Therefore, a reliable low-field magnetization measurement technique is necessary for the full magnetic characterization of these materials.
In addition, the ac measurement can be used to differentiate between inter- and intragranular current coupling, and in determining the overall quality of a superconductor. An analysis of .chi." can provide information about the critical current density J.sub.c of these materials via the invocation of a suitable critical state model, and this sort of analysis has contributed to a better understanding of the mechanisms of superconductivity in these compounds.
An analysis of the complex susceptibility can also provide information about relaxational processes that may be occurring in the system under study. For example, it can be used to study spin-lattice relaxation phenomena in paramagnetic compounds, domain wall movement in metamagnetic systems, and has contributed to a better understanding of spin-glass systems.
Using the ac technique, the sample is generally centered within a detection coil and exposed to an applied AC magnetic field. The magnetic moment of the sample follows the applied field. The detection circuitry is generally balanced, with matched detection coils being provided in order to null out the changing flux due to the AC excitation. As a result, the detected change in flux is related only to the change in moment of the sample as it responds to the AC field.
Using well established principles of ac susceptometry, Lake Shore Cryotronics (the assignee of the present invention) introduced its 7000 line of ac susceptometers in the fall of 1988. FIG. 2A is a schematic block diagram showing this prior art ac susceptometer developed by Lake Shore. The basic principles of operation are described in Lake Shore's application note entitled "AC Susceptibility Measurement: Its Purpose and Process" (the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein for the purpose of providing discussion as to the state of the art). While no sample movement is required to perform AC susceptometery measurements, a motor and associated sample movement arrangement are provided in Lake Shore's ac susceptometer to move the sample in order to increase measurement accuracy and resolution.
Needless to say, much work has been done in the past in regard to magnetic characteristic measuring techniques. The following documents relate to techniques for measuring the magnetic characteristics of a sample:
Rillo et al, "Multipurpose a.c. and d.c. Equipment for Low Temperature Magnetic and Electric Measurements of Solids" (Abstract of paper presented at S ONR Workshop in May 1991);
U.S. Pat. No. 3,528,001--Yntema PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 3,454,875--Bol et al PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 4,861,990--Coley PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 2,975,360--Bell PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 4,037,149--Foner PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 4,005,358--Foner PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 4,238,734--Steingroever et al PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 4,849,695--Muller et al PA0 U S. Pat. No. 5,008,621--Jiles PA0 U.S. Pat. No. 3,863,142--Werle PA0 Quantum Design Inc. of San Diego, Calif. has been marketing a DC magnetometer since 1985, and as early as 1990 announced an option for making complex ac susceptibility measurements using elements of the SQUID detection system in its dc magnetometer. The means for making the ac measurements is not clear, nor has this group been able to qualify performance characteristics. In fact, it appears that no units have actually been delivered as of the filing date of the subject application. PA0 Cryogenic Consultants Ltd., London England has been marketing, for approximately two years, a DC magnetometer employing a SQUID detection system. This device has no ac measurement capabilities. Cryogenic Consultants also markets a vibrating sample magnetometer. PA0 Metronique Ingenierie of Le Bourget, France (no longer a going concern) introduced a SQUID (dc) Magnetometer in December 1989. They offered an ac measurement option which consisted of a separate set of sensing coils. The customer had to place a separate ac measurement insert into the dewar (refrigerator) system. PA0 EG&G Princeton Applied Research (PARC) Princeton N.J., long ago introduced a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM)that makes dc magnetization measurements. This instrument in found in many installations around the United States. PA0 Princeton Measurements Corporation of Princeton N.J. introduced an Alternating Gradient Force Magnetometer (AGFM) about two years ago--possibly to compete against VSMs and room temperature applications for SQUID magnetometers. PA0 Phasetrack Instruments of Santa Clara, Calif. markets an ac susceptometer on a small scale. This instrument is not capable of making dc magnetization measurements. PA0 A single instrument, requiring no hardware reconfiguration between measurement modes, that is capable of measuring both AC and DC magnetic response of materials; PA0 AC and DC measurements can be made without removing sample from dewar--thereby eliminating possible errors due to changes in set-up, changes in sample condition, etc.; PA0 Use of common components (e.g., coil assembly) permits common calibration factors to be used for both AC and DC measurements; PA0 Calibration constants for both AC and DC measurements can be calculated from considerations of coil geometry alone (unnecessary to calibrate with standard magnetic materials--since the coil assembly is precision wound and the system has been designed to avoid extraneous effects); PA0 Stepper motors and associated sample suspension/mounting structure used for DC magnetization extraction technique also used for moving sample during AC measurements in order to cancel out differences between the two coils; PA0 Dual opposed secondary coils cancel magnetic field noise; PA0 Non-zero voltage offsets within the digital voltmeter during DC measurements are cancelled during subsequent noise reduction analysis--permitting higher speed digital voltmeter data acquisition in order to minimize "dead time" between measurements and thereby increase measurement sensitivity; PA0 AC susceptibility measurement sensitivities comparable to or greater than those achievable using SQUID magnetometers (e.g., 2.times.10.sup.-8 emu); PA0 High dc measurement sensitivity levels (e.g., 5.times.10.sup.-5 emu) can be achieved with an effective dynamic range extending to>10.sup.3 emu, comparable to Vibrating Sample Magnetometers; PA0 Broad dynamic range (10.sup.-8 to>10.sup.3) to permit a wide array of material properties to be studied; PA0 AC susceptibility measurement over a wide range of temperatures (e.g.,<4.2 K to 325 K), amplitudes (e.g., 0.1 A m.sup.-1 () .00125 Oe) to 1600 Am.sup.-1 (20 Oe) RMS), and frequencies (e.g., 1 Hz to 10 kHz); PA0 DC moment measurement over a wide range of temperatures and DC fields (e.g., 1.0 tesla or 5.0 tesla, plus or minus); PA0 Capability of measuring harmonic susceptibilities, and AC and DC resistance (e.g., Hall effect, Transport J.sub.c, magnetoresistance); PA0 For AC measurements, primary coil is driven with an AC current source so that the resultant AC field depends only on the "constancy" of the current source output--thereby eliminating complicated phase relationships dependent on measurement frequency or temperature; PA0 Virtual elimination of effects of eddy current generation in conductive materials or generation of persistent currents in superconductive solenoids inductively coupled to the secondary coils; PA0 Fully automated for unattended operation with data acquisition and control software that is quickly and easily tailored to address specific research requirements; PA0 Possible to input sample parameters (e.g., volume, mass) and demagnetization factors to assure that the resultant measurement is as accurate as possible; PA0 Wide range of materials and applications. The system is well suited for studying paramagnetic and ferromagnetic materials, amorphous alloys and diluted magnetic semiconductors, organic ferromagnets and organic superconductors (C.sub.60 compounds), conductive polymers, thin film recording media, etc. PA0 Ability to flexibly configure a common instrument platform for AC measuring capabilities, DC measuring capabilities, or both--without sacrificing accuracy of either measurement mode. PA0 Expandable configuration to permit purchasers to upgrade measuring system by adding additional measurement mode capabilities subsequent to purchase.
Goldfarb et al, "Alternating-Field Susceptometry and Magnetic Susceptibility of Superconductors" (Office of Naval Research Workshop on Magnetic Susceptibility of Superconductors and Other Spin Systems, Berkeley Springs, W. Va. May 1991);
Rebouillat, "High Resolution Automatic Magnetometer Using a Superconducting Magnet: Application to High Field Susceptibility Measurements", IEEE Trans. on Magnetics, v. MAG-8, n. 3 pp. 630-33 (Sept. 3, 1972);
Sasaki, "Simple Precision Fluxmeter", 76 Nuclear Instruments and Methods n. 1 pp. 100-2 (Dec. 1, 1969);
Edwards et al, "Magnetometer for Surface Flux Density Measurement in MPI", 29 British Journal of Non-Destructive Testing n. 5, pp. 304-306 (Sept. 1987);
Beckley et al, "Simplified Electronic Permeameter Suitable for Routine and Standards Use", 9 Measurement and Control n.10, p. T65-T70 (Oct. 1976);
Marinaccio, "Op Amp Converts DVM To Fluxmeter", 48 Electronics n.10, pp. 112-113 (May 15, 1975);
De Mott, "Integrating Fluxmeter with Digital Readout", IEEE Journal on Magnetics v. MAG-6 n.2 pp. 269-71 (Jun. 2, 1970); and
Press Release, "DOWTY RFL Offers The Only Digital Fluxmeter With IEEE-488 Bus Operation", Dowty RFL Industries, Boonton N.J. (Mar. 24, 1986).
Jiles teaches a measuring device capable of measuring various magnetic parameters (e.g., fluxmeter, gaussmeter, strain indicator), and uses the same overall transducer assembly for various measurements. The Dowty RFL press release describes a digital fluxmeter which measures "both flux density and total flux".
In addition, AC susceptometers, DC magnetometers and Vibrating Sample Magnetometers are commercially available from several companies. For example:
See also generally the following papers relating to magnetic characteristic measurement: John K. Krause and Jeffrey R. Bergen, "Understanding magnetic measurement techniques," Superconductor Industry, vol. 3, no. 4, pp. 23-26, 1990;
Jiles, Magnetization and Magnetic Materials, pages 47-68 (Chapman & Hall 1991);
Goldfarb, "Thermoremannt magnetization and superparamagnetism in nickel-manganese alloys", Ph.D. dissertation (Colorado State University 1979);
Khoder et al, "Calibration constant calculations for Magnetic Susceptibility";
Couach et al, "Study of Superconductors by AC Susceptibility", Cryogenics Vol. 25, pp. 695-99 (1985);
Goldfarb et al, "Calibration of ac susceptometers for cylindrical specimens", Rev. Sci. Instrum. vol. 55, pp. 761-64 (1984):
Zieba et al, "Superconducting Magnet Image Effects Observed With A Vibrating Sample Magnetometer", Rev. Sci. Instrum. Vol. 54, pp. 137-45 (1983); and
Rillo et al, "On the Sensitivity of High-TC Superconducting Ceramics as Magnetic-Field Sensors", Sensors and Actuators A-Physics, Vol. 27, N1-3 pp. 775-80 (1991).
For some time there has been a desire in the field to develop a practical, cost-effective commercial instrument capable of providing both ac and dc measurement techniques. As mentioned above, for a complete study of the magnetic properties of at least certain samples it is desirable to perform both ac and dc measurements. However, despite such desire, no one in the past has developed a practical, cost-effective instrument that is capable of accurately measuring the characteristics of a sample using both ac and dc techniques.
The present applicants have developed a preferred embodiment magnetic measurement system that is versatile, highly accurate, and can measure both AC susceptibility and DC moment. The instrument provided in accordance with a presently preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes various components (i.e., two oppositely wound secondary coils, a source of AC excitation current coupled to a primary winding, and a stepping motor for moving the sample between the coils) to perform AC susceptibility measurements. The instrument also includes a source of DC current that can be coupled to the primary winding. The motor and associated sampling positioning arrangement is also used to provide the motion needed for "extraction type" DC magnetization measurement. A high speed digital voltmeter monitors and records the output of the secondary coil(s). The recorded output of the digital voltmeter is numerically processed (using a computer) to yield the voltage integral indicative of magnetic moment.
Thus, a presently preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a combination of the extraction technique for DC moment measurement with the AC susceptibility measurement using a common sensing structure--all within an instrument providing state-of-the-art electronics and computer control. By way of non-limiting example, applicants' presently preferred embodiment system provides the following advantages:
Applicants have thus developed a single instrument that incorporates both a dc moment measurement scheme and an ac susceptometer. The instrument provides a sensitive dc measurement capability which can be simply implemented, without sacrificing any of the performance characteristics of the ac measurement.
After considering a number of standard dc moment measurement schemes, applicants chose an extraction technique. Extraction refers to many variations of a basic method, but generally involves moving (extracting) a magnetized sample from within a sensing coil. The voltage induced in the coil is detected and integrated over time to yield the total flux change in the coil. The flux change is directly relatedto the magnetic moment of the sample. An extraction method is attractive for this application since all required experimental hardware is already in place for the ac susceptibility measurement. The only missing component is the means to detect the voltage induced in the sensing coils. After reviewing experimental requirements and instrument specifications, applicants decided to use a high speed digital voltmeter (DVM). The DVM specifications indicated that performance comparable to, or better than, a commercial fluxmeter could be achieved.
One aspect of the present invention thus provides a relatively simple arrangement to provide a dc moment measurement capability in an ac susceptometer requiring minimal effort and hardware changes. Performance is comparable to many systems constructed solely as a dc magnetometer. An important element to the measurement in the preferred embodiment is the use of a high speed digital voltmeter (DVM) for the signal analysis. In addition to providing the required resolution and sensitivity needed for the moment measurement, the features of the DVM can be used to add further capabilities to the system at minimal expense. For example, with the addition of a sample probe, a dc resistance measurement can now be performed.

Magnetic property characterization system employing a single sensing coil arrangement to measure AC susceptibility and DC moment of a sample


The present invention relates to non-human transgenic animals, tissues and/or cells derived therefrom having depleted or ablated cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR) expression, methods of producing such animals, tissues and/or cells, and methods of using such animals, tissues and/or cells. Non-human transgenic animals, tissues and or cells derived therefrom of the present invention may be used for, but non exclusively, in both in vivo and in vitro screening of therapeutic agents, drug development, drug metabolism/disposition studies and studying disease states, pregnancy, fetal development, modulation of hormone function and hormone levels, and other pathways and/or substrate metabolism in which cytochrome P450 plays a role.

Transgenic animals are characterized by the presence of exogenous or non-native DNA integrated into their genetic information. The animals express or do not express, as the case may be, the genetic characteristic encoded by the foreign DNA.
The hepatic cytochrome P450-dependent monoxygenase system plays a central role in mammalian defence against harmful environmental chemicals; it is also a major determinant of the half-life and pharmacological properties of therapeutic drugs and in certain cases, mediates the activation of drugs, toxins and carcinogens to their ultimate toxic species. Several other functions have been ascribed to hepatic P450s, including control of cholesterol and steroid hormone metabolism and bile acid biosynthesis. However, for certain of these pathways, the exact role of P450s in normal homeostasis is unknown.
There have been major advances in understanding the functions, genetics and regulation of these enzymes and more recently their structures. However, many fundamental questions about the role of these enzymes in normal homeostasis and in the metabolism and activity of drugs and chemical toxins remain to be answered. The size and diversity of the P450 multi-gene family results in great difficulties in dissecting out the function(s) of individual hepatic P450s, particularly as many of these enzymes involved in foreign compound metabolism exhibit overlapping substrate specificities. In order to understand the functions of this enzyme system an approach is required which will allow the simultaneous inactivation of large numbers of cytochrome P450s.
All cytochrome P450s located in the endoplasmic reticulum receive electrons from a single donor, Cytochrome P450 Reductase (CPR; NADPH:ferrihemoprotein reductase, EC 126.96.36.199);
conditional deletion of this protein could therefore inactivate all the P450s located in the endoplasmic reticulum in any particular cell type. It is known from the prior art that P450 expression during development is a vital requirement. In recent studies, although a complete deletion of CPR was achieved it was shown to be embryo lethal (1, 2).
A transgenic non-human animal and/or tissue and/or cells derived therefrom that can be used as a model to study the cytochrome P450-dependent monoxygenase system at a molecular and cellular level and all its associated interactions in drug/toxin metabolism and/or disposition would offer immediate advantages to the art and pharmaceutical, agrochemical, chemical and food industries in general and also permit a further understanding of many biochemical mechanisms.

Modulation of cytochrome P450 reductase activity


An image forming apparatus monitoring system which is configured so as to reduce an installing operation load for installation of image forming apparatuses including settings relating to monitoring apparatus. In the present system, when a multi-function machine determines that it is not registered in the image forming apparatus monitoring system, the multi-function machine searches for a monitoring apparatus 105 which matches the multi-function machine, and selects the monitoring apparatus 105 which is to monitor the multi-function machine, based on monitoring apparatus information acquired from the searched monitoring apparatus 105. When receiving a notification of the start of monitoring from the selected monitoring apparatus 105, the multi-function machine stores the notification in a storage area as registration completion information. On the other hand, the monitoring apparatus 105 transmits monitor request information received from the multi-function machine to the monitoring host 101, and starts monitoring the multi-function machine when determining from the result of the monitor request that registration of the multi-function machine in the monitoring host 101 is completed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus monitoring system and method, an image forming apparatus and a control method therefor, and a program for implementing the method, and more particularly relates to a setup technique relating to the image forming apparatus monitoring system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus monitoring system, to register image forming apparatuses to be monitored, in the monitoring system, a service man who performs installation of the image forming apparatus and management of a monitoring apparatus registers in advance information of network environments of clients, and image forming apparatuses in the monitoring apparatus and a monitoring host, and newly registers an image forming apparatus in an image forming apparatus monitoring service at the time of installation of the image forming apparatus (for example, see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. H06-315059).
Further, an operator of the monitoring host determines which monitoring apparatus is to monitor the installed image forming apparatus, and after the operator informs the service man of this, a setting operation is carried out to make necessary settings of the apparatuses.
Furthermore, there has been disclosed a monitoring system including a communication control apparatus which mediates between a plurality of image forming apparatuses and a service center (also called a monitoring host) and monitors the respective numbers of sheets printed, troubles and the like of the image forming apparatuses, the monitoring system being configured such that, to reduce a load when an image forming apparatus is newly added to the monitoring system, the communication control apparatus is notified of a monitoring service start request via a display section of the image forming apparatus, and a communication test or the like is conducted between the communication control apparatus and the service center in response to the notification (for example, see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2001-016393).
Meanwhile, in recent years, image forming apparatuses to be monitored in office environments, which are essentially designed to perform network communications conforming to TCP/IP have become widely used, and accordingly it is desired that the image forming apparatus monitoring system itself should comply with the above network communications. For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2004-005543 discloses a network-compatible image forming apparatus monitoring system. It is desired that also this network-compatible image forming apparatus monitoring system should undergo a reduced load upon processing when a new image forming apparatus to be monitored is added to the monitoring system.
However, none of the above described conventional systems is not designed to perform network connections, and it is therefore the problem how easily addition of an image forming apparatus to the monitoring system should be performed in this network environment.
In particular, under the network environment, not only the monitoring apparatus but also various devices and apparatuses such as image forming apparatuses, various kinds of servers, and client computers are connected to the network. The image forming apparatus monitoring system disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2001-016393 is not compatible with the network, and hence, a desired image forming apparatus cannot be easily selected for monitoring by the monitoring apparatus from a plurality of devices and apparatuses on the network.
Therefore, the conventional monitoring system should be desirably configured so as to reduce an installing operation load for installation of image forming apparatuses including settings relating to the monitoring apparatus.

Image forming apparatus monitoring system and method, image forming apparatus, control method therefor, and program for implementing the method