A method and system of preengaging a receipt and payment of money is provided which carries out the following steps: inputting dealing data as preengagement data, to carry out a dealing requested by a user; determining the acceptability of the input preengagement data with reference to use data such as the funds in, or the use status of, a cash processing apparatus installed in a branch to be transacted to which the preengagement data is input; transmitting the preengagement data to the branch to be transacted to input the preengagement data thereto, as a processing execution command when the preengagement data is determined to be acceptable; determining acceptability of substitutional preengagement data, different from the preengagement data, when the preengagement data is not accepted; and announcing the substitutional preengagement data to the user when the substitutional preengagement data is obtained.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus of preengaging a receipt and payment of money in monetary facilities such as a bank.
2. Description of the Related Art
To carry out a receipt and payment of money in monetary facilities, automatic cash dealing apparatuses (or cash dispensers) are now frequently employed.
Each of such automatic cash dealing apparatuses typically includes the following components constructed by an integrated structure; a media receiving and discharging portion consisting of a card insertion hole, a passbook insertion hole and a cash receipt and payment hole; an operation portion consisting of a display unit indicating operating procedures and an inputting unit for selecting a grade of a transaction and for inputting a secret identification number or an amount of money for receipt and payment; a reading and recording portion for reading an identification card and recording data on a passbook; a cash receipt and payment mechanism receiving cash from or paying cash to a cash container in response to the transactions of the money receipt and payment; and a control portion controlling the operation of the portions set forth above. The automatic cash dealing apparatus communicates with a central computer installed in a central location through a communication channel in response to the grade of the dealing requested through the operation portion by a customer, and carries out the processing for a receipt and payment of money with reference to the balance data recorded on the account ledger.
When a customer, i.e., a user, uses the typical automatic cash dealing apparatus, the user is subjected to troublesome operations such as insertion of an identification card, selection of a grade of the transaction setting of the user's secret identification number, and setting of an amount of receipt or payment of money. Accordingly, a considerable amount of operation time is required between a time when the user start the operation and a time when the user complete the operation for a deposit or a receipt of money. Because of the number of steps which the user must take, it is very difficult to shorten the overall operation time of the automatic cash dealing apparatus required for each transaction. As a result, a long waiting line by users may be formed in front of the automatic cash dealing apparatus when many users use the automatic cash dealing apparatus during rush hour periods such as lunch time or immediately after work has finished. Under these circumstances the transactions by the automatic cash dealing apparatus may be discontinued due to a lack of money stored in the automatic cash dealing apparatus. Furthermore, users who are not familiar with handling the automatic cash dealing apparatus, such as the aged, may misoperate the apparatus because of mental pressure due to the long waiting line, and this misoperation may further result in increasing the long waiting line.
To overcome the these disadvantages, a system for preengaging a receipt and payment of money which improves the serviceability for the user is disclosed in JP-A-57-178558.
The system for preengaging a receipt and/or payment of money disclosed in JP-A-57-178558 previously receives preengagement data such as a deposit account number, a secret identification number and an amount of money to be payed in accordance with a preengagement for a payment by a telephone call by a user. The system then determines whether or not the payment is valid, and registers the preengagement data when the preengagement data is valid. Thereafter, the user who requested the preengagement goes to a place where the automatic cash dealing apparatus is located, and inserts an identification card into the automatic cash dealing apparatus in which the preengagement data is registered to receive the requested money.
In accordance with the above mentioned system for preengaging a receipt and/or payment of money, the user can preengage the transactions for the receipt of money through the telephone at a suitable time and in a any place without going to a place where the automatic cash dealing apparatus is located and without an input operating of the data to the automatic cash dealing apparatus, and can receive the preengaged money by inserting the identification card into the automatic cash dealing apparatus at a any time after the registration of the preengagement.
In the system for preengaging a receipt and/or payment of money, the preengagement data input by the user through the telephone is sent to a central processing apparatus to determine whether or not the payment is valid. In determining the validity of the preengagement request, only a check of the validity of the secret identification number and the sufficiency of an amount of money on deposit against the requested payment are carried out. If the preengagement request for payment is deemed to be invalid by the determination, for example, due to a mismatch of the input secret identification number or a lack of sufficient funds on deposit against the payment, such input operations can be repeated several times to correct the preengagement. However, when the user fails to obtain acceptance of the request during the telephone preengagement, the telephone communication line is automatically disconnected, and accordingly, the telephone preengagement can not be accepted.

Method of determining the acceptability of a request to preengage receipt and/or payment of money in an ATM system using the same


In a method for operating a temperature-limiting device of an electrical unit activatable for a limited time period by way of an activation signal, the temperature-limiting device permits activation of the electrical unit upon occurrence of the activation signal only if a counter value is greater than or less than a reference value, the counter value being incremented or decremented by a determined temperature equivalence value upon each activation of the electrical unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for operating a temperature-limiting device of an electrical unit activatable for a limited time period by way of an activation signal. The invention further relates to a temperature-limiting device, and to an electrical unit.
2. Description of the Art
Methods of the kind recited above are known from the existing art. The temperature-limiting device is usually associated with the electrical unit. The temperature-limiting device serves to permit activation of the electrical unit upon occurrence of the activation signal only when the temperature of the electrical unit, or an estimated temperature of the electrical unit, is below a specific temperature, in particular a limit operating temperature of the electrical unit. This means that the temperature-limiting device serves to limit the temperature of the electrical unit in such a way that neither temperature-related damage to the electrical unit nor a reduction in its service life can occur. The electrical unit is, for example, operated in such a way that it is at first deactivated, upon occurrence of the activation signal is activated only briefly, i.e. over the limited time period, and is then deactivated again. The electrical unit can be, in particular, a starter device of a motor vehicle, i.e. serves to start an internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle. Upon occurrence of the activation signal, the electrical unit or starter device is therefore operated so as to bring the internal combustion engine to a predetermined rotation speed and thus start it. The electrical unit is then deactivated again and, for example, operated as a generator. While the electrical unit is activated, it generates heat, which raises its temperature. If the electrical unit is activated over too long a time period, or is activated too often within a specific time span, the temperature of the electrical unit can then become greater than the limit operating temperature. As already stated above, this can result in damage to the electrical unit.
Published German patent application document DE 199 46 808 A1, for example, discloses an electrical starter apparatus for an internal combustion engine. The electrical starter apparatus possesses a thermal monitoring protection system for taking the starter apparatus out of service when its limit operating temperature is reached. The starter apparatus has a device for identifying a virtual operating temperature, in which context the device identifies the virtual operating temperature as a function of at least one operating parameter influencing the operating temperature of the starter apparatus. The virtual operating temperature is identified, for example, as a function of a current ratio that relates an actual starter current to a reference current. The reference current is, in particular, a rated current of the starter apparatus. The virtual operating temperature is then calculated, from the current ratio by integration. In order to determine the virtual operating temperature as accurately as possible, the integration must occur with a short time interval. Starter apparatuses of this kind are therefore constantly carrying out relatively complex calculations in order to determine the virtual operating temperature of the starter apparatus, and to take it out of service when its limit operating temperature is reached. The calculation unit needed to execute these calculations is, however, expensive.

Method for operating a temperature-limiting device, temperature-limiting device and electrical apparatus


An integrally molded automotive waterproof connector is disclosed which comprises a thermoplastic resin and integrated therewith an oil-bleeding silicone rubber, the thermoplastic resin containing a thermoplastic resin oligomer containing at least one aliphatic unsaturated group. In the connector, the adhesion between the thermoplastic resin and the silicone rubber is satisfactory regardless of the length of storage period as compared with connectors comprising a thermoplastic resin and a silicone rubber integrated therewith after priming. Further, the connector of the present invention is excellent in production efficiency and workability, is reduced in connector housing fitting force, and can retain satisfactory waterproofness.

Connectors used for connections in electrical circuits in motor vehicles are required to have a high-degree of waterproof sealing performance as well as oil resistance. Oil-bleeding rubber materials are therefore used frequently as sealing rubber parts for these connectors, such as, e.g., packings and rubber plugs. Recently used as a molding material is an oil-bleeding silicone rubber comprising a silicone rubber having excellent heat, cold, and oil resistance and a silicone oil incorporated therein (see JP-A-62-252457; the term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application").
Many techniques for bonding an addition-curing silicone rubber to an organic resin have hitherto been proposed. Examples thereof include a method in which a primer is applied to the surface of a molded resin and an uncured silicone rubber is applied to the primed surface and cured, and a method in which a self-bonding silicone rubber material is cured on a molded resin. With respect to this self-bonding silicone rubber composition, many proposals have been made especially on techniques concerning bonding ingredients therefor. Further, other techniques proposed so far include a method in which an organopolysiloxane containing directly silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms in an amount of at least 30 mol % is added to an organic resin and this organic resin is bonded to an addition-curing silicone rubber (JP-B-2-34311; the term "JP-B" as used herein means an "examined Japanese patent publication"); a method in which a silicone rubber is integrated with an organic resin by means of physical fitting (JP-B-63-45292); a method in which a silicone rubber is bonded to and integrated with an olefin resin onto which a compound having an aliphatic unsaturated group and a silicon-bonded hydrolyzable group has been grafted (JP-A-63-183843); and a method in which a thermoplastic resin containing a compound having an unsaturated group and a directly silicon-bonded hydrogen atom is bonded to and integrated with a silicone rubber, as proposed by the present inventors in the specification of a previous patent application.
However, the prior art techniques described above have drawbacks as follows. The method of using a primer for bonding necessitates the troublesome procedure of taking a molded resin out of the mold and priming the resin molding. The method of applying a self-bonding silicone rubber to a molded resin and curing the rubber has a serious drawback that when a mold or the like is used for the molding of the resin and the silicone rubber, the silicone rubber itself adheres to the mold. In addition, although use of the self-bonding silicone rubber poses no problem when it is cured after being applied to a resin molding, the addition-curing self-bonding silicone shows insufficient adhesion to some of many general-purpose resins, e.g., ABS, PPO, PPS, polycarbonates, acrylics, PE, PP, and Teflon, when it is used for producing integrally molded articles. Further, the method of adding a hydrogenpolysiloxane to an olefin resin, among the proposed techniques described above, has a drawback that the addition of the siloxane may modify properties of the resin itself, making it difficult to obtain the properties inherent in the resin. The method of using physical fitting for obtaining an integral article is disadvantageous in that the fitted parts may be separated from each other by a physical force. The method of using an olefin resin onto which a compound having an aliphatic unsaturated group and a silicon-bonded hydrolyzable group has been grafted has a drawback that use of a primer is necessary when an addition-curing silicone rubber is integrated with the olefin resin.
On the other hand, for eliminating these problems, there has been a desire for an integral waterproof connector made of a thermoplastic resin and, tenaciously bonded thereto, an oil-bleeding silicone rubber from which an oil bleeds out after molding.
In this respect, a technique for obtaining a tenaciously bonded integral molding from a thermoplastic resin having aliphatic unsaturated groups and a silicone rubber containing a specific bonding ingredient was proposed by the present inventors in JP-A-6-171021 and JP-A-6-171023. However, no proposals were made therein on adhesion to an oil-bleeding silicone rubber, because this bonding was technically difficult in those days.

Integrally molded automotive waterproof connector comprising thermoplastic resin and oil-bleeding silicone rubber

Mitsubishi Engineering Plastics Co., Ltd.


A compound of the formula:

Study of so-called broad spectrum cephem compounds having potent antibacterial activities against various Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria has recently been focused on cephem compounds wherein the 7-side chain is substituted with aminothiazole or aminothiadiazole and the 3-position with a cyclic-type quarternary ammoniummethyl group. For example, the known 7-aminothiazole types include cefepime hydrochloride (U.S. Pat. No. 4,406,899), cefpirome sulfate (U.S. Pat. No. 4,609,653, JP(A) S57-192394), and cefoselis sulfate (JP(A) H07-196665, WO97/41128), and the 7-aminothiadiazole types include cefclidin (U.S. Pat. No. 4,748,171), and cefozopran hydrochloride (U.S. Pat. No. 4,864,022, JP(A) S62-149682, JP(A) H03-47189). Such types of cephem compounds are also reported in JP Patent publication (Kokai) S-58-4789 which discloses compounds having an "optionally substituted 2 or more of N atoms—containing heterocycle cation group" at the 3-position and in JP Patent publication (Kokai) S-60-155183 which discloses compounds having a "2 or more of N atoms—containing unsaturated condensed heterocyclic cation group" at the 3-position.
Documents such as JP Patent publication (Kokai) S-60-97982, JP Patent publication (Kokai) S-59-130294, JP Patent publication (Kokai) S-60-34973, JP Patent publication (Kokai) S-62-114990, JP Patent publication (Kokai) S-64-42491, and WO87/06232 etc. disclose cephem compounds which have a halogen on an aminothiazole ring at the 7-position or which are substituted with COOH at the end of the oxime part on the 7-side chain. These documents do not disclose a cephem compound having the both structural characteristics.
A cephem compound, which has a halogen on an aminothiazole ring at the 7-position and is substituted with COOH at the end of the oxime part on the 7-side chain, is known in JP Patent publication (Kokai) S-60-231684. However, a specifically disclosed compound is that wherein the methylene group bonding to the oxime part on the 7-side chain is non-substituted or dimethyl-substituted type. JP Patent publication (Kokai) S-57-131794 and JP Patent publication (Kokai) H-1-308286 discloses compounds wherein the methylene group bonding to the oxime part on the 7-side chain is substituted with monomethyl, however, the configuration is not specified and a quarternary ammonium group is not disclosed as a possible substituent on the methylene group at the 3-position. Further, any antibacterial activities against cephem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa are not discribed therein.
A cephem compound having a quarternary ammonium group at the 3-position and a side chain of aminothiazole/oxime type at the 7-position, so-called broad spectrum antibacterial-type cephem, is known as being efficatious against G(−) bacteria including Pseudomonas aeruginosa. For example, ceftazidime has been reported as being stable against β-lactamase and possesing a relatively potent activity against β-lactamase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa(Acta Microbiologica Hungarica 35 (4), pp. 327-359 (1988)).
Under the above circumstances, among G(−) bacteria, the number of bacteria resistant to some broad spectrum antibacterial-type cephems has recently increased. The frequency of clinical isolation of cephem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which highly produce β-lactamase, esp. Class C-type β-lactamase, has raised, which is recognized as a social problem worldwide ("Classification and Epidemiology of Recent β-lactamase", Clinic and Microorganism Vol. 26 No. 2 1999.3 P 103-109). However, a cephem compound with a potent activity against such cephem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa has not been reported.
Therefore, the development of a novel cephem compound with broad antibacterial spectrum, preferably a compound possessing a potent activity against cephem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa which produce β-lactamase has been desired. In preference, such a compound is useful as an injection.

Abstract: A compound of the formula:

Abstract: (wherein,    T is S, SO or O;    X is halogen, CN, carbamoyl optionally substituted with lower alkyl, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, or lower alkylthio;    A is substituted lower alkylene (wherein the substituent is optionally substituted mono lower alkyl, optionally substituted lower alkylidene, or optionally substituted lower alkylene);    Z+ is an optionally substituted, a cation and an N atom-containing heterocyclic group), ester, amino-protected compound wherein the amino bonds to a thiazole ring at the 7-position, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.


A sugar cane piler having a mechanical spring suspension device connected between the piler and the front end of the loader, the device including a precompressed spring to absorb a major portion of the weight of the piler and reduce the force of the piler acting on the ground. The device permits the piler to readily float over the ground and minimizes penetration of the piler's tips into the ground.

This invention relates to a sugar cane piler having a mechanical spring suspension device in place of the conventional chain used in known sugar cane pilers.
The mechanical spring device decreases by about 80% the force with which the tips of the piler act on the ground, thus obtaining a good flotation of the piler on the ground surface. By reducing the force of interaction between the piler and the ground, soil penetration by the piler's tips is decreased resulting in less contamination of the cane with stones, soil and other extraneous materials during bundling of the cane. Destruction of the cane's roots by the piler's tips is also avoided. The mechanical suspension device is characterized by having a cylinder closed at both ends, in which is located a previously compressed spring that is coupled to a rod which, in turn, is connected at one end to a plate and at the other end to a yoke.
Conventional sugar cane pilers have a rigid construction and consist of a pair of spaced apart vertical plates cut in the form of parabolic or eliptical curves, with tips at the ends. These plates are welded to a frame structure formed of lateral and longitudinal tubes. The frame is articulated to the main frame of the machine and suspended by a chain connected to an articulated arm that is actuated by a hydraulic cylinder. The lowest position of the piler is limited by the cylinder's stroke and the length of the chain. During cane bundling the force of interaction between the piler and the soil is so high that it is difficult to achieve a floating effect so the piler's tips tend to penetrate into the ground.
This penetration of the piler's tips causes contamination of the cane with stones, soil and other undesirable materials. There is also the danger of uprooting and destroying the cane stumps.
Many attempts have been made to try and reduce soil penetration by the piler's tips and to increase the flotation effect. One of the most common methods is to mount skids on the piler to reduce soil penetration by the piler's tips and improve the piler's floating effect. However, this doesn't occur because the skids have to have a large contact surface between the piler and the soil in order to effectively reduce penetration.
Some sugar cane loaders use an additional chain to reduce soil penetration when the ground is uniform, but the floating effect is still poor and when the ground is uneven, some of the cane is left on the ground without bundling.
Many inventions have been patented with the purpose of achieving a better piler floating effect. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,614,476, the piler consists of two parts: one upper rigid part as in the conventional design and a lower part which can be moved with respect to the upper part. Since the lower part comprises only a small proportion of the mass of the whole piler, it acts on the ground with a relatively small force. But since only the lower part floats, the floating effect in this design is satisfactory.
The above patent discloses many design alternatives for the two-part piler, but in practice no solution has been successful.
Problems caused by the rigidity of the lower part as well as the introduction of stones and soil between the piler's movable parts have been the main factors why this two-part piler has not been successful. Also this design requires a high investment cost because the whole conventional piler must be replaced by the new one.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,609,318; 2,674,380; and 2,874,854 show pilers where some elements have been added to the piler to help in bundling the cane. Those elements can perform oscillatory, linear or rotary movements. The most interesting solution appears to be a rotary mechanism adapted to the conventional piler, where toothed wheels mounted outside the walls of the piler help to bundle the cane. With this solution, the reaction force of the cane on the piler is reduced and, in turn, the force of penetration by the piler's tips is reduced. However, this design does not reduce the soil penetration force provided by the piler's own weight. Besides it is more expensive, because of the use of additional hydraulic motors. Moreover, it is not recommended for use in stony fields.

Mechanical suspension device for piler of sugar cane loaders

Centro de Investigation v Asistencia Tecnica del Estado de Queretaro A.C.


A method and device for electrically stimulating one or more structures in the gastrointestinal tract as described. The one or more structures are preferably selected from the upper esophageal sphincter, the esophagus and gastric fundus. The method may involve the step of arranging a plurality of stimulating electrodes adjacent one or more structures which may further include the lower esophageal sphincter, the stomach, the pyloric sphincter, the small intestine, the colon and the vagus. The method and device may further include sensing electrodes to detect change in one or more physiological parameters in the gastrointestinal tract and modulate the stimulating electrodes in response to the change. The device comprises a pulse generator, a power source, a plurality of stimulating electrode set, one or more sensing electrodes and means for varying activity of the stimulating electrodes in response to change detected in the gastrointestinal tract. The method and device may be used to treat obesity and/or GERD.

It is generally known that obesity is a common condition and a major public health problem in developed nations, including the United States of America. Today, 64.5% of American adults, about 127 million people, are either overweight or obese. Data demonstrated 300,000 Americans die prematurely from obesity related complications each year. More than 25% of children today are overweight or obese in the United States of America, hence the number of overweight Americans has increased steadily and will continue to increase in the coming years. Obesity costs the United States an estimated $100 billion annually in direct and indirect health care expenses and in lost productivity. This trend is also apparent in many other developed countries.
Morbid obesity is defined as more than 100 pounds greater than normal body weight or a body mass index (BMI), greater than 40 kg/m2 and is present in 5% of the U.S. population. A BMI greater than 30 kg/m2 is associated with significant co-morbidities. Morbid obesity is associated with many diseases and disorders, including diabetes, hypertension, heart attacks, strokes, dyslipidemia, sleep apnea, Pickwickian Syndrome, asthma, lower back and disc disease, weight-bearing osteo-arthritis of the hips, knees, ankles and feet, thrombophlebitis and pulmonary emboli, intertriginous dermatitis, urinary stress incontinence, gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD), gall stones, and sclerosis and carcinoma of the liver. In women, infertility, cancer of the uterus and cancer of the breast are also associated with morbid obesity. Taken together, the diseases associated with morbid obesity markedly reduce the odds of attaining an average lifespan and raise annual mortality in affected people by a factor of 10 or more.
Current treatments for obesity include diet, exercise, behavioral treatments, medications, surgery (open and laproscopic) and endoscopic devices. There are currently three (3) weight loss drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Orlistat (XENICAL®) provided by Roche is a non-systemic inhibitor of the enzyme lipase that works by interrupting the action of lipase in breaking down fats. Sibutramine hydrochloride (MERIDA®) is a non-amphetamine appetite suppressant that inhibits brain chemicals involved in appetite, thereby promoting a signal of satiety. Phentermine (ADIPEX-P®) is a structural analog of amphetamine and is also an appetite suppressant indicated for exogenous obesity.
In addition, there are currently a number of clinical trials on-going for treatments of obesity. One line of enquiry is based around the chemistry of the hormone called Human Amylin, which plays a role in the regulation of appetite and food intake. Mid-stage clinical trial results with one of these products have shown a weight loss of 3.5 kg (7.7 lbs) over 60 weeks. While these drugs have shown signs of greater efficacy, there has not been developed any high efficacy pharmaceutical treatment. Further, the issue of short-term and long-term side effects is always of concern to consumers, pharmaceutical providers and their insurers.
Laporoscopic bariatric surgical procedures in current use include Laporoscopic V or vertical gastroplasty, laporoscopic gastric bypass with Roux Y Limb and a Laporoscopic Placement of Lap Band. These procedures have been reported to result in marked lasting weight reduction in the majority of morbidly obese patients when assessed five years after operation. Studies of the health-related quality of life outcomes of these procedures have documented sustained significant improvements in all parameters measured. Diet or drug therapy programs have been consistency disappointing and fail to bring about significant, sustained weight loss in the majority of morbidly obese people.
Currently, most (95%) morbid obesity operations are, or include, gastric restrictive procedures, involving the creation of a small (15-35 ml) upper gastric pouch that drains through a small outlet (0.75-1.2 cm), setting in motion the body's satiety mechanism. About 15% of morbid obesity operations done in the United States involve gastric restrictive surgery combined with a malabsorptive procedure. This divides small intestinal flow into a biliary-pancreatic conduit and a food conduit. Potential long-term problems with surgical procedures are notorious and include not only those seen after any abdominal procedure, such as ventral hernia and small bowel obstruction, but also those specific to bariatric procedures such as gastric outlet obstruction, marginal ulceration, protein malnutrition and vitamin deficiency.
Additionally, there are in development multiple endoscopic procedures for obesity. Endoscopically placed gastric balloons restrict the gastric volume and result in satiety with smaller meals. Endoscopic procedures and devices to produce gastric pouch and gastrojejunal anastomosis to replicate laporoscopic procedures are also in development. These procedures, however, are not without their risks.
Gastric electric stimulation (GES) is another procedure that is currently in clinical trial. Gastric Electrical Stimulation (GES) employs an implantable, pacemaker-like device to deliver low-level electrical stimulation to the stomach.
The procedure involves the surgeon suturing electrical leads to the outer lining of the stomach wall. The leads are then connected to the device, which is implanted just under the skin in the abdomen. Using an external programmer that communicates with the device, the surgeon establishes the level of electrical stimulation appropriate for the patient.
While the exact way in which GES causes weight loss is not fully understood, it is believed that through low-level electrical pulses the therapy slows the intrinsic electrical waves in the stomach. Animal studies have shown that this electrical stimulation causes the stomach to relax, resulting in distension of the stomach. This distension triggers nerves in the stomach involved in digestion to send signals via the central nervous system to the brain that the stomach is "full".
GES may also result in a decrease in gastrointestinal hormones such as CCK, somatostatin GLP-1 and leptin, all of which are associated with hunger. Recent work on GES has shown promising results in obese patients. GES results in 35% EWL (excess weight loss) beyond 24 months and the results are sustained and replicated. This technology is currently available in Europe and Canada and undergoing trials for FDA approval in the U.S
U.S. Pat. No. 6,901,295 to the present applicant describes a method and apparatus for electrical stimulation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The device and method are directed toward inducing contraction of the LES to thereby combat gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD). The claimed invention is directed towards using, amongst other things, sensing electrodes in the esophagus for detecting esophageal peristalsis so as to inhibit the electrical stimulation of the lower esophageal sphincter in order to pass food to the stomach. The disclosed device and method, therefore, increases LES tone after passage of food to the stomach. It is designed to prevent gastric reflux of acid material.
Published US Patent Application No 2005/0065571 to Imran discloses a responsive gastric stimulator which senses one or more parameters and then affects smooth muscle contractions and nerves associated with the stomach and/or biochemistry or secretions of the stomach. Stimulation may be directed to cause gastric retention of food for a greater duration by interfering with peristaltic contractions and/or the innate electrical potentials of the stomach.
Published US Patent Application No 2005/0090873 to Imran discloses a fixation device for holding stimulating electrodes in electrical contact with the wall of a portion of the gastrointestinal tract. This device comprises an expandable member that fixes electrodes in electrical contact with the gastrointestinal tract. The disclosure also extends to a method for treating obesity by controlling the pylorus to retain food in the stomach for a desired period of time to provide a sensation of satiety and/or to reduce hunger. The disclosed invention is relatively cumbersome and involves the intra-luminal insertion of an expandable member that presents some degree of risk in the duodenum. Food must be able to pass through the device while at the same time its expansive pressure must be sufficient to hold electrodes in place, but not damage the wall of the small intestine. The method and device also seek to control contraction of the pylorus by electrical stimulation of the duodenum.
Published US Patent Application No 2003/0144708 to Starkebaum relates to a method and system for treating patients with eating disorders, including obesity, through the delivery of electrical stimulation directly or indirectly to the pylorus of a patient to close the pyloric lumen to inhibit emptying of the stomach.
Published US Patent Application No 2004/0015201 to Greenstein discloses a process for electro-stimulation treatment of obesity. This disclosure is directed to electro-stimulation of the stomach, the lower esophageal sphincter, the pyloric sphincter and the ileo-caecal sphincter.
International Publication No WO2005/051486 to University Technologies International Inc. discloses a method and apparatus for gastrointestinal motility control. This discloses a complex multi-channel implantable device using one or multiple micro-system controlled channels and circumferentially arranged sets of two more electrodes to provide externally-invoked synchronized electrical signals to the smooth muscles via the neural pathways. The applicant describes invoking peristalsis but also corrupting peristalsis by implanting electrodes in the pyloric region or other areas of the stomach. The claimed invention relates to electrically-stimulating patches in the vicinity of an organ until the organ relaxes and applying electrical energy to the gastrointestinal tract to invoke a desired motility result. The identified specification does not disclose any means of feedback.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,611,715 to Boveja describes an apparatus and method for treating obesity and compulsive eating disorders using an implantable lever receiver and an external stimulator. The lead-receiver is in electrical contact with the left vagus nerve. The device is used for neuromodulating the vagus nerve with a result of appetite suppression.

Method and apparatus for treatment of the gastrointestinal tract


A method for preparing an antigen-specific antibody by constructing a library of phage-displayed single chain variable fragment of an antibody with a novel frame-shifting PCR is disclosed. Also disclosed is a method for preparing a clone for producing an antigen-specific antibody.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for preparing an antibody, particularly to a method for preparing an antigen-specific antibody by constructing a library of phage-displayed single chain variable fragment (ScFv) of an antibody using a novel frame-shifting PCR step.
2. Description of the Related Art
Monoclonal antibody (mAb) is mainly derived by cell fusion as described originally by Kohler and Milstein (1975). Owing to the broad application and wide perspective of the monoclonal antibody, important advances in design, selection, and production of engineered antibodies have been made. The traditional method for recombinant mAb construction like hybridoma technology has many limitations, such as duration, stability and class manipulation (Harlow and Lane, (1988) Monoclonal antibody: A laboratory manual pp. 141–149). Although new technology like the display of antibody fragments on the surface of filamentous phages and the subsequent selection of antibodies have been proved as an effective tool for the isolation of antigen specific antibodies (Barbas, C. F., Kang, A. S., Lerner, R. A. & Benkovic, S. J. (1991), Assembly of combinatorial antibody libraries on phage surfaces: the gene III site, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA 88, 7978–7982; Marks, J. D., (1992), By-passing immunization: building high affinity human antibodies by chain shuffling, Bio/Technology, 10, 779–783; Nissim, A. (1994), Antibody fragments from a 'single pot' phage display library as immunochemical reagents, EMBO J. 13, 692–698), it still has limitations. The library of phage-displayed single chain variable fragment (ScFv) of the antibody has been used for deriving tailor-made antigen-specific monoclonal antibody in the last decade. Furthermore, affinity enhancement of ScFv can be achieved by in vitro mutation.
In general, the affinity of isolated antibodies is proportional to the initial size of the library used for selection. Using mRNA as an enriched source of expressed and spliced antibody genes neglects the allelic exclusive genes so as half of the potential genes. Hence, the diversity of the library used for selection becomes limited. Moreover, the gene loss will happen in both self-intolerance gene elimination and gene inactivation during maturation of B-lymphocytes. Finally, the other problem that needs to be considered is the existence of non-functional genes. These genes refer to Ab genes containing stop codon(s) in their segments, either naturally or created by the vague rearrangement processes during the somatic recombination.

Frame-shifting PCR for germline immunoglobulin genes retrieval and antibody engineering


Apparatus for securing one or more wheelchairs to a vehicle includes a plurality of straps for holding the wheelchairs to the vehicle. Some of the straps are attached to a movable element that can be moved into or out of the area to be occupied by the wheelchairs. This allows the area to be utilized by other passengers when no wheelchairs are present and also facilitates ingress and egress of the wheelchairs. In the preferred embodiment, movable elements, which carry housings for wheelchair-engaging belts and passenger restraint belts, are mounted to the side wall of the vehicle for pivotal movement about vertical axes between storage positions and operative positions. The apparatus allows an operator to quickly and easily secure or release a passenger in a wheelchair and maintains the integrity of the straps.

Persons using wheelchairs often wish to ride in a vehicle such as a bus, train, or airplane while remaining in the wheelchair. In these instances, the wheelchair must be secured to the vehicle to ensure the safety of the passenger. When the vehicle is a public bus, an additional concern is the ease by which the operator can secure and release the wheelchair so that a minimum of time is spent in this activity. Further, it is often necessary to provide a vehicle with a plurality of tie-down stations whereby a plurality of passengers in wheelchairs can be accommodated simultaneously.
Prior wheelchair tie-downs are awkward in use. For example, one such tie-down comprises a number of receptacles in the floor of a transit vehicle and an equal number of straps, each with a hook at one end for engaging the frame of the wheelchair and a lug at the opposite end for engaging one of the receptacles. This system is very difficult in use because it requires the operator first to locate the straps and then to attach the straps to the chair and the floor and adjust their lengths, which requires reaching, bending, and the like. Moreover, the straps are often not available, having been lost between uses because they are not attached to the bus when not in use, and when found, they are usually dirty from contact with the floor or storage in a box with other items. Securing the straps to the floor during periods of non-use is not feasible because their presence would restrict movement of the wheelchair into or out of the station and would present a hazard, possibly tripping others walking in the bus. Further, the heel of a high-heeled shoe is easily caught in the receptacles themselves, resulting in personal injury, property damage, and delay.


An exposure apparatus includes a projection optical system for projecting a pattern of a mask onto a substrate, a holder for holding the substrate and having a first channel for the fluid to flow, and a fluid supply unit for supplying the fluid from the first channel of the holder to at least part of a space between the projection optical system and the substrate, the exposure apparatus exposing the substrate via the projection optical system and the fluid.

The present invention relates generally to an exposure apparatus that projects and exposes a mask pattern onto a substrate via a projection optical system, and a device manufacturing method that uses the exposure apparatus to manufacture various devices, such as a semiconductor chip and a liquid crystal panel, and more particularly to an exposure apparatus that fills the fluid in the space between the projection optical system and substrate, and exposes the substrate using the light via the fluid, and a device manufacturing method using such an exposure apparatus.
An exposure apparatus is required to use a shortened exposure wavelength and an increased numerical aperture ("NA") of a projection optical system along with the finer processing to the integrated circuit. Since the shortened wavelength has limits of a type of glass material used for the projection optical system, an immersion exposure has been proposed as a method to substantially shorten the exposure wavelength to expose the substrate using the light via the fluid filled in the space between the projection optical system and the substrate. The immersion exposure method includes a method (or a so-called local fill system) that arranges a fluid supplying/recovering nozzle around a lens at the top of the projection optical system, and fills the fluid only in the space between the wafer and the lens at the top of the projection optical system (see, for example, International Publication No. 99/49504 pamphlet), and a method for immersing the entire wafer in the fluid (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application, Publication No. 10-303114).
International Publication No. 99/49504 pamphlet discloses that the fluid controlled to the predetermined temperature is flowed between the projection optical system and the wafer. However, if a temperature difference occurs between the fluid and the wafer, a local thermal strain generates on the wafer, a change of the refractive index of the fluid lowers the resolution, and the yield of the exposure apparatus deteriorates consequently.
On the other hand, the method of Japanese Patent Application, Publication No. 10-303114 that immerses the entire wafer in the fluid solves a problem of the temperature difference between the fluid and the wafer to some extent. However, this method makes the structure of the exposure apparatus large and complex, and causes the fluid surface to swell as the stage moves, deteriorating the positioning performance of the stage, and dispersing the fluid.

Exposure apparatus and device manufacturing method


A portable automatic silk screen printer including a frame (24) supporting a transport device (26) which selectively moves a printing head (28) which is programmed to control the flood and squeegee bars (56, 58).

At the current time, silk screening is being accomplished by two primary methods: the first being the manual method wherein the screen is stretched and the ink is applied by an individual person flooding the screen and then squeegeeing the screen. As is obvious, to get a consistent quality product with the manual method, the individual doing the screening must be skilled and must not allow the speed of his strokes, pressure upon the screen or the angle of his tool to vary because of fatigue and/or distractions.
The second primary method of silk screening is found in high volume silk screen shops which employ automatic silk screening devices which cost anywhere from $30,000 on up. The cost makes these devices prohibitive for many operations. It is to be understood that not only are the automatic silk screening devices expensive, but they are also large and heavy, rendering them a permanently installed device.
Prior art devices known to the present inventor include:
U.S. Pat. No. 3,486,441 granted to Hillman et al, Dec. 30, 1969, discloses a universal table including a compound adjustment means for positioning the device to be screened beneath the screen.
U.S Pat. No. 3,955,501 granted to Bubley et al, on May 11, 1976, discloses a screen printing press and is particularly directed to an actuator for the squeegee and flood bar.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,038,920 granted to Crowley et al, Aug. 2, 1977 discloses an apparatus for controlling the position of the squeegee by means of a cam and cam-follower mechanism.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,063,503 granted Ishinose, Dec. 20, 1977, discloses an automatic screen printing machine, and in particular, discloses a device wherein an automatic flat screen printing machine, the relative vertical movement of the stencil, and the position of the material to be printed is performed in the proper sequence by mounting the squeegee and doctor blade on a common support driven by a mutual pinion.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,084,505 granted to Ishinose, Dec. 18, 1978, discloses a means for adjusting the phase of a flat screen in an automatic screen printing machine.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,094,242 granted to Ishinose, on Jun. 14, 1978, discloses a screen printing machine wherein a lifting device causes the material to be printed to be moved into contact with the screen during the printing step and lowers and separates the material during non-printing periods.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,103,613 granted to Mitter, Aug. 1, 1978, discloses a screen printing machine including one or more stations wherein each station is capable of multi-color printing.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,109,593 granted to Strauch et al, Aug. 29, 1978, discloses a device for silk screening upon cylindrical devices including a means for adjusting the machine to accommodate various diameters.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,117,799 granted Coaula et al, Oct. 3, 1978 discloses an automatic printing device wherein the blanks to be printed are automatically moved into and out of the printing station.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,248,150 granted to Lala, Feb. 3, 1981, discloses a linkage between the screen and the flood bar which controls the relative vertical position of the apparatus.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,413,550 granted to Bubley, Nov. 8, 1983, discloses a multi-screen drive for screen printing presses.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,485,736 granted to Strutz, Jr. et al, Dec. 4, 1984, discloses an ink dispensing system for use with a silk screen printing machine.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,493,254 granted to Landisman et al, Jan. 15, 1985, discloses a carousel-type rotatable screen printing machine.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,510,864 granted to Klemm, Apr. 16, 1985, discloses a screen printing machine including an internal cooling unit and includes a web supply roller located beneath the printing station.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,589,336 granted to Klemm, May 20, 1986, discloses a screen printing machine having a reciprocal printing screen and a counter-pressure roller.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,628,814 granted to Klemm on Dec. 16, 1986, discloses a machine having reciprocable screens and which allows more ready access to the screen.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,817,524 granted to Reimer on Apr. 4, 1989, discloses an apparatus wherein the ink pressure is held constant by varying the squeegee speed and/or squeegee angle.


Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, an apparatus, and a system for sending data in hybrid networking. The method includes: determining an order quantity N of highest-order MIMO data and a quantity M of data types in the hybrid networking, where N is an even number not less than 2, and M is a natural number not less than 2; performing ith linear transformation processing on ith-type data among the M types of data, to obtain N pieces of ith-type output data having a same power, where i is a natural number less than or equal to M; and respectively outputting the N pieces of ith-type output data having a same power to N physical antennas, so that each physical antenna combines output data received by the physical antenna and then sends data obtained after the combining.

A multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system uses multiple transmit antennas and multiple receive antennas respectively at a transmit end and a receive end, and signals are transmitted and received by means of multiple antennas at the transmit end and the receive end, thereby improving service quality for every user. Although the MIMO technology is applied increasingly widely, a conventional single-input single-output (SISO) technology is still in use. Therefore, a hybrid networking architecture including a current MIMO system and a conventional single-output system is also in wide application.
However, in a hybrid networking architecture including a MIMO system and a conventional single-output system, because a transmit power of the MIMO system is different from that of the conventional single-output system, powers of physical antennas are imbalanced, and as a result, optimal performance of MIMO cannot be achieved.

Method, apparatus, and system for sending data in hybrid networking


A light fixture is described. The light fixture includes a socket housing and a reflector housing. The socket housing includes a socket for receipt of a lamp, and a reflector housing mounting surface. The reflector housing includes a direct reflector for providing direct light onto a target lighting area and an indirect reflector for providing indirect light onto the target lighting area. The direct reflector includes a direct reflector first end, a direct reflector second end, and a direct reflector body extended between the first end and the second end. The direct reflector body extends sufficiently far to provide a cut off angle between a lamp provided in the socket and the direct reflector second end of less than about 50°. The indirect reflector extends from the direct reflector around a circumference of the direct reflector in an amount sufficient to shield a lamp provided in the socket. A facility having a plurality of ceiling mounted light fixtures, and a reflector housing are described.

Lighting is often provided in facilities, such as factories and warehouses, in a manner that minimizes energy output and minimizes the number of light fixtures needed to provide the desired level of illumination. As a result, facilities are often designed to include a minimum number of light fixtures that spread the light or provide a wide throw of the light to create an even distribution of light. Light fixtures that are commonly used in industrial settings are available from, for example, Day-Brite Lighting.
Several light fixtures are designed to hang from a ceiling and provide both down lighting and up lighting. In the context of ceiling mounted fixtures, down lighting is referred to as direct lighting, and up lighting is referred to as indirect lighting. Patents that describe exemplary lighting fixtures include U.S. Pat. No. 4,472,767 to Wenman; U.S. Pat. No. 5,014,175 to Osteen et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,662,165 to Osteen et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 1,946,465 to Arras.
In general, a well-lit environment can be considered one where there is sufficient light on a work surface to provide contrast and there is nothing significantly brighter or darker than the work surface in a person's field of view. The existence of glare can cause a decrease in worker productivity by obscuring detail and generally decreasing visibility. By decreasing visibility, eyes become tired, tasks requiring vision become more difficult to complete, and defects become less apparent.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Light fixture, reflector housing, and facility that includes a plurality of light fixtures


This invention relates to nebulizers, which are machines that change a liquid form to a mist consisting of micron sized droplets. More specifically the invention relates to liquid medicament nebulizers, for example for delivering a mist of medicament to eyes, nasal passages, and lungs. A housing has a form which rolls to house first and second reservoirs, an expansion chamber, and a vibration element. The housing has a center of mass which urges the nebulizer to roll toward a storage position where the liquid drains from the first reservoir through the drain passage to the second reservoir.

Research has proven that there is a need and utility to nebulizing various medicaments using a mist delivery method. The various medicaments proven useful include, but are not limited to, a wide variety of solutions and suspensions including insulin, peptides, proteins, and inert vaccines.
In the past a small hand-held manual spritzer bottle has been used to squirt a mist of medicament directly into the nose, to be absorbed by the nasal mucosa. This device and method has limited efficacy because of a wide range of droplet size produced and imprecise control of the amount of medicament delivered by a squirt.
Nebulizers such as disclosed in publication US-A-20030062038 (Tanaka) achieve a more precise range of droplet size and dosage control ejecting the medicament through precisely sized apertures. However, there are difficulties with filling and storage of the medicament in these nebulizers.


An optical communication system comprising a plurality of optical signal communication paths, and a plurality of terminals coupled to the plurality of communication paths. A connection request is made by a calling terminal to a called terminal with an optical signal at a control wavelength via the communication path. A wavelength control unit monitors the communication paths and in response to the connection request signal selects an optical signal wavelength to be used by the terminals, out of any unused wavelengths on the communication paths. Further, the wavelength control unit informs the calling and called terminals of the selected wavelength via a wavelength information optical signal at the control wavelength. The calling and called terminals, responsive to the wavelength information signal, set their transmitting and receiving wavelength to the selected unused wavelength.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical communication system, and, more particularly, to an optical communication system capable of assigning an unused wavelength to a connection request from a network in accordance with the wavelengths being used in a wavelength-multiplex communication path. Such a system includes a wavelength-sharing optical exchange system which assigns, to a call, a wavelength suitable for a condition of the exchange network at the time of call and wavelength-multiplexes a plurality of calls so as to effectively utilize a wavelength band.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In an optical communication system according to the prior art which accommodates a plurality of terminals by using wavelength-multiplex communication paths, different wavelengths inherent to the respective terminals are assigned thereto for transmission or reception, so that signals having the same wavelength may not be transmitted through the same wavelength-multiplex communication path. For example, FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a conventional optical star-type communication network. In FIG. 1, the reference numeral 201 designates a terminal; 202 a signal source; 203 a transmission light source; 204 a photocoupler; and 205 a receiving circuit capable of selecting a wavelength. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a conventional optical concentrating system using wavelength-multiplex communication paths. In FIG. 2, the reference numerals 201-1 through 201-n designate terminals; 206 a wavelength-multiplex communication path; 207 a network accommodating wavelength-multiplex communication paths 206; and 208 an interface for interconnecting communication path 206 and network 207.
In operation, a wavelength .lambda.1 inherent to terminal 201-1 is assigned to transmission light source 203 contained in terminal 201-1. When a signal is transmitted to terminal 201-1 from any other terminal, a signal having wavelength .lambda.1 is transmitted to terminal 201-1 via photocoupler 204 and then receiving circuit 205 in terminal 201-1 selects the signal having wavelength .lambda.1 and receives it. Upon transmission, each terminal decides whether an optical signal having the same wavelength as that of the signal to be transmitted exists on the communication path. If there is no such optical signal on the communication path, that terminal starts transmission of the signal. In FIG. 2, wavelengths .lambda.1 through .lambda.n for transmission are fixedly assigned to transmission light source 203 in the respective terminals 201-1 through 201-n, such that the wavelengths are not overlapped. Optical signals transmitted from the respective terminals are multiplexed on wavelength-multiplex communication path 206 via photocouplers 204 and coupled to network 207.
As explained above, in a method of fixedly assigning to terminals reception wavelengths and transmission wavelengths inherent to the respective terminals, the number of terminals is limited by the wavelengths because each wavelength corresponds to one particular terminal. Even if the wavelength assigned to one terminal is not in use, this wavelength cannot be used by other terminals, resulting in inefficient utilization of wavelength.
FIG. 3 illustrates a space-sharing optical exchange system as disclosed in the Japanese Patent Public Disclosure No. 48895/87. In FIG. 3, the reference numerals 301 through 304 designate terminals; 305 an optical switchboard; 341 through 344 subscriber optical fibers; and 351 through 354 optical switches. Respective terminals 301 through 304 each include two light sources having wavelengths .lambda.1 and .lambda.2 and select either one of the wavelengths for transmission.
In operation, switchboard 305 directly interconnects optical switches 351 and 354. Each of terminals 301 through 304 includes two light sources having wavelengths of .lambda.1 and .lambda.2 as explained above and selects an optical signal having either one of the wavelengths for transmission. For example, if communication is required between terminal 301 and terminal 304, terminal 301 transmits a signal having wavelength .lambda.1 while terminal 304 transmits a signal having wavelength .lambda.2. At the same time, switchboard 305 establishes a communication path running from subscriber fiber 341 through optical switches 351 and 354 to subscriber fiber 344. In this way, terminals 301 and 304 may be interconnected. Before communication between two terminals is commenced, transmitting and receiving wavelengths to be used by each terminal are instructed by a subscriber signal from a control circuit of optical switchboard 305 to a control circuit of the respective terminals.
As explained above, according to a system of assigning a wavelength to a call, respective terminals and an optical switchboard are interconnected in a star form, requiring a high cost of concentration. Besides, since wavelength-multiplexing is merely available for upward and downward signals in a wavelength-multiplex communication path, a transmission band contained in a wavelength range is not effectively utilized. Since a network capacity is limited by a spatial switch, any increase in capacity is difficult due to the structure of devices used. If terminals are further added later on, the switchboard has to be modified.

Wavelength-assignable optical communication system


Today many instances of IEEE 1149.1 Tap domains are included in integrated circuits (ICs). While all TAP domains may be serially connected on a scan path that is accessible external to the IC, it is generally preferred to have selectivity on which Tap domain or Tap domains are accessed. Therefore Tap domain selection circuitry may be included in ICs and placed in the scan path along with the Tap domains. Ideally, the Tap domain selection circuitry should only be present in the scan path when it is necessary to modify which Tap domains are selected in the scan path. The present invention describes a novel method and apparatus which allows the Tap domain selection circuitry to be removed from the scan path after it has been used to select Tap domains and to be replaced back into the scan path when it is necessary to select different Tap domains.

Today's ICs may contain many embedded 1149.1 TAP domains. Some of these TAP domains are associated with intellectual property (IP) core circuits within the IC, and serve as access interfaces to test, debug, emulation, and programming circuitry within the IP cores. Other TAP domains may exist in the IC which are not associated with cores but rather to circuitry in the IC external of the cores. Further, the IC itself will typically contain a TAP domain dedicated for operating the boundary scan register associated with the input and output terminals of the ICs, according to IEEE std 1149.1.
FIG. 1 illustrates an example architecture for selecting Tap domains within an IC 102. This architecture is described in detail in referenced U.S. Pat. No. 7,058,862. In the architecture, Tap domains 1-3 (TD1-TD3) are shown to exist between input linking circuitry 108 and output linking circuitry 110 of circuit block 106. While three Tap domains TD1-TD3 are shown in this example, any number of Tap domains may exist between the input and output linking circuitry. Each Tap domain TD1-TD3 has a Test Data Input (TDI) 112 coupled to the input linking circuitry 108, a Test Data Output (TDO) 114 coupled to the input linking circuitry 108 and output linking circuitry 110, and a control interface 116 consisting of Test Clock (TCK), Test Mode Select (TMS), and a Test Reset (TRST) signals coupled to the input linking circuitry. The input linking circuitry 108 is coupled to a TDI input 122 to the IC and to TCK, TMS, and TRST control inputs 124 to the IC. The input and output linking circuits 108 and 110 are described in detail in the above reference application and serve basically as multiplexing circuits that selectively link Tap domains together serially between the IC's TDI 122 and TDO 120 leads. The input linking circuitry also couples the IC's TCK and TMS inputs to the selected Tap domains control inputs 116 so they can receive control to operate when coupled to the IC's TDI 122 and TDO 120 leads. To be compliant to the IEEE 1149.1 boundary scan standard, the data on the IC's TDI 122 lead is clocked into the architecture on the rising edge of TCK 124 and the data on the IC's TDO 120 lead is clocked from the architecture on the falling edge of TCK 124. While not shown, circuitry is assumed to exist on the TDO 120 lead to allow data from the architecture to be clocked out on the falling edge of TCK.
The Tap Domain Selection (TDS) circuit 104 is coupled to the IC's TDO output via serial path 120, to the output linking circuitry 110 via serial path 118, to the input and output linking circuits 108 and 110 via control bus 126, and potentially to other circuits in the IC via control bus 126. The TDS circuit is also coupled to the IC's TCK, TMS, and TRST input leads 124. In response to control bus 126 input from TDS 104, the input and output linking circuitry may serially connect any one or combination of Tap domains TD1-TD3 between the IC's TDI 122 and serial path 118 to the TDS for access. For example, Tap domain connections may be made between the IC's TDI 122 and serial path 118 that includes; TD1 only, TD2 only, TD3 only, TD1 and TD2, TD1 and TD3, TD1 and TD2 and TD3, or TD2 and TD3. As seen, the TDS circuit remains in the scan path, along with the selected Tap domains, to complete the serial connection path between the IC's TDI 122 and TDO 120 leads. In the referenced U.S. Pat. No. 7,058,862, the TDS was referred to as a Tap Linking Module (TLM). The TDS of this application is slightly different from the TLM, and so it has been named differently. With the exception of TDS 104, the architecture of FIG. 1 is like that described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,058,862.
FIG. 2 illustrates a simple example of an IEEE 1149.1 Tap domain architecture 202. The Tap domain architecture includes a Tap controller 204, an instruction register (IR) 206, at least one data register (DR) 208, and multiplexer circuitry 210. Each of the Tap domains TD1-TD3 and the TDS 104 are based on Tap domain architecture 202. The above mentioned difference between the TDS and TLM was that the TLM did not necessarily require a DR in the Tap domain architecture, a direct connection between TDI and TDO could be used in place of a DR in the TLM. It should be understood however, that the TLM could be substituted for the TDS if desired to make to the two Tap domain architectures be the same. In response to TCK and TMS control inputs to Tap controller 204, the Tap controller outputs control to capture data into and shift data through either the IR 206 from TDI to TDO or a selected DR 208 from TDI to TDO. The data shifted into IR 206 is updated and output on bus 214, and the data shifted into a DR is updated and output on bus 212. DR 208 may also capture data from bus 212 and IR 206 may capture data from bus 214. Buses 212 and 214 form bus 126 of TDS 104 in FIG. 1. In response to a TRST input to the Tap controller 204, the TAP controller, IR and DR are reset to known states. The structure and operation of IEEE 1149.1 Tap domain architectures like that of FIG. 2 are well known.
FIG. 3 illustrates in more detail the structure 302 of the IR 206 and DR 204 of FIG. 2. As seen, the structure 302 includes a shift register 304 coupled to TDI and TDO for shifting data, and an update register 306 coupled to the parallel outputs of the shift register for updating data from the shift register. If FIG. 3 is seen to represent IR 206, the shift register 304 will shift data from TDI to TDO in response to the Tap controller being in the Shift-IR state 1210 of FIG. 12. Following the shift operation, the Tap controller will output an UpdateIR signal 308, in the Update-IR state 1212 of FIG. 12, to cause the update register 306 to parallel load the data shifted into the shift register. If FIG. 3 is seen to represent DR 208, the shift register 304 will shift data from TDI to TDO in response to the Tap controller being in the Shift-DR state 1214 of FIG. 12. Following the shift operation, the Tap controller will output an UpdateDR signal 308, in the Update-DR state 1216 of FIG. 12, to cause the update register 306 to parallel load the data shifted into the shift register. If seen as a DR, bus outputs 310 and 312 represent bus 212 of FIG. 2. If seen as an IR, bus outputs 310 and 312 represent bus 214 of FIG. 2. Bus 310 is the normal update output bus from the update register. Bus 312 is a bus output from the shift register. The use of bus 312 by the present invention will be described later in regard to FIG. 11.
FIG. 4 is provided to simply show that TDS 104 can be positioned before Tap domain circuit block 106 if desired. The TDS still operates the same to select Tap domains in circuit block 106, it is just repositioned in the IC's TDI to TDO scan path.
FIG. 5 illustrates an example 502 where four ICs 102 are connected together serially from TDI 504 to TDO 506 on a board or other substrate. This example illustrates use of referenced U.S. Pat. No. 7,058,862. Each IC 102 is also connected to TCK, TMS, and TRST 508 control inputs on the board or other substrate. In this arrangement, each IC's internal Tap domains in circuit block 106 can be selected, via each IC's TDS 104, to be included in or excluded from the TDI 504 to TDO 506 scan path. For clarification, one TAP domain 202 comprising an IR 206 and a DR 208 is shown being selected within each IC's TAP domain circuit block 106 of arrangement 502. As seen, the TDS's of each IC 102 are always included in the scan path from TDI 504 to TDO 506. Maintaining the TDS's in the TDI 504 and TDO 506 scan path after they have served their purpose of selecting Tap domains hinders the optimization of serial test, debug, emulation, and/or programming operations. For example, during test, debug, emulation, and/or programming operations, 1149.1 instruction scan operations to IRs 208 and data scan operations to DRs 208 may be used intensely. Having to pad the instruction and data scan patterns with the additional bits required to traverse the TDS's IR 206 and DR 208 scan paths extends the scan pattern length beyond that of the selected Tap domain's IR 206 and DR 208. Also it requires editing each individual instruction and data scan pattern transmitted from TDI 504 to TDO 506 to insert the padding bits for the TDS circuit's IR 206 and DR 208.
It is therefore desirous to provide a method of removing TDS circuits from a TDI to TDO scan path after they have been used to select Tap domains and to provide a method of replacing TDS circuits back into a TDI to TDO scan path when it is necessary to again access them to select a new group of Tap domains for access in a TDI to TDO scan path. It is an object of the present invention that the removal of TDS circuits from the TDI to TDO scan path be achieved using only the IC's IEEE 1149.1 interface signal leads. It is also an object of the present invention that the replacement of TDS circuits back into the TDI to TDO scan chain be achieved using only the IC's IEEE 1149.1 interface signals and without having to:    1. reset the Tap domain test logic in an IC by activating the TRST input or by cycling the Tap controller of the Tap domains into the Test Logic Reset state using the TMS input,    2. cycle power to the ICs,    3. in any way alter or lose any stored state information in the ICs functional and Tap domain test circuitry, or    4. disturb the state of any legacy Tap domains of ICs in the scan path that do not use the Tap domain selection architecture of FIG. 1 or 4.

Remove signal from TAP selection circuitry to multiplexer control circuitry


A gas turbine engine combustor includes radially spaced outer and inner liners disposed coaxially about an engine longitudinal centerline axis with each liner having forward and aft ends. An annular dome is fixedly joined to the forward ends of the outer and inner liners. The outer liner has a substantially uniform thickness and is arcuate in a longitudinal plane from the forward to aft ends for providing buckling resistance of the outer liner.

A gas turbine engine combustor is a pressure vessel provided with pressurized airflow from a compressor disposed upstream thereof. The compressed airflow is channeled to carburetors disposed in a dome end of the combustor wherein it is mixed with fuel for generating a fuel/air mixture for combustion in the combustor. A portion of the compressed airflow is also provided around the liner walls through which it is conventionally channeled for providing cooling-and dilution air into the combustor. The pressure of the compressed airflow external of the combustor is greater than the pressure of the combustion gases inside the combustor which results in external gas pressure loads being applied to the combustor liners which must be suitably accommodated for providing acceptable buckling resistance margin in the combustor.
Combustor liners are typically made from conventional high temperature sheet metal or relatively thin castings and therefore inherently have relatively low buckling resistance capability. Accordingly, conventional stiffening rings are typically provided at least on the combustor outer liner which is subject to the buckling gas pressure loads for providing acceptable buckling resistance margin. The stiffening rings may comprise a plurality of axially spaced circumferentially extending rings for providing increased stiffness, or circumferentially spaced, axially extending stiffening flanges. Such stiffening rings may be used in addition to relatively flexible conventional cooling rings or nuggets which provide film cooling air along the inner surface of the liners for providing acceptable cooling thereof. In some conventional embodiments, the cooling nuggets may be relatively large for providing by themselves adequate stiffness for accommodating gas pressure buckling loads applied to the outer liner.
Conventional cooling nuggets are typically in the form of annular rings extending around the circumference of the combustor and form an integral part of the liners. The nuggets have a generally u-shaped longitudinal profile for defining an annular plenum for receiving a portion of the compressed airflow from outside the combustion liner. The nuggets also include an aft facing annular slot for directing the cooling air as an annular film along the inner surface of downstream portions of the liner for providing effective film cooling thereof.
It is desirable to eliminate such stiffening rings for reducing complexity, weight, and cost of the combustor. It is also desirable to eliminate the cooling rings for reducing complexity, weight, and most significantly, the amount of cooling air required for cooling the combustor liners. The efficiency of the combustor, and therefore of the gas turbine engine, can be increased if less of the compressed airflow is used for cooling the combustor and is instead used for mixing with fuel and undergoing combustion. However, without the use of such stiffening rings and cooling rings, the stiffness of the combustor liners would be substantially reduced thus leading to undesirable buckling thereof unless other means for accommodating the gas pressure buckling loads are used.


A degassing from a susceptor heated at a high temperature in a vacuum atmosphere is suppressed. The susceptor is disposed between a heater and a substrate and partitions a space in the chamber into a first chamber space where the heater is placed and a second chambers space where the substrate is placed, and the surface of the susceptor facing the second chamber space is coated with a pyrolytic carbon layer (15) of thickness of 10 μm to 50 μm.

The heat treatment or thermal process that may be performed for semiconductor substrates at high temperature has been used widely. The heat treatment process widely used in semiconductor manufacturing process is the rapid thermal process or rapid thermal annealing (which may be referred to hereinafter "RTP"). The purpose of the heat treatment process is intended to activate the implanted impurities by the re-crystallization of damaged substrate causing ion implantation.
The conventional apparatus is primarily intended to allow semiconductor substrates placed in the vacuum to be heated rapidly by heating means. In the example shown in FIG. 9, a substrate 23 may be placed on a susceptor 25 incorporating a heating means 24 and which is arranged in the chamber that can be evacuated (not shown), and may then be heated rapidly. Alternatively, the substrate 23 placed on the susceptor 25 may be heated by radio frequency inductive heating means, thermoelectron generator means for the electron impact heating, an infrared lamp used for the infrared lamp heating or the like which are not shown.
The conventional heat treatment processes described above are disclosed in Japanese patent application No. H10-144618, IPO bulletin WO97/13011, and Japanese patent No. 2912913, for example.

Substrate heat treatment apparatus and substrate transfer tray used in substrate heat treatment


A system and method is shown for automatic frequency correction in a receiver, where the number of clock cycles in a baseband data signal, such as an I or Q channel of the receiver or an XOR of the I and Q channels, for a “1” state and a “0” state of a received data signal are each determined and the difference between the two is used to calculate a subsequent frequency offset correction value. The subsequent frequency offset correction value is added to a current offset correction value to obtain an actual offset correction value. The actual offset correction value is then used to adjust the frequency of the receiver clock.

When working with transmitters and receivers, designers are forced to deal with the problem of frequency offset between the carrier frequencies in the two parts. In order to allow for inexpensive solutions, one should allow for the use of less accurate frequency references, such as quartz crystals. However, differences between the frequency references in the transmitter and receiver can result in transmission errors. For example, if there is an offset error (dFo) between the transmitter and receiver local oscillators, then the frequencies of received down-converted mark and space signals will be different.

Apparatus and method for automatic frequency correction for a receiver system


A method of effacing zipper image, applicable to scan a document by a scanner with a stagger charge-coupled device. The nth (n is a positive integer) pixel value obtained by scan on a scan line at which the zipper image is produced is subtracted by the (n+1)th pixel value obtained by scan on the scan line. The absolute value of the result is then compared to a critical value. If the result is smaller than the critical value, the nth pixel is modified by the method.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to a method of effacing zipper image, and more particularly, to a method of effacing zipper image by approximating the gray scales of two neighboring pixels.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a scanner having a stagger charge-coupled device. In FIG. 1, the scanner 100 is coupled to a computer 150. The scanner comprises a stagger charge-coupled device 110 with a primary line and a secondary line, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) 120, an image compensation buffer 130 and an I/O interface 140.
When the scanner having the stagger charge-coupled device is scanning a document, the pitch between the primary line and the secondary line is small. The primary line is thus affected by the light reflected from the secondary line. Similarly, the secondary line is also affected by the light reflected from the primary line. A zipper image (as shown in FIG. 3) in addition to a real image (as shown in FIG. 2) is thus produced by using the scanner with the stagger charge-coupled device to scan the document. When a document has a black-and-white boundary, the zipper image is more obvious, causing error in the actual image. Currently, a method to compensate the zipper image has not been found in the prior art.


A developing device includes a development casing, a developer carrying member, and a regulating blade. The development casing has an opening part. The developer carrying member has a developing area. The development casing has a blade facing part. The regulating blade includes a fixed part and a regulating part, and a space between the regulating part and the blade facing part is larger than a space between the fixed part and the blade facing part. The developing device further includes a blade seal member. The blade seal member is disposed between the regulating blade and the blade facing part, and is glued to an upstream side surface of the regulating part in the rotation direction, so as to seal a gap between the regulating blade and the blade facing part.

The present disclosure relates to a developing device and an image forming apparatus including the same.
An image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic method, such as a copier, a printer, a facsimile, a multifunction peripheral thereof, or the like, includes a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an outer circumference surface of an image carrying member, i.e., for forming a toner image (developer image) as a visualized image of the electrostatic latent image.
The developing device includes a development casing and a developer carrying member. The development casing accommodates developer containing toner. The development casing has a case opening part that opens on a downstream side of the development casing in a movement direction in the image forming apparatus when the developing device is attached to the image forming apparatus. The developer carrying member is disposed in contact with or near the image carrying member. The developer carrying member carries the developer (toner) in the development casing on the outer circumference surface.
The developer carrying member is disposed to overlap the case opening part. A part of the developer carrying member is exposed to outside of the developing device through the case opening part. The exposed part from the case opening part of the developer carrying member faces the image carrying member so that a developing area is formed. The developing area is an area for supplying the image carrying member with the toner in the development casing.
As such the developing device, there is one having a regulating blade disposed on an upstream side of the developing area in a rotation direction of the developer carrying member. The entire area of the regulating blade along a rotation axis direction of the developer carrying member protrudes toward the outer circumference surface of the developer. A distal edge of the regulating blade contacts with or is close to the outer circumference surface of the developer carrying member. The regulating blade regulates a layer thickness of the developer carried by the developer carrying member.
The regulating blade is constituted of a fixed part and a regulating part that are formed as separate members. The fixed part is a part fixed to the development casing. The regulating part regulates a layer thickness of the developer on the developer carrying member. The fixed part and the regulating part are bonded to each other to be unified by welding, adhesive, or the like. In order to increase stiffness or strength of the fixed part, the fixed part has a larger thickness than the regulating part. Therefore, a stepped shape is formed at the fixed part and the regulating part, and a space between the fixed part and the development casing is smaller than a space between the regulating part and the development casing.
In such the developing device, a blade seal member is disposed between the regulating blade and the development casing. The blade seal member seals a gap between the regulating blade and the development casing so as to prevent the developer from leaking.

Developing device and image forming apparatus including same


An amphoteric polyelectrolite represented by the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are H or alkyl, R.sup.5 is H, alkyl or w-OH substituted alkyl, HY is monobasic acid, and Z is amide.

Field of the Invention:
This invention relates to a novel amphoteric polyelectrolyte, a method for the production thereof, and an organic sludge dehydrater. The objects in which the amphoteric polyelectrolyte of this invention finds utility include antistatic agent for synthetic fibers, synthetic resin film, and shaped articles of synthetic resin; electroconductive agent for electrostatic recording papers and electrophotographic recording papers; yield improver for paper sheet filler; paper strength enhancer; sizing agent; polymeric flocculant and dehydrater for sewage and refuse disposal; dehydrater for various colored waste waters including stained waste water; sequestrating resin for heavy metals and ion-exchange resin; component for such cosmetic goods as hair spray; rust preventive; fungicide; mildewproofing agent; and antifoggant, for example.
Description of the Prior Art:
The amphoteric polyelectrolyte which have been known to the art include:
(1) Products obtained by Mannich reaction and the like (Japanese Patent Laid-Open SHO 58(1983)-4,898 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open SHO 58(1983)-104,299), PA0 (2) Products obtained by Hoffman reaction (Japanese Patent Laid-Open SHO 55(1980)-6,556), PA0 (3) Products containing a quanternary ammonium group or a tertiary amine group as a cationic group in the molecular unit thereof (Japanese Patent Laid-Open SHO 49(1974)-6,078 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open SHO 62(1987)-205, 112), and the amphoteric polyelectrolyte obtained by aminoalkylating reaction include: PA0 (4) Products aquated by aminoalkylating an acrylic base polymer and neutralizing the residual acid thereof with an amine (Japanese Patent Publication SHO 55(1980)-35,422), and PA0 (5) Products obtained by aminoalkylating an acrylic type base polymer with 1.0 to 1.1 equivalent weights, based on 1 equivalent weight of the acid of the base polymer, of an alkylene amine and possessing the average value of n of the suspended aminoalkyl group in the range of 1 to 1.2 (U.S. Pat. No. 3,372,149), for example.
Amphoteric polyelectrolytes have been heretofore obtained by these known techniques. Those produced by employing Mannich reaction and Hoffman decomposition reaction are not stable because of gelation, for example. An amphoteric polyelectrolyte containing mainly a quaternary ammonium group as a cationic component has been proposed as a paper strength enhancer. Though the usability of this amphoteric polyelectrolite as a flocculant is mentioned in the pertinent patent specification, the polyelectrolyte is short of fulfilling the performance expected of the flocculant. Moreover, the cationic monomer used therefor is expensive. When an amphoteric polyelectrolyte is produced by the known technique resorting to aminoalkylation, it is unstable and vulnerable to gelation.
Heretofore, the disposal of various plant effluents and the disposal of sewage and excrements have given rise to sludge of polymeric flocced and sedimented particles and excess sludge. As a dehydrater for the sludge of this type, an organic flucculant has come to find utility. In the methods for flocculation and dehydration of sludge, the method which resorts to exclusive addition of a cationic organic macromolecular flocculant and the method which resorts to simultaneous addition of a cationic organic polymeric flocculant and an anionic organic polymeric flocculant have been famous.
The method which relies on the sole addition of a cationic organic polymeric flocculant, however, is not fully effective in disposing thoroughly of the sludge and bringing about a satisfactory result in terms of cake content and speed of filtration, for example.
Further, in case of the method relying on combined use of a cationic organic polymeric flocculant and an anionic organic polymeric flocculant, though it possibly allows improvement in cake content and speed of filtration, it has a disadvantage that the operation thereof necessitates installation of a plurality of flocculant dissolving tanks and flocculant reacting tanks, the equipment therefor is expensive, and the disposal of sludge calls for heavy consumption of additives and boosts the cost of chemicals.
In recent years, a method has been proposed which uses a cationic organic macromolecular flocculant and an anionic organic macromolecular flocculant as dissolved jointly in a solution with the pH of the solution controlled as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication SHO 60(1985)-43,800 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open SHO 58(1983)-216,706. In the case of this method, however, there is imposed a restriction on the kind of the cationic organic polymeric flocculant to be effectively usable for this method. Then, in the case of an amphoteric organic polymeric flocculant using as a cationic component thereof a monomer containing a tertiary amine or a quaternary salt as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open SHO 62(1987)-205,112, a restriction is imposed on the balance of composition of the flocculant.
When an organic polymeric flocculant containing both a cationic and an anionic component is used as an organic sludge dehydrater, the dehydrated cake content is smaller than when a cationic or an anionic flocculant is used alone as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication SHO 60(1985)-43,800, Japanese Patent Laid-Open SHO 58(1983)-216,706, and Japanese Patent Laid-Open SHO 63(1988)-205,112. The use found for this flocculant, however, is limited.
In the case of an amphoteric organic macromolecular flocculant having as a cationic component thereof a monomer containing a tertiary amine, since the balance of composition is limited, the value of equivalent weight of cation, that of anion, and the equivalent weight ratio of cation/anion have their own limits. An amphoteric organic sludge dehydrater which combines ability of flocculation and ability of dehydration remains yet to be developed.
An object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a novel amphoteric polyelectrolyte, a method for the production thereof, and an organic sludge dehydrater using the amphoteric polyelectrolyte possessing highly satisfactory stability, a method for the production thereof, and an organic sludge dehydrater.

Amphoteric polyelectrolyte, method for production thereof, and organic sludge dehydrater