A charge transfer device in which a charge transfer section, an output gate, a floating diffused region, a reset gate electrode, a reset drain region, a barrier gate electrode and an absorption drain region are provided in semiconductor substrate. The reset drain region for resetting or draining charges in the floating diffused region is connected via a capacitor to a constant potential terminal. The absorption drain region is provided with a voltage booster for raising the amplitude of the transfer pulse to a level higher than the power source voltage. The output voltage of the voltage booster is supplied to the absorption drain region. The channel potential beneath the barrier gate electrode is set lower than that beneath the reset gate electrode.

The present invention relates to a solid-state charge transfer device such as a charge coupled device (CCD).
A floating diffused region is widely used as a charge detecting means in a solid-state charge transfer device. In such a charge transfer device, a signal charge transferred through the channel region of a charge transfer section is led to the floating diffused region. After a quantity of charges transferred to the floating diffused region are converted into a voltage form signal to be outputted, the charges are drained to a reset drain through a channel under a reset gate.
The floating diffused region and the reset drain region are impurity-doped regions separately formed in a semiconductor substrate. The reset gate is provided on the semiconductor substrate between the floating diffused region and the reset drain region via an insulating layer. The floating diffused region, the reset gate electrode and the reset drain region constitute a field effect transistor (reset transistor).
The drain of charges from the floating diffused region is achieved by turning this reset transistor on. In order to accomplish this drain of charges, the potential of the reset drain should be higher than a certain level and held at that certain level. At the same time, the channel potential under the reset gate electrode in the aforementioned on-state of the reset transistor should be somewhat lower than that of the reset drain region. Because of these circumstances, the amplitude of the reset pulse to be applied to the reset gate electrode is usually greater than that of the transfer pulse of the charge transfer section. For instance, in an n-type buried channel charge coupled device, the amplitude of the transfer pulse is 5 volts; that of the reset pulse, 8 volts, and the voltage supplied to the reset drain region, 12 volts. Further in this example, when the reset pulse swings between 0 and 8 volts, the channel potential under the reset gate electrode changes between 7 volts and approximately 13.5 volts. As the channel potential (about 13.5 V) of a reset transistor in the on-state is higher than the drain voltage, which is 12 volts, the reset transistor is driven into an on-state in a complete transfer mode to reset the potential of the floating diffused region to that of the reset drain region.
In a system using an image sensor of a charge coupled device, such as a facsimile system, the power voltage for the peripheral circuits using the output from the charge coupled device is as low as 5 volts, for instance, so that a charge coupled device operable at a low power voltage is widely demanded.
The drain voltage of 12 volts can be realized with relative ease with a voltage booster. However, a voltage booster for enhancing the 5 volts of the reset pulse to 8 volts is more complex to provide than the aforementioned voltage booster from 5 volts to 15 volts and accordingly should be avoided in a semiconductor integrated circuit. On the other hand, if a reset pulse of 5 volts in amplitude is applied to the reset gate electrode, the channel potential of the reset transistor in on-state is about 11 volts in the above cited example, lower than the 12 volts in potential at the reset drain region. As a result, the reset transistor is driven into an on-state in an incomplete transfer mode. In such incomplete transfer mode operation, it is impossible to completely drain the signal charges from the floating diffused region, and the dynamic range of the signal output will become correspondingly narrower.
Japanese Patent laid-open Application No. 59-138376 discloses an output circuit for a charge coupled device operable with a low voltage supplied to the reset drain region. Two examples are disclosed therein. In the first example, first and second gates are arranged between the floating diffused region and the reset drain region. The first gate, similar to the charge transfer section, includes a pair of barrier and storage electrodes. The second gate is supplied with the same voltage as the output gate which is formed adjacent to the floating diffused region in the charge transfer section, but the insulating film formed thereunder is thickened to keep the channel potential thereunder lower than the channel potential under the output gate. The charges in the floating diffused region, after being transferred under the storage electrode of the first gate, are drained to the reset drain region. The first gate receives the same pulse as is supplied to the output gate. In this way, the voltage supplied to the reset drain region can be lowered, because the potential at the reset drain region is sufficient if having a value slightly deeper than the channel potential under the storage electrode of the first gate, when the channel potential is lower. The transfer from the floating diffused region to under the storage electrode of the first gate is performed in an incomplete transfer mode, because the channel potential under the first barrier electrode is lower than that under the storage electrode.
In the second example, a third gate and an intermediate drain are arranged between the floating diffused region and the first gate in the first example, and a large-capacity capacitor is connected between the intermediate drain and the grounding terminal. The charges in the floating diffused region, after being first drained into this intermediate drain through the third gate, are finally drained into the reset drain held at a constant voltage. The transfer of charges from the floating diffused region to the reset drain is performed in a complete transfer mode. By supplying a different pulse to the second gate from that applied to the output gate, the potential at the reset drain can be further lowered. A pulse of a greater amplitude is required, however, when the charge under the storage electrode of the first gate is drained into the reset drain.
The potential at the reset drain, in both the first and the second examples, is made lower than the channel potential under the storage electrode.
As the potential at the reset drain bears on the formation of a transfer channel in a buried channel type charge coupled device, it may become necessary not only to lower the voltage to be applied to the reset drain but also to alter the impurity concentration in the channel layer and the peak voltage of the transfer pulse. Therefore, it is not necessarily advantageous to keep the reset drain voltage low.

Charge transfer device provided with improved output structure


A titanium alloy has high strength and superior workability and is preferably used for various structural materials for automobiles, etc. The titanium alloy is obtained by the following production method. An alloy having a structure of α′ martensite phase is hot worked at conditions at which dynamic recrystallization occurs. The working is performed at a heating rate of 50 to 800° C./second at a strain rate of 0.01 to 10/second when the temperature is 700 to 800° C. or at a strain rate of 0.1 to 10/second when the temperature is more than 800° C. and less than 1000° C. so as to provide a strain of not less than 0.5. Thus, equiaxed crystals with an average grain size of less than 1000 nm are obtained.

In general, titanium alloys are used for automobile parts, and in particular, β titanium alloys are commonly used for suspension springs in which high strength is required, valve springs of engines, and suspension springs for motorcycles. The titanium alloys that are generally classified as β type have superior cold workability and are relatively easily provided with high strength by heat treatment. The β titanium alloys are usually made by solution treating a β phase material, which is stable at high temperatures, so as to have a metastabilized β phase at room temperature. Therefore, β phase stabilizing elements such as V and Mo, which are expensive, and Cr, must be added to the β titanium alloys in large amounts. Accordingly, demands for titanium alloy parts made of inexpensive materials with strengths comparable to that of the β titanium alloys have been increasing.
In the β titanium alloys, the strength can be increased by a heat treatment such as an α phase precipitation hardening treatment. However, for mechanical parts, fatigue strength is important in view of practical use. The β titanium alloys break by cracks that are generated within the precipitated α phase grain or that are generated at a boundary between the α phase and the β phase. These cracks are thought to occur due to difference in elastic strain between the α phase and the β phase. Therefore, in a structure such as in the β titanium alloys that are strengthened by precipitating the α phase from the β matrix phase in an aging treatment, static strength is superior, but improvement of the fatigue strength is limited. On the other hand, titanium alloys of a near α type and an α+β type contain small amounts of the expensive β phase stabilizing elements and small amount of the β phase that is easy to deform and has low strength. Therefore, for the above reasons, these titanium alloys are anticipated to be usable in automobile parts in view of production costs and strengths.
As disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent No. 3789852, a Ti-6Al-4V (mass %) alloy, which is typical as the α+β type, has a good balance of mechanical characteristics such as strength, ductility, and toughness. Therefore, the amount of production of this alloy accounts for approximately 70% of the total amount of production of titanium alloys, and the penetration rate of this alloy is high. Accordingly, the Ti-6Al-4V alloy is inexpensive and has small variations in the compositions and the material strength.
The mechanical characteristics of the Ti-6Al-4V alloy mainly depend on a structure shape. That is, the characteristics and the strength depend on whether the structure is an equiaxed structure, an acicular structure, or a bimodal structure. In general, the equiaxed structure is superior in strength, elongation, resistance to fatigue crack initiation, and plastic workability. The acicular structure is superior in creep resistance, fracture toughness, and crack growth resistance. The bimodal structure has the advantages of both the equiaxed structure and the acicular structure.
The conventional structural control of the Ti-6Al-4V alloy by working is mainly performed by hot working in a temperature range in which the β phase or the α+β phase is stable. In this case, a starting structure before the hot working is a structure of equiaxed α+β phase or of acicular α+β phase. The present inventors had an idea that refining of the crystal grains may be effective for obtaining a material which has superior workability for part shapes and has high strength. Then, the present inventors experimented with various thermomethanical treatments on a structure of the equiaxed α+β phase or of the acicular α+β phase as a starting structure. As a result, however, the grain sizes of the α crystals were on the order of micrometers even at the smallest, or the structures were mixed with coarsened grains and were not uniform. Moreover, the structures could be structures other than the equiaxed structure. Accordingly, superior workability for part shapes and good mechanical characteristics were not anticipated for the structures.

Nanocrystal titanium alloy and production method for same


Apparatus for observing and measuring in realtime surface and subsurface characteristics of objects having complex shapes includes an optical fiber bundle having first and second opposed ends. The first end includes a linear array of fibers, where the ends of adjacent fibers are in contact and are aligned perpendicular to the surface of the object being studied. The second ends of some of the fibers are in the form of a polished ferrule forming a multi-fiber optical waveguide for receiving laser light. The second ends of the remaining fibers are formed into a linear array suitable for direct connection to a detector, such as a linear CMOS-based optical detector. The output data is analyzed using digital signal processing for the detection of anomalies such as cracks, voids, inclusions and other defects.

Because of their mechanical and physical properties, such as higher stiffness, corrosion and wear resistance and greater thermal stability, ceramics such as silicon nitride (Si3N4) ceramics are considered the materials of choice to replace steels in such applications as contact rolling elements, e.g. bearings, where stiffness and wear resistance play a key role. There is also interest in these types of ceramics for high-temperature turbine bearing components where increased thermal stability is critical. For these types of applications, the most critical portions of the ceramic component, i.e., those with the highest stress during operation, are the surface or near-surface (usually to depth of <200 microns) regions. The most common types of defects found in these critical regions are mechanical in nature, such as cracks, spalls, inclusions, voids, etc., and can be either machining or operation induced.
During machining of ceramics, the material encounters high stresses and temperatures. This can result in the formation of radial, lateral and longitudinal cracks. Usually radial and lateral cracks do not significantly reduce the strength of the ceramic. The longitudinal, also called median, cracks are thought to cause the greatest reduction in strength.
Ceramic components are increasingly being studied for use in gas turbines for rotating bearings, vanes and blades. In bearing applications, the critical regions of a component experiencing the highest stresses are frequently the surface and the near-surface regions to a depth on the order of 200–300 microns. A similar argument can be made for components in bending stress applications.
Some of the most critical defects are thus located on or just beneath the surface and originate when the manufactured part undergoes machining. Any machining induced damage which causes part rejection is to be avoided as early in the manufacturing process as possible to avoid cost-added to rejectable parts. An on-line method for determining the amount of surface and sub-surface damage imparted to a ceramic thus has an economic benefit. Using an on-line detection method, machine tool feed rates and contact pressures can be optimized during machining to obtain the highest material removal rates without adversely affecting the mechanical or tribological properties of the ceramic.
One non-destructive method for detecting and analyzing the defects in ceramics employs polarized laser light directed onto the surface of the ceramic body. A simplified schematic diagram of an optical scattering detection system 10 for use in inspecting ceramic materials is shown in FIG. 1. In this arrangement, a polarized laser beam 14 is directed onto the surface of an object 12 being studied. The incident light is polarized to allow for discrimination between surface and subsurface defects using the material's Brewster angle. A portion of the incident laser beam 14 is directed through the material as a transmitted beam 18 and a portion is reflected as well as scattered from the surface of the object 12 in the form of a surface reflected beam 16. A portion of the incident laser beam 14 also appears as internal scatter 20 within the object 12 being studied and is absorbed by the object. The incident laser beam 14 must be normal to the surface of the object 12 and the detected reflected beam 22 is directed through a polarized object lens 24 and to a first detector 26 as well as to a second detector 28. The first detector 26 detects light reflected from the surface of the object 12, while the second, larger detector 28 detects light scattered by the subsurface portion of the object. Graphically shown in FIG. 1a is the distribution of back-scattered light from the object under investigation, with increased back-scattering occurring in the presence of a defect in the object under investigation. The intensity of the back-scattered light is plotted along the vertical axis, while the spatial distribution of the back-scattered light is plotted along the horizontal axis.
Prior approaches in the area of non-destructive evaluation and characterization of ceramic and ceramic coated objects in a production environment have met with only limited success. For example, because the incident light must be perpendicular to the surface of the object under investigation and because most objects are of an irregular shape, prior approaches involved complex movement of the components under investigation and/or the incident laser beam. Complicated movement of the component under investigation requires a sophisticated displacement arrangement making measurement stability and repeatability more difficult. In addition, prior complicated ceramic component and/or laser beam displacement and positioning systems require an equally complex optical arrangement increasing the time required for detection and analysis of defects rendering these prior approaches impractical for use in on-line production inspection of ceramic components.
The present invention addresses the aforementioned limitations of the prior art by providing optical apparatus for use in detecting and analyzing defects and micro-structural changes in monolithic and composite structural ceramic components as well as in deposited coatings. The optical apparatus if particularly adapted for use with irregularly shaped components and provides highly accurate and repeatable nondestructive evaluation of objects having complex shapes in realtime so as to be particularly effective in an on-line production inspection environment.

Optical apparatus for laser scattering by objects having complex shapes


An object of the present invention is to improve the abrasion resistance and controllability in a golf ball having a polyurethane cover containing a layered silicate or the exfoliated layer thereof. The present invention provides a golf ball comprising a core and a cover covering the core, wherein the cover comprises a polyurethane resin having a secondary or tertiary amine structure in a molecular chain thereof, the secondary or tertiary amine structure being cationized, and a layered silicate and/or an exfoliated product thereof, having an average aspect ratio of unit layers thereof ranging from 10 to 50.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a golf ball having a polyurethane cover and a method for producing the same, more specifically to technology for improving abrasion-resistance and controllability of the golf ball.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the base resin constituting the cover of the golf ball, an ionomer resin and a polyurethane resin are used. The cover using the ionomer resin is widely used because they are excellent in resilience, durability, processability or the like. There have been pointed out problems of poor shot feeling, insufficient spin performance, and inferior controllability since the ionomer resin cover has high rigidity and hardness. On the other hand, a polyurethane resin is used as a base resin constituting a cover because it provides improved shot feeling and spin performance compared with the ionomer resin. In recent years, however, accompanied with reduction of a thickness of a golf ball cover (thinner cover) and improvement of golf clubs (higher repulsion, lower spin, and change in groove configuration of face), there has been a demand for further improving cover performance of a golf ball, because abrasion-resistance and spin performance of a cover using a conventional polyurethane resin are no longer at a satisfactory level.
In view of such circumstances, for example, Japanese patent publication Nos. 2002-136618A, 2002-539905T, 2003-511116T, 2006-43447A and 2004-504900T propose improving cover properties by blending a filler such as an organic short fiber, a glass, a metal, and a clay mineral in a base resin constituting a cover. Additionally, technology for improving a mechanical property of polyurethane is disclosed in, for example, Japanese patent publication No. H10-168305A and Korean patent publication No. 2005-0112693. Further, Japanese patent publication No. 2008-289674A discloses a golf ball wherein the cover comprises a polyurethane resin having a secondary or tertiary amine structure in a molecular chain thereof and a layered silicate.

Golf ball and method for producing the same


An ion generating device is arranged such that a heater electrode is wired so as to heat (i) a creeping discharge area and (ii) areas where respective terminal sections of an induction electrode, a discharge electrode, and the heater electrode are provided. This allows prevention of dew condensation and nitric acid generation in the vicinities of the respective terminal sections.

In a conventional image forming apparatus employing an electrophotographic printing method, a charging device employing a corona discharge system has been frequently used as: a charging device for charging a photoreceptor; a transfer device for electrostatically transferring, to recording paper or the like, a toner image which is formed on the photoreceptor or the like; and a separation device for separating the recording paper or the like which is electrostatically in contact with the photoreceptor or the like.
Such a charging device employing the corona discharge system generally includes a shield case having an opening section which faces a charge receiving materials such as the photoreceptor and the recording paper, and a discharge electrode of a line or saw-tooth shape which discharge electrode is tensed in the shield case. Examples of this charging device include: (i) a corotron charger which uniformly charges charge receiving materials by applying a high voltage to the discharge electrode so as to cause corona discharge, and (ii) a scorotron charger (refer to Patent Literature 1) which uniformly charges charge receiving materials by applying a desired voltage to a grid electrode provided between a discharge electrode and the respective charge receiving materials.
Patent Literatures 2 and 3 disclose that the charging device employing the corona discharge system is used in a charging device for charging before a transfer in which a toner image is charged before the toner image is transferred to transfer mediums such as the intermediate transfer member and the recording paper. According to techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 2 and 3, even if a charge amount is not uniform in a toner image formed on an image bearing member, the charge amount of the toner image is uniformized before the toner image is transferred. This allows (i) suppression of a decrease in transfer margin required for transferring a toner image and (ii) a stable transfer of the toner image to a transfer medium.
Note however that the conventional charging device as mentioned above has the following problems. First, the charging device requires not only the discharge electrode but also the shield case, the grid electrode, and the like. Further, it is necessary to secure a given distance (10 mm) between the discharge electrode and the respective charge receiving materials. This requires a large space for providing the charging device. Generally, a developing device, a first transfer device, and the like are provided around a first transfer section, and the photoreceptor, a second transfer device, and the like are provided in front of a second transfer section. Therefore, a space is small for providing the charging device for charging before a transfer. This causes a problem that it is difficult to make a layout in the conventional charging device employing the corona discharge system.
On the other hand, in recent years, a charging device employing a contact charging system has been used as a charging device for charging a photoreceptor itself. In the contact charging system, a conductive roller or a conductive brush carries out contact electrification. However, it is difficult to carry out charging without disordering the toner image by the contact charging system. Further, in case of employing the contact charging system, a contact with the photoreceptor or spark discharge generated in a micro air gap is highly likely to accelerate a deterioration in photoreceptor. This is an obstacle to a life extension of the photoreceptor and ultimately to a reduction in running cost. In view of this, a non-contact corona discharge system is to be used as the charging device for charging before a transfer.
In order to address the problems of the conventional charging device, for example, Patent Literature 4 discloses a charging device which includes an ion generating device (a creeping discharge device) employing a charging system (hereinafter, a charging system of this type is referred to as a creeping discharge system) in which: a discharge electrode having pointed protrusions on an outer periphery of the discharge electrode and an induction electrode are provided so as to sandwich a dielectric body between the discharge electrode and the induction electrode, and an alternating high-voltage is applied across the discharge electrode and the induction electrode so as to generate ions.
The charging device employing this creeping discharge system is small in size because the charging device has no shield case and no grid electrode. Moreover, it is easy to clean the charging device because the charging device has a flat discharging surface. Therefore, the charging device excels in maintenance. Furthermore, the charging device is not in contact with charge receiving materials and does not directly discharge surfaces of the respective charge receiving materials. Therefore, it is possible to minimize a deterioration in each of the charge receiving materials.
Note here that the ion generating device (creeping discharge device) tends to have a weaker discharge characteristic under a high humidity environment. In order to avoid this, for example, Patent Literatures 5, 6, 7, and 8 disclose techniques for improving discharging performance by providing the ion generating device with a heater member and by heating the device to remove absorption moisture on a discharge area. In particular, Patent Literatures 6 and 8 disclose a technique which also functions as a heater by applying a voltage to an induction electrode to generate Joule heat. According to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 6, it is possible to make the ion generating device more compact and lower in cost as compared with the technique of independently providing an additional heater device.

Ion generating device, charging device, and image forming apparatus


The present application describes a purified covalently closed antisense molecule, which specifically inhibits expression of TGF-β.

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 USC 119(a)-(d) to Republic of Korea application 10-2001-86765, filed Dec. 28, 2001.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of biotechnology and especially antisense therapy using closed covalent antisense molecule that is targeted to TGF-β. The invention also relates to a method of delivering the antisense molecule to a cell. The invention further relates to a method of treating diseases caused by the production of TGF-β.
2. General Background and State of the Art
Renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis, characterized by the accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins (ECMs), is a common consequence of progressive renal diseases (Kuncio et al., Kidney Int. 39, 550-556(1991)). Obstructed kidney with unilateral ureteric obstruction (UUO) is a well established animal model system for renal injury accompanied by tubulointerstitial fibrosis (Klahr et al., Kidney Int. 54, 286-300(1998)). The mechanical disturbance resulting from ureteral ligation leads to hydronephrosis, loss of renal parenchyma, and tubular changes such as dilation, atrophy, and apoptosis (Gonzalez-Avila et al., Pathobiology 66, 196-204(1998); Truong et al., Kidney Int. 50, 200-207(1996)). Although the mechanisms underlying the progression of tubulointerstitial fibrosis have not been fully elucidated, numerous cytokines have been implicated as mediators of tubulointerstitial fibrosis in kidneys with UUO. Among these cytokines, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) plays an important role in renal fibrosis, as evidenced by glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis (Schiffer et al., J. Clin. Invest. 108, 807-816(2001); Wang et al., Kidney Int. 60, 96-105(2001)). TGF-β1 is involved in accumulation of ECMs responding to tissue injury for normal repair and is responsible for fibrotic changes by aberrant overproduction of ECMs such as proteoglycans, collagens, fibronectin, and glycoproteins (Branton et al., Microbes Infect. 1, 1349-1365(1999); Okuda et al., J. Clin. Invest. 86, 453-462(1990)). TGF-β1 also inhibits the degradation of newly synthesized matrix protein by upregulating the synthesis of protease inhibitors and downregulating the synthesis of matrix-degrading proteases. Thus, effective blockade of TGF-β1 synthesis or action appears to be a promising method for preventing fibrotic conditions as suggested by several reports (Border et al., Nature 360, 361-364(1992); Akagi et al., Kidney Int. 50, 148-155(1996); Isaka et al., Nat. Med. 2, 418-423(1996); Isaka et al., Kidney Int. 55, 465-475(1999)).
Antisense oligonucleotides (AS oligos) have been valuable in the functional study of gene products by reducing expression of genes in a sequence-specific manner. However, the use of oligos still has several critical problems such as instability to nuclease, sequence nonspecificity and poor cellular uptake. Various chemically modified oligos such as phosphorothioate and methylphosphonate oligos have been developed to augment stability against nucleases. However, each of the modified oligonucleotides exhibits its own problems, which include lack of sequence specificity, insensitivity to RNaseH and prolongation of partial thrombosis time. Further, there has been fear that recycled hydrolyzed modified nucleotides may be incorporated into the genome during DNA repair and replication, causing mutations in genomic DNA. We previously reported that ribbon-type antisense (RiAS) oligos with a covalently closed structure were very stable and effective in specific ablation of target c-myb mRNA, and had few of the problems associated with other modified AS oligos (Moon et al., J. Biol. Chem. 275, 4647-4653(2000); and PCT/KR00/00305), which are incorporated by reference in their entirety.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,874 discloses forming a covalently closed type nucleic acid sequence but requires that a parallel and anti-parallel nucleic acid sequence be present on the opposite sides of the loop to form a triple helical structure. However, such structure is useful mainly for binding genomic promoter region and not for binding complementary mRNA for targeted degradation by RNase H. Thus, the '874 patent fails to disclose or suggest that a covalently closed antisense structure with or without such parallel and anti-parallel sequences may be effective in ablating target nucleic acid expression.
Cellular uptake of antisense oligos can be enhanced by forming complexes with liposomes. Although liposomes have several advantages such as low toxicity, lack of immunogenicity, and simplicity of production, liposomes exhibit relatively poor cellular uptake. It has been shown that a protein fused with the protein transduction domain of the tat polypeptide of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can be efficiently delivered to all tissues in mice, including the brain (Schwarze et al., Science 285, 1569-1572(1999)). The tat peptide covalently harnessed on the surface of liposomes increases intracellular delivery (Torchilin et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 98, 8786-8791(2001)). Further, a small region of the tat protein, residues from 49 to 57 containing 2 lysines and 6 arginines, has nuclear localization property.
There is a continuing need to make therapeutic antisense molecules that are specific, safe and efficacious, as well as a system for delivering the antisense molecules effectively.

TGF-β-specific covalently closed antisense molecule


A method for determining a pose of a camera is provided, the method includes: S101, acquiring an image of a marker; S102, estimating a first pose of the camera according to the image of the marker by a characteristic point method; S103, estimating a second pose of the camera according to the image of the marker by a direct method; and S104, determining the pose of the camera based on the first pose and the second pose.

Computer vision is a hotspot in current industry and scientific research. Augmented Reality (AR), for example, is a variation of virtual reality (VR), by which a virtual object is overlapped or combined into the real world. Therefore, AR is a technology that merges a virtual world with the real world together.
In the field of AR, a pose of a camera needs to be estimated in real-time to ensure real-timeness, stability and robustness of the overlapped images. For example, the pose of the camera for capturing an image is determined by tracking a particular planar marker in the image. The method of tracking the marker can be used for tracking the pose of the camera in augmented reality (AR). This pose can be directly used for virtual object rendering in AR. Similarly, indoor navigation, AR advertising, AR star interaction may all be achieved with this technology.
The marker refers to a fixed planar marker used for marking and used for the AR, and may be a planar object such as a poster, a display board, a book, or a floor sticker.
At present, tracking based on a fixed marker is mostly triggered by an indirect method (characteristic point+descriptor), and is conducted by an algorithm such as an optical flow method, a region matching or the like.
The tracking methods in the existing technology have the following drawbacks:
these methods have high requirements on the spatial density of characteristic corner points and the distinguishability of characteristics;
since the environmental information is unknown, the anti-interference ability for complicated background is poor only based on marker information; and
model matching and tracking are prone to failure when the model has a small proportion in the field of view.
The above is only the technical condition known to the inventor, and does not necessarily means that it constitutes the existing technology of the present disclosure.

Method and device for determining pose of camera

Baidu Online Network Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd.


Systems and methods for providing electrical power from an electrical outlet. In some embodiments, an electrical outlet for providing high voltage power to a device includes power input terminals for connection to a high voltage power source, and at least one power output socket configured to receive a plug configured to receive high voltage power. The outlet may also include a shock-proof circuit connected to the at least one power output socket, a communication circuit configured, and a processor coupled to the communication circuit and the shock-proof circuit, the processor and the shock-proof circuit collectively configured to determine when to provide high voltage power to the at least one power output socket based on a sensed condition, and the processor and the communication circuit collectively configured to communicate information relating to an operation aspect of the electrical outlet with a remote computing device.

Electrical outlets in walls and floors present serious hazards to the public. The electrical receptacles can also be the cause of fires and other damage to property. Hospitals have treated many injuries associated with electrical outlets. A number of these injuries can occur when young children insert metal objects, for example, hair pins and keys, into the electrical outlet, resulting in electric shock or burn injuries to the hands or fingers, and death. According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFi), every month nearly 200 children are treated in hospital emergency rooms for electrical shock or burn injuries caused by tampering with a wall outlet. It is also reported that 70 percent of child-related electrical accidents occur at home. Since the modern high voltage AC outlet came into use more than 60 years ago, outlets have been boxed into a basic utilitarian form factor and functionality. Thus, there is a need to develop effective shock proof electrical outlets. In addition, there is a need for improving electrical outlets to address the technological advances people desire in their home and workplace.

Systems and methods for modular shock proof electrical outlets


The present invention provides a process for producing a polyester ether copolymer which comprises conducting polycondensation after or while melting and mixing a polyester, of 0.3 (dl/g) or more in intrinsic viscosity, and a polyether having hydroxy groups or their derivatives at its terminals and having a molecular weight of 200 or more. The present invention can dispense with the steps of esterification, transesterification, etc., because of the use of the preformed polyester. Moreover, it shortens the reaction time so that only a small quantity of polyester is produced as a by-product. In addition, since the thermal history of the polyesterh is so small, deterioration of the polymer during production is suppressed. Furthermore, this process enables continuous production of products with good quality, which serves to markedly improve productivity.

As polyesterether copolymer is excellent in processability and properties, it collects attention in engineering plastic fields such as automobile and electronic electric parts industries. As methods of producing these polymers, there have been known the following methods: a method for carrying out polycondensation after transesterification, with the polyether being allowed to coexist during transesterification, between an aromatic dicarboxylic acid ester and a glycol; as shown in Laid-open Publication No. 198527/83, a method for carrying out polycondensation after transferring into a polycondensation vessel charged beforehand with a polyether, esterified products from a direct esterification between an aromatic dicarboxylic acid and a glycol; or, as shown in Laid-open Publication No. 19696/73, a method for carrying out polycondensation by adding a polyether after oligoesterification was made by adding alkylene glycol to polyester. These methods, however, contain the following problems: requirement of complicated processes and facilities, no avoidance of poor quality and operability decrease caused by the generation of bu-products of the polyether, such as diethylene glycol, due to longer reaction time, and difficulty in obtaining high polymerization degree due to higher decomposing rate during the reaction in a system containing a large quantity of thermally unstable polyether.
In light of the foregoing situation, the present inventors have made an extensive series of studies to eliminate the above problems to thus provide the present invention.

Process for producing polyester ether copolymer

Kanegafuchi Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha


An exercise apparatus is disclosed herein, including a frame, a rotating assembly, two supporting rods, two swing arms, two links, and two pedals. The front ends of the supporting rods are connected respectively to two connecting points of the rotating assembly, and the rear end of each supporting rod moves back and forth along a corresponding track. The front ends of the links are connected respectively at two swing ends of the swing arms. Each pedal is mounted at the rear end of a corresponding link and pivotally coupled to a corresponding supporting member. The distance between the bottom of a circular path of the connecting points and the tracks is smaller than 10 cm. The length of the supporting rod is smaller than two times diameter of the circular path. The longitudinal horizontal distance between the front edge of the closed path and the rear edge of the circular path is smaller than 20 cm. The rear ends of the supporting rods are located between the front ends and rear ends of the pedals.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an exercise apparatus and, more particularly to an elliptical exercise apparatus with small size for reducing space occupation.
2. Description of the Related Art
Elliptical exercise apparatus has been popular in recent years. Generally, elliptical exercise apparatus can guide a left pedal and a right pedal to move along an elliptical moving path for simulating walking, running, and stair climbing.
For example, an elliptical exercise apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,390,954. The elliptical exercise apparatus comprises a crank mounted at the front end of the frame; left and right tracks mounted at the rear end of the frame; left and right supporting rods mounted on left and right sides respectively; and left and right swing arms mounted at the front end of the frame. The front end of each supporting rod pivotally connects to a crank arm of the crank, so that the front ends can move along a circular path. The left and right supporting rods each has a roller mounted pivotally on the rear end, and the rollers move back and forth on the tracks. Two pedals are mounted respectively to the upper surfaces of the middle sections of supporting rods. Each swing arm has a top end for forming a handle, and a lower end connects to the corresponding supporting rod via a link. The left and right pedals move along a substantial elliptical closed path, and the left and right handles move back and forth correspondingly with the pedals.
The aforesaid elliptical exercise apparatus suffers from some shortcomings. First, the motion path of the pedals needs an adequate longitudinal length for exercising a user's legs, and the tracks at the rear end of the frame are longer than the longitudinal length of the motion path of the pedals, so the longitudinal length of the elliptical exercise apparatus is so long that it needs more space to be placed. Second, because the pedals are fixed securely on the supporting rods, the angle of the pedals varies with the motion path of the supporting rods. During operation period, the movement status of the user's feet is not conformed to the actual movement status. Preferably, the upper surface of each pedal is substantially horizontal when the pedal is at the bottom of the path. When the pedal is in the other segments, the front end of the pedal should be lower than the rear of the pedal, and it is apparent when the pedal is at the top of the path.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,007,462 shows a small elliptical exercise apparatus which includes a frame; a crank mounted at the rear end of the frame; left and right swing arms mounted pivotally at the front end of the frame; and left and right supporting rods connected respectively to the lower ends of the swing arms and corresponding crank arm. Two pedals are mounted on the supporting rods respectively. Thereby the left and right pedals move along a substantial elliptical closed path. The longitudinal length of the elliptical exercise apparatus is small enough to be placed in a limited space. However, the pedal motion doesn't conform with ergonomics. When each pedal moves to the bottom of the elliptical path, the front end of the pedal is higher than the rear end of the pedal. But the real situation is that while a person is walking or running, while his foot is on the ground, the sole of the foot should be horizontal on the ground surface.


A fixing apparatus includes a fixing portion which comes into contact with a sheet and fixes a toner image on the sheet, a magnetic flux generating portion which generates a magnetic flux so as to heat the fixing portion by electromagnetic induction, a magnetic flux shielding portion which shields a magnetic flux generated from the magnetic flux generating portion between the fixing portion and the magnetic flux generating portion, a support portion which supports the magnetic flux shielding portion, a moving portion which moves the support portion in a width direction perpendicular to a sheet conveying direction, a controller which controls the moving portion so as to move the magnetic flux shielding portion to a position based on a sheet size in the width direction, and a sheet guide portion which is supported on the support portion and guides the sheet to the fixing portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fixing apparatus which fixes a toner image by heating the toner image formed on a sheet, and an image forming apparatus including the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile, which performs image formation by an electrophotographic system, an electrostatic recording system, or the like, or an image forming apparatus having multiple functions thereof is mounted with a fixing apparatus which fixes a toner image formed on a sheet.
As a heating portion which heats a fixing rotating member of a fixing apparatus, there has been proposed an electromagnetic induction heating portion which generates heat by Joule heat by generating an eddy current in an induction heating member provided in a fixing rotating member by an exciting coil. When small-size sheets are heated in succession, the following problems occur. That is, in a region (sheet passing region) where a sheet contacts a surface of a fixing rotating member, the sheet is conveyed while heat is being transferred to the sheet. In contrast, in a region (sheet non-passing region) where the sheet does not contact the surface of the fixing rotating member, no heat is transferred to the sheet. Thus, heat is accumulated in the fixing rotating member, causing an excessive temperature rise. Therefore, a great temperature difference occurs between the sheet passing region and the sheet non-passing region in the fixing rotating member.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-267180 discloses a technique which adjusts a temperature of a sheet non-passing region in a fixing rotating member by inserting or removing a magnetic shielding plate in a gap portion between a fixing rotating member having an electromagnetic induction heat generating layer and an exciting coil which generates a magnetic flux. That is, when there is a risk of the excessive temperature rise in the sheet non-passing region by conveying a small-size sheet, the arrival of the magnetic flux at the fixing rotating member is blocked by inserting the magnetic shielding plate into the gap portion, and the heat generation of the fixing rotating member in the sheet non-passing region is suppressed.
Meanwhile, when conveying a large-size sheet, the magnetic shielding plate is moved to the outside of the gap portion, and the entire area of the fixing rotating member generates heat. The magnetic shielding plate is made of a material having high permeability and high electrical resistance (for example, ferrite). Since the material having high electrical resistance is used, a current value becomes small, and thus, heat generation of the magnetic shielding plate itself is suppressed.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-267180, in the configuration including the movable magnetic shielding plate, when the magnetic shielding plate is disposed at a position which is an upstream side in a sheet conveying direction rather than a fixing nip portion of a fixing apparatus and is in vicinity of the fixing nip portion, a space is required for disposing the magnetic shielding plate at a position which is an upstream side of the fixing nip portion and is in the vicinity of the fixing nip portion.
Meanwhile, in many cases, the sheet being conveyed to the fixing nip portion is curled. Therefore, a sheet conveying guide is disposed for certainly conveying the sheet to the fixing nip portion. Even though the magnetic shielding plate intends to be disposed at the position which is the upstream side in the sheet conveying direction rather than the fixing nip portion and is in the vicinity of the fixing nip portion, the magnetic shielding plate may not be disposed due to the sheet conveying guide, or the shape of the magnetic shielding plate is restricted. Thus, the magnetic shielding function may not be sufficiently exhibited.
The present invention is for solving the above-described problems, and in a fixing apparatus including a magnetic flux shielding portion which shields a magnetic flux generated from an electromagnetic induction heating portion, it is desirable to provide a fixing apparatus which can have both functions of a magnetic flux shielding portion and a sheet conveying guide.

Fixing apparatus with movable magnetic flux shielding portion and sheet guide portion, and image forming apparatus


In one embodiment, when a switching clutch or a switching brake is engaged and thus a differential of a differential unit is limited, the gear ratio of a continuously variable transmission unit is adjusted. On the other hand, when the switching clutch and the switching brake are both released and thus the differential of the differential unit is not limited, an overall gear ratio obtained from the gear ratio of the differential unit and the gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission unit is adjusted.

Recently, from the viewpoint of environmental protection and the like, reduction in the amount of exhaust gas emissions from an engine (internal combustion engine) mounted in a vehicle and improvement of specific fuel consumption have been sought, and as vehicles that satisfy these goals, hybrid vehicles equipped with a hybrid system have been put into practical use.
Such a hybrid vehicle is provided with an engine such as a gasoline engine, and an electric motor (for example, a motor generator) that, for example, assists engine output by driving (powering) the hybrid vehicle using electric power generated by engine output or electric power stored in a battery, and in this hybrid vehicle, either or both of the engine and electric motor are used as a running power source.
Also, as a drive apparatus of the hybrid system mounted in this type of hybrid vehicle, for example, there are the drive apparatuses disclosed in the documents below.
JP 2005-264762A (referred to below as Patent Document 1)
JP 2006-273305A (referred to below as Patent Document 2)
JP H11-217025A (referred to below as Patent Document 3)
The drive apparatuses disclosed in these Patent Documents 1 to 3 are provided with a power distribution mechanism that distributes engine output to a first electric motor and an output shaft, a second electric motor that is linked to the output shaft of that power distribution mechanism, and a transmission mechanism connected thereto on the subsequent stage side thereof. The power distribution mechanism is configured with, for example, a planetary gear apparatus so as to function as a differential mechanism, and due to differential operation of the power distribution mechanism, the major part of power from the engine is mechanically transmitted towards drive wheels, and the remaining part of power from the engine is electrically transmitted using an electrical path from the first electric motor to the second electric motor. Thus, the power distribution mechanism functions as a transmission (referred to below as an electric differential unit) in which the gear ratio is electrically changed, and allows the vehicle to be run while maintaining engine operation in a region of high combustion efficiency, thereby contributing to improved specific fuel consumption.
Also, as the transmission mechanism provided on the subsequent stage side, an automatic stepped transmission mechanism is applied in the drive apparatuses of Patent Documents 1 and 2, and a belt-driven continuously variable transmission mechanism is applied in the drive apparatus of Patent Document 3.
In view of increasing the practicality of a vehicle drive apparatus in which, as described above, the electric differential unit is provided on the previous stage side, and the transmission mechanism capable of changing the gear ratio is provided on the subsequent stage side, the inventors of the present invention investigated a technique for controlling differential operation of the electric differential unit and gearshift operation of the transmission mechanism.
The inventors found that in a drive apparatus in which an automatic stepped transmission mechanism is applied as the subsequent stage side transmission mechanism, as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, because the gear ratio of this subsequent stage side transmission mechanism can only change in steps, it is not possible to realize control whereby optimal specific fuel consumption is obtained at every vehicle speed.
More specifically, engine output power is distributed by the electric differential unit, and transmitted to the drive wheels via two paths: a mechanical path where the output is transmitted towards the drive wheels as mechanical energy, and the aforementioned electrical path where the output is converted to electric energy by the electricity generating function of the first electric motor, and that electric energy is converted to mechanical energy by the second electric motor.
Here, energy loss due to the energy conversion occurs in energy transmission by the electrical path. Therefore, in order to increase motive power transmission efficiency, it is preferable to bring the electrical path amount near '0', by, for example, setting the revolution speed of the first electric motor to approximately '0'.
However, when attempting to operate the engine along a combustion efficiency optimal line, which is a gathering of engine operation points that realizes optimal specific fuel consumption, the engine revolution speed does not change in equal proportion to the vehicle speed. Therefore, in a drive apparatus in which an automatic stepped transmission mechanism is applied as the subsequent stage side transmission mechanism, as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the gear ratio of this subsequent stage side transmission mechanism can only change in steps, so when the engine is operated along the combustion efficiency optimal line, if an attempt is made to set the automatic stepped transmission mechanism to a predetermined gear relative to a particular vehicle speed, it may become necessary to rotate the first electric motor. That is, in response to the vehicle speed and the gear of the automatic stepped transmission mechanism, the revolution speed of the first electric motor deviates from '0', and thus the electrical path amount cannot be brought near '0'. As a result, it is not possible to set the motive power transmission efficiency to maximum efficiency in the vehicle drive apparatus, due to generation or increase of this electric path amount.
The inventors of the present invention found that in a drive apparatus in which an automatic stepped transmission mechanism is applied as the subsequent stage side transmission mechanism, as described above, it is not possible to realize control whereby optimal specific fuel consumption is obtained at every vehicle speed. Such findings are not commonly known.
On the other hand, in Patent Document 3, although a belt-driven continuously variable transmission mechanism is applied as the subsequent stage side transmission mechanism, nothing is disclosed with respect to a control technique for the differential operation of the electric differential unit and the gearshift operation of the transmission mechanism, i.e., the technique for overall control of the gearshift operation for the vehicle drive apparatus as a whole, and Patent Document 3 does not propose a control technique that is specific to the case where a belt-driven continuously variable transmission mechanism is applied to the subsequent stage side.

Control apparatus of vehicle drive apparatus


The present invention relates to CD200 receptor isoforms and modulators thereof and their use in methods of immune modulation and pharmaceutical compositions.

The immune system protects the body from infectious agents and disease and is critical to our survival. However, in certain instances, the immune system can be the cause of illness. One example is in autoimmune disease wherein the immune system attacks its own host tissues, in many instances causing debilitating illness and sometimes resulting in death. Examples of autoimmune diseases include multiple sclerosis, type 1 insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, lupus erythematosus and arthritis. A second example where the immune system can cause illness is during tissue or organ transplantation. Except in the cases of genetically identical animals, such as monozygotic twins, tissue and organ transplants are rejected by the recipient's immune system as foreign. The immune reaction against transplants is even more pronounced in transplantation across species or xenotransplantation. A third example where the immune system harms the host is during an allergic reaction where the immune system is activated by a generally innocuous antigen causing inflammation and in some cases tissue damage. A fourth example where the immune system is involved is in fetal loss.
In order to inhibit the detrimental immune reactions during transplantation, autoimmune disease and allergic reactions, immunosuppressive drugs (such as cyclosporin A, tacrolimas, and corticosteroids) or antibody therapies (such as anti-T cell antibodies) are generally administered. Unfortunately, these non-specific modes of immunosuppression generally have undesirable side effects. For example, cyclosporin may cause decreased renal function, hypertension, toxicity and it must be administered for the life of the patient. Corticosteroids may cause decreased resistance to infection, painful arthritis, osteoporosis and cataracts. The anti-T cell antibodies may cause fever, hypertension, diarrhea or sterile meningitis and are quite expensive.
In view of the problems associated with immunosuppression, there has been an interest in developing methods or therapies that induce unresponsiveness or tolerance in the host to a transplant, to "self" tissues in autoimmune disease and to harmless antigens associated with allergies. The inventors have been studying the mechanisms involved in transplant rejection and have developed methods for inducing a state of antigen-specific immunological tolerance in transplantation. In particular, in animal allograft models, the inventors have demonstrated that graft survival, such as renal and skin allograft survival, can be increased if the recipient animal is given a pre-transplant infusion via the portal vein of irradiated spleen cells from the donor animal (2,3). In contrast, a pre-transplant infusion via the tail vein does not prolong graft survival. Increased graft survival was further shown to be in turn associated with increased expression of a number of distinct mRNAs (4), one of which encodes CD200 (previously called OX2), a molecule expressed on the surface of dendritic cells (5).
The CD200 protein (also known as OX2) has a high degree of homology to molecules of the immunoglobulin gene family, which includes molecules important in lymphocyte antigen recognition and cell-cell interaction (e.g. CD4, CD8, ICAMs, VCAMs), as well as adhesion receptor molecules (NCAMs) in the nervous system. However, prior to the present inventors, the function of the CD200 protein was largely unknown. The present inventors showed subsequently that infusion of anti-CD200 monoclonal antibodies from the time of transplantation blocks the protective effect of pv immunization in mice receiving renal allografts (4) and rats receiving SIT (6), and the polarization to type-2 cytokine production seen in these models (4, 6). A soluble immunoadhesin, in which the extracellular domain of CD200 was linked to a murine IgG2aFc region, inhibited T-cell allostimulation and type-1 cytokine production (IL-2, IFNγ) in vitro and in vivo (1). Since the intracellular domain of CD200 lacks signalling motifs, or any docking sites for adapter molecules which might engage an intracellular signalling cascade, the present inventors suggest that these and other data (4,7,25) are consistent with the idea that engagement of a receptor for CD200 (CD200R) by CD200 may deliver key immunoregulatory signals (36).
T-cells are activated after concomitant engagement of TCRs with antigen presented on APC in association with MHC molecules and the delivery of costimulatory signals resulting from the interaction of several ligand:coreceptor complexes (8-11). Major positive costimulatory interactions include the following: CD40L with CD40, and CD28 with CD80/CD86; CTLA4 interactions with CD80/CD86 may deliver a negative signal (12-17). While positive costimulatory signals are clearly important in T-cell triggering, blocking this costimulation alone, and/or facilitating signalling via CTLA4, has not reproducibly induced tolerance. This may reflect the need for other molecules (such as CD200) in active immunoregulation (4). In recent studies the inventors reported that dendritic cells (DC) expressing CD200, triggered an immunoregulatory function leading to increased allograft survival. Moreover, these cells were physically distinguishable from those DC with optimal allostimulatory capacity (7).
Early attempts to characterize CD200R by Preston et al. (18) were performed by constructing a soluble chimeric protein with the extracellular domains of CD200 engineered onto domains 3+4 of rat CD4 antigen. In order to detect weak interactions, the chimeric protein was coupled to fluorescent covaspheres to ensure an avid display of CD200. These CD200 covaspheres were reported to bind to macrophages but not other cell types. The specificity of the interaction was documented by inhibition studies using Fab fragments of the CD200 monoclonal antibody (mAb). Using site-directed mutagenesis this group further reported results suggesting that the ligand-binding domain of CD200 was in the NH2-terminal domain of the extracellular region of CD200.
Recently, Barclay et al. reported several forms of the CD200R (WO 00/70045, published Nov. 23, 2000).


A wireless power reception apparatus including a bridgeless rectifier in a wireless power transfer (WPT) system for an electric vehicle (EV) may include: a bridgeless rectifier configured to rectify power transferred from a reception coil and to supply a direct current to a battery mounted in the EV; and a controller configured to control operation of the bridgeless rectifier. The bridgeless rectifier may include at least one switch and at least one diode connected to the at least one switch.

An electric vehicle (EV) charging system may be defined as a system for charging a high-voltage battery mounted in an EV using power of an energy storage device or a power grid of a commercial power source. The EV charging system may have various forms according to the type of EV. For example, the EV charging system may be classified as a conductive-type using a charging cable or a non-contact wireless power transfer (WPT)-type (also referred to as an "inductive-type").
When charging an EV wirelessly, a reception coil in a vehicle assembly (VA) mounted in the EV forms an inductive resonant coupling with a transmission coil in a group assembly (GA) located in a charging station or a charging spot. Electric power is then transferred from the GA to the VA to charge the high-voltage battery of the EV through the inductive resonant coupling.
In order to reduce a rating of the VA and achieve maximum power transfer, the WPT system may make the respective resonance frequencies of the primary and secondary sides coincide with each other, and operate the operation frequency of the system according to the resonance frequency. Also, an output voltage received through a power reception pad from a power transmission pad may be used to generate a necessary voltage for the battery mounted in the EV using a direct current (DC)-to-DC converter. A buck-boost converter has been used conventionally as the DC-to-DC converter. However, the buck-boost converter includes additional switches and inductors, thereby increasing its volume. Thus, a reduction of power density and degradation of power transfer efficiency may occur.

Power reception apparatus having bridgeless rectifier in electric vehicle wireless power transfer system

Research & Business Foundation Sungkyunkwan University


It comprises the new polymorphs I and II of Lesopitron dihydrochloride, characterized by their infrared spectra and their X-ray diffraction patterns. They are obtained by crystallization of Lesopitron dihydrochloride. It also comprises the forms I-hydrate and II-hydrate, which are obtained from the corresponding polymorphs, which have a water content from 3 to 6% and from 1.5 to 2.5%, respectively. These products are used in human medicine mainly due to their pharmacological activity over the central nervous system.

The invention relates to the pyrimidinic compound 2-4-4-4-(chloropyrazole-1-yl) butyl!-1-pyperazinyl! pyrimidine, which has the following structural formula: ##STR1## generically termed Lesopitron, which exhibits pharmacological activity over the central nervous system, particularly an anxiolytic, tranquilizing and antidepressant activity. It can also be used in the treatment of dyskinesias, Parkinsonism and drug induced psychoses, in the treatment of cognitive functions, inhibition of the withdrawal symptoms, and in treatment vomit and gastric secretion related problems.
The synthesis of the compound and an account of its therapeutical properties are described in patents EP 382637B1, EP 429360B1, EP 497658A1 and FR 9314102.
Lesopitron dihydrochloride is particularly important in that it allows for the Lesopitron to be conveniently formulated, for instance, in tablets for oral administration. Therefore, there is the need to produce Lesopitron dihydrochloride in pure and crystalline form, in order to comply with the pharmaceutical requirements and specifications. The patent EP 382637B1 describes a process for the preparation of Lesopitron dihydrochloride.
From the point of view of its application for pharmaceutical use, it was important to obtain, at least, a single crystalline form of Lesopitron dihydrochloride which could be manufactured, stored and formulated without losing the required specifications of a pure pharmaceutical product. During the preparation of samples of Lesopitron dihydrochloride, it was observed that said samples did not meet a unique criterion with respect to their infrared spectrum. A closer study resulted in the unexpected discovery that the corresponding differences were not associated to impurities, but to the existence of a phenomenon of polymorphism. The authors of the present invention have discovered that, depending on the crystallization conditions of the samples of Lesopitron dihydrochloride, different crystalline forms are obtained, observing that they differ not only in their infrared spectrum but in their X-ray diffraction patterns as well.

Polymorphs of lesopitron dihydrochloride and its hydrated forms, preparation processes and compositions containing it


The invention pertains to a method of manufacturing a product from used woven or knitted textile comprising vegetable or animal fibres, in particular cotton or wool, the method comprising the steps of: collecting the used woven or knitted textile, granulating the used woven or knitted textile into fibres having an average fiber length of between 3.6 mm and 5.5 mm, mixing the granulated used woven or knitted textile with a thermoplastic fiber based binder, and forming a nonwoven mat from the mixture of the granulated used woven or knitted textile and fiber based binder, the nonwoven mat comprising 59% to 75% of vegetable fiber, or alternatively the nonwoven mat comprising at least 80% animal fibres. The invention also pertains to a product produced by said method.

The textile and service laundry industry generates a substantial amount of mostly used woven or knitted fabric material. The used woven or knitted textiles are accumulated from various stages of the manufacturing process and post use, such as used piece of products, trimmings, end pieces, faulty sections, experimental pieces and rejected pieces. At the present time, practically none of these used woven materials are reclaimed or re-manufactured, because there has been no satisfactory method of reclaiming or re-manufacturing them. Rather, they are disposed of in refuse clumps or by chemical or physical means, and as so disposed, they constitute a discarded resource. Furthermore, a large portion of marketed fabric materials, e.g. apparel, household textiles such as towels tablecloths and spreadsheets, and textiles from industrial laundries, which are ultimately down-cycled as waste for incineration, road filling or wiper products, would be suitable for manufacturing if a practical method of reclaiming, reprocessing and up-cycled re-manufacturing of these materials were available, but no such method is presently available.
Prior art document WO20010063079 discloses a method of forming nonwoven material, the method comprising receiving fibrous material comprising thermoplastic fibres, processing the fibrous material to produce short fibres, adding the short fibres to a preformed web, and heating and optionally compressing the preformed web to form a nonwoven material. The fibrous material concerned is off-cuts and processing wastes of mainly synthetic textile production, not recycled clothing or used textile products.
Prior art document WO0132405 discloses a method of forming a fibre reinforced thermoplastic composite sheet by sourcing waste fibrous material and waste thermoplastic material, producing a flock of the fibrous material and mixing the flock with the thermoplastic material before heating and pressing the mix to form the fibre reinforced thermoplastic composite sheet.


A cabinet with a housing, in which a working chamber (3) is located which is open on one side. In order to reduce the risk of a blow-out of harmful substances and in particular to avoid dead-space areas at the internal surfaces of the side walls and the bottom of the working chamber (3), devices are provided which blow in supply-air jets (21, 22) at an acute angle to the internal surfaces of working chamber (3) in such a way that these supply-air jets (21, 22) lie next to the internal surfaces. Furthermore, an upper free jet (18) ensures that light gases, which form in working chamber (3) above this supporting jet (18), are reliably contained in the upper area of the cabinet and cannot contaminate the lower working area.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a fume extraction cabinet with a working chamber which is open on one side, and which is equipped with an exhaust.
2. Description of Related Art
Cabinets of the initially mentioned type are generally known and can are commercially available. They are subject to certain standards concerning a possible escape (blow-out) of harmful substances.
In this regard, it is known from published German Patent Application DE 19712975 A1 to increase the blow-out safety of a cabinet with a fume extraction working chamber by means of an air curtain which is blown upwards across the opening of the working chamber from the lower side. Although it is thus possible to improve the blow-out safety against disturbances from the exterior, it is not possible to prevent heavy gases, for example, from accumulating at the bottom of the working chamber or light gases from accumulating above the opening of the working space.

Fume extraction cabinet with a working chamber

Waldner Laboreinrichtungen GmbH & Co. KG


To dispatch a treatment agent, such as a reagent, process promoter, dye, softener and the like used in textile finishing from a specific holding station (1) to a processing point (2), a control unit (140) is provided to selectively open and close valves (8, 11) to respectively block and release branch lines and establish at least one of several possible flow itineraries from each holding point through a selected branch (6) and then to at least one header (3; 300), them from the header or headers through a trunk line (5) to at least one distributor (4; 400) and, then, from the distributor or distributors through at least one other branch (9) to the selected processing point or points; once the communication line or itinerary is established, the treatment agent is released from the holding point or points to the selected processing point or points.

Reagents (e.g. acetic acid), process promotors (e.g. softeners), and dyes--all called agents hereinafter--are employed in the textile-finishing industry in specific processing machinery and equipment.
How much of each agent is needed for a specific processing stage is often prescribed in a recipe. The agent for each stage in the finishing of a textile must be portioned or metered out and dispatched to the corresponding machinery or equipment. The various amounts are often dissolved or fine-dispersed in liquids (e.g. water). In this event the liquid can also act as a carrier. Agent is in the simplest case brought to the textile-finishing machinery or equipment by hand, in pails for example, and there added either directly to the machinery or equipment or to a storage container (e.g. the feed tank of a dye vat). Automating the procedure is known. Holding tanks (e.g. feed tanks or solution tanks) installed at a central point, in the kitchen of the dye works for example, can communicate through pipelines with the machinery or equipment. When agents have to be dissolved, in water for example, the containers often have mixers, heaters, and other auxiliary equipment associated with them. The ensemble of such a container and its associated auxiliary equipment will be called a holding point hereinafter, although the term is not to be considered as exclusive. Such a holding point can also have instead of the auxiliary equipment a line that supplies it with agent from a production line through a dosimeter. Large volumes of agent can be kept on hand at such a holding point. Enough for the particular stage can be removed and dispatched to the processing point. It is on the other hand also possible to prepare and hold one or more batches of just enough agent for the particular stage and dispatch it to the processing point as needed.
The processing points in what follows are to be understood as each comprising specific processing machinery and equipment (e.g. dying machines or scouring becks), in which the textile is processed by adding the agent.
One type of facility for automatically dispatching agents to processing points from holding points is comparatively simple and extensively employed. Each machine and piece of equipment is associated with its own holding tank by way of an unbranched pipeline. When there are several machines or pieces of equipment, as at a processing point for example, this approach demands relatively many holding tanks, holding points in other words. The pipeline is expensive, and a lot of space is consumed. Again, since the lines are usually very long, they are inefficient to operate.
Such facilities are accordingly often recirculating or branched to allow the processing points to be alternately connected to and disconnected from the various holding points by valves. Although such a facility does make it possible to get along with less holding tanks and points than an unbranched facility can, it is, with all its pipelines and valves, considerably more complicated and expensive.

Procedure and facility for dispatching agent from at least one holding point to at least one processing point


A probe card board in the present disclosure includes a plurality of through holes designed to receive a probe brought into contact with a measurement object. The probe card board is composed of silicon nitride based ceramics. The probe card board includes a first surface opposed to the measurement object and a second surface located opposite to the first surface. The probe card board contains a plurality of crystal phases of metal silicide. Metal constituting the metal silicide is at least one kind selected from among molybdenum, chrome, iron, nickel, manganese, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, cobalt and tungsten.

A probe card has conventionally been used for inspecting a circuit formed on a semiconductor wafer. Patent Document 1 discloses an embodiment of the above probe card. The probe card is used by being highly accurately aligned with a circuit pattern for the semiconductor wafer that is an inspection object. Alignment is carried out with an optical alignment method using light, such as laser light. Hence, there is, for example, a demand for the probe card that does not excessively reflect light (namely, having a black color) and causes less reflection irregularity (namely, causing less color irregularity).
Patent Document 1 discloses a probe card which is a sintered body composed mainly of silicon nitride and is blackened by adding a transition metal, such as W and Mo.

Probe card board, probe card, and inspection apparatus


An image forming apparatus includes a photoreceptor rotatable about an axis, and having a surface with a photosensitive layer abraded during use, a charging unit configured to charge the surface of the photoreceptor, an exposure unit configured to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoreceptor, a developing unit configured to form a toner image on the surface of the photoreceptor, and a control unit configured to obtain a film thickness of the photosensitive layer for each of a plurality of different positions in a direction of a rotation axis of the photoreceptor, and perform abrasion operation at a first or second position of the plurality of positions, when a difference in film thickness between the first position and the second position exceeds a predetermined reference value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for forming a toner image on a photoreceptor.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is well known, there are various kinds of image forming apparatuses, but among them, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus has an imaging unit configured to perform the following process. First, a photoreceptor having been charged is irradiated with light modulated by image data to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoreceptor. Next, a developer (i.e., toner) is supplied to the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoreceptor, and a toner image is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor. The toner image formed according to the above-mentioned process is transferred on a paper sheet. Then, a toner image on the paper sheet is fixed, and printed matter is completed. Further, after the toner image is transferred, a cleaning unit removes the toner remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor.
Repeated printing repeats formation of the toner image and cleaning, and a photosensitive layer on the surface of the photoreceptor is abraded. When a remaining film thickness of the photosensitive layer is less than a lower limit to form the image, the life of the photoreceptor ends. Therefore, conventionally, various methods for measuring the thickness of the photosensitive layer (i.e., film thickness) have been proposed (e.g., see JP 2003-287409 A).
As is well known, when the surface of a photoreceptor is cleaned, a portion on which a toner image is formed is abraded more than a portion on which the toner image is not formed (i.e., non-image portion). In repeated printing, image coverage and/or paper sheet size is generally different each time. As mentioned above, the photoreceptor comes to have an uneven film thickness thereon. Since charging bias voltage is adjusted based on the uneven film thickness, a portion having a large film thickness may have image defect due to charging failure. Such image defect may end the life of the photoreceptor, although the photoreceptor has a sufficient remaining film thickness.


The present invention is a heavy equipment vehicle for laying pipe, such as a modified excavator. The vehicle includes an undercarriage with a tracks for moving, an excavator cab mounted to the undercarriage by a rotating platform, a counterweight mounted to the cab, a boom having a first arm and a second arm, two pipe hoists, and an excavator tool attachment. The excavator tool attachment can be a bucket, scoop, grapple, a pulverizer, claw or a hammer of an excavator. Each arm of the vehicle has a pipe hoist attached to an underside thereof. The pipe hoist element is a two-block hoist with a top block and a bottom block with a hook extending downward, and a winch with line connecting to the two-block hoist, such that the line lowers and raises a hook connected to a harness of a pipe. The boom can also have stabilizer attachments.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to handling pipes. More particularly, the present invention relates to using heavy equipment, such as a modified excavator, to handle pipe. More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus for maneuvering pipe in any direction.
2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98
Pipe is installed underground so as to transport fluids, such as water or sewage. To install the pipe, an excavator must remove earth from a desired location so as to form a ditch for the pipe. The pipe is placed in the ditch, connected to a pipeline, and covered with earth so that the pipe resides underground. There is no simple way for installing long lengths of pipe. Thus, pipe sections are typically maneuvered from above ground to below ground so that the ends of pipe sections can be connected underground so as to form an underground pipeline.
A problem associated with the installation of underground pipe is that the pipe must be maneuvered so that its longitudinal axis corresponds with the longitudinal axis of the pipeline. Pipe-laying equipment must be repositioned so as to align the longitudinal axes of the pipe section and the pipeline every time a pipe section is delivered to the underground pipeline. Thus, there is a need for a pipe layer that can maneuver a pipe section in any direction without having to maneuver the entire system of pipe-laying equipment.
Another problem associated with delivering pipe for installation underground is that the pipe can swing back-and-forth as a result of the motion of the pipe-laying equipment that delivers the pipe section from above ground to below ground. Thus, there is a need for a pipe layer that can hold pipe in a horizontal position while steadily lowering the pipe from above ground to below ground for installation onto a pipeline.
An excavator is a form of heavy equipment for digging large amounts of land. The basic parts of an excavator include a cab or house on a rotating platform, an undercarriage, a boom, and an attachment. The attachment is a tool used in the digging action, such as a bucket, scoop, grapple, a pulverizer, claw or a hammer. The boom can consist of two arms, being pivotally attached to each other, with one arm pivotally attached to the cab. The undercarriage has tracks or wheels for allowing the excavator to move. The movement and functions of the excavator parts are accomplished through the use of hydraulic fluid, such as actuating the grapple or lowering the boom. The excavator is not typically used for laying pipe because the assortment of tools cannot perform the function of gripping pipes without damage.
Various patents have issued relating to pipe layers. U.S. Pat. No. 5,232,502, issued on Aug. 3, 1993 to Recker, discloses a pipe handling apparatus that has a first support beam having a first and a second end portion, an engaging arm having a first and a second end portion that are sufficient for positioning within a length of pipe, a second support beam connected to the respective first end portion of the first support beam and the first end portion of the engaging arm so as to secure the first support beam and the engaging arm together in spaced parallel relation from one another, a mechanism for supporting the length of pipe on the engaging arm where the mechanism is positioned relative to the engaging arm at spaced locations on the first and second end portions thereof, and a mechanism for providing a spray of fluid when the mechanism is secured to the second end portion of the engaging arm. An operator directs the apparatus from above ground to below ground. The apparatus can be used in combination with an excavator.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,918,923, issued non Jul. 6, 1999 to Killion, discloses a pipe-laying attachment for a hydraulically-powered device. The attachment has an elongate horizontal frame, two elongate jaws where each jaw has an inside curvature that matches a curvature of an outer surface of a pipe section, and an elastomeric liner on an inside surface of each jaw. Each jaw has a length and a height. The length of each jaw is substantially greater than the height. Each jaw is removably mounted to the frame along a proximal long edge of the jaw by a piano hinge that extends substantially from an entire length of the jaw. The jaws are movable between an open position in which the distal long edges of the jaws are spaced apart sufficiently so as to receive a pipe segment, and a closed position in which the distal long edges are pivoted toward each other sufficiently so as to grip the pipe along substantially the entire length of the jaws.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,101, issued on Aug. 18, 1998 to Bill, discloses a grasping apparatus for handling an elongated workpiece, such as a pipe section. The grasping apparatus is designed to be suspended from a lifting device. The grasping apparatus has a first frame, and a second frame displaceably secured to the first frame, a rotator adapted to angularly rotate the first frame about a normally vertical axis of rotation with respect to the first frame, grapplers connected to the second frame in opposing juxtaposition and are moveable between an open position and a closed position, a pitch actuator adapted to displace the second frame with respect to the first frame in an up or down pitching movement, and a linear displacement actuator adapted to displace the second frame with respect to the first frame. The pitch actuator moves the elongated workpiece in an up or down pitching movement. The linear displacement actuator displaces an elongated workpiece in a linear direction substantially along its centerline of a linear working axis. The linear working axis is substantially along the center line of the elongated workpiece when the workpiece is securely grasped by the grapplers.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,280,119, issued on Aug. 28, 1002 to Ryan et al., discloses a working implement for lifting and positioning successive sections of elongate workpieces, and for engaging respective ends of the sections of elongate workpieces. The implement has a mounting assembly that has an implement mounting interface adapted and configured to attach the implement to an end of a working arm of a working vehicle that has a cooperating machine mounting interface securely mounted to the working implement, a grip assembly for gripping elongate workpieces that are positioned and lifted by the working implement, an orienting apparatus that orients the grip assembly with respect to respective the Y and Z axes of the elongate workpiece, and a linear displacement apparatus that displaces the grip assembly.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,362,435, issued on Dec. 7, 1982 to Henry, discloses an apparatus for laying pipe in a trench and joining successive sections of pipe. The apparatus has an elongated carriage that is of a length sufficient to straddle the trench, and crane mounted to the carriage. The carriage has a propelling mechanism that engages the surface of the trench and moves the carriage therealong. The propelling mechanism is steerably driven. The crane has an articulating arm that is of adjustable length. The arm has an outer end portion that is controllably movable both laterally with respect to the trench and between respective positions above and within the trench. The crane is tiltably mounted to the carriage.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle to install pipe underground.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a vehicle that controls position of pipe while maneuvering the pipe from above ground to below ground.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a vehicle to stabilize pipe while maneuvering the pipe from above ground to below ground.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a vehicle to position a pipe section in any direction necessary to make a tie-end line up and/or to lower the pipe in a ditch.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a vehicle to position a pipe section in a direction necessary to load pipe onto trucks.
It is still another object of the present invention to stabilize any size, diameter, and material of pipe.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the attached specification and appended claims.


A jack includes a base having a pair of spaced apart side members with a substantially horizontally oriented platform overlying a forward portion of the base. A pair of support arms pivotably connect the platform to the side members, and a lift arm is pivotably connected between the platform and the side members. A driver assembly mounted to a rear portion of the base in response to manual actuation moves the platform between a lowered and a plurality elevated positions while maintaining the horizontal orientation of the platform.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,561,487 discloses a personal vehicle jack having a platform for lifting a personal vehicle such as a motorcycle, all terrain vehicle (ATV), or personal watercraft. The jack is designed to lift the entire vehicle off the floor or ground, with the vehicle balanced on a platform. This jack has stabilizing arms connected to a base to provide side-to-side stability, i.e. to prevent tipping over sideways, and lifting arms for elevating the platform in response to manual actuation of a hydraulic cylinder that operates a substantially vertically orientated ram. A user actuates the jack by stepping on a foot pedal.


An image sensing device includes a pixel array, a plurality of column amplification units each including a setting unit, and a plurality of reference signal supply units. A first reference signal and a second reference signal are common to a plurality of columns in the pixel array. Each of the plurality of column amplification units amplifies the difference between the first reference signal and the second reference signal to output the amplified difference, or amplifies each of the first reference signal and the second reference signal to output the amplified first reference signal and the amplified second reference signal. The setting unit of each amplification unit sets an amplification factor which is determined in accordance with a signal output from each of the plurality of column amplification units so as to reduce variations of the amplification factor between the plurality of column amplification units.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image sensing device and imaging system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Some recent imaging systems such as a digital camera and a digital video camera adopt an image sensing device, such as a CMOS sensor, which has an active element in a pixel and allows formation of peripheral circuits on a single chip.
The CMOS sensor includes a pixel array. In the pixel array, a plurality of pixels are arrayed in directions along rows and columns. Each pixel includes a photodiode, a transfer MOS transistor, a floating diffusion (FD), a reset MOS transistor, and an amplification MOS transistor.
The photodiode generates and stores charges corresponding to light. The transfer MOS transistor transfers the charges generated in the photodiode to the FD. The FD converts the transferred charges into a voltage. The reset MOS transistor resets the FD. The amplification MOS transistor outputs an N signal corresponding to the voltage of the FD to a column signal line while the reset MOS transistor resets the FD. The amplification MOS transistor outputs an S signal corresponding to the voltage of the FD to the column signal line while the transfer MOS transistor transfers the charges of the photodiode to the FD.
The threshold voltage of the amplification MOS transistor varies between pixels. Further, the FD generates kTC noise (thermal noise) when the reset MOS transistor resets the FD. As a result, fixed pattern noise is mixed in N and S signals.
To reduce fixed pattern noise, in a technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-223860, a CDS circuit on each column performs CDS processing to calculate the difference between N and S signals transferred from a pixel array via a column signal line, generating an image signal free from fixed pattern noise. In the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-223860, N and S signals are directly read out to calculate and hold the difference between them. In this technique, when the difference level is low, the S/N ratio of an obtained image signal may decrease.
To increase an S/N ratio, in a technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-217771, a clamp capacitor and an operational amplifier on each column execute CDS processing to amplify the difference between N and S signals transferred from a pixel array via a column signal line. According to the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-217771, because the difference is held after the difference is amplified, the S/N ratio of an obtained image signal can increase.
However, in the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-217771, when the amplification factor varies between a plurality of operational amplifiers (column amplification units), the levels of image signals output from these operational amplifiers may differ between them. Although this technique can reduce fixed pattern noise arising from variations of the characteristics between a plurality of pixels, the technique may not be able to reduce fixed pattern noise arising from variations of the amplification factor between a plurality of operational amplifiers. Especially at a high-sensitivity setting, streak noise may still stand out in an image obtained from an image signal.


Methods, systems, and computer readable media for controlling delivery of content are provided. In some embodiments, a system for controlling delivery of content is provided. The system includes processing circuitry configured to: transmit, to a server, a plurality of requests for blocks of the content; while at least some of the plurality of requests are still outstanding: detect a change of a service characteristic of a connection between the system and the server; determine a preferred number of outstanding requests; and cancel at least some of the requests from the plurality that are still outstanding based on the preferred number and a count of the requests from the plurality that are still outstanding.

Consumers of media content, such as movies, television programs, and short videos, are increasingly streaming media content over the Internet to client devices, such as laptops, smart TVs, and streaming media players. Typically, when online streaming is used, media content is constantly received in blocks and rendered on the client devices as the blocks are received. Online streaming may thus generate a higher bandwidth usage than other online activities.
When performed inefficiently, online streaming may waste network resources. For instance, network infrastructure may be under-utilized in situations where blocks of streamed content are requested one-by-one. In such situations, a client device may transmit a first request, receive a response, and transmit a second request only after the response to the first request is received. Streaming content in this manner may result in a network throughput that is below the network's bandwidth.

Systems, methods, and media for controlling delivery of content