Provided are a pixel circuit, a driving method for the pixel circuit and a display device including the pixel circuit. In the pixel circuit, when the data is written to the storage capacitor, the threshold voltage of the driving transistor and the data voltage are pre-stored in the storage capacitor by means of a diode connection formed by the driving transistor, so that the drift of the threshold voltage can be compensated effectively, and thus the uniformity and the stability of the driving current are maintained. Further, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the scan signal for the pixel circuit is multiplexed in the touch circuit, and the coupling capacitor in the touch circuit is charged simultaneously while the storage capacitor is charged, and thus, the integration of the touch circuit into the pixel circuit can be realized perfectly without increasing the complexity of the circuit structure and the operation thereof.

Compared to conventional liquid crystal panels, an Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode (AMOLED) panel has characteristics such as a faster response speed, a higher contrast, and a wider view angle and the like. Thus, AMOLED has gained an increasing attention of developers of display devices.
The AMOLED is driven via a pixel circuit to emit light. A conventional 2T1C pixel circuit comprises two Thin Film Transistors (TFTs) and one capacitor (C), and is particularly illustrated in FIG. 1, the pixel circuit comprises a driving transistor DTFT, a switching transistor T5′ and a storage capacitor Cst, wherein the switching transistor T5′ is controlled by a scan signal Vscan to control an input of a data voltage Vdata, the driving transistor DTFT controls an OLED to emit light, and the storage capacitor Cst supplies a maintaining voltage to a gate of the driving transistor DTFT.
FIG. 2 shows a driving timing diagram of the 2T1C pixel circuit illustrated in FIG. 1. The operational process of the 2T1C pixel circuit is as follows: when the scan signal is at a low level, the switching transistor T5′ is turned on, and the storage capacitor Cst is charged by a grayscale voltage (a data voltage Vdata) on a data line; meanwhile, the data voltage Vdata is applied to the gate of the driving transistor DTFT, so that the driving transistor DTFT operates in a saturation state to drive the OLED to emit light; when the scan signal is at a high level, the switching transistor T5′ is turned off, and the storage capacitor Cst supplies the maintaining voltage to the gate of the driving transistor DTFT, so that the driving transistor DTFT still operates in a saturation state to drive the OLED to emit light continuously.
It can be known from the above, the OLED in the AMOLED panel can be driven to emit light by a driving current generated by the driving transistor DTFT in the saturation state. Specifically, the driving current (flowing through an circuit in which OLED is located) IOLED=K(Vsg−|Vthd|)2, wherein Vsg represents a voltage difference between the gate and a source of the driving transistor DTFT, |Vthd| represents a threshold voltage of the driving transistor DTFT, K represents a constant concerning the structure and technical process of the driving transistor DTFT itself. Since in an existing low temperature poly-silicon manufacturing process, the uniformity of the threshold voltages Vth of TFTs is poor, and the threshold voltages may drift in operation, and thus even if a same data voltage Vdata is input to the respective driving transistors DTFT, different driving currents are generated due to different threshold voltages of the driving transistors DTFT, so that the uniformity of the luminance of the AMOLED panel is poor.
In recent years, a touch function is widely used in various display panels especially in mobile displays, and nearly becomes a standard configuration of a smart phone. In the prior art, a display panel and a Touch Screen Panel (TSP) are manufactured separately, and then are bonded together. Such a technical process flow brings about a complex technical process and high cost of a functional panel in a display touch panel, and has adversely affected the lightness and thinness of the displays. The technique of TSP in cell integrates the display function with the touch function, and can utilize one technical process flow rather than two separate technical flows to realize the combination of the display function and the touch function. Therefore, the technique of TSP in cell not only has an advantage of low cost, but also brings about a simple technical process, and results in a lighter and thinner display touch panel. However, at present, there is no a better solution to the problem how to integrate a touch circuit with a pixel circuit perfectly.

Pixel circuit, driving method therefor and display device

CHENGDU BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A device for purifying the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The device has a particulate filter, arranged in the exhaust system, on which the trapped particulates are oxidized. The engine can be operated in a first operating mode in which it is given priority to improve the fuel consumption rate thereof and a second operating mode in which it is given priority to regenerate the particulate filter to oxidize the trapped particulates. One of the first operating mode and the second operating mode is selected to operate the engine at need.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for purifying the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine.
2. Description of the Related Art
The exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine and, particularly, of a diesel engine, contains particulates comprising carbon as a chief component. Particulates are harmful materials and thus it has been suggested that a particulate filter should be arranged in the exhaust system to trap particulates before they are emitted into the atmosphere. In such a particulate filter, the trapped particulates must be burned and removed to prevent resistance to the exhaust gas from increasing due to the blocked meshes.
In such a regeneration of the particulate filter, if the temperature of the particulates becomes about 600 degrees C., they ignite and burn. However, usually, the temperature of an exhaust gas of a diesel engine is considerably lower than 600 degrees C. and thus a heating means is required to heat the particulate filter itself.
Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 7-106290 discloses that if one of the platinum group metals and one of the oxides of the alkali earth metals are carried on the filter, the particulates on the filter burn and are removed successively at about 400 degrees C. 400 degrees C. is a typical temperature of the exhaust gas of a diesel engine.
However, when the above-mentioned filter is used, the temperature of the exhaust gas is not always about 400 degrees C. Further, a large amount of particulates can be discharged from the engine. Thus, particulates that cannot be burned and removed each time can deposit on the filter.
In this filter, if a certain amount of particulates deposits on the filter, the ability to burn and remove particulates drops so much that the filter cannot be regenerated by itself. Thus, if such a filter is merely arranged in the exhaust system, the blocking of the filter meshes can occur relative quickly.
On the other hand, when NO2 reacts with the particulates on the particulate filter, the particulates can be burned at a relative low temperature (NO2+Cxe2x86x92NO+CO, NO2+COxe2x86x92NO+CO2, 2NO2+Cxe2x86x922NO+CO2). However, most of NOx included in the exhaust gas is NO and thus NO must be converted to NO2 to make the particulates burn using NO2. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8-338229 discloses an oxidation catalytic apparatus arranged upstream particulate filter. The oxidation catalytic apparatus can convert NO to NO2. Further a known NOx absorbent can release the absorbed NO as NO2. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8-338229 also discloses that the NOx absorbent is carried on the particulate filter. Thus, NO2 converted by the oxidation catalytic apparatus and NO2 released by the NOx absorbent can burn the particulates on the particulate filter at a relative low temperature. However, in low-engine-load operations, the temperature of the exhaust gas becomes very low, the oxidation catalytic apparatus cannot convert NO to NO2 and the NOx absorbent cannot release NO2. Accordingly, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8-338229 discloses that in the low engine load operating area, fuel and secondary air are always supplied into the exhaust system to raise the temperature of the particulate filter by the burned heat thereof. Thus, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8-338229, the fuel consumption rate of the engine deteriorates.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a device, for purifying the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, which can prevent blocking of the particulate filter meshes by the trapped particulates thereon without deterioration of the fuel consumption rate of the engine.
According to the present invention, there is provided a device for purifying the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine comprising a particulate filter arranged in the exhaust system, on which the trapped particulates are oxidized, wherein the engine can be operated in a first operating mode in which it is given priority to improve the fuel consumption rate thereof and a second operating mode in which it is given priority to regenerate the particulate filter to oxidize the trapped particulates, and one of the first operating mode and the second operating mode is selected to operate the engine at need.

Device for purifying the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine


Described are cells transfected with expression vectors containing pituitary tumor transfer gene (PTTG) and uses therefor. The PTTG nucleic acids may be operatively linked to a vector, optionally provided with control and expression sequences, and/or may be carried by a host cell. The host cell may be a thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)-sensitive cell transfected with an expression vector comprising a DNA segment encoding functional PTTG, wherein the cell overexpresses PTTG in response to TSH. Also described is an in vitro cell model used to study biological processes mediated by PTTG and a method for evaluating a compound for its ability to modulate PTTG expression.

The U.S. Government has a paid-up license in this invention and the right in limited circumstances to require the patent owner to license others on reasonable terns as provided for by the terms of contract CA75979, awarded by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health.
Throughout the application various publications are referenced in parentheses. The disclosures of these publications in their entireties are hereby incorporated by reference in the application in order to more fully describe the state of the art to which this invention pertains.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to the biomedical arts, in particular to biotechnology.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Pituitary tumor-transforming gene (PTTG) is a recently described oncogene isolated from pituitary tumor growth hormone-secreting cells by differential display. (Pei, L., et al., Isolation and characterization of a pituitary tumor-transforming gene (PTTG), Mol. Endo. 11:433–441 [1997]). PTTG is believed to be a securin protein and has 44.6% amino acid identity with Xenopus securin. (Zou, H., et al., Identification of a vertebrate sister-chromatid separation inhibitor involved in transformation and tumorigenesis, Science 285:418–422 [1999]; Mei, J., Huang, X., and Zhang, P., Securin is not required for cellular viability, but is required for normal growth of mouse embryonic fibroblasts, Current Biology 11:1197–1201 [2001]).
PTTGs have been identified in rat, mouse, and human cells. (e.g., PCT/US97/21463; Wang, Z., et al., Pituitary tumor transforming gene (PTTG) transforming and transactivation activity, J. Biol. Chem. 275:7459–7461 [2000]). The human PTTG family consists of at least four homologous genes, of which PTTG1 is located on chromosome 5q33. (Prezant, T. R., et al., An intronless homolog of human proto-oncogene hPTTG is expressed in pituitary tumors: evidence for hPTTG family, J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 84:1149–1152 [1999]).
PTTG has been shown to upregulate basic fibroblast growth factor secretion (Zhang, X. et al., Structure, expression, and function of human pituitary tumor-transforming gene (PTTG), Mol. Endocrinol. 13:156–66 [1999a]), and transactivate DNA transcription (Dominguez, A. et al. [1998]; Wang, Z. et al., Pituitary tumor transforming gene (PTTG) transactivating and transforming activity, J. Biol. Chem. 275:7459–61[2000]).
Human PTTG1 is expressed at low levels in most normal human tissues. (Chen, L. et al., Identification of the human pituitary tumor transforming gene (hPTTG) family: molecular structure, expression, and chromosomal localization, Gene. 248:41–50 [2000]; Heaney, A. P. et al. [2000]). PTTG is abundant only in normal testis and thymus. (Wang, Z., et al., Characterization of the murine pituitary tumor transforming gene (PTTG) and its promoter, Endocrinology 141:763–771 [2000]). When expressed at normal levels, PTTG mediates promoter transcriptional activation. (Wang, Z., et al., Pituitary tumor transforming gene (PTTG) transforming and transactivation activity, J. Biol. Chem. 275:7459–7461 [2000]). By dysregulating chromatid separation, PTTG overexpression also leads to aneuploidy, i.e., cells having one or a few chromosomes above or below the normal chromosome number (Zou et al. [1999]; Yu, R., et al., Pituitary tumor transforming gene (PTTG) regulates placental JEG-3 cell division and survival: evidence from live cell imaging, Mol. Endo. 14:1137–1146 [2000]). At the end of metaphase, securin is degraded by an anaphase-promoting complex, releasing tonic inhibition of separin, which in turn mediates degradation of cohesins, the proteins that hold sister chromatids together. Overexpression of a nondegradable PTTG disrupts sister chromatid separation (Zou et al. [1999]) and overexpression of PTTG causes apoptosis and inhibits mitoses (Yu, R. et al. [2000]). The securin function of PTTG suggests that PTTG may also be expressed in normal proliferating cells. In adult humans, PTTG1 mRNA is most abundant in testis, an organ containing rapidly proliferating gametes. (Zhang, X. et al. [1999a]); Wang, Z. et al. [2000]).
In contrast, PTTG1 is highly expressed in human tumors and is responsive to estrogen induction. (Zhang, X., et al., Structure, expression, and function of human pituitary tumor-transforming gene (PTTG), Mol. Endo. 13:156–166 [1999a]; Heaney, A. P., et al., Early involvement of estrogen-induced pituitary tumor transforming gene and fibroblast growth factor expression in prolactinoma pathogenesis, Nature Med. 5:1317–1321 [1999]). Indeed, PTTG is highly expressed in pituitary tumors and neoplasms from the hematopoietic system and colon, and PTTG is considered to be a proto-oncogene, because PTTG overexpression in NIH3T3 cells induces cell transformation and in vivo tumor formation. (Pei, L., et al., Isolation and characterization of a pituitary tumor-transforming gene (PTTG), Mol. Endo. 11:433–441 [1997]; Zhang, X. et al. [1999a]; Zhang, X. et al., Pituitary tumor transforming gene (PTTG) expression in pituitary adenomas, J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 84:761–67 [1999b]; Heaney, A. P. et al., Pituitary tumor transforming gene in colorectal tumors, Lancet 355:712–15 [2000]; Dominguez, A. et al., hPTTG, a human homologue of rat pttg, is overexpressed in hematopoietic neoplasms. Evidence for a transcriptional activation function of hPTTG, Oncogene 17:2187–93 [1998]; Saez, C. et al., hPTTG is over-expressed in pituitary adenomas and other primary epithelial neoplasias, Oncogene 18:5473-6 [1999]). In addition, it was recently observed that PTTG1 overexpression in rat FRTL5 thyroid cells and in human thyroid cell cultures caused in vitro transformation and produces a dedifferentiated neoplastic phenotype. (Heaney, et al., Transforming events in thyroid tumorigenesis and their association with follicular lesions, J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 86(10):5025–5032 [2001]).
The recent discovery of a human PTTG gene 2, which shares high sequence homology with human PTTG1, implying the existence of a PTTG gene family. (Prezant, T. R., et al., An intronless homolog of human proto-oncogene hPTTG is expressed in pituitary tumors: evidence for hPTTG family, J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 84:1149–1152 [1999]). Murine PTTG shares 66% nucleotide base sequence homology with human PTTG1 and also exhibits transforming ability. (Wang, Z. and Melmed, S., Characterization of the murine pituitary tumor transforming gone (PTTG) and its promoter, Endocrinology [In Press; 2000]). A proline-rich region was identified near the protein C-terminus that is critical for PTTG1's transforming activity. (Zhang, X., et al. [1999a]), as demonstrated by the inhibitory effect on in vitro transformation, in vivo tumorigenesis, and transactivation, when point mutations were introduced into the proline-rich region. Proline-rich domains may function as SH3 binding sites to mediate signal transduction of protein-tyrosine kinase. (Pawson, T., Protein modules and signaling networks, Nature 373:573–580 [1995]; Kuriyan, J., and Cowburn, D., Modular peptide recognition domains in eukaryotic signaling, Annu, Rev. Biophys. Biomol. Struct. 26:259–288 [1997]).
The transforming ability of PTTG has given rise to much interest into the study of its role in tumorigenesis in various tissues and organs, including the pituitary and thyroid. Moreover, the correlation between sex steroid expression and tumorigenesis also has garnered much interest. In general, various distinct molecular events (Farid, N. R., et al., Molecular basis of thyroid cancer, Endocr. Rev. 15:202–232 [1994]) occurring in thyroid neoplasia, including ras mutations, detected early in both benign and malignant tumors, activation of TSH receptor, and Gsα-subunit mutation have been reported in some follicular carcinomas. (Surez H. G., et al., gsp mutations in human thyroid tumors, Oncogene 6:677-679 [1991].
TSH is an important thyroid growth factor, and the cooperative regulation of thyrocyte growth by TSH and sex steriods has been supported by both animal studies and epidemiological analyses. (Clark, O. H., et al., Estrogen and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) receptors in neoplastic and nonneoplastic human thyroid tissues, J. Surg. Res. 38:89-96 [1985]; Mori M, et al., Effects of sex difference, gonadectomy, and estrogen on N-methyl-N-nitrosourea induced rat thyroid tumors, Cancer Res 50(23):7662–7 [1990]).
Moreover, in addition to induction of PTTG expression in pituitary cells, estrogen administration also has been reported to increase the mean serum TSH levels in the pituitary and thyroid glands of female rats. (Mori M, et al., Effects of sex difference, gonadectomy, and estrogen on N-methyl-N-nitrosourea induced rat thyroid tumors, Cancer Res 50(23):7662-7 [1990]). This study also suggested a complex interplay between sex steroids and TSH on thyroid cell growth, where both male and female rats were more susceptible to radiation induced thyroid tumors in the presence of TSH stimulation, while ovariectomy or castration attenuated thyroid tumor occurrence. The complex interplay between TSH and PTTG also has been shown. That is, in a recent study, it was observed that TSH treatment of rat FRTL5 cells or primary human thyroid cells induced PTTG expression in vitro and administration of estrogen to rats induced rat thyroidal PTTG expression. (Heaney, et al., Transforming events in thyroid tumorigenesis and their association with follicular lesions, J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 86(10):5025–5032 [2001]).
With the interest in the study of the etiology of various cancers follows the development of various treatment strategies. For example, iodine was shown to inhibit thyroid cell growth and its uptake is believed to be facilitated by sodium/iodide symporter (NIS) in thyroid follicular cells, or FRTL5 cells. Furthermore, the use of radioactive isotopes of iodine, such as 125I and 131I have been used to target tumor cells with high NIS gene expression.
It is also known that TSH can increase iodide uptake in a dose-dependent manner, and this effect is correlated with a rapid increase in NIS gene expression. Estradiol has been shown to block TSH-induced sodium/iodide symporter (NIS) expression, and treatment of cells with estradiol together with an estrogen receptor antagonist restored TSH-induced NIS expression to normal levels. (Furlanetto, T. W., et al., Estradiol Increases Proliferation and Down-Regulates the Sodium/Iodide Symporter Gene in FRTL-5 Cells1, Endocrinology 140(12): 5705–5711 [1999]; Furlanetto, T. W., et al., Estradiol decreases iodide uptake by rat thyroid follicular FRTL-5 cells, Braz J Med Biol Res 34(2) 259–263 [2001]). In contrast, a recent study showed that overexpression of wild-type PTTG1 in normal human thyroid cells in vitro and rat FRTL5 cells exhibited decreased 125I, uptake compared with controls. (Heaney, et al., Transforming events in thyroid tumorigenesis and their association with follicular lesions, J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 86(10):5025–5032 [2001]).
To date, the development of an appropriate cell model for the study of the consequences of varying degrees of PTTG expression has been limited. Thus, there is a need in the art for a cellular model wherein PTTG expression, among other gene products, may be modulated and the resulting effects may be studied.

Transgenic cells transfected with pituitary tumor transforming gene (PTTG)) expression vectors and uses therefor


An arrangement for installing building elements, such as piles and tunnel sections, into a ground formation, where a building element is provided. Two or more impact drivers for delivering blows to the element are mounted on or operatively connected to the element. Accordingly, large elements, such as monopiles for wind turbines, which may comprise a steel tube having a diameter in excess of 5 meters, or even tunnel sections, can be installed by utilizing a number of relatively small impact drivers.

The invention pertains to an arrangement for and a method of installing building elements, such as piles or tunnel sections, in particular mono-elements having a diameter in excess of 5 meters, into a ground formation, which arrangement comprises such a building element and an impact driver. The invention further pertains to an assembly to be mounted on or operatively connected to a building element.
Arrangements for installing building elements into a ground formation are generally known. For instance, European patent application 0 095 801 discloses a hydraulic pile driver including a housing having an impact weight mounted therein for reciprocating movement.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,595,324 discloses a pile driver which includes a plurality of hammers and a common anvil with aligning pads between the hammers and the anvil. The pile driver further includes means for phasing the operation of the hammers, means for compensating for the effects of unphased hammer operations, and/or combinations thereof.

Arrangement for and method of installing building elements


A method and apparatus for splicing a first data flow inbound to an intermediate node and second data flow outbound from the intermediate node transforms the first data flow and the second data flow into a single composite data flow originating at the source of the first data flow and terminating at the destination of the second data flow. The method allows any other data flows associated with the first or second data flow, such as other data flows associated with connections that encompass either the first or second data flow, to remain unaffected by the splice. The method allows intermediate nodes in a network to influence data flow between a pair of nodes at or above the transport layer without incurring all the overhead commonly associated with transport and higher layer processing.

Traditionally, internet software has been developed in accordance with the principle that very limited functionality is provided in "the network." Specifically the network provides unreliable forwarding of messages or packets. Following this model, additional functionality, such as reliable delivery and flow control, is implemented entirely at communication end points without adding any functionality to the network.
FIG. 1 depicts a TCP connection between a first node 101 and a second node 102 following this model. The connection extends "directly" from the first node 101 to the second node 102 with only IP routers 103 in between. Routers do not maintain state information associated with constructs that reside above the network layer. Connection state, which is associated with the transport and session layer, is therefore maintained solely in the two connection end points, that is at the first node 101 and second node 102.
As internet technology has evolved, significant functionality has found its way into "the network." For example, it is increasingly common for a client running a web browser to connect to an intermediate node rather than directly to a web server. Such intermediate nodes include but are not limited to: SOCKS servers, fire walls, VPN (virtual private network) gateways, TCP routers or load balancers, caching proxies and transcoding proxies used with resource-constrained clients such as handheld devices.
The number and types of such intermediate nodes will continue to increase as internet technology evolves to provide additional functionality. The performance of the intermediate nodes will increase in importance as the number of internet clients continues to grow rapidly. This growth will be fueled by large numbers of handheld and pervasive devices that will require intermediate nodes capable of supporting hundreds of thousands to millions of clients simultaneously.
FIG. 2 depicts this increasingly common scenario in which a first node 201 connects to a second node 202 via a set of intermediate nodes 203. Although not explicitly depicted in the figure, intermediate nodes typically communicate with each other as well as with the first node and the second node via routers.
Each intermediate node influences communication between the first node 201 and the second node 202. In many instances, the interface provided by an intermediate node to the first node 201 resembles or is identical to the interface provided by the second node 202 to the intermediate node. Similarly, the interface provided by an intermediate node to the second node 202 is typically similar to the interface provided by the first node 201 to the intermediate node. Because of this similarity of interfaces, the first node may not be able to determine if is connected to an intermediate node or to the second node. Similarly there may be no way for the second node to determine if it is connected to an intermediate node or to the first node. The similarity of interfaces allows there to be any number of intermediate nodes between the first node 201 and the second node 202. This property is depicted in FIG. 3.
A key difference between a router and an intermediate node is that routers perform processing only at layers one through three of the ISO seven layer model, those are the physical, data link and network layers, while intermediate nodes perform processing at and possibly above the fourth or transport layer. FIG. 4 depicts the processing performed by a router in terms of layers. The corresponding diagram for intermediate nodes is shown in FIG. 5.
We define a connection to be a bi-directional communication channel between a pair of connection end points such that information written to one end of the connection can be read from the other end. A connection includes two flows. A flow is a unidirectional communication channel between a pair of flow end points such that information written to the source flow end point can subsequently be read from the corresponding destination flow end point. A connection need not necessarily be supported by a connection oriented protocol. All that is required is the identification of a pair of connection end points and propagation of data between the end points. Connections and flows reside at the fifth or session layer in the ISO model. Because routers in general do not perform processing above layer three, routers generally do not perform processing explicitly related to connections. Intermediate nodes however do generally perform processing explicitly associated with connections.
In fact, intermediate nodes can be distinguished from routers in terms of connections. In FIG. 1, the first node 101 communicates with the second node 102 via a single connection 104 whereas in FIG. 2 communication between the two nodes takes place via multiple connections in series 204, 205, 206, 207, 208 and 209. The use of multiple connections provides each intermediate node with end points that can be used to influence communication between the first node 201 and the second node 202. However, intermediate nodes typically expend much of their resources simply moving data from one connection to another. In one common scenario, the intermediate node monitors the flow of information between the first node 201 and second node 202 only until a request made by the first node 201 can be identified. In another common scenario, the intermediate node monitors the flow of information only in one direction. The performance and capacity of an intermediate node is often determined therefore by the efficiency with which it moves data between connections.
Having a series of connections between the first and second node can cause several undesirable side-effects. Connections in series tends to deliver worse performance in terms of latency compared to a single connection and may also degrade throughput. Each node in a packet switched network introduces some delay and imposes a throughput limit. The performance of a packet switched network therefore relies on minimizing the delay introduced and maximizing the throughput supported by each node. This is accomplished, in part, by performing only minimal processing at each node. The packet forwarding performed by a router entails only a small amount of overhead, but the processing associated with connection end points performed by an intermediate node is significant.
The presence of multiple connections also alters the semantics of communication between the first node 201 and the second node 202 of FIG. 2. For example, with a single connection, the first node 201 is assured data has arrived at the second node 202 when it receives an acknowledgment. With multiple connections, the first node 201 may be led to believe data has arrived at the second node 202 when, in fact, it has only reached the first intermediate node.

Performance of intermediate nodes with flow splicing


An interlocking architecture for a software interface and a bar code scanner. Upon power-up, a handshaking operation is performed between a scanner (1600) having a scanner processor (2600) and a computer processor (2612) of a computer (302) based upon the code stored in the NV memory (2602) of the scanner (1600) and a unique code associated with the software interface running on the computer (302). A wedge (1608) is provided as an interface mechanism for the scanner (1600) and a keyboard (1610) to a keyboard port (2500) of the computer (302). The handshaking occurs through the wedge (1608) via a keyboard interface (2610) to the processor (2600) such that a successful handshake directs the processor (2600) to engage a switch (2604) which enables power to a sensing head (2606) for read optically encoded information. The software interface operates from a computer memory (2614) associated with the processor (2612) whereby an unsuccessful handshake using unique number of the software interface by the processor (2612) sends a disabling signal though the keyboard circuit (2618) through the wedge (1608) to the scanner processor (2600) to disengage the switch (2604) to drop power to the sensor head (2606). The handshaking operation is performed on a regular basis during system power-up to ensure that the original software interface and scanner (1600) are still in use.

The technological advances in the fabrication of smaller integrated circuits have resulted in controllers and microprocessors being implemented in a wide variety of applications, where in the past such implementations have been considered impossible or very expensive. The introduction of these "smart" or "intelligent" embodiments have a significant impact on commercial ventures producing such products. Therefore, it becomes important to the manufacturer of the product to exercise control over the nature, origin and/or quality of software with which will be used. This protects the use of such products from competitive intrusion, by ensuring that such products can only be used under certain circumstances.
A prime example of this philosophy being put into action is evident in the home video game industry. Nintendo Co., Ltd., a prominent vendor of such systems protects its place in this very competitive area of the market by ensuring that only its game modules will work with its gaming consoles. Unauthorized third-party vendors are prevented from freely producing modules that work with Nintendo's gaming consoles, not only legally by contracts and licensing agreements, but also technically by secure handshaking protocols imposed between the modules and the console. This way, Nintendo protects its long-term viability and survival in the gaming market. Such a protection mechanism also reduces the number of consumer complaints presented to a manufacturer making such products. Those products which have been tested for compatibility are guaranteed to work, and those products which have not, are likely to cause consumer discontent due to operational failures and the like.
A device becoming more prominent in the marketplace is the bar code scanner. Scanners come in a variety of configurations from standalone pens to input devices which connect to computer ports through an interface device called a "wedge," and in some implementations, hand-held telecommunication devices. Advances in bar code technology are expanding the amount of information which can be encoded in the bar code, making the scanner an even more important for facilitating many different types of operations. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a scanner which is interlocked with a particular piece of software to ensure that misuse is prevented, and that third-party vendors cannot illegally reproduce the system causing the owner of such a system lost revenue.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Bar code scanner and software interface interlock for performing encrypted handshaking and for disabling the scanner or input device in case of handshaking operation failure


The invention relates to a catalytic layer system on a resistive gas sensor, especially on a resistive gas sensor layer on a titanate base, with at least one first layer and a second layer lying over the first layer, where, according to the invention, the first layer exhibits a catalytically active substance whose volume percentage in the layer ranges from 20 to 80%. In addition, the first layer contains a titanate that corresponds to at least one titanate of the underlying gas sensor layer. This attribute guarantees favorable adhesion between the layers. Furthermore, an oxide mixture that contributes to the improved mechanical stability of the layer system is provided in the second layer instead of the catalytically active substance. To manufacture the catalytic layer system, the individual layers are applied to the sensor in a screen printing process, which allows for a rational method of production and the precise dosing and distribution of the individual layer components.

The invention relates to a catalytic layer system on a resistive gas sensor, especially on a resistive gas sensor layer based on a titanate, with at least one first layer and a second layer lying over the first layer, where at least one layer exhibits a catalytically active substance.
A gas sensor that is built up on a substrate using thick-film technology is known from EP 360 159 B1. Here, the gas-sensitive layer consisting of SnO.sub.2, ZnO, Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, TiO.sub.2 or CoO is soaked in a preferably aqueous solution of a platinum compound, such as chloro platinum acid. This is followed by a temperature treatment in the range of -5.degree. C. to 180.degree. C. in a reducing gas atmosphere and at a defined relative humidity. An additional temperature at more than 200.degree. C. is necessary to optimize the desired precipitation of the precious metal in the gas-sensitive layer. Consequently, the entire impregnation process is very cumbersome and is characterized by a large number of individual steps which, based on their abundance alone, are prone to error in production terms. Furthermore, it should be noted that the impregnation process only improves the catalytic activity of the gas-sensitive layer itself in its interaction with the electrodes, but that this arrangement does not provide protection against mechanical influences or against compounds that act as catalyst poisons.
DE 42 40 267 A1 discloses an impregnation technology similar to the aforementioned state of the art. However, it is not used on a gas-sensitive layer, but rather in connection with the catalytic activation of a cermet electrode on an oxygen-ion-conducting solid electrolyte of a gas sensor. In this case, various platinum salt solutions are listed that are applied to a porous cermet electrode. To ensure better penetration into the pores of the electrode, 100 mbar to 1 bar of pressure is applied to the sensor element while it is being soaked in the platinum solution. Again, this is followed by a costly drying and baking procedure, partly in air and partly in a hydrogen stream. The sensor object disclosed in DE 42 40 267 is finger-shaped (a tube that is closed at one end), while the cermet electrodes are generally secured to the closed end of the finger-shaped object. Consequently, soaking of the cermet electrode is preferably achieved by dipping the electrodes, which are arranged on the spherical surface of the sensor body, into the fluid platinum solution. As this can easily lead to droplet formation, it is difficult to ensure a reproducible application quantity and, consequently, a uniform concentration of the catalytically active components penetrating into the electrode layer using this application technology. A porous, inert coating, which serves as a protective layer, is subsequently applied in one or more separate steps to this catalytically activated cermet electrode (e.g., by plasma spraying of a magnesium spinel).
Coating layers made of oxide mixtures of SiO.sub.2, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and BaO on electrical conductors and/or semiconductors are known from DE 195 00 235 A1. More or less porous layers are generated, depending on the BaO percentage and the baking temperature. A coating layer according to DE 195 00 235 for use on a gas-sensitive layer, e.g., of strontium titanate, only encompasses a protective function, as the catalytically active component is lacking. It also has the disadvantage that a mechanically tension-free bond with the underlying gas sensor layer cannot be achieved, as this oxide mixture does not contain the ceramic material of the gas-sensitive layer. Consequently, the SiO.sub.2 --Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 --BaO coating layer known from DE 195 00 235 lacks the attribute of catalytic action and a component that provides for favorable adhesion of the layer sequence to a sensitive layer.
DE 38 13 930 C2 describes a well-adhering electrode structure on an oxygen-ionconducting solid electrolyte made of ZrO.sub.2 that is covered by a protective layer consisting of a ceramic material or by a ceramic "spacer layer". In a special embodiment, a catalyst layer that contains a platinum group metal is arranged over this first layer. This catalyst layer is, in turn, coated with a porous protective layer made of sprayed-on spinel (example 3). The entire layer structure consisting of a two-layer cermet electrode, a ceramic spacer layer, a catalyst layer and a ceramic coating layer is extremely complex and, due to the use of various application technologies (printing, plasma spraying), very costly in its manufacture.
Consequently, the objective of the invention is to provide a catalytically active layer system for a resistive gas sensor which, while possessing optimized diffusion properties (porosity), exhibits favorable adhesion to the underlying layer or interface by minimizing the differences in the thermal expansion behavior of the materials, and which exhibits favorable mechanical resistance to the possible effects of abrasive particles over long periods of time.


A computer program is disclosed for specifying and solving a fluid transfer problem. Schematic manager means are provided for generating and modifying a pictorial representation of a fluid system schematic having a plurality of components. The schematic manager means Is fluid and process independent. Replicator means are provided for generating a set of simultaneous equations from the pictorial representation and for assuring that the schematic manager remains fluid and process independent. A generic run-time simulation module is provided for solving the set of simultaneous equations, thereby allowing the computer program to adapt to variations in component state and fluid state as a function of system parameters. A fluid and property database manager is invoked by the simulation module, for allowing simulation of fluid flow processes having fluid states which may be unknown at the time of model creation. The data display routine is provided for displaying program results, thereby obviating any requirement for user coding.

This invention was conceived during work under contract NAS9-17491 with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The Government may have certain rights herein.
The present invention relates to methods for specifying fluid transfer systems and, more particularly to a computer software program that accurately simulates the fluid system transfer process specified.
Typically, the fluid transfer analysis in support of large projects involves multiple programs and frequently requires input from different functional disciplines. Minor changes in the characteristics of a specific fluid system incurs substantial impacts in time and cost to revise the system model. Also, the level of accuracy depends on the users analytical expertise or the time allowed to perform the analysis.
Alterations in the topology of a fluid transfer system also impacts the nature of the simultaneous equations formulated to represent the specific problem.
In addition, conventional programs leave the specification of the fluid properties database (and, more importantly, the database limitations) to the end user. This frequently results in anomalous behavior at the limits of the database range, or during regions of fluid phase change.

Real-time control of complex fluid systems using generic fluid transfer model


Disclosed are novel methods, combinations of agents and kits for use in killing, or inhibiting the growth of, microorganisms. Enhanced antimicrobial action is provided by using a methylation inhibitor, as exemplified by using an agent that inhibits methylation or maturation of bacterial RNA in combination with, e.g., a macrolide lincosamide streptogramin B (MLS) antibiotic. The methods and compositions described may be employed to reduce the resistance of susceptible microorganisms to antimicrobial agents and thus to treat animals or patients with infections.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the fields of bacteria, antimicrobials and antibiotics. More particularly, it provides novel methods, kits, and combinations of antimicrobial agents and inhibitors, for use in reducing the resistance of bacteria and other microorganisms to antimicrobial agents. In particular, the invention provides for enhanced bacterial killing using a macrolide, lincosamide and streptogramin B (MLS) antibiotic in combination with an agent that inhibits methylation, as exemplified by inhibiting methylation or maturation of bacterial RNA.
2. Description of the Related Art
The first antibiotics were used clinically in the 1940s and 195s, and their use has been increasing significantly since this period. Although an invaluable advance, antibiotic and antimicrobial therapy suffers from several problems, particularly when strains of various bacteria appear that are resistant to antibiotics. Interestingly, bacteria resistant to streptomycin were isolated about a year after this antibiotic was introduced (Waksman, 1945).
The development of antibiotic resistance is a serious and life-threatening event of worldwide importance. For example, strains of Staphylococcus are known that are immune to all antibiotics except one (Travis, 1994). Such bacteria often cause fatal hospital infections. Among other drug resistant organisms are: pneumococci that cause pneumonia and meningitis; Cryptosporidium and E. coli that cause diarrhea; and enterococci that cause blood-stream, surgical wound and urinary tract infections (Berkelman et. al., 1994).
Davies (1986) described seven basic biochemical mechanisms for naturally-occurring antibiotic resistance: (1) alteration (inactivation) of the antibiotic; (2) alteration of the target site; (3) blockage in the transport of the antibiotic; (4) by-pass of the antibiotic sensitive-step (replacement); (5) increase in the level of the inhibited enzyme (titration of drug); (6) sparing the antibiotic-sensitive step by endogenous or exogenous product; and (7) production of a metabolite that antagonizes action of inhibitor.
Certain bacteria become resistant to antibiotics by utilizing ribosomal mutations (Cunliffe, 1990), although some reports have stated that this type of resistance is of doubtful clinical significance (Spratt, 1994). Ribosomal mutations result in bacterial resistance to macrolide, lincosamide and streptogramin B (MLS) antibiotics, as has been observed in the resistance of various Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Enterococcus, Bacillus and Mycoplasma strains to important antibiotics such as erythromycin (LeClercq & Courvalin, 1991).
The induction of erythromycin resistance generally leads to bacterial strains that express rRNA which does not bind to this type of antibiotic. Mainly, erythromycin resistance is due to the induction by macrolides of a methylase protein, which catalyzes the methylation of the binding site of erythromycin on the rRNA, thus preventing antibiotic binding. Despite intensive studies in this area, there remains few, if any, practical proposals as to how bacterial resistance to MLS antibiotics may be overcome.

Combinations and methods for reducing antimicrobial resistance


A machine tool for supporting and rotating a workpiece includes a first machine center supporting a first workpiece end of the workpiece. A dead center defines a second machine center of the machine tool. A center spacer has a first spacer end rotatably supported on the second machine center and a second spacer end supporting a second workpiece end of the workpiece. A drive mechanism is configured to rotate the workpiece and, during rotation of the workpiece, the center spacer is configured to rotate with the workpiece about the second machine center. The second workpiece end includes a first material and the center spacer includes a second material that is different than the first material.

A lathe is a type of machine tool that is used to support and rotate a workpiece about its axis. In particular, a lathe may allow the workpiece to be rotated and turned while another tool performs a machining operation on the workpiece. While a variety of different operations may be performed relative to the workpiece, including various grinding and cutting operations, the operations typically result in a workpiece having symmetry about its axis of rotation.
According to one example, a turbocharger, used to boost an engine's horsepower, may include components manufactured using a lathe. In particular, a turbine wheel assembly of the turbocharger typically includes a turbine wheel welded onto a shaft. The welding process may be followed by turning the shaft diameter on a lathe prior to precision grinding of the shaft to tight tolerances. Tight tolerances regarding dimensions and surface qualities of the turbine wheel assembly are important as they greatly influence performance of the turbocharger. As a result of the precision required for this exemplary machining process and others, there is a continuing need for improved tools and techniques used in machining processes performed using lathes and other similar machine tools.
The present disclosure is directed to one or more of the problems or issues set forth above.

Center spacer between workpiece and dead center of machine tool


Provided are a portable communication terminal that is easy to manipulate for games and a user interface device of the portable communication terminal. The portable communication terminal includes a main body, a rotation unit combined with the main body unit with respect to a hinge shaft at a predetermined position of the main body unit to be folded or unfolded and rotating towards or away from a top of the main body unit to open or close the top of the main body unit, and a slide unit combined with the main body unit to move while facing the main body unit and moving on a top of the rotation unit to open or close the rotation unit when the rotation unit is folded to the main body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to, and, in particular, to a portable communication terminal such as a Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) phone, a game phone, a chatting phone, a camera phone, a Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) Layer-3 (MP3) phone, a cellular phone, a Personal Communication Service (PCS) phone, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), and a Hand Held Phone (HHP), and in particular, to a portable communication terminal for games, which is easy to use in a game mode as well as in a phone mode, and a user interface device thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
A portable communication terminal generally refers to an electronic apparatus which a user can carry with him/her to perform wireless communication with a desired partner. The wireless communication may be voice communication, message transmission, file transmission, video communication, and a camera function. Additionally, the portable communication terminal serves as a personal agent by performing phone number management and personal schedule management.
To enhance portability, designs of the portable communication terminal tend to be compact, slim, and light. Designs also include multimedia availability for a wide variety of service functions, e.g., entertainment functions including game services. In particular, future portable communication terminals are expected to incorporate greater multi-functionality and multi-purpose utilization including video communication, game, Internet, and camera functions as well as voice communication functions.
Conventional portable communication terminals may be classified into various types according to their appearance in consideration of portability and convenience in use, such as bar-type portable communication terminals and fold-type portable communication terminals. The bar-type portable communication terminal has a single housing shaped like a bar in which data input/output devices, an antenna device, and transmission/reception devices are mounted. The fold-type portable communication terminal has a folder coupled to a single bar-shaped housing by a hinge device in such a manner that the folder can fold towards and unfold away from the housing. A folder is rotatably coupled to a main body by a hinge unit, keys are disposed in the main body, and a display unit is disposed in the folder in the fold-type portable communication terminal, contributing to miniaturization and portability. A type of fold-type portable communication terminal is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,865,406, which discloses folder-type portable communication terminal, a camera lens housing is mounted in a hinge unit.
Additionally, the portable communication terminals may be further classified as swing-type communication terminals and slide-type communication terminals based upon the way of opening and closing the communication terminals. In the swing-type portable communication terminals, two housings are coupled to each other to allow one housing to rotatably open or close relative to the other while facing each other. In the slide-type portable communication terminal, two housings are coupled to each other to allow one housing to slide along a longitudinal direction to open or close the slide-type portable communication terminal.
For example, in the slide-type portable communication terminal, a main body and a slider are coupled to each other by a slide module while facing each other, a plurality of keys are disposed in the main body, and a display unit is disposed in the slider. Such a structure is advantageous to a wide display unit and provides easiness in opening/closing operations. A slide-type portable communication terminal is disclosed in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,822,871. In the slide-type portable communication terminal, a plurality of keys are disposed in a main body housing and a display unit is mounted in a slide housing. A swing-type portable communication terminal is disclosed in detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/822,380.
In the conventional fold-type portable communication terminal, a data input operation and a displayed data check operation are conveniently provided in a phone mode like voice communication or text message transmission. However, in multimedia environments, prompt and accurate data input operation, such as by key pressing, is degraded in a game mode and a wide screen cannot be provided in a display unit. The promptness and accuracy of key manipulation are more important in the game mode than in any other modes. In particular, key manipulation using both hands instead of one hand is crucial for improving promptness and accuracy.
Of course, the foregoing problems can be solved by increasing the size of the portable communication terminal, mounting a wide display unit in the portable communication terminal, and disposing a more number of keys in the portable communication terminal, which goes against miniaturization and causes inconvenience in carrying.
The slide-type portable communication terminal can be easily opened and closed, and provides a wide display unit. In both the slide-type portable communication terminal and the fold-type portable communication terminal, although an input problem does not arise in the phone mode, the user feels inconvenient in key manipulation in the game mode.
Therefore, there is a need for a portable communication terminal that is used as a convenient slide type in the phone mode and facilitates key manipulation with both hands in the game mode.
A portable communication terminal that is easy to use in the game mode is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/946,838. However, the disclosed portable communication terminal is easy to use both in the phone mode and the game mode, but has a complex mechanical internal structure, resulting in a complex assembly process.

Portable communication terminal for games and user interfacing device thereof


A slot machine includes: a display device having a plurality of symbol display regions in which plural types of symbols are displayed; a memory for storing positional information of the symbol display regions in which predetermined symbols are arranged; and a processor for controlling the display and the memory, the processor being programmed to (a) execute a basic game; (b) execute a free game in a case where a predetermined condition is satisfied during the basic game; (c) rearrange the plural types of symbols during the free game; (d) store in the memory the positional information of the symbol display regions in which the predetermined symbols are arranged during the free game; and (e) rearrange the plural types of symbols during a last free game based on the stored positional information of the symbol display regions so that the predetermined symbols are arranged again in the symbol display regions in which the predetermined symbols have been arranged during past free games.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a slot machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, slot machines known as a type of gaming machines are constituted so as to: start games by players inserting coins or the like into the gaming machine; variably display columns of symbols in predetermined regions of the gaming machine while they are displayed in a stopped state after a predetermined period has elapsed; and award payout based on a combination of symbols in a stopped state.
In addition, the above slot machines are generally constituted to judge whether or not a winning combination allowed to award payout is established, based on whether or not a predetermined number of symbols of the same type (for example, "CHERRY" or "7") are arranged along a preset payline. In the conventional slot machine, in a case where a predetermined number or more of symbols of the same type are arranged, it has been a common routine to award payout based on the number of the aforementioned arranged symbols, regardless of the payout line.
Further, many of the conventional slot machines have been known which conduct two types of games, i.e., a basic game and a free game. The basic game is executed upon consumption of gaming values (such as coins or credits) corresponding to the bet amount. On the other hand, the free game is executed without consuming gaming values corresponding to the bet amount
The basic game is switched to the free game when a predetermined condition is satisfied. The condition includes a case in which, for example, a specific symbol is displayed in a stopped state during the basic game. The free game is switched to the basic game when a predetermined condition is satisfied. The condition includes a case in which, for example, the free games are executed a predetermined number of times.
In the conventional slot machines, it has been a common routine to raise players' feeling of expectation for the free game by changing arrangement of symbols during the free game differently from that during the basic game. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,394,902-B1 describes a slot machine in which a total of fifteen symbols are displayed in three rows and five columns with the use of video reels. This slot machine changes symbol columns arranged on reels during the free game differently from that during the basic game, in which eight types of symbols are decreased to five. In this manner, a probability of awarding payout can be apparently increased during the free game.
In the aforementioned conventional slot machines, however, irrespective of whichever of the basic game and the free game is in progress, the symbols of different types have been randomly arranged in combination and sequential order. These slot machines determine the contents of the prize to be awarded, based on a combination of multiple symbols that have been arranged in a display device. Therefore, players are allowed to have the feeling of expectation only for random payout based on a combination of plural types of symbols that have been randomly arranged in the display device. Accordingly, a need exists for the advent of a slot machine which can offer new entertainability.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstance. It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel slot machine by enhancing entertainability associated with arrangement of the symbols during the free game.


A platform provides access to multiple telecommunications services via a single telephone number. These services may include, for example, voicemail services, facsimile messaging services, paging services, and outbound calling services. A guest caller may call the single phone number to speak to a subscriber, leave a voicemail message for a subscriber, leave a facsimile message for a subscriber, or place a page to a subscriber. A subscriber may call the phone number to place outbound calls. In addition, a subscriber may call the single phone number to retrieve or send facsimile messages and/or voicemail messages. A subscriber may also call the phone number to configure service options. For instance, a subscriber may select routing options and choose what services are available to guest callers.

In conventional telecommunications systems, a number of different telecommunications services are offered to subscribers. Each telecommunications service requires a unique telephone number. Examples of telecommunications services that require a unique telephone number are automatic routing services, voicemail services, facsimile services, paging services, cellular phone services and personal 800 numbers. One of the drawbacks of each service requiring a different telephone number is that managing and publishing multiple telephone numbers for a subscriber that uses multiple communications services can prove to be quite cumbersome. For example, a subscriber may have to provide a first telephone number for facsimile services, a second telephone number for voicemail services, and a third telephone number for cellular services. Thus, a subscriber must remember all of the unique telephone numbers and must make clear to people whom the subscriber gives the telephone numbers what services are associated with what telephone numbers. Oftentimes, a party confuses the mapping of telephone numbers to services and reaches the wrong service when dialing the telephone number that was given to the party. For instance, a caller may dial a number thinking that he will reach a person and instead the caller reaches a facsimile machine.
Another drawback of conventional systems is the lack of flexibility regarding the telecommunications services that are provided to subscribers. A subscriber may need to provide access to different services to different people at various times. For example, a subscriber may need to have phone calls directed to the subscriber's workplace during the work week but may need to have phone calls directed to his home or cellular phone on weekends. The subscriber may also wish to limit the people that may reach the subscriber by phone on the weekends. Still further, the subscriber may wish to provide other people with access to his voicemail. Unfortunately, with conventional systems such configurability of telecommunications services is not available.

Single telephone number access to multiple communications services


The invention relates to a device and method for UV irradiation of treated waste water. The device comprises a plurality of UV modules, each UV module being an immersed radiator that comprises a low-pressure mercury radiator surrounded by a round sheathing tube permeable to UV rays. Each UV module is assigned to an irradiation chamber of square cross-section, the midpoint of which is also the midpoint of the UV radiator. The distance between the UV modules is selected in such a way that the cross-sectional area of the irradiation chamber of each UV module is not more than ten times larger than the cross-sectional area of the UV module itself.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a device and a method for UV irradiation, particularly for disinfection, of flowing liquids with reduced UV transmission. The device has one or more support frames with a plurality of UV modules, each of which contains a low-pressure mercury-vapour radiator. The UV modules are kept apart in substantially parallel manner by the support frames and extend in the direction of flow of the liquid, which is treated waste water in particular.
2. Summary of the Prior Art
Devices of this kind are used in particular in sewage treatment plants because nowadays the treated waste water from treatment plants increasingly frequently needs to be disinfected before being introduced into natural watercourses. For this purpose the waste water treated by the treatment plant is exposed to ultraviolet radiation (UV irradiation). The UV modules with low-pressure mercury-vapour radiators used for this generate ultraviolet rays in the wavelength range from approx. 200 nm to 300 nm with a maximum at 253.7 nm.
The UV modules are in the form of immersion UV radiators and each comprise a low-pressure mercury-vapour radiator which is surrounded by a sheathing tube permeable to UV radiation. Corresponding devices of the type described thus far for UV irradiation are known from documents EP 0687201, DE 3270676, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,757,205, 5,019,256, 4,482,809, EP 0080780 and EP 0249450 for example.
In contrast to clean, unpolluted water, treated waste water which is to be disinfected exhibits greatly reduced UV transmission. It is normally in the range of 40% to 60% per 1 cm of layer thickness. This means that 40% -60% of the UV radiation applied is absorbed in a water layer 1 cm thick and the effective depth of penetration is restricted to only approx. 5 cm (by comparison, pure drinking water has a transmission in the range of approx. 90% to 98%, so that the absorption losses are only 2% to 10% per cm of layer thickness, which corresponds to a comparable effective depth of penetration of approx. 2 m to 2.5 m).
The consequence of poor UV transmission and low effective depth of penetration for UV radiation is that such media can only be irradiated effectively in relatively thin layer thicknesses, such as are found, for example, in the immediate circumferential vicinity of radiator sheathing tubes (UV modules).
In such applications, the UV dose required to kill micro-organisms can only be applied with the traditional devices if the medium is in contact with the UV radiation for a fairly time, i.e. at low flow rates, because they are equipped with UV modules which have small cross-sections in relation to the irradiation chambers surrounding them on the one hand and have UV radiator sources with low radiation output on the other hand.
The traditional devices are equipped with UV modules which are approx. 1 to 1.5 m long, the low-pressure mercury-vapour radiators of which, with diameters of 15 to 25 mm maximum, generate UV emissions in output values of 0.18 to 0.66 W/cm of discharge length and the sheathing tubes of which do not exceed an external diameter of 33 mm maximum, the annular gap which is formed between the external diameter of the radiator tube and the internal diameter of the sheathing tube having a width of 2.5 mm maximum. The full radiation output of 0.66 W/cm of discharge length of the UV modules which are the most powerful and technically most advanced at the present time requires temperatures of the surrounding medium of more than 20xc2x0 C. because of the low insulating effect of the small annular gap. Radiation outputs of 0.5 W/cm or 0.4 W/cm can only be achieved when medium temperatures of 15 to 20xc2x0 C. and/or greater than 10xc2x0 C. are maintained. Furthermore, the distances between the UV modules and hence the irradiation chambers which result are dimensioned in such a way that their volumes are approx. 12 to 16 times as large or larger than the volume of the UV modules (including UV radiators). Particularly high and reliable disinfection performances, i.e. disinfection performances which are not subject to substantial variations under the conventional transmission changes, cannot be guaranteed in practice with these ratios of variables.
The object of the present invention is therefore to render possible for such liquids a device for more effective, more reliable disinfection effects with shorter contact times, i.e. for larger quantities of waste water per unit of time at higher and turbulent flow rates.
Because there is assigned to each UV module an irradiation chamber of polygonal cross-section, the midpoint of which is the midpoint of the UV radiator at the same time and which, starting from the midpoint, extends as far as half the distance to the adjacent UV modules, the individual UV modules being arranged in such a way that the midpoints of a number of adjacent UV modules form the corner points of a polygon, the area of which corresponds to the sum of the cross-sectional area of a UV module and the cross-sectional area of the irradiation chamber of a UV module, and that the distance between the UV modules is selected in such a way that the cross-sectional area of the irradiation chamber of each UV module is not more than 10 times larger than the cross-sectional area of the UV module itself, the high energy density may be utilized preferentially to shorten the contact times, i.e. to increase the flow rates and/or throughputs.
Furthermore, practical experiments have surprisingly shown that with the same dimensions, the enlargement alone of the UV module diameter and the associated reduction of the irradiation chambers again leads to an increase and above all a stabilization of the disinfection effect. When disinfecting waste water it is of the utmost importance that no substantial variations in the disinfection effect take place during the typical changes in the UV transmission which are conventional in this case. Compliance with the following dimensions has proved to be particularly advantageous according to experience gained from extensive practical experiments:
Maximum ratio of the volumes of the UV modules to the volumes of the irradiation chambers at UV transmissions up to T(1 cm)=40%:
Annular gap width R as a function of the temperature of the medium:
0xc2x0 C. to 10xc2x0 C. R greater than 4 mm
10xc2x0 C. to 25xc2x0 C. R greater than 3 mm
UV radiator tube diameters and UV radiation outputs:
Ø15 to 20 mm-0.3 W/cm
Ø25 mm up to 0.6 W/cm
Ø32 mm up to 1.1 W/cm
Ø38 mm up to 1.3 W/cm.
In pursuance of this objective the UV modules are equipped with high-performance low-pressure mercury-vapour radiators which with radiator tube diameters in the range from 22 to 36 mm have radiation outputs of approx. 0.6 W to more than 1.1 W/cm of discharge quantity in the spectral range from 200 nm to 300 nm and hence generate greater irradiances at the surfaces of the sheathing tubes than have been possible hitherto.
In practical experiments it has surprisingly been shown that a higher disinfection effect can be achieved by an enlargement of the sheathing tube diameter and the accompanying reduction of the irradiation chambers.
The overall outcome to emerge from these measures is that in order to achieve at least equivalent or higher disinfection effects, the volumes of the irradiation chambers can be reduced from the currently conventional 12 to 18 times the volumes of the UV modules to 5 to 11 times and particularly to 7.5 to 10 times.
The distance between the UV modules is selected in such a way that the cross-section of the irradiation chamber which is produced for each UV module is not more than 16.5 times larger than the cross-section of the UV module for module diameters of 28 mm, not more than 14 times larger for module diameters of 45 mm and not more than 11.5 times larger for module diameters of 55 mm, and that the low-pressure mercury-vapour radiators of the UV modules have a radiation output of at least 0.55 W/cm of discharge length in the spectral range of 200-300 nm and that irradiances of at least 60 mW/cm2 for 28 mm, at least 50 mW/cm2 for 35 mm, at least 38 mW/cm2 for 45 mm and at least 30 mW/cm2 for 55 mm result.
Preferably the cross-section of the irradiation chamber of a UV module is not more than 7.5 times larger than the cross-section of the UV module itself.
The object of the present invention is also to provide a method for UV irradiation, particularly for disinfection, of flowing liquids with reduced UV transmission in which an increased flow rate of the liquid is possible.
This is achieved in that the distance between the UV modules is selected in such a way that the cross-section of the irradiation chamber which is produced for each UV module at a module diameter of at least 28 mm is dimensioned in such a way that the average flow rate is greater than 0.25 m/s and the radiation output of the modules in the new state is at least 0.55 W UV per centimetre of discharge length.
The term high-performance low-pressure mercury radiator refers to radiators with a discharge length of at least 70 cm and a radiation output of more than 0.55 W per cm in the new state and at least 0.2 W/cm at the end of the service life and/or as the smallest control value. The term xe2x80x9cirradiation chamberxe2x80x9d, which is produced for each UV module, will be explained in greater detail below.

Device and method for UV-irradiation, especially for disinfecting, flowing liquids with reduced UV-transmission


This invention provides for a piezoelectric ceramic composition having a lead-free alkaline niobate piezoelectric ceramic composition with a favorable piezoelectric property. This invention refers to a piezoelectric ceramic composition 10 that is described as composition formula {Lix(K1-yNay)1-x}(Nb1-zSbz)O3 including the additives of the metallic elements Bi and Fe within the range of the following relational expressions: 0.03≦x≦0.045; 0.5≦y≦0.58; 0.03≦z≦0.045; and 0.006≦v≦w≦0.010 whereof v is the additive amount of Bi (molar ratio), and w is the additive amount of Fe (molar ratio).

Piezoelectric ceramic composition is used as a piezoelectric element in the making of actuators, ultrasonic sensors, ultrasonic transducers or the like. Since piezoelectric ceramic composition has an excellent piezoelectric property, lead zirconate titanate (PZT) or the like, containing a lead compound, has thus far been practically used. However, due to a concern that such said composition containing a lead compound may negatively affect the environment, a lead-free piezoelectric ceramic composition is now attracting attention and is being researched and developed. The alkaline niobate piezoelectric ceramic composition, as disclosed below in Patent Document 1, is such a piezoelectric ceramic composition free of a lead compound.
The piezoelectric ceramic composition, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, is described as the composition formula {Lix(K1-yNay)1-x}(Nb1-zSbz)O3 within each composition range of x, y and z, such as 0<x≦0.2, 0<y<1 and 0<z≦0.2.


An apparatus for dismembering used cartridge filters, the cartridge filters having a top and bottom, the top including a baseplate having an outlet and at least one inlet, the baseplate being adapted to mount with a machine, the filter including a casing extending from proximate the top to the bottom of the cartridge filter and affixed to the baseplate proximate the top of the cartridge filter, the cartridge filter including a disposable filter media included inside the casing;. the apparatus comprising means for receiving waste cartridge filters, means for delivering the filters to a predetermined position, means for holding the filter at the predetermined position, means for separating the baseplate and the canister, means for removing the canister from the remnant of the filter and segregating said canister, means for separating said baseplate from the remnant of said filter and segregating said baseplate, said remnant including said disposable filter media, means for handling said remnant and segregating said remnant, means for collecting and segregating any waste filtrate, such as oil, in the apparatus and segregating said filtrate, whereby waste cartridge filters are dismembered by said apparatus and the components thereof segregated for recycling purposes.

There is more and more emphasis today on the proper handling and disposal of waste. Of particular importance is the manner in which hazardous wastes, (wastes that potentially pollute our environment), are handled. Specifically referring to cartridge type filters and specifically to oil filters there exists a need for improvement in the manner in which these filters are disposed. Typically these filters may be thrown out with the general garbage stream. For garages or lubrication pits who accumulate a sizeable number of filters, they must be handled as hazardous wastes and therefor command a premium in handling and disposal costs.
Within the prior art there exists a number of devices which handle disposable filters. U.S. Pat. No. 4,771,686 to Triantos issued Sep. 20, 1988 refers to a unit which merely crushes waste containers such as cans and oil filters for reduction in the volume occupied by the filters when handled. The internal portions are not segregated for separate handling and disposal.
Referring to U.S. Pat. No. 4,537,361 to Heimerich issued Aug. 27, 1985, there is described an apparatus for handling glass, cans or the like. However the reference does not refer to the segregation of the components of a filter but merely to the separate handling of glass, metal and plastic.
Referring to U.S. Pat. No. 4,927,085 to Oberg issued May 22, 1990 there is described an apparatus for recycling oil filters. However there is no discussion within this reference of the dismembering of the filter. The filter is crushed with all its contents prior to disposal.
An oil filter cutter is marketed by CTEC Inc. of Salt Lake City, Utah which in essence is a can opener and allows the removal of the filter element for complete drainage and disposal. This unit merely cuts open the filter and does not include the separation and segregation of the components of the filter.
Nowhere within the prior art is there provided an apparatus which allows for the dismembering of a disposable filter cartridge and the segregation of the components thereof for handling recycling and disposal if necessary. In segregating each component an opportunity is provided to easily recover and potentially reuse much of the components of the cartridge filter. This opportunity did not exist in the prior art heretofore.
It is therefor a primary object of this invention to provide an apparatus for the dismembering and segregating of the components of a cartridge filter and method thereof.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a method of dismembering a disposable filter and segregating the components thereof and apparatus therefor which is simple and economical to use and convenient for garages and lubrication pits.
Further and other objects of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when considering the following summary of the invention and the more detailed description of the preferred embodiments illustrated herein.

Apparatus for recycling waste cartridge filter


Disclosed herein is a method of facilitating live streaming of content on multiple social media platforms. The method comprises receiving, using a communication device, a plurality of digital content from a source user device. Further, the method comprises receiving, using the communication device, a plurality of target identifiers from the source user device. Further, the method comprises identifying, using a processing device, a plurality of social media servers associated with the plurality of target identifiers. Further, the method comprises processing, using the processing device, the plurality of digital content based on a plurality of platform characteristics corresponding to the plurality of social media servers. Further, the method comprises generating, using the processing device, a plurality of transformed digital content based on the processing. Further, the method comprises transmitting, using the communication device, the plurality of transformed digital content to the plurality of social media servers.

Existing techniques for posting (and/or live streaming) content (such as pictures or videos) on social media platforms are deficient with regard to several aspects. For instance, current technologies do not allow the user to post (such as provide live streaming of videos) on more than one platform at the same time. Furthermore, current technologies do not allow the user to select individuals (such as followers on Facebook™, Instagram™, or Twitter™, etc.) with whom the user may want to share the live stream video irrespective of the social media platform on which the individual may be present. Furthermore, the current technologies do not allow posting (and/or live streaming) content from multiple cameras simultaneously. Furthermore, the current technologies do not allow the user to mirror the content to the user's followers.
Therefore, there is a need for improved systems and methods of facilitating live streaming of content on multiple social media platform that may overcome one or more of the above-mentioned problems and/or limitations.

Systems and methods of facilitating live streaming of content on multiple social media platforms


The present invention relates to a polymerization process of producing ethylene-alpha-olefin polymer. The polymerization process comprises supplying at a feed temperature a feed containing ethylene, at least one alpha-olefin and optionally, a diene in a solvent, the solvent is supplied at a solvent feed rate; supplying at a catalyst feed rate a catalyst to a reactor, and contacting the feed with the catalyst to produce a reaction mixture containing the polymer. The present invention also relates to processes for improving the energy utilization of polymerization processes, wherein the process comprises decreasing the feed temperature, decreasing the solvent feed rate, and decreasing the catalyst feed rate.

Polymerization processes producing ethylene-alpha-olefin polymers generally comprise supplying a feed containing ethylene and at least one alpha-olefin and, optionally, a diene in a solvent to a reactor, and then carrying out polymerization in the presence of Ziegler-Natta catalysts or metallocene catalysts to form the polymer. The polymerization of ethylene and alpha-olefin is an exothermic process. Therefore, when the process is carried out in a solution process, for example using a liquid-full continuous flow stirred tank reactor, the heat of polymerization usually needs to be removed, for example, by using cooled solvent.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,119,157 discloses a method of preparing an EP(D)M elastomer, which includes precooling a reactive solvent to a temperature in the range of −80° C. to −100° C. Ethylene, at least one higher alpha-olefin having 3 to 18 carbons, and, optionally, at least one conjugated or non-conjugated diene having 5 to 15 carbons, are polymerized in the presence of the precooled reactive solvent. According to the method, the yield of the EP(D)M elastomer is increased by lowering the reaction temperature even though a conventional preparation device is used unchanged. Further, methods of controlling the yield of the EP(D)M elastomer and of recovering the EP(D)M elastomer are provided.
However, energy utilization and catalyst utilization in this type of process have not been considered extensively, especially in large-scale production plants. For example, where tons per hour of polymers are produced, pre-cooling the feed to −80° C. or lower may result in dramatic energy consumption, especially when increasing the feed rate of monomers, while decreasing the feed temperature in order to improve the yield of the polymer.
Therefore, there is a need for a process for preparing an ethylene-alpha-olefin polymer that provides improved energy utilization, catalyst utilization, and operability of the process, while providing constant attributes of the resulting polymer and without changing the existing polymerization plant.


An Application Programming Interface (API) exposes real-time service status information from a service backend system to a mobile application of a mobile device. Interactive, dynamic, and real-time service status information is rendered to the mobile device for managing and/or rating services rendered to a customer who operates the mobile device.

Mobile devices are ever present in today's connected world. Individuals now operate these devices to transact with a variety of business over wireless networks. Moreover, mobile devices are used to capture images and videos for moments in a person's life. These devices are heavily integrated into the lives of individuals. Consequently, consumers are comfortable operating these devices and the devices are typically always in the possession of the consumers.
Businesses also provide a variety of services to customers. such as servicing Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) for banks (customers). These service-industry businesses have a variety of technology that allows the business to monitor and manage their customer engineers. However, for a variety of reasons the backend technology for monitoring and managing customer engineers is unavailable to the customers that rely on the customer engineers. As a result, the customers become frustrated and often discouraged with little ability to manage and plan operations that rely on equipment, which is offline and waiting to be serviced by customer engineers.
Typically, customers have Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with their service-industry businesses. Yet, rectifying and spotting less than acceptable service with the SLAs becomes challenging when the necessary metrics for proving a SLA violation often resides in the exclusive control of the service-industry businesses and their backend technology systems. Customers also become experienced and comfortable with specific customer engineers, such that the customers have preferences for particular customer engineers and are reluctant to let different personnel service the customer's equipment. But, desired customer engineers can be off of work (planned or unplanned), leave the employ of the service-industry business, or busy servicing other customers, such that it becomes impractical for the service-industry business to always and consistently provide a same customer engineer to a particular customer. Customers have no way of knowing how good new or different customer engineers are and will often wait until their desired customer engineers become available. These situations become problematic for both the customers and the service-industry businesses.


A combination of laser energy and ultrasonic energy is used for soldering an insulated wire to a pad located on a substrate. The combined laser energy and ultrasonic energy strips the insulation from the wire and solders the resulting bare wire to the pad. The method has particular use for soldering insulated wire to pads located on heat sensitive substrates or to pads located in close proximity to heat sensitive devices. A principal application is for soldering fine insulated wires for connecting a thin film magnetic head to a circuit carrier substrate.

The present invention relates to the use of a combination of laser energy and ultrasonic energy for soldering an insulation coated wire to a solder covered pad located on a heat-sensitive substrate, and particularly to the stripping and soldering of fine insulated wires for connecting a magnetic head to a circuit carrier substrate.
Packaging of magnetic heads requires very delicate wire connecting operations in order to interconnect the magnetic head component to a circuit carrier for providing electrical signals to and receiving electrical signals from the magnetic head.
Presently, insulation is removed from insulated wire by conventional wire stripping methods, such as plasma or laser stripping. The bare wire is subsequently soldered or otherwise jointed to a metallic pad located on the magnetic head. While this process is generally successful, future developments and product demands will require improved manufacturing methods. For example, the constant industry migration toward higher storage densities requires the use of very fine wires and smaller pad dimensions. All the while, there is constant demand for improving manufacturability and reducing costs.
It is doubtful that existing ultrasonic bonding and thermode-reflow techniques currently in use will meet future joining requirements. While wire-soldering itself is a well established technology, conventional methods require the steps of removing any insulation from the wire, applying flux to the bare wire and then applying high intensity heat pulses for a relatively long-time duration. The combination of steps described are detrimental to delicate electrical assemblies which are sensitive to heat and corrosion damage. Furthermore, experience with electrical thermodes indicates that some heat is applied indirectly to the wire through melting of the solder and there is occasional solder splattering and solder bridging short circuits. Another problem with conventional solder heating is solder embrittlement at the bonding interface due to the relatively long heat exposure time of several seconds during soldering.
The prior art contains proposed solutions to these problems. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,893,742 issued to P. Bullock describes fluxless soldering of a wire to a pad by the combined application of ultrasonic energy and laser energy. The patent describes the joining of a bare lead to a pad.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,818,322 issued to R. Morino et al describes the use of laser energy for bonding and stripping conductors during a scribing operation. Laser energy is used to achieve insulation stripping, soldering and cutting of conductors at terminal points. Ultrasonic energy is supplied to provide a relatively small frictionless wire guide and to press the wire into an activated adhesive. The ultrasonic energy does not contribute significantly to the energy supplied for activating the adhesive.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,789,183 issued to L. Conley describes the application of ultrasonic vibrations to scrub away the insulation from a wire prior to applying a welding current to weld the wire to a terminal.
The present invention provides a solution to the problem of fluxless soldering of insulated wires to pads without heat damage exposure of delicate electrical devices located near the bonding pad and to the substrate supporting the pad. A bonding or soldering tip is ultrasonically vibrated while the tip is being heated with laser energy to remove the insulation from a wire and then melt solder in order to join the wire to a pad located on a substrate without the addition of any flux. The laser energy is highly localized and of a sufficiently low-energy to avoid heat damage to either electrical devices or the substrate.

Lasersonic soldering of fine insulated wires to heat-sensitive substrates

International Business Machines Corporation


A choke valve is fixed to a predetermined position even after manual release, whereby an improved start and a subsequent stable operation are obtained. A fixing force and a valve opening force are applied to a choke valve shaft. Further, a pin of a choke valve lever pushes an arm piece of a throttle valve lever to slightly open a throttle valve when a choke valve is in a fully open position, and the choke valve opens half way to return the throttle valve to an idle position by a valve closing spring when a complete firing of the engine is achieved. When opening the throttle valve, a cam of the throttle valve lever pushes the pin to open the choke valve, a valve opening force overcomes a fixing force near the fully open position to set the choke valve to the fully open position, and the pin separates from the cam to open and close the throttle valve without interference with the choke valve. The fixing force overcomes the valve opening force from the fully close position to a position proximate to the fully open position, and the choke valve is fixed even after manual release.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-397006, filed Nov. 27, 2003.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a carburetor for supplying fuel to a general-purpose, internal combustion engine used as a power source of a portable operating machine or the like, and more particularly, to a carburetor with a manual choke mechanism.
2. Description of Related Art
It is known to improve an engine's starting properties when temperatures are low, by placing a choke valve in an inlet of an intake passage of a carburetor and opening a throttle valve slightly from an idle position, as well as fully closing the choke valve. The carburetor for the general-purpose, internal combustion engine employs a manual choke mechanism which may be placed in a confined space and fabricated at a low cost with a reduced number of parts.
The choke valve in known manual choke mechanisms is of a fixed type, in which the choke valve is mounted to a choke valve shaft crossing a center axis of the intake passage, and is started by the delicate operation of changing the choke valve from a full close state to a full open state by the manual operation of the choke valve by the driver, and changing the throttle valve at an appropriate time by operation of the throttle valve by the driver. Accordingly, for example, as described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 35-4305, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 49-109738 and "Theory and Practice of Carburetor" written by Takashi Yoshida, issued by Railroad Japan Company, in 1980, it is possible to employ a semiautomatic choke mechanism structured, such that the choke valve and the throttle valve are interlocked by a link mechanism to the manual choke mechanism, and the throttle valve is opened slightly from the idle position when the choke valve is fully closed. In this case, it is possible to start the engine without this delicate operation.
However, when fully closing the choke valve by manual operation prior to the manual choke mechanism, the operating force may be applied at least until the engine is completely fired. In particular, in the manual choke mechanism, to which the semiautomatic choke mechanism is applied, there is a danger that the choke valve and the throttle valve may become unstable by releasing either or both of the valves immediately when the valves are fully closed, whereby it may be impossible to securely hold the choke and throttle valves at their respective fully closed position and slightly open position, so as to securely start the engine.


The invention relates to an antiskid device for vehicle wheels, having a retaining device which is coaxially attached on one side of the wheel rim or the wheel disc and which via arms disposed transversely of the running direction and engaging over the wheel running surface retaining an antiskid means bearing against the wheel running surface, the antiskid means being retained on both the side remote from the retaining device and also on the side adjacent thereto in an opening of the arm and being laterally movable in the zone of the tire base, while on the side remote from the retaining device the opening of the arm is a longitudinal opening which is disposed transversely of the running direction and in which the antiskid means attaching end located in the longitudinal opening is located transversely displaceably in relation to the running direction.

An antiskid device is mounted by slipping from the side on to a wheel of a stationary motor vehicle upon mounting. However, the antiskid device cannot be introduced under the tire base without lifting or moving the wheel. After assembly, therefore, a zone of the antiskid means is located alongside the wheel base--i.e., this zone of the antiskid device must be able to yield are enough laterally during assembly. The zone is then displaced automatically on to the wheel running surface only after assembly when the motor vehicle is started.
It has been found that with prior art antiskid device constructions, the antiskid device cannot yield readily enough in the zone of the tire base, so that unskilled personnel mounting the antiskid device often have assembly difficulties.