Embodiments of the disclosure comprise a vision-based robotic manipulation system that identifies, singulates, and removes an individual surgical instrument from a cluttered environment. A computer-vision algorithm incorporated with the system is robust against optical challenges such as changing light conditions, specularities, and inter-reflections among various surgical instruments. The system estimates 2D pose (as opposed to a more challenging 3D pose) using a camera with normal room lighting to identify each object, including its specified data matrix barcode; and incorporates the use of a robotic arm with a compliant electromagnetic gripper to handle objects having large shape variance. The system can then relocate the objects as desired. The robot manipulator is utilized in hospital and research settings, manufacturing, and sterile environments.

The perioperative setting is considered a resource intensive section of the hospital. The logistics of sterilizing, sorting, building, and transporting surgical instruments is labor and capital intensive. In addition, infection due to improper sterilization is a safety hazard. Currently, processing of hundreds of types of surgical instruments with similar characteristics involves an extensive learning curve for hospital employees and diligent human performance.
Existing approaches to automating the sorting process are expensive and are limited in capability. One system currently utilized is designed to automate several key functions for the clean side of the sterile supply. With this system, a human operator first separates the surgical instruments from a pile, and places them on a conveyor belt one by one. Then a standard robotic arm fitted with a magnetic gripper picks up the single instrument, as isolated away from other instruments, from the belt. A machine vision system or a barcode scanner is used to identify the instrument and sort each instrument into a stack of similar instruments. Consequently, such solutions are limited when handling instrument manipulation in an unstructured environment where surgical instruments are cluttered in the container.
Picking individual items from an unordered pile in a container or in an unstructured environment with robotic equipment has proven overly burdensome and difficult. Picking surgical instruments is even more challenging. First, the surgical instruments often have similar characteristics, thus making it difficult for computer vision-based algorithms to recognize them from an unordered pile. Second, instruments are made of shiny metal. Optical effects such as specularities and inter-reflections pose problems for many computer-vision based pose estimation algorithms, including multi-view stereo, 3D laser scanning, active sensing (to acquire a depth map of the scene), and imaging with multiple light sources. One approach uses multi-flash cameras to obtain depth edge information and matches edge-based templates onto the input image for pose estimation. Edge-based template matching, however, has difficulty in distinguishing between very similar objects such as surgical instruments.
Typically, the current approaches have utilized each container having one object type. Most data-driven approaches to date use a multi-view approach to recognize objects in a scene and estimate their six degrees-of-freedom (DOF) poses. The approaches, however, rely on learned models for the objects. Since the surgical instruments have strong similarities, such a data-driven method is difficult to carry out. Without accurate six degrees-of-freedom (DOF) pose, many standard grippers have trouble executing the grip. Furthermore, when selecting the surgical instrument that is on top of the pile, typical appearance-based occlusion reasoning methods have trouble because objects which occlude others have a similar appearance as those being occluded.
It is therefore desirable to have a system as based on a vision-based bin-picking in unstructured environments as well as for use in current systems when selecting single objects. The invention would beneficially address current sterilization and safety hazards, while being capable of accurately singulating surgical instruments in a cluttered environment. The invention disclosure that follows addresses these challenges effectively.

Vision-guided electromagnetic robotic system


The present invention relates to novel enzymes and the uses thereof. The invention also relates to methods of producing such enzymes, coding nucleic acid molecules, recombinant cells and methods of transforming biomass from such materials. The invention is particularly suited to degrade biomass and/or to improve biomass degradation, and to produce bioenergy products or recombinant proteins. This invention also relates to various applications of the enzymes in the field of paper industry, textile industry as well as in the chemical and medical fields.

The use of microorganisms to conduct modification of biomass for the production of bioenergy products or metabolites has been proposed in the art. Such process, ideally, would require two major types of activities: (i) a degradation activity, to transform biomass into fermentable sugars and (ii) a fermentation activity, to transform said sugars into bioenergy products or other valuable metabolites. So far, efforts have been directed mainly towards the identification of microorganisms having the ability to catalyze the fermentation step.
A monograph on the production of ethanol through fermentation with microorganisms was published under the title "Ethanol Fermentation Strains" by J. R. Hettenhaus, under the aegis of the United States Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (Dec. 16, 1998). In this document, which summarizes the contributions made by participants in the study, it is pointed out that:                only microorganisms similar to Saccharomyces, Zymomonas and E. coli can be used in existing equipment;        in the short term, the increased fermentation of xylose and arabinose could be the main objective, it being specified however that it is of little interest to increase the converting efficacy of the other sugars of hexose or oligomer type;        over the longer term, gains could be achieved regarding higher operating temperatures and combining of the steps of enzyme production, saccharification and hydrolysis.
Current industrial processes only allow the culture and growth of microorganisms for the fermentation and extraction of ethanol at temperatures in the region of 30° C., owing to the fragility of the industrial microorganisms (yeasts) used. They also entail major bioenergy costs to concentrate the ethanol after fermentation, since yeasts currently used for this fermentation cannot withstand ethanol concentrations above 100 g/l. Additionally, the fermentation of yeasts practically only uses C6 sugars, of glucose type.
The conversion of biomass using microorganisms has also been tested (Blumer-Schuette et al., 2008, Extremely thermophilic microorganisms for biomass conversion: status and prospects, Curr Opinion Biotechnol 19, pp. 210-217; Perez et al., 2002, Int Microbiol 5, pp 53-63). However, as reported in Mosier et al. (Bioresource Technology 96 (2005) 673-686), a pre-treatment of lignocellulosic biomass is required to alter the structure of cellulosic biomass to make cellulose more accessible to the enzymes that convert the carbohydrate polymers into fermentable sugars.
The industrial and efficient production of fermentable sugars (e.g., monomeric sugars) from raw (i.e., starch, lignocellulosic) biomass still remains a challenge. Various approaches have been proposed to exploit raw biomass, such as thermochemical methods, acid hydrolysis or enzymatic hydrolysis. Sun H et al (Appl Biochem Biotechnol. February 2010; 160(4):988-1003) discusses the use of non Deinococcus enzymes for the degradation of starch. Polizeli M L et al, and Collin T et al (Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. June 2005; 67(5):577-591; FEMS Microbiol Rev. January 2005; 29(1):3-23) reviews the use of non Deinococcus enzymes for the degradation of xylan. Wilson D B et al (Curr Opin Biotechnol. June 2009; 20(3):295-299) discusses the use of non Deinococcus enzymes for the degradation of cellulose for biofuel applications.
These approaches, however, did not lead so far to the implementation of an effective and industrial enzymatic method of producing metabolites from biomass. Furthermore, due to the wide diversity of lignocellulosic biomass, with each having a specific composition of starch, cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, there is a need for additional enzymes with improved activities.
Accordingly, there is a need for novel enzymes active in the modification of biomass. There is also a need in the art for a cost-effective and scalable process for the degradation of starch and lignocellulosic biomass into valuable products such as fermentable sugars or bioenergy products and metabolites.
Work conducted by the applicant has led to the surprising finding that strains of the genus Deinococcus exhibit remarkable properties for use in the transformation of biomass into metabolites, including bioenergy products (WO2009/063079). More particularly, the applicant has demonstrated that Deinococcus strains are able to catalyse or cause biomass degradation into fermentable sugars, and to produce metabolites from said sugars. Applicant has also demonstrated these strains are resistant to and active at elevated temperature, elevated ethanol concentrations, and within a wide range of pH values (PCT/EP2010/056600, presently unpublished). The applicants have further discovered that Deinococcus bacterium may degrade raw biomass, including starch, xylan or cellulose, which provides additional substantial advantages for biomass conversion and metabolite production (WO2010/094665). Deinococcus, as well as related bacteria, therefore open the path towards new and efficient bioenergy and metabolite production from biomass.
The present invention discloses novel enzymatic activities derived from Deinococcus and related bacteria. These enzymes are involved in energetic metabolism. They have been structurally characterized and exhibit distinct motifs or sequences, which confer on said proteins remarkable biological activities. These Deinococcal enzymes have the ability e.g., to hydrolyse the main constituents of biomass, including xylan, cellulose, and/or hemicelluloses or any lignocellulosic material under conditions suitable for an industrial process. Such enzymes had never been reported or isolated in the art and bring substantial improvements to the development of industrial processes of transforming biomass. The enzymes may be used as such, in purified or isolated form, or in a mixture of enzymes comprising at least one enzyme of this invention, in industrial processes. These enzymes also allow or favour the use of cheaper carbon source for fermentation and may be used in the production of metabolites, bioenergy products, or in the production (or over-expression) of recombinant proteins.


The present invention provides a method for selecting from among many monoclonal antibodies capable of binding to a surface antigen on a tumor cell, the antibody which also can internalize into the cell and exert an appropriate molecular effect on the level of gene regulation in the tumor cell. Such antibodies can most effectively be employed to damage the tumor cell.

Monoclonal antibodies directed against tumor-associated antigens expressed on the tumor cell surface and therefore capable of targeting such tumors have found application in the immunodiagnosis and immunotherapy of human tumors. For example, a monoclonal antibody directed against such an antigen may be tagged with a radioactive, or other, detectable label and used for cancer diagnosis. Additionally, therapeutic uses of monoclonal antibodies are being developed by labelling the antibody with a quantity of a radioactive isotope or a toxic ligand to damage or destroy the targeted tumor.
The interaction of certain monoclonal antibodies directed against tumor cells with cell surface antigens is well documented. See, for example, H. Koprowski, et alli, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 81:216-222 (1983) [Koprowski I]; M. Herlyn et al, Adv. Cancer Res., 49:189-221 (1987) [Herlyn I]; H. Koprowski, et alli, Somat. Cell. Mol. Genet., 11:297-302 (1985) [Koprowski II]; and H. F. Sears, et alli, Contr. Oncol., 19:180-192 (1984) [Sears I] among others.
A special class of anti-tumor monoclonal antibodies is represented by those antibodies that recognize surface receptors for growth factors. See, e.g., H. Ross, et alli, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 81:6681-6685 (1984) [Ross I]; P. M. Grob, et alli, J. Biol. Chem., 260:8044-8049 (1985); and U. Murthy, et alli, Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 252:549-560 (1987) among others.
In present immunotherapy, the selection of a monoclonal antibody for use in treating a certain tumor type is based on the binding of the monoclonal antibody to the cell surface antigen against which the antibody is directed. Monoclonal antibodies, particularly, mouse monoclonal antibodies of the IgG2A isotype, have been observed to destroy human cancer cells implanted in athymic nude mice. The tumoricidal effect seems to be mediated by the monoclonal antibody through interaction with Fc receptors of mouse or human macrophages. Monoclonal antibodies of an isotype other than IgG2A which do not interact with Fc receptors have not been observed to mediate destruction of cancer cells. The presently employed methods of selecting a monoclonal antibody for immunotherapy deal with interaction between the monoclonal antibody and surface of the cell only.
These present methods for selecting an antibody for therapeutic treatment are inadequate in view of recent scientific observations that some antibodies simply attach to the antigen, while other monoclonal antibodies are taken up intracellularly and translocated to the cell nucleus. For example, one monoclonal antibody 425 (IgG2A) directed against the EGF receptor was observed to be translocated to the nucleus in intact cells instead of the original ligand. Another monoclonal antibody directed against the Y determinant expressed on EGF receptor of tumor cell lines was translocated into the nucleus of colorectal carcinoma but not epidermoid carcinoma cells [E. M. Rakowicz-Szulczynska, et alli, Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 268:456-464 (1989)].
These observations suggest that certain monoclonal antibodies may be more desirable than others for therapeutic activity in tumor cells and that the present methods for selection of antibodies for therapeutic use are inadequate.
Additional disadvantages in the present use of monoclonal antibodies in immunotherapy include the current lack of knowledge of dosage levels of antibody and radioactive or toxic ligands attached thereto. In current practice the dosage of a labelled antibody to which is attached a radioactive label or toxin to be administered to the patient is simply grossly estimated based on the size of the patient's tumor.
Preferably, antibody therapy should employ a sufficient dosage to kill the tumor cell to which the antibody attaches and yet decrease as much as possible the side effects of the radioactivity or toxin on the healthy tissue of the patient. Inaccurate dosage can often result in the patient being exposed to either excessive amounts of radioactivity or toxin with their attendant serious side effects, or inadequate amounts of radioactivity or toxin to destroy the tumor.
There exists therefore a need in the field of immunotherapy for methods for the selection of appropriate monoclonal antibodies in suitable dosages for the treatment of certain tumors.

Methods for screening monoclonal antibodies for therapeutic use

The Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology


A device for measuring a retina reflected light amount is provided with a light source for emitting a infrared ray, an image pick-up unit for receiving the infrared ray from a light emitting range at the same position as the light source, a reading unit for reading a pupil area from a face image picked up by the image pick-up unit, and an integrating unit for integrating an amount of light represented by signals which are generated by the image pick-up unit and are located at addresses within the read pupil area. This device is applicable to a gaze detecting apparatus, and provides data which can be used in medical and psychological fields.

This invention relates to a device for measuring an amount of light reflected by a retina and a gaze detecting apparatus using the same and, more particularly to a gaze detecting apparatus for detecting a gaze of a person in an indirect manner making use of a face image picked up by an image pick-up unit such as a television camera and a retina reflection characteristic to an incident light. The word "gaze" as used herein means the position or direction in which the eye is looking.
Conventionally, a cursor has been moved on a screen of a personal computer, a CAD, and like apparatus with the use of up- and down-keys provided in a keyboard, a mouse, etc. In order to provide a better user interface by reading an intention of the user from his/her gaze, there have also been proposed various apparatuses for detecting a gaze of the user which are attached to a face of the user. Recently, there has been proposed an indirect gaze detecting apparatus which detects the position of a cornea reflected image and a center of a pupil from a face image picked up by a plurality of cameras, and further detects a center of an eye ball from the detected position of the cornea reflected image and center of the pupil. Such an apparatus is disclosed as in Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-134130.
The apparatus disclosed in the above publication requires detections of the position of a spot-like cornea reflected image, and the centers of the pupil and eye ball from the face image. Further, a detector for making these detections is required to have exceedingly high level of accuracy. This has caused fabrication of a larger size apparatus and an increase in manufacturing cost.

Device for measuring a retina reflected light amount and a gaze detecting apparatus using the same


An ink jet recording process using a glitter pigment provides satisfactory glitter even on a recording medium having a rough surface. The ink jet recording process includes a glitter image-forming step of forming a glitter image by discharging a glitter ink composition containing a glitter pigment to a recording medium and a pressing step of pressing the layer of the glitter image formed on the recording medium.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an ink jet recording process, an ink jet recording apparatus, and a recorded matter.
2. Related Art
Recently, a demand for printed matters having images having metallic gloss formed on recording surfaces has been increased, and methods for forming images having metallic gloss have been proposed. For example, a foil stamping recording process involving preparation of a recording medium having a highly flat recording surface and pressing of metal foil thereto, a method involving vacuum deposition of a metal onto a smooth recording surface of a plastic film, and a method involving application of a metallic pigment ink to a recording medium have been proposed.
An ink jet recording process is a method performing recording by discharging droplets of an ink composition such that the droplets adhere to a recoding medium such as paper. This recording process can record an image having high resolution and high quality at a high speed with a relatively small-sized apparatus configuration. Accordingly, it has been investigated to prepare recorded matters having metallic gloss surfaces by such an ink jet recording process. For example, JP-A-2011-137164 proposes a particle diameter of a glitter pigment for achieving both sufficient glitter of a recorded matter and stable discharge of ink from a minute nozzle of an ink jet head.
High gloss of an image formed on a recording medium is achieved by applying a glitter pigment uniformly and flatly onto the surface of the recording medium. For example, a glitter ink composition used in screen recording contains plate-like glitter pigment particles having an average particle diameter of 10 μm or more. An ink jet recording process is, however, required to use minute glitter pigment particles having an average particle diameter of about 0.5 to 5 μm for securing stable discharge from nozzles. Consequently, irregular overlapping, i.e., a deterioration in flatness, is caused in some cases due to the flatness of the surface of a recording medium itself to which the glitter pigment adheres. In some cases, the glitter pigment permeates into the depths of a recording medium depending on the permeability of the ink composition to the recording medium to reduce the pigment density on the surface of the recording medium. These phenomena lead to a disadvantage that a smooth and uniform reflective surface is not formed on the surfaces of recording media and sufficient glitter is achieved only on specific recording media. This disadvantage is particularly significant when plate-like particles are used.

Ink jet recording process, ink jet recording apparatus, and recorded matter


To make a sintered member having a molybdenum-containing wear-resisting layer it is known to compact a low-alloy iron powder for forming the body of said member and a non-alloyed iron-base metal powder, which contains molybdenum and is intended to form the wear-resisting layer, so as to form a shaped member, which is subsequently sintered. In order to reduce the manufacturing costs, it is proposed that in such process the metal powder for forming the wear-resisting layer contains a low-alloy iron powder and 10 to 30% by weight molybdenum and contains a total of 1.5 to 3.0% by weight carbon and phosphorus, carbon and phosphorus are optionally contained as alloying constituents in the iron powder of said metal powder in a total amount of 0.3 to 0.7% by weight, and the shaped member consisting of the body and the wear-resisting layer is subjected to liquid-phase sintering at temperatures from 1070.degree. to 1130.degree. C.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a process of manufacturing a sintered body having at least one molybdenum-containing wear-resisting layer, wherein a low-alloy iron powder, which is intended to form the body of the member, and an iron-base metal powder, which contains non-alloyed molybdenum and is intended to form said wear-resisting layer are compacted to form a shaped member, which is subsequently sintered.
2. Description of the Prior Art
To provide valve tappets which can take up high loads for use in internal combustion engines, it is known (from German Patent Specification 2 822 902) to provide the valve tappet with a war-resisting sintered layer, which has a high molybdenum content of 20 to 35% by weight. That wear-resisting layer is formed in that a metal powder is compacted in a common mold together with the low-alloy iron powder used to form the body of the valve tappet. That metal powder consists of a carbon-free mixture of non-alloyed iron and non-alloyed molybdenum so that the valve tappet can be sintered at high sintering temperatures up to 1350.degree. C. by dry-phase sintering at a high sintering rate.
To increase the wear resistance the wear-resisting sintered layer is subsequently carburized so that mixed carbides are formed. Molybdenum is an excellent carbide-forming constituent and affords the additional advantage that the resulting layer has only a low tendency to corrode the material of the cam in contact with said layer. But said good material properties can be achieved only by an expensive manufacture because the sintering temperature must be relatively high and a carburizing is subsequently required.

Process of manufacturing as sintered member having at least one molybdenum-containing wear-resisting layer


A sample rack conveying unit 30 includes a sliding rail plate 53, a presser 66, a first guide plate 55, and a second guide plate 56. The sliding rail plate 53 has a groove portion 71 formed along a track on which a sample rack 90 slides and along which the sample rack 90 is conveyed. The presser 66 passes through the groove portion 71 and presses the sample rack 90. The first guide plate 55 is arranged on an outer side of a curved portion in a radial direction. The second guide plate 56 is arranged on an inner side of the curved portion in the radial direction.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sample rack conveying unit for conveying a sample rack in which a sample container is accommodated and an automatic analysis system having this sample rack conveying unit.
Description of Related Art
Conventionally, an automatic analyzing device for quantitatively measuring a specific substance in a sample which is a biological specimen such as blood or urine has been known. In the automatic analyzing device, a sample container for accommodating (holding and transporting) a sample, is used. In this type of automatic analyzing device, a sample accommodating unit in which, for example, a plurality of the sample containers is accommodated and a reaction unit for causing the sample and a reagent to react with each other are provided.
Furthermore, a sample rack conveying unit for conveying the sample container to the sample accommodating unit of the automatic analyzing device is known. The sample rack conveying unit conveys the plurality of sample containers in a state of being accommodated in the sample rack.
A technology described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-1427 describes a device provided with a first rack conveying conveyor for linearly advancing the sample rack to a first direction, a second rack conveying conveyer for linearly advancing the sample rack to a second direction different from the first direction, and a disc for rotating the sample rack. In the technology described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-1427, a direction in which the sample rack is conveyed is changed from the first direction to the second direction, by sequentially conveying the sample rack in order of the first rack conveying conveyer, the disc, and the second rack conveying conveyer.

Sample rack conveying unit and automatic analysis system


A missile includes a radome-seeker airframe assembly that has a single-piece composite material forebody. The forebody is made of a high-temperature composite material that can withstand heat with little or no ablation. The forebody has a front part with an ogive shape and an aft part that has a cylindrical shape. The front part acts as a radome for a seeker located within the forebody. Patch antennas are attached to an inside surface of the cylindrical aft part. The aft part acts as a radome for the patch antennas, allowing signals to be sent and received by the patch antennas without a need for cutouts. A single seal may be used to seal the guidance system and seeker within the forebody, allowing the equipment to be hermetically sealed within the forebody.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally missile nose cones, and in particular to nose cones with integrated radar systems and/or antennas.
2. Description of the Related Art
Common present missile airframe technologies rely on a ceramic forward radome, a metallic seeker and guidance section fuselage, and an ablative thermal protection system with cutouts for side-mounted antennas and conformal radomes. FIGS. 1-3 show an example of such a prior art missile forward section 200, including a nose cone 201 having a ceramic frontal ogive radome 202, with a titanium nose tip 204. The radome 202 is made of slip cast fused silica. Aft of the ceramic radome 202 are a glass-reinforced phenolic composite material sleeve 208, a guidance section fuselage assembly 210, and a missile body 212. The antenna guidance section fuselage 210 includes an aluminum fuselage section 214 with a pair of cutouts 216 and 218. External thermal protection system inserts 220 and 222 fit into a recess 224 on the outside of the aluminum fuselage 214. The inserts 220 and 222 have respective cutouts 226 and 228 that overlie the aluminum fuselage cutouts 216 and 218. A pair of antenna radomes 232 and 234 are bonded to aluminum antenna trays 242 and 244, enclosing a pair of patch antennas 236 and 238 in the trays 242 and 244. The antenna radomes 232 and 234 are curved plates, made of a polymer material such as TEFLON, that serve as a thermal protective system, providing protection for the antennas 236 and 238. The antennas 236 and 238 are held in place by antenna trays that are fastened as an assembly to the aluminum fuselage 214. The patch antennas 236 and 238 are positioned at the cutouts 216/226 and 218/228 to send and/or receive signals through the radomes 232 and 234. A guidance section 250 is located within the front of the missile, coupled to a forward mounting ring 252.
The prior art missile has a number of seals: a bonded joint 260 between the ceramic radome 202 and the nose tip 204, a bonded joint 266 between the radome 202 and the phenolic sleeve 208, and polysulfide seals 268, 270, 272, and 274 at various points along the aluminum fuselage 214. Each of these seals represents a potential leak point.
There exists room for improvement in the present state of design of such missile noses.


This invention relates to blends containing (a) 40-98 weight percent polyoxymethylene, (b) 1-40 weight percent thermoplastic polyurethane, and (c) 1-59 weight percent of at least one amorphous thermoplastic polymer, said blends being characterized as having better mold shrinkage than polyoxymethylene/thermoplastic polyurethane compositions and also having a useful balance of physical properties, such as stiffness, elongation, and toughness.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to certain polyoxymethylene blends which are characterized as having improved mold shrinkage and also having a useful overall balance of physical properties.
Polyoxymethylene compositions are generally understood to include compositions based on homopolymers of formaldehyde or of cyclic oligomers of formaldehyde, for example trioxane, the terminal groups of which are end-capped by esterification or etherification, as well as copolymers of formaldehyde or of cyclic oligomers of formaldehyde, with oxyalkylene groups with at least two adjacent carbon atoms in the main chain, the terminal groups of which copolymers can be hydroxyl terminated or can be end-capped by esterification or etherification. The proportion of the comonomers can be up to 20 weight percent. Compositions based on polyoxymethylene of relatively high molecular weight, i.e., 20,000 to 100,000 are useful in preparing semi-finished and finished articles by any of the techniques commonly used with thermoplastic materials, e.g., compression molding, injection molding, extrusion, blow molding, melt spinning, stamping and thermoforming. Finished products made from such polyoxymethylene compositions possess extremely desirable physical properties, including high stiffness, strength, and solvent resistance.
Polyoxymethylene compositions containing thermoplastic polyurethanes have been recently developed and said compositions possess extraordinary toughness and/or impact resistance, along with also possessing a good overall balance of physical properties, such as stiffness and elongation. However, these polyoxymethylene/thermoplastic polyurethane compositions, as well as polyoxymethylene alone, which possess excellent properties overall, undergo a relatively high shrinkage in the mold during mold processing. It is desirous to decrease the degree of mold shrinkage experienced by the polyoxymethylene/thermoplastic polyurethane composition (and also the polyoxymethylene itself) during mold processing so that a mold can be designed accurately and so that the mold shrinkage of the polyoxymethylene/thermoplastic polyurethane compositions can be matched with that of other polymeric compositions.
A goal of the present invention is to improve and thereby reduce the mold shrinkage that a polyoxymethylene/thermoplastic polyurethane composition undergoes during mold processing. It is further a goal of the present invention to make such an improvement in mold shrinkage while still maintaining a useful balance of the properties, such as stiffness, elongation, and toughness, that are inherent in the polyoxymethylene/thermoplastic polyurethane composition itself. It has been surprisingly found that the mold shrinkage property of a polyoxymethylene/thermoplastic polyurethane composition is significantly improved and thereby reduced when there is blended into the polyoxymethylene/thermoplastic polyurethane composition at least one amorphous thermoplastic polymer. It has further been surprisingly found that the blending of the at least one amorphous thermoplastic into the polyoxymethylene/thermoplastic polyurethane composition results in a ternary polymer blend having a useful balance of the physical properties, as measured by flexural modulus, elongation, and toughness, that are inherent in the polyoxymethylene/thermoplastic polyurethane blend itself. It has also been surprisingly found that the incorporation of certain amorphous thermoplastic polymers into polyoxymethylene itself results in an improvement in the mold shrinkage of said polyoxymethylene.
The ternary blends of the present invention are especially useful as injection molding resins and are particularly useful where it is undesirable for the polymer resin to undergo a relatively high level of shrinkage during mold processing.
2. Background Art
European Patent No. 0117664 discloses polyoxymethylene compositions having extraordinary impact resistance, which compositions consist essentially of
(a) 5-15 weight percent of a least one thermoplastic polyurethane, which polyurethane has a glass transition temperature of lower than 0.degree. C., and PA1 (b) 85-95 weight percent of at least one polyoxymethylene polymer, which polyoxymethylene polymer has a molecular weight of from 20,000 to 100,000, PA1 (a) greater than 15 weight percent and not more than 40 weight percent of at least one thermoplastic polyurethane, which polyurethane has a glass transition temperature of lower than -15.degree. C., and PA1 (b) at least 60 weight percent and less than 85 weight percent of at least one polyoxymethylene polymer, which polyoxymethylene polymer has a molecular weight of from 20,000 to 100,000,
the above-stated percentages being based on the total amount of components (a) and (b) only, the thermoplastic polyurethane being dispersed throughout the polyoxymethylene polymer as discrete particles, and the composition having a Gardner impact value of greater than 9 J.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,804,716 discloses polyoxymethylene compositions having extraordinary toughness, which compositions consist essentially of
the above-stated percentages being based on the total amount of components (a) and (b) only, the thermoplastic polyurethane being dispersed throughout the polyoxymethylene polymer as a separate phase having an average cross-sectional size of not greater than 0.9 microns, and the composition having a notched Izod value of greater than 375 J/m.
The polyoxymethylene compositions disclosed in these two references are the type of compositions that can be improved by the present invention to yield polyoxymethylene blends characterized as having improved and reduced mold shrinkage and a useful balance of physical properties.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,640,949 discloses compositions consisting essentially of polyoxymethylene and a stabilizer blend, said blend being comprised of a thermoplastic polyurethane with a polyamide dispersed therein as a separate phase. The polyamide is a crystalline resin (nylon 6, nylon 6/6) having a melting point greater than the melting point of the polyoxymethylene itself.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,713,414 discloses compositions having improved toughness comprising polyoxymethylene, a reactive titanate, a multiphase composite interpolymer, and optionally, a thermoplastic polyurethane.
EP 156-285-A discloses mixtures having improved cold tenacity consisting of polyoxymethylene, a rubber-elastic graft copolymer, and a polymeric third component, which can be a polyurethane. The rubber-elastic graft copolymer has a Tg of less than -60.degree. C., which is much less than would be the Tg of the matrix phase of any of the amorphous thermoplastic polymers of the present invention.
Japanese Patent Publication 61-171756 discloses compositions for electrical and electronic parts comprised of 5-30% polyoxymethylene, 5-40% thermoplastic polyurethane, and 55-90% ethylenic unsaturated nitrile-diene rubber-aromatic vinyl copolymer. This reference is directed toward modifying the vinyl copolymer compound, as evidenced by the high percentage of the vinyl copolymer required and the low percentage of polyoxymethylene required. Further, the examples teach away from using greater than ten weight percent polyoxymethylene in the composition.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,179,479 discloses compositions comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane, a polyoxymethylene, and 0.5-10% by weight of a processing aid which is an acrylic polymer having a number average molecular weight of at least 500,000. Such an acrylic polymer would not be injection moldable by standard present techniques.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,267 discloses compositions comprising polyoxymethylene, an elastomer, and an adipate-carbonate mixed ester.
The above references provide background information on polyoxymethylene/thermoplastic polyurethane binary blends or polyoxymethylene/thermoplastic polyurethane blends containing another component. None of these references disclose the entire and exact particulars of the presently claimed invention.
Provided below, as background information, are references related to blends/compositions of polyoxymethylene and another component. None of these references teach that the mold shrinkage of a polyoxymethylene blend/composition can be improved by the addition thereto of at least one amorphous thermoplastic polymer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,535,127 discloses a copolymer consisting of an acetal polymer portion and a thermoplastic elastomer polymer portion. EP 253649 discloses a blend consisting of an amorphous or crystalline polymer and an oxymethylene polymer.
The following references all relate specifically to binary blends of polyoxymethylene with styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer: U.S. Pat. No. 3,642,940; U.S. Pat. No. 3,654,219; BE 741,163; J51-039,746; J68-023,329; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,476,832.
The following references all relate specifically to binary blends of polyoxymethylene with polycarbonate: U.S. Pat. No. 4,526,921; U.S. Pat. No. 4,130,604; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,646,159.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,595,937 relates to a binary composition comprised of polyoxymethylene and polyarylate.
The following references all relate specifically to binary blends of polyoxymethylene with acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resins or acrylonitrile-ethylene-propylene-styrene resins: U.S. Pat. No. 3,642,940; U.S. Pat. No. 4,296,216; U.S. Pat. No. 4,052,348; J6-0210,666; J5-9176,342; and J5-8045,252.
None of the above references teach the particulars of the present invention, nor do any teach that the mold shrinkage of polyoxymethylene/thermoplastic polyurethane compositions, and polyoxymethylene itself, can be improved by incorporating into said compositions at least one amorphous thermoplastic polymer.

Polyoxymethylene/thermoplastic polyurethane/amorphous thermoplastic polymer blends


In an optical detection system, a reference waveform can be used for automated analysis of a received waveform. The reference waveform can be adjusted (e.g., distorted) using information about one or more of a receive channel configuration or other aspects of the receive channel signal, facilitating a more effective comparison between a received impulse and the reference waveform. Such a comparison can be used in a time-to-digital conversion (TDC) technique, such as to provide delay values that can then be used to determine a distance between the illuminated target and an optical transceiver. Other techniques can be used to enhance range accuracy or resolution, such as using automated techniques for control of one or more of receive channel gain, summing or averaging (aggregation of received signals), or bias compensation (e.g., DC balancing).

In an optical detection system, such as a system for providing light detection and ranging (LIDAR), various automated techniques can be used for performing distance or "depth" estimation, such as to provide an estimate of a range to a target from an optical assembly, such as an optical transceiver assembly. Such detection techniques can include one or more "time-of-flight" determination techniques, such as using a maximum value determination, edge detection, or a constant fraction discriminator, as illustrative examples.


A glass pipe 80 for a discharge lamp is prepared which includes a luminous bulb portion 1′ that will be formed into a luminous bulb of a high pressure discharge lamp and a side tube portion 2′. Subsequently, a glass member 70 made of a second glass having a softening point lower than that of a first glass constituting the side tube portion 2′ is inserted into the side tube portion 2′, after which a getter 75 is disposed in the side tube portion 2′. Then, with the pressure inside the glass pipe 80 reduced, the side tube portion 2′ is heated to tightly attach the glass member 70 to the side tube portion 2′, thereby forming a sealing portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods for producing a high pressure discharge lamp, and to lamp members for a high pressure discharge lamp which are used to produce a high pressure discharge lamp. In particular, the present invention relates to methods for producing a high pressure discharge lamp used for general illumination, a projector or an automobile headlight in combination with a reflecting mirror, or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, an image projecting apparatus such as a liquid crystal projector and a DMD (Digital Micromirror Device) projector has been commonly used as a system for realizing large-scale video images, and in general, a high pressure discharge lamp having a high intensity has been commonly used for such an image projecting apparatus. FIG. 17 is a schematic view showing the structure of a conventional high pressure discharge lamp 1000. The lamp 1000 shown in FIG. 17 is a so-called ultrahigh pressure mercury lamp, which is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2-148561.
The lamp 1000 includes a luminous bulb (arc tube) 101 made of quartz glass and a pair of sealing portions (seal portions) 102 extending from both ends of the luminous bulb 101. A luminous material (mercury) 106 is enclosed inside (in a discharge space) of the luminous bulb 101, and a pair of tungsten electrodes (W electrodes) 103 made of tungsten are opposed with a predetermined distance. A molybdenum foil (Mo foil) 104 in the sealing portion 102 is welded to one end of the W electrode 103, and the W electrode 103 and the Mo foil 104 are electrically connected to each other. An external lead (Mo rod) 105 made of molybdenum is electrically connected to one end of the Mo foil 104. Argon (Ar) and a small amount of halogen, in addition to the mercury 106, are enclosed in the luminous bulb 101.
The operational principle of the lamp 1000 will be briefly described below. When a start voltage is applied between the W electrodes 103 via the external leads 105 and the Mo foils 104, discharge of argon (Ar) occurs. This discharge increases the temperature in the discharge space of the luminous bulb 101, and then the mercury 106 is heated and evaporated. Therefore, mercury atoms are exited in the central portion of an arc between the W electrodes 103 and thus light is emitted. The higher the mercury vapor pressure of the lamp 1000 is, the more light is radiated, so that the lamp with a higher mercury vapor pressure is more suitable for the light source of an image projecting apparatus. However, in view of the physical strength of the luminous bulb 101 against pressure, the lamp 1000 is used at a mercury vapor pressure of 15 to 20 MPa (150 to 200 atm).

Method for producing a high pressure discharge lamp, with sealing portion having first and second glass members

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


An inverter structure includes a power source and an uninterruptible power supply device. The uninterruptible power supply device includes a power output selector and a constant-current controller built therein. The uninterruptible power supply device has an input terminal connected to the power source and output terminals connectable to external electrical appliance facilities via the power output selector and the constant-current controller. When power is supplied from the power source, the power output selector and the constant-current controller built in the uninterruptible power supply device function to effect distribution of power output to the electrical appliance facilities in accordance with preset condition.

With tremendous raise of price of the fossil oils, the desire for environmental protection, automation, and energy saving is getting stronger. Among these, automation is one of the most desired for the modern people. Traditionally, automation is only applied to a device itself and once the supply of power is cut off, the automation fails to work.
Uninterruptible power supply systems are available in the market for supplying supplementary or alternative power supply when power failures occur in the regular supply of power. The conventional uninterruptible power supply system is effective to provide a supplementary power to maintain the operation of electrical appliances, but the power of the uninterruptible power supply system is supplies to all the electrical appliances coupled thereto and there is no decision made as to which electrical appliance should be of the priority to get power supply.
Taking a building as an example, when a fire occurs, the fire fighters will shut down a main power supply switch of the building to cut off the power supply to the building first before rescue operation takes place. However, once the power supply to the building is cut off, all the escaping facilities, emergency lighting, and ventilation facilities get no power for normal operation. This often leads more severe damage and casualty.
In view of the above problems, the present invention is aimed to provide an inverter structure that overcomes the problems.


A terminal banking apparatus for processing bills and checks includes an input apparatus for inputting the number of each account and the amount of bills or checks at a front counter of a bank, a tentative paying file for storing the number of each account and the corresponding amount input from the input apparatus, a magnetic ink character reader for reading the number of the account described by magnetic ink characters on each of the bills or checks carried, and an amount reader for reading the amount described on the bills or checks stored in the tentative paying file depending on the number of the account read by the character reader. Also included is an amount encoder for describing the amount with magnetic ink characters on the bills or checks, a total amount checking apparatus for checking the total amount depending on the amount read out and a preset total amount, a lateral-line marking apparatus for marking lateral lines on bills or checks, an imaging apparatus for taking photographs of both the front and rear surfaces of bills or checks which have completed all processings, an image file for storing photographs and a transfer apparatus for transferring bills and checks.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a banking terminal apparatus for processing bills and checks, and more specifically to an apparatus to be used for a series of processings executed for bills and checks at the front counter or back office.
(2) Description of the Related Art
The bills and checks carried to a bank have been processed by the procedures shown in FIG. 1. Namely, the number of an account and the amount of money are input at the front counter of a bank as a branch and these numbers of accounts and amounts of money, input from an input apparatus, are sent to the center connected to a plurality of branches. The data transmitted from respective branches are stored for management of transactions at the center. Moreover, a detailed estimate sheet describing a total input sheet of bills or checks and a total amount of money is also generated. A bank book temporarily entering the data is returned to a customer as a receipt (ST1) and bills, checks and detailed estimate sheet are transferred to a hopper in the back office (ST2) for processing.
In the back office, a total amount of money described in the detailed estimate sheet is first input to an amount checking apparatus for the processing in units of sheets. A teller reads the numerals (checkwriter characters) indicating the amount being impressed on the surface of bills or checks and inputs the amount of money to an amount encoder from the keyboard (ST3).
As a result of the input, the amount encoder enters the amount of money to the magnetic ink character input domain of the bill or check with the magnetic ink. The bills or checks which have been input are transferred to the stacker (ST4).
This processing is continued for all bills or checks placed in the hopper (ST5).
Lateral lines are impressed (ST6) on all bills or checks in the stacker, the amounts of bills and checks are summed (ST7) for obtaining a total amount and it is collated (ST8) with the total amount input to the amount checking apparatus. If these are matched, the front and rear surfaces of bills or checks are photographed (ST9) and are stored under the assumption that there has been no error in the input processing. If these are not matched, the input processing for all bills and checks is retried (ST10) under the assumption that there have been errors in the input processing. This check must be continued until such amounts are matched. Those to be transferred to the bill clearing house among the bills or checks having completed the processing mentioned above are gathered with attachment of a tag describing the total amount and a number of sheets of bills and checks.
Such a series of processing steps, is manually carried out taking a long period of time. Particularly, such processing requires double inputs of the amount of money of bills or checks, resulting in a problem in that an input error may often be generated. If an error is found in the characters described by the magnetic ink on the bills or checks due to input errors in the amount of money, such erroneous input is eliminated after making of a correcting mark and the connected input should be made manually (without using magnetic ink). When such correction is made, the automatic processing which is done by reading magnetic ink characters of bills or checks can no longer be carried out at the bill clearing house.
Moreover, if an input error in the amount of money is found, there will exist a problem in that the total amount becomes inaccurate and all bills or checks must be checked for obtaining an accurate total amount. Therefore, there is a need in the art to develop a processing method for bills or checks which can reduce generation of input errors.
Recently, a method of quick processing of bills or checks reducing manual operation steps has been disclosed in the Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 62-14262 (by M. Yoshikawa). However, the processing disclosed in this Japanese Patent is not based on the concept that the data input by the processing at the front counter in the bank is utilized also for the latter processing (in the back office) and therefore this processing does not provide the effect of reducing input processing errors for bills or checks.

Banking apparatus for processing the bill and the check


A conventional angular rate sensor has a problem that the displacement amplitude of a drive gimbal frame is limited due to the Pulled-in phenomenon where the drive gimbal frame is attached to drive electrodes, thereby decreasing its sensor sensitivity. In an angular rate sensor, a drive frame and a driven frame are separately provided. A bending oscillation of the drive frame is transmitted to the driven frame through link beams, causing the rotational oscillation of the driven frame. The displacement amplitude of a rotational oscillation of the driven frame is not limited to provide high sensor sensitivity.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an angular rate sensor used for controlling the motion of a vehicle and an aircraft.
2. Description of Related Art
FIG. 19 is a top view showing a conventional angular rate sensor disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,408,877. FIG. 20 is a sectional view along the line XXxe2x80x94XX of FIG. 19. In these figures, the reference numeral 101 designates an inertial mass; 102 designates a drive gimbal frame on which the inertial mass is mounted; 103 designates a detection gimbal frame surrounding the drive gimbal frame 102; 104 designates a first torsion beam connecting the drive gimbal frame 102 with the detection gimbal frame 103 to rotatably support the drive gimbal frame 102 at two opposed positions; 105 designates a second torsion beam rotatably supporting the detection gimbal frame 103 at two opposed positions; 106 designates a drive electrode disposed below the drive gimbal frame 102 apart from the frame 102 by a certain gap; 107 designates a detection electrode disposed above the detection gimbal frame 103; and 108 designates a silicon substrate supporting the second torsion beam 105 and the drive electrodes 106.
The torsion axes of the first torsion beams 104 are parallel to the Y axis, while the torsion axes of the second torsion beams 105 are parallel to the X axis. The torsion axes of the first torsion beams 104 are perpendicular to the torsion axes of the second torsion beams 105.
The drive electrodes 106 are parallel to the torsion axes of the first torsion beams 104. These two electrodes 106 are symmetrically placed about the line extended from the torsion axes of the first torsion beams 104 viewed from the direction of the Z axis.
The detection electrodes 107 parallel to the torsion axes of the second torsion beam 105 are symmetrically placed about the line extended from the torsion axes of the second torsion beams 105 viewed from the direction of the Z axis.
Next, the operation of the conventional angular rate sensor will be described.
On applying alternating voltages with mutual phase-difference of 180 degrees to the two drive electrodes 106, an electrostatic attractive force induced between the drive gimbal frame 102 and one of the drive electrodes 106 leads to torsion of the first torsion beams 104, causing a rotational oscillation of the drive gimbal frame 102 (reference oscillation) about the torsion axes of the first torsion beams 104 which function as a rotational axis. As a result, the mass center of the inertial mass 101 oscillates in a simple harmonic motion in the direction parallel to the X axis.
In this state, the rotation of the entire angular rate sensor about the Z axis generates the Coriolis force represented by the following equation (1) acting on the center of the inertial mass 101 in the direction parallel to the Y axis. The second torsion beams 105 are then distorted and the detection gimbal frame 103 rotationally oscillates about the torsion axes of the second torsion beams 105 as a rotational axis.
F=2VMxcexa9xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(1)
wherein V represents a rate of the inertial mass 101 in the direction parallel to the X axis, M represents an inertial mass and xcexa9 represents a rotational angular rate about the Z axis.
The displacement amplitude of the rotational oscillation of the detection gimbal frame 103 is proportional to the maximum absolute value of the Coriolis force F which is proportional to the angular rate xcexa9. Further, as the detection gimbal frame 103 rotationally oscillates, the electrostatic capacity between the detection gimbal frame 103 and the detection electrode 107 changes. This change in electrostatic capacity is converted into a voltage to obtain a sensor output proportional to the angular rate xcexa9.
As stated above, in the conventional angular rate sensor the electrostatic attractive force generated between the drive gimbal frame 102 and the drive electrodes 106 is used for inducing reference oscillation. The electrostatic attractive force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the drive gimbal frame 102 and the drive electrodes 106. Thus, once the first torsion beams 104 are greatly distorted, the rotational angle of the drive gimbal frame 102 increases and the distance between the drive gimbal frame 102 and one of the drive electrodes 106 decreases. As a result, an electrostatic attractive force exceeds the restoring force of the first torsion beams 104, causing the Pulled-in phenomenon where the drive gimbal frame 102 is attached to one of the drive electrodes 106. Consequently, the displacement amplitude of the rotational oscillation of the drive gimbal frame 102 is limited such that the distance between the drive gimbal frame 102 and the drive electrodes 106 is not more than one third of the gap therebetween for a stable rotational oscillation of the drive gimbal frame 102.
Since the conventional angular rate sensor is constructed as above, the displacement amplitude of the rotational oscillation of the drive gimbal frame 102 is limited for avoiding the Pulled-in phenomenon. As a result, a rate V of the mass center of the inertial mass 101 in the direction parallel to the X axis is limited and the Coriolis force F is thus limited. In other words, there exists a problem that the displacement amplitude of the rotational oscillation of the drive gimbal frame 102 is limited, and hence the sensitivity of the angular rate sensor is limited.
Alternatively, in a case that an angular rate sensor of high sensitivity is designed under the condition that the distance between the drive gimbal frame 102 and the drive electrodes 106 is not more than one third of the gap therebetween, a large gap is required for a large displacement amplitude of the rotational oscillation of the drive gimbal frame 102. However, in this case, since a large electrostatic attractive force is required, larger driving voltages should be applied to the drive electrodes 106 and the facing areas between the drive gimbal frame 102 and the drive electrodes 106 should be larger. This design is impractical.
In addition, there is another problem that the conventional angular rate sensor can detect only a rotational angular rate about one axis.
The present invention is implemented to solve the above problems. An object of the present invention is to provide an angular rate sensor of high sensitivity with a drive frame and a frame to be driven (hereinafter referred to as driven frame) separately provided, in which the driven frame is not directly but indirectly driven through the drive frame.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an angular rate sensor capable of detecting rotational angular rates about a plurality of axes.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an angular rate sensor comprising: an inertial mass; a driven frame surrounding the inertial mass; inertial mass torsion beams connecting the inertial mass with the driven frame to rotatably support the inertial mass at two opposed positions; driven frame torsion beams rotatably supporting the driven frame at two opposed positions; a drive frame surrounding a half circumference of the driven frame referenced to a line extended from torsion axes of the driven frame torsion beams; driving force generation means for giving a driving force to cause a bending oscillation of the drive frame in an out-of-plane direction; link beams connecting the driven frame with the drive frame; and detection means for detecting a displacement amplitude of a rotational oscillation of the inertial mass.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an angular rate sensor comprising: an inertial mass; a driven frame surrounding the inertial mass; inertial mass torsion beams connecting the inertial mass with the driven frame to rotatably support the inertial mass at two opposed positions; driven frame torsion beams rotatably supporting the driven frame at two opposed positions; a drive frame surrounding a half circumference of the driven frame referenced to a line extended from torsion axes of the driven frame torsion beams to support the driven frame torsion beams; driving force generation means for giving a driving force to cause a bending oscillation of the drive frame in an out-of-plane direction; and detection means for detecting a displacement amplitude of a rotational oscillation of the inertial mass; wherein a center of gravity of the driven frame is shifted from a line extended from torsion axes of the driven frame torsion beams, viewed from the direction perpendicular to top and bottom surfaces of the driven frame.
Here, the angular rate sensor may further comprise monitor means for monitoring a displacement amplitude of a rotational oscillation of the driven frame.
A mass center of the inertial mass may be positioned on a line extended from torsion axes of the driven frame torsion beams or shifted from the line, viewed from the direction perpendicular to top and bottom surfaces of the driven frame. The driven frame rotationally oscillates about the torsion axes of the driven frame torsion beams or another axis as a rotational axis. It often rotationally oscillates about an axis between the torsion axes of the driven frame torsion beams and longitudinal axes of the link beams.
A mass center of the inertial mass may be positioned on a line extended from torsion axes of the driven frame torsion beams, viewed from the direction perpendicular to top and bottom surfaces of the driven frame; and positioned above the top surface of the driven frame or below the bottom surface thereof, viewed from the direction parallel to the top and bottom surfaces thereof: and torsion axes of the inertial mass torsion beams may be perpendicular to the torsion axes of the driven frame torsion beams.
A mass center of the inertial mass may be shifted from a line extended from torsion axes of the driven frame torsion beams, viewed from the direction perpendicular to top and bottom surfaces of the driven frame; and positioned above the top surface of the driven frame or below the bottom surface thereof, viewed from the direction parallel to the top and bottom surfaces thereof: and torsion axes of the inertial mass torsion beams may be perpendicular to the torsion axes of the driven frame torsion beams.
A mass center of the inertial mass may be shifted from a line extended from torsion axes of the driven frame torsion beams, viewed from the direction perpendicular to top and bottom surfaces of the driven frame; and positioned above the top surface of the driven frame or below the bottom surface thereof, viewed from the direction parallel to the top and bottom surfaces thereof: and torsion axes of the inertial mass torsion beams may be parallel to the torsion axes of the driven frame torsion beams.
The link beams may be connected to the driven frame near the driven frame torsion beams.
The inertial mass and the inertial mass torsion beams may be at least two of; a first inertial mass whose mass center is positioned on a line extended from torsion axes of the driven frame torsion beams, viewed from the direction perpendicular to top and bottom surfaces of the driven frame, and positioned above the top surface of the driven frame or below the bottom surface thereof, viewed from the direction parallel to the top and bottom surfaces of the driven frame; and first inertial mass torsion beams connecting the first inertial mass with the driven frame, torsion axes of the first inertial mass torsion beams being perpendicular to the torsion axes of the driven frame torsion beams; a second inertial mass whose mass center is shifted from a line extended from torsion axes of the driven frame torsion beams, viewed from the direction perpendicular to top and bottom surfaces of the driven frame, and positioned above the top surface of the driven frame or below the bottom surface thereof, viewed from the direction parallel to the top and bottom surfaces of the driven frame; and second inertial mass torsion beams connecting the second inertial mass with the driven frame, torsion axes of the second inertial mass torsion beams being perpendicular to the torsion axes of the driven frame torsion beams; and a third inertial mass whose mass center is shifted from a line extended from torsion axes of the driven frame torsion beams, viewed from the direction perpendicular to top and bottom surfaces of the driven frame, and positioned above the top surface of the driven frame or below the bottom surface thereof, viewed from the direction parallel to the top and bottom surfaces of the driven frame; and third inertial mass torsion beams connecting the third inertial mass with the driven frame, torsion axes of the third inertial mass torsion beams being parallel to the torsion axes of the driven frame torsion beams: and the angular rate sensor may comprise at least two rotational angular rate detection parts of; a first rotational angular rate detection part having the first inertial mass and the first inertial mass torsion beams; a second rotational angular rate detection part having the second inertial mass and the second inertial mass torsion beams; and a third rotational angular rate detection part having the third inertial mass and the third inertial mass torsion beams.
The inertial mass may be first and second inertial masses whose mass centers are symmetrically placed about a line extended from torsion axes of the driven frame torsion beams, viewed from the direction perpendicular to top and bottom surfaces of the driven frame, and positioned above the top surface of the driven frame or below the bottom surface thereof, viewed from the direction parallel to the top and bottom surfaces of the driven frame; and the inertial mass torsion beams may be first inertial mass torsion beams connecting the first inertial mass with the driven frame and second inertial mass torsion beams connecting the second inertial mass with the driven frame, torsion axes of the first and second inertial mass torsion beams being parallel to each other.
The drive frame may be a first drive frame surrounding a half circumference of the driven frame referenced to a line extended from torsion axes of the driven frame torsion beams and a second drive frame surrounding the other half circumference of the driven frame.
The driving force generation means may comprise a piezoelectric element provided on the drive frame, an electrode provided below the drive frame or a piezoresistor formed in the drive frame.
The detection means may comprise piezoresistors formed in the inertial mass torsion beams or an electrode provided below the driven frame.
The monitor means may comprise a piezoelectric element provided on the drive frame, an electrode below the drive frame or piezoresistors formed in the driven frame torsion beams.
As stated above, according to an aspect of the present invention, an angular rate sensor is constructed to comprise: an inertial mass; a driven frame surrounding the inertial mass; inertial mass torsion beams connecting the inertial mass with the driven frame to rotatably support the inertial mass at two opposed positions; driven frame torsion beams rotatably supporting the driven frame at two opposed positions; a drive frame surrounding a half circumference of the driven frame referenced to a line extended from torsion axes of the driven frame torsion beams; driving force generation means for giving a driving force to cause a bending oscillation of the drive frame in an out-of-plane direction; link beams connecting the driven frame with the drive frame; and detection means for detecting a displacement amplitude of a rotational oscillation of the inertial mass. Consequently, there can be advantageously provided the angular rate sensor whose sensitivity is high, since the displacement amplitude of the rotational oscillation of the driven frame is not limited.
According to an aspect of the present invention, an angular rate sensor is constructed to comprise: an inertial mass; a driven frame surrounding the inertial mass; inertial mass torsion beams connecting the inertial mass with the driven frame to rotatably support the inertial mass at two opposed positions; driven frame torsion beams rotatably supporting the driven frame at two opposed positions; a drive frame surrounding a half circumference of the driven frame referenced to a line extended from torsion axes of the driven frame torsion beams to support the driven frame torsion beams; driving force generation means for giving a driving force to cause a bending oscillation of the drive frame in an out-of-plane direction; and detection means for detecting a displacement amplitude of a rotational oscillation of the inertial mass; wherein a center of gravity of the driven frame is shifted from a line extended from torsion axes of the driven frame torsion beams, viewed from the direction perpendicular to top and bottom surfaces of the driven frame. Consequently, there can be advantageously provided the angular rate sensor where the driven frame can rotationally oscillates in simple construction, since when the bending oscillation of the drive frame is transmitted to the entire driven frame through the driven frame torsion beams, a drive inertial force acts on the driven frame to cause the rotational oscillation of the driven frame about the torsion axes of the driven frame torsion beams as a rotational axis.
According to an aspect of the present invention, an angular rate sensor is constructed to further comprise monitor means for monitoring a displacement amplitude of a rotational oscillation of the driven frame. Consequently, there can be advantageously provided the angular rate sensor where the displacement amplitude of the rotational oscillation of the driven frame can be maintained constant by maintaining the output voltage from the monitor piezoelectric element constant.
According to an aspect of the present invention, an angular rate sensor is constructed such that the link beams are connected to the driven frame near the driven frame torsion beams. Consequently, there can be advantageously provided the angular rate sensor which can be driven at a low voltage, since even if the displacement amplitude of the bending oscillation of the drive frame is small, the displacement amplitude of the rotational oscillation of the driven frame is large.
According to an aspect of the present invention, an angular rate sensor is constructed such that the inertial mass and the inertial mass torsion beams are at least two of; a first inertial mass whose mass center is positioned on a line extended from torsion axes of the driven frame torsion beams, viewed from the direction perpendicular to top and bottom surfaces of the driven frame, and positioned above the top surface of the driven frame or below the bottom surface thereof, viewed from the direction parallel to the top and bottom surfaces of the driven frame; and first inertial mass torsion beams connecting the first inertial mass with the driven frame, torsion axes of the first inertial mass torsion beams being perpendicular to the torsion axes of the driven frame torsion beams; a second inertial mass whose mass center is shifted from a line extended from torsion axes of the driven frame torsion beams, viewed from the direction perpendicular to top and bottom surfaces of the driven frame, and positioned above the top surface of the driven frame or below the bottom surface thereof, viewed from the direction parallel to the top and bottom surfaces of the driven frame; and second inertial mass torsion beams connecting the second inertial mass with the driven frame, torsion axes of the second inertial mass torsion beams being perpendicular to the torsion axes of the driven frame torsion beams; and a third inertial mass whose mass center is shifted from a line extended from torsion axes of the driven frame torsion beams, viewed from the direction perpendicular to top and bottom surfaces of the driven frame, and positioned above the top surface of the driven frame or below the bottom surface thereof, viewed from the direction parallel to the top and bottom surfaces of the driven frame; and third inertial mass torsion beams connecting the third inertial mass with the driven frame, torsion axes of the third inertial mass torsion beams being parallel to the torsion axes of the driven frame torsion beams: and the angular rate sensor comprises at least two rotational angular rate detection parts of; a first rotational angular rate detection part having the first inertial mass and the first inertial mass torsion beams; a second rotational angular rate detection part having the second inertial mass and the second inertial mass torsion beams; and a third rotational angular rate detection part having the third inertial mass and the third inertial mass torsion beams. Consequently, there can be advantageously provided the angular rate sensor capable of detecting rotational angular rate about two or more axes.
According to an aspect of the present invention, an angular rate sensor is constructed such that the inertial mass is first and second inertial masses whose mass centers are symmetrically placed about a line extended from torsion axes of the driven frame torsion beams, viewed from the direction perpendicular to top and bottom surfaces of the driven frame, and positioned above the top surface of the driven frame or below the bottom surface thereof, viewed from the direction parallel to the top and bottom surfaces of the driven frame; and the inertial mass torsion beams are first inertial mass torsion beams connecting the first inertial mass with the driven frame and second inertial mass torsion beams connecting the second inertial mass with the driven frame, torsion axes of the first and second inertial mass torsion beams being parallel to each other. Consequently, there can be advantageously provided the angular rate sensor which can detect an angular rate with high sensitivity, since in a state that the driven frame rotationally oscillates, when the entire angular rate sensor rotates about an axis parallel to the torsion axes of the first and second inertial mass torsion beams, the first and second inertial masses rotationally oscillate in phases different from each other by 180 degrees.
According to an aspect of the present invention, an angular rate sensor is constructed such that the drive frame is a first drive frame surrounding a half circumference of the driven frame referenced to a line extended from torsion axes of the driven frame torsion beams and a second drive frame surrounding the other half circumference of the driven frame. Consequently, there can be advantageously provided the angular rate sensor which can detect an angular rate with high accuracy, since the driven frame stably rotationally oscillates.
According to an aspect of the present invention, an angular rate sensor is constructed such that the driving force generation means comprises a piezoelectric element provided on the drive frame. Consequently, there can be advantageously provided the angular rate sensor which can be driven at a low voltage, since a driving force can be supplied to the drive frame at a low voltage to cause a bending oscillation of the drive frame.


A method is disclosed including immersing electrodes disposed on a distal end of an electrosurgical wand, the immersing in a cavity defined within walls of a first material, the cavity comprising a conductive fluid different than the first material, and the electrodes comprising a first electrode and a second electrode. The method further includes applying a voltage across the first electrode and the second electrode, the first and second electrode spaced apart on the distal end of the wand such that the conductive fluid resides between the first and second electrodes. The method further includes measuring an impedance of the conductive fluid between the first and second electrodes; and determining temperature of the conductive fluid based on the measured impedance. The method further includes forming plasma proximate to an active electrode distinct from the first and second electrode, the plasma created based on voltage applied to the active electrode.

Electrosurgical systems are used by physicians to perform specific functions during surgical procedures. Particular electrosurgical procedures may remove several different tissue types. For example, procedures involving the knee or shoulder may remove portions of cartilage, meniscus, and free floating and/or trapped tissue. During particular electrosurgical procedures, for example, arthroscopic joint surgery, when a radio frequency (RF) ablation or coagulation probe is used, the saline fluid in the joint can be heated by the RF probe. High saline temperatures can damage living tissue.
Any advance that achieves effective results without damaging living tissue, would provide a competitive advantage.

Temperature measurement of electrically conductive fluids


A method of processing service information relating to a plurality of user services available in a telecommunications system is disclosed. The method includes storing entities defining service components in a service information database, where each service component entity represents a distinct aspect of service functionality which can be provided by the telecommunications system. Entities defining implementation technologies are also stored, each implementation technology entity being associated with a service component entity and representing a technology that can be used for implementing the aspect of service functionality represented by the service component entity. The method further stores entities defining user services available to users of the telecommunications system, each user service entity being associated with one or more service component entities defining service functionality aspects of the user service.

Modern telecommunications networks provide ever more complex services to end-users (one recent example being mobile video telephony). Correspondingly, the processes involved in provisioning such user services are also rapidly growing in complexity, and often involve complicated setup and configuration processes involving a wide range of networking technologies. From a technical perspective, user services thus represent complex sets of service characteristics, including software and hardware configuration settings and procedures.
Service providers attempt to hide this technical complexity from end-users to some extent, usually by representing specific defined combinations of service characteristics as distinct service offerings. Such service offerings are typically referred to in the art as 'telecommunications products'. Accordingly, the term 'product' will be used herein to refer to a defined combination of service features and characteristics which together specify a service available to users of a telecommunications system.
Though these 'products' do not correspond to products in a conventional sense, they can serve as useful abstractions of the underlying telecommunications functionality and its technical complexity, and can simplify the technical processes involved in provisioning services. However, to achieve this, effective telecommunications product management tools and methodologies are needed.
Existing product management systems for telecommunications services tend to rely on workflow-based approaches, where the product definition is embedded in the service provisioning process, and domain managers (DMs) are invoked directly from various points in the workflow. Though this can work reasonably well where the product-to-technology relationship is close and simple, it does mean that the characteristics of a product are hard to see and hard to maintain. This can result in many thousands of often closely related products being managed, each with attendant launch and maintenance costs, as well as confusion for the end-user and constraints on the ability of the service provider to implement rationalizations. It also often directly ties products to implementing technologies, further adding to the proliferation of very similar products that differ only in being supported by different technologies. Adding new technologies can be a complex, risky and expensive process in these circumstances.
As an example of the increase in complexity of services, telecommunications service providers are beginning to shift their focus from simple connectivity to products that add higher-level functionality to the connection, for example by delivering media content using IT platforms and hosted applications. The connectivity products themselves are also in flux, shifting from voice and data services based on conventional telephone networks to high-speed, high-bandwidth wired and wireless/mobile telephony and data services. New complex telecommunications products combining multiple telecommunications services are being devised. The need to manage migration from legacy to next-generation technologies also adds complexity to the maintenance and management of telecommunications products
The present invention seeks to alleviate some of these problems.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method, system and apparatus for telecommunications service management


An ironing board cover includes a plurality of sheets, the first of which extends over the surface and periphery of the ironing board table and the second of which extends underneath the table. The second sheet is elastic (suitably made of synthetic materials such as those used in wetsuits, where the material is homogeneous in its resilience in all directions) and thereby provides a tensioning force on the sheet to keep the cover taut over the ironing board table. The second sheet may be additionally secured under the table or may extend wholly underneath the table with appropriate openings for the legs of the ironing board to not only extend therethrough but be foldable to a storage position.

The present invention relates to an ironing board cover and in particular to an ironing board cover including a tensioning means to assist in keeping the cover taut over an ironing board.
Domestic ironing boards generally include an ironing table mounted on a pair of pivoting legs that adjust the height of the table. The ironing table also includes a pad to assist in dissipating the heat from an iron, the pad itself covered by a suitable material cover. This cover usually not only extends over the surface of the table but also extends around the periphery of the table. A drawstring or an elastic binding is known to be used around the periphery to assist in keeping the cover in place. The problem with these is that they are not very effective in keeping the cover taut across the table especially in the longitudinal direction. Through use the cover generally moves or rotates requiring continuos adjustment.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an ironing board cover which overcomes some of the abovementioned problems or at least provides the public with a useful alternative.
Therefore, in one form of the invention though this need not be the only or indeed the broadest form there is proposed an ironing board cover for an ironing board having an ironing table, said cover including;
a first sheet adapted to extend over said ironing table; and
a second elastic sheet secured to said first sheet adapted to extend at least partially under said ironing table to provide tension to the first sheet across said ironing surface.
Preferably said second sheet is secured to the periphery of said first sheet.
Preferably said second sheet is adapted to extend substantially underneath said table.
Preferably said second sheet includes a slit or placket to enable the cover to be fitted over legs supporting said table.
Preferably said slit is closable slit by the use of a fastener means.
Preferably said fastener is a zipper.
Preferably said second sheet extends substantially underneath said table.
In a further form of the invention there is proposed an ironing board cover for covering an ironing table, said cover including a substantially elastic sheet adapted to extend at least partially under said table to thereby provide a tension effect for the portion of the cover extending over said table.
Preferably said second sheet extends substantially underneath said table.
Preferably said second sheet further includes a plurality of apertures adapted to allow for the legs of the ironing board to extend therethrough.
In a still further form of the invention there is proposed an ironing board cover for an ironing board having an ironing table, said cover extending over the surface of said table and at least partially underneath said table, said cover including a plurality of sheets secured together, at least some of said sheets being elastic, and wherein said sheets are secured to each other in an arrangement so as to maintain lateral separation of each elastic sheet.


Disclosed herein is an analyte sensing biointerface that comprises a sensing electrode incorporated within a non-conductive matrix comprising a plurality of passageways extending through the matrix to the sensing electrode. Also disclosed herein are methods of manufacturing a sensing biointerface and methods of detecting an analyte within tissue of a host using an analyte sensing biointerface.

Biosensors are devices that can be used to detect the presence or amount of analytes, such as biomolecules, in a biological sample. Some biosensors are designed to detect analytes in a living host. Such detection can advantageously be done through the use of implantable biosensors, which are implanted intravascularly or within tissue to detect the presence or amount of analyte at the implantation location. One practical application of implantable biosensors is implantable glucose sensors that continuously monitor a patient's blood glucose level.
One type of implantable glucose sensor utilizes glucose oxidase that catalyzes the reaction between glucose and oxygen to produce gluconic acid and hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogen peroxide can be detected by measuring the electrochemical oxidation of the hydrogen peroxide at an appropriate electrode, such as a platinum electrode. The current generated by this oxidation can be related to the amount of hydrogen peroxide in the vicinity of the electrode, and hence, the amount of glucose in the vicinity of the sensor. In some glucose sensors, the electrode is coated with an analyte membrane system. The analyte membrane system may contain the glucose oxidase enzyme as well as one or more polymeric membranes that control the diffusion of glucose or block or limit certain undesired species from reaching the electrode, such as is described further in U.S. application Ser. No. 10/153,356, filed on May 22, 2002, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
One difficulty encountered with implantable biosensors, such as implantable glucose sensors, is that many of these devices tend to lose their function with time after implantation. While not being bound by any particular theory, this decrease in function can at least partially be attributed to the host's foreign body response (FBR) to the implant. Typical FBR response to an implantable biosensor is illustrated in FIG. 1. FBR is a local inflammatory response that results in the formation of a barrier cell layer 40 around the surface of the implant 47. This layer generally consists of macrophages and foreign body giant cells 41. An intermediate layer 42, consisting of fibroblasts 43 and a fibrous matrix 44, typically form over the barrier cell layer 40. Finally, an outer layer 46 consisting of loose connective granular tissue and new blood vessels 45 forms over the intermediate layer. The barrier cell layer 40 can have the adverse effect of blocking transport of the analyte to the analyte sensor 47. Furthermore, lack of vascularization in the intermediate 42 and barrier cell 40 layers decreases analyte availability to the sensor. Thus, once the FBR acts to induce the above-described tissue growth around the implanted biosensor, sensing ability decreases.


A method for providing a customizable chat window for a webpage is disclosed. The method comprises: receiving a user-specific component customized by a first user that identifies user-selected customizations for a chat message user interface (UI) of the first user; providing a snippet of code from a host chat application to a computing device associated with the first user to add to the webpage of the first user wherein activation of the snippet of code at the webpage of the first user causes the host chat application to be bootstrapped and causes the chat message UI of the first user to be loaded with the user-selected customizations; providing second code for rendering the chat message UI of the first user along with the user-selected customizations for the chat message UI, over a network, to a computing device associated with a second user; and modifying an actual chat message that is communicated using the chat message UI by applying the user-selected customizations to the chat message.

Chat messaging systems have been provided by service providers for use with a customer's website to allow the customer to connect with its customers via on-demand live chat sessions. Chat messaging systems can be used for providing sales support, technical support, or other types of customer support. Service providers for chat messaging systems are limited in the amount of customization they can provide for customizing the chat messaging user interface.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide systems and methods for providing a customizable chat experience for a webpage provider. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present disclosure will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the background.

System and method for dynamic chat message customization