The present invention provides an adjuvant, which includes at least one single strand deoxynucleotide containing a CpG dinucleotide. The single strand deoxynucleotide comprises one or more CpG dinucleotides. When used in combination with rabies vaccine, HBV vaccine or other vaccines, the adjuvant can significantly improve the immune effect of the vaccine.

CpG ODN is a type of oligodeoxynucleotides centered with non-methylated cytosine and guanine nucleotide (CpG). Typically, the CpG is flanked by base sequences in the following manner: 5′PurPurCGPyrPyr 3′, i.e., 2 purines at its 5's end and 2 pyrimidines at its 3′ end. (G Mutwiri, R. Pontarollo, S. BaBIUK. Biological activity of immunostimulatory CpG ODN motif in domestic animals. Veterinary Immunopathology, 2003, 91: 89-103). Studies indicate CpG ODN can activate a variety of immune effector cells, in which non-methylated CpG dinucleotides is believed to be of importance to the immunological activity of the CpG ODN. The DNAs of bacteria, viruses, and invertebrates possess immunological activation function because they have non-methylated CPG ODN sequences. The DNAs of vertebrates, in contrast, do not possess the function because their CpGs are methylated. Immune response against exogenous DNA is elicited by the immune system of the body through the recognition of the unmethylated CpG (Yi A K, Klinman D M, Martin T L, et al. Rapid immune activation by CpG motifs in bacterial DNA. Systemic induction of IL-6 transcription through an antioxidant-sensitive pathway. Immunol., 1996, 157(12):5394-402).
Rabies, also referred to as hydrophobia, takes place in over 60 countries all over the world. (Wolfgang Haupt. Rabies—risk of exposure and current trends in prevention of human cases. Vaccine 1999 (17): 1742-1749). The incidence of the disease in Southeast Asia countries is higher than in other regions of the world. In mainland China, the incidence is between 0.4/100,000-1.58/100,000. Recently, the incidence of rabies grew up rapidly in many countries including China (David W Dreesen. A global review of rabies vaccines for human use. Vaccine, 1997, 15, suppl s2-s6. D. Zienius, J. Bagdonas, A. Dranseika. Epidemiological situation of rabies in Lithuania from 1990 to 2000. Veterinary Microbiology, 2003(93):91-100.), with a death rate of nearly 100%.
Generally, human is infected by rabies virus through for instance, animal such as dog bite, where the animal carries rabies virus. In China, 80%-90% human rabies cases are caused by infected dogs. Human rabies is an acute infectious disease characterized by the invasion of central nervous system (Alan C. Jackson, William H. Wunner. Detection of Rabies Virus Genomic RNA and mRNA in Mouse and Human Brains by Using In Situ Hybridization. Journal of Virology, 1991, 65(6):2839-2844.), the clinical manifestations of which include hydrophobia, anxiety, fear of wind, pharynx spasm, progressing paralysis, etc.
Rabies virus belongs to Rhabdoviridae family, with a size of about 75×180 nm. It is a single minus strand RNA encapsulated by protein capsid, the surface of which is covered by a lipoprotein envelope. The envelope further contains glycoprotein spikes. Rabies virus has immunogenicity, which can not only induce neutral antibodies but also cause RBC aggregation in animals such as chicken and goose. Rabies virus can be simply inactivated by UV radiation, quarternary ammonium compounds, iodine, potassium permanganate, alcohol, formaldehyde, etc. Heating at 100° C. for 2 minutes can also inactivate the virus. Rabies virus is tolerant to low temperatures. It can survive under −70° C. or −4° C. (in lyophilized form) for years.
Currently, there is no effective treatment for rabies infections. Up to now, rabies virus vaccine inoculation (hereafter referred to as rabies vaccine) and anti-rabies serum administration remain the major methods for preventing rabies infections. Presently in China, hamster renal cell vaccine is used as rabies vaccine. The subjects are administered 5 times intramuscularly by injection in a whole course, wherein each administration is taken on days 0, 3, 7, 14 and 30. For severe patients, they are administered 10 times in the whole course, i.e., one administration per day from the date of being bitten to 5 days after the bitten, and the rest of the administrations being taken on days 10, 14, 30 and 90. For people bitten by infected dogs, the average incidence rate is 15%-20%. In comparison, the incidence rate drops to 0.15% after taken a whole course administration.
Hepatitis B is a liver disease caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV), which has severely affected the health of people around the globe. By 2004, the number of HBV patient has reached 400,000,000 worldwide (Lin K W, Kirchner J T. Hepatitis B. Am Fam Physician, 2004 Jan. 1, 69(1):75-82.), most of them are Asians. In China, HBV carriers account for about 10% of the entire population. Presently, the major method to prevent HBV propagation is by way of inoculating HbsAg genetic engineering vaccine, where Aluminum is used as an adjuvant. According to WTO reports, 1 billion dosages of HBV vaccine have been consumed since 1982, which take an important role in combating the disease. The mechanism of the vaccine is that it induces the body to produce/secrete protective antibody IgG1. Although the antibody can neutralize the viruses outside of the cells, it could not thoroughly eliminate latent HBVs inside the infected cells. Furthermore, 10% of the population are low responsive or even have no response to the vaccine. Therefore, what is needed now is to improve the immunocompetence of the present HBV vaccines or to develop new vaccines which can effectively eliminate the latent HBV inside the infected cells. A number of studies on the development of novel HBV genetic engineering vaccines have been carried out from different perspectives by researchers all over the world. Among them, an important topic relates to the finding of an effective adjuvant of HBV vaccine. In recent years, CpG ODN became one of the newly discovered immunological adjuvants proved to be effective.
The result of a variety of experimental studies indicates that CpG ODN can work with HBV vaccine synergistically to induce the production of specific antibodies and elicit CTL response in murine, human, and other primates (Weeranta R D, McCluskie M J, Xu Y. et al. CpG ODN is a novel non-toxic adjuvant which induces stronger immune responses than many conventional adjuvants. Vaccine, 2000, 18: 1755-62.). CpG ODN is considered as a safe and effective adjuvant for HBV vaccine.
In 1988, Davis et al. immunized BALB/c mice with HBsAg and CpG ODN1826 (as adjuvant). The results of HBsAb assay indicated that the HBsAbs produced by the co-administration of HBsAg and CpG ODN as adjuvant is 5 times higher than those produced by the co-administration of HBsAg and aluminum; the HBsAbs produced by the co-administration of HBsAg, and CpG ODN as well as aluminum as adjuvants is 35 times higher than those produced by the co-administration of HBsAg and aluminum; and in control group where only HBsAg was added, no HBsAb or very low lever HBsAb was observed. All these data shows as HBsAg adjuvants, CpG ODN functions better than aluminum in inducing HBsAb production, and CpG ODN further functions synergistically with aluminum. The results of ELISA and 51Cr killing test indicated the combination use of CpG ODN and HBsAg, or the combination use of CpG ODN, aluminum and HbsAg can elicit Th1 immune response in mice, resulting in the production of IgG2a HBsAb and accompanied by HBV-specific CTL response; while the combination use of aluminum and HBsAg mainly elicited Th2 immune response in mice, resulting in the production of IgG1 HBsAb and not accompanied by HBV-specific CTL response. The in vitro antibody staining result of cell surface molecule revealed that the mechanism CpG ODN used to enhance the immunological effectiveness of HBsAg is closely associated with mechanisms through which CpG induces APC to express co-stimulative molecules, and synergistically induces the class switch of the antibodies produced by B lymphocyte (Hartmann Q Weeratna R D, Ballas Z K, et al. Delineation of a CpG phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotide for activating primate immune responses in vitro and in vivo. Immunol, 2000, 164:1617-24). All the above-discussed results suggest CpG ODN is a promising adjuvant for HBV vaccine.

CpG single strand deoxynucleotides for use as adjuvant


Method and apparatus are described for a placer system for placing design objects onto an arrayed architecture, such as a programmable logic device including an FPGA. More particularly, a placer interface is described for communicating with a placer core. The placer interface receives information from external entities, and unifies and generalizes this information for the placer core. The external entities comprise different representations of architecture, design, device, constraints and algorithm-dictated placer-movable objects.

Conventional modern integrated circuits are designed using programmed computers. Such computers are conventionally programmed with Electronic Design Automation (EDA) and Electronic Computer-Aided Design (ECAD) tools. These tools are used to provide both logical and physical synthesis. EDA tools take an abstract representation of a circuit design and transform such a circuit design into an arrangement of logic structures or other structures connected to one another as described by a network list or "netlist."
A synthesis tool having an understanding of logic and its constraints is given a netlist. As a result, a synthesis tool can direct a placer of a place-and-route tool to keep closely linked logic structures together.
Unfortunately, placer tools are less flexible than needed. During a design process, one or more aspects may change, and conventional placer tools do not allow for sufficient variability without significant re-coding. For example, it would be desirable if a placer tool could more readily accommodate:                a. One or more different architectures, including, but not limited to, new kinds of entities, such as microprocessors, block memories, flip-flops, lookup-tables, among other known logic structures, including one or more different arrangements thereof;        b. One or more different representations for designs and devices;        c. One or more different algorithm-dictated structure requirements, including ability to operate at various levels of abstraction, for example, placement of a group of components that share output as a placer-movable object, and then treating individual components of such a group as placer-movable objects for finer grain improvement;        d. One or more different physical constraint representations, including constraining circuit placement to a particular area of an integrated circuit device or to specific positions in such a device, or prohibiting placement of certain circuits in certain positions, as well as other list constraints and prohibit constraints.
Accordingly, it would be both desirable and useful to provide means for adding variability, whether with respect to one or more changes to one or more of architecture representation, design representation, algorithm-dictated abstraction or physical constraint representation, to a placer tool to reduce re-coding needed to accommodate such variability.


A child places a specially marked object in front of a toy capable of recognizing the marks on the object and being able to articulate a word, phrase or sentence in response to the markings. This permits the toy to be able to read and speak. Visible codes, invisible codes or holograms may be located on the objects for this purpose. A mechanism inside the toy is provided to vocalize the sounds associated with each code or marking. Electronic representations of the various sounds vocalized may be stored in the toy or on a removable memory card so that the variety of sounds may be changed as desired. The sounds can be words, sentences, paragraphs, or phonemes. The words can be either spoken or sung.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to toys which can detect optical signals and then provide audio outputs related to the detected optical signals.
2. Description of Prior Art
It is known in the art to provide so-called "talking" dolls. Examples of such talking dolls are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,428, Curran, May 8, 1990 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,451,911, Klose et al, May 29, 1984. The '428 patent teaches an interactive talking doll. The doll responds both verbally and with motion of its body parts to a human's verbal input. For this purpose, the doll has a limited word recognition capability. The '911 patent teaches a doll with a plurality of different prerecorded audio messages. Pressing a different switch on the doll will cause the playback of a different one of the recorded messages. The doll can also operate in a problem solution mode.
The prior art also teaches systems for converting visual signals into audio outputs. An example of such a system is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,996,707, O'Malley et al, Feb. 26, 1991. The O'Malley patent teaches a text to speech converter for a facsimile graphic image.
None of the toys of the prior art known to Applicant can be used for the purpose of teaching recognition skills and providing amusement for a child.

Toy and method providing audio output representative of message optically sensed by the toy


The system for receiving broadcast digital data (in particular pay television services) comprises a master digital terminal (1), and at least one slave digital terminal (2) connected to the master terminal by a link (3) and able to receive protected digital data. The slave digital terminal can access the protected data only if information necessary for accessing the data and received by the master digital terminal is sent by way of link (3) to the slave digital terminal within a predetermined deadline. This information is in particular access entitlements to television services or keys for descrambling the service.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system for receiving broadcast digital data comprising a master digital terminal, and at least one slave digital terminal connected to the master terminal.
2. Description of the Related Art
The market for digital television decoders is currently reaching a turning point. Most subscribers, in the European Countries in particular, are equipped with a single digital terminal (or <<decoder>>) per household, where as they often possess at least two television sets. There therefore exists a demand for multiple equipment in terms of decoders for one and the same household.
It will be noted that subsequently the terms <<decoder>> or <<digital terminal>> designate one and the same type of device making it possible to receive and decode (and possibly to descramble) digital signals broadcast by an operator (in particular a digital television operator). In the subsequent description use will also be made of the terms <<scramble>>/<<descramble>> or <<encipher>>/<<decipher>> to signify that an encryption/decryption algorithm is applied to data using a key.
Certain operators of pay digital television wish to offer their subscribers the possibility of equipping themselves with several digital terminals so as to benefit from their services on each of the television sets installed in their accommodation, without however making them pay the price of a full tariff subscription for the additional terminals, which would be prohibited, but rather a reduced tariff (or even a zero tariff). However, the operator has to ensure that the terminals and <<associated>> subscriptions actually remain within the same household, since in the converse case, their income is at risk of being considerably affected thereby.
A known solution consists in using the <<return path>> of the digital terminals by requesting the subscriber to link all the terminals of his home to one and the same telephone line. The operator then periodically monitors the connection of the terminals to this telephone line by remotely instructing telephone calls from the terminals to a server of the operator. However, this solution is not satisfactory since it entails the permanent connection of the digital terminals of the subscriber to a telephone line.
Another solution described in French Patent Application No. 02 09362 filed on 24 Jul. 2002 by the same applicant as the present application, THOMSON Licensing S. A., consists in guaranteeing that a physical communication link always exists between a secondary terminal (or <<slave>> terminal) and a main terminal (or <<master>> terminal) with which it is paired. The slave terminal or terminals (for which the subscriber benefits from a preferential tariff) cannot operate, that is to say provide data in clear to the television set to which they are connected, unless it is verified that the <<master>> terminal with which they are paired is present in proximity.
Several strategies for communication between these decoders are conceivable but some of them may exhibit risks of <<piracy>> or of <<circumvention>>.

System for receiving broadcast digital data comprising a master digital terminal, and at least one slave digital terminal


A radio frequency identification tag reading/writing station is adapted to be used with a radio frequency identification tag reader/writer in order to read/write radio frequency identification tags on a continuous web of carrier material. The radio frequency identification tag reading/writing station includes a first waveguide to coax adaptor, a second waveguide to coax adapter, and a window assembly having a window therein, the window being sized and shaped such that a tag on the web of carrier material under test is exposed to radio frequency read/write energy, but such that tags on the web of carrier material adjacent to the tag under test are shielded from the radio frequency read/write energy. The first waveguide to coax adapter and the second waveguide to coax adapter are disposed end-to-end with the window assembly being disposed therebetween.

Radio frequency identification (RFID) is a technology which is rapidly gaining acceptance in a variety of fields including warehousing, inventory management, and product tracking. It is based on a system which is comprised of a reader (e.g., a radio transmitter/receiver with antennae), a tag (comprised of a miniature antenna with a silicone chip attached thereto), and a processor which captures information received from individual tags. Each silicone chip is programmed with a unique electronic product code (EPC), and in many instances tags are covertly attached to or packaged with products, for example via a blank or printed label or by some other means.
Readers generally operate at three different frequencies: low, high, and ultra high (ultra high being generally recognized as being from 300 to 1000 MHz). The read range of a tag is a function of the frequency and size of the tag antenna, because tags are passive and are only energized when they are in the field of the radio waves transmitted by the reader. The ultra high frequency (e.g., 900 MHz) tags are becoming the tag of choice for most inventory control applications because of their relatively long read range (e.g., up to 14 feet in typical situations, and up to 30 meters in some applications).
Ordinary labels are relatively inexpensive to produce (e.g., less than a penny each), as compared to the cost of producing an RFID tag (e.g., $0.20 to $1.00 or more each), even before it is applied to a printed label. For this reason, RFID labeling has been generally restricted to the shipping carton or skid level. However, now there are powerful forces which are mandating RFID tagging at the item level for some products. Various governmental agencies, such as Congress, the Department of Defense and the FDA are pressuring parties, such as suppliers and pharmaceutical companies, to create better inventory control of certain goods, materials, and prescription drugs, and to implement more effective product authentication through overt and covert security features. In addition, Wal-Mart® has dictated to its major suppliers that they will support RFID within the very near future.
Currently, RFID tag manufacturers are not able to guarantee that all tag inlays that they ship are readable, functional tags—in fact, as many as 20% of the incoming tags may be non-readable. However, for many applications, label printers must be able to ensure that 100% (or at least very close to 100%) of the RFID labels are readable. This means that all RFID labels need to be read and verified when they are in their finished state, i.e. mounted in close proximity to one and another (e.g., inches apart) in a continuous web of paper which is then coiled into a roll of labels. Reader/verification equipment exists that at slow speed can read labels which are close together with a very short read range. Similarly, reader/verification equipment exists that can read RFID labels which have a longer read range (e.g., several feet), but the labels have to be far apart. The difficulty is in discriminating between labels that have a long read range, but that are spaced closely together. There is no known commercially available system which will effectively guarantee that substantially 100% of the ultra high frequency (e.g., 900 MHz) tags mounted in a roll at close proximity (e.g., a few inches apart) and that have a long read range (e.g., greater than 24″) are all functional tags, while being processed at normal production speeds (e.g., several hundred labels per minute).
What is desired, therefore, is a system and method for validating radio frequency identification tags to ensure proper functioning thereof which is capable of ensuring that 100% (or at least very close to 100%) of the RFID labels are readable, which is capable of reading and verifying RFID labels when they are in their finished state, i.e. mounted in close proximity to one and another (e.g., inches apart) on a liner or carrier (for example a continuous web of paper of the like), which is adapted to be used in conjunction with tags having a long read range (e.g., greater than 24″), and which is capable of reading and validating labels moving at a relatively fast speed.

System and method for validating radio frequency identification tags


A composite ion exchange membrane having a high swelling resistance and being superior in mechanical strength and ion conductivity can be provided by means of an composite ion exchange membrane including an ion exchange resin composition and a support membrane having a continuous pore penetrating the support membrane, wherein the support membrane is one which accepts the ion exchange resin composition within the pore, and wherein the ion exchange resin composition is one which contains an ion exchange resin containing, as a main component, an aromatic polyether and/or its derivative, the aromatic polyether being obtained by mixing a compound having a specific structure, an aromatic dihalogenated compound and a bisphenol compound with a carbonate and/or a bicarbonate of an alkali metal and polymerizing the mixture in an organic solvent.

In recent years, much attention has been focused on novel power generating techniques which are superior in energy efficiency or environmental friendliness. In particular, solid polymer fuel cells using solid polymer electrolyte membranes are characterized as exhibiting high energy density and being started and stopped more easily than fuel cells of other systems due to their lower operating temperature. Therefore, they are on development as generators for electric motorcars, dispersed power generation and the like. In addition, development of direct methanol fuel cells which use solid polymer electrolyte membranes and into which methanol is supplied directly as fuel are underway for applications such as electric sources of portable devices.
Membranes comprising proton-conducting ion exchange resin films are usually used for solid polymer electrolyte membranes. Solid polymer electrolyte membranes are required to have characteristics such as fuel permeation inhibitability and mechanical strength preventing permeation such as hydrogen and methanol of fuel is necessary for a solid polymer electrolyte membrane as well as proton conductivity. As such a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, for example, perfluorocarbon sulfonic acid polymer membranes in which sulfonic acid groups are introduced, typified by Nafion (registered trademark) made by Du Pont, U.S.A., are known.
However, because membranes comprising perfluorocarbon sulfonic acid polymer soften up at temperatures of 100° C. or higher, the operating temperature of fuel cells using such membranes is limited to 80° C. or lower. Heat-resistant solid polymer electrolyte membranes have been studied because increase of operation temperature leads to various advantages, for example, energy efficiency, miniaturization of apparatuses and improvement of catalytic activity.
In recent years, as an alternative solid polymer electrolyte membrane to membranes containing perfluorocarbon sulfonic acid polymer, active investigations have been made to so-called hydrocarbon-based polymer solid electrolytes, which contain polymers resulting from introduction of ionizable groups such as a sulfonate group into polyetheretherketone polymers, polyethersulfone polymers, polysulfone polymers, etc.
One example thereof is a membrane containing polysulfone having a sulfonate group (see, for example, F. Lufrano and three other authors, "Sulfonated Polysulfone as Promising Membranes for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells" Journal of Applied Polymer Science (U.S.A.), John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2000, Vol. 77, pp. 1250-1256). Polysulfone is suitable as a raw material of solid polymer electrolyte membranes because it is superior in processability; for example, it has a high heat resistance and it is soluble in organic solvents. A sulfonic acid group is usually introduced into polysulfone by use of a sulfonating agent such as concentrated sulfuric acid and sulfuric anhydride. It is however difficult to control sulfonation reactions by this method. In some cases, therefore, it is impossible to adjust the degree of sulfonation to a desired degree or problems such as gelation are caused by nonuniform sulfonation or side reactions.
Hydrocarbon-based solid polymer electrolytes including the above-mentioned suflonic acid group-introduced polysulfone have problems with respect to water resistance under high humidity because they are more prone to hydration or swelling in comparison to membranes containing perfluorocarbon sulfonic acid polymers.
As one measure for inhibiting such swelling, a technique using mixing with a basic polymer has been investigated. This technique tries to inhibit the swelling by crosslinking sulfonic acid groups in a solid polymer electrolyte membrane with a basic polymer. Examples thereof include a technique using a mixture of a polyethersulfone-based polymer having a sulfonic acid group or a polyetheretherketone-based polymer (acid polymer) and a polybenzimidazole-based polymer (basic polymer) (see, for example, WO 99/54389 pamphlet).
In addition, a technique to inhibit swelling by crosslinking between sulfonic acid groups, which are ionizable groups, with a covalent bond is also investigated (see, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 6-93114 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,438,082, EP0 574 791 B1), WO 99/61141 pamphlet, and WO 99/38897 pamphlet).
All the above techniques, however, can inhibit swelling, but they are problematic in that ionizable groups lose their ionicity through the crosslinking reaction and, as a result, ion conductivity falls.
As solid polymer electrolyte membranes having a crosslinked structure, membranes containing a sulfonated product from a styrene/divinyl benzene copolymer are well known for their use in early solid polymer-type fuel cells. Such solid polymer electrolyte membranes, however, did not exhibit satisfactory characteristics as fuel cells because their polymer skeleton itself was poor in durability.
Moreover, another technique is regarding an ion exchange product obtained by subjecting chloromethyl groups in a polymer to a crosslinking polymerization using a Lewis acid as a catalyst (see, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication Nos. 2-248434 and 2-245035). The crosslinking reaction of this technique, however, requires a catalyst. Therefore, when obtaining a molding of ion exchange product by mixing a polymer and a catalyst, the remaining of the catalyst becomes a problem. In addition, when obtaining a molding of an ion exchange product by treating a molding of a polymer with a catalyst, the difficulty in occurrence of a crosslinking reaction inside the molding of the polymer becomes a problem.
Thus, a technique including synthesizing a sulfonated polymer by polymerizing monomers having a sulfonic acid group instead of sulfonating an existing polymers and using it as a solid polymer electrolyte is under investigation (see, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 5-1149 and U.S. Patent Unexamined Application Publication No. 2002/0091225 specification). These sulfonated polymers are advantageous because their degrees of sulfonation can be adjusted easily and it is easy to obtain their uniform solutions. When a solid polymer electrolyte is used as an ion exchange membrane, in particular, when it is used as a proton exchange membrane of a fuel cell, the higher the ion conductivity of the membrane, the better the performance. Therefore, the ion conductivity increases as the sulfonic acid group concentration in the membrane is increased. Among the aforementioned sulfonated polymers, however, those having high degrees of sulfonation swell greatly. Therefore, when they are used as proton exchange membranes of fuel cells, problems tend to occur such as crossover and crossleak of gas, delamination and breakage of electrodes, etc.
Therefore, a technique to improve the mechanical strength of solid polymer electrolyte membranes to inhibit the dimensional change thereof by combining various reinforcing materials with solid polymer electrolyte membranes is under investigation. As one example thereof, reinforcement by blending a sulfonated polymer resulting from polymerization of sulfonated monomers and a non-sulfonated polymer possessing a similar structure has been proposed (see, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 5-4031). It, however, has drawbacks in that the sulfonated polymer and the non-sulfonated polymer are less compatible with each other due to a great difference between their polarities and, therefore, it is impossible to obtain uniform membranes.
In addition, reinforcement of a sulfonated polymer with a porous support membrane has also been proposed (see, for example, WO 00/22684 pamphlet). However, as the sulfonated polymer, only existing polymers are listed and this publication discloses no example of using a sulfonated polymer, which is a better polymer electrolyte, obtained by polymerization of sulfonated monomers. In addition, the support disclosed in this publication has a drawback in that if it is fabricated into a composite membrane, the ion conductivity will fall due to the low porosity of the support membrane.
Based on the circumstances, a major object of the present invention is to provide a composite ion exchange membrane having a high swelling resistance and being superior in mechanical strength and ion conductivity.


A resin molding includes an elongate body and a bent end that is continuous with the elongate body and is formed by a pressing operation. A back side of an intersecting portion of the elongate body and the bent end has reinforcing ribs formed by resin melted during the pressing operation. The resin molding is formed by extruding a melted resin, cutting the extruded resin into a predetermined length to form an intermediate product, heating and pressing an end of the intermediate product to bend the end, and introducing a melted resin onto the intermediate product during the pressing to form at least one reinforcing rib thereon to support the bent end.

The present invention relates a generally to vehicle moldings, and specifically to a vehicle molding for installation on vehicle roofs.
An automobile roof is typically fixed to the automobile body by welding both sides of a roof panel to a vehicle side panel. However, the welding creates an aesthetically unpleasing weld seam. In order to hide the seam, a roof molding such as that disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-300953 is fixed on a groove defined by the welded roof and vehicle side panels.
FIG. 5 illustrates an end of a roof molding 100. The roof molding 100 has an elongate body 110 and a bent end 120. The bent end 120 is formed continuously with the elongate body 110 and is bent at an angle from the elongate body 110. The elongate body 110 has a finished side 111, a base 112 and a lip portion 113. The finished side 111 covers a groove (not shown) of the roof (not shown) and is visible on the exterior of the vehicle. The base 112 is formed on the back side of the finished side 111 and is inserted in the groove. The lip portion 113 is formed on the bottom of the base 112 in order to ensure the stability of the base 112 when inserted into the groove. A metal core is implanted in the base 112 to reinforce the base 112.
FIGS. 6A–6C illustrate the manufacturing process of a roof molding such as that shown in FIG. 5. Initially, as shown in FIG. 6A, a melted resin is extruded by an extruder (not shown), and then cut into predetermined lengths to produce an elongate intermediate product 130 with the finished side 111, the base 112 and the lip portion 113. The metal core 114, which extends along the length of the intermediate product 130, is implanted in the base 112 by a conventional insert molding method. Next, as shown in FIG. 6B, a portion of the base 112 and the lip portion 113 corresponding to the groove formed between the roof interior and exterior panels is cut from an end portion 115 of the intermediate product 130 shown as the hatched portion. Finally, as shown in FIG. 6C, the end portion 115 is heated and pressed by a core mold 141 and a cavity mold 142 to form a bent end 120.
In the roof molding manufactured as discussed above, the pressed end portion 115 is heated at a temperature that is lower than the melting point of the resin to prevent the surface of the roof molding from becoming roughened. Thus, the heating and pressing operation illustrated in FIG. 6C is carried out at a low temperature that creates a stretching tension at the surface of the bent end 120 and an internal shrinkage strain in the bent end 120. Because of the shrinkage strain, the bent end 120 is gradually restored to its elongate shape once the heating and pressing operation is finished.

Molding and method of manufacturing the same


A segment within a virtual network is identified as being supported by a segment bundling device. The segment within the virtual network supports a first host connected to a first bridging device and a second host connected to a second bridging device. The segment bundling device is used to receive virtual network address information describing the virtual network segmentation identifier (ID) for the segment used for receiving virtual network traffic for the first and second host. A segment bundling table associating a bundle ID with the virtual network segmentation identifier based on the upper ID and the lower ID of the virtual network ID is generated by the segment bundling device. The segment bundling device is used to distribute the segment bundling table to traffic forwarding devices in the virtual network that interface with the first bridging device and the second bridging device.

The virtual network is a new architecture that is used to provide solutions for cloud computing service providers. For example, an organization may have a need for a computer networking solution, such as a data center. Instead of building and maintaining their own physical data center, they may lease a virtual data center provided by a cloud computing service provider on a virtual network segment.

Flexible and scalable virtual network segment pruning


A data processing system architecture is based upon a hardware engine that includes a plurality of functional units and data routing units that interconnect the functional units. The hardware engine performs operations and computations on data as the data traverses paths through the functional units under control of software. The functional units include logic resources, examples of which are flip-flops, latches, arithmetic logic units, random access memory, and the like. The routing units are responsive to the software control signals that are turned on or off to steer the data through these resources. Operations and computations are accomplished according to the steering of the data through the functional units that control the functions performed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to system architectures for data processing, and more particularly to an architecture based upon a hardware engine which performs operations and computations on data as the data traverses paths controlled by software.
2. Description of Related Art
Traditional data processing systems are based on architectures having a pipeline based execution unit, and instruction fetch unit, and a storage unit which are operated in response to decoded instructions. The instructions are decoded to produce microcode that controls the operation of the data processing pipeline. The execution unit is a very complicated general-purpose logic system designed to execute a fixed number of operations under microcode control, and which becomes inflexible and difficult to change as its complexity grows.
This traditional architecture arose because the cost of the manufacture and design of logic has been historically higher than the cost of moving data into the logic system. However, recent advances in manufacturing and design are bringing down the cost of the design and implementation of logic, as compared to the cost of routing signals.
It is an object of the present invention to take advantage of this trend in integrated circuit and data processing system manufacturing and design to provide a data processing architecture that reduces the complexity and inflexibility of data processing systems.

Method and apparatus for performing computations and operations on data using data steering


Control agents for immuno-precipitation assays, methods of using the control agents and kits comprising the control agents are provided.

Chromatin immuno-precipitation (ChIP) is a powerful tool for evaluating interaction of proteins with specific genomic DNA regions in vivo, to provide a better understanding of the mechanisms of gene regulation, DNA replication, and DNA repair. The ChIP technique involves fixative treatment of live cells with formaldehyde to chemically cross-link DNA-bound proteins. The cells are then lysed, and the chromatin is sheared mechanically or enzymatically, in order to reduce fragment size and increase resolution. The resultant sheared complexes are then immuno-precipitated with antibodies specific to the protein of interest, and the DNA fragments are analyzed, e.g. using real time PCR, sequencing, or microarray hybridization. The ChIP protocol was introduced in 1988 (Solomon M J et al. Cell. 1988 53(6):937-47). Its power and widespread use has increased significantly with the incorporation of nucleic acid detection assays such as microarrays and sequencing that have enabled the method to be scaled genome-scale or genome-wide.

Agents providing controls and standards for immuno-precipitation assays


A thermoplastic elastomer composition produced from a thermoplastic resin and rubber and having a dispersion phase formed of a rubber composition at least part of which is dynamically crosslinked in the continuous phase of the thermoplastic resin, insulating glass using the thermoplastic elastomer composition as a sealing material and spacer, a process for producing the insulating glass using a sealing material made from the thermoplastic elastomer composition, comprising the steps of inserting the leading end of a charging nozzle into a space between the peripheral portions of a plurality of glass sheets, discharging the sealing material from the leading end of the nozzle body at a predetermined rate, and moving the glass sheets or the nozzle body relative to each other to charge the sealing material made from the thermoplastic elastomer composition into the space between the peripheral portions of the glass sheets, and a nozzle used in this process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a thermoplastic elastomer composition having excellent steam permeation resistance and heat distortion resistance, insulating glass using the composition as a sealing material and spacer, a process for producing the insulating glass and a nozzle for producing the insulating glass.
2. Prior Art
Heretofore, there has been known insulating glass constituted such that a sealing material having a predetermined width is charged into a space between the peripheral portions of at least two glass sheets which are opposed to each other in parallel and the hollow layer between the glass sheets is isolated from the outside air for the purpose of an improvement of heat insulating properties, dew condensation prevention properties and the like.
This insulating glass has been produced as follows, for example. As shown in FIG. 7, an aluminum spacer 73 filled with a desiccating agent 72 is placed in a space between the peripheral portions of two glass sheets 71a and 71b which are opposed to each other in parallel and held by a jig or the like to fix a predetermined interval between the glass sheets. Thereafter, a primary sealing material 74 is charged into spaces between the both side surfaces of the spacer 73 and the glass sheets 71a and 71b, and a two-liquid mixing and normal temperature curable type secondary sealing material 75, for example by a polysulfide- or silicone-based sealing material, is charged into a space between the spacer 73 and the opening side of the glass sheets 71 and 71b.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-158041 discloses a insulating glass production process and apparatus. In the process and apparatus, a plurality of glass sheets are held in a perpendicular direction so that the plurality of glass sheets can be simultaneously moved in the same direction at the same speed, the glass sheets and a die are moved in different unidirections which are perpendicular to each other, the glass sheets and the die are moved relative to each other alternately such that the glass sheets are stopped when the die is moved, and vice versa, and a resin material is extruded onto the peripheral portions of the glass sheets opposed to each other by moving the glass sheets and the die alternately for each side of the glass sheets.
However, since the former production process is carried out by using a jig, spacer and the like, the work becomes complicated and takes much time and labor. On the other hand, the latter process has such a problem that it is difficult to obtain insulating glass having good appearance because the resin material cannot be paved nicely when it is extruded.
In the insulating glass using the normal temperature curable sealing material in the prior art processes, it takes time to cure the sealing material and a final product cannot be promptly shipped. Especially in winter, the sealing material must be placed in a heating chamber for curing.
Therefore, it is desired to improve productivity by simplifying the process for producing insulating glass and shortening the cure time.
In contrast to this, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. Hei 10-110072, Hei 10-114551, Hei 10-114552 and the like propose an invention in which a resin containing a desiccating agent as required is used as a spacer and sealing material in place of the aluminum spacer. The spacer/sealing material proposed in these publications is a composition containing butyl-based rubber and crystalline polyolefin which are preferably mixed at a high temperature.
In insulating glass using this composition, the composition serves as a resin spacer and a sealing material. Insulating glass can be produced in which the peripheral portions of the glass sheets are sealed up by paving the composition on the peripheral portions of two glass sheets opposed to each other with a spacer therebetween. Thus, the production process is simplified. However, in this insulating glass, the glass sheets are not dislocated each other when a load is placed upon the glass sheets at normal temperature but the glass sheets are dislocated each other while a high-temperature sealing material is paved and cured especially when the insulating glass is produced or when the temperature of the outside air rises in summer or by sunlight after the insulating glass is formed into a construction material or the like because the composition which serves as a sealing material and resin spacer contains a small amount of a resin in rubber and hence, is easily deformed at high temperatures.
It is a first object of the present invention to provide a thermoplastic elastomer composition which has excellent steam permeation resistance and heat distortion resistance and is suitable for use as a sealing material and spacer for insulating glass.
It is a second object of the present invention to provide insulating glass which uses the thermoplastic elastomer composition as a sealingmaterial and spacer, is produced easily, has excellent steam permeation resistance and is not deformed in the entire shape by the dislocation of the glass sheets when it is allowed to cool after the sealing material and spacer is paved, or after processing or at high temperatures in summer or the like.
It is a third object of the present invention to provide a process for producing insulatingglass which enables a sealing material to be efficiently paved in a space between the peripheral portions of glass sheets and leveled to obtain good appearance and reduces the number of working steps to carry out efficient work.
It is a fourth object of the present invention to provide a nozzle for producing insulating glass which can be advantageously used in the above process for producing insulating glass.
The inventor of the present invention has conducted intensive studies to solve the above problems and have found that the above objects can be attained by a thermoplastic elastomer composition containing a continuous phase formed of a thermoplastic resin having a water vapor permeability below a predetermined value and a dispersion phase formed by dynamically crosslinking a rubber component having a water vapor permeability below a predetermined value after crosslinking, and insulating glass using the composition as a sealing material and spacer. Thus, the present invention has been accomplished based on this finding.
To attain the first object, the present invention provides a thermoplastic elastomer composition which is produced from a thermoplastic resin having a water vapor permeability of 100 g/m2xc2x724 h or less (30 xcexcm in thickness) and rubber having a water vapor permeability of 300 g/m2xc2x724 or less (30 xcexcm in thickness) when crosslinked and which has a dispersion phase formed of a rubber composition at least part of which is dynamically crosslinked in the continuous phase of the thermoplastic resin.
To attain the second object, the present invention provides insulating glass which uses the thermoplastic elastomer composition as a sealing material and spacer.
To attain the third object, the present invention provides a process for producing insulating glass by charging a sealing material having a predetermined width into a space between the peripheral portions of at least two glass sheets which are opposed to each other in parallel at a predetermined interval to isolate the hollow layer from the outside air, the process comprising the steps of inserting in advance the leading end of a charging nozzle into a space between the peripheral portions of a plurality of glass sheets, contacting a slide plate provided at the top of the leading end portion of the nozzle to the peripheral portions of the plurality of glass sheets, discharging a sealing material from the leading end of the nozzle body at a predetermined rate, and moving at least one of the glass sheets and the nozzle body relative to the other to charge the sealing material from the leading end portion of the nozzle into the space between the peripheral portions of the glass sheets.
To attain the fourth object, the present invention provides a nozzle for producing insulating glass by inserting the leading end portion of the nozzle into a space between the peripheral portions of at least two glass sheets which are opposed to each other in parallel at a predetermined interval, and charging a sealing material from the leading end portion of the nozzle into the space between the peripheral portions of the glass sheets while at least one of the glass sheets and the nozzle body is moved relative to the other, wherein the leading end of the nozzle body has a width for positioning the interval between the plurality of glass sheets, and a slide plate which slides along the peripheral portions of the plurality of glass sheets and is provided at the top of the leading end portion.

Thermoplastic elastomer composition, insulating glass using the composition, process for producing the insulating glass


This invention relates to a process for the synthesis of diacyl peroxide by contacting acyl halide and peroxide complex in compatible aprotic solvent substantially free of compounds oxidizable by the peroxide complex or the reaction products of organic acyl halide with peroxide complex and the initiation of polymerization with diacyl peroxide in the aprotic solvent.

Diacyl peroxides are among the commonly used initiators in the commercial production of polyolefins, particularly fluoroolefins, such as tetrafluoroethylene. They may be represented as R—(C═O)—O—O—(C═O)—R. The peroxide decomposes to give R., known as a free radical, which reacts with olefin monomer to begin the polymerization cycle. Taking tetrafluoroethylene as an example:R—(C═O)—O—O—(C═O)—R→2R—(C═O)—O.→2R.+2CO2R.+CF2═CF2→R—CF2—CF2. R—CF2—CF2.+CF2═CF2→R—CF2—CF2—CF2—CF2.The R group arising from the initiator is called an "endgroup" of the polymer.
The classical synthesis of diacyl peroxides is an aqueous synthesis. An alkaline aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide is contacted with a water-immiscible solution of acid halide. Examples are found in S. R. Sandler and W. Karo, (1974) Polymer Synthesis, Vol. 1, Academic Press, Inc., Orlando Fla., p. 451 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,021,516. This is a reaction of two liquid phases, an aqueous phase and a nonaqueous phase. Equation (1) shows the reaction:2R—(C═O)X+H2O2+2NaOH→R—(C═O)—O—O—(C═O)—R+2NaX+2H2O  (1)From the stoichiometry of (1) it is clear that one mole of hydrogen peroxide reacts with two moles of acyl halide to yield one mole of diacyl peroxide. The diacyl peroxide as it forms is taken up in the water immiscible phase. By this means, exposure of the acyl halide and the diacyl peroxide to the alkaline aqueous phase is minimized, which is desirable because water hydrolyzes both the organic acyl halide starting material and the diacyl peroxide product. Hydrolysis decreases yield and introduces byproducts such as acids and peracids, which are impurities. At the end of the reaction, the water-immiscible solvent with the diacyl peroxide dissolved in it is separated and dried, and purified as necessary.
The use of sodium percarbonate and sodium perborate for aqueous and nonaqueous functional group oxidation in organic synthesis has been reported (A. McKillop and W. R. Sanderson, Tetrahedron, vol. 51, no. 22, pp. 6145–6166, 1995; J. Muzart, Synthesis pp. 1325–1346, November 1995). Organic oxidation reactions using urea/hydrogen peroxide adduct in protic and aprotic solvents is reported by M. S. Cooper, et al. Synlett, pp. 533–535, September 1990. Organic acids, acid anhydrides, and acyl halides are reagents and solvents in these reactions and peracids are proposed as intermediates in the oxidations. Formation of diacyl peroxide as an undesirable byproduct of the reaction is discussed.
Japanese Patent 61152653 discloses the preparation of diacyl peroxides by the mixing of acyl halides with sodium peroxide (Na2O2) in halogenated solvent, followed by addition of water. Sodium peroxide must be handled carefully: it can react violently or explosively with organic materials, is hygroscopic, and absorbs carbon dioxide from air to form compounds that can ignite if subjected to pressure or friction. Furthermore, sodium peroxide, being strongly basic, cannot be used with compounds that are sensitive to bases.
A safe, economical, synthesis of diacyl peroxides in aprotic solvent using stable, easy to handle oxidizing agents, and proceeding in high yield is needed. Looking to the future, the need is greatest for a process that can be run in a nonflammable solvents such as fluorocarbons, chlorofluorocarbons, or certain hydrohalocarbons.

Polymerization employing diacyl peroxide made in aprotic solvent


The present invention relates to a stator core for improving the fixing properties of a magnet wire, and a motor in which the same is applied. Provided is a stator core which comprises a protrusion pattern part for fixing the distal end portion of a magnet wire, and thus eliminates a process of fixing the wire using a separate member during a wiring process, thereby improving processability and inhibiting an insulating film of the magnet wire from being damaged by an external force such as vibration.

In general, a motor is mainly composed of a stator and a rotor, and the stator is wound with a coil, and the rotor is coupled with a magnet to cause rotating due to mutual electromagnetic action with the magnet. The stator is formed with a unit core and a coil, and recently, a plurality of divided coils is connected in a ring shape to be used as a stator. An insulator (hereinafter referred to simply as"insulator") is inserted to insulation between the core and the coil.
Particularly, the insulator has a structure where a coil is wound, and when a wire, generally called a magnet wire, is wound on the insulator, an outermost coil is not fixed to generate damage or cut problem on an insulated film of the magnet wire due to trembling phenomenon caused by outside vibration.


Process for preparing ethylene copolymers in the presence of free-radical polymerization initiator at pressures in the range of from 160 MPa to 350 MPa and temperatures in the range of from 100° C. to 350° C. in a tubular reactor by copolymerizing ethylene, a bi- or multifunctional comonomer and optionally further comonomers, wherein the bi- or multifunctional comonomer bears at least two different functional groups, of which at least one is a unsaturated group, which can be incorporated into the growing polymer chain, and at least another functional group can act as chain transfer agent in radical ethylene polymerization, ethylene copolymers obtainable by such a process, the use of the ethylene copolymers for extrusion coating and a process for extrusion coating a substrate selected from the group consisting of paper, paperboard, polymeric film, and metal, with such ethylene copolymers.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing ethylene copolymers in the presence of free-radical polymerization initiator at pressures in the range of from 160 MPa to 350 MPa and temperatures in the range of from 100° C. to 350° C. in a tubular reactor by copolymerizing ethylene, a bi- or multifunctional comonomer and optionally further comonomers and it further relates to ethylene copolymers obtainable by such a process, to the use of the ethylene copolymers for extrusion coating and to a process for extrusion coating a substrate selected from the group consisting of paper, paperboard, polymeric film, and metal, with such ethylene copolymers.
Polyethylene is the most widely used commercial polymer. It can be prepared by a couple of different processes. Polymerization in the presence of free-radical initiators at elevated pressures was the method first discovered to obtain polyethylene and continues to be a valued process with high commercial relevance for the preparation of low density polyethylene (LDPE). LDPE is a versatile polymer which can be used in a variety of applications, such as film, coating, molding, and wire and cable insulation. There is consequently still demand for optimizing the processes for its preparation.
Common reactors for preparing LDPE polymers at high pressures are either tubular reactors or stirred autoclave reactors. The advantages of polymerizing in a tubular reactor are that higher turnovers can be achieved in the polymerization process, the process is easier to scale-up and it is accordingly possible to build "world-scale" plants and the polymerization is in general more economic because of a lower specific consumption of utilities such as electricity and cooling water. However, the LDPE polymers prepared in a tubular high-pressure reactor have certain disadvantages for some applications. Compared to LDPE polymers of similar melt flow rate (MFR) and density prepared in a high-pressure autoclave LDPE reactor the LDPE polymers prepared in a tubular reactor have in general a narrower molecular weight distribution and a lower amount of long-chain branching (LCB).
An example for an application, in which LDPE prepared in a tubular reactor is inferior to LDPE prepared in an autoclave reactor, is extrusion coating. In this process, the molten LDPE is extruded through a slit-die and casted into a film, which is then coated onto a substrate such as paper, paperboard, a polymeric film like a polyethylenterephthalat (PET) film or a biaxially-oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film, or a metal like an aluminum foil. For a good processability, the LDPE has to show a stable web, i.e. the film casted out of the die shall not oscillate, and a low neck-in is required, i.e. the ratio of the width of the film over the width of the die should not be too low. Furthermore, high processing temperatures of up to 350° C. are required for the post-treatment of the produced polymer film in order to enhance its adhesion properties at substrates such as metal, paper, or paperboard. To fulfill these requirements a certain level of LCB is advantageous.
For providing a LDPE copolymer that enhances the web stability during the extrusion coating process, WO 2006/094723 discloses a process for the preparation of an ethylene copolymer in a tubular reactor, in which ethylene is copolymerized with a di- or higher functional (meth)acrylate. WO 2007/110127 teaches to copolymerize ethylene and a bifunctional α,ω-alkadiene for the same purpose. However, these bi- or higher functional comonomers can only be used in relatively small amounts because otherwise a too high amount of very high-molecular component is produced, corresponding to a high risk of gel formation, especially if these comonomers are not perfectly homogenized in the reaction medium. Furthermore, the tendency for forming LCB is limited.

Process for the preparation of ethylene copolymers in the presence of free-radical polymerization initiator by copolymerizing ethylene, a bi- or multifunctional comonomer and optionally further comonomers


The present invention relates to a platelet testing device using blockage phenomenon, comprising: a sample chamber containing blood sample; a microfluidic tube which is in fluid communication with the sample chamber and through which the blood sample flows; and a microbead packing arranged on a flow path of the blood sample of the microfluidic tube; wherein the microbead packing comprises: a packing pipe which constitutes a part of the flow path of the blood sample; and a plurality of microbeads contained in the packing pipe and arranged to be in close contact with each other so as to form voids between the microbeads, whereby function of the platelet is tested by blockage phenomenon of the voids due to the platelet in the blood sample which flows through the microfluidic tube from the sample chamber according to the present invention.

Platelet tests are widely used as congenital platelet function abnormality or pre-operative screening tests, and are particularly important for differentiating hemorrhagic diseases caused by congenital or acquired platelet function abnormalities among hemorrhagic diseases having no platelet numerical abnormalities.
Recently, such platelet function tests have come to be widely used to test for increased hemorrhagic tendency as an effect of an anti-platelet drug, which is used for the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases, or to test for resistance to a drug.
A bleeding time (BT) test is a bleeding-time measurement test that was developed about 100 years ago and has been used as a platelet function screening test to date. However, there are problems in that the platelet function test currently in use is difficult to standardize, has low clinical usefulness, and requires the use of an invasive method. Accordingly, an objective measurement method for measuring the platelet function is required.
In the case of a platelet function analyzer (e.g.: PFA-100), which is designed to solve the above-described problems and which is used as a technique for measuring the platelet function, in order to measure the characteristic of aggregation of platelets caused by a von Willebrand factor (vWF) activated at a high shear rate, the clogging time that is required for clogging of orifice holes of an orifice, which is coated with collagen, adenosine diphosphate (ADP), or epinephrine, due to aggregation of platelets after enabling whole blood to flow through a long capillary at a high shear rate is measured using a pressure or a flow rate.
In order to perform the platelet function test, it is inevitable to depend on the function of the vWF, the test is dependent on the hematocrit (Hct), and the anti-platelet or anti-clopidogrel test cannot be performed, which are considered to be drawbacks. Further, there is a drawback in that testing costs are increased due to the necessity of a two-stage test process for the platelet function test.
In particular, blood samples must be exposed at a high shear rate for a predetermined period of time or longer in order to activate the vWF. For this purpose, PFA-100 adopts a method of enabling blood to rapidly flow through a very long capillary. However, this method has problems in that a large amount of blood is required and that the vWF located at the center of the tube, at which the shear rate is a minimum, is not activated even though the vWF located near the capillary wall, at which the shear rate is a maximum, is easily activated. This may cause a problem in the repeatability of the test result.
In order to solve the above-described problems, Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1193566 proposes a micro-chip-based platelet multifunction testing device. The device includes a sample storage chamber in which a blood sample is received, an stirrer provided in the sample storage chamber to induce a shear flow in the blood sample, parallel channels provided to form a plurality of paths through which the blood stirred using the stirrer flows, a vacuum device connected to the ends of the parallel channels to enable the stirred blood to flow through the parallel channels while maintaining a constant pressure, a light source provided at the rear end of the parallel channels to radiate light to the parallel channels, and an image sensor which receives the light transmitted through the blood in the parallel channels and which converts the light into an electrical signal, thus measuring the flow rate of blood. Accordingly, it is possible to test a plurality of platelet functions by a single test, and an effect of not only reducing the test time but also reducing the testing costs is provided.
However, as shown in FIG. 1, a micro-chip-based platelet multifunction testing device disclosed in the above Korean Patent Registration is generally configured to have a chip having a channel in which blood flows by attaching a top plate to a bottom plate having a channel pattern. In this regard, since the height (h) of the channel is very fine, a minor error during the manufacturing of the channel disadvantageously causes the height of the channel to be non-uniform.
Such problem decreases the reliability of the platelet test since the same result, i.e., the same stop distance, is not obtained even for the platelet function test having the same blood sample or the same characteristics.
Further, a micro-chip-based platelet multifunction testing device disclosed in the above Korean Patent Registration has micro fillers (12, see FIG. 1) to which platelets are attached or beads 54 in the channel. As shown in FIG. 1, a lot of platelets which are not attached pass through an area (see area 'A' in the FIG. 1) above the micro filler 12 or beads 54, or an area between the micro filler 12 and the beads 54, thereby disadvantageously much blood is substantially needed for the channel clogging or the blockage phenomenon is not expected.

Apparatus for testing of platelet using blockage phenomenon

Korea University Research and Business Foundation


A system for initializing a steering wheel in a steer-by-wire vehicle includes a steering wheel, a torque feedback actuator, a steering wheel angle sensor, and a controller. The controller is adapted to calculate a corrected steering wheel angle based upon the relative angular positions of the road wheels and the steering wheel as measured by the respective sensors. The controller then controls the torque feedback generator to rotate the steering wheel into a corrected position such that the torque feedback generator rotates the steering wheel a minimum angle. The controller issues a warning signal in response to any resistance to the correction, including interference from the vehicle driver.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a steering apparatus for a vehicle that orients road wheels in response to operator input in which the road wheels are not mechanically coupled to the steering wheel.
2. Background and Summary of the Present Invention
A typical automotive vehicle is steered by transmitting the rotation of a steering wheel to a steering mechanism, which directs road wheels in a corresponding fashion. Generally, the steering wheel is located inside the vehicle passenger compartment, and the road wheels are located at the front of the vehicle. Thus, a suitable steering mechanism is necessary to couple the steering wheel and the road wheels.
A representative steering mechanism is a rack-and-pinion type steering mechanism. In a rack-and-pinion steering mechanism, the rotational motion of the steering wheel is communicated through a steering shaft to a pinion gear at its distal end. The pinion gear is engaged with a rack gear disposed laterally between the road wheels, which in turn are coupled to the rack gear by tie rods. In this manner, rotation of the steering wheel is translated into the lateral movement of the rack gear, which causes the road wheels to pivot in the desired direction. In general, mechanical steering mechanisms are power-assisted by hydraulic or electrical assist units.
Mechanical steering mechanisms such as described above have a number of limitations. As the steering wheel and the steering mechanism are mechanically coupled in some fashion, the position of the steering wheel is limited within the vehicle passenger compartment. Moreover, the size and weight of the coupling members limits the layout and performance of the vehicle.
In order to overcome such limitations, it has been proposed to utilize a steering system in which the steering wheel is not mechanically coupled to the road wheels and the road wheels and steering movement is achieved by an electrically controlled motor, for example, a steer-by-wire system. In a steer-by-wire system, a steering actuator operates in response to detected values of various steering parameters, such as steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. The detected values are communicated electronically to the steering actuator from sensors, whereby the steering actuator orients the road wheels in the desired direction.
Steer-by-wire systems solve a number of problems presented above. In addition, there are a number of other advantages innate to steer-by-wire systems that were not apparent in its mechanically coupled counterpart. For example, a steer-by-wire steering system can be integrated into other electronically controlled systems to increase the efficiency and performance of the vehicle.
Although a steer-by-wire system presents distinct advantages, it also presents a number of problems. Since there is no direct mechanical coupling between the operator and the road wheels, it is not necessary for the orientation of the steering wheel to correspond to the orientation of the road wheels. For example, it is possible that the steering wheel could be directed in a left-turn orientation while the road wheels are directed in a right-turn orientation. Such a discrepancy may arise when the steer-by-wire system is powered-down, as is the case when the vehicle is turned off, and the steering wheel is turned without a corresponding pivoting of the road wheels.
Consequently, there is a need in the art for an improved steer-by-wire system that is adapted to correct for misalignment between the steering wheel and the road wheel, and which corrects the misalignment automatically. Furthermore, the steer-by-wire system should be able to correct for misalignment in an efficient and timely manner, such that the steering wheel travels a minimum angular distance from an initial position to the corrected position.
Accordingly, the present invention provides an improved steer-by-wire system comprising a road wheel angle sensor, a steering wheel angle sensor, and a torque feedback actuator. The aforementioned components are coupled to a controller that is adapted to calculate a corrected steering wheel angle based upon the relative angular positions of the road wheels and the steering wheel as measured by the respective sensors. The controller then controls the torque feedback generator to rotate the steering wheel into a corrected position such that the torque feedback generator rotates the steering wheel a minimum angle. During the initialization, the rotational motion of the steering wheel is also controlled so that the rotation is smooth and in an acceptable low speed to ensure the safety of the driver. By checking the smoothness and the progression of the rotational motion, the controller will detect any resistance to the correction that is greater than the anticipated rotational friction. Such resistance includes interference from the vehicle driver. In response to any resistance, the controller is further adapted to issue a warning signal.

Method to initialize steering wheel in a steer-by-wire system


The provided backlight module includes a reflection sheet, a retardation plate, a light-guide plate, a light source, and a sub-wavelength grating plate. The retardation plate is set over the reflection sheet. The light-guide plate is disposed over the retardation plate, and the surface of the light-guide plate comprises a plurality of micro-structures. The light source is set beside the light-guide plate, and the light from the light source transferring into the light-guide plate passes through one of its end and out through the micro-structures. The sub-wavelength grating plate is disposed over the light-guide plate: (i) to transmit light having a polarization oriented parallel to the rows of bars and to define a transmitted light, corresponding to the light, as P-ray, and (ii) to reflect light having a polarization oriented perpendicular to the rows of bars and to define a reflected light, corresponding to the light, as S-ray.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a backlight module and particularly relates to a backlight module which is capable of interchanging polarized states of light.
(2) Description of the Related Art
Please referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 generally shows a cross-section view of a liquid crystal display (LCD). An LCD 10 includes a liquid crystal panel 12 and a backlight module 14. The backlight module 14 provides lights to the liquid crystal panel 12.
Liquid crystal panel 12 includes an upper polarizer 124, a color filter 121, a liquid crystal layer 122, a thin film transistor (TFT) substrate 123 and a bottom polarizer 125. The TFT substrate 123 comprises a plurality of pixel electrodes for controlling the twist angles of liquid crystal molecules 16 of the liquid crystal layer 122. Hence, transparency of a polarized light beam coming from the bottom polarizer 125 could be modulated by the liquid crystal layer 122, so as to display gray level images. Through the color filter 121, the LCD 10 gives out images with color.
Controlling the twist angles of liquid crystal molecules 16 to modulate the transparency of light is an essential technique of the related arts. As shown in FIG. 1, the oval-shaped liquid crystal molecules 16 have bilateral effect to light. Light which is going to be modulated by the liquid crystal layer 122 must be polarized in advance. Thus, the conventional LCD 10 requires one or a plurality of polarizers, e.g. upper polarizer 124 and bottom polarizer 125 shown in FIG. 1, to polarize the light from the backlight module 14. In some of other related arts, as shown in FIG. 2, a polarizer 145 may disposed within the backlight module 14 for replacing the bottom polarizer 125 shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 2 shows a cross section view of a conventional backlight module. The backlight module 14 comprises a lamp 141, a light-guide plate 142, a reflection plate 143, a polarizer 145 and a plurality of optical films 147.
The lamp 141 is disposed at one side of the light-guide plate 142, therefore, the backlight module 14 is called an edge-light type backlight module. The lamp 141 may be a cold cathode fluorescence lamp (CCFL). The light-utilizing efficiency of the edge-light type backlight module 14 is generally less than another backlight module, a direct type backlight module (not shown), which is usually used in some larger-sized LCDs.
The light-guide plate 142 has an inclined plane 1421 at the side near the lamp 141, and there is a plurality of slot structures 1422 disposed at the bottom surface of the light-guide plate 142.
As shown in FIG. 2., density of the slot structures 1422 increases from the side adjacent to the lamp 141 to another side far away from the lamp 141. This avoids the light-guide plate 142 having particularly higher brightness adjacent to the lamp 141 than that far away from the lamp 141, and makes the light evenly emit from the light-guide plate 142. The reflection plate 143, disposed below the light-guide plate 142, reflects the light from the bottom surface of the light-guide plate 142 and enlarges the light-utilizing efficiency.
In backlight module 14, in order to enhance optical performance, the light generated from the lamp 141 passes through many devices described above to provide an uniform backlight source to the liquid crystal panel 12 shown in FIG. 1. As a result, the amount of the light provided to the liquid crystal panel 12 is usually less than 8% of the total amount of the light generated from the lamp 141. So the low light-utilizing efficiency becomes a particularly serious problem in edge-light type backlight module 14.
Among all devices in LCD 10, the polarizer 145, the upper polarizer 124 or the bottom polarizer 125 causes huge light loss. Generally, 50% of the total amount of the light is P-ray and the other 50% is S-ray. While light passes through a polarizer 145, 124 or 125, S-ray is absorbed and therefore 50% of the total amount of the light is lost.
A method of making polarizer 145, 124 or 125 and the functions of it are described below. First, specific molecules with long side-chain are disposed in a plastic film, which may be transparent. Then the plastic film is elongated by corresponding tension force. Thus, the side-chain of the molecules might be arranged alongside the direction of the tension force. The polarizer 145, 124 or 125 may absorb light, S-ray, having a polarization oriented perpendicular to the long axis of said molecules, only light, P-ray, having a polarization oriented parallel to the long axis of said molecules may be transmitted through polarizer 145, 124 or 125. Hence, 50% of light is lost when it passes through the polarizer 145, 124 or 125.
Thus, the related art lacks the way of utilizing the absorbed S-ray. Therefore, a backlight module which is capable of utilizing light more effectively is needed. Besides, considering the production line, cost and convenience of making the present provided backlight module is another important issue. As a matter of fact, all the R&D staffs in the related field of LCD development are dedicated in resolving the lacking of related art in hoping to increase the efficiency and quality of light provided by the backlight module.

Backlight module capable of interchanging polarized states of light


Fundamental laser light having a wavelength of 1,064 nm, for example, is generated by a solid-state laser medium. The fundamental laser light is reflected by a flat mirror and amplified again passing through a Q-switch, a solid-state laser medium, a Q-switch, a Q-switch, a solid-state laser medium, and a Q-switch. The fundamental laser light furthermore reflects from a flat mirror, passes through a flat mirror for second-harmonic resonance, passes through a lens, then reflects from a flat mirror for laser light separation, and enters a nonlinear optical crystal for the third harmonic and a nonlinear optical crystal for the second harmonic. A solid-state laser generator can thereby be obtained in which second-harmonic laser light obtained in an intermediate stage can be used with good efficiency and be converted, for example, to third-harmonic laser light and higher-harmonic laser light with higher efficiency and higher output.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an intracavity wavelength conversion solid-state laser generator, and particularly relates a solid-state laser generator that converts the wavelength in two or more stages using a plurality of nonlinear optical crystals.
2. Description of the Related Art
Nd:YAG lasers or other solid-state laser generators are widely used as machining lasers. Recently, solid-state laser generators are rapidly increasing in output from several hundred watts to several kilowatts, and the field of application of the lasers is accordingly expanding from the conventional microfabrication field to welding and cutting applications in the automotive industry. Nevertheless, most solid-state laser generators have an emission wavelength range that is limited to the near infrared range of about 1 μm, bringing about a drawback in that the reflectivity of wavelengths outside the near infrared range is high, and the machining efficiency is poor in copper, silicon, and some other materials that have a low absorption rate.
For this reason, methods have been proposed in the prior art in which LiB3O5 (lithium triborate, LBO), KTiOPO4 (KTP), β-BaB2O4 (barium borate, BBO), and other nonlinear optical crystals are used to convert the emission wavelength to a shorter wavelength, i.e., a second harmonic and a third harmonic, further to a fourth and fifth harmonic, and so on, to reduce the reflectivity in the surface of the workpiece, to increase laser light absorption, and to thereby increase the machining efficiency. Extracavity wavelength conversion and intracavity wavelength conversion are types of wavelength conversion in which such nonlinear optical crystals are used.
External cavity wavelength conversion has a low conversion rate from a laser light at a fundamental wavelength (hereinafter referred to as fundamental laser light) to a harmonic laser light, and fundamental laser light must be condensed with high power density in the nonlinear optical crystals in order to obtain a high conversion rate. For this reason, the upper limit of the output obtained from a simple resonator is in the over 100-watt category even with second-harmonic laser light, and it is difficult to achieve a higher output when reliability is considered. With wavelength conversion of a third harmonic, fourth harmonic, and higher harmonics, the output is about 50 W at best because the resulting second harmonic is used.
Intracavity wavelength conversion has a high conversion rate to second-harmonic laser light and better reliability in comparison with external cavity wavelength conversion. This method is disadvantageous, however, in that the thermal lens effect generated in the solid-state laser medium does not allow higher output to be obtained while a stable resonant condition is maintained. The thermal lens effect is a phenomenon in which the solid-state laser medium is heated by being excited, the temperature distribution produced inside the solid-state laser medium creates a refractive index distribution, and the solid-state laser medium behaves like a lens.
Common solid-state laser media absorb almost no fundamental laser light, but often have high absorption characteristics in relation to laser light whose wavelength has been converted, particularly laser light that has been converted to a shorter wavelength. In view of the above, solid-state laser generators having intracavity wavelength conversion are configured to bend the optical path of the laser light at least once and to separate the optical path into wavelength-converted laser light and fundamental laser light by using a dielectric multilayer film mirror to extract only the wavelength-converted laser light from the resonator, and to thereby prevent the wavelength-converted laser light from being absorbed by the solid-state laser medium and to obtain wavelength-converted laser light with good efficiency.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a resonator in a solid-state laser generator with intracavity wavelength conversion for obtaining the third harmonic (Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2006-156677). The resonator of a conventional solid-state laser generator has a configuration in which a Q-switch 103a, a solid-state laser medium 110a for amplifying fundamental laser light 109, a Q-switch 103b, a Q-switch 103c, a solid-state laser medium 101b for amplifying the fundamental laser light 109, and a Q-switch 103d are arranged in sequence in a single row between a flat mirror 104 as a resonance mirror, and a flat mirror 108 for redirecting the optical axis of the resonator, as shown in FIG. 1. The Q-switches and solid-state laser media are disposed so that the length of the resonator composed of the Q-switches 103a and 103b and the solid-state laser medium 101a, and the length of the resonator composed of the Q-switches 103c and 103d and the solid-state laser medium 101b are equal to each other.
The flat mirror 107 used for separating laser light is disposed in the path of the fundamental laser light 109 that has been reflected by the flat mirror 108, and a flat mirror 105 as a resonance mirror is disposed in the travel direction of the fundamental laser light 109 reflected by the flat mirror 107. A lens 106a is disposed between the flat mirror 108 and the flat mirror 105. Disposed on the optical axis of the laser between the flat mirror 107 and the flat mirror 105 are a nonlinear optical crystal 102a that converts fundamental laser light 109 to second-harmonic laser light 110, a nonlinear optical crystal 102b that optically mixes the fundamental laser light 109 and the second-harmonic laser light 110 and converts the mixed light to third-harmonic laser light 111, and a lens 106b. The flat mirror 105 has an incidence angle of 0° and is highly reflective with respect to the fundamental wave and the second harmonic. The lenses 106a and 106b are antireflection lenses with respect to the fundamental wave and the second harmonic. The flat mirror 107 has an incidence angle of 45°, is highly reflective with respect to the fundamental wave, and is antireflective with respect to the third harmonic.
Here, the flat mirror 107 may have a dielectric multilayer film that is highly reflective with respect to the fundamental laser light 109 and is antireflective with respect to third-harmonic laser light 111 produced as output, or may be a film that is antireflective or highly reflective with respect to second-harmonic laser light 110 as demanded by the application; and there may also be cases in which reflectivity is not specified.
However, the prior art described above has the following problems. When harmonics of two or more stages are obtained using intracavity wavelength conversion, the harmonic component obtained in an intermediate stage, i.e., the second-harmonic laser light described in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2006-156677, is used only once in the process of conversion to higher-order harmonics depending on the purpose. There is therefore a problem in that the conversion efficiency does not become high even were the configuration to have intracavity wavelength conversion.

Intracavity wavelength conversion solid-state laser generator


Systems and methods that infer and classify user activity based in part on routing data. A storage medium can store raw data collected, and such acquired data can be subsequently be analyzed or distilled to generate abstract qualities about the raw data (e.g., velocity of user during route, level of difficulty, and the like). Various machine learning techniques, artificial intelligence methodologies, decision trees, and/or statistical methods can be employed to supply inference regarding the acquired raw data and/or the abstract qualities.

Route planning applications can typically aid users in locating points of interest, such as particular buildings, addresses, and the like. Moreover, users can vary a zoom level, thereby enabling variation of context and detail as a zoom level of a map is altered. For example, as a user zooms in on a particular location, details such as names of local roads, identification and location of police and fire stations, identification and location of public services, such as libraries, museums, and the like can be presented to the user. When zooming out, the user can glean information from the map such as location of the point of interest within a city, state, and/or country, proximity of the point of interest to major freeways, proximity of the point of interest to a specific city, and the like. In some applications, satellite images can be utilized to provide users with additional detail regarding a particular geographic location or region. For example, a prospective purchaser of a house can obtain an overhead satellite image of the house, thereby enabling the prospective purchaser to view lines of occupation, proximity of the house to other adjacent houses, and other information that may be pertinent to the user.
Furthermore, conventional computer implemented mapping applications often include route planning applications that can be employed to provide users with directions between different locations. For example, a user can specify a start point of travel and an end point of travel (e.g., beginning and ending addresses). As such, the route planning application can subsequently designate representations of roads and intersections and one or more algorithms to output a suggested route of travel. Such algorithms can output routes depending upon user-selected parameters. For instance, a commercial route planning application can include a check box to specify that the user wishes to avoid highways. Similarly, a user can inform the route planning application for traveling on a shortest route or a route that takes a least amount of time (as determined by underlying algorithms). Today, many individuals increasingly rely on route planning applications to aid them in during various activities such as leisure, sports, business, and the like.
Moreover, the Internet continues to make available ever-increasing amounts of information that can be stored in databases and accessed therefrom. Additionally, with the proliferation of portable terminals (e.g., notebook computers, cellular telephones, PDAs, smartphones and other similar communications devices), users are becoming more mobile, and hence, traceable with respect to routes taken and locations that they tend to frequent. For example, many devices are being designed with a geographic location tracking technology such as GPS for reasons of safety, finding travel destinations, and the like.

Activity classification from route and sensor-based metadata


A BGA packaging method for an IC includes steps of providing a first dry film to a copper plate, plating nickel-copper to form circuits on one side of the copper plate, providing a second dry film, selectively plating nickel-gold, removing the dry films, providing an insulating layer, providing a back plate, attaching a chip, wire bonding, encapsulating the chip and wires with plastic, etching copper, providing solder resist and attaching solder balls. By this method, a packaged IC with excellent electrical characteristics and heat dissipation can be obtained through a simple procedure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a ball grid array (BGA) packaging method for an integrated circuit (IC), more particularly, to an improved BGA packaging method, by which a packaged IC having excellent heat dissipation, a small thickness, and high reliability is provided with a simple process.
2. Description of Related Art
FIGS. 2A to 2H show respective steps of a conventional BGA packaging method. Firstly, as shown in FIG. 2A, a double-side printed circuit board (PCB), which is a substrate plate 70 having both sides thereof respectively laminated with copper foils 71, is cut and drilled to defined through-holes 711. Then in FIG. 2B, inner walls of the through-holes are plated with copper 712.
Then, as shown in FIG. 2C, dry films 721 are respectively provided to the two opposite sides of the circuit board to form patterns of circuits on the two opposite sides.
Subsequentially, referring to FIG. 2D, proper positions of the circuit board are provided with solder resist 72, the holes at the proper positions are also filled with the solder resist 72. The exposed portions, which are not covered by the solder resist 72 are plated with gold.
As shown in FIG. 2E, the through-holes 711 in the central position of the circuit board are filled with conductive paste 73, and a chip 74 is attached thereto. The conductive paste 73 filled into the through-holes 711 conducts the copper foils 71 on the two opposite sides for the purpose of heat dissipation.
The next step is wire bonding. Referring to FIG. 2F, fine gold wires 75 are connected between the chip 74 and the circuit on the PCB.
Then the chip 74 and the wires 75 are encapsulated by plastic 76, as shown in FIG. 2G. Such operation needs a mold and the plastic is injected into the mold to form a shield for protecting the chip 74 and wires 75.
Finally, solder balls 77 are attached to proper positions of the circuit board, as shown in FIG. 2H.
However, the conventional BGA packaging method has some drawbacks:
1. Such method utilizes the double-side circuit board, so the step of drilling through-holes is necessary, and the operation of filling the through-holes with solder resist or conductive paste may be unreliable. PA1 2. The heat generated by the chip must be dissipated via the conductive paste, thus the effect of heat dissipation is insufficient. If a defect occurs in the conductive paste filled into the through-holes, the heat dissipation will be even more degraded. PA1 3. It is necessary to fabricate a mold for the step of providing plastic to encapsulate the chip. PA1 4. The thickness of the packaged product is considerable. PA1 5. The capability of plastic to transfer heat is poor, so gold wires bonded on board side are easily slipped off, causing a problem of poor connection.
6. It is not possible to add a ground layer to the packaged IC, therefore the electrical characteristics of the package are not satisfactory.
7. It is not possible to form dense circuits on the circuit board of the IC since there are a plurality of through-holes therein.
Accordingly, the present invention is provided to solve the above problems.

Ball grid array packaging method for an integrated circuit and structure realized by the method


In an apparatus having a film condition judging device which judges a film condition based on data obtained by reading out bar codes of a bar code disk equipped on a film cartridge, wherein the bar code disk is initially stopped at a predetermined rotational position in response to the film condition, signals which are output from a sensor, are detected at plurality of times during a bar code disk rotation, and so inclinations in changes of the sensor's output are detected, thereby an error signal is distinguished from a correct signal according to the inclinations in the changes. Further, a sensor's output as a correct signal is counted, then the used condition of the film is judged based on the counted value of the sensor's output. Thus, even if there occurs an unstable rotation of the bar code disk, which brings the error signal, the film condition can be correctly judged by one sensor.

This invention relates to an apparatus having a film condition judging device in which bar codes of the film cartridge are read out by a sensor, and the used condition of a film is judged based on output from the sensor.
Conventionally, in an apparatus such as a camera which uses a film cartridge (a film is contained therein) having a bar code disk in which data on a film is recorded, it has been known that, after loading the film cartridge in the camera, bar codes of the bar code disk are read out by sensors equipped in the camera, and the film's used condition (exposed, unexposed, etc.) is judged by output from the sensors, and then operations in the camera are controlled depending on the film's used condition. In order to judge the film condition, two sensors which monitor a different position of the bar code disk, have been generally used.
In the above-mentioned conventional method, however, it is true that the film condition can be correctly judged, but on the other hand, two sensors are needed, which requires two sensor driving circuits and two sensor's output detecting circuits, so its costs are to be raised.
Theoretically, it seems possible to practice a method of judging the film condition by one sensor. However, if the above-mentioned method is applied, after a motor for feeding the film is ON, friction between a driving shaft linked with a motor and a spool shaft of the film cartridge may make a rotation of the bar code disk unstable before they engage with each other to rotate the bar code disk. Thereby the sensor may erroneously read out the bar codes, and so give an error signal. Thus, in the method of judging the film condition by one sensor, it is difficult to correctly judge the film condition.

Apparatus having a film condition judging device


The present invention generally relates to polysilicate microgels. More specifically, the invention relates to a process for preparing aqueous polysilicate microgels which comprises mixing an aqueous solution of alkali metal silicate with an aqueous phase of silica-based material having a pH of 11 or less, to polysilicate microgels per se and to the use thereof as flocculating agents in paper making and water purification. The invention further relates to a process for the production of paper from a suspension of cellulosic fibers, and optional filler, which comprises adding to the suspension at least one cationic or amphoteric organic polymer and a polysilicate microgel, forming and draining the suspension on a wire.

Polysilicate microgels, optionally aluminated, are known in the art as drainage and retention aids in the manufacture of paper and similar cellulosic products. The microgels comprise solutions or dispersions of very small primary silica-based particles, usually with a size of from 1 to 2 nm in diameter and having a high specific surface area, typically at least about 1000 m2/g, which are linked together into individual chains to form three-dimensional network structures.
The preparation of polysilicate and aluminated polysilicate microgels generally comprises acidifying a dilute aqueous solution of alkali metal silicate by using an acid or acid ion-exchanger, ageing the acidified mixture and then further diluting the aged mixture to a silica concentration of not greater than 2% by weight. The silica-based microgels normally have poor stability and the high dilution is normally necessary to avoid gelation of the microgels. Because of the stability problems associated with these products, and the prohibitive cost of shipping stable, but extremely dilute, solutions containing about 0.5% by weight or less of silica, the polysilicate microgels are preferably prepared at the location of intended use, for example at the paper mill. Production units or generators for continuously preparing polysilicate microgels that are installable at the paper mill are known in the art. Hereby the microgels obtained can be prepared and continuously introduced into the stock containing cellulosic fibres and filler to be drained. However, any disturbance in the production unit, for example variations in quality and/or quantity of the microgel produced, will change the drainage and retention performance of the product which may adversely affect the paper making process, thereby producing cellulosic products of uneven quality.