A process for transplanting into an immunodeficient mouse, which is deficient in T-cells and B-cells, human cells to form a chimeric mouse is provided. The transplanted human cells proliferate and thereby permit in vivo study of the human cells. The human cells are isolated from a human tissue source. The process comprises:. i) irradiating an immunodeficient mouse deficient in T-cells and B-cells with radiation to condition the mouse for transplant: PA1 ii) transplanting into the irradiated mouse, the isolated human cells; and PA1 iii) maintaining the mouse to proliferate the human cells in and permit the human cells to spread in the mouse,. to provide thereby a chimeric mouse incorporating the human cells in appropriate murine tissue.

Considerable investigations have been conducted in attempting to grow human calls in other animals to permit the study of such human cells. Background information is provided in several publications and many techniques which are employed in the development of this invention are also described in other publications. To facilitate reference to theme publications, the following legend is provided:
1. Till, J. E. and McCulloch, E. A., Biochem Biophys Acta 605, 431-(1980) PA1 2. Phillips, R. A. (1985), In Ford, R. J. and Maizel, A. L. (eds), New York:Raven Press, 135. PA1 3. Barr, R., Whang-Peng, J. and Perry, S., Science 190, 284-285 1975). PA1 4. Dorshkind, K., Pollock, S. B., Bosma, M. J. and Phillips, R. R., J. Immunol. 134, 3798-3801 (1985). PA1 5. Kenny, J. J., Guelde, G., Hansen, C., and Mond, J. J., J. Immunol. 138, 1363-1371 (1987). PA1 6. Fulop, G., and Phillips R. A., J. Immunol. 136 4438-4443 (1986). PA1 7. Waye, J. S. and Willard, H. P., Nucleic Acids Research 15, 7549-7569 (1987). PA1 8. Erlich, H. C., Gelfand, D. H. and Saiki, R. K., Nature 331, 461-462 (1988). PA1 9. Chervenick, P. A., Boggs, D. R., March, J. C., Cartwright, G. E., and Wintroke, M. M. Amer. J. PA1 10. Matioli, G. Vogel, H. and Nierviseh H., J. Cellular Physiol., 72, 229-234 (1968). PA1 11. Laneuville, P., Chang, W., Kamel-Reid, S., Fauser, A. A. and Dick, J. E., Blood 71, 811-814 (1988). PA1 12. Dick, J. E., Magli, M.-.C., Phillips, R. A. and Bernstein, A., Trends in Genet 2, 165-(1986). PA1 13. Dick, J. E., Magli, M. C., Huezar, D. R., Phillips, R. A. and Bernstein, A., Cell 42, 71-(1985). PA1 14. Kindler, V., Thorens, B., DeKossodo, S., Allet, B., Eliason, J. F., Thatcher, D., Farber, N., and Vassalli, P., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83, 1001-1005 (1986). PA1 15. Donahue, R. E., Wang, E. A., Stone, D. K., Kamen, R., Wong, G. G., Sehgal, P. K., Nathan D. J. and Clark, S. Nature 321, 872-875 (1986). PA1 16. Pauser, A. A. and Messner, H. A., Blood 52, 1243-(1978). PA1 17. D. Belpomme, J. Minowada and G. E. Moore, Cancer 30, 282 (1972). PA1 18. S. Watanabe, Y. Shimosota, M. Kuroki, Y. Sato, T. Nakajima, Cancer Res. 40, 2588 (1980). PA1 19. S. Kamal-Reid and J. E. Dick, Science 242, 1706 (1988). PA1 20. M. Letarts, S. Iturbe and E. J. Quackenbush, Mol. Immunol. 22, 113 (1985); L. J. Picker, J. De Los Toyos, M. J. Telen, B. F. Haynes and E. C. Butcher, J. Immunol. 142, 2046 (1989); L. a. Goldstein et al, Cell 56, 1063 (1989); I. Stamenkovic, M. Amiot, J. M. Pesando and B. Seed, Call 56, 1062 (1989). PA1 21. J. S. Waye and H. F. Willard, Nucleic Acids Res. 15, 7549 (1987). PA1 22. G. A. Carlson, B. A. Taylor , S. T. Marshall and A. H. PA1 23. K. A. Foon and R. F. Todd III, Blood 68, 1 (1986). PA1 24. C. B. Lozzio and B. B. Lozzio, Blood 45, 321 (1975). PA1 25. A. Keating et al, in Normal and Neoplastic Hematopoieses, D. W. Golds, P. M. Marks, Eds. (Alan Liss, N. Y., 1983), pp. 513. PA1 26. G. C. Avanzi et al, British J. Immunol., 69, 359 (1988). PA1 27. T. Papayannopoulou, B. Nakamoto, S. Kurachi, M. Tweeddale, M. Messner, Blood, 72, 1029 (1989). PA1 28. C. Sirard, S. Kamol-REid, J. E. Dock, unpublished results. PA1 29. Z. Estrov, T. Grunberger, I. D. Dube, Y-P. Wang, M. H. Freedman, New Engl. J. Mod., 315, 538 (1986). PA1 30. P. Laneuville, W. Chang, S. Kamel-Reid, A. A. Fauser and J. E. Dick, Blood 71, 811, (1988). PA1 i) irradiating an immunodeficient mouse deficient in T-cells and B-cells with radiation to condition said mouse for transplant; PA1 ii) transplanting into the irradiated mouse the isolated human cells; and PA1 iii) maintaining the mouse to proliferate the human cells in and permit the human cells to spread in the mouse,
Physiol 215, 353-360 (1968).
Greenberg, Immunogenetics 20, 287 (1984).
One area of interest is the cells of the human hematopoietic system. The mature cells within the hematopoietic system have a finite life span and are continuously being replenished by the proliferation and differentiation of lineage specific progenitor cells derived from pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells (Till, J. E. et al, supra). The knowledge of the regulation of this complex cell system, including the identification of various classes of progenitor cells, the protein factors that stimulate their growth, and the molecular events that underlie the abnormalities that occur in diseases such an leukemia, have been derived largely from the development of both in vivo and in vitro assays of the various cells within the stem cell hierarchy. Our understanding of the biology of the human hematopoietic system has suffered relative to the understanding the murine hematopoietic system of the mouse because of the lack of any type of in vivo assay system for pluripotent human stem cells (Phillips, R. A., supra and Ogawa, M. et al. supra).
Previous attempts to grow human bone marrow by direct transplantation into lethally irradiated animals have been unsuccessful (Louwagie, A. C. et al, supra). Implantation into mice of human bone marrow in diffusion chambers has been generally unsuccessful and has not provided evidence for anything more than maintenance of mature human cells for short periods of time (Barr, R. et al, supra).
It is believed that at least in theory, two major barriers may prevent growth of transplanted human bone marrow in irradiated recipient mice; presence of NK cells and absence of human hematopoietic growth factors. Lethally irradiated mice still possess enough immune function to reject the foreign cells. Even immune deficient mice, which lack functional T and B lymphocytes, such as scid and nude have high levels of NK activity which have in the past been understood to mediate a host response against the donor cells (Dorshkind, K. et al, supra and Fostad, O. at al, supra).
Another area of interest in growing human cells to permit in vivo studies is the growth of human leukemic cells. It is very difficult to grow primary human leukemia cells in culture. The difficulties suggest that there are selective processes that may result in alterations of the properties of the cells over time [Belpomme et al, Cancer, 30:282 (1972)]. In spite of the need for in vivo models to develop treatment strategies and an understanding of leukemic transformation and progression, very little progress has been made in the scientific community. Subcutaneous transplantation of lymphoid and mysloid cell lines, lymphomas or primary patient material into nude mice has produced myelosarcomas or localized solid tumors uncharacteristic of the primary leukemia. The growth of human leukemic cell lines in the hematopoietic tissue of nude mice has been described in Watanabe, at al Cancer Res. 38:3494 (1978). The developed cell line in the mouse was a highly aneuploid T-ALL cell line and was maintained in the mouse as an ascites tumor in the mouse. The animals died within two to four weeks. The growth of the human leukemic cells as an ascites or solid subcutaneous tumor in immune-deficient mice does not properly reflect the normal course of the disease as it progresses in humans. The results with human leukemic cells as with human bone marrow cells and many other types of human cells emphasize the need to be able to transplant such cells in a mouse for purposes of in

Engraftment of immune-deficient mice with human cells


Systems and methods for imaging objects are provided. An imaging device includes a sensor to provide an image of an object. The sensor can have a sensor exposure time and a sensor gain and the image includes a plurality of frames, each of the plurality of frames that can depict at least a portion of the object. The imaging device includes a motion detector to determine whether there is movement of the at least a portion of the object between adjacent frames of the plurality of frames. The imaging device also includes a controller. The controller can set the sensor exposure time to a first value in response to a determination by the motion detector that there is movement of the at least a portion of the object between adjacent frames. The controller can also set the sensor exposure time to a second value in response to a determination that there is no movement of the at least a portion of the object between adjacent frames. The controller can also adjust the sensor exposure time, the sensor gain, or both to maintain a luminance value of the plurality of frames at a target luminance value.

1. Field of Invention
Embodiment of the present invention are directed to imaging systems and methods, and more particularly to imaging systems and methods capable of addressing the needs of persons with at least some degree of visual impairment.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Many people suffer from vision impairments or some degree of vision loss. With an aging population, the number of people with at least some form of age related vision loss or impairment continues to grow. Industrial accidents, hereditary conditions, and diseases such as diabetes result in degrees of vision loss or impairment that can afflict younger populations as well.
Viewing text documents and other images or objects is a constant challenge for people with visual impairments. Even people with a relatively minor degree of visual impairment may have difficulty viewing particular details of images of certain styles, shapes or sizes. Further, small font sizes or minute details of objects may be difficult to perceive even for people with normal vision.


A mechanism is provided for validating overall resilience and security characteristics of a sub-component chip design. For each instance of a resiliency template identified as appearing in a design netlist of the sub-component chip design thereby forming one or more identified resiliency sections, a determination is made as to whether an output of the design netlist where an error signal is output interconnects to the one or more identified resiliency sections of the design netlist. Responsive to the one or more identified resiliency sections interconnecting to the output of the design netlist where the error signal is output, one or more identified resiliency sections are marked as being protected by the error signal. An identification of the one or more identified resiliency sections and an identification of the error signal protecting the one or more identified resiliency sections are output to a design team.

The present application relates generally to an improved data processing apparatus and method and more specifically to mechanisms for template matching for resilience and security characteristics of sub-components chips designs as well as proprietary design implementation used within the sub-component chip designs.
With current scaling of chip designs, an increase in an amount of proprietary design implementation that will be used within systems in such chip designs is expected. Such proprietary design implementation may be designed in-house; however, there is some expectation that some sub-component designs may come from outside sources, such as external suppliers, outsourced design houses, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) suppliers, or the like.

Template matching for resilience and security characteristics of sub-component chip designs

International Business Machines Corporation


Certain embodiments provide a solid-state imaging device including a pixel portion, a charge storage portion, a first transfer gate portion, a charge detecting portion, a second transfer gate portion, and an offset gate portion. The charge storage portion stores the electrical charges generated in the pixel portion. The first transfer gate portion transfers electrical charges from the pixel portion to the charge storage portion, and the second transfer gate portion transfers the electrical charges from the charge storage portion to the charge detecting portion. The offset gate portion is provided between the second transfer gate portion and the charge detecting portion and is applied with a predetermined constant voltage. This offset gate portion includes an offset gate layer that has a plurality of projections formed at positions adjacent to the second transfer gate portion and an offset gate electrode.

As a conventional solid-state imaging device, a solid-state imaging device in which a charge storage portion is formed between each of the pixel portions that generates electrical charges according to an amount of received light and a charge detecting portion to which the electrical charges generated in the pixel portions are transferred and which generates a signal voltage according to the amount of the transferred electrical charges so as to enable resolution to be switched is known. In this solid-state imaging device, an offset gate portion is formed between the charge storage portion and the charge detecting portion so as to improve the detection accuracy of the signal voltage generated in the charge detecting portion.
The offset gate portion includes an N type offset gate layer formed on a surface of a P type well layer formed on a surface of a semiconductor substrate and an offset gate electrode formed on the offset gate layer.
Since a plurality of pixel portions are connected to such an offset gate portion with the charge storage portion interposed, the offset gate layer is formed by injecting impurities over a wide range of regions of the surface of the well layer.
However, when the offset gate layer is formed over a wide range of regions, a deepest portion of electric potential is formed in a central portion of the offset gate layer. That is, when the offset gate layer is formed over a wide range of regions, a potential dip is formed in the electric potential of the central portion of the offset gate layer. Thus, the transfer characteristics of the electrical charges in the offset gate portion may deteriorate.
Further, when a relative position of the offset gate electrode in relation to the position of the offset gate layer is shifted, a potential dip or a potential barrier is formed in the electric potential between the offset gate portion and a transfer gate portion formed between the offset gate portion and a charge storage layer. Thus, the transfer characteristics of the electrical charges between the offset gate portion and the transfer gate portion may deteriorate.

Solid-state imaging device and line sensor


The present invention enables the determination of what claim types can be written based on a client data set(s). The reverse is also true where the present invention provides the capability to determine what data sets are required to write different claim categories and types. In an illustrative embodiment, the determination of the scope of an audit in accordance with the present invention includes the determination of the claim types that can be written given a certain client data elements and/or the determination of the data elements needed to write certain claim types, both of which are based on the predefined relationships between claim types and data elements. Possible claim types can also be determined based on the client data set(s) and a permissible number of missing client data fields.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to recovery audits, and in particular, to the determination of the possible scope of an audit as well as audit concepts.
II. Description of Related Art
Companies lose millions of dollars annually because of unpaid invoices, duplicate payment, discounts and allowances not received and general overpayments. While some of these mistakes are rectified by annual audits performed by a company's accounting firm, such audits are generally not thorough enough to identify all the recoverable loses due to erroneous business transactions. As a consequence, companies hire firms to provide recovery audit services directed at identifying overpayments and collecting the monies due their clients for such erroneous payments.
Recovery auditing involves the examining of financial, purchase, and other tracking records of client companies to identify mistakes in a transaction. If a mistake is found, then a claim is submitted to the vendor for the amount of the mistake. The claim results in a recovery of money for the client. The auditor is typically paid, at least in part, based on the amount of money they recover for their client. Because of the significant amount of data, variations among industries, and the multitude of potential claims, performing this auditing function is increasingly difficult and resource intensive.
Of particular interest is the desire to write as many claim types as possible based on the client data available for the audit. This enables the auditors to maximize their return on the audit and provides for greater recovery by the client. However, the task of correlating the client data to possible claim types can be a daunting task given the vast number of claim types and the variety of data elements received from a client, and therefore it is seldom that all possible claim types are identified. It also is the case that auditors often are not able to write certain types of claims because they are missing only a few data elements. In some cases these missing data elements could be made available to the auditor if the auditor had knowledge that having them would enable additional claim types to be written.
In addition, since different auditors miss different claims because of the subjective review they perform on the client data, the practice of quoting for a recovery audit is inconsistent from audit to audit. This may result in missed claims, and it may reduce the benefit of comparing audits for purposes of determining relative audit efficiencies since there was not a true reference point of possible claims.
Thus, there exists an unsatisfied need in the industry for an efficient means to correlate claim types to client data for use in the determination of the scope of audits or in the determination of client data to write certain claim types.

Systems and methods for recovery audit scope determination


Sending priority of plural stages is statically assigned according to a quality class and an output connection, and the sending priority is dynamically changed according to a state of sending request stacking every sending priority and a state of ATM cell conversion processing of a frame, and ATM cell conversion request means for issuing an ATM cell conversion request is provided every output route, and the cell conversion processing of the frame is selected and performed in the order of higher sending priority every time one cell conversion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) network and particularly to a technique for converting data of a frame format into a cell which is a transfer format in the ATM network and outputting the cell.
2. Description of Related Art
In order to perform line accommodation of synchronous transfer mode, exchange control, signaling processing, upper layer processing and so on, an ATM cell conversion circuit for converting data of a frame format into a cell format has been used in an ATM exchange since the past. However, processing of ATM cell conversion by this ATM cell conversion circuit often becomes bottleneck of processing of the exchange, so that speedup and high efficiency of processing have been desired.
As the conventional art associated with the ATM cell conversion circuit, the art applicable to an exchange switch for outputting ATM cells to multiple routes or an apparatus of the input side of a multiplexer for multiplexing cells every route is disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2760343. This ATM cell conversion circuit constructs frame information designated by a processor into ATM cells used in an ATM network with reference to external memory, and outputs the ATM cells to switch means for performing distribution on a output route basis.
In the conventional ATM cell conversion circuit, however, the buffer amount or the ATM network band which the ATM exchange has is finite and on the contrary, consideration of efficiently using finite resources which the exchange or the network has is not given and as the contents of the consideration, for example, a quality class every respective frame or priority assigned every output connection is considered to perform sending.

ATM cell conversion circuit and ATM cell conversion method


Provided is a control method for an information input device capable of facilitating an operation input performed by a user. The control method for an information input device includes: acquiring a moving distance of an object when a user performs a movement operation for moving the object on a detection surface of a touch sensor for detecting a position of the object on the detection surface; acquiring a value regarding an operation mode of the movement operation; and outputting a value calculated based on the acquired moving distance and the acquired value regarding the operation mode, as an operation input amount exhibited in the movement operation performed by the user.

An information input device using a touch sensor is known as one of information input devices for receiving an operation input performed by a user to perform various kinds of information processing. The touch sensor is a sensor for detecting a position of an object (for example, a finger of the user or a stylus) in a case where the user brings the object into contact or proximity with a detection surface. When the user performs an operation for, for example, placing his/her own finger on the detection surface of the touch sensor and moving the finger in an arbitrary direction, the information input device can receive the moving direction and a moving distance in the above-mentioned direction as contents of the user's operation input.

Control method for information input device, information input device, program therefor, and information storage medium therefor


A jackpot triggering method comprising: determining a jackpot trigger value from a current value of at least one jackpot trigger parameter; generating a submission value in response to receipt of a contribution associated with a gaming device participating in the jackpot, by using a value of at least one contribution parameter associated with the contribution as a seed value to randomly generate the submission value; and making a jackpot award if the submission value corresponds to the jackpot trigger value.

The present invention relates to a gaming system, a jackpot controller, and a jackpot triggering method.
Many venues employ jackpot controllers for awarding jackpots to one of or more of a plurality of gaming machines participating in the jackpot. Typically, a portion of turnover on each gaming machine is forwarded to a jackpot controller as a contribution. That is, part of each wager goes towards the jackpot. The technique can be extended to a so called wide area jackpot where gaming machines from a number of different venues contribute to a single jackpot pool.
One common way of awarding a jackpot is a so called mystery jackpot where a trigger value, generally in a prize range, is randomly selected and stored by the jackpot controller. The jackpot controller determines to award the jackpot prized when the contributions cause the value of the jackpot pool to reach the trigger value.
A problem with this sort of jackpot is that while such jackpots are generally randomly determined, the range of jackpot prizes can become known and can affect play. For example, play of gaming machines may drop off just after a jackpot is awarded because players perceive the chance of winning a jackpot is diminished shortly after a previous jackpot is awarded. Similarly, play may increase as a progress jackpot reaches a value near a known upper limit.
There is a need for an alternative technique for determining to award a jackpot to a player.

Gaming system, jackpot controller, and a jackpot triggering method

Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited


A centrifugal pump, includes a pump volute having a substantially axial inlet port and a substantially radial outlet port and is substantially symmetrical about the axis of the outlet port, with the outlet port being flanked by a first and second side wall, an impeller rotably mounted inside the pump volute, a drive motor coupled to the impeller for imparting rotational movement to the impeller, and a gate mounted between the impeller and the outlet port. The gate is in the form of a resilient flap having a fixed end and a free end. The flap free end is movable between a first operating position where the free end is biased against one of the first and second walls during operation of the pump and a second non-operating position in which the gate is disposed in a normal unbiased position spaced between the first and second walls when the pump is not in operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to centrifugal pumps. More particularly, the invention relates to a centrifugal pump having a "movable" gate to prevent fluid backflow which is not susceptible to clogging.
2. State of the Art
Centrifugal pumps utilize an impeller housed in a volute. Fluid enters the volute either axially or tangentially relative to the impeller and exits either axially or tangentially depending on the direction of impeller rotation. Centrifugal pumps may be driven by an AC motor or a DC motor. In either case, the pump impeller may be magnetically coupled to the rotor of the motor so that the workings of the motor can be hermetically sealed and isolated from the fluids passing through the pump. In the case of an AC motor driven pump, the impeller may turn in either of two directions depending on the phase angle of the AC power at the moment the motor is started. In order to provide predictable operation in an AC motor driven pump, the pump volute and impeller are specially designed so that the inlet and outlet of the pump are the same regardless of the rotational direction of the impeller.
Prior art FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a typical AC motor driven volute pump 10. The pump 10 includes an AC motor 12, a pump volute or housing 14 and an impeller shaft 16 which is coupled to an impeller hub 18 having a plurality of radial vanes or fins 20. As seen in FIG. 2, The pump volute or casing 14 is symmetrical about a vertical axis A--A with an axial inlet port 22 and a radial outlet port 24. Below a horizontal axis B--B the volute 14 is substantially cylindrical in shape, but above the horizontal axis B--B the volute 14 tapers with substantially tangential side walls 21, 23 to the radial outlet port 24. The impeller hub 18 is arranged axially with the inlet port 22. The impeller hub 18 has a smaller diameter than the inlet port 22 so that fluid entering the inlet port 22 is free to flow around the impeller hub and into the spaces between the vanes 20. Regardless of the direction of rotation of the impeller hub 18 and vanes 20, the vanes will create a centripetal force resulting in a low pressure condition at the impeller hub 18. This low pressure condition will draw fluid into the volute 14 via the inlet port 22. The fluid will enter the spaces between the vanes 20 whereupon it will be driven radially outward from the hub 18 in either a clockwise or counterclockwise flow, and tangentially along either side wall 21 or 23, depending on the direction of the flow, to the outlet port 24. Since the outlet port 24 and the side walls 21, 23 are arranged symmetrically about the vertical axis A--A, the radially outward driven fluid will ultimately exit the volute 14 through the outlet port 24 regardless of the direction of impeller rotation. Although this design of the volute and the impeller provides for a predictable direction of fluid flow regardless of the direction of rotation of the impeller, it does have some significant disadvantages.
In virtually every pumping operation, the exiting fluid is subject to back pressure. Since the outlet port 24 in the pump 10 is arranged symmetrically relative to the impeller, fluid under back pressure is free to re-enter the volute 14 and be recirculated by the impeller. This is illustrated in FIG. 2 by the arrows which point down from the outlet port 24. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the problem of recirculating back flow is endemic to AC motor driven pumps using symmetrical volutes. In DC motor driven pumps, as mentioned above, the outlet port can be arranged tangentially to the impeller in an asymmetrical volute so that backflow is virtually eliminated. The problem of backflow recirculation in AC motor driven pumps decreases their efficiency since the outlet volume and pressure decreases when fluid is being recirculated.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,586,862 (the subject matter which is incorporated herein by reference hereto) overcomes the problem of backflow recirculation by providing for a pivotal gate which blocks the passage of fluid backflow.
Even with the improved system disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,586,862, problems can arise. For instance, fluid flow through the outlet port can be restricted by as much as fifty percent (50%) of maximal flow due to clogging of the pivot axle and support of the pivotal gate. In particular, fluids pumped through centrifugal pumps comprise debris, particulate detrius, plant matter, organic slime, fish waste, etc. and such matter can clog the pivot axle and support thereby inhibiting if not stopping the pivot arm or gate from pivoting. In addition, as movement of the pivot arm and the fluid flow are restricted, when the pump is energized, the impeller may begin to run in the opposite direction.

Centrifugal pump having anti-clogging backflow prevention gate


The invention relates to a zoom lens that enables an optical path to be easily bent by a reflecting optical element, has a wide-angle design and high optical performance as represented by a high zoom ratio of about 3.4, is extremely slimmed down in the depth direction, and costs less. The zoom lens comprises a positive first lens group G1, a negative second lens group G2, a positive third lens group G3, a positive fourth lens group G4 and a negative fifth lens group G5. Upon zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end, the first lens group G1 remains substantially fixed with respect to an image plane I, and at least the second G2 and the fourth lens group G4 move. The first lens group G1 includes a reflecting optical element for bending the optical path involved, and a portion of the first lens group G1 on an object side with respect to the reflecting surface has negative refracting power. The zoom lens satisfies condition (1) with respect to the focal length of the fifth lens group G5.

The present invention relates generally to a zoom lens and an imaging system using the same, and more particularly to a zoom lens with the optical axis of its optical system bent and an imaging system incorporating the same.
In recent years, digital cameras (electronic cameras) have received attention as the coming generation of cameras, an alternative to silver-halide 35 mm-film (135-format) cameras. Currently available digital cameras are broken down into some. categories in a wide range from the high-end type for commercial use to the portable low-end type.
In view of the category of the portable low-end type in particular, the primary object of the present invention is to provide the technology for implementing easy-to-use, high-zoom-ratio, less costly video or digital cameras whose depth dimension is reduced while high image quality is ensured, and which have zoom ratios high enough to cover a wide focal length range from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end.
The gravest bottleneck in diminishing the depth dimension of cameras is the thickness of an optical system, especially a zoom lens system from the surface located nearest to its object side to an imaging plane. The technology currently in vogue for slimming down camera bodies makes use of a so-called collapsible lens mount that allows the optical system to be taken out of the camera body for shooting and received therein for carrying around.
However, the use of the collapsible lens mount is not preferable in view of ease of operation, because some time is taken for sending the zoom lens received at it ready for use. Making the lens group nearest to the object side movable is again not preferable for prevention of entrance of moisture and dust. More recent years have seen a camera version that takes no waiting time for sending it ready for use (for booting a zoom lens up); it works favorably for prevention of entrance of moisture and dust and is much more slimmed down in its depth direction by use of an optical system with an optical path (optical axis) bent by a reflecting optical member such as a mirror or a prism. In a typical camera of this version, the lens group nearest to the object side of the zoom lens is fixed in terms of position and the reflecting optical member is received in that lens group, so that the subsequent optical path is bent longitudinally or transversely with respect to a camera body, thereby reducing the depth-direction dimension as much as possible.
For the time being, most video or digital cameras under the portable category to which the invention is directed would have a half angle of view of about 30° at the wide-angle end; however, wide-angle cameras having a greater taking range will come out anyway.
For instance, Patent Publication 1 comes up with a typical wide-angle zoom lens relying upon a bent optical system. However, that zoom lens has a half angle of view of as large as about 37°, yet the zoom ratio remains at barely about 2.8. On the other hand, the zoom lens of Patent Publication 2 has a half angle of view of about 37° and a zoom ratio of about 3.7, yet its full length is still long.
Patent Publication 1
JP(A)2004-354871
Patent Publication 2
JP(A)2004-354869

Zoom lens and imaging system using the same


A sensor device including a source for electromagnetic radiation, a plurality of receivers for the electromagnetic radiation, and an electronics unit designed to transmit electromagnetic radiation by means of the source and to determine a distance which the electromagnetic radiation emitted from the source travels from the reflection surface of an object to respective receivers by evaluation of the delay time of the electromagnetic radiation and/or the phase of an oscillation modulated on to the electromagnetic radiation. The electronics unit for the detection of reflective objects, which are like floating parts and are distributed in three dimensions in a medium, is able to determine from the measured distances a first group of distances which fit a predetermined distribution, and, if there is more than one group member, to emit a signal which is associated with the detection of reflective objects which are like floating parts.

There are now a vast number of technical devices, in which sensors monitor widely differing processes. In this case, objects which are like floating parts, for example dust, water droplets, smoke, also referred to in the following text as aerosols or else snow as well as gas bubbles, interfere with the monitoring processes in the detection area of the sensors.
By way of example in the case of an elevator, for example a passenger elevator in a building, the automatic elevator doors are normally monitored to determine whether an object is located in their movement path. If this is the case, the doors are not closed in order to ensure that no collision can occur, for example with a person. In normal conditions, this is undoubtedly a correct approach. However, in the event of a fire, serious problems can occur, since it is not possible to distinguish between smoke and an object. The following scenario may occur:                An elevator comes to rest at a floor where there is a fire. The door opens and the smoke enters the elevator cabin. People in the elevator wish to leave that floor again as quickly as possible. However, this is not possible because the door sensor identifies the smoke as an object and therefore a control system does not allow the elevator doors to be closed. People have already lost their lives in a situation such as this.

Electromagnetic radiation monitoring sensor device


A first mobile device is provided. The first mobile device includes at least one hardware processor and a first mobile device application, executed by the at least one hardware processor. The first mobile device application is configured to detect that the first mobile device is in physical contact with, or within a predetermined distance of, a second mobile device. The first mobile device is also configured to, in response to the detection, send a switch request to make a mobile phone line inactive for the first mobile device and active for the second mobile device.

Preferences for a particular cell phone can change depending on a given situation or environment. A cell phone that is appropriate for the work day may not be suitable for a night out on the town. For example, a big and clunky smartphone might be fine to use at the office, but not to carry to dinner or a club. Additionally, certain cell phones might be better suited for going on a hike or for activity near water.

Nomination of a primary cell phone from a pool of cell phones


An integrated process for conversion of a hydrocarbon stream comprising at least 60% by weight C5-C6 normal paraffins and iso-paraffins to enhanced value aromatics. The process includes passing the hydrocarbon stream through the first reactor, the first reactor being an aromatization reactor with an aromatization catalyst disposed therein to generate an aromatization product stream. The process further includes passing the aromatization product stream through a separator configured to remove C1-C4 gases to generate an aromatic rich stream. The process finally includes passing the aromatic rich stream combined with a reformate effluent fraction from a catalytic reforming unit to an aromatic recovery complex to separate the aromatic rich stream into a benzene fraction, a toluene fraction, a para-xylene fraction, an aromatic bottoms fraction comprising C9+ aromatic hydrocarbons, and a non-aromatics fraction. An associated system for performing the process is also provided.

Aromatics such as BTX (benzene, toluene, and xylenes) are valuable chemicals frequently utilized in the production of many materials and formulation of many consumer goods. For example, BTX compounds are frequently utilized during the processing or production of petroleum products and during the production of consumer goods such as paints and lacquers, thinners, fuels, rubber products, adhesives, inks, cosmetics and pharmaceutical products. As such, their plentiful, efficient, and economical production is generally desirable.
The transformation of light naphtha or C5-C6 streams, which originate from refineries and gas plants, into value-added gasoline blending components such as BTX has been an ongoing challenge to researchers in academia and industry. Currently, the global demand for light naphtha is estimated at 378 million tons per year, with an annual growth rate of 1.9%. The primary use for light naphtha is as feed for steam crackers (60%) for the production of olefins (ethylene, propylene, and butenes), and as a blending stock for gasoline production (30%). However, the light naphtha stream has generally become an undesirable gasoline blending component because of its low octane number. This challenge has led refiners to seek novel approaches to upgrade this low-value stream into higher value products.
The transformation of light naphtha has been hindered by inertness of carbon-carbon and carbon-hydrogen bonds, which results in an elevated temperature and, therefore, unfavorable thermodynamics, low selectivity and yields, and high cost for commercial applications. As refiners continue to process lighter feeds, such as shale oil and condensates, a process that cost effectively converts excess C5-C6 components is highly desirable.

Conversion of light naphtha to enhanced value aromatics in an integrated reactor process


This disclosure relates to a mask which delivers pressurized airflow to a patient. The mask includes a central portion and a wing projecting from the central portion. The wing is configured to adhere to a patient's cheek.

This disclosure relates to a CPAP mask which incorporates adhesive to attach to a user.
Sleep apnea afflicts millions of people in the United States. It occurs when a person's tongue or soft palette relaxes during sleep, closing off the breathing passage. The interrupted flow of oxygen and disrupted sleep pattern that results have serious ramifications. It makes people perpetually tired. It can cause a drop in blood oxygen levels, which strain the respiratory and circulatory system. It causes high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. It also impacts the afflicted sleeper's partner, who suffers from listening to the resulting snoring and worrying about the sleeper's irregular breathing pattern—including episodes when the sleeper stops breathing.
Continuous positive airway pressure (or CPAP) therapy systems are commonly used to help people with sleep apnea breathe more easily during sleep. CPAP therapy systems increase air pressure in a patient's throat so that their airway does not collapse as they breathe in. CPAP therapy systems consist of (1) a flow generator for creating the flow of air, (2) a conduit—typically a heated or insulated hose or other flexible connector—for carrying the air to the patient, and (3) an interface—such as a mask, together with equipment that secures it to the patient's head—for delivering the pressurized air to the patient's airway.
Traditionally, headgear has been required to secure the mask to the patients head. The headgear typically attaches to the mask and wraps around a patients head. Some patients may find headgear to be cumbersome and uncomfortable while trying to sleep. Further, the headgear fixation method is not desirable in many situations. For example, it may be very difficult to fit pediatric patients with headgear.
There is also a need for a disposable, single-use CPAP mask. In a hospital setting, patients waiting for surgery are often fitted with a CPAP mask that is later discarded after the patient's discharge. Additionally, a disposable CPAP mask may be desirable for use in sleep studies, where titration is performed to determine the optimal CPAP pressure setting required to resolve a patient's apnea episodes.

Mask with adhesive and method of making the same


Spacers and turbines are provided. In an embodiment, and by way of example only, a spacer includes a strip, a first retention flange, and a second retention flange. The strip has a first edge, a second edge, and an impingement surface, and the impingement surface extends axially along the strip between the first edge and the second edge and is substantially flat. The first retention flange is recessed relative to the impingement surface and extends away from the first edge of the strip. The second retention flange is recessed relative to the impingement surface and extends away from the second edge of the strip.

Gas turbine engines, such as turbofan gas turbine engines, may be used to power various types of vehicles and systems, such as aircraft. Typically, these engines include turbines that rotate at a high speed when blades (or airfoils) extending therefrom are impinged by high-energy compressed air. Consequently, the blades are subjected to high heat and stress loadings which, over time, may reduce their structural integrity.
To improve blade structural integrity, a blade cooling scheme is typically incorporated into the turbines. The blade cooling scheme is included to maintain the blade temperatures within acceptable limits. In some cases, the blade cooling scheme directs cooling air through an internal cooling circuit formed in the blade. The internal cooling circuit consists of a series of connected, serpentine cooling passages, which incorporate raised or depressed structures therein. The serpentine cooling passages increase the cooling effectiveness by extending the length of the air flow path. In this regard, the blade may have multiple internal walls that form intricate passages through which the cooling air flows to feed the serpentine cooling passages. The blade cooling scheme may also include platform cooling, in some cases. For example, openings may be formed through a turbine disk from which the blades radiate, and the openings may direct cool air from a cool air source onto a platform of the blade.
Although the above-described blade cooling scheme adequately cools the blades during engine operation, it may be improved. In particular, the openings for cooling the blade platform may be relatively difficult to configure and/or form for maximum effectiveness. Additionally, because blade airfoils are exposed to gases at high temperatures (e.g., temperatures greater than about 1100-1800° C.) and gases flowing at high velocities (e.g., with Mach numbers in the range of 0.3 to 1.3) during operation, cooling air directed to the blade platform may be stripped off. Moreover, hot flow path gases flowing along the blade airfoil may migrate to the platform, which may cause the platform to operate in temperatures that are higher than for which the platforms are designed. As a result, the blade and/or blade platform may be exposed to high thermal strains, which may result in thermo-mechanical fatigue.
Accordingly, it is desirable to have an improved blade platform configuration that reduces thermo-mechanical fatigue and other forms of distress, when exposed to high temperatures and high velocities. In addition, it is desirable to have an improved platform configuration that is relatively simple and inexpensive to implement and that may be retrofitted into existing engines. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the inventive subject matter will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the inventive subject matter and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the inventive subject matter.


A testing environment in which offline simulations can be run to identify policies and/or prediction models that result in more valuable content being included in content pages is described herein. For example, the offline simulations can be run in an application executed by an experiment device using data gathered by a production content delivery system. The simulation application can test any number of different policies and/or prediction models without impacting users that use a production content delivery system to request content.

Content pages (e.g., a network page, web page, etc.) are commonly generated dynamically in response to page requests from user devices. The content of the generated content page can vary based on various factors, such as attributes of the user device, a context of the current browsing session, actions performed by the user in prior browsing sessions, and/or the like. Ideally, the content selected to be included in a generated content page is of value for presenting to the user operating the user device. However, it can be difficult to identify valuable content to include in a content page in a timely manner and without losing users and/or otherwise degrading the user experience.

Offline simulation system for optimizing content pages


A cabinet support platform which supports a cabinet of an electronic device and the like has a base plate which receives a base surface of the cabinet. Two side support members which support side faces of the cabinet and stoppers are provided on the inside of the side support members. The stoppers are attached to the side support members to tightly grip and hold the side surfaces of the cabinet by tight contact with the cabinet surfaces.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a cabinet support platform that supports a cabinet of an electronic device, etc. and prevents it from toppling.
2. Description of Prior Art
In recent years, personal computers, external memory devices, and other electronic devices have been made so that a cabinet can be set up in either a vertical or horizontal orientation. In the vertical orientation, a cabinet support platform is sometimes used to keep it from toppling over.
Among cabinet support platforms of this type, as the first previous known example, there is one that consists of a set of members having clamping pieces for sandwiching in and holding both sides of the cabinet and a setting surface on which the cabinet is to be set, and in which these members are fastened together by screws (for example, patent H5-266643 [1993]).
In another conventional example, the cabinet consists of a set of members having a holding part that clamps and holds both sides of the cabinet, a protruding part on which the cabinet is to be set, and legs, and in which these members are joined rotatably to each other (patent H6-350276 [1994]).
However, with the cabinet support platform of the first conventional example, the members are fastened together by screws, and the spacing between the clamping pieces must be adjusted to fit the width of the cabinet, which makes the work of putting it together complicated.
With the second above described conventional example there is the problem that the structure is complicated, because the members are joined rotatably.
It is an object of the present invention, which was conceived in order to solve the above problems, to provide a cabinet support platform whose structure and assembly are simple and that supports the cabinet in a more stable condition.
The above and other objects of the present invention are attained by a cabinet support platform that supports the cabinet of an electronic device, etc., and comprises a base plate that supports a base surface of said cabinet, two side support members that are provided on both side ends of said base plate and that each supports a side face of said cabinet, and stoppers that protrude on at least one inside surface of said side support members and are attached so as to make a tight contact with the side surfaces of said cabinet.
In an embodiment, a cabinet support platform that supports the cabinet of an electronic device, etc. comprises a base plate that supports a base surface of said cabinet and two side support members that are provided on both side ends of said base plate and that each supports a side face of said cabinet, wherein said side support members are each formed in the shape of an angular pillar on a side.
In another embodiment, a cabinet support platform that supports the cabinet of an electronic device, etc., comprises a base plate that supports a base surface of said cabinet, a ;protective member that is provided on the front end of said base plate and protects the front part of said cabinet, and protruding members that are provided on said base plate surface and fit into depressions formed in the base surface of said cabinet.


A method for making a semi-permeable microporous polymer sheet, useful as a separation membrane or the like, including extruding a melt-blended mixture of a high-temperature thermoplastic polymer and a leachable glass to form sheet and then leaching the glass from the sheet to leave a microporous relict polymer network, wherein the permeability of the sheet is improved by plasma-etching the surface of the sheet before or after leaching. Hydrophilic or hydrophobic porous membranes may be provided.

The present invention relates to polymer membranes for separation processes, and more particularly to extrusion methods for making semi-permeable polymer membranes for separation processes from high temperature polymers.
The various filtration and/or separation processes utilizing porous membranes include concentration-driven separations such as dialysis, electromembrane separations, used to separate dissolved charged ions, and pressure-driven separations, including the familiar processes of micro-filtration, ultra-filtration, and hyperfiltration. Pressure-driven processes achieve the separation of suspended or dissolved particles of different sizes as the result of the capability of the particles to penetrate through or be retained by semi-permeable porous membranes of varying permeabilities and porosities. The porosity of the membrane determines whether the separation is termed micro-filtration, ultra-filtration or hyper-filtration.
Polymer membranes are used on a large scale in many industrial processes, including the desalination of sea water, the cleaning of industrial effluents, the fractionation of macro-molecular solutions in the food and drug industries, and the controlled release of drugs in medicine. Micro-filtration membranes are used for the filtration of particles in the 0.1-2 micron size range, whereas ultra-filtration membranes can trap particles in the 0.001-0.1 micron size range.
Composite membranes are also known, a common example being asymmetric ultrafiltration membranes comprising a thin particle-selective skin or surface membrane of fine porosity disposed for physical support on a backing plate of coarser porosity. Such composites improve mass transport in processes such as ultra-filtration and reverse osmosis, wherein very fine pore sizes must be provided.
Conventional methods for making microporous membranes include the sintered particle method, wherein powders of a selected membrane material are sintered to provide porous films or plates, typically with thicknesses in the 100-500 micrometer range. Ceramics, glasses, metals, and polymers such as polytetrafluoroethylene, can be formed into microporous membranes by this technique, although it generally yields structures of relatively low porosity, e.g., in the range of 10-40% by volume.
Alternative methods for making microporous polymer membranes include the stretching of homogeneous polymer films to cause partial fracture and the formation of a fine pore structure therein, and irradiation methods wherein films are irradiated with charged atomic particles and then etched to enlarge the particle tracks therein to pores. Also used is a phase inversion process wherein an immiscible liquid is introduced into a thin liquid film of a polymer solution, and the polymer then precipitated as a polymer film comprising a network of pores resulting from the presence of the immiscible phase during precipitation.
The above-described chemical methods for membrane fabrication generally use polymers that can be etched or otherwise dissolved in controlled fashion, and therefor are inherently limited to polymers which have some solubility in organic solvents. This limits the durability of the membranes which can be provided.
In a relatively recent development, a method for providing semi-permeable membranes from high strength, high temperature polymers such as polyether ketones, poly(aryl ether) ketones, and liquid crystal polymers has been developed. That method involves melt-blending a batch mixture containing a finely divided high-temperature polymer and a finely divided leachable glass to form a two-phase glass-polymer blend comprising continuous glass and continuous polymer phases.
The blend thus provided is then formed into a glass-polymer body of a selected shape such as a plate or membrane, and then treated with an aqueous leaching medium to leach the continuous intercommunicating glass phase from the continuous polymer phase. The product is a microporous polymer body comprising an intercommunicating pore structure consisting of a relict polymer network, generally having a pore volume in excess of 50% and average pore diameters in the range of about 0.1-10 micrometers. Most typical porosities are in the range of 70 to 80% by volume, with mean pore sizes of 0.1 to 0.7 microns and a narrow pore size distribution.
The method described above is disclosed and claimed in a copending, commonly assigned patent application of G. H. Beall et. al., Ser. No. 808,814 filed Dec. 17, 1991 for "Polymer Membranes for Separation Processes", now U.S. Pat. No. 5,183,607, and that patent is expressly incorporated herein by reference for a further description of such products and methods.
The method of the above-described patent application provides membranes of excellent quality, particularly when the membranes are produced by pressing of the glass-polymer blend followed by leaching of the resulting sheets or films. However, it has recently been found that membranes produced by extrusion of the glass-polymer blends followed by leaching exhibit significantly lower permeability than membranes of same composition produced from pressed films. Hence, although glass removal from the films appears to be substantially complete, with polymer residues and leached film densities essentially equivalent to those obtained in the case of pressed films, the extruded products still differ substantially from the pressed products in terms of permeability.
This represents a significant problem because extrusion is a preferred method for the production of melt-blended glass/polymer film precursors, particularly for applications requiring large quantities of semi-permeable membrane materials. Hence, extrusion can most conveniently provide large quantities of film material at low cost, in uniform thickness, and with relatively high film quality. Accordingly, a method for extruding blended thin-film material films which would provide products with properties equivalent to those of pressed plates or films is needed.
It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved method for the production of semi-permeable microporous membranes utilizing extrusion processing.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an extrusion method which provides semi-permeable microporous membranes of controllable permeability on a repeatable basis.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description thereof.

Method for making semi-permeable polymer membranes


A character string retrieving circuit includes a delay circuit (10) for delaying a match/no match signal created in each clock period to indicate whether or not a character matched with a retrieval target exists in a dictionary by one clock period, creating circuits (2(i), 3(i), 5(i) and 6(i)) for creating in advance signals of two kinds of a signal (ps1[i]) to assume that a character matched with a retrieval target exists in a dictionary in the clock period and a signal (ps0[i]) to assume that a character matched with a retrieval target does not exist in a dictionary in the clock period as signals to predict retrieved results in a certain clock period later and a selecting circuit (4)(i) for selecting a signal with a correct assumption from the signals of 2 kinds in accordance with the match/no match signal delayed by the delay circuit (10), wherein a signal selected by the selecting circuit (4)(i) is used in the next clock period. Thus, in the character string retrieving circuit provided within a data compressing circuit using the LZ77 method, faster character string retrieval can be realized based on pipeline processing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a character string retrieving circuit provided within a data compressing circuit using a LZ (Lempel-Ziv) 77 method, and particularly to a character string retrieving circuit which can make character string retrieving processing become faster.
2. Description of the Related Art
A LZ77 method exists as a kind of dictionary type data compression algorithms. The LZ77 method is used in data compressing circuits within various kinds of data recording apparatus such as an ALDC (Adaptive Lossless Data Compression) within AIT format, S-AIT format or LTO format tape drive (see Cited Patent Reference 1, for example).
A data compression principle of the LZ77 method will be described. That is, a last character string of a predetermined size of character strings (data strings) that have been inputted is registered on a dictionary, a character string that is matched with a newly inputted character string (that is, character string to be compressed) is retrieved from the dictionary and the newly inputted character string is replaced with address information of the match character string. This dictionary is not a static type dictionary but it is updated so as to exclude an old character string by adding the character string just before the compressed character string in accordance with a progress of data compression. Hence, this dictionary is called a sliding dictionary.
FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings is a schematic diagram showing an example of the manner in which a character string is retrieved from this dictionary. Although it has been customary that the dictionary is 512 bytes, 1024 bytes or 2048 bytes in size, this dictionary is 16 bytes in size for simplicity of explanation. As shown in FIG. 1, a last character string "ABCCAB . . . BCC" (each of the characters A, B, C is one byte) of 16 characters of character strings that had been inputted in the past is registered as a dictionary. The character "A" that was inputted 16 bytes before is assigned an address 0, the character "B" that was inputted 15 bytes before is assigned an address 1 and the character "C" that was inputted one byte before is assigned an address 15.
When the newly inputted character string is "ABCA", for example, a character string of addresses 9 to 12 is matched with "ABCA". In this case, the address 12 is outputted as a match address (address defined as the end address of the matched character string). In the end, the character string "ABCA" of 4 bytes is compressed to 2 bytes by replacing the character string "ABCA" with the leading address 9 and a match length 4.
Also, when a newly inputted character string is "ABC", for example, a character string of addresses 0, 1, 2, a character string of addresses 4, 5, 6, a character string of addresses 9, 10, 11 and a character string of addresses 12, 13, 14 are matched with the character string "ABC", respectively.
Further, for example, when a newly entered character string is "ABC", a character string of addresses 0, 1, 2, a character string of addresses 4, 5, 6, a character string of addresses 9, 10, 11 and a character string of addresses 12, 13 and 14 are respectively matched with the character string "ABC". Accordingly, in this case, 2, 6, 11 and 14 are outputted as match addresses (addresses defined as the end addresses of the match character strings).
As described above, according to the LZ77 method, data can be compressed by retrieving the character strings matched with the character string to be compressed from the dictionary. To this end, a character string retrieving circuit for carrying out this retrieving processing is provided within a data compressing circuit.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a character string retrieving circuit provided within a data compressing circuit using the LZ77 method according to the related art.
As shown in FIG. 2, this character string retrieving circuit includes N sets of a circuit group composed of comparing circuits 51(i), two-input and one-output AND circuits 52(i), two-input and one-output multiplexers 53(i) and D flip-flop circuits 54(i) in response to respective addresses i (i=0 to N−1) of a dictionary of which size is N bytes provided within a memory (for example, a SRAM (static random-access memory)), not shown. Also, this character string retrieving circuit according to the related art includes an N-input and one-output OR circuit 55.
The respective comparing circuits 51(i) compare a character to be retrieved with characters of corresponding addresses i of a dictionary and output compared results m [i] (that is, outputs go to "1" if the character to be retrieved is matched with the character of the corresponding addresses i of the dictionary and which go to "0" if not). The resultant compared results m [i] are supplied to one input terminals of the AND circuits 52(i) of the same set and they are also supplied to input terminals S2 of the multiplexers 53(i) of the same set.
The AND circuits 52(i) are supplied at the other input terminals thereof with outputs ps [i−1] which are outputs of the D flip-flop circuits 54(i) of the sets corresponding to one address before the address of the dictionary. For example, if the AND circuits 52(i) are AND circuits 52 (N−1), then outputs ps [N−2] which are outputs from D flip-flop circuits 53 (N−2) are supplied to the other input terminals of the AND circuits 52 (N−1). Outputs ps_and_m[i] (called "match") from the AND circuits 52(i) are supplied to the input terminals S1 of the multiplexers 53(i) of the same set and they are also supplied to the OR circuit 55.
An output orfb (that is, or feed back) from the OR circuit 55 is supplied to selection control terminals C of the multiplexers 53(i) of each set. This output orfb goes to "1" if any one match of ps_and_m [0] to ps_and_m [N−1] is "1" (if any one character string matched with the character string to be retrieved this time exists in the dictionary) and it goes to "0" if all of the outputs ps_and_m [0] to ps_and_m [N−1] are "0" (if the character string matched with the character string to be retrieved this time does not exist in the dictionary). That is, the output orfb is a match/no match signal which shows whether or not a character matched with a retrieval target character exists in the dictionary in each clock period.
The multiplexers 53(i) select the outputs ps_and_m [i] supplied to the input terminals S1 and output the outputs ps_and_m [i] from the output terminals D if the outputs orfb are "1". If on the other hand this outputs orfb are "0", then the multiplexers 53(i) select the outputs m [i] supplied to the input terminals S2 and output the outputs m [i] from the output terminals D. The outputs from the multiplexers 53(i) are supplied to the D input terminals of the D flip-flop circuits 54 (i) of the same set and these outputs are held at their output terminals Q until the next signal is inputted thereto. The outputs ps [i] held at the output terminals Q of the D flip-flop circuits 54(i) are supplied to the AND circuits 52(i) of the sets corresponding to one address after the address of the dictionary as outputs ps [i−1].
While FIG. 2 shows the block diagram of the character string retrieving circuit according to the related art, when this character string retrieving circuit is designed as an ASIC (Application Specified Integrated Circuit) or a programmable logic device (that is, FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), etc.), this character string retrieving circuit can be described as shown in FIG. 3 by using a Verilog HDL that is a kind of hardware description languages.
This character string retrieving circuit retrieves a character matched with a character of an inputted character string from a dictionary with respect to each character of the inputted character string every time (one period of operation clock) and creates the output orfb which shows whether or not a character matched with the retrieval target character exists in the dictionary. If the character matched with the retrieval target character exists in the dictionary, then the character string retrieving circuit increments the number of the characters to be retrieved one by one by using the retrieved result at the next clock period.
Specifically, if the newly entered character string is "ABCA", for example, then this character string retrieving circuit carries out retrieval in the following procedure.
FIRST RETRIEVAL: Retrieve a character matched with the first character "A" from the dictionary;
SECOND RETRIEVAL: Retrieve a character matched with the second character "B" from the dictionary if the character matched with "A" exists in the dictionary and retrieve a character string matched with "AB" by using the preceding retrieved result of "A";
THIRD RETRIEVAL: Retrieve a character matched with the third character "C" from the dictionary if the character string matched with "AB" exists in the dictionary and retrieve a character string matched with "ABC" by using the preceding retrieved result of "AB"; and
FOURTH RETRIEVAL: Retrieve a character matched with the fourth character "A" from the dictionary if the character string matched with "ABC" exists in the dictionary and retrieve the character string matched with "ABCA" by using the preceding retrieved result of "ABC".
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing operations of this character string retrieving circuit with reference to an example of the case in which the character string "ABCA" is retrieved (aforementioned fourth retrieval) by using the retrieved result of the character string "ABC" in the process to retrieve the character string "ABCA" from the dictionary shown in FIG. 1.
As shown in FIG. 4, since characters at the addresses i=0, 4, 9 and 12 are matched with "A", the compared results m [i] of the comparing circuits 51(i) of the sets corresponding to the addresses i=0, 4, 9 and 12 go to "1" and the compared results m [i] of the comparing circuits 51(i) of the sets corresponding to the remaining addresses go to "0".
Also, in the aforementioned third retrieval (retrieval of the third character "C"), since the outputs ps [i] of the D flip-flop circuit 54(i) of the sets corresponding to the addresses i=2, 6, 11 and 14 are "1", outputs ps [i−1] supplied to the AND circuits 52(i) of the sets corresponding to the addresses i=3, 7, 12 and 15 just one address after the addresses i=2, 6, 11 and 14 are "1" and outputs ps [i−1] supplied to the AND circuits 52(i) of the remaining sets go to "0".
As a result, only the output ps_and_m [i] from the AND circuit 52(i) of the set corresponding to the address i=12 goes to "1" and the outputs ps_and_m [i] (match) from the AND circuits 52[i] of the remaining sets go to "0".
Then, since one output ps_and_m [i] is "1" so that the output orfb from the OR circuit 55 goes to "1", the ps_and_m [i] is selected by the multiplexers 53(i) and their outputs ps_and_m [ii] are held at the output terminals Q of the respective D flip-flip circuits 54(i). In this manner, the match address 12 of the character string matched with the character string "ABCA" can be obtained as earlier noted with reference to FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 shows the example in which the character string matched with the character string "ABCA" exists in the dictionary. However, unless the character string matched with the character string "ABCA" exists in the dictionary (that is, if the outputs ps_and_m [i] from the AND circuits 52(i) of all sets go to "0"), then the output orfb from the OR circuit 55 goes to "0" so that the outputs m [i] are selected by the respective D flip-flop circuits 54(i). These outputs m [i] are held at the output terminals Q of the D flip-flop circuits 54 (i). As a result, retrieval of character strings is started again from the character "A" of the address "4" by the aforementioned processing character by character.
The character string retrieving circuit shown in FIG. 2 supplies the output orfb of the OR circuit 55 to the multiplexers 53(i) of the respective sets without delay and therefore this character string retrieving circuit is called a circuit with "delay 0".
[Cited Patent Reference 1]: Republished Patent Application of International Publication Number W02003/032296 (pages 12 to 13, FIGS. 3 and 4)
The character string retrieving circuit shown in FIG. 2 is unsuitable for making the character string retrieving processing faster due to the following reasons. That is, this character string retrieving circuit has a loop structure in which the outputs ps [i] from the D flip-flop circuits 54(i) are fed through the AND circuits 52(i) and the OR circuit 55 back to the D flip-flop circuits 54(i) and hence high-speed operation of this loop becomes the necessary condition for making the character string retrieving circuit become faster. However, the OR circuit 55 which generates the output orfb is a complex combinational circuit and it has a large delay. As a result, this loop becomes a critical path (path having the largest delay). For this reason, the maximum frequency of the operation clock is limited by this loop and therefore this character string retrieving circuit is unsuitable for making the character string retrieving processing become faster.
As a general method for increasing an operation speed of a circuit, there is known a method for realizing a pipeline processing by inserting a delay means such as a flip-flop circuit into the circuit. However, in the character string retrieving circuit shown in FIG. 2, when a flip-flop circuit is simply provided at the rear stage of the OR circuit 55 so as to delay the output orfb, it is unavoidable that "algorithm in which the retrieved result in each clock period is used in the next clock period" is changed to a different algorithm. As a result, the character string retrieving circuit becomes unable to operate as it is intended to operate.

Character string retrieving circuit and character string retrieving method


A process for making a phenolic ketone involving reacting a metal aryloxide with an aliphatic aldehyde having from at least 2 to about 25 carbon atoms.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a process for making phenolic ketones. More particularly, a process is provided for making phenolic ketones, which may be used as precursors to the synthesis of hydroxyaryl ketoximes, used as extractants for the recovery of metals from aqueous solutions.
2. Background of the Invention
The starting material for solvent extraction processing of copper is an aqueous leach solution obtained from a body of ore which contains a mixture of metal in addition to copper. The leaching medium dissolves salts of copper and other metals as it trickles through the ore, to provide an aqueous solution of the mixture of metal values. The metal values are usually leached with sulfuric acid medium, providing an acidic aqueous solution, but can also be leached by ammonia to provide a basic aqueous solution.
The aqueous solution is mixed in tanks with an extraction reagent which is dissolved in an organic solvent, e.g., a kerosene. The reagent includes an extractant chemical which selectively forms metal-extractant complex with the copper ions in preference to ions of other metals. The step of forming the complex is called the extraction or loading stage of the solvent extraction process.
The outlet of the mixer continuously feeds to a large settling tank, where the organic solvent (organic phase), now containing the copper-extractant complex in solution, is separated from the depleted aqueous solution (aqueous phase). This part of the process is called phase separation. Usually, the process of extraction is repeated through two or more mixer/settler stages, in order to more completely extract the desired metal.
After extraction, the depleted aqueous feedstock (raffinate) is either discharged or recirculated to the ore body for further leaching. The loaded organic phase containing the dissolved copper-extractant complex is fed to another set of mixer tanks, where it is mixed with an aqueous strip solution of concentrated sulfuric acid. The highly acid strip solution breaks apart the copper-extractant complex and permits the purified and concentrated copper to pass to the strip aqueous phase. As in the extraction process described above, the mixture is fed to another settler tank for phase separation. This process of breaking the copper-extractant complex is called the stripping stage, and the stripping operation is repeated through two or more mixer-settler stages to more completely strip the copper from the organic phase.
From the stripping settler tank, the regenerated stripped organic phase is recycled to the extraction mixers to begin extraction again, and the strip aqueous phase is customarily fed to an electrowinning tankhouse, where the copper metal values are deposited on plates by a process of electrodeposition. After electrowinning the copper values from the aqueous solution, the solution, known as spent electrolyte, is returned to the stripping mixers to begin stripping again.
While many reagent formulations have been proposed for use in recovery of copper by solvent extraction, the present invention is specifically directed to the hydroxyaryl ketoxime reagents. Hydroxyaryl ketoximes are typically derived by reacting a phenolic ketone with a hydroxylamine derivative. The most common method used for deriving the phenolic ketones is through the conversion of an alkylphenyl acetate to a phenolic ketone by way of a Fries rearrangement using aluminum chloride as the catalyst.
A significant disadvantage associated with the use of this type of process to make phenolic ketones stems from the large amounts of aluminum chloride required to make the phenolic ketones and, more particularly, the substantial amounts of aluminum chloride waste being generated thereby. Moreover, a two-pot conversion is required, i.e., preparation of the ester intermediate in one reactor, followed by transference of the ester intermediate to a second pot, i.e., second reactor, to perform the Fries rearrangement.
As was noted previously, hydroxyaryl ketoximes are derived by reacting a phenolic ketone with a hydroxylamine derivative. Thus, in order to form the desired ketoximes, another process is required, i.e., formation of the phenolic ketones in two pots, followed by transference to a third pot so that they can be reacted with the hydroxylamine derivative.


Embodiments of this disclosure include systems, methods, and kits for sterilizing in vivo catheters using an optical fiber to deliver UV light. In an embodiment, a method for sterilizing a catheter with at least a first lumen, includes inserting a distal end of a fiber optic cable into a fiber insertion port of a catheter connector attached to a hub of the first lumen, flushing the first lumen with fluid from a fluid source, inserting the fiber optic cable into the first lumen until a stopper of the fiber optic cable is adjacent to the fiber insertion port, providing light to the fiber optic cable from a light source after the fiber optic cable is inserted into the first lumen, withdrawing the fiber optic cable from the first lumen while the light is provided, and ceasing to provide light to the fiber optic cable after the fiber optic cable is withdrawn from the first lumen. The disclosure is also applicable to catheters with multiple lumens and to catheters accessed through subcutaneous ports.

Catheter infections are one of the biggest problems in health care today. An improved method for treating catheter infections would be useful to the medical community. Catheter infections often lead to catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI's). This is a dreaded complication with an attributable mortality of 12-25% for each infection. The annual incidence of catheter related bloodstream infections is estimated to be 250,000 events per year in the US, leading to approximately 28,000 deaths per year. The median rate of catheter-related bloodstream infections in ICUs ranges between 1.8 to 5.2 per 1000 catheter days, with average costs between $23,508 and $56,000 according to some estimates. The annual cost of caring for patients with central venous catheter related bloodstream infections ranges from $296 million to $2.3 billion.
Catheter infections are associated with bacteria that form a polysaccharide matrix called a biofilm. Bacteria can colonize the external surface of a catheter or can colonize the internal lumen of a catheter. For short-term catheters, infections are primarily extraluminal. Long-term catheters are primarily associated with intraluminal bacterial colonization. The biofilm on the internal lumen has been shown as the primary infection source in short-term central venous catheters (CVCs) as early as 4 to 6 days after insertion. With catheters indwelling longer than 10 days, intraluminal biofilm is almost always associated. In intraluminal catheter infections, biofilm may establish itself along the entire length of the catheter, as well as at the catheter opening.
Additionally, catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI's) are also a large problem within the medical system. An estimated 15-25% of hospitalized patients receive urinary catheters, and if a urinary tract infection (UTI) is diagnosed in a hospitalized patient, 75% of the time it is associated with a urinary catheter. These infections are among the most common type of health-care associated infection, result in increased hospital stays, and cost the healthcare system $400 to $500 million per year. UTI's are associated with more than 13,000 deaths per year. Like central catheters, urinary catheters can harbor bacterial colonies that can produce a luminal biofilm that may be resistant to conventional antibiotics.
Currently, there is no established, effective method for treating catheter infections. The currently available methods of treating CRBSI's and CAUTI's typically comprise removing the infected catheter, introducing a new catheter into the patient, and treating the patient with a course of antibiotics. These methods are problematic because of increasing antibiotic resistance, especially in the hospital environment; patient discomfort associated with removing and replacing catheters; possible disfiguration associated with catheter insertion; expense associated with the additional medical care; costs associated with replacing catheters with suspected infections; and increased risk venous stenosis and thrombosis.
Ultraviolet (UV) light is a non-molecular based antimicrobial agent that has been investigated for catheter infection treatment. UV light has a particular band of wavelengths, 250-280 nm (UVC band), that is considered germicidal. The germicidal action occurs by the production of thymine dimers in microbial DNA. The use of UV light for disinfection is well established in water treatment. Although biofilm may attenuate microbial response to UV light, UVC light can induce DNA damage in microbes through a biofilm matrix. However, attempts to date to treat (or prevent) catheter infections using UV light have not solved the problem.
As described above, there exists a need for new technologies to both treat and prevent intraluminal catheter infections. The disclosed UV light-based sterilization systems, devices, and methods are generally directed toward addressing one or more of the problems set forth above.

Systems and methods for sterilization using UV light


A driver assistance device according to an embodiment includes a coupling angle acquirer that acquires a coupling angle between a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle coupled to the towing vehicle; and a notifier that issues a given notification in the towing vehicle when the towing vehicle is driven with the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle differing in orientation at a given value or more based on the coupling angle, the towing vehicle moves in a given distance or less while maintaining a steering angle, and the steering angle of the towing vehicle enables the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle to be placed in a serial state with the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle substantially matching with each other in orientation.

Conventionally, driver assistance techniques for a towing vehicle coupled to a towed vehicle are proposed. Among such techniques, as an example, displaying a peripheral image representing the surroundings of the towing vehicle to visually inform the driver of the current state of a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle is known.


A scribing head according to the present invention includes: a scribing line forming means (29) structured so as to form a scribing line on a substrate; and a moving means (502, 503) for moving the scribing line forming means such that the scribing line forming means presses the substrate with a constant magnitude, wherein the moving means includes: a rotation means (502) rotating about a rotation axis, the axial center of the rotation axis being provided so as to align with a predetermined direction in which the scribing line forming means moves, and a motive power transmission means (503) for transmitting a motive power between the motive power transmission means and the scribing line forming means such that the scribing line forming means moves on a straight line along the axial center of the rotation axis in response to the rotation of the rotation means, the motive power transmission means being provided along the predetermined direction.

For example, when a glass substrate (including a brittle material) is cut into a desired size, a cutting edge of a cutter wheel is pressed onto a surface of the brittle material with a predetermined force and is moved on the surface of the glass substrate. As a result, a scribing line is formed (hereinafter, referred to as a "scribing step"). Thereafter, a predetermined force is applied to the glass substrate along the scribing line (hereinafter, referred to as a "breaking step"). As a result, the glass substrate is cut along the scribing line.
FIG. 7 shows an example of a structure of a conventional scribing apparatus 10. The scribing apparatus 10 performs the scribing step.
The scribing apparatus 10 includes a table 11, a first guide rail 12A, a second guide rail 12B and a ball screw 13.
The table 11 is structured so as to be rotatable in a horizontal plane. A vacuum adsorption means (not shown) is provided in the table 11. The vacuum adsorption means fixes a substrate G (e.g., brittle substrate including a glass plate) mounted on the table 11 to the table 11. The first guide rail 12A and the second guide rail 12B support the table 11 such that the table 11 is movable in the Y-direction. The first guide rail 12A and the second guide rail 12B are provided in parallel to each other. The ball screw 13 moves the table 11 along the first guide rail 12A and the second guide rail 12B.
The scribing apparatus 10 further includes a first pillar 19A, a second pillar 19B, a guide bar 14, a sliding unit 15 and a first motor 16.
The first pillar 19A and the second pillar 19B are vertically provided on a base of the scribing apparatus 10 having the first guide rail 12A and the second guide rail 12B interposed therebetween. The guide bar 14 is provided above the table 11 along the X-direction and constructed between the first pillar 19A and the second pillar 19B. The sliding unit 15 is provided on the guide bar 14 so as to be slidable. The first motor 16 slides the sliding unit 15.
The scribing apparatus 10 further includes a scribing head 9, a second motor 17 for moving the scribing head 9 upward and downward, a first CCD camera 18A and a second CCD camera 18B. The second motor 17 holds the scribing head 9 at a predetermined height in the scribing step. The first CCD camera 18A and the second CCD camera 18B are provided above the guide bar 14 and detect an alignment mark formed on the substrate G.
The scribing head 9 is provided in the sliding unit 15. The scribing head 9 includes a cutter wheel 29.
The scribing head 9 presses the cutter wheel 29 onto the surface of the substrate G. When the motor 16 slides the sliding unit 15, the scribing head 9 moves along the guide bar 14. As a result, the cutter wheel 29 moves on the surface of the substrate G while it is being pressed onto the surface of the substrate G, and a scribing line is formed on the surface of the substrate G.
International Publication No. WO03/011777 pamphlet (Reference 1) discloses a scribing head. This scribing head includes a servo motor and a cutter wheel 29. The scribing head is structured such that the torque of a rotation axis of the servo motor is transmitted to the cutter wheel 29 directly or via a gear, and the cutter wheel 29 is pressed onto the surface of the substrate G. Since the cutter wheel 29 is pressed onto the substrate G with a predetermined force by the servo motor, for example, when compared to the case in which the cutter wheel 29 is pressed onto the substrate G with a predetermined force by an air cylinder, an excellent temporal followablity with respect to the change of reaction force from the substrate G, and an excellent controllability and responsiveness with respect to the magnitude of the reaction force are obtained.
FIG. 8 shows an example of a structure of a conventional scribing head 9. The scribing head 9 is a scribing head disclosed in Reference 1. The scribing head 9 is structured so as to directly transmit the torque of the rotation axis of the servo motor to the cutter wheel 29.
The scribing head 9 includes a servo motor 402, a holder holding member 404, a cutting edge holder 28 which is held by the holder holding member 404 and a cutter wheel 29 which is rotatable about a pin inserted at the lower end of the cutting edge holder 28.
The servo motor 402 of scribing head 9 is, for example, held by a sliding unit 15 (see FIG. 7). When a rotation axis 402A of the servo motor 402 is turned, the cutter wheel 29 is moved upward and downward via the holder holding member 404 and the cutting edge holder 28. Owing to such a structure, the servo motor 402 generates a torque in a direction in which the rotation axis 402A turns clockwise (see FIG. 8), and presses the cutter wheel 29 onto a brittle material substrate.
FIG. 9 shows a structure of another example of the conventional scribing head 400. FIG. 9(a) shows a side view of the scribing head 400. FIG. 9(b) shows a front view of relevant parts of the scribing head 400. The scribing head 400 is a scribing head disclosed in Reference 1. In FIG. 9, the same components as those shown in FIG. 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.
The scribing head 400 includes a first side wall 401A, a second side wall 401B, a servo motor 402 which is fixed between the first side wall 401A and the second side wall 401B in an upside down manner, an L-shaped holder holding member 404, a spindle 403, which is provided at the bottom portion of the first side wall 401A and the second side wall 401B, for supporting the holder holding member 404 such that the holder holding member 404 is rotatable, and a scribing line forming mechanism 21. The scribing line forming mechanism 21 includes a turning axis 27, a cutting edge holder 28 and a cutter wheel 29. The cutting edge holder 28 is fixed to the turning axis 27 and is held by the holder holding member 404 so as to be turnable via the turning axis 27.
A first bevel gear 405A is firmly fixed to an output axis of the servo motor 402. A second bevel gear 405B is firmly fixed to the spindle 403. The first bevel gear 405A and the second bevel gear 405B are provided so as to engage with each other. Thus, when the servo motor 402 is rotated in a positive direction or a negative direction, the holder holding member 404 turns about the spindle 403, and the scribing line forming mechanism 21 moves upward or downward, respectively. Owing to such a structure, the servo motor 402 generates a torque in a direction in which the spindle 403 turns clockwise (see FIG. 9(b)) and presses the cutter wheel 29 onto the brittle material substrate.
Furthermore, Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-206727 (Reference 2) discloses a scribing head A which is another example of the conventional scribing head. The scribing head A, similar to the scribing head 400, transmits the motive power of a servo motor to a cutter wheel via a gear (specifically, a rack-and-pinion).
Reference 1: International Publication No. WO03/011777 pamphlet
Reference 2: Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-206727


A storage node of a database replica group may distribute different portions of data in local storage and external storage, where local storage and external storage are organized using different types of index structures. Responsive to receiving an access request for a database, a storage node may determine that an item of the database to be accessed by the request does not reside within a first portion of the database stored locally at the storage node. Responsive to this determination, the storage node may obtain from an external storage service a second portion of the database, the second portion including a plurality of items including the item, and the second portion organized according to a structure different from the first portion. The storage node may then store the plurality of obtained items in the first portion and process the request using the first portion of the database.

Database systems managing large amounts of data on behalf of users may distribute and/or replicate that data across two or more machines, often in different locations, for any of a number of reasons, including security issues, disaster prevention and recovery issues, data locality and availability issues, etc. As the scale of data stored increases, database systems may implement different techniques for distributing and replicating data to cope with the increasing demand upon data storage resources and to provide highly performant access to dynamically changing access demands.
While embodiments are described herein by way of example for several embodiments and illustrative drawings, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments are not limited to the embodiments or drawings described. It should be understood, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit embodiments to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope as defined by the appended claims. The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words "include", "including", and "includes" mean including, but not limited to.
It will also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first contact could be termed a second contact, and, similarly, a second contact could be termed a first contact, without departing from the scope of the present invention. The first contact and the second contact are both contacts, but they are not the same contact.

Adaptive tiering for database data of a replica group


The invention is related to a method of initiating a regenerative converter (1) and corresponding converter (1) including a line bridge (2) and a machine bridge (3), which are interconnected via a DC intermediate circuit (8A, 8B). The method comprises charging, through the line bridge (2) and while the machine bridge (3) remains inactive, the DC intermediate circuit (8A, 8B) to a target voltage (14) higher than peak value of the mains voltage (13).

Electric drive of an elevator may include a hoisting machine for driving an elevator car and an electric converter for controlling the hoisting machine. Hoisting machine may include a DC electric motor or an AC electric motor, such as an induction motor, permanent magnet synchronous motor, reluctance motor, or corresponding. A converter, such as AC/DC converter or frequency converter supplies current to the electric motor to produce desired movement of the elevator car.
Depending on running direction and load of the elevator car, electric motor of the hoisting machine may either turn electrical power into mechanical energy for moving elevator car or renegerate mechanical energy back into electricity by braking elevator car movement.
In past the electricity regenerated was usually consumed into heat in a separate power resistor, which had the effect that energy efficiency was somewhat compromised. Nowadays, however, regenerative converters are used. Regenerative converter means a power converter capable of feeding electrical power between electric machine and mains in two opposite directions, that is to feed electrical power from regenerating elevator hoisting machine back to the mains also.
In some embodiments, the regenerative converter includes a line bridge and a machine bridge, which are connected together via DC intermediate circuit busbars. Line bridge AC output terminals are connected to the mains, and machine bridge output terminals are connected to the windings of an electric machine. Frequency converter has an inverter with AC output terminals coupled to the windings of AC motor or generator, whereas AC/DC converter has a H-bridge with DC output terminals coupled to the windings of a DC motor or generator.
Both line bridge and machine bridge comprise solid state switches arranged as legs. The solid state switches may be igbt transistors, mosfet transistors, or corresponding. Each leg is associated with one of the output terminals of the corresponding line bridge/machine bridge. Each leg comprises a high-side and a low-side solid state switch connected in series between the high-voltage and low-voltage DC intermediate circuit busbars, and the output terminal is connected to the connection point of the high-side and low side switches. When the high-side and the low-side switch of the leg are switched alternatively at a selected modulation frequency, for example, between 3 kHz and 20 kHz, an adjustable output voltage is formed in the corresponding output terminal. Modulation method used may be PWM (pulse width modulation) or space vector modulation, for example.
An additional line current filter is further connected between power line of the mains and AC terminals of the line bridge to remove the current ripple, which is a result of switching the high-side and low-side switches of the line bridge.
In the control loop of the line bridge, DC voltage between the high-voltage and low-voltage DC intermediate circuit busbars is regulated to a target DC value by controlling current in the power lines coming from mains. Therefore powerline currents and voltages are measured with a high-accuracy feedback channel.

Method of initiating a regenerative converter and a regenerative converter