A porous bio-material and a method of preparation thereof. The method includes the following steps. First, a body is formed by mixing a bio-ceramic powder, a water-absorbing natural organic material and a liquid. The water-absorbing natural organic material is selected from the group consisting of carrageenan and agar. Then, the body is partially dried to form a machinable porous bio-material. The sizes of pores and porosity can be tailored by controlling the extent of drying so that the porous bio-material with acceptable strength can be obtained.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a porous bio-material that can be implanted into a human body and a method of preparation thereof, and more particularly to a porous bio-material with controllable pores, which is adapted to the human body and has relatively high strength, and a method of preparation thereof.
2. Related Art
Bio-ceramics are frequently made of ceramic particles. The sizes of particles of the typical ceramic powder are usually smaller than 10 microns. When the ceramic particles are stacked together, the size of the pores between the particles is also smaller than 10 microns. The pore in the sintered body may even become smaller. The small pores cannot allow white blood corpuscles to pass through and thus cannot be adapted as the artificial bone material.
One conventional method for implanting big pores into the ceramic material is adding artificial polymeric material (e.g., PMMA, PE, PS or the like) to the ceramic powder to form a body, and then to place the body at a temperature higher than 600 degrees centigrade. At this time, the artificial polymeric material slowly disappears due to the high temperature, and the porous ceramic body is left behind. For this fabrication process, there is a limit for the artificial polymeric material to be added. As the amount of the artificial polymer is higher than the limit, the ceramic body may collapse as the artificial polymeric material is being burned off so that the desired product cannot be obtained. If the amount of the artificial polymeric material is low and the amount of ceramic powder is high, the big pores left behind by removing the artificial polymeric material are usually enclosed by the ceramic powder, and the pores exposed at the surface of porous ceramic are consequently smaller so that the blood cannot easily flow.
Another conventional method for implanting big pores into the ceramic material is mainly to use an artificial polymeric sponge as a template, to coat a ceramic slurry onto the artificial polymeric sponge, and then to burn off the artificial polymeric sponge to a temperature higher than 600 degrees centigrade so that the porous body with porosity over 90% can be obtained. The sizes of the pores formed in this process can reach several millimeters as resulted from the large pores of the sponge. However, the drawback is that the strength of the porous ceramic material is usually low because of its large amount of large pores. Furthermore, because only several sizes of the pores are available for the artificial polymeric sponge, only several sizes for the pores in the porous ceramic material are possible.

Bio-material and method of preparation thereof


Disclosed is a control system (10) provided with: a generation apparatus (220) for generating control information that is information based on demand and supply of power generated at a power plant (210), and that is to be used for controlling power at the location of consumers (301) of electric power to whom power generated at the power plant (210); and a correction apparatus (100a) for correcting the control information, taking into consideration either a distributed power supply or a storage battery that can supply power to a consumer group (300a) of electric power. Power control is executed at the location of the consumers who comprise the consumer group (300a) of electric power, using the corrected control information.

Here, the "Smart grid technologies" that make use of the information and communications technology and incorporate power consumers (hereinafter, simply referred to as consumers) to effectively control the electric power draw attention.
As an application example of the smart grid technologies, there is a method of remotely instructing power control carried out at a consumer end. For example, there has been proposed a method for notifying the consumer, from the electric power company, of the control information for restricting power consumption at a consumer end, during peak demand of electric power (see Patent Document 1). According to such a method, along with a reduction in the cost of power generation of the electric generation plant, stable operation of the electric generation plant can also be achieved.

Control system, correction device, and power control method


The present invention provides a grease composition capable of securely preventing an abnormal noise from being generated when it is cold and having a long life at a high temperature, and a rolling bearing in which this grease is enclosed. The grease composition having heat-resistant properties and performance of preventing the generation of a low-temperature abnormal noise contains a base oil, a thickener, and an additive, and is used for a rolling bearing. A worked penetration of the grease composition at 25° C. is 300 or less, and an unworked penetration thereof at −20° C. is 200 or more. The grease-enclosed rolling bearing has an inner ring, an outer ring, rolling elements interposed between the inner ring and the outer ring, and the above-described grease composition enclosed on a periphery of the rolling elements. The grease-enclosed rolling bearing is used for an automotive electric auxiliary machine.

A grease composition is enclosed in a rolling bearing incorporated in various industrial machines, vehicles, and the like to impart lubricating properties to the rolling bearing. The grease composition is obtained by compounding a thickener with a base oil. As the base oil, mineral oil and synthetic lubricating oil such as ester oil, silicone oil, ether oil, fluorine oil, and the like are generally used. As the thickener, metal soap such as lithium soap, urea compounds, and fluororesin are generally used. In recent years, a rolling bearing tends to be used at a high temperature and a high rotational speed. Thus the grease composition is demanded to have durability at a high temperature. When the metal soap is used as the thickener, oxidation of the base oil is accelerated at the high temperature and thus lubricating effect deteriorates. Regarding the base oil, the grease composition containing the mineral oil as the base oil thereof is oxidized more readily than the grease composition containing the synthetic lubricating oil as the base oil thereof and thus tends to have a short lubricating life at the high temperature. Thus in recent years, the grease composition containing the synthetic lubricating oil as the base oil thereof and the urea compound or the fluororesin as the thickener thereof is mainly used for the rolling bearing which is used especially at a high temperature and at a high rotational speed.
As various industrial mechanical members become compact and have high performance, use conditions of the rolling bearing tend to be stricter. Consequently the grease composition is demanded to have a higher lubricating properties and a longer lubricating life.
In compliance with the demand for the longer lubricating life at a high temperature, the addition of an antioxidant and a rust preventive agent to the grease composition containing a synthetic lubricating oil having a high viscosity as its base oil and an urea compound as its thickener is examined. But when the grease composition contains the additives, the viscosity of the grease composition rises under cold condition, thereby the grease composition is liable to cause an abnormal noise.
When an equipment to be driven by an automotive engine such as a pulley is operated under cold condition, there is a case in which an abnormal sound (sound similar to that generated by playing flute), so-called a low-temperature abnormal noise, is generated. Although the reason why the low-temperature abnormal noise is generated has not been clarified, it is supposed that the abnormal noise is generated owing to a self-excited vibration of a rolling element caused by nonuniformity of an oil film of grease. Specifically, under cold condition, the oil film on the raceway surface is liable to be nonuniform owing to a rise of the viscosity of the base oil of the grease. The nonuniformity of the oil film causes the coefficient of friction between the rolling element and the raceway surface to make a slight periodical change. Thereby the rolling element generates the self-excited vibration. Owing to the self-excited vibration, the pulley system resonates with the rolling element. As a result, the outer ring vibrates axially (translational motion) to generate the low-temperature abnormal noise.
As the grease excellent in the durability at the high temperature and preventing the generation of the low-temperature abnormal noise, grease containing a base oil composed of a mixed oil of synthetic hydrocarbon oil and ester synthetic oil having eight or more ester groups arranged in a comb-like fashion on one side of eight or more carbon atoms constituting chain molecules of oil, an urea compound mixed with the base oil as a thickener, and dithiophosphate added to the base oil as an extreme-pressure agent is known (see patent document 1).
A bearing for use in an automotive pulley which includes a grease composition containing a base oil composed of a mixed oil of poly-α-olefin (hereinafter abbreviated as PAO) oil and an ester oil, an alicyclic diurea compound mixed with the base oil as a thickener, and zinc dithiocarbamate as an additive added to the base oil is known. In the bearing, a contact angle is formed by bringing each of a plurality of balls interposed between an inner ring and an outer ring both constituting the bearing into contact with the inner ring or with at least the outer ring at two points (see patent document 2).    Patent document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-208982    Patent document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-270566
These attempts are aimed at the stability of the oil film under cold condition to prevent the generation of the low-temperature abnormal noise, and at a long life of the grease composition at the high temperature. But only the mixture of the synthetic hydrocarbon oil and the ester oil is incapable of obtaining an effect of sufficiently preventing the generation of the low-temperature abnormal noise.

Grease composition and grease-enclosed rolling bearing


A manufacturing method for an optical waveguide device. The manufacturing method includes the steps of forming an optical waveguide in a substrate having an electro-optic effect, forming an SiO2 film on the substrate, forming Si films on the SiO2 film, the lower surface of the substrate, and at least a part of the side surface of the substrate to thereby make a conduction between the Si film formed on the SiO2 film and the Si film formed on the lower surface of the substrate. The manufacturing method further includes the steps of applying a photoresist to the Si film formed on the SiO2 film, patterning the photoresist so that a portion of the photoresist corresponding to the optical waveguide is left, forming a groove on the substrate along the optical waveguide by reactive ion etching, and removing the photoresist and the Si films.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical waveguide device and a manufacturing method therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
An optical device using an optical waveguide has increased in necessity with the evolution of optical communication, and it is used as an optical modulator, optical demultiplexers, optical switch, or optical wavelength converter, for example. Known examples of the optical waveguide include an optical waveguide formed by diffusing titanium (Ti) in a LiNbO3 crystal substrate, an optical waveguide formed by depositing SiO2 on an silicon (Si) Si substrate, and a polymer optical waveguide. As a practical external modulator, a Mach-Zehnder type optical modulator (LN modulator) using a dielectric crystal substrate such as a lithium niobate (LiNbO3) crystal substrate has been developed. Carrier light having a constant intensity from a light source is supplied to the LN modulator to obtain an optical signal intensity-modulated by a switching operation using the interference of light.
The LN modulator includes a dielectric substrate formed from a Z-cut lithium niobate crystal, a pair of optical waveguides formed in the upper surface of the substrate by thermally diffusing titanium (Ti) in the substrate to thereby increase a refractive index, these optical waveguides being combined together near their opposite ends, an SiO2 buffer layer formed on each optical waveguide, and a signal electrode (traveling wave electrode) and a grounding electrode formed on the buffer layers so as to respectively correspond to these optical waveguides. Signal light input from one end of the combined optical waveguides is split at one junction thereof to propagate in the optical waveguides. When a drive voltage is applied to the signal electrode formed over one of the optical waveguides, a phase difference is produced between the split signal lights propagating in the optical waveguides by an electro-optic effect.
In the LN modulator, these signal lights are recombined to be taken out as optical signal outputs. By applying the drive voltage so that the phase difference between the signal lights propagating in the two optical waveguides becomes 0 or π, an on/off pulse signal can be obtained. As a recent LN modulator, the development of a modulator having a high-frequency band of 40 Gb/s has been pursued to realize a higher modulation rate. To reduce a propagation loss and ensure a high-frequency band characteristic in the above-mentioned high-frequency band, it is indispensable to form a groove having a depth of several micrometers between the electrodes along the optical waveguides in the LN modulator. This groove is formed usually by using an RIE (reactive ion etching) dry etching device.
The conventional technique of forming the groove by using the RIE dry etching device has the following problems.
(1) The LN substrate as the base of the LN modulator is a ferroelectric member, so that polarization due to temperature fluctuations occurs and when an electric field on one surface of the substrate reaches about 6,000 V, discharging occurs to cause the damage to a wafer due to discharge shock. In particular, when a sudden temperature change (5° C./min or more) occurs, the damage to the wafer becomes remarkable. The RIE device for use in forming the groove as mentioned above employs a high-frequency power supply, which causes a sudden temperature change to the wafer. As a result, the damage to the wafer easily occurs to cause a reduction in yield.
(2) The RIE device is divided into a load lock chamber (loading chamber) for setting the wafer or taking it out and an etching chamber for actually performing RIE. The wafer is automatically transferred between the load lock chamber and the etching chamber. However, since the LN wafer exhibits a pyroelectric effect, it tends to stick to a metallic member. In a conventional manufacturing method for an LN modulator, the LN wafer sticks to a stage (aluminum electrode) provided in the etching chamber after etching of the LN wafer, so that the wafer cannot be automatically transferred to the load lock chamber.
Accordingly, every time the etching step is ended, the etching chamber is disassembled and a sharp member such as a razor blade is inserted between the wafer and the stage to forcibly separate the wafer from the stage. However, this wafer separating work may easily cause the damage to the wafer, thus remarkably reducing the yield. Further, the etching chamber disassembling work includes a dangerous operation of opening a breaker for the high-frequency power supply and manually disconnecting a signal line. Further, a cooling water pipe, gas induction pipe, etc. must be disconnected, causing a danger and trouble. Further, in reassembling the etching chamber, it is necessary to ensure the assembly accuracy of a wafer chucker, and even if there is a fine positioning error, gas leak occurs to result in generation of a temperature distribution in the LN wafer, thus leading to the damage to the wafer.
(3) In the RIE dry etching, a photoresist is used as a mask, and the LN wafer with the photoresist is etched. At a high temperature (120° C. or higher), the photoresist is erosively burned and oxidized. To prevent this problem, the wafer is cooled through the stage and maintained at a low temperature. Accordingly, a temperature difference is produced between the upper and lower surfaces of the wafer, thus leading to the damage to the wafer.
(4) In the step of patterning exposure of the photoresist for the RIE dry etching, the wafer and a glass mask are aligned. This alignment must be performed with accuracy of 2 μm or less, so as to ensure necessary characteristics. However, since the LN wafer itself is transparent, the luminance at the time of exposure lacks and an alignment marker cannot therefore be viewed, causing a pattern deviation. If the pattern deviation arises, the photoresist must be applied and patterned again, causing a reduction in nonadjusted ratio and a reduction in yield.

Optical waveguide device and manufacturing method therefor


A method for in-line leak testing of blow moulded containers wherein a conveyor line is fed with a continuous stream of blow moulded containers from a blow moulding machine, at least one measuring head is temporarily connected to a first blow moulded container. The measuring head is moved in order to follow the movement of said first blow moulded container which is pressurized by a source of pressurized gas, the source of pressurized gas is disconnected, said at least one measuring head is used to measure the pressure decay therein. The pressure decay is compared with stored data for the pressure decay of acceptable containers and an accept or non-accept signal is generated which implies proceeding or disposal of said first blow moulded container. The measuring head is moved against the moving direction of the conveyor line to a subsequent blow moulded container, and the process is repeated.

The present disclosure belongs to the technical field of testing of blow moulded containers, and more particularly to the leak testing of blow moulded containers. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a method for in-line leak testing of blow moulded containers. The present disclosure also concerns a machine for in-line leak testing of blow moulded containers.
Quality control of blow moulded containers such as bottles, jars or canisters is a must in the blow moulding industry. Among others, leak testing is an important part of the quality control. Leaks in containers may on the one hand lead to leaching of contained substance. On the other hand, oxygen can penetrate the protective barrier which a blow moulded container represents for foodstuff or beverage. Presence of oxygen leads to loss of quality and frequently to the total loss of food or beverage products. Leak testing before the container is used in packaging applications is therefore an important task in order to avoid significant economic and ecological loss.
Depending on size and structure of the containers, state-of-the-art blow moulding machines can provide several 10,000 containers per hour. Leak testing should not be a bottle neck and therefore be able to be fed with the production of the blow moulding. In order to do so in-line leak testing has been developed. Such in-line leak tester can take the whole production of a blow moulding machine, if necessary, by splitting the production stream into two or more lines which run in parallel.
The rate of testing is extremely important. Investment costs are high in the blow moulding industry and productivity decides if a production line is profitable or not. The overall measuring time for a container in an in-line leak tester should therefore be as short as possible.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,559,232 B2 discloses a machine for leak testing melt blown bottles including a base plate which is provided with a vacuum. Leak testing is performed by applying vacuum to the bottom area of the bottle. Small leaks and cracks can be detected by comparing the reduced pressure versus time curve of each bottle compared with data obtained from bottles without leaks.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,762,213 A discloses a method and an apparatus for detecting leaks in plastic bottles. The leak detector is sealingly engaged to the mouth of the bottle to be tested. Thereafter, a vacuum is drawn in the bottle. Reduced pressure versus time curve of each bottle is compared with data obtained from bottles without leaks.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,847,013 A describes filled-up and closed containers, such as aerosol cans, which are to be tested for leaks, and which are fed one after another, each into a separate chamber. The chambers are moving and are hermetically sealed along their path between an inlet and an outlet station. A gas sampling station disposed forwardly of the outlet serves to take a gas sample out of each chamber. Gas samples from chambers with leaking containers will show a different sample composition than gas samples from chambers with tight containers.
U.S. 3,938,368 A discloses leak testing of batteries which are moved along a first roller type conveyor to a leak testing station, above which is located an assembly having a plurality of nozzles matable over battery cell inlets. A first set of alternate cells is supplied with air at a given pressure, and metering means notes pressure changes. Thereupon, the remaining alternate cells receive the same treatment. If the cells do not leak, the battery advances from the testing station along the roller conveyor. If a leak is detected, a push bar connected to cable means below the rollers ejects the battery transversely from the testing station along to a second conveyor, thereby isolating leaky batteries either for removal or further testing to more precisely locate the leak.
EP 1320738 A2 discloses a method for leak testing closed containers with at least one flexible wall area, by moving a biasing member relatively to said wall area and measuring and monitoring a biasing force on said container. Containers with leaks will provide different measured biasing forces than containers without leaks.
US 2008072658 A1 discloses a machine for leak testing melt blown bottles including a base plate which is provided with a vacuum. Leak testing is performed by applying vacuum to the bottom area of the bottle. Small leaks and cracks can be detected by comparing the reduced pressure versus time curve of each bottle compared with data obtained from bottles without leaks. The machine also includes a turntable assembly which makes in-line testing feasible.
WO 2004083800 A1 discloses an in-line leak tester apparatus for detecting leaks in packages having a flexible cover such as contact lens packages. The flexible covers move in contact with an electromechanical switch when the atmospheric pressure surrounding the package is lowered.
U.S. 7,266,993 B2 discloses a portable apparatus and method for pneumatic testing of blow-molded containers with a top opening. The bottle sides are not touched during testing, the only contact between the apparatus and the containers is with a top surface of each of the containers.
DE 19721529 A1 describes an apparatus and a method for leak testing of blow-moulded bottles or containers. The bottles or containers are after moulding kept and moved in an auxiliary mould, and leak tested during the movement. Auxiliary moulds with space for two or more bottles with fixed distance to each other are feasible.
US 2003230135 A1 discloses a method and an apparatus for leak testing of moulded plastic containers. The containers are conveyed with fixed distances along a path, pressurized by using a source of pressurized fluid, sealed and leak tested.
DE 19524844 A1 discloses a method and an apparatus for leak testing of containers by lowering the pressure in the container in relation to ambient pressure outside the container. The containers are transported by a moving rubber tape which is sucked into the opening of the container. Containers with leaks fall off the rubber tape due to a pressure increase inside the container.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,495,441 A describes an apparatus for pressure testing plastic containers with a plurality of test stations to which the containers are transported by conveyors. The containers are aligned into fixed distances before arriving at the test stations.
Different methods for leak testing are known. Methods and machines for continuous leak testing of different items, including blow moulded products are known. However, none of the cited documents discloses methods or machines which allow continuous leak testing which is fast enough to be fed with the output of a blow moulding machine.
There is a need to provide methods and machine for fast and continuous leak testing of blow moulded containers.


An apparatus for insertion into a pocket of a saddle pad of an Equine English saddle. The apparatus includes a plurality of flexible polycarbonate layers encapsulated within a protective polyvinyl chloride skin. The apparatus is positioned within the pocket, on each side of the saddle pad, preventing interference between the shoulder blades of the Equine and the points of the saddle tree during natural movement of the Equine.

The apparatus and system disclosed herein is directed to the use of English saddles. English saddles are used to ride horses in English riding disciplines throughout the world. The discipline is not limited to England, the United Kingdom in general, or other countries. This style of saddle is used in all the Olympic and International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) equestrian disciplines, except for the newly approved FEI events of equestrian vaulting and reining.
Most designs were specifically developed to allow for the horse's increased freedom of movement, whether jumping, running, or moving quickly across rugged, broken country with fences. Unlike the western saddle or other saddles with horns, there is no horn or other design element that sticks out above the main tree of the saddle. Different approaches have been used since all species of Equine have been domesticated attempting to alleviate the Equine from excessive pressures created by the saddle tree. The saddle tree is the base on which the rest of the saddle is built, usually constructed of wood or a rigid synthetic material, with metal elements added, such as the stirrup bar and, in some cases, the gullet. It is eventually covered in leather or synthetic material as the saddle is built.
Traditionally, the saddle tree of an English saddle is constructed from laminated layers of high quality wood, reinforced with steel underneath the front arch, and around the rear underside of the tree from quarter to quarter. The sides of the tree that run horizontally along the horse's back are known as bars. Many modern saddle trees are fabricated from spring steel running from front to rear between the bars. These saddle trees are somewhat flexible and are known as "spring trees," with the degree of flexibility varying from saddle to saddle.
More recently, saddle manufacturers are using various materials to replace wood and create a synthetic molded tree. Synthetic materials vary widely in quality. Polyurethane trees are often very well-made and some inexpensive saddles are made with fiberglass trees.
Leather is added on all sides of the tree to create the seat, flaps and panels. The panels are the part of an English saddle which provides cushioning between the horse's back and the saddle. They allow adjustment in fitting the saddle to the horse and are important. Often stuffed with wool or foam flocking, or maintained by sealed air pockets. The panels under the cantle (back of the saddle, which is raised higher than the seat to give security) are called the "rear panels." Those at the front of the saddle are called the "front panels." However, the rear and front panels are one continuous unit, which can be seen if the saddle is flipped over. The saddle has two panels total, one on each side of the horse's spine.
The terms saddle blanket, saddle pad, and saddle cloth refer to blankets, pads or fabrics inserted under a saddle. These are usually used to absorb sweat, cushion the saddle, and protect the horse's back. Saddle blankets have been used for many centuries with all types of saddles. Some are a single thickness, others are made to be folded and used with a double thickness. Although a pad or blanket cannot take the place of a properly fitted saddle, pads with shims or blankets with a special design can partially compensate for minor fitting problems.
English saddles typically use a shaped pad. The original purpose of the English saddle pad was simply to protect the saddle from dirt and sweat, as the panels of the English saddle provided the necessary padding and protection for the horse. The pad is shaped to fit the outline of the saddle and are also used to alter the balance of a saddle and to compensate for fit problems. In addition, square pads have become a popular style for show jumping and dressage, in part because of the ability to add insignia to the corners. There are additional newer types of English saddle pads such as the "riser" pad, which is thicker in the back than the front. Other pads are made with an opening to allow extra room for the withers of the horse, some are shaped to compensate for lordosis or swayback, and many modern materials are used, such as gel or memory foam to absorb shock, and modern synthetic materials with wicking properties to absorb moisture.
The objective of saddle pads presently available in the industry is to protect the area of the Equine's back that are exposed to the saddle. The average saddle pad can do little to keep a saddle from impinging on the rotating scapulae (shoulder blades) of an Equine while they are in motion. Rigging and girths often must be fitted to an individual animal for optimum placement of the saddle on a given Equine's back.


A self-healing coating includes a polymer matrix, a polymerizer, and a set of capsules containing a corresponding activator for the polymerizer. The polymerizer may be present in another set of capsules, or the polymerizer may be phase separated from the polymer matrix. The coating may be prepared by depositing a coating composition on a substrate and solidifying the coating composition, where the coating composition includes the polymerizer, the activator capsules and a matrix precursor. A combination of polymerizer capsules and activator capsules may be part of a kit, which may be used to provide self-healing properties to a coating. The polymerizer and the activator may be wet-curable, and coatings containing the polymerizer and activator may be able to self-heal when in contact with water.

Cracks that form within materials can be difficult to detect and almost impossible to repair. A successful method of autonomically repairing cracks that has the potential for significantly increasing the longevity of materials has been described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,518,330. This self-healing system includes a material containing, for example, solid particles of Grubbs catalyst and capsules containing liquid dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) embedded in an epoxy matrix. When a crack propagates through the material, it ruptures the microcapsules and releases DCPD into the crack plane. The DCPD then mixes with the Grubbs catalyst, undergoes Ring Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP), and cures to provide structural continuity where the crack had been.
Crack formation in coatings can be especially problematic, since coatings are often present to protect the substrate onto which they have been coated. For example, metal substrates may be coated with a layer of material to prevent or inhibit corrosion of the metal. A crack in such a coating typically leads to corrosion of the underlying metal, resulting in expensive and wasteful repair or replacement of some or all of a part made from the metal. To ensure the integrity of the metal, it may be necessary to replace the coating periodically, regardless of whether cracks actually have formed. Coatings also may be used in the form of primers, paints, stains, sealers and topcoats. Substrates for these coatings include building materials, windows, electronics, automotive parts, marine parts and aerospace parts. These coatings may protect the underlying material from corrosion, moisture, bacterial growth, ultraviolet radiation and/or mechanical impact.
It is desirable to provide a coating that can self-heal when subjected to a crack and that can maintain the protection of the substrate from the surrounding environment. It is also desirable to provide a coating that can self-heal under normal use conditions, for example in air, in water or in saline environments, and at room temperature.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois


Disc brake with a floating calliper and controlled brake piston, a movement conversion cartridge (200) comprising a rear part which is supported against the base of the receptacle in the calliper and a control shaft (220) which passes through the base. The cartridge (200) is retained in place by a cage (490) which is locked resiliently on the wall of the receptacle. The piston (270) comprises longitudinal ribs (274) which are placed in longitudinal grooves provided in the receptacle, with interposition of an anti-deformation device (400) interposed between the branches (274) of the piston (270) and the grooves of the receptacle of the calliper, and comprising a ring (410) which supports lugs (420) distributed according to the branches (274) and having cylindrical tongues which are curved according to the form of the cross section of the branches, and thus ensure the locking in rotation of the conversion piston (270), whilst permitting its movement of translation.

A disc brake of this type is already known, which is described in document EP 1 936 227. This document concerns in particular a process for assembly of a disc brake, and in particular the assembly of the cartridge which converts the movement of rotation of the brake lever into a movement of translation of the brake piston, in order to apply the parking brake, or release it.
In this assembly, the rear part of the cartridge comprises a pin which goes into a hole in the base of the receptacle which receives the cartridge in the cylinder of the brake calliper. This embodiment is relatively complicated to produce and install; in addition, the pin is subjected to substantial rotation forces when the hand brake is activated.

Disc brake having a conversion cartridge provided with an anti-matting device


A device for generating a rocking motion in child recliners and the like includes a lift drive with a coupling element, wherein the coupling element of the lift drive can be brought directly into engagement with the recliner in a detachable manner without intermediate elements and assembly operations.

The present invention concerns a device for generating a rocking motion in child recliners and the like, comprising a lift drive with coupling element. With the aid of such devices it is possible to set children's reclining chairs, baby carriages and the like into an even rocking motion in order to calm the child without the caretaker having to act himself.
An automatic rocking device of this type is known from DE-OS 25 41 935, for example, wherein the rocking device is mounted and braced by special inelastic securing cords between the axle of a baby carriage and the pushing handle. The rocking device itself consists of an eccentric drive which generates a lifting motion by means of a linkage and continuously changes the distance between the axle and the pushing handle with the aid of the securing cords, whereby a rocking motion of the baby carriage results.
The basic disadvantage of this rocking device which is braced between the axle and the pushing handle lies in the fact that the spring action of the baby carriage is lost, which is necessary to insulate the baby carriage basket from unevenesses of the ground. Accordingly, when pushing the baby carriage, the advantage of the imposed even rocking is bought with the disadvantage of the loss of the spring action and consequently with a more unsteady riding behavior. This leads to having to remove the rocking device along with the securing cords before pushing the baby carriage over longer distances. Later, these elements must be reinstalled while simultaneously prestressing the distance between pushing handle and axle.
Even more involved is the use of the known rocking device with children's recliners, because the rocking device can only transform the lifting motion into a rocking motion when the securing cord can be installed and prestressed between the reclining chair and an external fixed point.


A gas generator, particularly for a vehicle occupant restraint system, has at least one igniter (12), a pyrotechnic solid propellant bed (22), a combustion chamber (20) containing the propellant bed (22) and at least one wall part (24), the wall part (24) being arranged in the combustion chamber (20), which is moved by a gas stream generated on activation of the gas generator into the region of the propellant bed (22) which is not yet ignited, and in its interior (25) defines a gas-directing channel reaching into the propellant bed (22).

Gas generators of this type are either solid propellant generators or so-called hybrid generators having a combustion chamber with solid propellant and with compressed gas. When it is activated electrically, the igniter generates hot gas and particles which ignite the pyrotechnic charge in the combustion chamber. Usually, the pyrotechnic solid propellant bed consists of a loose, i.e. random fill of small solid propellant tablets. The propellant bed is ignited from one side, and the resulting gas then flows through the part of the solid propellant which is not yet ignited, which more or less impedes the outflow of the resulting gas. A holding back of the gas can occur particularly in combustion chambers which are elongated and are ignited from one end side, i.e. combustion chambers with a small cross-section in relation to their length. This is spoken of here in terms of a so-called "jamming", in which the generated gas can not be carried off quickly enough. Furthermore, after-burning phenomena can occur. The gas accumulation can also lead to the compacting of the tablets and to a fracture of individual tablets, so that during the igniting, a compacting takes place of the propellant which is not yet ignited, which further intensifies the above effects. Therefore, a slower burning of the propellant is caused, owing to the smaller surface, so that the rise in pressure of the outflowing gas can be negatively influenced. The reproducibility of the pressure curve, with respect to the gas flowing out from the gas generator, is made difficult.
EP 0 997 356 B1 or U.S. Pat. No. 5,882,036 therefore propose additionally incorporating a filter-like spacer between the inner side of the combustion chamber wall and the propellant bed, which spacer is spaced radially from the inner side of the combustion chamber wall and provides for outflow channels. The gas which is being produced can flow quickly via these channels to other regions of the propellant charge and ignite them, or the gas can also flow out quickly without hindrance through the remaining propellant via the channels.
The expenditure for such a construction is to be reduced by the invention, because the cylindrical filter elements must be relatively stable in construction, so as not to be pressed radially outwards against the inner side of the combustion chamber wall and so as not to constrict or close the channels in the case of the pressure which is produced.


A radio device receives control information from a node of the wireless communication network. The control information is used for controlling semi-persistent allocation of radio resources of an unlicensed frequency spectrum. Based on the control information, the radio device controls at least one UL radio transmission on the radio resources of the unlicensed frequency spectrum.

Wireless communication networks, such as wireless communication networks based on the LTE (Long Term Evolution) technology specified by 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Proiect), typically operate in a licensed frequency spectrum, i.e., on frequency resources which are dedicated to a certain radio technology and operator. Further, also the utilization of radio resources from an unlicensed frequency spectrum, e.g., in the 5 GHz or 3.5 GHz frequency band, may be possible. Typically, radio resources from such unlicensed frequency spectrum are shared with another operator or one or more other radio technologies. The unlicensed spectrum is used as a complement to the licensed spectrum or allows completely standalone operation.
In the LTE technology radio resources from an unlicensed frequency spectrum may be utilized on the basis of a technology referred to as "Licensed-Assisted Access" (LAA). Aspects of the LAA technology are discussed in 3GPP TR 36.889 V13.0.0 (2015-06). In the LAA technology the unlicensed spectrum is used as a complement to the licensed spectrum. Using carriers from the licensed spectrum, a UE (user equipment) connects to the network. The carriers from the licensed spectrum are also referred to as primary cell or PCell. In addition one or more additional carriers, referred to as secondary cell or SCell, from the unlicensed spectrum are used to enhance transmission capacity. For this purpose, a carrier aggregation functionality of the LTE technology is utilized. The carrier aggregation functionality allows to aggregate two or more carriers, i.e., frequency channels. In a typical LAA scenario, at least one of the aggregated carriers is from the licensed spectrum and at least one of the aggregated carriers is from the unlicensed spectrum.
Due to regulatory requirements, transmissions in the unlicensed spectrum are typically permitted only with prior channel sensing, transmission power limitations, and/or imposed maximum channel occupancy time. To take into account that the radio resources from the unlicensed spectrum are shared with other operators or other radio technologies, an LBT (listen-before-talk) procedure may need to be performed before proceeding to a transmission in the unlicensed spectrum. Typically, the LBT procedure involves sensing the carrier for a pre-defined minimum amount of time and backing off if the carrier is busy. If on the other hand the transmissions on the radio resources are coordinated in a centralized manner, like by dynamic scheduling as used in the LTE technology, performance may be significantly degraded because situations may occur where the centralized scheduling may grant a transmission, but the transmission is not possible because the carrier is busy, or situations may occur where the carrier would be free, but a transmission was not granted by the centralized scheduling. In the case of the LAA technology, this may for example effect the performance of uplink (UL) transmissions from the UE to the network. However, good performance for the UL transmissions is becoming more relevant, e.g., due to increasing usage of user-centric applications and an increasing need to push data to cloud storage.
A degradation of performance when using the LTE technology in the unlicensed spectrum may also arise from unfair competition with other radio technologies. For example, the unlicensed 5 GHz band is currently mainly used by WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) communication according to the IEEE 802.11 standard family. According to these standards, a device can asynchronously access a given frequency channel, without requiring any centralized coordination. As compared to the LTE technology, which uses centralized scheduling, this increases the chances of gaining access to the frequency channel, in particular in congested network conditions. Accordingly, a UE which tries to gain access to a certain carrier from the unlicensed spectrum for an LAA based UL transmission will have less chances to gain access to the carrier than a WLAN device operating on a frequency channel which at least partially overlaps with this carrier.
Accordingly, there is a need for techniques which allow for efficient control of UL radio transmissions in an unlicensed spectrum.

Control of uplink radio transmissions on semi-persistently allocated resources


A method and an apparatus for providing multiple ports to a single port device are provided. According to the present invention, single port devices that are incapable of communicating across a shared communication bus, and therefore require a point to point communication channel, may be interconnected to multiple hosts using a switch assembly. The switch assembly selectively establishes a communication path between a single host and a device. Additionally, the present invention provides a method and apparatus by which computer subsystems, such as RAID storage subsystems, may be implemented using inexpensive storage devices. Furthermore, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for providing a high reliability computer subsystem by configuring the subsystem such that no single active component failure will result in the failure of the entire subsystem.

Computer systems require reliable storage for large amounts of data. Often, redundant arrays of independent (or inexpensive) disks (RAID) devices are used to provide such storage. In general, RAID devices involve storing data on a plurality of hard disk drives. The use of RAID techniques increases the reliability and/or speed of data storage and retrieval. Although there are various schemes, or RAID levels, according to which data may be stored and retrieved, RAID systems all generally involve the distribution of data across multiple storage devices. The distribution and retrieval of data from the devices is usually performed by a controller interconnected to each of the storage devices in the RAID system.
In order to further enhance the fault tolerant aspects of data storage, it is desirable to ensure that there is no single point of failure within a storage subsystem. Therefore, in addition to distributing data among a number of storage devices, high reliability storage systems have used two controllers, to allow the storage system to continue to operate even if a fault develops with respect to the primary controller. In such systems, the storage devices must be capable of passing data to and receiving data and commands from either of the controllers. Accordingly, high reliability storage systems have typically used small computer system interface (SCSI) or Fibre Channel type storage devices, that can be operated on a shared bus and/or provide multiple ports for interconnecting to controllers.
Although SCSI and fiber channel compliant devices facilitate the use of redundant controllers in a storage system, such devices are typically much more expensive than devices that are not capable of operating in connection with a shared communication bus. However, less expensive devices, such as those adhering to the advanced technology attachment (ATA) or serial ATA (SATA) standards must be interconnected with a controller in a point to point relationship (i.e. over a dedicated signal line). Accordingly, high reliability systems, such as RAID storage systems, using redundant device controllers have been required to use the more expensive SCSI or Fibre Channel devices.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide for redundant or multiple hosts or controllers in connection with inexpensive devices. Furthermore, it would be advantageous to allow devices incapable of operation on a shared bus to be interconnected to a number of hosts or controllers in a way that is reliable, and that is itself relatively inexpensive to implement.

Method and apparatus for dual porting a single port serial ATA disk drive


Aspects of the disclosure relate to a handheld device equipped with arrays of force sensors located along both sides of the device that can provide a novel user interface for operating the device. The sensors can be configured to recognize various grip patterns, gestures, and biometric information of a user operating the device. Using the arrays of force sensors in addition to a touchscreen, a new paradigm for operating a handheld device is provided.

A touchscreen display is a user interface commonly used in recent handheld devices, for example, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smartphone, a portable multimedia player (PMP), a tablet computer, a digital camera, and the like. Interactions on a touchscreen handheld device are typically confined to x and y coordinates on the touchscreen display. While additional interaction in the z-plane may be added to measure touch force, a major limitation in interacting with such handheld devices still exists because two-handed operation is generally required (i.e., holding the device with one hand while interacting with the other hand). Thus, it may be difficult to execute two-handed operations, which are often needed when a user attempts to select small targets, or when fine dynamic motor movement is required for target manipulation on the screen.

Grip force sensor array for one-handed and multimodal interaction on handheld devices and methods


A Multi-Domain Measurement System has an oscilloscope unit and a power probe unit. The oscilloscope unit comprises an analog input channel for receiving a measured analog signal and a first digital interface for receiving digitized measurement values from said power probe unit. The power probe unit is connected to the first digital interface for providing digitized measurements of a power supply signal. The power probe unit and the analog input channel are assigned to a device under test for simultaneously measuring signals in different domains. The power probe unit has a power probe measurement channel providing a vertical digitizing resolution that is at least two times higher than a vertical digitizing resolution of the analog input channel.

The power consumption of radio frequency modules and chip sets, especially of battery-powered modules and chip sets, is a critical design feature that directly influences the usability. To improve the usability, the power consumption of the device has to be reduced as much as possible.
For optimization and debugging of the power consumption during the design process of the radio frequency module or chip set, the power consumption has to be correlated with analog radio frequency signals and digital outputs of the module or chip set.
However, power supply signals for measuring power consumption, the analog RF signals and digital logic signals lie within different measurement domains, i.e. the power domain, the analog domain and the digital domain, respectively.

Multi-domain measurement system as well as use of a multi-domain measurement system

Abstract: Further, uses of a Multi-Domain Measurement System are provided.


A projection-type display apparatus in which the entry of light rays to the back side of liquid crystal light valves from dichroic prism that composes optical system light synthesizer is prevented. To this end, a projection display according to the present invention preferably includes a color synthesizer for combining colored and modulated light beams, comprising: a square column dichroic prism composed of four triangle prisms having equal refractive index together whose cross sections are right isosceles triangles such that three light valves are located adjacent to three exterior peripheral surfaces of dichroic prism to receive colored and modulated light beams therefrom and; a filter for absorbing light with a specified wavelength range, leaked from surface of dichroic prism at the opposite side of incident light surface and directed to liquid crystal light valve, the filter being located between liquid crystal light valves and surface of dichroic prism. As for construction of the dichroic prism itself, specifically, of the four aforementioned triangular prisms, the first triangular prism and the aforementioned third triangular prism are mutually affixed in a condition in which there is a first step difference in the vertical direction. The first exposed side is formed on one edge of the affixed side of the first triangular prism. Similarly, the second triangular prism and the fourth triangular prism are attached to each other such that there is a second step difference on the same edge, and a second exposed side is formed on one edge of the affixed surface of the second triangular prism. Further, the first and the third triangular prisms and the second and the fourth triangular prisms are attached, with a step difference between them, in such a way that the aforementioned first exposed side and the aforementioned second exposed side are located on the edges facing the same direction; and a third exposed surface that is orthogonal to the aforementioned first and second exposed surfaces is formed between the aforementioned first triangular prism and the aforementioned second triangular prism.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a projection-type display apparatus enlarging and projecting color light image onto a screen through a projection lens by decomposing the white light beam from a light source into three-color light beams of red, blue, and green, modulating these colored light beams through a light valves comprising liquid crystal panels according to given video information and recombining the modulated light beams of different colors after modulation. More specifically, the present invention relates to a structure for preventing light cross talking on the dichroic prism that comprises the light synthesizer in the optical system for such a projection-type display apparatus. The invention also relates to a dichroic prism structure for accurate assembling.
2. Description of the Related Art
Fundamentally, a projection-type display apparatus comprises a light source a color separator segregating white light beam emitted from a light source into three primary color light beams, three liquid crystal light valves modulating three color light beams, a light synthesizer synthesizing modulated color light beams and a projection lens enlarging and projecting synthesized, modulated light beam onto a screen.
As color synthesizer, the dichroic prism is a well-known. For embodiment, the structure of a dichroic prism was disclosed in laid-open Japanese patent applications S39-20049 and S62-1391 by the present applicants. As described in these publications, the dichroic prism is composed of four triangle prisms of the same shape that are affixed together. On the X-shaped fixing surface, a dielectric film reflector surface is formed that has the ability selectively to reflect a given color. However, there are several notable problems in the manufacture of such prisms, as will be discussed below.
First, as indicated in FIG. 24 , the modulated colored light beams that have passed through liquid crystal light valves 925 R, G, and B and that pass through prism unit 910, are reflected by its X-shaped reflecting surfaces (9100R, 9101R, 9100B, 9101B), and are emitted to the side of projection liens unit 6. A small amount of light, however, fails to be reflected by the X-shaped reflecting surface; it passes through the reflecting surface and sometimes reaches the backside of the liquid crystal light valve that is located across prism unit 910. For example, the blue modulated light beam may occasionally pass through blue reflecting surfaces 9100B and 9101B, exit from the incident surface 910R for the red light beam, and reach here from the backside of red liquid crystal light valve 925R. Conversely, the red modulated light beam may sometimes pass through red reflecting surfaces 9100R and 9101R, and reach here from the incident surface 910B for the blue light beam and from the back side of blue liquid crystal light valve 925B. Moreover, the green modulated light beam may sometimes be reflected to the side of red liquid crystal light valve 925R instead of passing through prism unit 910. Light striking the backside of liquid crystal light valve 925R in this manner could have a deleterious effect, such as causing a malfunction of the liquid crystal panel. Blue light with a short wavelength can have a particularly significant influence in this regard.
Secondly, if these four prisms are not precisely aligned in a dichroic prism that is used as a color synthesizer in a projection-type display apparatus, the images formed by the different colors synthesized through the dichroic prism thus obtained may become misaligned on the screen, thus resulting in poor image quality. For example, as shown in FIG. 20, such a problem arises when bumps exist between fixed surfaces. The following conventional method has been proposed to fix prisms accurately: for example, as shown in FIG. 21, a pair of prisms 910a and 910b from the four prisms 910a, 910b, 910c, and 910d are fixed with a step difference between them; the remaining pair of prisms, 910c and 910d, are likewise fixed with a step difference between them. After that, step difference surfaces 910e and 910f are used as positional alignment surfaces in order to affix the pairs of prisms. This method is described in Japanese application S39-20049 referenced above.
Although this method works well for positionally aligning prisms in one direction, however, it cannot align prisms in the orthogonal direction thereto. Specifically, when four prisms are fixed, the center of the X-shaped fixation surface cannot be determined accurately.


An NMR imaging system includes an apparatus for producing a magnetic field gradient within an imaging volume into which the object being imaged is placed. The relatively linear region of the magnetic field gradient is adjusted depending upon the size of the object. The apparatus comprises a source of a gradient signal and four saddle coils positioned in quadrant of a sheet that is wrapped around a cylindrical form. Each saddle coil has a spiral shaped conductive pattern on which are located a primary termination point and a pair of secondary termination points. A switch mechanism connects the four saddle coils in series with the source of a gradient signal, so that voltage from the gradient signal is applied between the primary termination point and a selected secondary termination point of each saddle coil. A control signal applied to the switch mechanism indicates selected secondary termination point and the signal varies according to the size of the object.

The field of the invention is magnetic resonance imaging systems, such as those used for medical diagnosis; and more particularly, to coils employed in such systems to establish magnetic field gradients within a region of interest.
Any nucleus which possesses a magnetic moment attempts to align itself with the direction of the magnetic field in which it is located. In doing so, however, the nucleus precesses around this direction at a characteristic angular frequency (Larmor frequency) which is dependent on the strength of the magnetic field and on the properties of the specific nuclear species (the magnetogyric constant .gamma. of the nucleus). Nuclei which exhibit this phenomena are referred to herein as "spins".
When a substance such as human tissue is subjected to a uniform magnetic field (polarizing field B.sub.0), the individual magnetic moments of the spins in the tissue attempt to align with this polarizing field, but precess about it in random order at their characteristic Larmor frequency. A net magnetic moment M.sub.z is produced in the direction of the polarizing field, but randomly oriented magnetic components in the perpendicular, or transverse, plane (X-Y plane) cancel one another. If the substance or tissue is subjected to a magnetic field (excitation field B.sub.1) which is in the X-Y plane and which is near the Larmor frequency, the net aligned moment (M.sub.z) may be rotated, or "tipped", into the X-Y plane to produce a net transverse magnetic moment M.sub.t, which is rotating, or spinning, in the X-Y plane at the Larmor frequency. The practical value of this phenomenon resides in the electrical signal which is emitted by the excited spins after the excitation signal B.sub.1 is terminated. There are a wide variety of measurement sequences in which this nuclear magnetic resonance ("NMR") phenomena is exploited.
When utilizing NMR to produce images, a technique is employed to obtain NMR signals from specific locations in the subject. Typically, the region which is to be imaged (region of interest) is scanned by a sequence of NMR measurement cycles which vary according to the particular localization method being used. The region of interest may be a small portion of a patient's anatomy, such as the head or heart, or a much larger portion, such as the entire thorax. The resulting set of received NMR signals are digitized and processed to reconstruct the image using one of many well known reconstruction techniques. To perform such a scan, it is, of course, necessary to elicit NMR signals from specific locations in the subject. This is accomplished by employing magnetic fields (Gx, Gy, and Gz) which have the same direction as the polarizing field B.sub.0, but which have a gradient along the respective X, Y and Z axes. The magnetic field gradients are produced by a trio of coil assemblies placed around the object being imaged. By controlling the strength of these gradients during each NMR cycle, the spatial distribution of spin excitation can be controlled and the location of the resulting NMR signals can be identified.
In order to accommodate the imaging of large portions of a patient, each gradient field coil assembly must produce a magnet field that varies linearly along one axis of a very large volume. This requirement necessitates a substantial amount of power to drive the coils and the ability to vary the field at relatively high speed. Even when the region of interest is relatively small, the power consumption of the conventional gradient coils remains the same as for larger regions.
Patients being imaged can experience peripheral nerve stimulation, if the amplitude and temporal rate of change of the gradient fields are great enough. For example, during imaging of the thorax, the head of the patient is positioned in the fringe region of the gradient field where it is exposed to a cross-term of the field. This exposure can produce small electric currents in the patient's head which stimulate the nerves, in the nose for example, and producing an annoying sensation. Although not life threatening, this phenomenon can be considered invasive and desirable to avoid.

Multiple tap gradient field coil for magnetic resonance imaging


Various attributes for medical CAD analysis used alone or in combination are disclosed, including: (1) using medical sensor data and context information associated with the configuration of the medical system to provide recommendations for further acts to be performed for more accurate or different diagnosis, (2) recommending further acts to be performed and providing an indication of the importance of the further act for further diagnosis, (3) distributing the computer-assisted diagnosis software and/or database over multiple systems, and (4) transmitting patient data to a remote system for CAD diagnosis and using the results of the CAD diagnosis at the remote facility.

The present invention relates to computer-assisted diagnosis. In particular, architectures for computer-assisted diagnosis (CAD) systems and guidance for increasing the probability of a diagnosis are provided.
CAD subsystems are used for X-ray mammography. Using filters, neural networks or other CAD processes, regions of suspected lesions or microcalcifications are identified. The regions are then highlighted to the user for review and diagnosis. However, this feedback provides limited information to the user for assisting in diagnosis.
In medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging, limited diagnostic guidance is provided. Since ultrasound images may be easier to interpret better by experienced users, novice users may have trouble following protocols and interpreting images or identifying associated measurements needed or useful for diagnosis. Novice sonographers or even experienced sonographers using transducer probes with difficult to position or interpret scan planes may spend more time or not attain as ideal information as possible. Ultrasound systems typically have on-line or system-based help functions. The user searches or otherwise identifies a subject of interest and the system provides a prepared text regarding the subjective interest. The help is organized in terms of contents, index or search topics directed to operation or use of the ultrasound system. However, limited or no information is provided for assisting in diagnosis.

Computer aided diagnostic assistance for medical imaging


A set of tape holding cases including at least two cases of a first type and at least two cases of a second type, with the cases of the first type housing image receiving tape of respectively different tape parameters and cases of the second type housing image transfer tape of respectively different tape parameters. Each case of the first type has a first cooperating component, depending on the tape parameter of image receiving tape, and each case of the second type has a second cooperating component, depending on the tape parameter of image transfer tape. The first and second cooperating components are arranged to selectively cooperate with each other to allow cooperation only of a properly selected case of the first type with any one of the cases of the second type and otherwise to exclude cooperation of the cases. Also, a thermal printing device having cassette receiving portions for these tape holding cases for use in thermal transfer printing.

Thermal printing devices of the general type with which the present invention is concerned are known. They operate with a supply of tape arranged to receive an image and means for transferring an image onto the tape. In one known device, a tape holding case holds a supply of image receiving tape and a supply of an image transfer ribbon, the image receiving tape and the transfer ribbon being passed in overlap through a printing zone of the printing device. At the print zone, a thermal print head cooperates with a platen to transfer an image from the transfer ribbon to the tape. A printing device operating with a tape holding case of this type is described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,815,871, (Varitronics, Inc.). Other printing devices have been made in which letters are transferred to an image receiving tape by a dry lettering or dry film impression process. In all of these printing devices, the construction of the image receiving tape is substantially the same. That is, it comprises an upper layer for receiving an image which is secured to a releaseable backing layer by a layer of adhesive.
Once an image or message has been printed on the tape, that portion of the tape is cut off to enable it to be used as a label. The releaseable backing layer is removed from the upper layer to enable the upper layer to be secured to a surface by means of the adhesive layer.
In another known printing device, described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,927,278, (Brother Kogyo K.K.), a tape holding case houses a supply of a transparent image receiving tape and a supply of an image transfer ribbon. The tape holding case also houses a supply of backing tape which comprises a carrier layer having an adhesive layer on its underside to which is secured a releaseable backing sheet and an adhesive layer on its upper side which can be secured to the image receiving tape after an image has been printed thereon. In this device, the image is printed onto the image receiving tape as a mirror image which, when viewed through the image receiving tape, is the correct way round. With this device, the print is protected when the label is used.
In all of these devices, the color of the label and the color of the print are predetermined by the contents of the tape holding case. By the color of the label reference is made to the upper layer of the image receiving tape of the apparatus described in EP-A-0267890 and to the carrier layer of the device described with reference to EP-0322918. The color of the print is determined by the color of the image transfer ribbon. Thus labels of one particular color can only be printed with ink of a particular color. Moreover, because the image receiving tape and image transfer tape are in the same tape holding case, they will run out together.
In another device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,480,936, two separate cassettes are provided which clip together to form a single unit which can then be inserted in a machine, the cassettes supplying ink ribbon and substrate tape from a side location towards a print station. In order to replace one cassette with another it is necessary to unclip the cassettes, replace the required cassette and reclip the new cassettes together before inserting them in a device. This makes the system awkward to use.
In another device, there are two cassettes with an ink ribbon cassette being located within a substrate tape cassette in a nested fashion, on a common side of the print zone. This means that it is fiddly and awkward to remove the ink ribbon cassette to change it. Also, the external dimensions of the ink ribbon cassette are determined by the dimensions of the substrate tape so that its size or capacity could only be increased at the expense of the substrate tape.
One printing device which overcomes the above problems is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,423. That document discloses a printing device which has first and second cassette receiving portions arranged on opposed sides of a printing zone. The first cassette receiving portion is for receiving a tape holding case housing a supply of image transfer ribbon. The second cassette receiving portion is for receiving a tape holding case housing a supply of image receiving tape. In this way, the first and second tape holding cases can be individually removable and replaceable.
That printing device has a wide range of applications. However, it has the restriction that the widths of image receiving tape which are available currently have a maximum width of 19 mm. At present, tape widths of 6 mm, 12 mm and 19 mm of image receiving tape are available. These all cooperate with image transfer ribbon having a width of 19 mm. However, it is desirable to provide larger widths of image receiving tape, for example 24 mm and 32 mm. Clearly, image transfer ribbon having a width of 19 mm is not wide enough for the full extent of image receiving tape having a width of 24 mm or 32 mm. It would be desirable therefore to provide a tape holding case of image transfer ribbon having a greater width. This however presents a problem in the printing device of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,423 that, if both widths of image transfer ribbon were available, a user could inadvertently attempt to use a tape holding case having an image receiving tape of a small width with a tape holding case having an image transfer ribbon of a large width (or vice versa). In the first case, the ink ribbon would extend beyond the image receiving tape and thus could transfer ink to the platen. In the second case, the image transfer ribbon would not be wide enough to transfer ink across the full extent of the image receiving tape.

Thermal printing device with direct thermal cassette


The Tissue Transfer method consists of transferring intact, organized cells from the surfaces of biological tissues or organs to a transfer substrate. A surface of the tissue or organ is selected, in most cases, a freshly cut surface. At least one layer of intact cells is transferred by adhesion of the cells to a transfer substrate, which is a membrane, film, plate or liquid layer bound to a solid structure. The substrate is brought into contact with the selected surface and removed. A layer of cells is removed by the adhesion of the cells to the substrate and the cells retain the organization of the organ or tissue.

Organs and tissues are sampled by medical researchers and clinical physicians to better understand the anatomy and physiology of their patients. These samples are used to assess the structure and function of the organ in vivo.
The structure and function of an organ depends on the structure and function of its constituent cells and on the spatial relationships among cells of various types. Cells of common embryological origin that perform a common function are defined as tissues, which come in four basic types: muscle, nerve, epithelium, and connective tissues. As each cell type has a specific metabolism, it follows that each tissue has a characteristic function. An organ is a collection of different tissues combined in various proportions and patterns such that each organ has a characteristic, three-dimensional architectural structure. This complex architecture endows an organ with unique and complex functions that are more than simply the additive metabolism of its tissue and cellular components.
Each organ is an example of a complex arrangement of tissues acting in synergy to produce a complex function. The heart, for instance, is an organ formed primarily of muscle tissue that cannot function properly without its connective tissue "skeleton" that supports the muscle and forms the valves. Another example is kidney, where a complex spatial arrangement of tubular epithelium and blood vessels (composed of epithelium, muscle, and connective tissues) is essential for filtering, then concentrating, the urine.
Each organ is typically formed of a predominant tissue and a corresponding cell type, hence it is common to speak of heart tissue, brain tissue, etc., even when referring to an organ. It is also common to speak of tissue sections in histology, which is the study of tissues and organs.
Cells, as the building blocks of organs and tissues, are self-contained units made up primarily of water and various macromolecules. These macromolecules come in four basic types: proteins (structural molecules, enzymes, etc.), carbohydrates (sugars that are often involved in cell surface recognition), lipids (fats including those that make up cell membranes), and nucleic acids (DNA and RNA). Cells are made up of all of these macromolecules and a good deal of water and small ions (sodium, potassium, chloride, etc.) The isolation and purification of specific macromolecules from biological tissues is the traditional realm of biochemistry, though this treatment of nucleic acids is now considered the realm of molecular biology.
The localization of specific macromolecules in tissue sections can be achieved by a variety of forms of histochemistry. A tissue section is usually prepared by cutting thin sections of tissue and looking at it under a microscope, the source of illumination may be visible light (traditional light microscopy), ultraviolet light (fluorescent microscopy), or electrons (electron microscopy). If a chemical reagent is used to identify a specific substance the method is simply termed histochemistry, if a reaction involves enzymatic catalysis, the term is enzyme histochemistry. When specific antibodies are used to identify a particular antigen (or epitope) in a tissue section, the terms used are immunohistochemistry, immunocytochemistry, or immunolocalization. When specific complementary sequences of nucleic acids are used to hybridize with specific cellular nucleic acids in tissue sections, the term used is in situ hybridization histochemistry.
The macromolecules of animal tissues are typically extracted, isolated, and purified before being separated by gel electrophoresis. Once separated, these macromolecules are generally transferred and immobilized on a membrane before being probed with specific antibodies or nucleic acids in the powerful and popular techniques of Northern, Southern, and Western hybridization.
In contrast to conventional blotting, in which macromolecules are transferred to a membrane along with their relative electrophoretic positions, "tissue prints" are believed to transfer molecules (from cell juices) along with their relative tissue locations. Some components of the "cell juice" are transferred to membranes during the tissue printing of botanical tissues, however, there is no evidence yet that whole cells or groups of cells are transferred in this process.
The technique of transferring macromolecules (including proteins and nucleic acids) directly from intact tissues to nitrocellulose or other blotting membranes has been called "tissue printing" (Varner, 1992). This technique has recently gained popularity in the field of plant science in large part because of the work of Cassab and Varner (1987). Botanical tissues are particularly well-suited for tissue printing because of their characteristic structural rigidity and symmetrical tissue architecture. It is, however, possible to make tissue prints of animal tissues as well.
One step further than a tissue print is isolating individual intact cells on nitrocellulose. In Cell blotting: Techniques for staining and microscopical examination of cells blotted on nitrocellulose paper (Anal. Biochem. 157:331-342, 1986), Seshi taught that individual isolated cells--both normal and neoplastic cells--can be immobilized onto nitrocellulose membrane with retained cytological detail. Seshi fails, however, to realize that the cells need not be digested and isolated. All the architectural information is lost by digesting and suspending his cells. This paper discusses the use of immunological agents to detect specific molecules (in this case the Leu-4 antigen on lymphocytes and chromogranin). This study also employs specific cell adhesion molecules, in this case fibronectin, to enhance the binding of cells, in this case BHK cells, to fibronectin-treated nitrocellulose membrane during a 60 minute incubation.
In Ion channel expression by white matter glia: The type-1 astrocyte (Barres BA, Koroshetz, Chun LLY, Corey P., Neuron 5:527-544, 1990.), the authors describe what they call, "a new `tissue print`dissociation procedure" to isolate individual cells from brain so that they could perform electrophysiology studies on them. These authors state that they wanted to use tissue printing to, "exploit this adhesion between tissues and membranes! for cell isolation" and that they developed "an new `tissue print`technique that produces dissociated cells. . . " (Barres et al., page 27). In some cases, brain tissue was partially digested before tissue printing onto nitrocellulose membrane; in other cases Vibrotome sections (50-100 micrometers thick) of brain tissue was printed onto nitrocellulose paper. These authors did recognize that live cells could be transferred to nitrocellulose substrata, but did not foresee the utility of the technique as a method of preserving the architectural arrangement of cells from large tissues, indeed, they developed the method for cell isolation so that they could perform electrical experiments on isolated cells with intact cell processes. In the discussion these authors state that, "The tissue print protocol is a simple variant of standard dissociation protocols." and that ". . . rather than shearing the tissue apart by passage through a syringe needle or pipette, a `touch prep`a technique used in clinical pathology! is prepared by gently touching the tissue to a sticky, nontoxic surface." They go on to say, "Unlike previous methods, this tissue print procedure allows isolation of viable cells still bearing processes for further study. Here we have used tissue prints for electrophysiological recording; however, we have also used the procedure for other purposes, including isolation of cells for culture, scanning electron microscopy, and immunohistochemistry." Notably, they do not mention transmission electron microscopy nor do they discuss anything about pathological tissues.
In Simultaneous recording of Ca2+!i increases in isolated olfactory receptor neurons retaining their original spatial relationship in intact tissue (Hirono J, Sato T, Tonoike M, Takebayashi M., J. Neurosci. Meth. 42:185-194, 1992.) the authors teach that small slices of olfactory epithelium (i.e., smelling nerves) can be dissected and digested before "unrolling" a piece of tissue onto a glass substrate coated with the lectin Concanavalin A as an adhesive. These authors state that the "relative local arrangement between the cells" is preserved. It should be pointed out that this technique involves very small pieces of tissue with the purpose of preparing the cells for tissue culture and from the pictures shown, the tissue and organ architecture is poorly preserved.
Viles et al. describe how liver cells, isolated in primary culture and transformed by a virus, can be cultured on a semipermeable membrane. To isolate these hepatocytes, a piece of liver is digested with collagenase. Collagenase, an enzyme that breaks down the connective tissue portion of the liver, is used to disperse the hepatocytes, vascular smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, connective tissue fibroblasts, biliary epithelium, etc. Subsequent filtration, centrifugation, washing, and culturing of this mixture of cells apparently selects for hepatocytes. These "primary" hepatocytes (i.e., cells derived directly from the liver) are grown in culture as a monolayer, exposed to the SV40 virus, and the resulting transformed (i.e., immortalized) cells are cloned (i.e., grown by the multiplication of a few stably transformed parent cells) in a specified culture medium. These transformed cells are then seeded onto a hollow fiber filter substrate that physically excludes the immortalized hepatocytes as well as the virus particles from the inner part of the fiber substrate, which is the conduit used for patient blood. Exchange of metabolites occurs across the porous fiber substrate thereby simulating the function of the liver.
Viles et al. employ a porous substrate as both a culture support to grow and maintain transformed hepatocytes, and as a semipermeable membrane to separate cultured hepatocytes from the patients blood, but the porous membrane is not used as a sampling tool.
By digesting the liver with collagenase, the in vivo/in situ organization of this organ is destroyed and with it the complex functions of the liver as an organ. Not only are the characteristic and functionally important spatial relationships among the hepatocytes destroyed, but the relationships between the hepatocytes and the other cell types are destroyed as well. Thus, while cultured hepatocytes grown in the manner described by Viles et al. may be able to subserve one or some functions of normal liver, undoubtedly many functions of the liver are lost or dramatically reduced.
To make the invention of Viles et al. practical, it is essential that hepatocytes be induced to proliferate easily in culture; this is achieved by viral transformation and selective culturing of a few clones of cells. Thus, not only is the organ architecture of the liver lost, but the phenotypic variety of hepatocytes is dramatically reduced: hepatocytes are selected primarily on their ability to be transformed and to proliferate in culture rather than on any particular functional property (such as the ability of metabolize blood-borne toxins).
Goodwin et al. simply claim that various cell types can be cultured together (cocultured) using a three-dimensional culture. The resulting co-cultures are said to be able to produce multicellular organoid tissue. While these authors place great emphasis on the ability of co-cultures to recreate some of the architectural features of an organ, there is no doubt that the resulting cultures differ vastly from the original organ (they use the terms "pseudo-glands" and "pseudo-crypts" to define the "organoid" appearance of their cultures after 138 hours of growth). If it were indeed possible to recreate the full tissue architecture of an organ, the need for organ transplantation would disappear.
Like Viles et al., Goodwin et al. obtain cells from tissues (they use an example of normal and neoplastic colon) by digesting the tissue with an enzyme that breaks down the extracellular connective tissue matrix (in this case the enzyme is trypsin). Once the tissue is digested, the dissociated cells are placed in primary culture and co-cultured on commercially available beads. It seems that the essential part of this invention are the culturing conditions (cell ratios, speed of agitation, etc.). As with Viles et al., the characteristic organization of the gastrointestinal tract is completely destroyed by trypsin digestion and the characteristic in situ organization of the colon, which is composed of epithelial cells, smooth muscle, fibroblasts, nerves, vessels, etc., is lost.
While it is laudable to try and grow "organoids" that simulate the structure and possibly some of the functions of intact organs, previous attempts have always been incomplete, including those of Viles et al. and Goodwin et al. (An analogy is trying to create diamonds from individual carbon atoms--it is more likely that you end up with coal.)
Reid et al. teach that tissue sampling is done by cutting frozen sections, which are then transferred to a nylon membrane. The microtome blade is the sampling tool. The method described by Reid et al., requires that the tissue/organ be frozen. The process of freezing is necessary to successfully section the tissue. Freezing, of course, kills all the cells, which are no longer viable and which cannot be grown in culture. Furthermore, cryosections of tissue are uniform in thickness, but are indiscriminate as to the plane of cleavage, which is wherever the microtome blade happens to cut. Thus, most cells will be cut across or through their plasma membranes.
Currently, there is no technique for transferring layers of animal tissue that retain the tissue and organ architecture and are viable when transferred.


An emergency and non-emergency transmitter receivable by broadcast band receivers in nearby vehicles, comprising a first signal generator for simultaneously providing a plurality of selectively spaced carriers having frequency spacings corresponding to the individual channels of the band to be covered and selectively providing amplitude modulation when used for the AM broadcast band, and a second signal generator providing an FM modulated signal, which when combined with the signal from the first signal generator, covers various portions of the FM broadcast band to provide complete coverage thereof. A plurality of signals are generated in a portion of a selected band and modulated, according to the selected band mode, with a pre-stored and selectable voice alarm message. The portion of the band is changed to provide coverage of the entire broadcast band, the broadcast band is also changed, and/or the message is changed to provide effective emergency notification to vehicles and/or listeners within a half-mile radius of the emergency vehicle or public facility issuing the alarm transmission.

Emergency vehicles, responding to accidents or fires, and police in pursuit often pose heightened danger to those involved at the focus of the emergency and to the population around and moving toward the scene of the emergency. Typically, the surrounding population may be completely unaware of the potential dangers approaching them or towards which they are moving, and unnecessarily place themselves at risk of injury, and potentially interfere with the emergency response. Furthermore, if they are unaware in the events outside their vehicle and are instead involved with entertainment from local radio broadcast, they will further delay taking appropriate evasive or defensive action.
Simple tone-modulated warning transmitters which sweep the broadcast bands often sounds like common man-made interference, offering insufficient information to the listener to determine that there is an emergency and what action could or should be taken. Moreover, if the listener cannot determine that an emergency exist, such simple warning systems will only distract and annoy the listeners, causing them to be even less responsive to the nearby emergency. Also, the sweep or stepping of a single carrier through the broadcast band(s) favors simple alarm tone modulation as alarm voice messages would never be heard in their entirety if complete coverage of the broadcast band(s) by a single swept carrier is to be provided in reasonable time.
Full band transmissions which saturate the entire broadcast band(s) require significant amounts of carefully controlled radiated power to be effective at any one frequency. Moreover, in the event of multiple emergency vehicles responding to the same emergency, each emitting the same full-band alarm signal will cause interference when they are in or near the same location, and thus cancel each other or cause confusion to those receiving the full band alarm signal, thereby increasing rather than reducing the danger to the nearby population.
Further exemplary applications of the present invention include, but are not limited to, providing short-range broadcast of vehicle alert signals from school busses to reduce risks when loading and unloading children, and broadcast municipal or civic information, such as and parking area information.


A method and a system for generating a map using data of a position sensor of a vehicle are provided which are used to generate a map by collecting data of a position sensor disposed within a vehicle. The method includes collecting, by a controller, data from the position sensor disposed within the vehicle to sense the position of the vehicle and analyzing the collected data of the position sensor. In addition, the method includes automatically generating, by the controller, the map using the analyzed data.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and a system for generating a map using data of a position sensor of a vehicle to generate a map by collecting data of a position sensor in a vehicle.
(b) Description of the Related Art
As well known in the art, recent vehicles are increasingly equipped with an ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) that recognizes and prevents in advance a danger of an accident or provides more convenient driving for the driver. Examples of an ADAS include an LDWS (Lane Departure Warning System), an LKAS (Lane Keeping Assist System), an BSD (Blind Spot Detection), and an ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control System) etc.
A map of roads is needed to appropriately operate the ADAS a map should be generated and/or implemented first for the map to be used with the ADAS (hereinafter, referred to as "ADAS MAP"). In the related art, surveying companies construct an ADAS MAP (e.g., road radius of curvature and slope etc.) in a semiautomatic type by surveying individual roads, using survey equipment and surveying vehicles, to make or implement the ADAS MAP. The generation of this map is substantially expensive and requires days to update the data. On the other hand, vehicles are equipped with sensors that locate vehicles. For example, position sensors may include a GPS (Global Position System) sensor and a gyro sensor. However, the position sensors are used for locating vehicles and are not capable of providing data for generating the ADAS MAP.
The above information disclosed in this section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Method and system for generating road map using data of position sensor of vehicle


Disclosed is a load-predicting and control system for a subway heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. In one aspect, a load-predicting and control system for a subway heating, ventilation and air conditioning system is provided. The system includes a basic database, a sensing system, a load predicting unit, and a controller; the basic database stores historical data; the sensing system provides measured data; the load predicting unit calculates a predicted load value of the subway heating, ventilation and air conditioning based on the historical data and the measured data, and transmits the predicted load value to the controller; the controller issues a control command based on the predicted load value. Also provided is a load-predicting and control method for the subway heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. The present disclosure solves problems such as poor accuracy of conventional load prediction and inadequate control of the air conditioning system.

During the operation of a subway, the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system operates all year round and has a long operating time, and the annual energy consumption of the subway is much greater than that of a common building, therefore, developing a new energy-saving control strategy for the subway heating, ventilation and air conditioning system is of great importance to reduce the energy consumption of the subway heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. Conventionally, a subway cold station is controlled by means of a PID negative feedback control, which has a serious hysteresis and may result in an oscillation of the control result, and the energy-saving control effects are not satisfactory.
There are currently some feedforward control methods, which mainly use load predicting means for the air conditioning system such as linear regression algorithm, neural network algorithm, and exponential smoothing algorithm, to achieve an advance control for the cold station. However, these load-predicting and control systems still have many defects when they are applied to the subway heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, for example, the linear regression method has a poor prediction accuracy, and the neural network algorithm has many limitations in engineering applications. The load of a subway building is difficult to predict and is more time-varying because the load is affected by uncontrollable factors such as external environment temperature and humidity, the heat dissipation of persons in the subway, and the loss of latent heat. Therefore, the accuracy of the building load prediction is the fundamental element to decide whether the feedforward control strategy for the air conditioning system is reasonable or not.
It should be noted herein that the technical contents provided in this section are intended to make the present invention better understood by those skilled in the art, but do not necessarily constitute the prior art.

Load-predicting and control system and method for subway heating, ventilation and air conditioning system

Gree Electric Appliances, Inc. of Zhuhai