A method of separating ions comprises applying a spot of a sample material to a target plate. The target plate is mounted in fluid communication with an ion inlet orifice of a FAIMS analyzer region and externally to the FAIMS analyzer region. Using a laser light source that is disposed external to the FAIMS analyzer region, the target plate is irradiated with light of a predetermined wavelength, the light of a predetermined wavelength being selected to affect the sample material applied to the target plate so as to produce ions of the sample material. The ions of the sample material are directed along an ion flow path between the target plate and FAIMS analyzer region, via the ion inlet orifice. A flow of a gas is directed counter-current to the ion flow path and passing through the target plate. The flow of gas through the target plate assists in desolvation of ions and directs neutral molecules away from the FAIMS analyzer region.

Biochemical and pharmaceutical applications have requirements for rapid screening and detection of compounds in extremely complex mixtures. Advances in chemical analysis technology applied to these fields must achieve a high degree of specificity in separations and incorporate systems that avoid slow separations, especially those involving chromatography and electrophoresis.
At present, the compounds in complex mixtures are separated and analyzed by chromatographic and electrophoretic methods combined with atmospheric pressure ionization-mass spectrometry (API-MS). In these separation techniques, a portion of a sample is introduced as a discrete pulse into the sample inlet of the API-MS system. The sample components are separated either through a component-specific interaction with mobile or stationary phases, or by differences in the drift velocities of components under the influence of electric fields. Because of the time that it takes for the components to migrate, chromatographic and electrophoretic methods require relatively long time periods to accomplish the separation, on the order of several minutes, whereas analysis by mass spectrometric methods provides data almost immediately. In practice, therefore, the mass spectrometer spends significant periods of time waiting for the arrival of transient signals. This is inefficient since the separation technology is very much less expensive than the MS instrumentation.
The above-mentioned problem is reduced when the separation technology operates in a continuous mode, for example the mixture is continuously delivered to the inlet of the separator and the selection of the separated components is electronically controlled. In this manner the MS acquires measurements of selected components in the mixture at almost full efficiency. Optionally, the MS is used to continuously study a particular component in a mixture until sufficient information is acquired. As will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, operation of the separation technology in a continuous mode is impossible using existing chromatographic and electrophoretic techniques because the component of interest arrives only as a transient at the end of the separation. This transient mode of operation limits significantly the number and types of experiments that can be conducted during the lifetime of a given transient signal. Furthermore, if the information that is acquired during the transient is insufficient, a new sample must be injected and a delay is encountered during which the components are being separated.
Alternatively, complex mixtures may be studied using tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). With this technology, the ions are selected by a first mass analyzer operating at low pressure (e.g., 1×10−5 torr) inside the vacuum chamber of a mass spectrometer, and are directed to enter a gas cell which is held at a higher bath gas pressure (e.g., 1×10−3 torr). Upon entering this chamber, the ions collide with the molecules of bath gas and, if the kinetic energy of the ion is sufficient, the ion dissociates into some compound-specific fragments. The fragments pass out of the higher-pressure gas cell and are analyzed using a second mass analyzer, operating at a lower pressure, similar to that of the first mass analyzer. The advantage of tandem mass spectrometry is that the specificity is exceedingly high because of compound-specific fragmentation patterns that are created during the collision-induced dissociation. However, tandem MS requires considerable method development time and the operator must have expertise to operate the instrument. Furthermore, tandem MS cannot effectively quantify many kinds of isomeric ions (e.g., leucine and isoleucine) when both components coexist in the mixture. Accordingly, tandem MS is most suited to applications based on target compound analysis, where the system is used to search for a series of expected compounds and the identity of the expected fragment ions is known. Under these conditions the MS/MS experiment is capable of detecting ions at exceedingly low abundance, even in the presence of interfering compounds, since the MS/MS spectrum is very compound-specific. Tandem MS is less effective when used to study mixtures containing unknown components at trace concentrations. Since the existence of these unknowns cannot be predicted, the mass spectrum of the mixture must have peaks which are discernible above the background noise. In particular, detection of low intensity ions is a problem when using the electrospray ionization (ESI) technique, since ESI produces background ions that elevate the baseline intensity along the mass-to-charge ratio axis of a mass spectrum. This background of ions makes detection of unknown trace components difficult, if not impossible.
Of course, complex mixtures may also be analyzed using mass spectrometers with extremely high resolution, such as FT-ICR systems. However, high resolution mass spectrometers are very expensive.
FAIMS is a relatively new separation technique, which solves a number of the problems that are associated with the above-mentioned prior art techniques. FAIMS separates ions on a continuous basis, with the separation occurring under electronic control. Additionally, FAIMS reduces the background chemical noise inherent to atmospheric pressure ionization techniques, thus reducing the detection limits for unknown components in complex mixtures. Finally, FAIMS optionally is operated in tandem with many of the other technologies that are noted above, because the FAIMS device is located between the ion source and the mass spectrometer. A consequence of this physical location is that the FAIMS apparatus can be operated in conjunction with chromatography, electrophoresis, tandem mass spectrometry and high resolution mass spectrometry, etc.
Typically, ions are introduced into a FAIMS device after being formed by atmospheric pressure ionization, such as for instance corona discharge ionization, ionization by radioactive Ni, and electrospray ionization as just a few non-limiting examples. In each of these cases, the sample is one of a liquid and a gas, and in every case the analyte ions are suspended in a gas. One notable exception is found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,653,627, issued on Nov. 25, 2003 in the name of Guevremont et al., which discloses a FAIMS apparatus and method using a laser based ionization source. The entire contents of U.S. Pat. No. 6,653,627 are incorporated herein by reference. In that case, a matrix-supported sample is deposited on a target surface that is disposed within the FAIMS analyzer region, and irradiation is performed using a laser that is disposed external to the FAIMS analyzer region. Since ions are formed within the analyzer region, problems associated with low ion transmission efficiency through an ion inlet are eliminated. Unfortunately, in order to introduce new sample it is necessary to disassemble the FAIMS electrode assembly, remove the existing target surfaces, prepare new target surfaces, introduce the new target surfaces, and finally reassemble the FAIMS electrode assembly. Of course, this sample introduction technique does not support rapid screening of samples, and is very time consuming.
Placing the target surface of the laser source at a location that is external to the FAIMS analyzer would reduce the time and labor that is required for introducing new samples into the FAIMS. In order to achieve high ion transmission efficiency into the FAIMS analyzer region, the target surface should be located as close as possible to the ion inlet orifice of the FAIMS, and should also be disposed parallel to the ion inlet orifice. Unfortunately, when the target surface is disposed for achieving high ion transmission efficiency, very little space remains for arranging the laser light source at a position for irradiating the target surface.
It would be advantageous to provide a method and an apparatus for introducing ions, that are formed using a laser source, through an inlet into a FAIMS analyzer region, with high ion transmission efficiency. It would be further advantageous to provide a method and an apparatus for introducing such ions in a manner that supports rapid screening of samples.

Method and apparatus for FAIMS with a laser-based ionization source


A directional microphone includes: a microphone which generates a first acoustic signal that has sensitivity in a target direction; a microphone which generates a second acoustic signal that has a blind spot in sensitivity in the target direction; a correction unit which multiplies, in a frequency domain, the second acoustic signal by the first acoustic signal N times, where N is greater than zero, to generate a third acoustic signal which includes the second acoustic signal that has a narrowed angular range of the blind spot in sensitivity in the target direction; and a suppression unit which performs noise suppression using the first acoustic signal as a main signal and the third acoustic signal generated as a reference signal, to generate an output acoustic signal which is the first acoustic signal that has narrowed directivity in the target direction.

Directional microphone devices are proposed which suppress sound that is from directions other than a target direction and included in a main signal, using a main signal which has the principal axis of directivity in the target direction and a reference signal which has, ideally, zero sensitivity in the target direction and a fixed angular range of a blind spot in sensitivity (e.g., Patent Literature [PTL] 1).

Directional microphone device, acoustic signal processing method, and program

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


The invention relates to an amalgam decomposer for mercury cathode chlor-alkali cells. The amalgam decomposer of the invention contains a filling of carbon steel rings whose external surface is provided with a catalytic coating for amalgam decomposition consisting of one or more electrically conductive metals carbides. The internal surface of the rings is free of catalytic coating and wettable by the amalgam, while the external carbide catalytic coating is not wettable by the amalgam thereby favoring hydrogen evolution.

The production of chlorine by electrolysis of alkali chloride solutions is currently carried out by means of three different processes, namely the ion-exchange membrane process, the porous diaphragm process and the mercury cathode process. In the following, reference will be made, for the sake of simplicity of description, to the electrolysis of sodium chloride solutions. Nevertheless, the invention equally applies to the electrolysis of other alkali chlorides, such as lithium or potassium chloride. The mercury cathode-type electrolysis of sodium chloride solutions (hereinafter "brine"), based on a long-known technology, has experienced a continuous improvement in the cell structure (Ullmann's Encyclopaedia of Industrial Chemistry, VCH, Vol. A6, pag. 416) essentially directed to the decrease in the electric energy consumption and to the abatement of mercury emissions to the environment.
The problem of energy consumption reduction was accomplished with success by replacing the original graphite anodes with titanium anodes provided with a catalytic coating based on oxides of platinum group metals, particularly effective for chlorine evolution. The activated titanium anodes are also characterised by a long operative lifetime which allowed a substantial reduction in the amount of cell shut-downs which are quite frequent in the case of the corrodible graphite anodes. Since maintenance shut-downs are critical for mercury emissions, the benefit obtained from this standpoint is apparent.
A further reduction in mercury leaks was further allowed by modifications in the cell design, as disclosed in the co-pending Italian patent application MI2006A000309, and by the routine use of recrystallised salt, which permits minimising the quantity of mercury-polluted muds purged from the brine purification section, although at a higher cost.
As a consequence of these provisions it can be now be demonstrated that the release of mercury from a well-designed and correctly handled plant amounts to no more than 3 grammes per tonne of product chlorine versus a value of 10 grammes of about ten years ago (Ullmann's Encyclopaedia of Industrial Chemistry, VCH, Vol. A6, page 424).
In currently operating plants, the sodium amalgam is fed to the upper portion of an amalgam decomposer shaped as a generally vertical vessel containing a filling of graphite fragments activated with a catalyst, for instance molybdenum oxide. The amalgam flowing down the interstices between the graphite particles meets a countercurrent deionised water flow fed to the lower portion of the amalgam decomposer. The catalytic action of graphite allows the amalgam decomposition reaction to proceed at an acceptable rate, with formation of caustic soda, which together with chlorine is the product of commercial interest, according to the following scheme:Na(Hg)x+H2O→NaOH+½H2
In reality, the mechanism accounting for the overall reaction is remarkably more complex as it involves the amalgam droplet—graphite particle couples statistically generated in time. Each of these couples actually operates as a short-circuited micro-battery, wherein the amalgam droplet and the graphite particle respectively act as anodic and cathodic areas according to the following partial reactions, whose combination gives the above indicated overall reaction:amalgam droplet(anodic area): Na(Hg)x→Na++xHg+e graphite particle(cathodic area): H2O+e→½H2+OH−
To obtain a high amalgam decomposition rate, it is necessary that the hydrogen evolution partial reaction, which is the bottleneck of the overall kinetics, be adequately promoted. For this reason, graphite, which has a moderate activity, is further added with more catalytic materials, such as molybdenum oxide, which is deposited by imbibition of an ammonium molybdate solution followed by a suitable thermal treatment. The so treated graphite is not wettable by the amalgam. Such feature has the advantage of impeding the formation of an adherent amalgam superficial film that would prevent the required contact with water which is the first step of the hydrogen evolution reaction.
On the other hand, this has also a negative effect, because the lack of wettability entails a high electrical contact resistance between graphite particle and amalgam droplet, in its turn strongly hindering the flow of electrons generated by sodium ionisation on the amalgam droplet and that must reach the graphite particle to adequately sustain hydrogen evolution. Hence it is shown that graphite cannot be an optimal catalyst, and this also applies for other homogeneous type formulations, such as the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,161,433 wherein decomposition catalysts consisting of metal borides and carbides are proposed. From an ideal standpoint in fact any single particle of catalytic material should comprise one or more pairs of separate anodic and cathodic microscopic areas, the anodic ones being wettable by the amalgam and the cathodic ones being non wettable and in intimate contact with the water flow. It would be further necessary to minimise the electrical resistance between the two types of area to provide the lesser hindrance to the electrons flowing from the anodic areas, where they are released by sodium ionisation, to the cathodic areas where they are consumed in the hydrogen evolution reaction.
Besides the above mentioned inconveniences, the graphite particles undergo some grinding under the erosive action of the evolved hydrogen: as a first consequence, the filling undergoes a volume contraction in time that, once a value of about 20% is reached, leads to an intolerable productive capacity loss forcing the operators to discontinue the operation and to proceed with loading fresh catalyst.
From the above discussion it will be clear that the use of activated graphite represents a far from satisfying solution.

Amalgam decomposer for mercury cathode cells for alkali chloride electrolysis


Generating a high-level, bit-accurate and cycle-accurate simulation model. The various embodiments generate the simulation model from a functional description of a module and an HDL description of the module. The functional description may be un-timed and specified in a high-level language. The HDL description is realizable in hardware. The simulation model is created by obtaining the control specification from the HDL description and combining the control specification with the data path description from functional description.

Various design tools seek to simplify the tasks associated with designing an electronic system. For example, the System Generator high-level modeling system (HLMS) from Xilinx includes various tools that allow a user to assemble a design model using high-level functional blocks, simulate the design, and generate a realization of the design for a hardware platform such as a programmable logic device (PLD). The blocks used in creating the design may be selected from a library that is also part of the HLMS. An HLMS such as System Generator can substantially shorten the time required to develop a design by allowing a user to describe the system at an abstract level, while preserving functional behavior, and automatically generating the implementation. Traditional methodologies instead require specifying the functionality of the design in a hardware description language (HDL).
To fully support simulation and realization of a design, each block in an HLMS library typically consists of a component that is purely behavioral (bit- and cycle-accurate) that is used for simulation within the HLMS, and an equivalent component that can be automatically mapped into a realization (e.g., in a PLD) by conventional methods during code generation. Such methods include logic synthesis or direct mapping (a one-to-one mapping of logic components into resources in the target technology library). In the latter case, the implementation is referred to as structural. Although it is possible for a block in an HLMS to have a single component that supports both simulation and implementation, it is often the case that a separate simulation model is necessary because the implementation involves significant structural code that results in unacceptably slow simulation. By providing bit and cycle accurate behavior for the block, the HLMS enables the user to design at a high level of abstraction without losing control or visibility of the ultimate hardware realization.
It is desirable for an HLMS to include block libraries whose elements can be used to construct systems quickly. For example, an HLMS targeting digital signal processing (DSP) or digital communications applications could include blocks for finite impulse (FIR) and infinite impulse response (IIR) digital filters, fast Fourier transforms (FFTs), or error-correcting codecs. For high-level functions, there is often a significant amount of effort involved in creating an efficient implementation component. Providing a separate simulation model may provide a faster simulation model. However, constructing a separate bit and cycle accurate behavioral model for a complex IP block can be very time consuming.
For example, in the System Generator HLMS, a C++ simulation model may be created, including System Generator-specific data-types, classes, and interfaces, and used in simulating with the HLMS. Creating the C++ model for a complex IP block may require significant engineering resources.
The present invention may address one or more of the above issues.

Generation of a high-level simulation model of an electronic system by combining an HDL control function translated to a high-level language and a separate high-level data path function


A cooking apparatus includes an outer pot that has a bottom wall and a peripheral wall that is attached to and extends upwardly from the bottom wall. A heating assembly is attached to the outer pot and is adapted for selectively heating the outer pot. An actuator is operationally coupled to the heating assembly for selectively turning the heating assembly on or off. The actuator includes a timer for turning off the heating assembly after a selectable amount of time has expired. An inner pot has a lower wall and a perimeter wall that is attached to and extends upwardly from the lower wall. The inner pot has a size adapted for being removably positionable in the outer pot. The perimeter wall has a plurality of apertures extending therethrough.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to cooking devices and more particularly pertains to a new cooking device that is adapted for heating food or oil in a pot for selected amount of time and at a selected temperature.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of cooking devices is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,320 describes a valve device for selectively controlling gas flow to a burner. Another type of cooking device is U.S. Pat. No. 5,596,514 which describes an electronic device adapted for controlling the temperature of a deep fat fryer. U.S. Pat. No. 5,039,535 describes an oven which may be selectively programmed for temperature and time of cooking. This allows a person to place a food item in the oven, program it, and then not worry about burning the food item.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a pot in which food may be cooked or oil heated which is turned off after a selected amount of time has expired. This will ensure that food items placed therein, and in particular in heated oil, will not be accidentally overcooked. Additionally, a thermostat may be included for ensuring a desired temperature of the pot is maintained.


A method of recovering wood pulping chemicals from black liquor produced in a wood pulping process where the process entails burning the black liquor in a recovery boiler to form ash containing high levels of carbonate as well as sodium, potassium and chloride. The ash is dissolved to form a dissolved ash solution that is directed to a first stage crystallization unit that concentrates the dissolved ash solution and which results in the precipitation of sodium sulfate and sodium carbonate. Thereafter the concentrated dissolved ash solution is directed to a second stage crystallization unit which adiabatically cools the concentrated dissolved ash solution to form a glaserite slurry and a purge stream that is rich in chloride. In order to reduce the tendency of sodium carbonate and burkeite to crystallize in the second stage crystallization unit and to encourage pure glaserite to crystalize in the crystallizer, the method entails mixing a sulfate source, such as sodium sulfate or sulfuric acid, to the concentrated dissolved ash solution upstream of the crystallizer.

Many pulp mills employ what is known as the Kraft chemical recovery process. In this process, black liquor is burned in a recovery boiler and produces ash which includes sodium. Typically, the sodium is recovered from the ash in the form of sodium sulfate and sodium carbonate. Some ashes include a relatively high content of carbonate. In certain types of recovery processes, especially those employing a two-stage process, the presence of the high carbonate content in the ash impacts the overall efficiency of sodium recovery.

Method of recovering pulping chemicals from dissolved ash having a high carbonate content


A wire shaping tool and method of using the tool to reshape wire, including the discrete sections of wire in a wire mesh panel, is provided. The tool includes a pair of levers joined at a fulcrum positioned closer to one end of the levers, a pair of jaws on one side of the fulcrum, and a pair of handles on the other side. The first jaw can include an elongate body with a concave surface having a pair of opposing lateral edges. The second jaw can include a complementary convex surface configured to converge toward contacting the concave surface of the first jaw. The concave and complementary convex surfaces can transform the shape of a wire positioned between the jaws when they are actuated. The second jaw can include a third shaping component that allows for the simultaneous reshaping of two adjacent wire sections in a wire mesh panel.

Existing hand tools for bending and reshaping metal strips and wires, including ring bending pliers (FIG. 1), jewelry pliers, wrap and tap pliers, etc., generally comprise a pair of handles and a pair of jaws, the jaws having opposing surfaces that can be used to reshape a metal strip or wire into a ring, coil, or semicircle. But such tools are limited to shaping a single piece of metal, and repetitive use of the tools to reshape multiple pieces of metal is cumbersome and painful to a user actuating the handles. Furthermore, the tools configured to reshape a single strip of metal into a ring are not configured to reshape one or more sections of metal wire within a wire mesh. For at least these reasons, improved metal shaping tools are needed.

Wire shaping tool and methods of creating shaped items


An explosive projectile (10) with a projectile casing (12), a ballistic hood (14), an explosive charge (26) located within of the projectile casing (12), a base detonator (28) and a fragment packing (32) which is located towards the head end of the projectile. The ballistic hood (14) is constructed so as to be readily destroyable or, respectively, constituted of a readily destroyable material. The projectile casing is closed at its forward end and provided with a recess (30) in which there is arranged the fragment packing (32). The fragment packing (32) at the forward end thereof bounds the explosive charge (26).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an explosive projectile which includes a projectile casing, a ballistic hood arranged at the forward end of the projectile casing, an explosive charge located in the interior of the projectile casing, a base detonator for the triggering of the explosive charge, and a packing of fragments which is arranged at the head end of the projectile.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
From the disclosure of German Patent Specification DE 29 47 165 C2 there has become known an arrow-shaped or slender armor-penetrating projectile with a penetrator head, which consists of a head penetrator body, a main penetrator body and a tubular connecting piece which interconnects these aforementioned bodies. The connecting piece maintains the main penetrator body at an axial spacing from the head penetrator body. The connecting piece can be constituted of a plastically deformable material and form a jacket which bounds a space in which there are arranged scatter projectiles constituted of a compact material. The scatter projectiles preferably embedded in a binder medium which can be formed from paraffin, wax or an explosive material.
The disclosure of European EP O 101 795 A1 describes an explosive projectile with a projectile casing in which there are supported preformed fragmentation bodies. Arranged at the head end thereof is a detonator. In order to improve the fragmentation effect in a spatial angular region or cone which is located directly ahead of the projectile head, this known explosive projectile there are also provided additional fragmentation bodies in the head detonator. These fragmentation bodies are located in a rearward portion of the head detonator, the latter of which can project into the explosive charge of the explosive projectile. The fragmentation bodies encompass an intermediate charge which pyrotechnically interconnects in an annulus-shape a transfer charge which is provided in a safe-and-arm arrangement with a booster charge.
From the disclosure of German Patent Specification DE 3 822 375 A1 there is known an explosive charge or, respectively, a detonation body which possesses an explosive charge and a layer of fragments. The fragment layer consists of an explosive body with such types of wall weakenings that, upon the detonation of the explosive charge, it will burst apart into loose fragments. The fragment layer in this known detonation body is encompassed by an inner and an outer protective layer.


A module in a hardened optical platform includes one or more Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) and associated components; at least one cage configured to receive a pluggable optical module, wherein the at least one cage is on a PCB of the one or more PCBs; and a housing enclosing the one or more PCBs, wherein the housing covers the one or more PCBs, the associated components, and the at least one cage with the pluggable optical module, with respect to airflow, wherein a thermally conductive conduit is formed between the pluggable optical module once inserted and the housing, enabling the pluggable optical module to operate in the housing which is sealed with respect to airflow.

An insatiable appetite for network resources, the growing number of Internet connections, ever-faster media streaming devices and the escalation of high-definition mobile video are together burdening already overtaxed cable networks. In the cable world, these applications require huge amounts of bandwidth coupled with low latency. What's more, the supporting infrastructure must offer the flexibility to cope with steadily increasing dynamic traffic flows. Accordingly, most cable operators are looking to a "Fiber Deep" architecture, which is an end-to-end solution combining packet switching and aggregation alongside coherent optical technology. In this case, Hybrid Fiber Coax (HFC) architectures are transformed and coexist with modern digital fiber and packet technologies. The term "Fiber Deep" has been used to describe an approach that empowers a forward-looking, universal access framework that includes Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOC SIS), Remote PHY devices (RPD), point-to-point 10G, and higher fiber-based business services, variants of Passive Optical Network (xPON), small cells and finally Converged Haul 4G and 5G New Radio (NR) mobility futures.
As well, thermal management for high-speed optical networking equipment is a challenge. In a controlled environment, thermal management is achieved through air flow, vents in a chassis, fans, design choices, etc. For example, some work has focused on managing air flow to enable back-to-back shelf configurations, i.e., front or side airflow only, which is advantageous in Central Offices (CO), data centers, etc. However, these deployments are all in a controlled environment, e.g., air conditioning, no exposure to the environment, etc.
The use of pluggable optical modules is common in high-speed optical networking equipment deployed in a controlled environment. Numerous techniques for cooling pluggable optical modules exist, but they require the system to be in a forced air flow driven by cooling fans. For outside plant equipment that is deployed in sealed housings (i.e., hardened), there is no air flow around the module and heat must be conducted to the housing by means of a heat sink, heat pipe, or vapor chamber. Attachment and alignment of a heat sink or similar device is made difficult by the lack of access to the pluggable optic cage.

Hardened optical platform with pluggable optics


A housing has open and closed ends, an interior and exterior surface between the ends, the exterior surface having front and rear faces with upper and lower faces. A drive screw within the housing has distal and proximal ends with a threaded surface. A drop leg has an exterior surface in sliding contact with the interior surface of the housing and an interior surface with threads operatively coupled with the threads of the drive screw.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle anti-theft and utility step system and more particularly pertains to abating theft of a vehicle when in a first orientation and functioning as a utility step when in a second orientation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of vehicle anti-theft systems and utility steps is known in the prior art. More specifically, vehicle anti-theft systems and utility steps previously devised and utilized for the purposes of abating theft of a vehicle or functioning as a utility step are known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,836,432 issued May 27, 1958 to Delp relates to a Support Jack for Forward End of Semi-Trailer. U.S. Pat. No. 4,050,403 issued Sep. 27, 1977 to Miller relates to an Auto Repair Ramp with Signal. U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,746 issued Nov. 26, 1991 to Baker relates to an Anti-Theft Jack and Method for Using Same. Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,386 issued Sep. 1, 1992 to Uriarte relates to an Automatic Leveling System. While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a vehicle anti-theft and utility step system that abates theft of a vehicle when in a first orientation and functions as a utility step when in a second orientation.
In this respect, the vehicle anti-theft and utility step system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of abating theft of a vehicle when in a first orientation and functioning as a utility step when in a second orientation.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved vehicle anti-theft and utility step system which can be used for abating theft of a vehicle when in a first orientation and functioning as a utility step when in a second orientation. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

Vehicle anti-theft and utility step system


Provided herein are protein-based purification matrices and methods of use thereof to purify biologics and/or to remove contaminants from a composition. Methods of bringing two or more biologics in close proximity are also provided. The disclosed compositions and methods allow for faster, more efficient purification of a biologic compared to traditional affinity chromatography.

The use of biologics in medicine and other disciplines is rapidly increasing. Biologics often have high affinity and specificity for a given target, as well as low toxicity and biodegradability. However, their manufacturing and purification can be quite difficult. Biologics, including therapeutic enzymes, antibodies, gene delivery vectors, and other fusion proteins, are typically manufactured recombinantly in bacteria, yeast, or mammalian host cells. Numerous downstream purification steps are then required in order to meet acceptable standards of purity (e.g., standards set by the FDA or other regulatory bodies). Host cell proteins, nucleic acids, endotoxins, and viruses are often the main contaminants that must be removed from biologic preparations.
One commonly used method of purification is affinity chromatography. For example, during antibody manufacture, affinity capture with Protein A chromatography is often the first step after clarification of the cell culture harvest. While affinity chromatography achieves high levels of purity (>90%) due to its selectivity for the target biologic, it is expensive, time consuming, and requires technical equipment that is expensive to maintain and requires skilled labor. It is also difficult to scale because conditions are not linear as column diameters become large.
There is a need in the art for improved compositions and methods for rapidly and cost-effectively purifying biologics.

Protein-based purification matrices and methods of using the same


A method of dynamically keeping inventory of items in a vehicle in transit is provided. The method includes detecting an event during transit and conducting interrogations of inventory based on the detected event. The method can compare these inventories to determine disposition of inventory items by location.

Current inventory tracking systems track inventory of items being shipped by first checking the inventory at the shipping origination location and then at the receiving location. These inventories can then be compared to determine if something was lost in transit. One method used to simplify the taking of inventory is with the use identification tags such as electronic identification tags. An example of an electronic identification tag is passive or active radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. With this system each item, or group of items, has an RFID tag attached that contains information that identifies the item, or group of items. A sensor or reader at a known location simply reads the information off of the RFID tag when the item is passed through a detector/reader or passes within the vicinity of a reader.
One limitation of this system is that not all shipping locations and receiving location have detectors/readers to read the identification tags. Another limitation of the current system is that inventory can not be inventoried during transit, unless readers are present on the transportation vehicle. These vehicles equipped with readers can only report if the item is currently present on the vehicle, but can not provide insight in to the location of the inventoried item. Hence, events that occur during transit that effect the inventory cannot be monitored.
For the reasons stated above and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for an efficient, automated method of inventorying items during transit on vehicles.


Described is an electron microscope, with which different study modes can be conducted. An electron reflector is mounted in the rear focal plane of the objective lens or in one of its conjugate planes and oriented in such a manner that the primary beam coming from the electron source is focused on the specimen to be studied. The reflector tip can be made of a monocrystal or a polycrystalline material.

In direct imaging electron microscopy, which is unrelated to the scanning method, one distinguishes basically between transmission electron microscopes and electron emission microscopes.
In transmission electron microscopes, the sequence of the modules is analogous to that of the light microscope, where the filament lamp is replaced by the electron source and electromagnetic lenses are used for the imaging system. The imaging takes place on a phosphor screen with a photo device. In a transmission electron microscope, pictures can be obtained by means of electron beam diffraction by simply switching. To this end, the excitation of the intermediate lens, i.e. with respect to the passage of current, is attenuated to such an extent that it can no longer reproduce the one-step enlarged image of the objective lens, but rather the preceding diffraction pattern of the specimen, which is always produced in the rear focal plane of the objective lens. The resulting diffraction pattern permits a number of valuable statements to be made about the structure and orientation of the specimen details.
In the case of electron emission microscopy, on the other hand, the specimen is bombarded from the front by primary electrons from the electron source, or by other exciting particles. Therefore, because of the interactions of the primary electrons with the solid being studied, the results are in addition to elastic scattering of the primary electrons, (also secondary electrons and Auger electrons). The released secondary electrons originate primarily from a thin surface layer of the specimen. The backscattered electrons come from the deeper layers of the specimen.
To sample the primary electrons in electron emission microscopy, two different methods were used in the past, and are described in "Historical Perspective and Current Trends in Emission Microscopy, Mirror Microscopy and Low Energy Electron Microscopy" by O. H. Griffith and W. Engel in Ultramicroscopy 36 (1991), pp. 1-28.
One of these methods provides a linear electron-optical system, in which the electron source is mounted behind the detection screen and the primary beam is focused through an aperture in the detection screen onto the specimen. Thus, an electron optical lens is mounted in front of the specimen, in order to align the primary beam in parallel with the optical axis and thus produce parallel illumination of the specimen. In this respect, it is possible to analyze the diffraction pattern (low energy electron diffraction or LEED mode), but the specimen surface cannot be imaged with the elastic electrons (imaging mode or low energy electron reflection microscopy (LEEM) mode), because the reflected ray goes through the aperture in the center of the viewing screen. However, with this microscope, direct imaging of the surface potential with mirror electron microscopy (MEM) is possible. This known linear arrangement is simple in its construction, but the incident beam and the reflected beam cannot be suitably optimized at the same time.
To remedy this problem, a segmented magnetic field has been used in order to be able to separate the incident light and the beam reflected from the specimen. Such an LEEM type electron microscope has been developed by Bauer and Telieps; and an example thereof is described in the above-cited paper in Ultramicroscopy, 36 (1991), p. 22. A further improvement of the LEEM electron microscope for analyzing magnetic surface structures would require an electron source which emits spin-polarized electrons, which are separated in a segmented magnetic field without changing the spin-polarization direction of the imaged electrons. Since spin polarization is necessary, one also refers to a SPLEEM or SPLEED microscope (spin polarized low energy electron microscopy), whose drawback lies, however, in the fact that it is extremely complicated and, therefore, expensive.
Whereas both in the LEED or LEEM, and also in the SPLEEM or SPLEED mode, one works with a parallel electron beam striking the specimen surface, it is necessary for imaging secondary and Auger electrons to focus the primary beam on the specimen, in order to raise the electron density in the visual field. Even with this type of electron microscope, however, the primary beam and the beam of the emitted electrons have to be separated by means of a segmented magnetic field.

Double reflection electron emission microscope


A method of forming a microlens made of a thermoplastic resin on a solid-state imaging device, including the steps of forming a resist pattern having an opening as a microlens forming portion on the solid-state imaging device; filling the opening with the thermoplastic resin; removing the resist pattern; and thermally deforming the thermoplastic resin on the opening. Accordingly, a microlens having a desired shape can be formed with a fine lens pattern of 0.5 .mu.m or less uniformly and highly accurately.

The present invention relates to a method of forming a microlens made of a thermoplastic resin on a solid-state imaging device, and more particularly to a microlens forming method which can form a microlens made of a thermoplastic resin on a solid-state imaging device highly accurately even with a fine pattern of 0.5 .mu.m or less.
As a method of forming a microlens on a solid-state imaging device with a relatively good position accuracy, it is known to directly form a lens made of a thermoplastic resin on the solid-state imaging device, thus obtaining a so-called on-chip lens. Various methods of forming such an on-chip lens made of a thermoplastic resin have been proposed. For example, in case of using a photoresist material for the thermoplastic resin, a negative type resist is used to obtain a high stability against light.
FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D show an example of the conventional method of forming a microlens. The forming method shown in FIG. 2 includes the steps of (a) laminating a negative type resist 2 and a positive type resist 3 in this order on a solid-state imaging device 1; (b) patterning the resists 2 and 3; (c) removing the positive type resist 3 as an upper layer; and (d) thermally deforming the negative type resist 2 on the solid-state imaging device 1 into a semispherical shape.
FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C show another example of the conventional method of forming a microlens. The forming method shown in FIG. 3 includes the steps of (i) patterning a positive type resist 3 on a negative type resist 2 formed on a solid-state imaging device 1; (ii) thermally deforming the patterned positive type resist 3 as an upper layer into a lens shape; and (iii) etching the resists 2 and 3 to transfer the lens shape of the positive type resist 3 as the upper layer to the negative type resist 2 as a lower layer.
According to a further known method, a microlens is formed by directly patterning the negative type resist rather than patterning the positive type resist as shown in FIG. 3 and then thermally deforming the patterned negative type resist into a semispherical shape.
However, in the case of patterning a negative type resist, an organic solvent is used as a developer, and a pattern of the negative type resist is formed by a crosslinking reaction. Accordingly, in a developing process, the pattern is swelled in the developer, so that the patterning with a high accuracy cannot be performed. As a result, it is difficult to form a fine pattern of about 0.5 .mu.and obtain a high resolution. For example, in case of patterning CMS (chloromethylated polystyrene) generally used as a far-ultraviolet ray negative type resist, a mixed solvent of xylene and MIBK is generally used as a developer. Also in this case, the pattern is swelled, and it is therefore difficult to form a pattern of even 1.0 .mu.m. In contrast, a negative type resist having a high resolution has recently been put on the market. In general, such a negative type resist having a high resolution is a surface curing type resist. Accordingly, in the subsequent step of thermally deforming the patterned resist into a desired lens shape, the desired lens shape cannot be obtained.
Further, in the case of patterning the laminate of the negative type resist 2 and the positive type resist 3 as shown in FIG. 2, the negative type resist 2 is undercut as shown by a dotted line in step (b) of FIG. 2B in the etching process. Accordingly, in the subsequent thermal deforming step, a desired radius of curvature of the lens cannot be obtained.
Also in the case of transferring the lens shape of the positive type resist as the upper layer to the negative type resist as the lower layer as shown in FIG. 3, it is difficult to transfer the lens shape of the positive type resist to the negative type resist with a good repeatability because of ununiformity of the etching or the like.
Thus, it is difficult to form a microlens uniformly and highly accurately in the prior art methods. In particular, a fine lens pattern of 0.5 .mu.m or less demanded by recent solid-stated imaging devices cannot be formed with a high accuracy in the prior art methods.


A removal tool for removing a hood having a hollow cylindrical shape mounted to a distal tip of an endoscope from the distal tip is constituted from a flexible member including a hole-shaped recess capable of housing the hood in its inside. An outer surface of the hood is provided with a step portion that extends along a circumferential direction of the hood. An inner wall surface of the recess is provided with an engaging portion at a position opposing to the step portion when the hood is housed in the recess, the engaging portion being shaped to grip the hood by being engaged with the step portion as a result of deformation of the flexible member.

A distal tip of an insertion portion of an endoscope is provided with an opening for acquiring an image of a biotissue and an outlet of illumination light for illuminating the biotissue, and a hood is mounted to the distal tip to prevent the opening and the outlet from becoming dirty with an adhered substance. The hood is a tubular member having a hollow cylindrical shape formed from a resin material. Various treatment devices such as biological forceps, a cell collection brush, forceps for removing foreign substance, a cleaning pipe, and an injection needle are projected from an opening at a distal tip of the hood to perform a treatment of a treatment object such as a lesion. Further, the hood having the distal tip formed in a tapered shape is easily inserted in pharynx, stomach, colon, duodenum, esophagus, and the like, making it possible to prevent a damage to the mucous membrane or the blood vessel. Further, this hood has a function of, for example, securing a good observation region by keeping a certain observation distance from the distal tip of the endoscope. Such a hood is tightly press-fitted in the distal tip of the insertion portion of the endoscope so as not to be easily detached when inserted in a human body.
Regarding this, there is known a technique in which a female screw portion is arranged on either one of an inner surface of the hood or an outer surface of the distal tip of the endoscope and a male screw portion screwed with the female screw portion is arranged on the other (Patent Literature 1). This technique can prevent the hood inserted in a human body from being easily detached.

Endoscope hood removal tool and set of hood and hood removal tool


The purpose of the present invention is to provide a high temperature/humidity resistant polycarbonate resin without using bisphenol A as a raw material. The present invention relates to a polycarbonate resin comprising the repeating units of formulas (1), (2) and (3), wherein the content of the repeating unit of formula (3) is 5 mol% to 50 mol%, and the refractive index is 1.570 to 1.600. {In formula (1), R1 and R2 each represent a hydrogen atom or a C1-10 hydrocarbon group.} {In formula (3), n ranges from 0 to 8, and the R symbols are each selected from C1-3 alkyl groups}.

It is highly desirable to lower the birefringence and to improve the aberration correction power of plastic imaging lenses used in devices such as smartphones. Aberration correction has been achieved in the prior art with such imaging lenses by combining multiple lenses with different optical characteristics (refractive index and Abbe number), or combining different lens shapes.
Among the optical transparent resins employed for lenses, polycarbonate resins produced from bisphenol A starting materials (nd=1.584) have come to be widely used as resins with high refractive indexes and low Abbe numbers. However, because large birefringence is a drawback of polycarbonate resins obtained using bisphenol A starting materials, it has become impossible in recent years to use them in high-resolution cameras.
PTL 1 discloses an imaging lens made of a polycarbonate resin with a small birefringence, which does not use a bisphenol A starting material.

Polycarbonate resin and optical member containing same


The protease of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is purified without detergent, and is useful as a screening tool for HCV antivirals as well as a diagnostic tool for diseases resulting from HCV infection.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is found in 0.5% to 8.0% of blood donors worldwide. Because the infection is chronic in more than 60% of infected persons, the disease is an important public health and economic problem. The management of patients with chronic hepatitis C is complex--the disease is often only mildly symptomatic and slowly progressive, but 20% of patients develop cirrhosis after 20 years of infection and perhaps 10% of those with cirrhosis develop hepatocellular carcinoma. It is also an important indication for liver transplantation. In Europe and Japan the disease is more important numerically than is either hepatitis B or HIV infection. Existing antiviral agents are effective in only a minority of patients, yet good responses can be obtained.
An important target for the treatment of HCV is nonstructural protein 3, a protease encoded by HCV. This NS3 protease associated with human hepatitis C virus is an unstable protein in the absence of high concentrations of detergent. To stabilize the NS3 protease to sufficient quantities for biochemical, kinetic, and biophysical analyses, as well as for the construction of antiviral screening assays, ionic or non-ionic detergents need be incorporated both during purification and analyses. Antiviral leads discovered with detergent treated NS3 protein are not useful. Further, the presence of high quantities of detergents renders significant difficulties in the precise interpretations of biochemical, kinetic, and biophysical analyses. In some cases (e.g., sedimentation, protein crystallization), the presence of detergents preclude biochemical, kinetic, and biophysical analyses.
Prior methods employed detergents and glycerol for purification of NS3. Applicants have discovered a method of purifying NS3 without detergent, with from 5% to about 20% glycerol, preferably 7-12% and with high stability and activity. The resultant enzyme displays a higher catalytic activity than what is known for this protease, that is, 10-500 fold more active than the prior art preparations, depending on the form of the enzyme. Purification according to the methods of the present invention ensures a high stability of the NS3 protease, rendering it amenable to kinetic, biochemical, and biophysical analyses in the absence of detergents. Prior art methods do not afford a stable, detergent free NS3 for enzymologic, biochemical, and biophysical studies.
When properly expressed and prepared from the cloned plasmid in E. coli, the NS3 protease is obtained in milligram quantities in the complete absence of detergent. The resultant enzyme is very soluble and stable for long periods of time (weeks to months at 4.degree. C. and >12 months at -80.degree. C.), and displays high catalytic activity.
An assay with the detergent free HCV NS3 protease is useful as a screening tool for HCV antivirals as well as a diagnostic tool for diseases resulting from HCV infection. The potency range of the HCV antivirals can range from subnanomolar to micromolar concentrations.


The present invention is directed to pyrazole derivatives, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds and the use of the compounds or the compositions in the treatment of various diseases.

The genomes of eukaryotic organisms are highly organised within the nucleus of the cell. The long strands of duplex DNA are wrapped around an octomer of histone proteins (most usually comprising two copies of histones H2A, H2B, H3 and H4) to form a nucleosome. This basic unit is then further compressed by the aggregation and folding of nucleosomes to form a highly condensed chromatin structure. A range of different states of condensation are possible, and the tightness of this structure varies during the cell cycle, being most compact during the process of cell division. Chromatin structure plays a critical role in regulating gene transcription, which cannot occur efficiently from highly condensed chromatin. The chromatin structure is controlled by a series of post translational modifications to histone proteins, notably histones H3 and H4, and most commonly within the histone tails which extend beyond the core nucleosome structure. These modifications include acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, ubiquitinylation and SUMOylation. These epigenetic marks are written and erased by specific enzymes, which place the tags on specific residues within the histone tail, thereby forming an epigenetic code, which is then interpreted by the cell to allow gene specific regulation of chromatin structure and thereby transcription.
Histone acetylation is most usually associated with the activation of gene transcription, as the modification loosens the interaction of the DNA and the histone octomer by changing the electrostatics. In addition to this physical change, specific proteins recognise and bind to acetylated lysine residues within histones to read the epigenetic code. Bromodomains are small (˜110 amino acid) distinct domains within proteins that bind to acetylated lysine resides commonly but not exclusively in the context of histones. There is a family of around 50 proteins known to contain bromodomains, and they have a range of functions within the cell.
The BET family of bromodomain containing proteins comprises 4 proteins (BRD2, BRD3, BRD4 and BRDT) which contain tandem bromodomains capable of binding to two acetylated lysine residues in close proximity, increasing the specificity of the interaction. Numbering from the N-terminal end of each BET protein the tandem bromodomains are typically labelled Binding Domain 1 (BD1) and Binding Domain 2 (BD2) (Chung et al., J Med. Chem., 2011, 54, 3827-3838).
Chan et al. report that BET bromodomain inhibition suppresses transcriptional responses to cytokine-Jak-STAT signalling in a gene-specific maner in human monocytes, which suggests that BET inhibition reduces inflammation partially through suppression of cytokine activity. (Chan et al., Eur. J. Immunol., 2015, 45: 287-297).
Klein et al. report that the bromodomain protein inhibitor I-BET151 suppresses expression of inflammatory genes and matrix degrading enzymes in rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts, which suggests a therapeutic potential in the targeting of epigenetic reader proteins in rheumatoid arthritis. (Klein et al., Ann. Rheum. Dis., 2014, 0:1-8).
Park-Min et al. report that I-BET151 that targets bromo and extra-terminal (BET) proteins that 'read' chromatin states by binding to acetylated histones, strongly suppresses osteoclastogenesis. (Park-Min et al. Nature Communications, 2014, 5, 5418).
PCT patent applications PCT/EP2016/070519, PCT/EP2016/072216 and PCT/EP2016/073532 each describe a series of pyridone derivatives as bromodomain inhibitors.

Pyrazole derivatives as bromodomain inhibitors

GLAXOSMITHKLINE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (NO.2) LIMITED


Disclosed is a method and apparatus for transmitting, multicasting, or broadcasting video signals from a video source to one or more remotely located computers and/or video clients. Specifically, the disclosed method and apparatus effectively digitizes and compresses received video signals such that they may be transmitted with other digitized signals directly or via a network, such as the Internet, to a multitude of computers and/or independent video display devices. The video transmission system is also capable of receiving video signals from a non-networked computer that does not require any hardware or software modifications to be compatible with the video transmission system. The disclosed video transmission system operates independently (i.e., does not require a service provider) and is capable of recording video transmissions.

A few types of video transmission systems are commonly used today including multicast, broadcast, and point-to-point video transmission systems. Multicast and broadcast systems both transmit video signals from one source to multiple recipients simultaneously. However, broadcast systems transmit to everyone, whereas multicast systems transmit only to a specific group. In contrast, a point-to-point video transmission system transmits video from one source to one recipient at any given time. A point-to-point video transmission system may have multiple video signal recipients, but this type of system requires multiple video signal transmissions (i.e., one for each recipient).
Video transmission systems are widely used for many purposes. One such purpose is to allow individuals at one or more remote sites to visually and/or audibly participate in a local presentation without physical relocation. In this scenario, the video transmission system typically includes a video source, such as a video camera or computer, at the location at which the live presentation occurs. Also, each participant location is equipped with a video display unit for viewing the presentation. The video signals may then be transmitted from the local presentation site to each participant location using any one of a variety of communication mediums.
One such communication medium is a dedicated line, such as a telephone or cable line. These lines may be provided in a variety of forms including a twisted pair telephone line, a Digital Subscriber Line ("DSL"), an Integrated Services Digital Network ("ISDN") line, a T1 line, a cable line, etc.
When implementing a video transmission that operates with a dedicated line, the user incurs many costs. First, the system user typically pays an ongoing fee for continued use of the dedicated line. Second, the system user must purchase video transmission system equipment that is compatible with the chosen type of dedicated line. Third, the system user must pay for installation, wiring, and setup of the custom equipment. In addition to the relatively high cost of such systems, the scalability of these systems is limited to those locations to which the dedicated line is connected. In many instances, this may include only two or three locations. For major corporations having hundreds of worldwide offices, employees at non-connected locations will still need to travel to a connected location. Alternatively, dedicated telephone lines may be purchased such that every location is connected to the dedicated line, however, this typically results in tremendous installation and maintenance costs. Consequently, choosing a dedicated line as the communication medium for implementation of a video transmission system having many participant locations is typically cost prohibitive. Also, such systems are typically not compatible with an independent video source that has not been modified or designed for compatibility with the custom equipment.
An alternative communication medium is an existing computer network such as a Local Area Network ("LAN") or Wide Area Network ("WAN"). Such systems are typically server-based. That is, the same server that controls the flow of all network information also controls the flow of the multicast video signals. Such systems are traditionally more economical than dedicated line systems, as they do not require a dedicated infrastructure. Rather, such systems utilize existing computer network infrastructures, thereby minimizing wiring costs. However, since these systems are server-based, they typically only allow participants to receive multicast video signals via a computer connected to the computer network. In other words, each participant location must be equipped with a video monitor and a networked computer. Furthermore, the video source, such as the computer used to provide the presentation, must also be connected to the network to allow the server to receive the video signals. Additionally, some networked systems require the video source to execute application specific software to allow its video signals to be transmitted via the network. Therefore, although this type of video transmission system may be more economical, it is not compatible with independent, non-networked video sources.
Yet another alternative communication medium is the Internet. Such systems typically require the system user to purchase a subscription from a service provider. This subscription allows the system user to utilize the service provider's server-based infrastructure to manage communications from the system user's computer or video camera to the intended recipients via the Internet. The service provider's infrastructure receives the video signals generated by the system user via the Internet, whereupon the signals are processed and transmitted in a point-to-point manner to each of the designated recipients also via the Internet. Such service providers typically couple the video transmission with a telephone conference call to allow interactive visual and audible presentations. For example, a system user typically schedules a presentation with a service provider to occur at a specific date and time. Thereafter, this information is sent to all intended participants along with password data and information regarding how to connect to the presentation. At the scheduled time, the participants connect to the presentation visually through their computer by logging on to the service provider's web page and entering the required password and/or session information. Similarly, the participants connect to the presentation audibly by dialing a designated telephone number and entering the required password and session data. Such a service typically requires continual payment of a subscription fee and purchase of equipment setup prior to system use. Also, these systems are typically server-based and the service is limited to those features offered by the service provider. Furthermore, these service providers do not offer recording of presentations for later review and/or playback.
Many of the aforementioned communication mediums are digital mediums. When a digital medium is utilized to transmit analog video signals, these analog signals must be converted to a digital format prior to transmission via the digital medium. These digital signals, in uncompressed form, require a communication medium having a large bandwidth (i.e., transmission capacity) if these signals are to be transmitted in near real-time. Generally, even high-speed connections such as cable and DSL are incapable of accommodating such bandwidth requirements. Furthermore, a majority of home users still connect to the Internet via a traditional twisted pair telephone line having even less bandwidth than their high-speed alternatives. Therefore, if a video transmission system is to be compatible with any type of communication medium, the converted digital video signals must be compressed prior to transmission and decompressed after transmission.
The video transmission system of the present invention uses the compression algorithm disclosed in co-pending application Ser. No. 10/233,299, which is incorporated herein by reference, to reduce and compress the digital data that must be transmitted to the remote computers and/or video display devices. Generally, video signals generated by a personal computer have large amounts of both spatial and interframe redundancies. For example, in a near idle personal computer, the only change between successive frames of video might be the blinking of a cursor. Even as a user types a document, a majority of the screen does not change over a period of time. Hence, the compression algorithm used by the present invention takes advantage of these redundancies, both between successive frames of video and within each individual frame, to reduce the amount of digital video signal data that is transmitted to the remote computers and/or video display devices. Reducing the amount of digital data transmitted over the communication medium decreases communication time and decreases the required bandwidth.
Most forms of video compression known in the art require complicated calculations. For example, Moving Pictures Experts Group ("MPEG") video compression algorithms use the discrete cosine transform as part of its algorithm. Also, the MPEG standard relies on the recognition of "motion" between frames, which requires calculation of motion vectors that describe how portions of the video image have changed over a period of time. Since these algorithms are calculation intensive, they either require relatively expensive hardware that performs such calculations quickly or extended transmission times that allow sufficient time for slower hardware to complete the calculations.
In addition to complexity, many existing video compression techniques are lossy (i.e., they do not transmit all of the video signal information in order to reduce the required bandwidth). Typically, such lossy techniques either reduce the detail of a video image or reduce the number of colors. Although reducing the number of colors could be part of an adequate compression solution for some video transmission system applications, in many other applications, such a result defeats the intended purposes of the video transmission system.
Several patents are directed to the field of video transmission systems. For example, Zhu et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,567,813 ("Zhu"), assigned on its face to WebEx Communications, Inc., discloses a distributed, collaborative computer system that includes a plurality of server computers connected via a high speed link. The Zhu system allows client computers to connect to any available server computer to start or join a conference hosted on either the server computer to which the client computer is connected or to any other server in the system. This system is server-based, where the server is networked to other servers and clients.
In contrast, Lecourtier et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,373,850 ("Lecourtier"), assigned on its face to Bull S. A., discloses a videoconferencing system that utilizes a standalone routing switch. The Lecourtier system incorporates at least one group switching center that transmits data directly, in a point-to-point manner, to each data terminal that sends or receives the video and data transmission. According to Lecourtier, this method eliminates collisions between data terminals and thereby allows large quantities of video and audio data to be transmitted over long distances.
Howell U.S. Pat. No. 5,767,897 ("Howell"), assigned on its face to PictureTel Corporation, discloses a video conferencing system that utilizes a director controller situated at the site of the presentation (e.g., on a lecture podium). The director controller includes a video display and a control section. The video display allows the podium speaker to view the transmitted video signals, whereas the control section allows the podium speaker to selectively control the distribution of generated audio and video information signals among local and remote sites. The Howell system incorporates networked controllers having a video camera, microphone, and speaker that captures the podium speaker's presentation and transmits the captured audio and video to remote, networked locations also having a video camera, microphone, speaker, and video display unit.
Yuan et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,821,986 ("Yuan"), assigned on its face to PictureTel Corporation, discloses a scalable video conferencing system for use between personal computers connected via a network. The Yuan system encodes an image sequence for transmission via the network. The type of encoding disclosed in Yuan enables the image sequence to be decoded at any one of at least two spatial resolutions and at any one of the available frame rates. Such encoding allows video transmission via a network environment in which there is no guaranteed bandwidth or connection quality, such as via standard twisted pair telephone lines.
Salesky et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,343,313 ("Salesky"), assigned on its face to Pixion, Inc., discloses a computer conferencing system with real-time, multipoint, multi-speed, multi-stream scalability. The Salesky system is a server-based system that allows conference participants to share all or a portion of the video displayed on the participant's computer screen. Furthermore, this system allows conference participants to be located at sites that are remote from each other, and requires all equipment, including the presenter's equipment, to be connected to the same network.
Scherpbier U.S. Pat. No. 6,263,365 ("Scherpbier"), assigned on its face to Raindance Communications, Inc., discloses a browser controller that allows a pilot computer to display selected web pages to both the pilot computer and one or more passenger computers (e.g., to demonstrate and/or discuss selected web page content during a conference call). Initially, the user of the passenger computer is directed to log on to a control web site, which downloads an active control, such as an applet, to the passenger computer. When the pilot computer chooses to display a particular web site to the passenger computers, it sends the web site's URL to the control site, which retrieves and sanitizes (i.e., disables the hyperlinks) the web page. Thereafter, the control site causes the passenger computers' active control to download the sanitized web page. However, the web site viewed by the pilot computer contains active hyperlinks, which the pilot computer user may click to activate. The control site senses these hyperlink selections and causes the pilot computer and passenger computers to be connected to the chosen, hyperlink web site.
Jiang U.S. Pat. No. 6,167,432 ("Jiang"), assigned on its face to WebEx Communications, Inc., discloses a method for creating peer-to-peer connections over a network to facilitate conferencing among network users. The Jiang system allows a designated location (e.g., a web site) on an interconnected network (e.g., the Internet) to be set up such that a conference may be created, and conference participants may be easily joined. The Jiang system maintains the Internet Protocol ("IP") addresses of the conference participants at the designated location. These addresses are transmitted to new conference participants without requiring that the new conference participants, or their equipment, have prior knowledge of the IP addresses. Once the new participant is joined in the conference, the data packets containing the conference data do not pass through the designated location or a central host, but rather are sent and received directly by the application program of each participant.
Thus, in light of the prior art discussed herein, there is a clear need for a standalone, multicast capable, video transmission system that operates without the need for a service provider and does not rely on a network server or the Internet to control transmission of the video signals. Such a system should provide near real time transmission of compressed video. The video compression must be efficient enough to transmit video in near real-time over standard twisted pair telephone line bandwidths, yet it must not be too lossy (i.e., the transmitted video images must not be noticeably degraded). Further, the video transmission system should be compatible with multiple platforms (e.g. Macintosh, IBM, UNIX, etc.) and should not require any modifications, including connection to a network, to the computer or other video device used for the presentation. Also, the system should not require a client computer at the participants' locations. Finally, the system should have the ability to control all video and data transmissions.

Method and apparatus for transmitting video signals


An electrical shuttle connector is capable of being used in high electrical power applications without incurring contact erosion upon the primary electrical contact location with a male pin. A shuttle which receives the male pin is contained by and slides axially within a receptacle of the connector between a mated position and a disengaged position and through an unmated position. An arcing contact face of the receptacle and a leading arcing contact surface of the shuttle incurs any high voltage electrical arcing when mating or un-mating the electrical shuttle connector. As such, when un-mating, the arcing contact face and the leading arcing contact surface disconnect prior to the electrical disconnection of the shuttle from the male pin. When mating the connector, the shuttle establishes electrical continuity with the male pin prior to the electrical engagement of the arcing contact face with the leading arcing contact surface. The male pin is completely free from the receptacle when the shuttle is in the disengaged position, however, the shuttle remains secured within the receptacle.

This invention relates to an electrical connector and more particularly, to an electrical shuttle connector for high voltage applications.
Power and signal distribution connectors mechanically and electrically connect at least two conductors at ideally the lowest possible power loss. Connectors are not designed to make and break a hot electrical circuit as are switches, relays and contactors. Nevertheless, during their service life connectors can be plugged and unplugged under load many times (i.e. hot plugged). Very often this connection under load occurs when physically switching off the power in advance would be considered time consuming and inconvenient. Also, connectors in automotive power networks are plugged and unplugged under load during diagnostic procedures, fuses are plugged at short circuit conditions, and so forth.
In the present 14 volt direct current, VDC, automotive power networks, no serious consequences are associated with plugging and unplugging under load due to very short break arcs (the system voltage is approximately the same as the minimum arc voltage of the contact material). However, the world""s leading car manufactures and component suppliers are promoting 42 VDC power networks to meet the high power requirements of future vehicles. Unfortunately, even one mating or disconnect under a 42 VDC load may damage a standard connector terminal beyond repair. In other words, under specific conditions, a long arc may be generated at matings or disconnects which may cause high contact erosion. This erosion may damage the physical shape of the connector terminal preventing re-mating or hindering proper terminal contact forces after mating.
An electrical shuttle connector is capable of being used in high electrical power applications without incurring contact erosion upon the primary electrical contact location with a male pin. A shuttle which receives the male pin is contained by and slides axially within a receptacle of the connector between a mated position and a disengaged position and through an unmated position. An arcing contact face of the receptacle and a leading arcing contact surface of the shuttle incurs any high voltage electrical arcing when mating or un-mating the electrical shuttle connector. As such, when un-mating, the arcing contact face and the leading arcing contact surface disconnect prior to the electrical disconnection of the shuttle from the male pin. When mating the connector, the shuttle establishes electrical continuity with the male pin prior to the electrical engagement of the arcing contact face with the leading arcing contact surface. The male pin is completely free from the receptacle when the shuttle is in the disengaged position, however, the shuttle remains secured within the receptacle.
The shuttle slides axially and co-linearly with the male pin between the mated, un-mated and disengaged positions. A primary contact surface of the shuttle faces laterally inward and moves laterally when the shuttle moves between the un-mated and disengaged positions, thereby engaging to or disengaging from the sides of the male pin. With the primary electrical connection made, the arcing contact face of the receptacle and the leading arcing contact surface of the shuttle engages and disengages from one another when the shuttle moves between the mated and un-mated positions and the primary contact remains engaged.
An advantage of the present invention is the elimination of electrical arcing erosion of the male pin of an electrical connector. Another advantage of the present invention is the ability to connect and disconnect the electrical connector used within a hot electrical circuit, thereby saving time when performing maintenance or repairs.


A liquid crystal display device comprises a base substrate including a display region, and a drive circuitry region provided in a surrounding region of the display region, a liquid crystal layer, and a counter substrate facing the base substrate via the liquid crystal layer. A pixel electrode and a pixel driving element for driving the pixel electrode are provided in the display region, a driving circuitry section for controlling the pixel electrode and the pixel driving element is provided in the drive circuitry region. An insulating layer is provided to cover at least one portion of the drive circuitry region. A common transition electrode is provided in the insulating layer. The common transition electrode is electrically connected to a counter electrode provided on the counter substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device comprising drive circuitry including an active element, and a pixel driving element, the drive circuitry and the pixel driving element being formed on the same substrate. More particularly, the present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device in which a common transition electrode is disposed via an insulating layer in a drive circuit region in which drive circuitry is provided.
2. Description of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display device is known as a device for displaying images. The liquid crystal display device displays images by controlling a voltage applied across liquid crystal material interposed between a base substrate and a counter substrate.
One type of a liquid crystal display device is an active matrix type liquid crystal display device. An active matrix type liquid crystal display device includes a thin film transistor (TFT) preferably used as a switching element for driving a pixel having steep on-off characteristics. Therefore, an active matrix type liquid crystal display device has high-speed response and can have a large number of pixels, resulting in a large-size and high-definition display.
Hereinafter, an active matrix type liquid crystal display device in a driver monolithic form will be described. The phrase xe2x80x9cdriver monolithic formsxe2x80x9d means that a driver and pixel electrodes controlled by the driver are provided on the same substrate. Images are displayed on the liquid crystal display device by the driver controlling pixel electrodes.
FIG. 7 is a top view of a base substrate 550 of an active matrix type liquid crystal display device 500 in a conventional driver monolithic form.
A display region 501 is provided in a middle portion of a surface of the base substrate 550 facing a counter substrate (not shown in FIG. 7). Referring to FIG. 7, a scanning driver 505 and a data driver 506 are provided around the display region 501. A plurality of common transition electrodes 508 are provided at a further peripheral region of the base substrate 550 than the scanning driver 505 and the data driver 506. A signal input terminal 507 provided on a portion of the peripheral region supplies power to a counter electrode (not shown) on the counter substrate through the common transition electrodes 508. The common transition electrodes 508 are electrically connected to a peripheral portion of the counter electrode via conductive paste.
FIG. 8 is an enlarged diagram of a portion A (FIG. 7) of the base substrate 550 of the liquid crystal display device 500. Referring to FIG. 8, in the display region 501, a plurality of scanning signal lines 502 and a plurality of data signal lines 503 are provided in such a manner as to intersect. The pixel driving elements (e.g., TFTs) and pixel electrodes 504 are arranged in a matrix, each pair of which are provided in the vicinity of an intersection. The gate electrodes of the TFTs provided on the same row are connected to a common scanning signal line 502. The scanning signal line 502 on each row is connected to the scanning driver 505. The drain (or source) electrodes of the TFTs provided on the same column are connected to a common data signal line 503. The source (or drain) electrodes of the TFTs are connected to the pixel electrode 504. The data signal line 503 on each column is connected to the data driver 506.
The scanning driver 505 progressively scans the scanning signal lines 502 (a scanning signal line 502 is provided in each row). The data driver 506 is controlled so that image data is progressively applied from the data signal lines 503 to the respective pixel electrodes 504 via the TFTs, thereby displaying images in the display region 501.
Typically, the counter electrode provided on the counter substrate is a transparent electrode made of ITO (indium tin oxide) or the like. The electric resistance of the counter electrode is relatively large. Particularly in a large-sized liquid crystal display device, brightness gradation, irregular display, or the like may occur due to a delay of a polarity inversion signal caused by distributed resistance in the counter electrode and liquid crystal capacitance. To avoid this, for example, the common transition electrodes 508 are provided at a plurality of portions of the base substrate 550. In the case of a liquid crystal display device using TAB (tape automated bonding), the pitch of the TAB is narrowed so that a common transition electrode is provided between the TABs. However, in a typical liquid crystal display device in a driver monolithic form, a plurality of the common transition electrodes 508 are provided at a further peripheral region of the base substrate 550 than the scanning driver 505 and the data driver 506.
Recently, the miniaturization of devices is in increasing demand. An even smaller size liquid crystal display device is desired. In a liquid crystal display device, the area of the display region 501 viewed by a user should be increased as much as possible while the surrounding region of the display region 501 which has substantially no contribution to display is reduced as much as possible.
Needless to say, the same applies to the above-described active matrix type liquid crystal display device 500 in the driver monolithic form. A portion having substantially no contribution to display, in which the drive circuitry including the scanning driver 505 and the data driver 506 and the common transition electrodes 508 are provided, can be reduced with respect to the display region 501.
However, when a plurality of the common transition electrodes 508 are provided outside the scanning driver 505 and the data driver 506 in the liquid crystal display device 500, the width of the peripheral portion of a liquid crystal display device, which has substantially no contribution to display, is significantly increased.
Further, when conductive paste is applied to the common transition electrodes 508 using a printing process, static electrical charge tends to occur. Such static electrical charge is likely to cause fluctuation of the threshold of an active element in a circuit in the vicinity of the common transition electrode 508. Particularly when the threshold fluctuation occurs in a switching element for sampling in the data driver 506 within the active matrix type liquid crystal display device 500 in the driver monolithic form, a sampling level to image display data is varied for each data signal line 503, so that display quality is significantly reduced.
Further, when conductive paste is applied to the common transition electrodes 508, excessive charge transfer occurs due to the potential (or charge quantity) difference between a glass substrate and an application device. This charge transfer is likely to cause a change in characteristics, such as threshold fluctuation, of an active element within a circuit in the vicinity of the common transition electrode 508.
The data driver 506 includes an active element other than the switching element for sampling. For example, a logic circuit such as a shift register circuit within the data driver 506 includes an active element. The logic circuit is only required to transfer and/or identify a digital signal expressed by 0 or 1. Therefore, a certain degree of a threshold fluctuation of an active element in the logic circuit does not have a substantial influence on display quality.
The switching element for sampling needs to charge each data signal line 503 with analog image display data in a certain limited time, e.g., about 160 ns for a QVGA display format. When threshold fluctuation occurs in the switching element for sampling, the sampling level to the image display data is varied for each data signal line 503 due to a difference in a charge capability between each element. Therefore, a display quality is significantly reduced.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a liquid crystal display device comprises a base substrate including a display region, and a drive circuitry region provided in a surrounding region of the display region, a liquid crystal layer, and a counter substrate facing the base substrate via the liquid crystal layer. A pixel electrode and a pixel driving element for driving the pixel electrode are provided in the display region. A driving circuitry section for controlling the pixel electrode and the pixel driving element is provided in the drive circuitry region. An insulating layer is provided to cover at least one portion of the drive circuitry region. A common transition electrode is provided in the insulating layer. The common transition electrode is electrically connected to a counter electrode provided on the counter substrate.
The drive circuitry region includes data drivers for converting serial data to parallel data so as to drive data signal lines, conductor sections between the data drivers, scanning drivers for driving scanning signal lines, and conductor sections between the scanning drivers. The data driver may include a shift register, a buffer circuit section, a sample holding circuit section (including a latch circuit section for latching a digital signal), and a DAC circuit section for converting a digital signal to an analog signal. The scanning driver may include a shift register and a buffer circuit section.
In this configuration, the common transition electrode is provided via the insulating film in the drive circuitry region. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a threshold fluctuation of an active element in the drive circuitry due to static electric charge generated in the common transition electrode. A reduction in liquid crystal display quality can also be prevented. Further, the common transition electrode can be efficiently provided in the drive circuitry region, thereby reducing the surrounding region of a display region of the liquid crystal display device which has substantially no contribution to display. Therefore, the liquid crystal device can be miniaturized.
In one embodiment of this invention, the drive circuitry section includes a plurality of types of active elements. The common transition electrode is provided on a portion of the insulating layer corresponding to the drive circuitry region other than a portion of the drive circuitry region. On the portion of the drive circuitry region, a specific type(s) of active element(s) out of the plurality of types of active elements is provided.
In one embodiment of this invention, the specific type of the active element is a switching element for sampling.
The specific type of active element may be, for example, an active element in a shift register circuit or a buffer circuit, for example.
A common transition electrode is provided via an insulating film in a drive circuitry region which does not include an active element (or a specific active element). Therefore, it is possible to prevent a threshold fluctuation of an active element due to static electric charge generated in the common transition electrode. A reduction in liquid crystal display quality can also be prevented. Further, the common transition electrode can be efficiently provided in the drive circuitry region, thereby reducing the surrounding region of a display region of the liquid crystal display device which has substantially no contribution to display. Therefore, the liquid crystal display device can be miniaturized.
The above-described drive circuitry region for display includes a scanning driver for driving a scanning signal line and a data driver for driving a data signal line. In the data driver, a sample holding circuit as well as a shift register circuit are provided. A threshold fluctuation of an active element other than the switching element for sampling included in the sample holding circuit of the data driver does not have a substantial influence on display quality. Therefore, when the common transition electrode is provided via the insulating layer on a portion of the drive circuitry region which does not include the switching element for sampling, i.e., the drive circuitry region other than the sample holding circuit (e.g., a shift register circuit), threshold fluctuation of the switching element for sampling can be suppressed, resulting in stable display quality. The surrounding region of a display region of the liquid crystal display device which has substantially no contribution to display can be reduced, thereby making it possible to miniaturize the liquid crystal display device.
In one embodiment of this invention, a plurality of drive circuitry sections and a plurality of conductors connecting the plurality of drive circuitry sections are provided in the drive circuitry region. The common transition electrode is provided on a portion of the insulating layer corresponding to a portion of the driving circuitry region. On the portion of the driving circuitry, at least one portion of the conductors is provided.
In this configuration, an array pitch in a drive circuit section of each predetermined drive circuit is reduced, thereby providing a conductor region. A common transition electrode is provided via an insulating film on the conductor region. Therefore, the common transition electrode is provided via the insulating film in a portion of the drive circuitry region which does not include an active element.
In one embodiment of this invention, the drive circuitry section includes a scanning driver for driving a scanning signal line and a data driver for driving a data signal line. At least one of the scanning driver and the data driver includes a shift register circuit having at least one stage. An array pitch of the stage in the shift register circuit is less than an array pitch of the pixel electrode connected to the scanning signal line and/or the data signal line.
With this configuration, an array pitch in a drive circuit section is reduced, thereby easily providing a conductor region.
In one embodiment of this invention, the common transition electrode is shaped so as to be a rectangular, a annular, or a stripe.
The drive circuitry region includes a scanning driver for driving a scanning signal line and a data driver for driving a data signal line. The scanning driver is provided opposite vertical ends of a display panel while the data driver is provided on opposite horizontal ends of the display panel, for example. In this case, the stripe-shaped common transition electrode provided throughout the drive circuitry region includes a stripe-shaped portion thereof provided across a scanning driver region at the left side of the display panel, a stripe-shaped portion thereof provided across a scanning driver region at the right side of the display panel, a stripe-shaped portion thereof provided across a data driver region at the top side of the display panel, and a stripe-shaped portion thereof provided across a data driver region at the bottom side of the display panel. The present invention is not limited to this. The stripe-shaped common transition electrode may be any one of the above-described portions, or may be contiguous and extends annularly throughout the peripheral portion of the display panel.
With this configuration, the stripe-shaped common transition electrode is provided throughout the drive circuitry region, thereby causing additive capacitance on the drive circuitry to be uniform. Therefore, a more stable display quality can be achieved.
Thus, the invention described herein makes possible the advantages of providing a liquid crystal display device in which a surrounding region of a display region which has substantially no contribution to display is decreased without a reduction in display quality so that the liquid crystal display device can be miniaturized.
These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying figures.


A gage master artifact and method for verifying calibration of machine tools and other positioning apparatus such as a coordinate measuring machine wherein measurements are taken of bore sizes and lengths of the artifact in different orientations within the coordinate field of the apparatus by a probe of that apparatus and comparing such measurements with known measurements of the artifact to verify calibration accuracy of the apparatus.

State of the art manufacturing demands that accuracy be manufactured into product. The accuracy of machine tools for manufacturing a variety of different types of parts, such as milling machines, lathes and other positioning apparatus having a touch probe generally all have a reference plane from which measurements are made as to relative movements of the machine and part.
A coordinate measuring machine (CMM) is such a positioning apparatus which provides accurate determination of spatial relationships among points in space and is particularly useful in measurement of product to determine whether a manufactured product should be accepted or rejected. It is accordingly imperative from a quality control standpoint to periodically determine whether a CMM or similar machine has the necessary accuracy to measure such product.
To ensure that the desired accuracy is indeed manufactured into the product, such machines should be routinely checked on a periodic basis to reduce waste and manufacturing downtime and to ensure improved product quality. However, the time required to conduct such inspections and the laborious process involved in the use of many of the available conventional techniques frequently results in calibration verification being neglected by an operator. Such neglect may well result in serious losses if product is being audited by a CMM or similar positioning apparatus having unacceptable inaccuracies.

Artifact and method for verifying accuracy of a positioning apparatus