An automatic shut-off valve assembly having particular utility in a portable container of the type for dispensing fluid, such as fuel into a vehicle gas tank, where speed, safety and convenience are prime requirements. The valve assembly includes a spring biasing mechanism to effect opening and closing of the valve assembly. The assembly further includes a generally circular, hollow housing containing a slidably movable insert, which receives the spring, where the spring effects an automatic closing of the assembly, but yields upon the application of axial pressure to open the assembly.

The present invention is directed to an improved valve assembly for use in a portable fluid dispensing system, particularly of the type for quickly dispensing fuel to a road, track, or off-road vehicle.
This invention relates to an improved, fast flowing, spring loaded valve assembly, having particular utility as the dispensing mechanism for a portable system for the transfer of fuel, for example, to a vehicle""s fuel tank. Transferring fuel from a portable container to a vehicle fuel tank can often result in spillage and the potential of fire where the engine is hot and in close proximity to the fuel tank. Add to this the desire and need for a rapid transfer, such as in racing cars and 4-wheelers, or quads, conventional portable containers offer neither the speed nor safety required in the transfer process.
The prior art, in its recognition for the need for safety in transferring fuel from one location to another, has devised a number of complex schemes to effectively make such transfer. Such complex schemes are reflected in the following U.S. Patents:
a.) U.S. Pat. No. 4,441,533, to Snyder, et al., teaches an automatic fuel dispensing system including an automatic dispensing nozzle similar to dispensing nozzles which open manually to dispense liquids and shut-off automatically when tanks such as locomotive fuel tanks near the point of being filled, or for closing an automatic shut-off valve when the dispensing valve is a substantial distance from the tank being filled. The automatic dispensing system is provided with an atmospheric pressure balanced diaphragm and an internal vacuum conduit where the diaphragm operates the shut-off valve when reduced air pressure from the vacuum conduit interrupts the pressure balance of the diaphragm. The tank to be filled is provided with an air conduit connected to the internal vacuum conduit of the automatic dispensing nozzle to operate the cut-off of the nozzle to a point adjacent the outer opening of the tank fill pipe when fuel enters the air conduit. Mounted in the fill pipe of the tank is a fill pipe adapter which cooperates with the nozzle spout of the automatic dispensing nozzle to create a vacuum chamber between the inserted nozzle spout and the adapter wall. To satisfy the vacuum demand of the automatic shut-off valve, the nozzle spout extends into the fill pipe adapter a sufficient distance to provide a narrow opening between the end of the spout and the adapter wall such that when liquid is dispensed from the nozzle spout, air is removed from the vacuum chamber creating a partial vacuum for operating the shut-off valve.
b.) U.S. Pat. No. 5,343,738, to Skaggs, relates to a double walled hose assembly including an elongate inner hose and an elongate outer hose enclosing the inner hose. Both the inner and outer hoses are flexible and made of a resilient material. The inner hose includes a fluid resistant inner layer, a tie layer encircling the inner layer and a reinforcing braid layer encircling the tie layer. An outer layer encircles the tie layer and the reinforcing braid such that the reinforcing braid is embedded between the tie layer and the outer layer. The outer hose is also made from a resilient material such that the outer hose is flexible. At least one rib extends between the inner hose and the outer hose. The at least one rib is secured to at least one of the inner hose and the outer hose and is made from a resilient material such that the rib is flexible. In this way, the hose assembly can be bent as necessary. The hose serves as a fluid transfer hose in a piping system for conveying a fluid from an outlet port of a pump to an inlet port of an above-ground fluid dispenser. A sensor wire may be provided between the two hoses to sense the presence of a fluid such as a fuel.
c.) U.S. Pat. No. 5,609,192, to Anderson, et al., is a fuel dispensing nozzle and a method utilizing that dispensing nozzle. The method comprises the steps of providing a sealing means effective to mate in a sealing relationship with a fuel tank inlet, the sealing means comprising a boot having an elastomeric sealing surface, a source of pressurized gas, a channel providing communication from the source of pressurized gas to outside of the boot wherein pressure on the elastomeric sealing surface restricts flow through the channel, and a means to block fuel flow through the fuel dispensing nozzle when a threshold pressure or greater exist at the source of gas supply, the threshold pressure indicative of a sealing relationship between the sealing surface of the boot and a fuel tank inlet, mating the sealing surface to the fuel tank inlet: and passing fuel into the fuel tank only when the pressure within the gas supply conduit exceeds the threshold pressure.
d.) U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,042, to Hartsell, Jr. teaches a fuel dispenser for a dispensing system having a receiver capable of receiving fueling parameters transmitted from the vehicle. The fueling parameters relate to information about tank size, ullage, maximum allowed fueling rates and maximum fueling rates as a function of ullage, among others. Based on these fueling parameters, the fuel dispenser controls the fueling operation to optimize fuel delivery and minimize fuel spillage. Control of the fileling operation may vary from simply adjusting the delivery rate to a maximum allowed by the vehicle to defining a fueling schedule for the entire fueling operation wherein the fueling schedule defines a fueling process which varies flow rates throughout the fueling operation as necessary to optimize fueling. Additionally, the dispenser may continuously adjust the maximum fueling rate throughout the fueling operation based upon a fueling parameter defining the maximum fueling rate as a function of ullage. The dispenser may also control the fueling operation based on fueling parameters received from the vehicle in combination with fueling regulations mandated by various regulatory bodies. In such embodiments, the dispenser may optimize the fueling operation while abiding by both vehicular and regulatory limitations, such as maximum allowable delivery rates and predefined average fuel rates for all or various portions of the fueling operation.
There is clearly a need for safety and convenience in the transfer of fuels, and when coupled with a rapid transfer, the concerns are compounded, particularly in a portable device. The above prior art offers no help in achieving such goals. However, the present invention provides an effective system that is convenient, safe and speedy. The manner by which the invention hereof meets such needs will become apparent in the description which follows.
This invention is directed to an improved, spring biased valve assembly for use in a portable container for transporting a fluid, such as a liquid fuel, and for rapidly and safely transferring said fuel into a receptacle, i.e. gas tank. The container, as known in the art, comprises a closed fluid containing chamber with a top wall, bottom wall, and side walls extending therebetween. Additionally, there are means available for filling the container and for dispensing the fluid from the chamber. Associated with the means for dispensing the fluid, i.e. fuel, is an improved valve assembly to ensure a rapid and safe transfer. The valve assembly comprises a generally circular hollow housing open at its respective ends, where the ends have a uniform diameter and the mid section is enlarged, such as ball configured. Within a first of the end sections is an axially slidable insert, preferably formed of two matable members, in fluid sealing engagement with the first end section. The insert is normally held in a closed or fluid transporting position by a coil spring. Included as part of the insert is an annular base, against which the coil spring acts, where the diameter of the annular base is greater than the diameter of the first end section of the housing. By this arrangement the annular base abuts against the enlarged mid section at the junction between the mid section and the first end section, thus closing off any fluid flow from the container. To dispense fluid from the container, a normal or axial pressure on the insert will cause it to depress against the action of the coil spring to open the valve assembly and allow a rapid and safe flow of the fluid into the desired receptacle or gas tank. In a preferred assembly, the valve assembly further includes a flexible bellows member to effect axial movement of the insert, while maintaining a fluid and gas seal with the tank or receptacle to which the fluid is being transferred. Another feature of the valve assembly is the provision of an air return line to transfer air to or from the tank or receptacle, thus placing the dispensing container in a hermetically sealed relationship to the tank or receptacle.
Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a valve assembly that can be easily operated to control the fluid flow from a container in which the valve assembly is mounted.
Another object hereof lies in the use of a compression coil spring that provides an immediate shut off when pressure is removed from the valve assembly.
A further object of the invention lies in the use of a circular housing containing a sliding insert movable from a first, fluid flowing position, to a second, non-fluid flowing position.
Still another object hereof is the provision of a flexible bellows to ensure a sealing relationship during transfer of the fluid to a tank or receptacle.
Finally, another object of this invention lies in the use of a contained air transfer tube that allows air to pass to or from the fluid dispensing container and the fluid receiving receptacle.
These and other objects will become apparent from the description which follows, particularly when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Fast flowing spring loaded valve assembly


Embodiments of a display device for a vehicle and methods for the same can adjust operation velocity and stroke of a monitor by changing simple mechanical configurations of a driving apparatus for the monitor in the display device. The display device for a vehicle can include a monitor in a case for displaying an image on its front surface and a movable unit that can be installed to the case to reciprocally move the monitor. A control lever can be installed between the monitor and the movable unit to be inclined at a predetermined angle and configured to cooperate with the movable unit. Therefore, it is possible to provide an inexpensive display device capable of satisfying a variety of users' needs and design requirements.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display device, and more particularly, to a display device for a vehicle for allowing a user to view images within the vehicle.
2. Background of the Related Art
A display device for allowing a user to view images is generally mounted in a vehicle. The display device shows TV images, DVD images, position information of an navigation system, or the like. As shown in FIG. 1, a monitor 1 of the display device is installed in a center facia 2′ mounted on a crush pad 2 to appear and disappear. The monitor 1 is configured to be fully or partially retracted into the center facia 2′. Even when the monitor 1 is partially received in the center facia 2′, that is, a third of the monitor 1 is inserted into the center facia 2′, images can be displayed on the monitor 1.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the display device according to the prior art. As shown in FIG. 2, the monitor 1, which is a part showing images, is installed in the center facia 2′ to appear and disappear. A mounting panel 3 is mounted on a rear surface of the monitor 1. Guide grooves 5 are formed on both ends of the mounting panel 3 in a direction in which the monitor 1 is raised or lowered. Rack gears 7 are provided on the mounting panel 3 in parallel with the guide grooves 5.
The mounting panel 3 is fixed to the monitor 1 but moves with respect to a frame 9. The frame 9 is provided with guide ribs 9′, which are positioned in the guide grooves 5 and guide the movement of the monitor 1.
A driving motor 10 is installed on a rear surface of the frame 9. The driving motor 10 provides a driving force needed to elevate the monitor 1. The driving force of the driving motor 10 is transmitted through a gear train 11 including a plurality of gears. The gears of the gear train 11 are installed on a surface of the frame 9 so that rotation axes are parallel with each other. The last ones of the gears of the gear train 11 correspond to driving gears 12 and penetrate the frame 9 to be meshed with the rack gears 7 of the mounting panel 3.
As described above, however, the prior art display device has various disadvantages. For example, since the driving force of the driving motor 10 is transmitted through the gear train 11 in the prior art, the elevation velocity of the monitor 1 cannot be freely changed from a mechanical point of view. In a case where the same driving motor 10 is used, the gear train 11 should be modified when the elevation velocity of the monitor 1 is to be changed. Since the elevation velocity of the monitor 1 cannot be changed using the existing parts, the existing parts should be replaced with newly designed ones to change the elevation velocity. Further, in the prior art, the elevated height of the monitor 1 cannot be set differently by operating the existent gear train 11. To set the elevated height of the monitor differently, the operation of the driving motor 10 should be controlled, or the gear train 11 and/or the rack gears 7 and the like should be newly designed.
The above references are incorporated by reference herein where appropriate for appropriate teachings of additional or alternative details, features and/or technical background.


The invention concerns a method for stimulating a treatment zone near a wellbore area in fluid connection with at least one porous zone of a subterranean formation, said method comprising the steps of generating (S1a) at least one electrical discharge in said wellbore at a distance from the at least one porous zone in order to propagate at least one shock wave adapted to fracture said treatment zone and introducing (S2a) a chemical agent within said treatment zone for increasing the permeability of said treatment zone.

Several techniques exist in order to retrieve a fluid, such as e.g. oil or gas, from a subterranean formation. These techniques are mainly classified into primary, secondary and tertiary production methods.
Pressure is the key when collecting oil from the natural underground subterranean formations in which it forms. When a well is drilled, the pressure inside the formation pushes the oil deposits from the fissures and pores where it collects and into the wellbore where it can be recovered. Primary production methods consist in extracting the fluid using the natural flow or an artificial lift. However, the initial pressure of the oil is finite.
Secondary oil recovery is employed when the pressure inside the well drops to levels that make primary recovery no longer viable. Secondary recovery techniques involve injection of fluids or gas to increase reservoir pressure, or the use of artificial lift. However, these techniques allow only recovering around one third of the oil before the cost of producing becomes higher than the price the market would pay.
Tertiary production methods also called Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) may be performed on a well to increase or restore production.
EOR uses sophisticated techniques that may actually be initiated at any time during the productive life of an oil reservoir. Its purpose is not only to restore formation pressure, but also to improve oil displacement or fluid flow in the reservoir. Three common types of EOR operations are chemical flooding (alkaline flooding or micellar-polymer flooding), miscible displacement (carbon dioxide injection or hydrocarbon injection), and thermal recovery (steamflood or in-situ combustion).
Stimulation consists of increasing permeability of the oil or gas remaining in the subterranean formation, thereby facilitating the flow of hydrocarbonaceous fluids into the well from the subterranean formation. Stimulation may be employed to start production from a reservoir when a well has initially low permeability or to further increase permeability and flow from an already existing well that has become under-productive.
One common stimulation method consists in injecting a chemical agent, e.g. an acid composition, into the subterranean formation. Such techniques, called "acidizing techniques", may be carried out as "matrix acidizing" procedures or as "acid-fracturing" procedures.
In acid fracturing, the acidizing composition is injected within the wellbore under sufficient pressure to cause fractures to form within the subterranean formation and trigger a chemical reaction that increase the permeability of the oil within the subterranean formation. Such a fracturing requires the injection of the acid composition under high pressure, which may be complex, costly and/or inefficient.
In matrix acidizing, the acidizing fluid is passed into the formation from the well at a pressure below the fracturing pressure of the formation. In this case, the permeability increase is caused primarily by the chemical reaction of the acid within the formation with little or no permeability increase being due to mechanical disruptions within the subterranean formation as in fracturing.
A common difficulty encountered in acidizing relates to the rapid reaction rate of the acidizing composition with those portions of the formation with which it first comes into contact. This is particularly the case in matrix acidizing. As the acidizing composition is introduced into the wellbore, the acid reacts rapidly with the material immediately adjacent to the wellbore. Thus, the acid is "spent" before it can penetrate a significant distance into the subterranean formation. For example, in matrix acidizing of a limestone formation, it is common to achieve maximum penetration with a live acid to a depth of only a few inches to a foot from the face of the wellbore. This, of course, severely limits the increase in productivity of the well.
Various methods have been attempted to reduce the reaction rate of the acid with the rock formation. For example, reaction inhibitors may be added to the acid composition. Additionally, the local temperature in the wellbore may be reduced in order to slow down the reaction rate of the acid fluid. However, all of these solutions suffer serious drawbacks by increasing the cost and complexity of the matrix acidizing operation. Therefore, it would be advantageous to have a method and a device that provides for an improved deep acid stimulation over those known heretofore.

Method and device for stimulating a treatment zone near a wellbore area of a subterranean formation


A method for use in determining hydrogen embrittlement in a plated sample is provided. The method includes positioning the plated sample between a first holding member and a second holding member, moving the second holding member towards the first holding member to bend the plated sample, and applying a static load to the plated sample for a predetermined duration of time. The static load is applied by bending the plated sample to a distance between the first and second holding members that is a predetermined percentage of a baseline ultimate failure distance of the plated sample.

The field of the present disclosure relates generally to hydrogen embrittlement, and more specifically, to methods and systems for testing for potential hydrogen embrittlement.
Hydrogen embrittlement refers to a process that causes a metal or metal alloy, such as steel, to become brittle and susceptible to fracture when exposed to a quantity of hydrogen and subjected to a tensile load. As used herein, the term "metal" may refer to a single metal or a metal alloy. Hydrogen embrittlement generally occurs when hydrogen atoms diffuse through the crystalline structure (i.e., matrix) of a metal resulting in an increased pressure within the metal matrix. The increased pressure can adversely affect characteristics of metal such as ductility and tensile strength. At least some known sources of hydrogen atoms are electroplating solutions, pickling solutions, phosphating solutions, paint-stripping solutions, cleaning solutions, and the like.
In at least some known electrodeposition processes, a metal substrate cathode and a plating material anode are submerged in a plating solution. Electric current is applied to the anode and cathode to deposit a layer of plating material on the surface of the metal substrate via the plating solution. After a desired amount of plating material has been deposited on the metal substrate, the substrate may then be heated to facilitate removing hydrogen trapped in the steel substrate beneath the plating material. Metal substrates also generally have organic surface contaminants, which if not properly cleaned prior to plating, may contaminate the plating solution. As such, prolonged use of the plating solution may affect the quality of the plated sample due to the contaminants. For example, an increased contaminant concentration in the plating solution may decrease the porosity of the plating layer, thereby limiting the amount of hydrogen removed from plated metals during the post-deposition heating process, which is commonly referred to as Hydrogen Embrittlement Relief Baking.
One known method of determining the porosity level of plating solution involves performing a series of stress tests on samples plated using a plating solution. In one known stress test, plated samples fabricated from a rigid metal substrate, such as AISI 4340 steel, are subjected to tensile stress at 75 percent of their respective ultimate failure load for a predetermined duration. The plating solution is determined to be contaminated if the plated sample breaks before the end of the predetermined duration. However, these known test methods are generally time-consuming, can take up to 200 hours to complete, and thus make it difficult to determine the contamination level of plating solution in real-time.

Method and systems for determining hydrogen embrittlement


A brake mechanism for a shopping cart able to brake an unattended cart while enabling manual release of the brakes for user control and automatic release of the brakes in response to telescoping joinder of the carts. Comprising the braking mechanism is a brake pad at the underside of a pair of vertically disposed brake rods displaceable for the pads to engage and disengage the caster wheels of the cart. A compressed coil spring on each brake rod biases the pad thereat toward engagement with the wheels. A transverse actuator bar adjacent the cart handle, when squeezed toward the cart handle, causes the brake rod to incur an upward camming and effect release of the brakes. At the same time, a second actuator bar resting on the swing seat of the cart and displaceable upwardly with the swing seat in response to telescoping of the carts is pivotally displaced upwardly in response to telescoping to raise the brake rods and release the brakes.

The unbraked, unattended shopping cart represents a hazard to person and property when permitted to roll free and uncontrolled in areas such as parking lots adjacent to retail establishments. Disposal of the cart to remain unattended occurs frequently in a parking lot after the contents have been emptied into a user's car by being placed at an arbitrary free-standing location. It is not uncommon for the unattended cart to be left on an incline of the lot surface causing the cart to roll or bump into persons or parked auto's in the area. The resulting damage can prove costly, usually for the merchandising proprietor of the premises to which the cart belongs.

Brake mechanism for telescoping shopping carts


Techniques for enabling push notifications from websites are described. In at least some embodiments, a push notification generally represents a way for a website to push information to a client device. For instance, a push notification may include content (e.g., text, images, video, audio, and so forth) that a website pushes to a client device. The content can be output via the client device, e.g., independently of an output of the website itself. According to one or more embodiments, a push notification channel is generated that enables notifications to be pushed from a website to a client device. Generally, a push notification channel represents a set of attributes and procedures that enable notifications to be securely and accurately pushed from a website to a client device.

Modern computing devices have access to a wide variety of online content, such as webpages, web applications, mobile applications, and so forth. Increasingly, online content can be accessed via dedicated icons that represent discrete instances of online content. For instance, a device can display "tiles" that represent different instances of online content, and that are selectable to access the different instances of online content.

Enabling push notifications from websites


A watery rice gruel and a production method of a watery rice gruel, which can be taken even by patients such as cancer patients who have experienced an extreme loss of appetite, stimulate the hypothalamus in the brains of these patients and enhance their appetite as well as keeping the physical homeostasis of these patients normal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a watery rice gruel used as an invalid diet for patients such as terminal cancer patients who have lost their appetite as a result of having became debilitated.
2. Background Art
Patients such as terminal cancer patients who are in a is debilitated state conventionally lose their appetite and are unable to eat. In such cases, the physician provides supplementary calories and nutrients for the bodies of these patients by using one of the two methods indicated below. The first method involve tube feeding, namely inserting a tube through the nose of the patient to the stomach and injecting a high calorie liquid diet or nutrient solution through that tube. Further, the second method involves intravenous hyperalimentation (IVH), namely performing venipuncture on the patient's subclavian vein or femoral vein, implanting a catheter (tubular device used for diagnosis and treatment of illnesses by inserting into the urethra or urinary bladder) in the superior vena cava or inferior vena cava, and transfusing a high-calorie liquid through this catheter, In addition, in the field of invalid diets used for elderly patients and so forth, a rice porridge is known that is easily consumed by critically ill patients having decreased chewing and swallowing functions by coagulating or thickening watery rice gruel with at least one of either a coagulant or thickener, and mixing with grains of rice to gel the entire porridge containing grains of rice and watery rice gruel (see, for example, Japanese Provisional Patent Publication No. 187832/1999).
However, in the case of supplying calories and nutrients to the patient's body using conventional methods such as tube feeding or intravenous hyperalimentation as described above, the patient ends up losing the desire to live. This is because the acts of eating and tasting are intimately related to appetite, and are linked to a feeling of pleasure as a result of stimulating the hypothalamus (vital center) and bringing about a desire to live within the patient. Thus, in the case of the artificial feeding methods as described above which are unaccompanied by the acts of eating and tasting, the fundamental desires and pleasures of human beings end up being blocked. In addition, since methods of feeding patients by tube feeding as described above cause considerable pain and discomfort for the patient, nearly all patients attempt to pull out the tube. Thus, it becomes necessary to restrain both hands of the patient with rope and so forth to prevent the patient from pulling out the tube, resulting in the problem of the patient's human dignity being lost. In addition, in the case of feeding methods for patients by intravenous hyperalimentation, although the frequency at which patients pull out the tube is lower as compared with the case of tube feeding methods, even in this case, the patient is unable to escape the sense of being restrained (as a result of being connected to the catheter). Moreover, since nutrients are administered directly into the blood vessels of the patient in the case of intravenous hyperalimentation, the patient's digestive tract does not function. As a result, the normal flora of the intestine, which are referred to as the first line of defense (immunity) of the patient as well as the intestinal liver, end up being depleted, thereby leading to a decline in the patient's bodily functions and creating the problem of having a serious effect on the patient's physical homeostasis.
In addition, the rice porridge indicated in the previously mentioned Japanese Provisional Patent Publication No. 187832/1999, in which an entire rice porridge, containing grains of rice and watery rice gruel, was gelled cannot be fed to patients who no longer accept food. In addition, although this rice porridge is effective in supplying patients with nutrients, it does not have the effect of improving the patient's condition.

Watery rice gruel and production method thereof

Abstract: By placing dark-roasted unpolished rice 4, black rice 6 and adlay 7 in water 9 and boiling, the bitter taste and rich aroma of the dark-roasted unpolished rice 4 is imparted to the watery rice gruel obtained by boiling. The water rice gruel promotes intestinal movement in the patient, while the rich aromatic component dissolved into the watery rice gruel promotes the discharge of gas that has accumulated in the stomach and intestinal tract of the patient, thereby eliminating the feeling of distention of the stomach and intestines.


Disclosed herein are protocols, isolation means, and compositions of matter useful for identifying mesenchymal stem cells possessing enhanced clinical activity in treatment of autoimmune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Additionally, markers associated with said enhanced mesenchymal stem cell activity against autoimmunity can be utilized to identify donors whose mesenchymal stem cells possess superior efficacy compared to mesenchymal stem cells from donors who lack said markers associated with said enhanced efficacy in treatment of autoimmunity, such as RA.

The immune response is known to possess incredible efficacy at neutralizing microscopic pathogens, whether bacteria, parasitic or viral, and to some extent cancer cells. In general, the complicated mechanisms for self-recognition are efficient and allow a strong response to be directed exclusively at eliminating foreign antigens. The regulation of self/non-self discrimination, which is a critical function of the immune system, involves multiple mechanisms during the development and lifespan of adaptive immune cells such as T and B lymphocytes, as well as "semi-adaptive" immune cells such as NKT cells, gamma delta T cells, and NK cells [1].
An unfortunate medical reality is that in some situations, the immune system occasionally malfunctions and turns against the cells of the host thereby provoking an autoimmune response. Autoimmunity typically occurs when antigen receptors on immune cells recognize specific self-antigens on host cells and initiate reactions that result in the destruction of the host cells. In some instances, the autoreactive lymphocytes survive longer and continue to induce apoptosis or otherwise eliminate host cells causing autoimmune diseases. Different mechanisms have been described that prevent T lymphocytes from attacking self. These tolerance mechanisms act both on developing and mature T cells. For example, thymic positive selection skews the T cell repertoire to recognize self-MHC molecules and thus also enriches for auto-reactive T cells [2, 3]. On the other hand, thymic negative selection, which follows positive selection, eliminates auto-reactive T cells either by clonal deletion (death) or inactivation, (anergy). Whereas clonal deletion deals with high affinity T cells at the CD4+CD8+TCR.sup.high maturation stage, clonal inactivation seems to work at lower affinity interaction possibly by the down-regulation of the TCR and the CD8.alpha.-chain. However, these "anergic" T lymphocytes still have the ability to specifically respond to their antigen. It has been suggested that they actually might represent a population of regulatory T cells since they release IL-10 and TGF-.beta. upon stimulation. Thus, it is well-established that thymic (central) tolerance mechanisms do not eliminate all autoreactive T cells. Indeed, T cells reactive with self-antigens, such as myelin basic protein (MBP), insulin and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), can be readily found in the periphery.
In patients with certain genetic abnormalities or predispositions, the tolerogenic processes do not possess full ability to prevent autoreactivity, and when combined with proper stimulation, tolerance to self is broken and pathology ensues. The induction of autoimmunity is associated with various immunological cells interacting and consistently overcoming tolerogenic processes. Both CD4+ helper T cells as well as CD8+ cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) play important roles in the autoantigen immune response. In the well-accepted NOD mouse model of spontaneous diabetes, for example, both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells are crucial for disease development. Directly- and indirectly-primed CD4+ T cells help in the production of autoantibody and provide the signals required for induction of CD8+ CTLs, both of which are capable of injuring the cells expressing the autoantigen. Thus, the success of any immunosuppressive strategy directed against an autoimmune response depends on the effective inhibition of both major subsets of T cells.
Existing treatments for autoimmune diseases have had only limited success. For example, it is often possible to correct organ-specific autoimmune disease through metabolic control. Where function is lost and cannot be restored, mechanical substitutes or tissue grafts may be appropriate. While it may be possible to alleviate some of the symptoms using this approach, no effective long-term curative treatment exists for several of the most disabling autoimmune disorders, including multiple sclerosis and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). While a number of compounds, including insulin, corticosteroids and modified beta interferon can ameliorate some of the symptoms of autoimmune diseases, they can have serious side effects and/or require long-term use. General immunosuppressive drug therapies, such as chronic treatment with cyclosporin A, FK506 and rapamycin have also been unable to provide a cure for these diseases, and their use is accompanied by a host of deleterious side effects. Said effects include nephrotoxicity, increased predisposition to infectious diseases, and enhanced incidence of neoplasia.
A more advanced approach to treatment of autoimmunity is the use of immune modulatory strategies that are antigen-specific. Examples that have been proposed based on the systemic administration of DNA vaccines encoding autoantigens, either alone or in combination with T-helper type 2 (Th2) cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-10. U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2003/0148983 A1, the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein. The preliminary data reported by these researchers suggested that DNA vaccines encoding the autoantigen alone could potentially anergize autoreactive T cells, while tolerizing vaccines in combination with IL-4 could help induce Th2 responses, which in numerous autoimmune conditions are known to be inhibitory to pathology, which is classically associated with Th1/Th17 cells. Data from another group of researchers suggested that the presence of IL-4 was critical for protection against disease development induced by the tolerizing vaccine. Thus, the success of this therapeutic strategy likely hinges on the co-administration of Th2-associated cytokines or vectors encoding the same along with the tolerizing vaccine to bias a pro-inflammatory T-helper type 1 (Th1) response to more protective Th2 response. Although this vaccine-based strategy has been somewhat effective in a prophylactic setting, it may prove much more difficult to treat an active autoimmune response already heavily biased towards an inflammatory Th1 response.
Accordingly, novel therapeutic compositions and protocols are sought that can inhibit the function of autoreactive T cells, including Th1-type T cells, in a highly specific fashion. It is an object of the present invention to inhibit and/or eliminate autoreactive CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes to prevent the development of, as well as the progression of, autoimmune diseases.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder affecting approximately 0.5-1% of the global population [4], characterized by immune-mediated synovial inflammation and joint deterioration. In general, because of the critical role of inflammation in the pathology of RA, patients have usually been started on NSAIDS, however more recent practice has been concurrent initiation of disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). These agents are slow acting but have been demonstrated to inhibit radiological progression of RA. Such agents typically include: 1) hydroxychloroquine, which acts in part as a toll like receptor (TLR) 7/9 antagonist, thus decreasing innate immune activation [5]; 2) Leflunomide, an antimetabolite that inhibits pyrimidine synthesis and protein tyrosine kinase activity [6], which results in suppression of T cell responses [7], and has been also demonstrated to inhibit dendritic cell (DC) activation [8]; 3) Injectable gold compounds such as auranofin which directly or through metabolites such as dicyanogold(i) have been demonstrated to inhibit T cell and antigen presenting cell activation [9, 10], as well as cause Th2 deviation [11]; 4) Sulfasalazine, was used since 1950, acts primarily through inhibition of cycloxygenase and lipoxygenase [12]; and 5) Methotrexate, an antifolate that inhibits T cell activation and proliferation, that has been one of the golden standards for RA [13]. Typically combinations of DMARDs with glucocorticoids are used, or alternatively pulse of high dose glucocorticoids are administered to cause a general inhibition of inflammation [14].
The TNF-alpha targeting agents, Remicade, Enbrel, and Humira, sometimes referred to as "biological DMARDs" are used primarily after response to conventional DMARDs has failed [15]. Although improvement in quality of life has occurred as a result of biological DMARDs, substantial progress remains to be made. For example, TNF-alpha blockers have been associated with reactivation of infectious disease, autoantibody formation and the possibility of increased lymphoma risk [16, 17]. Thus to date, one of the major limitations to RA therapy has been lack of ability to specifically inhibit autoreactive responses while allowing other immune components to remain intact.

Mesenchymal stem cells with enhanced efficacy in treatment of autoimmunity particularly rheumatoid arthritis


The invention provides a filtration apparatus for filtering and regenerating a machining fluid. The filtration apparatus includes a dirty tank for receiving the machining fluid and a clean tank fluidly connected to the dirty tank. A filter is provided between the dirty and the clean tanks for filtering the machining fluid which flows from the dirty tank into the clean tank. A conveyer mechanism is provided in the dirty tank for conveying the sediment of particles separated from the machining fluid in the dirty tank. A filter cleaning device are provided for cleaning the filter. The filter cleaning device includes a nozzle bar which is provided in the clean tank for rotation within a plane parallel to the filter means. The nozzle bar directs the machining fluid in the clean tank onto the filter means to blow the particles off the filter means into the dirty tank.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a filtration apparatus for filtering and regenerating a machining fluid, used for a machining process with a machine tool such as a milling machine, machining center, a grinding machine, or an electric discharge machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a machine tool, such as a milling machine, machining center, a grinding machine, or an electric discharge machine, machining fluid is directed to a machining region, between a workpiece to be machined and a tool, to remove heat and chips generated during the machining process. The machining fluid used for the machining process is filtered to separate the chips from the machining fluid. The machining fluid thus treated is recirculated to the machine tool. In the prior art, various filtration apparatuses have been used.
As a first prior art, Japanese Examined Patent Publication (Kokoku) No. 2-44564 describes a filtration apparatus which has a filter drum provided in a dirty tank for containing a machining fluid which has been used in a machining process. The filter drum includes a cylindrical filter and a hollow shaft defining an output port for passing the machining fluid into a clean tank. The machining fluid in the dirty tank flows from the outside to the inside of the cylindrical filter and the machining fluid is filtered to separate the particles suspended in the machining fluid. The dirty tank is provided with a plurality of scrapers for scraping a sediment of the particles separated from the machining fluid. The scrapers are moved by a pair of chains attached to the ends of the scrapers.
In the first prior art, the filter is cleaned by the machining fluid directed onto a portion of the filter which portion is in the air. Therefore, the chips in the form of adhesive sludge can not removed from the filter. Further, the filtration apparatus employs a filter drum which is relatively large. Therefore, the filtration apparatus becomes large and, in particular, it is essentially high and the replacement of the filter is difficult. Further, as described above, the machining fluid flows through the output port defined by the shaft of the drum filter. Therefore, provided around the bearing for supporting the shaft is a rotational sealing member, which is easily worn and continual replacement is required.
As a second prior art, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2512846 describes an apparatus for filtering a coolant for a machine tool. The apparatus includes a dirty tank and a clean tank fluidly connected to the dirty tank with a filter provided therebetween. The dirty tank is provided with a scraper conveyer. In order to wash filter, the filtered coolant in the clean tank is directed to the filter through a nozzle which is movable in the vertical direction.
In the second prior art, the scraper conveyer and the mechanism for moving the nozzle are driven by separate driving mechanisms. Therefore, the manufacturing cost is increased.
As a third prior art, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 9-300171 describes a filtration system which includes a hinge belt for separating relatively large chips in the form of curls or clusters from a machining fluid and for transporting the chips. However, the hinge belt can not remove relatively small particles. Therefore, the filtration system can further include a fine filter in the form of a rotating drum for separating relatively small chips in the form of sludge suspended in the machining fluid. However, a filtration system with a rotating filter drum has problems similar to those of the first prior art.
The invention is directed to solve the prior art problems, and to provide an improved filtration apparatus for filtering and regenerating a machining fluid. The filtration apparatus is relatively small, it is easy to replace the filter, and the apparatus can separate chips which are relatively small as well as large curling or clustered chips.
According to the invention, a filtration apparatus for filtering and regenerating a machining fluid, used for a machining process with a machine tool, the machining fluid containing particles generated during the machining process, is provided. The filtration apparatus includes a dirty tank for receiving the machining fluid; a clean tank fluidly connected to the dirty tank; filter means, provided between the dirty and the clean tanks, for filtering the machining fluid which flows from the dirty tank into the clean tank; conveyer means, provided in the dirty tank, for conveying a sediment of particles separated from the machining fluid in the dirty tank; collection means for receiving the particles from the conveyer means; and a filter cleaning for cleaning the filter means, the filter cleaning device including a nozzle bar, provided in the clean tank for rotation within a plane parallel to the filter means, for directing the machining fluid in the clean tank onto the filter means to blow the particles off the filter means into the dirty tank.
According to another feature of the invention, the filtration apparatus includes a dirty tank for receiving the machining fluid; a first clean tank fluidly connected to the dirty tank; a second clean tank fluidly connected to the first clean tank; first filter means, provided between the dirty and the clean tanks, for filtering the machining fluid which flows from the dirty tank into the first clean tank; second filter means, provided between the first and the second clean tanks, for filtering the machining fluid which flows from the first clean tank into the second clean tank; conveyer means, provided in the dirty tank, for conveying a sediment of particles separated from the machining fluid in the dirty tank; collection means for receiving the particles from the conveyer means; a first filter cleaning device for cleaning the first filter means, the first filter cleaning device including a nozzle bar, provided in the first clean tank for rotation within a plane parallel to the first filter means, for directing the machining fluid in the first clean tank to the first filter means to blow the particles off the first filter means into the dirty tank; and a second filter cleaning device for cleaning the second filter means, the second filter cleaning device including a nozzle bar, provided in the second clean tank for rotation within a plane parallel to the second filter means, for directing the machining fluid in the second clean tank to the second filter means to blow the particles off the second filter means into the first clean tank.

Filtration apparatus for filtering a machining fluid


An optical docking station comprises an optical frame and a detachable virtual image display module. The display module comprises a low power light source such as a light emitting diode, one or more beam splitters, polarizers, a liquid crystal display panel and an imaging lens. When the display module is detached from the optical frame, the light emitting diode provides the primary illumination for the image formed by the liquid crystal display panel. The image thus formed is a magnified virtual image of the liquid crystal display panel. When the display module is attached to the projector frame, however, a more powerful light source mounted to the optical frame provides the primary illumination. The more powerful light source forms a real image of the liquid crystal display module, which is capable of being projected onto a screen.

The present invention relates to a projector for projecting an image produced by a liquid crystal display.
Portable equipment that must display information to a user, such as laptop computers, have in the past advantageously employed large liquid crystal display (LCD) panels as the primary information display device. Large LCD panels provide significant advantages over other large display devices in terms of volume occupied per unit of display area and in terms of power consumption to operate the display itself. Large LCD panels, however, require illumination and therefore typically require high power consuming cold cathode lamps along with complex light guides to provide reasonably uniform illumination.
It has been suggested that significant power and cost saving can be realized in a next generation laptop computer by replacing the large direct-viewing LCD panel with a virtual image display. Through the use of optical elements, a virtual image display projects a magnified virtual image of a small LCD panel directly into the user's eye. Because of the inherent optical efficiency of a virtual image display of this type, the entire image can be illuminated by a single light emitting diode consuming 5-10 milliwatts of power versus the 1-2 watts of power consumed by conventional large LCD backlighting apparatus. Moreover, because the virtual image display employs relatively easily manufactured small LCD panels, significant cost savings are realizable over the use of the technically challenging large direct-viewing LCD panels. The small size of the virtual image display also allows for a highly portable apparatus. Finally, because a virtual image display can only be seen by a single user, use of a virtual image display also precludes eavesdropping by others when the user is working in a public place, such as on an airplane.
One potentially significant disadvantage, however, is that because the virtual image display can only be seen by one person at a time, a computer or other apparatus equipped with such a display would not be capable of displaying information to two or more persons needing to see the information simultaneously. In such cases, a conventional direct-viewing display would be needed. Moreover, some users may find it uncomfortable to wear or hold the virtual image display in front of the eye. Accordingly, except where the benefits of power savings outweigh the discomfort of holding or wearing a virtual display, visor such a user may prefer a direct-viewing display even for individual use. Although a conventional laptop docking station with a separate cathode ray tube (CRT) display or large panel LCD could be utilized, such an approach would necessarily entail a complete duplicate display device with commensurate added cost.
What is needed is a docking station capable of converting an image produced by a virtual image display into a real image without duplicating the LCD panels, drive electronics and other active components already incorporated into the virtual image display.


Provided is a method for scheduling operations called by a task on a real-time or non-real-time processor. Execution durations are provided for operations. A call is received from a task for an operation. A determination is made of a latency requirement for a first processor and of the execution duration of the called operation. The called operation is executed on the first processor in response to determining that the determined execution duration is less than the latency requirement. The called operation is executed on a second processor in response to determining that the determined execution duration is greater than the latency requirement.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method, system, and program for scheduling operations called by a task on a real-time or non-real-time processor.
2. Description of the Related Art
General operating systems may be classified into three general categories associated with completion of a task or operations (processing steps) called by a task within a predefined time interval. The three general categories are known as hard real-time operating systems, soft real-time operating systems, and non-real-time operating systems. A hard real-time operating system guarantees that deadlines will be met. Processing steps in a hard real-time operating system are known as deterministic operations. The terms hard real-time processing steps and deterministic operations are used interchangeably. In hard real-time systems, if a deterministic operation completes correctly but takes longer than its given amount of time, the operation fails. A soft real-time system is less restrictive than a hard real-time system. In a soft real-time system, critical operations are given priority over non-critical operations (e.g., processes). However, the scheduling-deadline requirements in a soft real-time system are less severe than those in a hard real-time system. For example, in a soft real-time system if an operation called by a soft real-time task completes correctly but takes longer than the amount of time allotted for such operation, then the result may still be useful. However, in a hard real-time system, if an operation completes correctly but takes longer than the amount of time allotted for such operation, then the result will not be useful. In a non-hard real-time system, the operations are non-deterministic operations and as such are not subject to real-time latency constraints.
A non-hard real time task comprises a task that executes non-deterministic operations, which are not required to complete within a given deadline to be successful. A hard real time task comprises a task that executes deterministic operations that are required to occur before a given deadline. In soft real-time, hard real-time, and non-hard real-time systems, a scheduler is utilized to determine the amount of resources (e.g., CPU time) that a process is allotted for execution. The scheduler is part of the kernel in an operating system that initiates and terminates operating system processes and threads. In addition, the scheduler may periodically decide which thread should be run next and switch control to that thread.
In the copending and commonly assigned patent application entitled "Hard Real-Time Response", by Paul E. McKenney and Dipankar Sarma, having U.S. application Ser. No. 11/017,083, filed on Dec. 20, 2004, processing units are designated as hard real-time or non-hard real time. Operations (processing steps) to be deterministic are processed by the hard real-time processor and operations steps determined to be non-deterministic are processed by the non-hard real-time processor.

Method for scheduling operations called by a task on a real-time or non-real time processor

International Business Machines Corporation


A positive electrode active material provided in the present invention is characterized in that it is substantially formed of a lithium nickel cobalt manganese composite oxide and that a molar content ratio (NiIII/NiII) of bivalent nickel atoms (NiII) and trivalent nickel atoms (NiIII) of nickel atoms constituting the composite oxide is 0.15≦(NiIII/NiII)≦0.95.

Lithium secondary batteries (typically lithium-ion batteries), nickel-metal hydride batteries, and other secondary batteries have become more important recently as a vehicle-mounted electric power source, as well as for use in personal computers and portable devices. In particular, it is expected that lithium secondary batteries, which are lightweight and can provide high energy density, can be preferably used as a high output electrical power source for vehicles.
A lithium composite oxide is generally used as the positive electrode active material comprising the positive electrode of a lithium secondary battery. A composite oxide comprising lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese (hereafter, "lithium nickel cobalt manganese composite oxide") as constituent metallic elements, for example, is known as one such type of composite oxide. A lithium nickel cobalt manganese composite oxide, which has a stratified rock salt type structure generally represented by Li(Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3)O2, has a lattice structure in which bivalent nickel, trivalent cobalt, and tetravalent manganese are regularly arranged, and it can serve as a positive electrode active material with a high level of both structural and thermal stability.
Patent documents 1 and 2 can be noted as examples of prior art relevant to this kind of lithium nickel cobalt manganese composite oxide. These patent documents list a variety of ways for improving the characteristics of a lithium nickel cobalt manganese composite oxide that is used as the positive electrode active material in lithium secondary batteries. For example, these patent documents indicate that improvements in battery performance such as output characteristics, etc., can be obtained by using a lithium nickel cobalt manganese composite oxide wherein the atomic ratio of lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese is restricted to a given range as the positive electrode active material.

Positive electrode active material for lithium secondary battery, and use thereof


The present disclosure discloses an optical clear adhesive and a display device. The display device includes: a flexible display panel having at least one foldable area; and an optical clear adhesive disposed on at least one side of the flexible display panel. The optical clear adhesive includes: a substrate layer, a first adhesive material structure and a second adhesive material structure disposed on two opposite sides of the substrate layer, all of which are transparent materials; a deformation recovery rate of the substrate layer is greater than that of each of the first adhesive material structure and the second adhesive material structure; and in the optical clear adhesive, the first adhesive material structure is closer to an inner folding side of the foldable area of a display panel, and the second adhesive material structure is closer to an outer folding side of the foldable area of the display panel.

With the development of a display technology, the demand of display devices with different forms grows. Bendable or foldable display devices have been developed. A flexible display device generally includes various external components such as a flexible display panel and a touch screen.
The flexible panel and the external components may generate deformation difficult to recover when being bent for a long time so as to affect the service reliability of the flexible display device.

Display device and optically clear adhesive


Programmable devices, methods of manufacture thereof, and methods of programming devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a programmable device includes a link and at least one first contact coupled to a first end of the link. The at least one first contact is adjacent a portion of a top surface of the link and at least one sidewall of the link. The programmable device includes at least one second contact coupled to a second end of the link. The at least one second contact is adjacent a portion of the top surface of the link and at least one sidewall of the link.

Semiconductor devices are used in a variety of electronic applications, such as personal computers, cell phones, digital cameras, and other electronic equipment, as examples. Semiconductor devices are typically fabricated by sequentially depositing insulating or dielectric layers, conductive layers, and semiconductive layers of material over a semiconductor substrate, and patterning the various material layers using lithography to form circuit components and elements thereon, forming an integrated circuit.
Fuses are devices that are used in semiconductor devices for many applications, such as in array redundancy, electronic chip identification (EID), recording data such as performance or test parameters, and array repair, as examples. Laser fuses (l-fuses) are fuses that are programmed with a laser. The laser uses a high temperature to cause a break in a conductive material of the l-fuses, blowing the l-fuses. However, l-fuses require a relatively large amount of surface area on a semiconductor device to avoid causing damage to surrounding portions of the integrated circuit when the fuses are blown. Furthermore, a special tool is required to program or blow l-fuses, and the point in the manufacturing process flow that l-fuses may be programmed is limited to early time periods in the process flow, e.g., after wafer tests.
Electronic fuses (e-fuses) are fuses that require a smaller amount of surface area on a chip than l-fuses. E-fuses are programmed or blown by the application of a higher than usual amount of current, which causes electromigration of a portion of the e-fuse and increases the resistance. E-fuses may be blown at multiple test and application stages and have a low risk of causing damage to surrounding devices during programming.
Some e-fuse designs have reliability problems because they are required to be programmed or blown at large amounts of applied current.
What are needed in the art are improved e-fuses in semiconductor devices and methods of manufacture thereof.

Programmable devices and methods of manufacture thereof


A novel fructosyl amino acid oxidase derived from genus Fusarium or Gibberella, a process for producing the enzyme, an assay of an amadori compound using the enzyme, a reagent or a kit containing the enzyme, a process for producing fructosyl lysine and/or fructosyl N.sup..alpha. -Z-lysine as a substrate of a fructosyl amino acid oxidase, which is useful for screening and/or culturing a microorganism capable of producing the enzyme, and a medium containing fructosyl lysine and/or fructosyl N.sup..alpha. -Z-lysine for screening and/or culturing a microorganism capable of producing a fructosyl amino acid oxidase is provided.

When reactive substances such as protein, peptide and amino acid having an amino group(s) coexist with a reducing sugar such as aldose having an aldehyde group(s), they combine nonenzymatically and irreversibly through the amino and aldehyde groups, which is followed by amadori rearrangement to form an amadori compound. The production rate of an amadori compound being a function of concentration of reactants, period of contact, temperature and the like, various useful information can be derived from the amount of amadori compounds in a sample containing reactive substance(s). Examples of materials containing an amadori compound include food products such as soy sauce and body fluids such as blood.
In a living body, fructosylamines are formed through the reaction between glucose and an amino acid, and the resultant glycated derivatives of hemoglobin, albumin and proteins in blood are called glycohemoglobin, glycoalbumin and fructosamine, respectively. As the concentration of these glycated derivatives in blood reflects an average of blood sugar levels over a particular period of time, it can be a significant index for diagnosis and control of conditions of diabetes. Therefore, the establishment of a method of measuring an amadori compound in blood is clinically useful.
Further, a state of preservation and period after production of a food product can be estimated on the basis of the amount of amadori compounds in the food product. Therefore, the method of measuring an amadori compound can also contribute to the quality control of a food product.
Thus, an assay of amadori compounds should be useful in wide fields involving medicine and food products.
As assay of amadori compounds, there has been known method which utilizes high performance liquid chromatography [Chromatogr. Sci. 10: 659 (1979)], a column filled with solid materials to which boric acid is attached [Clin. Chem. 28: 2088 (1982)], electrophoresis [Clin. Chem. 26:1598 (1980)] or antigen-antibody reaction [JJCLA 18: 620 (1993), J. Clin. Lab. Inst. Reag. 16:33-37 (1993)], a method for measuring the amount of fructosamine [Clin. Chem. Acta 127:87-95 (1982)], a calorimetric determination following the oxidization with thiobarbituric acid [Clin. Chem. Acta 112:179-204 (1981)], or the like. The existing methods, however, require an expensive device(s) and are not necessarily accurate and rapid enough.
In the field of clinical assay and food analysis, a method utilizing enzymatic process has recently been widely used because, owing to characteristics of enzymes (specificity in terms of substrate, reaction, structure, active site, etc.), an intended substance can be selectively analyzed with accuracy and rapidity.
There have already been proposed assays which comprise reacting an oxidoreductase with amadori compounds and determining oxygen consumption or hydrogen peroxide generation as an index of the amount of amadori compounds (e.g. Japanese Patent Publication (KOKOKU) Nos. 5-33997 and 6-65300, and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication Nos. 2-195900, 3-155780, 4-4874, 5-192293 and 6-46846). Further, assays of glycated protein for the diagnosis of diabetes have been disclosed (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication Nos. 2-195899, 2-195900, 5-192193 and 6-46846).
The decomposition of amadori compounds catalyzed by an oxidoreductase can be represented by the following reaction scheme: EQU R--CO--CH.sub.2 --NH--R.sup.2 +O.sub.2 +H.sub.2 O.fwdarw.R.sup.1 --CO--CHO+R.sup.3 --NH+H.sub.2 O.sub.2
wherein R.sup.1 is an aldose residue and R.sup.2 is an amino acid, protein or peptide residue.
Examples of enzymes which catalyze the above reaction include fructosyl amino acid oxidase derived from microorganisms [e.g., strains of Corynebacterium (Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 5-33997 and 6-65300), strains of Asperqillus (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 3-155780), etc.], ketoamine oxidase derived from microorganisms [e.g., strains of Corynebacterium, Fusarium, Acremonium or Debaryomyces (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 5-192193)], fructosylamine deglycase [e.g., strains of Candida (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 6-46846)], alkyllysinase which can be prepared according to the method described in J. Biol. Chem., Vol. 239, pp. 3790-3796 (1964), and the like.
Assays involving these existing enzymes, however, had some drawbacks.
For instance, an amadori compound in blood which serves as an index for the diagnosis of diabetes is a glycated protein normally formed when a glucose is bound to a lysine residue at its .di-elect cons.-position on protein molecule [J. Biol. Chem. 26: 13542-13545 (1986)]. Therefore, it is necessary to use an enzyme highly specific to fructosyl lysine to conduct the determination of glycated proteins efficiently. However, the existing enzyme derived from Corynebacterium does not act on fructosyl lysine. Although an enzyme from Asperqillus acts on fructosyl lysine, it is less reactive with fructosyl lysine compared to other amadori compounds (see Table 5 below). Further, the action on the glycated protein or hydrolysis thereof is still unclear. Although the ketoamine oxidase described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 5-192193 is specific to glycated .alpha.-amine group on fructosyl valine, it cannot afford an accurate assay of glycated proteins where a lysine residue is bound to a sugar. Because the fructosylamine deglycase is highly specific to difructosyl lysine, it is not available in an assay specific to a substance having lysine residue which is glycated at the .di-elect cons.-position.
Furthermore, a method using an alkyllysinase cannot be reliable and accurate because said enzyme lacks in specificity and reacts with substances whose lysine residue is not bonded to only a sugar.
As described above, existing enzymes cannot necessarily give an accurate assay of glycated proteins and therefore the development of an enzyme highly specific to fructosyl lysine has been demanded.
In general, for the improvement of accuracy and usefulness of an assay involving an enzymatic process, it is essential to use an enzyme having a catalytic activity suitable for purposes of the assay. Thus, it is necessary to select an appropriate enzyme taking many factors such as a substance to be determined, as a substrate of the enzyme, the condition of a sample, measuring conditions and the like into consideration in order to carry out the assay with accuracy and reproducibility. To select a suitable enzyme, many enzymes must be previously obtained and characterized regarding the activity, substrate specificity, temperature stability, pH stability and the like. Therefore, it is necessary to develop more and more fructosyl amino acid oxidases and characterize the same.

Fructosyl amino acid oxidase and process for producing the same


A sound data providing system capable of improving the freedom of creation of sound data provided from a sending terminal to a receiving terminal, a method thereof, an exchange, and a program. A sending terminal transmits to a user interface information concerning the data of sound such as voice and digital sound, destination information and date information. The user interface converts the information received from the sending terminal to a format acceptable to an exchange to transmit the converted information to the exchange. The exchange provides a receiving terminal with the sound data at the specified date.

In the conventional telephone answering service, when a sending terminal makes a call through a communication network and a receiving terminal cannot answer it, the sender leaves a message, if necessary, following message acceptance guidance. After that, when the receiving terminal becomes available to answer a call, the receiver interrogates an exchange if any message has been left for him/her and receives the message.
Generally, the sender vocally inputs the message to the receiver through the mouthpiece of the sending terminal to register it with the exchange.
Besides, there have been proposed techniques for automatically distributing voice data. For example, Japanese Patent Application laid open No. 2001-119486 discloses a voice distribution service providing method. According to the method, a registrant of a voice distribution service stores a voice information file in a voice distributor through a terminal connected to a public network. A subscriber to the voice distribution service inputs in a user terminal such information as the code of voice data, the telephone number of a terminal where the voice data is to be delivered and the date of distribution to transmit the information to the voice distributor. Thereby, the voice distributor automatically distributes the designated voice data to the terminal with the designated telephone number at the designated date.
In the conventional telephone answering service, however, a message can be registered only through the mouthpiece of a sending terminal. Therefore, if a message is registered together with music as BGM, the sound of the music deteriorates to be unclear while the message is registered with the exchange through the mouthpiece of the terminal. Thus, there is a limitation on the freedom of message creation.

Sound data providing system, method thereof, exchange and program


An apparatus and method for providing a temporary spread footing for supporting a variety of different vertically extending structures. The apparatus includes a frame with a top and bottom. The frame can have a substantial space or void in between the top and bottom into which weights or devices can be placed. A connection on top of the base removably connects to the structure to be supported. Outriggers could also be used to substantially increase the overturning moment resistance of the base. The outriggers can be removable or retractable so that for transportation, the base has minimum dimensions. The method includes pre-determining the needed weight and overturning moment resistance for a particular application and transporting the base to the site and thereafter adding weight and adjusting outriggers to match the pre-determined needed overturning moment resistance.

A. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to bases or supports for vertically extending or elevating structures, and, in particular, to portable or temporary footings or bases for the same.
B. Problems in the Art
A wide variety of ways to support vertically extending structures have been developed over time. Special considerations come into play for structures that extend substantial distances vertically, and further, when the structures may experience forces that tend to tip the structures, such as wind.
Structure and stability issues become even more acute in situations where support for the vertical structure is desired to be portable or temporary. If the foundation or base cannot utilize any permanent footings in the ground, a primary source for providing stability to a vertical structure does not exist.
A few specific examples will illustrate this point. Situations exist where it would be desirous to have high-powered, wide area lighting, but on a temporary basis. The practical problems are, first, how does one transport such a system, especially when it is desirable to have the lights elevated to substantial distances vertically in the air; and second, how does one support and keep stable such elevated lighting fixtures through a variety of environmental conditions such as winds?
One situation where wide-area portable lighting is desired is with regard to construction sites. There are existing systems for temporary construction site lighting which tend to be on portable trailers or trucks. Lighting fixtures can be installed on foldable or extendible booms or frames. These types of conventional portable lighting units generally each require a separate vehicle to transport them from location to location. Also, they tend to be able to elevate the lights no more than perhaps 15′ to 35′. This does not allow for large area lighting. Additionally, because the lights are relatively close to the ground, glare problems can exist for workers and for traffic. Still further, many of these lighting systems are limited in height and number of lights, because of limitations of the base. Basically, existing systems tend to be no more than just a few light fixtures on a scaffold or foldable tower that does not extend very far into the air.
Some truck-based systems with larger, extendible booms exist. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,423,471, 4,712,167, 5,207,747, and 5,313,378 disclose high-powered lighting fixtures which can be extended much higher in the air (much over 30′) and are portable because they are mounted to trucks. However, such systems are expensive, both in original cost and operation, especially for areas such as constructions sites. Also, the trucks on which the fixtures are mounted would be out of use during the time the portable lighting was in use.
Therefore, a system has been developed which essentially consists of a transportable base that can be transported on conventional over-the-road trucks such as semi-trailers, can be manipulated by forklifts, and which can support a substantial sized light pole and array of light fixtures. Such a system is disclosed in commonly owned and co-pending U.S. Ser. No. 08/853,173. This system is relatively low-cost, can support a very tall vertical structure, and is portable. However, it is not adjustable in a variety of situations.
For example, such a base is pre-manufactured and fixed in perimeter size and in weight. It is also fixed in all dimensions and characteristics. If selected for a certain use, it may not be functional for another use. It may support a 50′ pole with five (5) 30″ diameter light fixtures in low-wind or no-wind conditions, but not be able to support the same in substantial winds.
Therefore, with regard to temporary lighting, there is a real need in the art for an improved system which provides more flexibility and adjustability over a wide variety of situations.
Similar problems exist with regard to supporting or elevating other types of structures. For example, there is a need for a more versatile and flexible footing or base-support for vertical towers, scaffolds, and trusses that are not needed on a permanent basis.
It is therefore a principal objective of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for a temporary spread footing that solves or overcomes the problems or deficiencies in the art. Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention include an apparatus and method for temporary spread footing that:                1. Have a known resistance to overturning moment, but which are adjustable for variable attachments and conditions.        2. Have expandable dimensions and weight as compared to when configured for transport.        3. Allow interchangeable devices and add-on devices to be utilized.        4. Provide for a more efficient use of space and strength for a supporting base or footing.        5. Are adaptable and flexible for many situations and for moving, both at a location or site and to a different location or site.        6. Can be utilized with a variety of different vertical or elevated structures.        7. Are economical, efficient, and durable.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent with reference to the accompanying specification and claims.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Apparatus and method for a temporary spread footing


The present invention is directed to a method of coating soft confectionery centers with chocolate. The method comprises the steps of: mixing the soft confectionery centers having a bed temperature of from about 0° C. to about 15° C.; applying chocolate onto the soft confectionery centers, wherein the chocolate is at a temperature of from about 36° C. to about 50° C.; and cooling the chocolate covered soft confectionery centers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of coating confectionery centers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of coating soft confectionery centers with chocolate by controlling the temperature of the chocolate and the soft confectionery centers.
2. Description of Related Art
Confectionery centers are commonly made from a variety of components such as chocolate, peanut butter, raisins, toffee, taffy, fudge and a range of nuts including but not limited to, peanuts and almonds. The centers are often treated further by applying a coating by a panning process. This involves a rotating pan that tumbles the confectionary centers so that they rotate, tumble, and cascade over one another. While this is happening, chocolate or a sugar syrup is applied manually or by one of various spraying methods. The chocolate or sugar syrup is solidified on the confectionery centers by introducing air that cools and/or dries the coating on the centers in the rotating pan.
Traditionally, chocolate panning operations are performed at product temperatures between 15° C. to 30° C. Those skilled in the art have found that within this temperature range, smooth chocolate coated confectionery centers can be made. The temperature profile of the coating operation follows a zig-zag shaped pattern. As liquid chocolate is applied, the bed temperature of the centers increases and then decreases back down to the starting temperature, as the product is cooled. For example, liquid chocolate may be applied to centers where the bed temperature is 20° C. As the warm liquid chocolate coats the centers, the bed temperature increases to 33° C. Cool air is applied to the centers, which lowers the bed temperature back down to 20° C. and the chocolate coating cycle is repeated until the desired amount of chocolate is applied.
The goal of the panning operation is to uniformly coat all the centers evenly and homogeneously to the same extent. If the centers are too warm, the chocolate will not solidify quickly enough to adhere properly to the centers. If the product is too cold, the coating tends to rapidly freeze, creating an uneven finish on the center pieces. The panning process must allow for the liquid to be applied, distributed, and dried and/or cooled. This cycle can be repeated numerous times until a desired appearance or piece size is obtained.
Confectionery centers that are soft or delicate cannot be handled in the same manner as confectionery centers made of chocolate. The soft centers are predisposed to quality problems arising from deformation of the soft centers. For example, the most common way of applying coatings, such as chocolate, to nougat centers is enrobing, but it is impossible to make a uniform sphere without a flat spot using a standard enrober. Additionally, if aerated nougat centers are enrobed at a center temperature below about 18° C., there is a tendency for the nougat to crack the chocolate when it warms and expands. Nougat typically has a density of less than 1 g/cm3 and is coated, for example enrobed with chocolate, at temperatures below about 30° C. in order to maintain its shape. Thus, special processing methods must be used to produce a smooth, evenly coated piece without a flat spot.

Method of chocolate coating soft confectionery centers


A lightweight roll-up door comprises multiple lightweight panels that can be transversely installed/removed with a simple hinge assembly. The panels are hinged about one edge and have outer complementary arcuate portions that fill the gap at the edges of the door as the panels rotate about the hinge. The panels are extruded from a lightweight material. Additionally, the panels are structurally capable of supporting the necessary door hardware without deformation or breakage. A latch assembly is mounted to an extruded bottom panel forming a latch recess for receiving the latch assembly and with multiple mounting supports disposed within the hollow interior and extending between the latch recess and the interior wall.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a roll-up door assembly of the type commonly used in a trailer for a semi-tractor or a truck. In one of its aspects, the invention relates to a lightweight roll-up door comprising multiple, longitudinally-oriented extruded panels having a longitudinal hinge axis that can be assembled transversely relative to the hinge axis. In another of its aspects, the invention relates to an extruded panel for a roll-up door, which includes an integrated mounting and guide system for positioning and attaching door hardware to the panel.
2. Description of the Related Art
Trailers for semi-tractors and delivery trucks have long used roll-up doors to control access through a rear opening of the trailer. Roll-up doors are often preferred over the vertically-hinged, outwardly swinging doors because the roll-up doors operate within the physical space of the trailer and do not require space beyond the trailer. The roll-up door is moveable between an opened and a closed position while being maintained entirely within the trailer whereas the swinging doors require room along the sides of the trailer to swing from the closed to the opened position. If the trailers are to be parked side-by-side, the swinging doors must be opened prior to parking the trailer or the trailers must be parked far enough apart to permit the doors to swing from the closed to the opened position, both of which are an inconvenience to the operator.
Roll-up doors typically comprise multiple panels, stacked one atop the other. The adjacent edges are hingedly connected together to form the entire door. The hinges are normally located on or near the adjacent longitudinal edges of the panels. There are generally two main types of hinged structures that can be categorized by the direction in which the panels must be assembled relative to the longitudinal axis of the panels. One hinge structure requires that the panels be slid laterally (in the same direction as the longitudinal axis) to hingedly couple/uncouple the panels. Another structure requires that the panels be moved to transversely or perpendicular to the longitudinal edge to hingedly couple/uncouple the panels.
Each panel usually includes a roller assembly comprising an axle that rotatably supports a roller or wheel. The axle is mounted to the panel, directly or through the hinge assembly. The wheel is received within a track mounted within the interior of the trailer. As the door is raised from the lowered or closed position to the raised or opened position, the panels move within the tracks and rotate relative to each other as needed about their respective hinges. The panels are constrained in their movement by the receipt of the rollers within the track. Thus, the maximum angle of rotation between any two panels can be controlled by the arc of the track.
Roll-up doors have several known problems or disadvantages. Many roll-up doors have panels that are made entirely of solid material, such as wood. The resulting door is exceptionally heavy and requires counter-balancing springs to lift and close the door. The counter-balancing springs reduce the usable volume of the trailer, which is highly undesirable given the great value placed upon usable volume for a truck or trailer.
Attempts to address this problem have focused on using lighter weight materials, especially extruded plastics. The resulting extruded panels are relative light in weight, but they often require special or complex hinge systems and special structural stiffening to accommodate the mounting of the roll-up door hardware such as handles and latch assemblies.
Many roll-up doors are often time-consuming to repair. When a roll-up door is damaged, usually the repair is affected by merely replacing one of the multiple panels. Unfortunately, most roll-up doors have a panel and hinge configuration that requires the removal of multiple or all of the panels to replace the damaged panel. Panels that have hinges that require the lateral sliding of the panels for assembly further exacerbate the replacement of a single panel in that all of the panels preceding the damaged panel must be removed from the tracks before the damaged panel can be laterally slid and uncoupled from the adjacent panels.
Solutions to this problem have tended to focus on hinge structures that permit the transverse addition/removal of the panels. Most of the current solutions rely on a relatively complex hinge construction to permit the transverse removal of the hinge as part of the transverse removal of the panel.


An optical transmitter comprises a first unit for generating an optical signal having a bandwidth given by a main signal, a second unit modulating the optical signal according to a control signal to extend the bandwidth of the optical signal, a third unit extracting backward light including SBS(stimulated Brillouin scattering) light generated in an optical fiber transmission line, and a fourth unit performing feedback control so that the power of the SBS light becomes substantially constant. Through the structure of the optical transmitter good transmission characteristics of a main signal are obtained and the suppression of the SBS is allowed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to suppression of stimulated Brillouin scattering occurring in an optical fiber transmission line, and more particularly to an optical transmitter, an optical communication system, and an optical communication method allowing such suppression.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, an optical signal with high power and less chirping has been attainable by using an optical amplifier and an external optical modulator. In transmitting such a high-power coherent optical signal through an optical fiber transmission line, there occurs stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) in the fiber, causing a degradation in receiving sensitivity. Accordingly, any countermeasures against SBS are desired.
Conventionally known is an optical transmitter such that a bias current for inducing laser oscillation is supplied to a laser diode, and a modulating current is superimposed on the bias current to thereby obtain a modulated optical signal.
Also conventionally known is an optical transmitter such that a constant or controlled bias current is supplied to a laser diode, and continuous wave (CW) light output from the laser diode is modulated by an external optical modulator.
Meanwhile, it has been proposed that an optical signal intensity-modulated, for example, is further frequency-modulated (or phase-modulated) in order to suppress SBS. The bandwidth (spectral line width) of the optical signal is extended by the frequency modulation, thereby increasing a threshold value on a nonlinear effect. As a result, SBS is suppressed.
For the frequency modulation of light output from a laser diode, it is effective to superimpose a low-frequency signal on a bias current to be supplied to the laser diode. However, the superimposition of the low-frequency signal on the bias current brings about not only the modulation of the frequency (wavelength) of the optical signal, but also the modulation of the intensity (power) of the optical signal. Such intensity modulation by the low-frequency signal degrades transmission characteristics of a main signal, causing a problem such that long-distance transmission becomes difficult, for example.

Optical transmitter, optical communication system and optical communication method


An integrated circuit package may include an integrated circuit die with lower and upper surfaces. The integrated circuit die is mounted on a package substrate. An underfill material is deposited between the integrated circuit die and the package substrate. A molding compound may be injected to surround the integrated circuit die while leaving the upper surface of the integrated circuit die exposed. The integrated circuit package further includes a metal layer that contacts the exposed upper surface of the integrated circuit die. The metal layer may also cover the molding compound. If desired, an additional metal layer may be formed on the layer of metal as a heat spreader. Such a configuration may also be applicable for wire bond packages, in which the metal layers are formed on an overmold that is disposed over a wire-bonded integrated circuit die on a package substrate.

In a semiconductor device assembly, an integrated circuit die (also referred to as a semiconductor chip or "die") may be mounted on a packaging substrate. The integrated circuit die generates heat when electrical current flows through the integrated circuit die. As such, passive and active thermal management devices are used to minimize potentially damaging effects of heat on the device. Such thermal management devices include heat spreading lids, heat sinks, etc. Typically, a heat conducting material is also used to facilitate heat transfer within the package. For example, a thermal interface material (TIM) may be deposited between the integrated circuit die and the heat spreading lid to enhance heat transfer from the integrated circuit die to the heat spreading lid.
However, device packages using TIM may have problems meeting heat dissipation requirements. A conventional TIM is typically made from material with low thermal conductance, such as silicone or epoxy. The thermal conductance of TIM is substantially lower than that of a good thermal conducting metal (e.g., copper), which may result in lower efficiency of heat transfer. For example, the thermal conductivity of the TIM is about 3.8 watts per meter kelvin (W/m-k) while the thermal conductivity of a good heat conductor, such as copper, is about 401 W/m-k. Generally, a low thermal conductivity indicates that a material is a poor conductor of heat, which means the TIM may impede heat transfer from the integrated circuit die.
The presence of air in TIM may also reduce the thermal conductance of the TIM. The thermal conductivity of air is typically lower than the TIM. For example, the thermal conductivity of air is about 0.025 W/m-k. Such low thermal conductance may result in low efficiency of heat transfer. The creation of air bubbles or trapping of air pockets in the TIM usually occurs during the lid attach process. For example, an incorrectly-fitted heat spreading lid over the integrated circuit die may cause trapping of air pockets in the TIM. As such, the heat transfer efficiency of the TIM may be reduced.

Integrated circuit package with plated heat spreader


An optical element formed by stacking each of two resin layers on a glass substrate, wherein when the second resin layer of the two resin layers counting from the glass substrate is formed, an external circumferential part of the second resin layer is formed so as to be located inward of the outer circumferential part of the first resin layer, which is located closer to the glass substrate than the second resin layer.

Molding processes are frequently employed in the manufacture of optical elements (for example, see Patent Document 1). For example, in the case of a molding process for a phase Fresnel lens, which is a bonded-multilayer diffractive optical element, a first resin material is packed into a gap between a disk-shaped glass substrate and a molding die positioned in proximity to the glass substrate, and a first resin layer having a diffraction grating is molded. Then, a molding die is pressed against a second resin material having a different refractive index than the first resin material, which has been dripped onto the first resin layer, and a second resin layer is molded. Consequently, a bonded-multilayer diffractive optical element be molded.


A device, system, antenna system including a reader and a plurality of antennae, antenna product, method for the addressing antennae, and method for switching the antenna in a radio frequency identification (RFID) system, wherein the method includes switching the reader in a sequential manner to each of the antennae successively according to a radio frequency communication signal from said reader, where the radio frequency communication signal is provided for the reader to communicate with a tag such that it is simple to form a network and easy to implement the network at low cost.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to radio frequency identification (RFID) and, more particularly, to a method for switching an antenna, a device for switching an antenna, a system for switching an antenna and a method for addressing antennae in an RFID system, and it further relates to an antenna and an antenna system based on this device for switching the antenna.
2. Description of the Related Art
Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology is a non-contact automatic identification technology, commonly referred to as an electronic tag, which automatically identifies a target object and obtains related data via radio-frequency signals, and the identification operation does not need manual intervention, so it is capable of operating in various harsh environments. RFID technology can identify an item moving at high speed and can identify a plurality of tags simultaneously with rapid and convenient operation.
An RFID system is a wireless system, which is used for controlling, detecting and tracking items, and where the system comprises the following elementary components:
(i). a tag, which is composed of a tag antenna and a chip and is attached to an item to be controlled, detected or tracked, in which case there are generally a plurality of tags included in an RFID system, with each tag having a unique electronic code for uniquely marking the object being controlled, detected or tracked, and the tag can also be referred to herein as a responder;(ii). a reader, which is used for reading/writing the information stored in the tag and can be hand-held or fixed, in which case there is generally one reader included in an RFID system, which reader reads the information stored in each tag (sometimes it can even write the tag information into a tag) so as to achieve the control, detection or tracking of the item to which a tag is attached, and the reader can also be referred to herein as an interrogator; and(iii). an antenna, which is disposed on the reader and is used for transmitting a radio-frequency signal between each tag and the reader so as to transmit information between the reader and the tag.
RFID technology is a breakthrough technology, and currently it is increasingly applied in fields such as logistics and supply management, production/manufacture and assembling, airport luggage processing, mail, express parcel processing, document tracking, library management, animal identification tags, sports timing, entrance guard control, electronic tickets and/or highway automatic toll etc. In retail enterprises, it is the RFID-based smart shelves deployment schemes that are closest to the practical business of the enterprises and at the same time most widely accepted by the enterprises.
In the RFID-based smart shelves, a user uses a specially designed RFID reader installed on shelves to obtain the information of the goods placed on the shelves, and performs the work in the application level such as logistics tracking, analysis of the passenger flow and the like on this basis. This deployment scheme is also close in its form to the traditional market plot and can be remolded by the current facilities on a certain basis, thereby becoming the most widely selected scheme during the initial stage of the RFID application.
The RFID-based smart shelves system is mainly suitable for the item-level applications, for example, the scenario of a library, a retail store (such as a supermarket, a DVD shop, a shoe shop, a clothes shop or a pharmacy). However, all of these scenarios need a large number of antennae to cover all the interested reading areas, but the requirement for the real-time response is not high. Therefore, the success of the RFID-based smart shelves is greatly dependent on the design scheme for switching the antennae.
Currently, there is an antenna switching scheme for the RFID-based smart shelves in the industry, which scheme is based on a centralized antennae networking structure. Here, a radio frequency (RF) switch and an RF router are introduced therein and the reader is switched to the antenna deployed on each shelf via the RF switch and RF router. However, such a centralized smart shelves deployment scheme is very difficult to network, the wiring facilities are complicated and the costs are very high.

Radio frequency shield with proximity change alert for a contactless data carrier