A mobile communication station in a wireless communication network is used to measure the respective times of arrival of radio signals respectively transmitted by a plurality of radio transmitters in the network. The mobile communication station is provided with real time difference information indicative of differences between a time base used by a radio transmitter serving the mobile communication station and respective time bases used by the other radio transmitters. The mobile communication station determines, in response to the real time difference information and relative to the time base used by the radio transmitter serving the mobile communication station, a plurality of points in time at which the respective radio signals are expected to arrive the mobile communication station. For each radio signal, the mobile communication station monitors for arrival of the radio signal during a period of time after the point in time at which the radio signal is expected to arrive.

The ability to locate the position of a mobile communication unit operating in a wireless communication system (for example, a cellular communication system) provides many well known advantages. Exemplary uses of such position location capability include security applications, emergency response applications, and travel guidance applications. Several known techniques for providing position location involve the measurement of certain characteristics of communication signals, such as the time of arrival (TOA), the round trip delay, or the angle of arrival of a communication signal. Some of these techniques can be further divided into uplink or downlink approaches In the uplink category, a base transceiver station (BTS) or other receiver performs the measurements on communication signals originating at a mobile communication unit (or mobile station). In downlink approaches, the mobile station performs the measurements on signals originating at base transceiver stations or other transmitters.
One example of a downlink technique for locating the position of a mobile station is the observed time difference (OTD) technique. This technique will now be described with respect to the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), which is exemplary of a cellular communication system in which downlink observed time difference techniques are applicable. The OTD technique is implemented, for example, by having the mobile station measure the time difference between arrival times of selected radio signals transmitted from different base transceiver stations. Assuming the geometry shown in FIG. 1, and further assuming that two signals are transmitted simultaneously from the base transceiver stations BTS1 and BTS2, and letting T1 and T2 denote the times of arrival of the respective signals at the mobile station, then the observed time difference OTD is given by the following equation:
T1xe2x88x92T2=(d1xe2x88x92d2)/c,xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(Eq. 1)
where d1 and d2 are the respective distances from BTS1 and BTS2 to the mobile station. The locations of BTS1 and BTS2 are known, and the possible locations of the mobile station are described by the hyperbola 15 shown in FIG. 1. By combining measurements from at least three base transceiver stations, a position estimate for the mobile station can be obtained.
Most conventional cellular communication systems (including GSM systems) are asynchronous, that is, each base transceiver station uses its own internal clock reference to generate its frame and time slot structure. Therefore, the frame structures of the different base transceiver stations will tend to drift in time relative to one another, because clocks are not perfectly stable. As a consequence, an OTD measurement is not really meaningful for locating the position of a mobile station unless the differences in timing between the base transceiver stations being used is known. This difference, often referred to as the real time difference or RTD, represents the actual difference in absolute time between the transmission of respective signals (e.g., respective synchronization bursts in GSM) from respective base transceiver stations, which signals would be transmitted simultaneously if the frame structures of the base transceiver stations were perfectly synchronized.
Among several possible approaches to determine the real time difference RTD between base transceiver stations, two conventional examples are: absolute time stamping in the respective base transceiver stations; and use of stationary reference mobiles located in known positions. In the latter example, the reference mobile measures downlink signals sent from various base transceiver stations. Because the respective distances between the various base transceiver stations and the stationary reference mobile station are known, the expected time difference in arrival times of the respective signals from the base transceiver stations can be easily calculated. The real time difference RTD between base transceiver stations is simply the difference between the expected time difference of arrival and the observed time difference of arrival actually observed at the reference mobile station. The reference mobile station can periodically make the downlink time of arrival measurements and report them to a mobile location node in the network so that the network can maintain an updated record of the RTDs.
The techniques underlying known OTD methods are very similar to procedures used conventionally by mobile stations to synchronize to a serving base transceiver station and make measurements on a number of neighboring base transceiver stations as instructed by the serving cell (as in mobile assisted hand-off operations). The mobile station needs to know which base transceiver stations are to be monitored for OTD measurements. This information can typically be provided in conventional system information messages broadcasted in the cell, for example on a GSM cell""s BCCH (broadcast control channels) frequency. This system information typically includes a list of frequencies of neighboring cells which are to be measured. The mobile station scans the designated frequencies to detect a frequency correction burst, which is an easily identifiable burst that appears approximately every 50 ms in GSM.
After successful detection of a frequency correction burst, the mobile station knows that in GSM the next frame will contain a synchronization burst SB. The synchronization burst SB contains the Base Station Identity Code (BSIC) and information indicative of the frame number of the current frame in which the burst SB is occurring. The mobile station measures the time of arrival of the synchronization burst SB at the mobile station relative to the timing of mobile station""s own serving cell. Since now the mobile station knows the frame structure of the neighboring base transceiver station relative to its own serving base transceiver station timing, it is possible to repeat the time of arrival measurements to improve accuracy. This procedure is repeated until all frequencies (i.e., all BTSs) on the list have been measured. The observed time difference values recorded by the mobile station are then transferred to a mobile station location node in the cellular system, which node performs the position determination based on the observed time difference values, the real time difference values and the geographic locations of the base transceiver stations.
Because the mobile station does not know when the frequency correction burst (and thus the following synchronization burst SB) will appear, the brute force method described above, namely monitoring for the frequency correction burst, must be used.
The time required to capture a synchronization burst will depend on the measurement mode. OTD measurements can be made, for example, when call setup is being performed on a GSM SDCCH (Stand-alone Dedicated Control Channel), or during idle frames when the mobile station is in call mode, or during speech interrupt. For example, if the mobile station makes the measurements in call mode, then the mobile station can only make measurements during idle frames, which conventionally occur in GSM systems every 120 ms. The probability that a particular synchronization burst will appear within the idle frame is approximately 1 in 10, because the synchronization burst conventionally occurs once every ten frames in GSM. Accordingly, on average, 5 idle frames will be needed, meaning 0.6 seconds per base transceiver station. Thus, if it is desired to measure at least 6 neighboring base transceiver stations, an average measurement time of 3 or 4 seconds will be required, which may be prohibitively long in many applications.
The mobile station is guaranteed to have measured the synchronization burst SB if the mobile station captures and stores all signals (for example, all signals on the BTS""s BCCH frequency in GSM) for 10 consecutive frames. However, providing the mobile station with the memory and computational capacity to capture (and thereafter process) all signal information in 10 consecutive frames is disadvantageously complex.
Moreover, in areas such as urban areas characterized by high interference levels, and in rural areas with large distances between base transceiver stations, the probability of detecting the synchronization burst SB may be unacceptably low, because the signals will typically be characterized by low signal-to-noise ratios.
Due also to the low signal-to-noise ratio, it is typically very difficult to decode the BSIC in the synchronization burst SB. The probability of taking ghost spikes instead of a synchronization burst SB is therefore disadvantageously increased in instances of low signal-to-noise ratio.
It is therefore desirable to improve the mobile station""s ability to detect downlink signals used in conventional downlink observed time difference approaches.
The present invention attempts to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages of conventional downlink observed time difference approaches by providing for improved sensitivity in detecting the downlink communication signals used for making observed time difference measurements at mobile stations.

Downlink observed time difference measurements


Provided are methods of aging an x-ray generator having carbon nanotube electron emitters. The method of aging an x-ray generator that includes a cathode, a gate electrode, and an anode, includes applying a desired, or alternatively predetermined anode voltage to the anode, and applying a direct current pulse voltage to the gate electrodes to emit electrons from electron emitters. The method further includes maintaining an anode current formed by electrons generated from the electron emitters constant.

1. Field
Example embodiments relate to methods of aging an x-ray generator having a carbon nanotube electron emitter.
2. Description of the Related Art
An x-ray generator generates x-rays by colliding electrons emitted from a cathode with an anode. An electron emitting source applied to an x-ray generator may be carbon nanotubes.
In an x-ray generator employed in mammography, an anode current is as high as approximately 100 mA. When a high current is irradiated on an anode, the anode may be damaged due to overheating of the anode. The anode current is a flow of the electrons emitted from the electron emitting source to the anode.
An electron emitter of a carbon nanotube x-ray generator is typically formed by printing a plurality of carbon nanotubes with a polymer and a binder on a cathode. Therefore, the heights of the carbon nanotubes may not be uniform. When the anode current of approximately 100 mA is generated by applying an electric field to the carbon nanotube x-ray generator, the electric field may be concentrated on some of the carbon nanotubes due to the non-uniformity of the height of the carbon nanotubes, and thus, the function of the electron emitter may be damaged.
Also, in order to discharge gases generated from the polymer or the binder included in the electron emitter to the outside of the carbon nanotube x-ray generator, an aging of the carbon nanotube x-ray generator is needed.

Method of aging X-ray generator having carbon nanotube electron emitter


The present invention relates to a synergistic composition useful as bioinoculant, said composition comprising bacterial strains of accession Nos. NRRL B-30486, NRRL B-30487, and NRRL-B 30488, individually or in all possible combinations, and optionally carrier, with each of the strains showing plant promotery activity, phytopathogenic fungi controlling activity, abiotic stress conditions tolerating capability, phosphate solubilization capability under abiotic stress conditions; further, a method of producing said composition thereof, and in addition, a method of isolating said bacterial strains from cow ‘Sahiwal’.

The microbial world is a microcosm whose activities are of central importance to the biosphere. Microbial products contribute to environment, plant, public, and soil health. There is a striking diversity of microorganisms in their ecological and physiological specialization. They have evolved to cope with and flourish in almost every niche, no matter how inhospitable. Microorganisms also form a range of associations with other microbes and with other plants and animals. They can be pathogens, parasites, symbionts, commensales and saprophytes, and thus, their ecological influence infiltrates into all trophic levels of life and gamut of possible ecosystems. Microbes have proved to be an exceptionally rich source of new products, and there is every indication that they will continue to be so in the future. Therefore, exploration of biodiversity for novel microbes that are of ecologically significance or are of economic value is of importance. This has prompted microbiologists to continue to search for novel useful microbes from sources that remain uncharacterized.
According to Hindu mythology as well as the Indian traditional medical practices (both the classical systems like Ayurveda and Siddha and the oral practices of the rural villagers) cow's milk has rejuvenatory health protecting and health promoting properties and hence has been said as the best one among vitalizers [Caraka-Samhita, Editor-translator P. Sharma, Chaukhambha Orientalia, Varanasi, India, volume 1, p. 213 (1981); P. Pushpangadan, Ethnobiology in India: A status report, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, New Delhi (1994); P. Pushpangadan, All India Coordinated research project on ethnobiology: Final technical report 1982–1998, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, New Delhi (1998)].
Milk may be defined as the normal secretion of the mammary gland of a mammal. Milk as it is secreted by the gland of mammals is free of microorganisms. However, microorganisms associated with the teat move up the teat canal and into the interior of the udder [J. C. Olsen and G. Mocquot. Milk and milk products. In: International commission on microbiological specifications for foods. Microbial ecology of foods. Food commodities. Vol. 2. New York: Academic Press (1980) pp. 470–486]. This causes even aseptically drawn milk to contain microorganisms, mostly bacteria. Bacteria in aseptically drawn milk are usually limited in number and include mostly micrococci, lactococci, staphylococci, streptococci, and bacillus [F. L. Bryan, Journal of Food Protection, Volume 46, pp. 637–649 (1983); R. A. Ledford. Raw milk and fluid milk products. In: Applied dairy microbiology. Eds. E. H. Marth and J. L. Steele, New York: Marcel Dekker, Inc. (1998) pp. 55–64].
It has been known for more than four decades that many of the bacteria that occur commonly in milk find it a relatively unfavorable medium and it would thus appear that milk has pronounced selective properties [T. Gibson and Y. A. Abd-El-Malek, Canadian Journal of Microbiology, Volume 3, pp. 203–213, (1957)]. Thus the bacterial flora that has invaded the teat and/or udder must have the ability to survive and multiply under these sub-optimal conditions. Therefore, work on the milk described in this application pertains to bacterial flora persisting in the teat and/or udder, which have gained entrance into the aseptically drawn milk, in our attempt to search for novel microbes, from an ecological niche that remains uncharacterized.
Improving soil fertility is one of the most common tactics to increase agricultural and forest production. We have isolated bacteria beneficial to plants from cow's milk. Inoculation of seeds or soil with beneficial microorganisms for crop improvement has been practiced for a number of years. A variety of mechanisms have been identified as being responsible for such plant growth promoting activity. For example, certain microorganisms indirectly promote plant growth by inhibiting the growth of deleterious microorganisms; or directly enhance plant growth by producing growth hormones; and/or by assisting in the uptake of nutrients by the crops, e.g., phosphorus (P) [C. S. Nautiyal et al., FEMS Microbiology Letters, Volume 182, pp. 291–296 (2000)].
However, a major factor in the unsuccessful commercialisation of bioinoculants has been the inconsistency of field test results as their establishment and performance are severely effected by environmental factors especially under stress conditions encountered in soil e.g., salt, pH, and temperature [C. S. Nautiyal et al., FEMS Microbiology Letters, Volume 182, pp. 291–296 (2000)]. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide stress tolerant bacterial strains as bioinoculants [C. S. Nautiyal, Biocontrol of plant diseases for agricultural sustainability. In: Biocontrol potential and its exploitation in sustainable agriculture. Volume 1, Eds. R. K. Upahyay, K. G. Mukerji, and B. P. Chamola, Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, New York (2000) pp. 9–23]. Plant growth promoting microorganisms include but are not limited to Rhizobium, Pseudomonas, Azospirillum, and Bacillus etc. [A. K. Saxena et. al., Bacterial biocontrol agents and their role in plant disease management. In: Biocontrol potential and its exploitation in sustainable agriculture. Volume 1, Eds. R. K. Upadhyay, K. G. Mukerji, and B. P. Chamola, Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, New York (2000) pp. 25–37].
Usefulness of B. subtilis as a source of an antagonist for plant pathogenic fungus Sclerotium rolfsii is well known [P. Broadbent et al., Australian Journal of Biological Sciences, Volume 24, pp. 975 (1971)]. Baker et al. [Phytopathology, Volume 73, 1148–1152 (1983)] also report on use of B. subtilis as a biocontrol agent of fungal plant pathogens. Pusey et al. [Plant Disease, Volume 72, pp. 622–626 (1988)] and P. L. Pusey [U.S. Pat. No. 5,047,239] disclosed control of post harvest fruit rot using B. subtilis. S. D. Heins et al. [U.S. Pat. No. 6,103,228] have disclosed methods of protecting or treating plants from fungal and bacterial infections and corn rootworm infestations using B. subtilis.
B. lentimorbus is the causative agent of milky disease in Japanese beetle and related scarab larvae [K. E. Rippere et al. International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology, Volume 48, pp. 395–402 (1998)], and therefore is used for the biocontrol of larvae of certain insects [R. E. Gordon et al., The genus Bacillus, Agriculture handbook no. 427, United States Department of Agriculture, U.S. Government printing office, Washington D.C. (1973)]. B. lentimorbus has also been used to increase the production of fish [W. T. Logan et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,155] and to treat poultry litter [W. T. Logan et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,525].
For propagating bacteria commonly used carriers for commercial inoculants are vermiculite, charcoal, caboxymethyl cellulose, peat, perlite, polyvinyl-pyrrolidone, and talc. Press mud, a "waste" product obtained during sugar manufacture, has also been used as a carrier for Azotobacter chroococcum and Rhizobium japonicum [K. S. Jauhri, Indian Journal Agriculture Research, Volume 24, pp. 189–197 (1990)]. Press mud, like any other organic material, affects the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soils. It also helps to increase water stable aggregates in soils. It can be composted with distillery spent wash and utilized as a better organic material than press mud alone [D. P. Yadav. Recycling of sugar factory press mud in agriculture. In: Recycling of crop, animal, human, and industrial wastes in agriculture. Ed. H. L. S. Tandon, Fertilizer development and consultation organization, New Delhi (1995) pp. 91–108]. Agricultural and environmental industries would therefore clearly benefit from a simple, less expensive method of making microbial inoculants for plants, seeds and soil.
While work on the microbiology of milk so far has been on psychrotrophic bacteria because of their importance in milk and dairy products [M. A. Cousin. Journal of food protection. Volume 45, pp. 172–207 (1982); R. A. Ledford. Raw milk and fluid milk products. In: Applied dairy microbiology. Eds. E. H. Martha and J. L. Steele, New York: Marcel Dekker, Inc. (1998) pp. 55–64], no bacterial strain has been previously found from the milk of cows which has the ability to control phytopathogenic fungi, promote plant growth, provide tolerance for abiotic stresses, and solubilize phosphate under abiotic stress conditions.
India is one of the few countries in world that has contributed richly to the international livestock gene pool and improvement of animal population in the world. Cattle and buffalo contribute nearly 15% of the gross national income. The country possesses 23% of the world bovine population. "Cattle" is a common term for the domesticated herbivorous mammals that contribute to genus Bos, of the family Bovidae. Modern cattle are divided into two species: B. taurus, which originated in Europe and includes most modern breeds of dairy and beef cattle, and B. indicus, which originated in India and is characterized by a hump and the withers. The latter are now widespread in Africa and Asia, with lesser numbers imported to North America (primarily in the southern U.S.), Central America, and Northern and Central America.
Dairy cattle are those breeds that have been developed primarily to produce milk. In North America the major breeds of dairy cattle are the Holstein-Friesian, Ayrashire, Brown Swiss, and Jersey. Among the major dairy breeds of B. indicus found primarily in India are the Gir, Hariana, Red Sindhi, Tharparker, and Sahiwal. By far Sahiwal is the best breed of the subcontinent. It is comparatively a heavy breed with a symmetrical body and loose skin, when compared with Red Sindhi that it closely resembles. The animals are usually long and fleshy and with a heavier build. The color is redish dun or pale red, sometimes fleshed with white patches. A number of herds of this breed are maintained in India. The milk yield ranges from 1400 to 2500 kg. The heritability of this trait is 0.2 to 0.3. The age at first calving ranges from 37 to 48 months and the calving interval is from 430 to 580 days. Sahiwal is one of the most popular breeds of the subcontinent. It has been exported to Sr. Lanka, Kenya and many countries in Latin America and the West Indies where a new breed called Jamaica Hope has been evolved out of Sahiwal and Jersey crossbreeds [P. N. Bhat, Handbook of Animal Husbandry, Directorate of Publication and Information on Agriculture, Krishi Anusandhan Bhawan, Pusa, New Delhi (1997)].
Accordingly, there has been no clear indication heretofore that any bacteria isolated from cows might act as a biocontrol agent, and certainly no showing of direct, bacterial-mediated stimulation of plant growth per se. Nevertheless, a bacterial strain capable of promoting plant growth, tolerance for abiotic stresses, and that solubilizes phosphate under abiotic stress conditions, if one were isolated, could find immediate application, e.g., in soils affected by phytopathogens, poor availability of nutrients like phosphorus, and environment stresses etc. Additionally, no procedure for the selection of such bacterial strain has been reported. We have found by direct comparison on a variety of plant types that the unique combination of selected bacterial strains of the invention is effective in the enhancement of plant growth and health.
The present invention relates to novel strains of bacteria isolated from cows which have the ability to control phytopathogenic fungi, promote plant growth, improve tolerance for abiotic stresses, solubilize phosphate under abiotic stress conditions, and a method for the selection of these strains.

Synergistic bioinoculant composition comprising bacterial strains of accession Nos. NRRL B-30486, NRRL B-30487, and NRRL B-30488 and a method of producing said composition thereof

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research


A cutting device, particularly a lawn mower, has at least one rotating knife mounted on a rotating, motor-driven knife carrier by a screwless, detachable connection. This connection is detachable by a relative rotation between the knife and the knife carrier. It is essential that the connection between the knife and its knife carrier be made by a centrally arranged bayonet lock and that this bayonet lock be locked in the closed position by an additional locking element.

The invention relates to a cutting device, in particular, a lawn mower having at least one rotating knife, which is mounted on a rotating, motor-driven knife carrier by a screwless, detachable connection, the connection being detachable by a relative rotation between the knife and the knife carrier.
In lawn mowers it is necessary to regrind the knives from time to time to ensure a smooth, clean cut of the grass. When the knives are mounted, this regrinding is only possible temporarily. Usually, the knives are removed and clamped in a special grinding device to maintain the correct cutting angle over the length of the knife.
After a longer period of use, conventional screw connections for the knife are clogged with cut material and soil, so that it becomes more difficult to detach the knife. Thus, a screwless knife carrier is already known from German patent DE 195 20 618, having the features described at the outset, in which the knives can be exchanged without the use of tools.
This known knife holder comprises a motor-driven disk, which supports two downwardly protruding pins, a knife being placed on each of their projecting ends, so that each knife is swivel-mounted on its respective pin. Below the knives a rotatable plate is located, which has grooves each extending in a peripheral direction in the area of the pins, so that the plate can be turned relative to the disk with the pins and the knives. The plate thereby accommodates the ends of the pins in their respective grooves and supports the knives from the bottom in a screwed-in position. To secure the plate in its screwed in position holding the knives, each groove terminates in a recess in which the associated pin engages. This locking connection hinders the plate from turning back. However, it cannot preclude this turning back when the plate is loaded by random outer influences in a direction of release.
Moreover, the rotatable plate requires a support from the bottom. This support is provided by a cap arranged underneath. This cap covers the rotatable plate and, as a result, makes accessibility of the plate more difficult when the knives are to be removed.

Cutting device, particularly a lawn mower


A method of producing a polymer packing material for liquid chromatography includes the steps of swelling seed polymer particles to form swelled particles, polymerizing monomers in the swelled particles under existence of diluent, and removing the diluent to form porous polymer particles, wherein the step of polymerizing the monomers is conducted under existence of a compound having a conjugated double bond not reactive with the monomers and having a molecular weight of 100-500. Alternatively, the polymerization process may be conducted by an oxidation reduction polymerization process. Further, the porous polymer particles obtained after removal of the diluent may be subjected to a heat treatment process at a temperature of 100.degree. C. or higher.

The present invention generally relates to liquid chromatography and more particularly to a polymer packing material for liquid chromatography and a producing method thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to a producing method of a polymer packing material according to a two-step or multiple step polymerization process, as well as to a polymer packing material produced according to such a process.
The packing material for high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is generally classified into an inorganic packing material that uses an inorganic carrier and a polymer packing material that uses an organic polymer.
In actual use, inorganic packing materials based on silica gel are used most frequently. In a reversed phase liquid chromatography, which occupies more than 60% of the separation mode of HPLC, an alkylsiliation silica gel is used primarily, in which the surface of the silica gel carrier is chemically modified.
While such conventional inorganic packing materials show an excellent separation performance and mechanical strength, there has been a drawback in the conventional packing material such as low chemical stability or appearance of undesirable secondary retention effect caused by a silanol group remaining on the silica gel surface or by a metallic impurity contained in the silica gel base.
On the other hand, the polymer packing materials have an advantageous feature of chemical stability and have been used for a packing material of size exclusion chromatography or ion exchange chromatography similarly to a silica gel packing material.
The polymer packing materials are used also in a reversed phase liquid chromatography, particularly under a separation condition in which the use of silica gel packing material is not possible. The understanding on the separation characteristic of such organic polymer packing material is increasing, and there are reports claiming that a separation characteristic superior to the separation characteristic of a silica gel packing material is obtained.
A polymer packing material is generally classified into those prepared from a natural polymer by a cross-linking process, and those synthesized by a polymerization process of a vinyl polymer.
The representative example of the former includes a packing material derived from a polysaccharide derivative such as agarose, dextran or mannan. These materials, however, generally suffers from the problem of low withstand pressure and may not be used for the packing material of HPLC.
On the other hand, the synthetic polymer packing material includes materials such as a polystyrene-divinylbenzen gel, a derivative thereof, a poly(meta)acrylate gel and a polyacrylamide gel. Among others, the polyalkylmetacrylate gel or the polystyrene-divinylbenzene gel is chemically stable and used for the packing material in the reversed phase liquid chromatography. It should be noted that these gels are stable over a wide pH range as compared with the silica gel packing material.
Such a synthetic organic polymer packing material is generally synthesized by mixing monomers together with a diluent and a cross-linking agent to cause a polymerization such that a porous structure is formed.
Thereby, fine pores are formed when a good solvent is used for the polymer to be synthesized, while large pores tend to be formed when a poor solvent is used. In other words, the pore diameter is controlled by choosing the combination of the diluent and the monomers. By using such a procedure, spherical porous polymer particles are synthesized as the polymer packing material.
On the other hand, it is known also that there are problems in such synthetic polymer packing materials. One of the problems is related to the structure of the packing material, particularly with regard to the fine pores. The other problem is related to the size distribution of the porous polymer particles forming the packing material.
More specifically, a polymer packing material generally has a double pore structure called micropore, which arises in relation to the cross-linking structure of the polymer, wherein such a micropore generally has a diameter of smaller than 2 nm.
Because of the existence of the micropores in the porous polymer particles, the extent a solute molecule can penetrate by osmosis becomes larger for small solute molecules than for a polymer solute.
Accordingly, such a polymer packing material shows a separation characteristic substantially different from that of the silica gel packing material when used for separation of a specimen in a chromatograph column. As the effect of such micropores on the resolution is not fully understood, and in view of the fact that a complete control of the micropores is difficult, the use of the polymer packing material has frequently led to a deterioration of resolution of chromatography.
When the micropores could be eliminated, the separation characteristic of a polymer packing material would be improved substantially. By eliminating the micropores, it is expected that the separation characteristic of the polymer packing material is controlled as desired. Further, the type of the specimens to which the polymer packing material is applicable is expected to increase. Further, the resolution of chromatography is expected to increase.
About the problem related to the particle size distribution of the polymer packing material, the problem arises mainly as a result of the process employed for producing the polymer packing material.
As noted previously, the polymer packing materials are produced by a suspension polymerization process. However, the polymer packing materials obtained according to such a conventional process generally have a wide spectrum of particle size, and the desired column performance is not obtained when the as-formed polymer particles are filled directly in a chromatograph column as the polymer packing material.
In order to obtain a desired column performance, it has been practiced to subject the obtained polymer particles to a classification process so as to select those polymer particles having a diameter falling in a desired range.
However, such a classification process requires a specially built facility and the cost of the packing material is increased inevitably. In addition, the classification process uses only a part of the obtained polymer particles, while the rest of the polymer particles are discarded. Thus, the yield of the polymer packing material decreases, and this also contributes to the increase of the cost of the polymer packing material.
In order to eliminate the problem of the size distribution of the polymer packing material, there is proposed a so-called two-stage polymerization process for producing the polymer packing material.
FIG. 1 shows the process of producing a polymer packing material according to such a two-stage polymerization process.
Referring to FIG. 1, seed particles 101 having a uniform particle diameter of about 1 .mu.m are swelled by consecutively applying thereto a swelling agent in a first step (1) and a monomer in a second step (2), and the monomers in the swelled particles thus obtained are subjected to a polymerization process under heat in a third step (3) to form polymer particles 102 having a uniform diameter.
According to such a two-stage process, the uniformity of the particle diameter is maintained during the swelling process of the steps (1) and (2). Further, the polymer particles 102 are synthesized as highly polymerized particles. By using a diluent in the step (2) together with the monomers not reacting with the diluent and by removing the diluent in the polymerization process, the polymer particles 102 are formed to have a porous structure after the polymerization process.
It should be noted that the foregoing two-stage process can be carried out by a facility used conventionally for a suspension polymerization process, except for the swelling process. Thus, the desired mono dispersion particle distribution is obtained easily and with low cost for the polymer packing material.
It should be noted that the polymer particles forming the polymer packing material show a mono dispersion in the particle distribution in conformity to the particle distribution of the seed particles 101, and the classification process can be eliminated entirely. Further, the polymer packing material thus obtained show an excellent separation performance when used in a chromatograph column. In addition, the pressure loss of the polymer packing material is small and the polymer packing material can be filled stably in the chromatograph column. In addition, the separation using such a polymer packing material can be achieved at high speed.
However, such polymer packing material, although produced according to such a two-stage process, still suffers from the problem of micropores similarly to the conventional polymer packing material produced by the suspension polymerization process.
Thus, the problem of the micropores remains unsolved and hence the removal of the micropores remains as an important target of research of polymer packing material.

Polymer packing material for liquid chromatography and a producing method thereof


A first wrist element is provided at a distal end of a front arm of an arc welding robot rotatably about a first axial line, a second wrist element is provided on the first wrist element rotatably about a second axial line, and a welding torch is supported on the second wrist element about a third axial line. A slide mechanism which can reciprocate in a direction approximately parallel to the first axial line is provided at a proper position from an upper portion of the front arm to an upper portion of the first wrist element and a wire feeding apparatus is mounted on the slide mechanism. By sliding the position of the wire feeding apparatus in response to the attitude of the welding torch, an extending state of the torch cable can be maintained properly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a torch cable accommodating structure in an industrial robot mounted with a torch for arc welding.
2. Description of the Related Art
As one of typical applications of a robot, there is an arc welding robot. The arc welding robot is an industrial robot which has a torch for arc welding (hereinafter, referred to as "a welding torch" simply) mounted in the vicinity of a distal end of an arm thereof for performing an arc welding on a workpiece.
In an actual working site using an arc welding robot, there may by a case where a welding workpiece must be conducted in a state where an arm of the arc welding robot has been inserted in a narrow space such as a space in a workpiece, a space in a jig or a space in a peripheral device. In such a case, a problem of interference tends to occur in association with movement of the arc welding robot. In particularly, a torch cable connected to a welding torch has a high possibility that it interferes with a workpiece, a jig or a peripheral device in the vicinity of the torch cable, as compared with the distal end portion of a robot arm or the welding torch moving in a relatively narrow range. One of the reasons is that the torch cable is loosely taken about a robot mechanical section in order to secure a feeding stability of the welding wire and an area where the welding cable interferes with the periphery thereof becomes broad correspondingly.
Further, in case where a program for arc welding is prepared in an off-line manner, movement of the arm or the welding torch, an action of a wire feeding apparatus or the like can be simulated but it is difficult to simulate movement of the torch cable between the welding torch and the wire feeding apparatus. This fact is due to such circumstances that a behavior of the torch cable varies largely according to the attitude of axis of a wrist of the robot, the behavior may change with time because of its flexibility and the like. Accordingly, in a stage where the program for arc welding is prepared in off-line, it is not easy to accurately estimate an interference possibility between the torch cable and peripheral objects in advance.
Under these circumstances, there have been several proposals regarding the problem about interference of a torch cable. For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 09-216189, there is a description about a constitution that a welding torch is provided rotatably about a parallel axis offset from a robot final rotating axis by a predetermined amount and the degree of rotational freedom of the welding torch is increased. Further, in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 05-28563, there has been proposed such a structure as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.
As illustrated in FIG. 1A showing a front view of an entire structure, a torch is attached to the distal end of a robot wrist and a wire feeding apparatus which feeds a welding wire to the welding torch via a torch cable is mounted to a supporting base for a robot arm. The wire feeding apparatus can advance and retraction-adjustable (or, is slidable) along the welding wire via a shift unit which is position-controlled by a control section of the robot arm.
In the art described in the above-described Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 09-216189, however, when an attitude of an axis of the robot wrist is changed, as shown by a dotted line in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, there is a problem that the behavior of the torch cable changes largely to interfere with the periphery thereof. Further, in the art described in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 05-28563, since a torch cable projects relative to a front arm, there is a high possibility that the cable interferes with the periphery. That is, when the attitude of the welding torch is changed, the welding torch is pivoted relative to the front arm. Therefore, in a case in which the attitude of the welding torch is changed during welding of a workpiece, there may occur a problem of obstructing a welding workpiece such that the torch cable is excessively pulled and twists about the front arm, or the torch cable excessively loosens and its curvature changes largely, which causes inadequate feeding of the welding wire.
Further, when the attitude of the welding torch is changed, there is a problem that the behavior of the torch cable changes largely so that the torch cable interferes with a workpiece, a jig and a peripheral device.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Torch cable accommodating structure of arc welding robot


A circuit board comprises one or more rigid sections, one or more flexible sections, and one or more transition areas where the circuit board transitions from the rigid section to the flexible section. One or more mechanically restrictive components are applied at a transition area to prevent failure and/or breakage of the circuit as it is bent and flexed. The mechanically restrictive components can be dispersed throughout the circuit as a coverlay, an underlay, and symmetrically positioned within the circuit board as an overlay and an underlay.

Electronic devices are increasingly being developed so as to be worn by a user, such as in wearable electronics. As these wearable electronics gain traction in the workplace, a new breed of devices that are able to bend, flex and stretch must be developed. These mechanical requirements present reliability challenges on mechanical components, circuit boards and other interconnects, as well as electronic components. For dynamic applications, especially where the desired amount of stretch or strain is unknown, it is important to strengthen the printed circuit board so that it is able to bend and twist without failing. Particularly, twisting and bending of a flexible circuit board can create points of failure between rigid and flexible sections. In order to limit the stress and strain to the components while still maintaining flexibility, the circuit may be strengthened through mechanical and/or other means so that it is still able to stretch and move, but not fail.


Coax to microstrip orthogonal launchers that use a compressible fuzz button center conductor as a solderless interconnect. The launcher comprises a coaxial connector having a center conductor that contacts a compressible fuzz button interconnect. In certain embodiments, the fuzz button interconnect directly contacts one end of a microstrip line. In another embodiment, the microstrip line is formed on a curved microstrip circuit board, and the fuzz button interconnect contacts a pin that has a thin metal tab that is adhesively secured to the one end of the microstrip line. In all embodiments, a second coaxial connector has a center conductor that contacts the opposite end of the microstrip conductor line. The present invention eliminates need for precise soldering by using the fuzz button interconnect to create a solderless compression contact between the coaxial connector and the microstrip line. The present invention provides a simple way to vertically launch an RF signal onto microstrip transmission line from a coaxial cable and operates at frequencies up to 18 GHz.

The present invention relates generally to coax to microstrip orthogonal launchers, and more particularly, to coax to microstrip orthogonal launchers that use a compressible fuzz button center conductor as a solderless interconnection.
Current active array microstrip corporate feeds require precise soldering of wires onto a microstrip line through a machined hole or trough. For large arrays, the large number of vertical interconnects requiring this precise soldering in the feed requires a large amount of hands-on physical labor. Therefore, it would be an advance in the art to eliminate the requirement for precise soldering and thus lessen the amount of physical labor required to manufacture the array corporate feed.
Also a current state of the art vertical coax to microstrip launcher used by the assignee of the present invention operates up to a frequency of about 12 GHz. It would be an advance in the art to have a vertical coax to microstrip launcher that operates at a higher frequency.
Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide for coax to microstrip orthogonal launchers that use a compressible fuzz button center conductor as a solderless interconnection. It is a further objective of the present invention to provide for coax to microstrip orthogonal launchers that operate at a frequency substantially higher than conventional orthogonal launchers.

Microstrip to coax vertical launcher using fuzz button and solderless interconnects


The pliable bait minnow (1) having a head (4), body (6), and a tail (3). Twin lower fins (2) attached to the belly of the pliable bait minnow (1) and an upper dorcel fin (11) attached along the upper back. The body (6) is translucent with light reflective particles (5) dispersed throughout the pliable bait minnow (1). The fish is life-like in that it incorporates a two tone effect. The lower portion of the body (6) having a lighter coloration (7). The middle portion of the body (6) having a textured surface area resembling scales (8). The mouth (9) includes a wire coil (41) which attaches the pliable bait minnow (1) to the hook (10).

For many years recreational fishermen have used fish hooks with bait as the primary means of catching fish from oceans, lakes, rivers, and streams. While there are many varieties of fish hooks, there are a few common features. Fish hooks will always have some means of attachment to a line (usually the eye of the hook on a shank) and will have an opposite end which "hooks" around substantially in a semi-circle. The free end of the hooked semi-circle will typically be sharply pointed, and the point will be adapted with a barb. The point and barb permits the flesh of a fish to pass easily over the hook but then become snagged on the barb so that the fish will be trapped on the hook.
Fish lures or bait have always been considered as a critical element in the art of fishing. Fishing lures have been introduced in many sizes and shapes. Worms, frogs, shrimp, small fish, and an assortment of various insects are the most popular forms of bait. The bait or lure has been modified to become more life-like and perform more natural movements in the water by adding spinners, lips and flaps. The result has been that the lure has produced a mechanical or repetitive swimming action as it is pulled through the water. The problem associated with this approach is that live organisms have a random action or motion. In addition, having a life-like bait would not induce the fish to bite if it were not hungry.
Research has proven that biting fish actually cause an action similar to inhaling. In most instances fish bite the front or the head of the fish. The fish approaches the unsuspecting fish flaring its gills sucking in water, fish, and line. Most lures or bait are designed to be reeled through the water thereby, requiring a taunt line. Therefore, when the fish attempts to create the inhaling action and sucks the lure or bait into its mouth. The taunt line pulls it out. Necessitating conventional lures to incorporate additional hooks on the body of the lure. Placement of these hooks are either at the rear or belly area of the lure. More particularly these lures or bait have a specific gravity which is either more or less than that of water causing the bait to have a tendency to float on top of the water or sink to the bottom. Thus, requiring that the line be weighted or the addition of floaters.
In an attempt to create a more natural swim effect, the fishermen must reel the weighted lure through the water. The fishing lures have been designed with appendages swivels flaps, and spinning blades in order to create a movement that appears life-like. All of the above inhibit the natural, motion, and effect and does not create natural movement. As a result of these attempts to create a more natural movement in the water, fishing lures have had to take on a more cartoonish appearance. Because of this appearance fish often ignore the conventional lures and move on.
Fish hooks are also adapted for the use of bait. The bait must be secured to the hook during the casting of the line and hook and remain on upon impact with the water. The bait should also be positioned in such a manner as to remain near enough to the hook point and barb so that a fish biting the bait will also take the hook point and barb.
One popular feature of fish hooks is the incorporation of an apparatus to protect the may be within waters to be fished. A popular form of such weed protection comprises an elongated "U" shaped formation of wire. Such extends from a point near the eye of the hook with the "U" end adapted to cover the point of hook and hold its place until pushed off the hook point when depressed. The resistance of the spring wire weed guard should be minimal so that a fish attempting to "take the bait" will encounter no resistance when its mouth attempts to close over the hook. This particular form of weedless hook tends to work properly only if it retains its original shape. In addition, it requires an apparatus which substantially complicates the manufacture and increase the cost of the hook.
The weed guard must be precisely and carefully positioned on both the shank and the hook so that it fits properly. The material for the guard apparatus must also be durable and non-corrosive because the hook and its weed guard will only be of value as long as all parts of the hook are operating.
A recent example of one of these more elaborate weed guards is U.S. Pat. No. 5,274,946, issued to Fusco apparatus incorporates a carefully positioned and rigidly attached weed guard base near the eye of the hook, together with a hook-positioning apparatus (which in the case of Fusco includes a separate spring wire attachment). It can be seen that the area between the point of the hook and the eye of the hook is protected by the weed guard apparatus so that loose impediments passing by the hook or through which the hook is passing will be discouraged from making contact with the point or barb of the hook.
A more simple invention is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 3,605,318, issued to Santo, et al on Sep. 20, 1971. In the Santo hook a weed-guarding band can be placed within the barb of a hook, passed through the closed eye of the hook, and then connected to another barb along the shank of the hook. Accordingly, Santo appears very much like other fish hooks except that additional barbs must be placed along the shank of the hook. Such barbs do overly complicate the manufacture of the fish hook. In addition, Santo et al. has to double loop the band through the eye of the hook. Thus, making it a difficult task to pass a line through the eye of the hook. Requiring either an enormous eye on the hook or the use of a tool.
Additionally, the extra barb itself to some extent defeats the purpose of affording the weedless protection since it offers the opportunity for a snag. More importantly, the prior art hook and weed-guard arrangements have been prone to dislodging or slippage, because the shape of the hook and point of the barb create an opportunity for the weedguard to be hit by underwater objects. The placement of the weedguard at the front of the hook is in direct line with the direction the bait is being pulled. Another aspect is that every time the weedguard is disengaged while fishing you loose the weedguard, which adds significant costs to the fisherman. Finally, the act of passing the band through the small eye of the hook is a very difficult maneuver, requiring tools and significant manual dexterity. It is another of the minute tasks which prolong the period required to get ready at the expense of fishing time.
What is needed but not provided in the prior art is a fish hook with a removable banded weed guard protection which is simple to manufacture, safe, and yet effective. A banded weed guard that is retained when a fish is caught and has a normal sized eye. Additionally, what is needed is a bait or fish lure having a life-like appearance, random body movements and random directional action. A fish lure that has the ability to induce fish to bite even though they are not hungry. Finally, it would be to the advantage to the fisherman to have a bait to hook arrangement which increases the bite to hook ratio.

Pliable fishing lure and planar weedless fish hook


An implement for use in applying strip material such as wallpaper borders to vertical walls comprises a holder which carries an upright spindle over which a roll of the strip material is received. The holder includes a reservoir to receive liquid which may drip from the roll of strip material, the roll being held clear of the liquid in the reservoir by a support on the spindle.

A. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a new or improved implement useful for applying strip material horizontally to vertical walls, and particularly designed to aid the application of wallpaper frieze or border strips to the walls of rooms e.g. in homes, offices, hotels and the like.
B. Description of Prior Art
Hitherto, wallpaper borders or friezes to be applied horizontally on room walls were handled manually, albeit with some inconvenience. In the past such borders were usually fairly narrow, e.g. up to two inches in width, but in recent times wider borders of six to eight inches in width have become popular, and these are much more difficult and inconvenient to work with.


A touch sensitive switching apparatus for controlling the operation of an electrical load is disclosed. The apparatus includes a programmable controller and a touch sensor assembly. The controller is connected to the electrical load and is programmable to provide a repeatable sequence to operate the load wherein each step of the sequence is initiated by touching two contact surfaces of the touch sensor assembly. The controller can also be configured to duplicate a momentary switch wherein the load is energized as long as the contact surfaces of the touch sensor assembly are connected. The touch sensor assembly can be mounted in a wall panel. The assembly includes a conductive housing with a conductive rod positioned therein. A first fastener secures the rod within the housing, while a second fastener secures the assembly to the wall panel.

This invention relates to an electronic switching device. More particularly, the present invention provides a touch sensitive switching apparatus comprising a touch sensor assembly connected to a controller to provide programmed control of an electrical load.
Common electrical switches operate by bringing two conductors into physical contact to complete a circuit through which current can flow. However, due to this mechanical operation, the common electrical switch is subject to wear and eventual failure. Wear can originate from the repeated movement of engaging parts, for example, contact wear when one contact strikes the other contact. Wear also can be associated with the accumulation of dust or dirt present within the switch housing. Failure also can originate from physical abuse such as from vandalism.
To obviate the difficulties encountered with mechanical switches, touch sensitive switches, utilizing resistance bridging have been developed. The resistance bridging type of touch sensitive switch includes at least two electrodes. When a person touches the two electrodes, skin resistance across the electrodes is sensed by associated circuitry, which produces an output signal to energize the desired electrical load.


In an arrangement for controlling an internal combustion engine, comprising an electronic engine control unit, an injector with an injection needle for controlling the injecting of fuel into a combustion chamber of the engine and a connecting line extending between the electronic engine control unit and the injector for the transmission if signals therebetween, an intelligent electronic component is integrated into the injector including an electronic memory unit, a computation unit, an energy storage device forming an energy supply for the electronic component and also a measuring unit for opto-electronically detecting the movement of the fuel injector needle.

The invention resides in an arrangement for controlling an internal combustion engine with an electronic engine control unit, an injector for injecting fuel into the combustion chambers of the internal combustion engine, communication lines for the transmission of signals between the electronic engine control unit and the injectors and an intelligent electronic component which forms a construction unit with each injector.
In an internal combustion engine, the fuel injection begin and the fuel injection end are important for the quality of the combustion and the composition of the exhaust gas of the engine. In order to maintain the legal emission limits, these two characteristic values are generally controlled by an electronic engine control unit. In practice, an internal combustion engine with common rail fuel injection faces the problem that there is a time delay between the start of the energization of the injector, the needle lift of the injector and the actual injection begin. The same applies for the injection end.
For avoiding this problem, the particular properties of an injector may be recorded in a storage device which is arranged at the injector. During the operation, these parameters are then read by the electronic control unit into the control unit and the desired control values are adapted to the particular injector. WO 97/23717A shows such a system.
The system can be further improved by detecting the injection needle position inductively by changing the PWM (Pulse Width Modulator) signal via a displacement gauge or an opto-electronic procedure. An opto-electronic solution is known from JP 58 206872. It includes a light sender, a light conductor and a receiver with a comparator. By way of the comparator, a change in the light intensity is evaluated. In this solution, the sender, the receiver and the comparator are arranged outside the injector. In addition to the additional expenditures for the cables, the penetrations of the light conductors through the injector housing are critical. Particularly in the high pressure area of the injector a faulty penetration may cause leakages and result in failure of the injector.
DE 102 29 414 A1 discloses an injector with an integrated optical needle stroke sensing arrangement. The stroke is determined by way of an optical sender-receiver unit, which detects and counts the number of light-dark changes. The accuracy of this arrangement is established via the number of the light-dark fields.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a reliable injector with an improved opto-electric position determination for the injector needle.

Arrangement for controlling an internal combustion engine


A capacitive proximity sensor circuit capable of distinguishing between instances of detected user proximity includes one or more guard electrodes, a first sensor, and a second sensor. The capacitive proximity sensor is installed in a device such that a first sensor faces a first component of the device, and the second sensor faces a second component of the device. The first and second sensors measure a capacitance to detect proximity of a user relative to the respective sensor. The guard electrode is provided to mitigate stray capacitance to reduce error in the capacitance measurements obtained by the first and second sensors.

In various technological applications, it is oftentimes advantageous to sense the proximity of an object relative to a device. For example, in mobile phone applications, it may be advantageous to detect the proximity of a user's head to the phone's display, such as when the user is participating in a phone call, so that the display panel may be disabled and battery consumption thereby reduced.
One such solution for sensing the proximity of objects involves the use of an optical sensor. However, optical sensors tend to be cost-prohibitive and may be difficult to incorporate in various devices. Another solution for sensing proximity of an object involves the use of a capacitive sensor. However, conventional capacitive proximity-sensing technology is unsophisticated as it is unable to distinguish between an object held above the sensor (e.g., a user's head) and an object in contact with components of the device. For example, in mobile phone applications, a user touching the casing of the mobile phone, even at a distance from the sensor, causes the conventional capacitive proximity-sensing circuitry to incorrectly register proximity detection of an object. As such, conventional capacitive proximity-sensing technology has not been satisfactory for all conditions of use.

Capacitive proximity sensor with enabled touch detection


A non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes a sense amplifier, first and second bit lines that are connected to the sense amplifier, a first memory cell column that is connected to the first bit line, the first memory cell column being formed by a plurality of MONOS type transistors, a first constant current source that is connected to the second bit line, the first constant current source generating a reference current for the first memory cell column, and a first switch that is provided between the first constant current source and the second bit line, the first switch being formed by a MONOS type transistor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a non-volatile semiconductor memory device.
2. Description of Related Art
In a sense amplifier of a flash memory which is a non-volatile semiconductor memory device, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-114154, for example, current from a target memory cell and current from a reference cell (reference current) are read out through the differential amplification. In this flash memory, a transistor having the same structure as the memory cell is used as a reference cell in order to reduce the influence of power supply voltage fluctuation.
However, according to such a structure, it is needed to set the condition to perform reading/writing from/to each reference cell and to generate reference current. This condition setting process requires a larger amount of time and cost.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 60-167197 discloses the structure of constantly applying certain voltage to a gate of a MOS transistor which is a reference cell. According to such a structure, there is no need to perform the condition setting stated above. Instead, a switch or a reference cell selection transistor is required to switch a sense amplifier and a reference cell to a conduction state at a predetermined timing.
By the way, in the flash memory, a latch type sense amplifier has been used in various situations in accordance with increased speed of the reading operation, low power consumption, and low voltage operation. The reading operation is performed as follows when such a sense amplifier is applied to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 60-167197.
First, two sense terminals of the sense amplifier are precharged. Next, a read target memory cell and a reference cell selection transistor are activated and sampled at the same time. One sense terminal of the sense amplifier is made conductive to the read target memory cell, and the other sense terminal is made conductive to the reference cell. Hence, charge precharged in each sense terminal is discharged, and a potential difference is generated between both sense terminals. Then, the sense amplifier is activated, which amplifies the potential difference between the both sense terminals.

Non-volatile semiconductor memory device with a sense amplifier reference circuit having a MONOS transfer transistor


A humidity meter includes a humidity-frequency converter (2) which is essentially a pulse oscillator, the oscillation frequency of which depends upon the impedance of a humidity sensor (1), a differentiation circuit (3) and a wave-form shaping circuit (4) which essentially operate as a pulse width modulator for adjusting pulse width of an output pulse of the converter (2) for assuring a linear relationship between humidity and the output signal, and an integrator (6) for integrating the output of the pulse width modulator to provide an output signal as a DC level. A feedback path (5) is provided to apply the output signal to the pulse width modulator for assuring a linear output irrespective of the exponential characteristics of the humidity sensor. Said differentiation circuit (3) has a capacitor (31), a first variable impedance element (32) which is controlled by said feedback path , and a second variable impedance element (33) coupled in series with the first variable impedance element (32).

The present invention relates to a humidity meter or a hygrometer which provides DC potential proportional to the measured relative humidity, in particular, relates to such a meter which improves linear relationship between humidity and output DC potential.
The present humidity meter is applicable to various kinds of electronics apparatuses, including a copying machine, a printer et al, and/or other field of application for visually indicating humidity.
Conventionally, a humidity sensor which provides electrical outputs relating to humidity has been known. One of them is an impedance change type humidity sensor, including a ceramics type humidity sensor or a polymer type humidity sensor. It is supposed that a water molecule couples with porous ceramics or porous polymer, which is ionized and provides electrical conductivity.
Although the impedance of a conventional humidity sensor relates to relative humidity, the relation between the impedance and the humidity is exponential. When the humidity is low, the impedance is high, and when the humidity is high, the impedance is very low. A prior electronic circuit is not sufficient for following the wide range of change of the impedance of the humidity sensor.
A prior humidity meter has a humidity-frequency converter which includes an impedance change type humidity sensor, and oscillates frequency relating to the impedance of said sensor. An output pulse of the humidity-frequency converter is applied to a frequency-voltage converter which comprises a differentiation circuit, a wave-form shaping circuit and an integrator, so that DC voltage relating to humidity is obtained at the output of the integrator.
However, said prior humidity meter has the disadvantages that it is impossible to provide linear output of humidity as the change of impedance for humidity is exponential, and the proper design of the differentiation circuit both for high humidity and low humidity is impossible.
One solution for solving the above disadvantages is shown in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,065,625. The important idea in the solution is to vary the time constant of said differentiation circuit through feed-back of the output of said integrator to said differentiation circuit.
However, we found that said prior art disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,065,625 has still disadvantages in;
a) The linearity of an output voltage is still insufficient, since a transistor which composes a differentiation circuit is insufficient for compensating exponential relations of a humidity sensor. In particular, a transistor can not provide high impedance between a collector and an emitter because of the presence of so-called I.sub.CBO when collector current is less.
b) An output voltage of humidity depends upon temperature, because a transistor which composes a differentiation circuit has some leak current (I.sub.CBO) which depends upon temperature.


The invention provides a human NADH dehydrogenase subunit (HND-1) and polynucleotides which identify and encode HND-1. The invention also provides expression vectors, host cells, antibodies, agonists, and antagonists. The invention also provides methods for treating or preventing disorders associated with expression of HND-1.

Electron transport is a general cellular process in which electrons generated from the oxidation of molecules such as NADH and FADH.sub.2 are transferred, through the action of various enzymes, to a series of electron carriers. These electron carriers may act as electron donors for various reductive reactions in the cell or may transport their electrons to other electron carriers along an electron transport chain. The change in oxidation potential as electrons are passed along such a chain generates energy which may be used by the cell.
The mitochondrial electron transport (or respiratory) chain is comprised of a series of enzyme complexes in the mitochondrial membrane. This transportation chain is responsible for the transfer of electrons from NADH through a series of redox centers (electron carriers) within these complexes to oxygen, as well as for the coupling of this oxidation to the synthesis of ATP (oxidative phosphorylation). ATP provides the primary source of energy for driving a cell's many energy-requiring reactions. The key enzyme complexes in the respiratory chain are NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase (NADH-D), succinate:ubiquinone oxidoreductase, cytochrome c.sub.1 -b oxidoreductase, cytochrome c oxidase (COX), and ATP synthase. These complexes are located on the inner matrix side of the mitochondrial membrane with the exception of succinate:ubiquinone oxidoreductase, which is located on the cytosolic side. NADH-D initiates the first step in the respiratory chain by accepting electrons from NADH and passing them through a flavin molecule and several iron-sulfur centers to ubiquinone. Succinate:ubiquinone oxidoreductase also transports electrons generated by oxidation of succinate to fumarate in the citric acid cycle through electron carriers (FAD and iron-sulfur centers) to the membrane bound ubiquinone. Cytochrome c.sub.1 -b oxidoreductase accepts electrons from ubiquinone and passes them on to cytochrome c. COX accepts electrons from cytochrome c and catalyzes the last, and most important, transfer of electrons to oxygen. Energy released in the course of each of these electron transfers is harnessed by ATP synthase to form ATP (oxidative phosphorylation).
NADH-D, the largest of these complexes with an estimated mass of 800 kDa, contains approximately 40 polypeptide subunits of widely varying size and composition. NADH-D is highly conserved in a variety of mammalian species including rat, rabbit, cow, and human (Cleeter, M. W. J. and Ragan, C. I. (1985) Biochem. J. 230: 739-46). The best characterized NADH-D is from bovine heart mitochondria and is composed of 41 polypeptides (Walker, J. E. et al. (1992) J. Mol. Biol. 226: 1051-72). Seven of these polypeptides are encoded by mitochondrial DNA, while the remaining 34 are nuclear gene products that are imported into the mitochondria. Six of these imported polypeptides are characterized by N-terminal signal peptide sequences which target these polypeptides to the mitochondria and are then cleaved from the mature proteins. A second group of polypeptides lack N-terminal targeting sequences and appear to contain import signals which lie within the mature protein (Walker et al., supra). The measured molecular masses of several of the smaller polypeptides, B8, B13, B14, B15, and B22, are consistent with post-translational removal of the terminal methionine residue and N-acetylation of the adjacent amino acid.
The functions of many of the individual subunits in NADH-D are largely unknown. The 24-, 51-, and 75-kDa subunits have been identified as being catalytically important in electron transport, with the 51-kDa subunit forming part of the NADH binding site and containing the flavin moiety that is the initial electron acceptor (Ali, S. T. et al. (1993) Genomics 18:435-39). The location of other functionally important groups, such as the electron-carrying iron-sulfate centers, remains to be determined. Many of the smaller subunits (<30 kDa) contain hydrophobic sequences that may be folded into membrane spanning .alpha.-helices. These subunits presumably are anchored into the inner membrane of the mitochondria and interact via more hydrophilic parts of their sequence with globular proteins in the large extrinsic domain of NADH-D. The remaining proteins are likely to be globular and form part of a domain outside the lipid bilayer.
The PDSW subunit of bovine mitochondrial NADH-D is one of these smaller subunits (22 kDa) that is mostly hydrophilic in nature and contains no apparent hydrophobic anchor. It is nuclear encoded but does not contain an N-terminal signal sequence nor a modified N-terminal residue. The function of the PDSW subunit is unknown, but it is probably one of the globular subunits located outside of the lipid bilayer (Walker et al., supra) Defects and altered expression of NADH-D are associated with a variety of human diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases, myopathies, and cancer (Singer, T. P. et al. (1995) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1271:211-19; Selvanayagam, P. and Rajaraman, S. (1996) Lab. Invest. 74:592-99). In addition, NADH-D reduction of the quinone moiety in chemotherapeutic agents such as doxorubicin is believed to contribute to the antitumor activity and/or mutagenicity of these drugs (Akman, S. A. et al. (1992) Biochemistry 31:3500-6).
The discovery of a new NADH dehydrogenase subunit and the polynucleotides encoding it satisfies a need in the art by providing new compositions which are useful in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer, immune disorders, and myopathies.


An inkjet printer capable of improving uniformity of the quality of an image printed on a recording medium is provided and includes: a table formed with a support surface that supports a recording medium; an inkjet head formed with a nozzle that ejects ink; a Y-bar that supports the inkjet head to be movable in a main scanning direction; two lifting mechanisms capable of changing a Y-bar tilt serving as a tilt of the Y-bar with respect to the support surface; a head gap sensor that detects a head gap, which is a distance from the recording medium to the nozzle of the inkjet head; and a tilt adjustment portion that adjusts the Y-bar tilt by the two lifting mechanisms to a tilt that reduces variations of the head gaps detected by the head gap sensor at each of multiple positions in the main scanning direction.

As a conventional inkjet printer, a so-called flat-bed type inkjet printer including a table on which a support surface that supports a recording medium is formed; an inkjet head that ejects ink toward the surface of the recording medium supported on the support surface; a Y-bar that extend in a main scanning direction of an extending direction of the support surface and that supports the inkjet head to be movable in the main scanning direction; two slide mechanisms that move the Y-bar in a sub scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction of the extending direction of the support surface with respect to the recording medium; and a suction device that adsorbs the recording medium on the support surface by suctioning gas through a plurality of suction holes formed on the support surface of the table is known (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-042088, Patent Literature 1).
Furthermore, as a conventional inkjet printer, an inkjet printer including an inkjet head formed with an ink ejection surface where nozzles that eject ink toward the surface of a recording medium are formed; and a mechanism that adjusts a head gap which is a distance from the surface of the recording medium to the ink ejection surface of the inkjet head is also known (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-248559, Patent Literature 2).
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-042088
Patent Literature 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-248559
The flat-bed type inkjet printer described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-042088 can suppress lifting of the recording medium from the support surface of the table by adsorbing the recording medium to the support surface of the table with the suction device.
However, if the recording medium is relatively thick, such as a relatively thick acrylic plate, for example, even if the recording medium is maximally adsorbed to the support surface of the table by the suction device, the end of the recording medium may lift up from the support surface of the table. If the end of the recording medium lift up from the support surface of the table, the head gap at each of a plurality of positions in the main scanning direction tend to vary.
Here, as a method of adjusting the head gap, a method of moving the inkjet head up and down in a vertical direction is known, as described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-248559.
However, in the flat-bed type inkjet printer described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-042088, when the end of the recording medium are lifted from the support surface of the table, the variation in the head gap at each of a plurality of positions in the main scanning direction is not reduced even if the head gap is adjusted by moving the inkjet head up and down in the vertical direction. Therefore, if the head gap is adjusted with reference to the portion of the recording medium that is lifted from the support surface of the table, the head gap becomes large for the portion of the recording medium that is not lifted from the support surface of the table, and as a result, the accuracy of the landing position of the ink on the recording medium may become poor and the quality of the image printed on the recording medium may lower due to the flight deflection of the ink ejected toward the recording medium by the inkjet head, and the like.
Furthermore, in the flat-bed type inkjet printer described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-042088, if the thickness of the recording medium supported on the table is not uniform even if the end of the recording medium is not lifted from the support surface of the table, the head gap is adjusted by moving the inkjet head up and down in the vertical direction with reference to the portion having a thick thickness of the recording medium supported by the table, so that the head gap becomes large for the portion having a thin thickness in the vertical direction of the recording medium supported by the table, and as a result, the accuracy of the landing position of the ink on the recording medium may become poor and the quality of the image printed on the recording medium may lower due to the flight deflection of the ink ejected toward the recording medium by the inkjet head, and the like.
For various reasons such as those described above, the conventional inkjet printer has a problem that the quality of the image printed on the recording medium is not uniform depending on the printing location.
Therefore, the present disclosure provides an inkjet printer that can improve the uniformity of quality in an image printed on a recording medium.


An system for detecting contraband, particularly explosives or other energetic materials. The system includes a source of ionizing radiation that irradiates an item under inspection. The radiation stimulates the emission of RF energy from objects within the item under inspection. The characteristics of the emitted RF energy reveals information about the material composition of the objects. The system detects this emitted RF energy and comparers it to a signature of RF emissions from contraband objects. Apparatus to detect and analyze RF emissions may be constructed as a stand-alone unit or may be incorporated into an imaging system in which the ionizing radiation is used to form an image of the item under inspection. Similarly, the RF analysis may be used, in the first instance, to determine whether an object contains a contraband item or may be used as a second level analysis to clear alarms generated by analysis of images formed by the imaging system.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates generally to inspection systems and more specifically to inspection systems for detecting contraband items such as explosives.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Inspection systems that can detect contraband items are widely used at airports and other facilities where explosives or other contraband items could be particularly harmful. Many such inspection systems employ ionizing radiation to detect properties internal to items under inspection, thereby allowing the detection of contraband objects concealed within items under inspection.
At present, explosive detection systems for airports predominately use x-ray computed tomography (CT) to analyze the contents of checked airline luggage. CT systems detect explosive materials based on their x-ray absorption parameter values. Often a density map of the item under inspection that is computed from x-ray absorption information is used as an image of the item under inspection. Objects may be identified in the image based on their densities and the identified objects may be analyzed to identify contraband items. However, because the CT system works predominantly on density, innocuous objects having densities similar to the density of a contraband item may produce false alarms from the CT system.
Other detection technologies are known, even if not widely used at airports. These include coherent x-ray scattering, nuclear quadruple resonance (NQR), multi-view dual-energy x-ray, thermal neutron activation, fast neutron activation, and vapor detection.
It has also been proposed to use single view x-ray imaging systems in conjunction with CT based systems to improve the detection accuracy of the overall contraband detection system. The single view system may, for example, provide information about the effective atomic number of objects within an item under inspection. One approach to combining data from a single view and CT system is described in pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/068,459 to Bijjani, et al., titled "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING INFORMATION ABOUT A TARGET OBJECT BETWEEN A PRESCANNER AND A CT SCANNER," filed Feb. 6, 2002, and published as 2003/147489 A1, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,816,571, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Other systems have been proposed to combine imaging information with other information for improved detection of contraband items. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,393 to Krug et al., entitled "DETECTING CONTRABAND BY EMPLOYING INTERACTIVE MULTIPROBE TOMOGRAPHY", which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, describes an inspection system that uses more than one inspection technique for an item under inspection.
At present though, only CT-based systems have the required balance of specificity, spatial resolution, processing speed, system size, cost, and the ability to detect the necessary number of explosive types. CT system costs, however, are considered to be relatively high. In addition, CT systems, though certified, often generate false-alarms when the CT system incorrectly identifies that a piece of luggage or other item under inspection contains a contraband item or the CT system identifies that it could not, with a sufficient level of confidence, report that a particular item under inspection does not contain contraband. When a particular bag generates an alarm, significant activity is often required to clear the alarm bag. This activity may require manual inspection of the bag, which can be very costly.

Method and apparatus for detecting contraband using radiated compound signatures

L-3 Communications Security and Detection System


A process for the generation of a syngas in an entrained-flow gasification process includes a solid, carbon-containing fuel which is introduced via burners into a reactor which also supplies the oxygen for gasification. The fuel is introduced on a burner level where the burners are arranged concentrically around the reaction chamber or in the head area. The syngas obtained is discharged from the reaction chamber via a discharge nozzle, so that the syngas is passed into a collecting chamber for cooling by addition of low-temperature gaseous, vaporous or liquid cooling agents. A quench chamber is provided between the reactor and the collecting chamber. Additional burner levels are in the quench chamber via which a fuel material of renewable fuels or biofuels is introduced into the syngas, so that the heat enthalpy of the syngas can be utilized for the endothermic gasification reaction of the biological raw material. An apparatus for this generation of synthesis gas includes several burner levels, the renewable fuel being supplied to the gasification chamber with or without water vapor or oxygen and the enthalpy of the hot syngas being utilized for the gasification of the renewable fuel.

The invention relates to a process for the gasification of solid, finely ground carbon-containing fuels by the use of oxygen-containing gases in an entrained-flow process at elevated pressure and a temperature above the slag melting point, in which a syngas is generated and liquid slag is separated on the walls of the gasification reactor, cooling of the high temperatures of the syngas not being achieved exclusively by adding a cooled gaseous, vaporous or liquid foreign agent or by injecting water after the syngas has been generated but by additional or post-gasification of biological or renewable fuels in the syngas flow during the generation process. The addition of renewable fuels is implemented in syngas discharge direction on at least one downstream burner level of the reaction chamber, by which it is possible to utilize the enthalpy of the hot syngas partly for the gasification of a renewable fuel. The invention also relates to an apparatus for the endothermic gasification of solid renewable fuels on a second burner level inside the reaction chamber or in the quench chamber of a cooled reactor which is enclosed in a pressure vessel.
A potential syngas generation process is the gasification of solid, carbon-containing fuels with oxygen or with oxygen-enriched air. By reaction of the fuel with the gas, the fuel usually being introduced into the reaction chamber in finely ground condition, a syngas is produced which consists of carbon monoxide and hydrogen as main components. If water vapour is added to the oxygen-containing gas, a syngas is obtained which also contains hydrogen. The fuels are typically converted in a reaction according to the entrained-flow process in the reaction chamber, in which oxygen or an oxygen-enriched gas is mixed with finely ground fuel under pressure and injected in a dust flame into the reaction chamber by means of one or more burners. In a typical embodiment of the process the temperature of the syngas thus obtained ranges between 1200 and 1600° C.
To dissipate the high temperature of the syngas quickly and efficiently and to prevent the downstream process units from caking, the syngas, once obtained, is submitted to a so-called quench process. Here, the syngas is mixed with a gaseous, vaporous or liquid substance of lower temperature or cooled by injection of water so that it is caused to dissipate its high internal enthalpy quickly and efficiently after the generation. Used as fuels are coal, coke, biomass or petroleum coke. The fuels are typically converted into a finely dispersed form by grinding prior to the gasification reaction. A typical grain size of the fuels prior to the gasification reaction ranges between 0.05 and 0.5 mm. To achieve optimum efficiency of the entrained-flow gasification, the fuel can be injected with a twist into the entrained-flow flame, which is performed by tangentially provided injection nozzles or burners with direction into the entrained-flow cloud.
For the quench process a large amount of gaseous, vaporous or liquid cooling agent or water is supplied, which can frequently be recycled only partly into the gasification process. Furthermore, a major part of the heat enthalpy of the syngas gets lost, as it is frequently necessary to recycle the cooling agent to the process by condensation and re-vaporisation. This is energy-intensive and requires a lot of equipment. It would be favourable to provide a process which uses the high internal energy of the obtained syngas in a downstream process. It is therefore the aim to provide a process which utilizes the heat enthalpy of the hot syngas for a downstream process in the entrained-flow gasification process already.
The invention achieves the aim by a process which supplies a renewable raw material to the reaction chamber via at least another burner level arranged downstream of the first burner level and which extends, in direction of the gas flow, across the rear section of the overall height of the reactor, by which another gasification reaction of the renewable raw material takes place in the reaction chamber. This reaction is endothermic so that a major part of the enthalpy inherent in the syngas can be utilized chemically for the subsequent reaction. The gasification of renewable fuels gives a low-ash syngas since vegetable raw materials contain a significantly lower portion of ash-forming combustion materials. In this way the syngas thus obtained has a considerably lower content of solids. By the downstream gasification of the renewable raw materials, the temperature of the syngas, especially in the reaction chamber, can be used and controlled energetically for cooling the gas, which results in the saving of process energy. The burners can be designed as such or as burner guns.
According to the state of the art processes for the gasification of biofuels or renewable fuels in a mixture with carbon-containing fuels are known. EP 1027407 B1 describes a process for the generation of fuel gas, syngas and reduction gas from renewable and fossil fuels by combustion in a burner with gaseous oxygen or oxygen-containing gases. When entering the reaction chamber, the fuel is caused to rotate in order to convey the mineral components, which are liquid due to the reaction temperature, from the gasification reaction towards the reactor wall and thus separate them. The gasification agent is introduced into the gasification reactor through a central opening in the bottom of the combustion chamber and forms a plunging jet. The gasifier is also supplied with a carbon-containing fuel, the feed point for the carbon-containing fuel not being described in more detail.

Process and apparatus for the utilization of the enthalpy of a syngas by additional and post-gasification of renewable fuels


A method of programming or configuring an integrated circuit device using a high-level language includes parsing a logic flow to be embodied in the integrated circuit device to identify invariant logic flow, converting the invariant logic flow into separate instruction blocks, incorporating the separate instruction blocks into a high-level language representation of a configuration of resources of the integrated circuit device, and compiling the high-level language representation to configure said integrated circuit device. The high-level language representation can be executed to generate a configuration bitstream for the programmable integrated circuit device, or can be run on a processor on the programmable integrated circuit device to instantiate the configuration.

Programming software allowing a user to lay out logic as desired and then translate that logic into a configuration for a programmable device is commonly provided in connection with programmable devices. Such software commonly includes pre-defined functions for configuring certain commonly-used structures.
Although available programming software allows users to implement almost any desired logic design within the capabilities of the device being programmed, most such software requires knowledge of hardware description languages such as VHDL or Verilog. However, many potential users of programmable devices are not well-versed in hardware description languages and may prefer to program devices using a higher-level programming language. But if the underlying logic to be implemented includes invariant elements, the implementation of that logic may be inefficient.

Invariant code optimization in high-level FPGA synthesis


A two-piece annular bearing ring seat with an annular concave spherical inside surface is adapted to slidably receive a spherical outer surface of a bearing ring. An annular strap having a coefficient of thermal expansion higher than the coefficient of thermal expansion of a bearing housing holds the bearing ring seat and annular strap together as a subassembly. The subassembly can be press fit into the housing to provide a housed self-aligning bearing.

This invention relates generally to bearing assemblies. More particularly, this invention is a new bearing assembly combination which includes an insert with a strap having a coefficient of thermal expansion higher than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the housing of the bearing assembly.
Self-aligning housed bearing units are used where they are subjected to misalignment. Also, often the housing in which the self-aligning housed bearing units are placed is made of material having a higher coefficient of expansion than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the bearing material. When these conditions exist, special bearing mounting provisions are required to eliminate the detrimental, high stresses imposed by misalignment and the possible loss of bearing retention due to unequal thermal growth. Thus, a self-aligning bearing assembly which includes structure which compensates to offset the effects of unequal thermal growth between the bearing and the housing so that the bearing assembly remains firmly fixed within the housing under all expected thermal conditions is highly desirable.
The foregoing illustrates limitations known to exist in present devices and methods. Thus, it is apparent that it would be advantageous to provide an alternative directed to overcoming one or more of the limitations set forth above. Accordingly, a suitable alternative is provided including features more fully disclosed hereinafter.

Bearing assembly insert and housed self aligning bearing assembly