A directional hopper tee has a fluted interior vertical pipe that merges into a horizontal pipe. The horizontal pipe has an inlet that may receive bulk material, and subject to pressurized air that conveys the bulk material through the hopper tee. Bulk material may be discharged from a hopper through the vertical pipe, for conveyance for discharge from the horizontal pipe of the tee. A closure gate or door is provided through the bottom of the tee, generally in alignment with the vertical pipe, to allow for discharge or dropping of the granular material directly downwardly through and from the tee. The arcuate door is hinged on one side, and is locked by a cam lock on the opposite side, when located into closure against the bottom of the tee, but can be forced opened, through its cam mechanism, to provide for opening of the arcuate door and allow a direct downward discharge of the granular bulk material, from any hopper, and through the drop opening of the tee, as required.

This invention relates generally to hopper tees, as used in bulk material handling, and more specifically pertains to a hopper tee which has an arcuate opening through its bottom, to facilitate unloading, but at the same time, incorporates an arcuate closure means that furnishes a cover for the opening and provides uniformity of even the interior dimensions for the formed tee, so as not to encumber the flow of granular material therethrough, when the tee is used for conveying such material to another location.
Hoppers, or tank trailers, regularly transport bulk commodities such as industrial and food products; and even such abrasive materials as sand, or other pelletized materials. When the hopper, or tank trailer, reaches its destination, the bulk commodity is unloaded, typically by a power takeoff driven from the truck mounted blower or a pneumatic system of a plant or factory. The bulk commodity generally unloads from the hopper, into a pipeline, for delivery. Or, the bulk material may pass from the hopper, directly into a tee, and the tee may incorporate an opened bottom, to allow the granular material to discharge directly therefrom. Usually, such hopper tees conventionally have a vertical section of constant dimension, and an integral shape of a horizontal section also of constant dimensions, for forming the inverted tee shaped configuration. To transfer the bulk commodity, the material moves out of the hopper, or bin, or out of the railroad car, by gravity flow or air pressure vibration induced flow, into the vertical section of the hopper tee. The discharge pipe is connected to the horizontal section of the tee. As noted, the prior art hopper tees usually have a complete, one piece assembly that includes a vertical section, including connecting to a hopper, and a horizontal section, connecting to a discharge pipe. The prior art hopper tee designs fit on the bottom of the bins of the pneumatic tank trailers, railroad cars, or the like. Typically, there may be a butterfly valve that connects on the flange of the hopper tee, to the bottom of the bin, which can be opened or closed during discharge. Although, prior art hopper tees function well for their intended purposes, some tees are structured where the granular material being unloaded will impinge upon specific surfaces of the tee, under pressure, or become embedded within parts of the tee itself, which has a tendency to cause abrasion, if not eventual wear through the tees at these active locations of the tee structure. Furthermore, where the butterfly valve is involved, there frequently is caused an impingement and embedding of the granular material within the structural components of the valve, the tee, the conveying line, and all of these can lead towards a contamination of subsequent loads, when another material is shipped by way of the bulk transfer vehicle.
Hoppers, or tank trailers, regularly transport bulk commodities such as industrial and food products. When the hopper, or tank trailer, reaches its destination, the bulk commodity is unloaded, typically by a power take off driven of the tank trailer mounted blower or a pneumatic system of a another source. The bulk commodity generally unloads from the hopper and into a pipeline. To complete the unloading, hopper tees are mounted to the discharge outlet of the hoppers, or bins. The hopper tee conventionally has a vertical section of constant dimension and shape of a similar horizontal section also of constant dimension and shape forming the inverted T shape configuration. To transfer the bulk commodity, the material is moved out of the hopper, or bin, by gravity flow or air pressure vibration into the vertical section of the hopper tee. The clean discharge pipe is connected to the horizontal section of the tee. Pneumatic conveyance of the bulk material through the pipe occurs by establishing a pressure differential in the pipe.
The prior art hopper tee designs fit on the bottom of the bins of pneumatic tank trailers. Typically, the valve of a bin bolts to the flange of the hopper tee. Although prior art hopper tees function well for their intended purposes, some hopper tees lack proper ground clearance for long trailers. Ground clearance has afflicted the tank trailer trucking industry for years. For example, as the hopper tee mounts under the tank, ground clearance problems arise when a long trailer, such as a tank trailer, crosses railroad tracks or other uneven surfaces. The longer the trailer, the easier a hopper tee becomes stuck upon a railroad rail, berm, or other short height surface condition. A stuck trailer delays delivery of product to its destination, risks delay penalties to the trucking company, and increases recovery and repair costs of the tank trailers.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) and state highway departments have established heights, widths and lengths the tank trailers must meet. When the hauler transports light density products, such as plastic pellets, the hauler requires a larger cubic foot capacity, or volume, to haul a maximum payload and make hauling such products economically feasible. To increase the cubic foot capacity and remain within DOT height, width and length standards, the prior art and industry have dropped the bottom of the hopper. However, the bottom of the hopper requires angled walls (due to the angle of repose of the bulk material) that funnel down to the hopper tee to allow for emptying of bulk granular material. For most dry bulk products the angle of repose is approximately 45 degrees to the horizontal to obtain the maximum tank volume, in cubic feet, while remaining within the mandated dimensions.

Hopper tee with comformable arcuate closure member


Sharing an instant messaging environment is described. The instant messaging environment is selected from a set of stored instant messaging environments. An instant messaging environment identifier corresponding to the selected instant messaging environment is transmitted from a transmitting instant messaging application to a receiving instant messenger application. The instant messaging environment identifier is received and the stored instant messaging environment corresponding to the instant messaging environment identifier is retrieved. The instant messaging environment is activated in the receiving instant messaging application.

Instant messaging has become one of the most popular applications on the Internet. Instant messaging programs generally allow users to send and receive messages. The messages are generated and displayed by an instant messaging client on each end and an instant messaging server may perform various functions to facilitate the transfer of messages.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an instant messaging system operating over the Internet. An instant messaging client creates an instant messaging window 102 on a computer that generally includes a history window 104 containing messages that have been exchanged in the past, and a new text window 106 for new messages. In addition, the instant messaging client may display various menus and buttons that activate common instant messaging functions such as changing font, ringing another user, inserting symbols, etc. The instant messaging window also generally includes a space where the sender and the recipient of the message are identified.
A message server 112 is also connected to the Internet. In various instant messaging systems, the message server may perform different functions such as receiving messages and transferring them, replacing certain text with symbols, or otherwise modifying or relaying messages. A second instant messenger client also creates an instant messaging window 122 that also includes a history window and a new text window. Instant messaging window 122 displays a message sent from instant messaging window 102 via message server 112. It should be noted that the client software that runs on the instant messenger clients and the server software that runs on the instant messenger server may be referred to collectively or separately herein as an instant messenger application.
Each instant messenger client provides various user interface commands that allow a user to interact with the instant messenger window in various ways, and, to some extent, configure the window to the user's taste. For example, the user may select a color for the history window from among various colors available to the user. In this manner, the user configures his own instant messenger window to have a desired appearance. In addition, a user may turn certain features such as ringing, on or off.
The instant messaging client may also be configured to react to certain content received as a message by running a routine or performing some function. For example, when a ring is received, the instant messaging application may be configured to react to the ring by playing a sound, shaking, or executing some other action. The instant messaging application may also be configured not to respond to such a ring. Also, the instant messaging application may be configured to insert an image or play a sound when certain text is included in a message. Thus, a user is generally able to exercise a certain amount of control over the appearance and operation of his own instant messaging application. However, users are generally unable to affect the environment or state of another user's instant messaging window.
Thus, users are able to send messages and configure their own instant messaging applications to perform certain actions based on message content. However, users are generally unable to configure other user's instant messaging windows to react to messages and provide other functions or displays based on a selected messaging environment. It would be useful if a reliable, secure system and method could be provided for instant messaging users to create or select instant messaging environments and share those environments among themselves.

Sharing and implementing instant messaging environments


Various embodiments of the invention comprise methods and systems for determining when or whether to use hard rules or preferred rules during global routing of an electronic design. In some embodiments, the entire routable space is first routed with hard rules during global routing while ensuring the design may be embedded. The design is then analyzed with preferred rules where the overcongested areas are marked as “use hard rule” and areas not overcongested are marked as “use preferred rule.” The methods or the systems thus ensure that the design remains routable throughout the process while improving timing, manufacturability, or yield by reserving routing space for the preferred rules.

In electronic designs, placement determines the locations of each active element of an IC, and routing is the process of creating all the wires needed to properly connect all the placed components, while obeying the design rules of the process. The task of all routers is the same—routers are given some pre-existing polygons consisting of pins on cells and optionally some pre-routes from the placers to create geometries so that all pins assigned to different nets are connected by wires and vias, that all wires and vias assigned to different nets do not overlap, and that all design rules are obeyed. That is, a router fails when two pins on the same net that should be connected are open, when two pins on two different nets that should remain open are shorted, or when some design rules are violated during routing.
One of the early routing algorithms is the Lee algorithm, which is also commonly called the maze routing algorithm. The Lee algorithm is known to find a route if one exists. Nonetheless, the Lee algorithm is also known to be slow and memory intensive. As such, the application of Lee algorithm to electronic designs over a certain size is oftentimes impractical. One widely adopted solution for the impracticality of the Lee algorithm is the introduction of a two-level global routing, which decides the rough route for each net, followed by detailed routing. As global routing is performed on coarse grids to determine an approximate route for each wire, it is much faster than pure maze routing under the Lee algorithm. In addition to determining the rough route for each net, the objectives of global routing are typically to minimize the routing congestion and the total wirelength. After the global routing is complete, each area defined by each grid is then detailed routed.
Additionally, global routing is much faster than detailed routing and also gives good indication of the difficulty of the detailed routing problem by producing congestion maps. The degree of congestion of a g-cell may be expressed as a ratio of the routing demand to the routing capacity. It should be noted that a g-cell is also called as a global routing cell and constitutes a routing area defined by a coarse routing grid. Where there are only a few overcongested g-cells, the detailed routing may still complete by using techniques such as detours through neighboring squares or wrong-way routing which avoids the capacity limits. If there is a large number of overcongested g-cells the detailed routing may fail. Many global routers today are based upon an initial route of all nets followed by a rip-up and re-route procedure which attempts to reduce the congestion by re-routing segments of nets on overloaded edges.
Recent development in global routing adopts the methodology that, during global routing, all wires are mapped onto a coarse grid comprising larger g-cells subject to certain capacity constraints. The usual medium of communication between the IC design engineers and the foundry is through a set of design rules. These rules in the presence of RET and other manufacturing constraints have become overly restrictive. Currently, most of the design rules are hard and "digital" constraints with a few exceptions such as the timing rules; that is, these design rules must be either obeyed or violated. The design engineers are thus given a set of these design rules to comply with in devising the physical design. The foundry then evaluates how many of these design rules are violated in a particular design and returns an estimated yield based on the degree of compliance with the entire set of design rules. Moreover, since the design rules are oblivious of the design requirements or the design intent of any particular electronic circuit designs, non-selective adoption of all of the design rules are usually overly pessimistic. The prior solutions to these hard design rules have focused on the detailed routers.
Chip designers use both hard and preferred design rules. A hard rule is one that must be obeyed; a preferred rule is one that improves factors such as timing, manufacturability, or yield, but it need not be strictly obeyed. Typically, a preferred rule asks a router to make more space for wires and vias than the hard rule would. It may be impossible to route a chip using only the preferred rule because of the extra area involved. The router must decide when to honor the hard rule and when to use the preferred rule.
The design rules may be categorized into two types. The first type is called hard rules which are the design rules that must be obeyed for the IC design. The second type is called soft rules or preferred rules which improve one or more factors such as timing, manufacturability, or yield but are not required to be always met. These design rules are usually imposed by the IC fabrication processes or by performance optimization techniques. The preferred rules typically ask a router to make more space for wires and vias than the hard rules do. Nonetheless, such requests for more space for wires may render routing impossible at times because of the extra space requested. One common problem which a router faces is when both the hard rules and the preferred rules are present. Prior routing algorithms require the router to determine when to honor the hard rules and when to use the preferred rules. One prior approach is to handle the issues during detailed routing only which involves techniques such as rip-up and reroute. Another prior approach is to proceed through detailed routing and then mark certain regions as "use hard rule" based on detailed routing violations. This latter approach has oftentimes been conducted manually. The shortcoming of waiting until detailed routing is that adequate routable space is not reserved early in the process so opportunities to apply the preferred rules may be lost.
On the other hand, these increasingly complex design rules impact detailed routing, and the loss in design tool quality and productivity have resulted in increased project uncertainty and manufacturing non-recurring engineering costs (NRE costs). As the global router generally guides the detailed router and as the integrated circuit designs have become more intricate, design rules imposed by the processing or manufacturing techniques and performance optimization techniques govern the spacing and sizing of the wires. As a result, global routing has grown increasingly more complex as the integrated circuit designs and the manufacturing processes advance. For example, the representation of g-cells by simple squares with capacities have been, in many cases, replaced by representations with capacities per layer and per direction, and via capacity per layer pair.
As another example, in deep sub-micron regime, resolution enhancement techniques (RET) such as OPC (optical proximity correction) and PSM (phase shift mask) may also make routing more complicated as OPC and RET may create additional design rule violations as more wires will become fat wires. More specifically, routers are generally to observe OPC rules, especially on lower metal layers where terminals reside; this is especially important as routers may combine polygons to connect wires to pins. Also, OPC rules may produce more wiring and hence causes spacing and congestion problems. Furthermore, in incorporating the PSM technologies, phase assignment by router may also cause spacing as well as width issues. In addition, off-axis illumination (OAI) rules may produce more wiring and hence causes more spacing and congestion problems. All these RET technologies present more challenges to the global routers.
In the sub-wavelength regime, 193 nm lithography is still used in 130 nm or even 65 nm features. RET is thus significantly extended to fabricate devices with dimensions of 90 nm or less. OAI typically directs light at the photomask only at certain angles to enhance resolution of dense pitches and small features. OPC makes small alterations to the features to reduce variations in the printed features. PSM creates phase difference to enhance resolution. However, these RET techniques also cause negative impact on routing. For example, a pure-router based solution to meet the antenna rule is to limit the amount of metal connected to gate. This, however, creates more wiring, vias, and thus congestion. Another example is the design rules which make minimum line spacing a function of both the wire width and length. A wider wire will influence the spacing rule within its surroundings; and two parallel wires within certain spacing will be treated as one fat wire. This halation effect results in jogs in wiring and thus inevitably creates congestion.
In addition to the RET or lithography technologies, metal density control further contributes to the complexity of the global routing algorithm. If the global router can accommodate the metal density control rules the overall design may thus produce better estimates of parasitics.
One existing approach is to handle the issue of how to determining whether to use hard rules or soft rules during detailed routing only. This approach involves, however, laborious and often manual efforts and lacks accuracy in terms of design rule marking which inevitably causes wastes of computational resource at the routing stage. That is, some elements of human strategy and scrutiny must be applied to examine the detailed routing violations to mark the region rule. Another drawback of this approach is that adequate routing space is not reserved early in the routing process, and thus opportunities to apply the preferred rule may be lost as a result.
Another existing approach is to proceed through detailed routing and then mark certain regions as "use hard rule" based on detail routing violations. These regions are marked using a spacing checker. This drawback of this latter approach is, again, the inevitable waste of computational resource as it proceeds through the detailed routing before each region is appropriately marked. Also, the spacing checker takes time and may mark routing violations that could have been avoided if the router attempted to adhere to the preferred rule. In addition, another issue which negatively impacts the applicability of this latter approach is that most routers do not honor such a region rule.
As such, there exists a need for a method and system to determine, during global routing and before detailed routing, when to use a hard rule and when to use a preferred rule when both the hard and soft rules are present in the integrated circuit design. Various embodiments of the present invention addresses this issue.

Method and system for determining hard and preferred rules in global routing of electronic designs


A door system includes a controller for controlling the door system. A user computer system transmits information to the controller over a wireless connection to modify operating parameters for controlling the operation of the door system. During installation of the door system sensors may be utilized to determine if the door system has been installed properly. The sensors may be used to identify if the door system is mounted level and plum, and to review the movement, vibration, speed, acceleration, force, or the like of the sensors, and thus, the components to which the sensors are operatively coupled in order to make adjustments to the door assembly. Furthermore, the operating parameters of the installed door system, may be cloned and provided to other door systems in order to quickly clone and distribute the operating parameters of one or more door systems to one or more other door systems.

Door systems may include door operators, door closers, or other like systems that control or aids in the operation of opening and/or closing a door. A door operator is a device that is able to open and/or close a door or other barrier, or that aids in opening and/or closing a door or other barrier. Door operators typically include a motor that is connected to a door via a linkage to control motion of the door. Door operators come in a variety of styles and configurations. Alternatively, door closers may only be used to close a door or aid in closing a door. Door closers may have may also have motors, springs, or other features for closing a door. In existing door systems, the doors are installed, the operating parameters are set in order to meet operating requirements set by governmental authorities, standards bodies, entities that purchased the door systems, or the like. While the operating parameters may be set by the installer after installation, it is difficult for installers to determine that the door system is meeting the installation and/or operating requirements.

Door system with improved installation, set-up, and cloning

ASSA ABLOY Accessories and Door Controls Group, Inc.


An optical transmitter and receiver module which can enhance a coupling comprises a light source emitting the first light, a light-receiving section receiving the second light, a diffraction device changing the direction of travel of at least one of the first light and the second light, a first lens which condenses the first light, outgoing from the light source and entering through the medium of the diffraction device, onto a light input/output face of the optical fiber and condenses the second light outgoing from the optical fiber onto the light-receiving section through the medium of the diffraction device, and a second lens which inhibits a beam of the first light outgoing from the light source from diverging and allows it to enter the first lens through the medium of the diffraction device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention mainly relates to an optical transmitter and receiver module used for optical communication.
2. Description of the Background Art
In terminal equipment of an optical access line, referred to as FTTH (Fiber To The Home), used in households, there are used optical transmitter and receiver modules which conduct bi-directional transmission with a single fiber. As an example of a conventional optical transmitter and receiver module, for example in FIG. 1 in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publications No. 7-261054, there is shown an example (a first conventional example) in which a module accommodating a laser diode and a photodiode in the same package is used.
In the example shown in the above Japanese Unexamined Patent Publications No. 7-261054, a lens is located between an aperture of the package in which a laser diode and a photodiode are accommodated and an optical fiber and a cover glass of the aperture of the package is provided with a diffraction grating. In the optical transmitter and receiver module thus constructed, disclosed in the above Japanese Unexamined Patent Publications No. 7-261054, light has outgone from a laser diode passes through the diffraction grating and is condensed into the optical fiber by the lens. On the other hand, in reception, light has outgone from the optical fiber reaches the diffraction grating through the lens. This light is then diffracted at the diffraction grating and condensed at a photodetecting surface of the photodiode.
And, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publications No. 8-15582, there is disclosed a conventional example (a second conventional example), differing from the first conventional example, in which a lens is located in the immediate vicinity of a laser diode to make light from the laser diode a parallel rays of light and a diffraction grating having a lens function allows this parallel rays to enter an optical fiber.
However, in the first conventional example, there is a limit to that the laser diode and the photodiode are located close to each other when considering the sizes of these devices themselves, and it is difficult to cause them to approach each other within a distance of about 0.2 mm. For the purpose of allowing a laser light to enter an optical fiber and allowing light outgoing from the optical fiber to enter a photodiode by retaining a required space between the laser diode and the photodiode, there are a method of increasing a diffraction angle of a diffraction grating (a first method) and a method of lengthening a distance between a diffraction grating and a laser diode (a second method). However, in the first method, the diffraction grating, in which the diffraction angle is increased, decreases in a diffraction efficiency and causes a problem that a coupling efficiency of a laser light for an optical fiber is deteriorated or a photo-electrical conversion efficiency of light outgoing from an optical fiber in a photodiode is deteriorated. And, when a distance between a lens and a laser diode is lengthened like the second method, aberration becomes large and a problem that a coupling efficiency of a laser light for an optical fiber is deteriorated arises.
Further, in the second conventional example, there is a problem that since a diffraction grating has a lens function, it becomes a diffraction grating in the form of a circle band having a short period and therefore a diffraction efficiency is deteriorated.


The present invention relates to a process for the hydrogenation of the carbon-carbon double bonds in diene based polymer latex.

It has been known that carbon-carbon double bonds in polymers may be successfully hydrogenated by treating the polymer in an organic solution with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst. Such processes can be selective in the double bonds which are hydrogenated so that, for example, the double bonds in aromatic or naphthenic groups are not hydrogenated and double or triple bonds between carbon and other atoms such as nitrogen or oxygen are not affected. This field of art contains many examples of catalysts suitable for such hydrogenations, including catalysts based on cobalt, nickel, rhodium, osmium and ruthenium. The suitability of the catalyst depends on the extent of hydrogenation required, the rate of the hydrogenation reaction and the presence or absence of other groups, such as carboxyl and nitrile groups, in the polymers.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,410,657 teaches a method for the selective hydrogenation of the unsaturated double bonds in conjugated diene units of a homopolymer or copolymer in the presence of a homogeneous organotitanium-based catalyst. It demonstrates a high degree of hydrogenation and hydrogenation reproducibility using a catalyst mixture consisting of a substituted or unsubstituted monocyclopentadienyl titanium compound and lithium hydride derived from a reaction of both alkyl lithium and hydrogen in solution.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,020,439 demonstrates a method for hydrogenating living polymers that include mainly conjugated double bond monomers and aromatic vinyl monomers. The polymer made by at least one conjugated diene compound is contacted with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst. The catalyst is formed from a cyclopentadienyl titanium compound. A cocatalyst is provided in the form of alkoxylithium compound. This catalyst system selectively hydrogenates the unsaturated double bonds in the conjugated diene units of the living polymer in solution.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,705,571 provides a process for selective hydrogenation of a conjugated diene polymer. The process includes bringing the conjugated diene polymer in an inert organic solvent into contact with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst combination including a substituted or unsubstituted bis(cyclopentadienyl) Group VIII transition metal compound and an organic lithium compound. It claims that the hydrogenation can be carried out in the presence of a small amount of the hydrogenation catalyst combination under mild conditions, and both the hydrogenation conversion and selectivity to conjugated diene units are high.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,057,581 teaches a selective hydrogenation method of the carbon-carbon double bonds of conjugated diene copolymers in homogeneous solution in an organic solvent in the presence of certain divalent ruthenium carbonyl complex catalysts containing phosphine ligands having bulky alkyl substituents.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,454,644 teaches the hydrogenation in solution of unsaturated organic compounds having from 2 to 20 carbon atoms which organic compounds contain at least one moiety selected from keto, formyl, nitrile, nonaromatic carbon double bonds and carbon-carbon triple bonds, by using as the catalyst a metal complex of ruthenium or osmium bonded to two electro negative species selected from hydrogen and halogen and complexed with at least two organic stabilizing ligands such as carbonyl or tertiary phosphine.
Guo and Rempel in Journal of Molecular Catalysis (v 63, n 3, Dec. 15, 1990, p 279-298; v 72, n 2, Mar. 1, 1992, p 193-208) describe the hydrogenation of poly cis-1,4-polybutadiene and styrene-butadiene copolymer in the presence of RhCl(PPh3)3 in solution under mild reaction conditions. Quantitative hydrogenation of carbon-carbon unsaturation can be achieved without any large scale changes in polymer chain length properties.
Mao, and Rempel in Journal of Molecular Catalysis, A: Chemical, (v 135, n 2, Oct. 14, 1998, p 121-132) teaches hydrogenation of nitrile-butadiene copolymers catalyzed in monochlorobenzene by a series of cationic rhodium complexes [Rh(diene)(L2)]+ (diene =norbornadiene (NBD) and 1,5-cyclooctadiene (COD); L2=(PPh3)2, Ph2P(CH2)nPPh2 (n=2, 3 and 4); Cy2P(CH2)2PCy2).
Charmondusit et al, in Journal of Applied Polymer Science (v 89, n 1, Jul. 5, 2003, p 142-152) describes quantitative homogeneous hydrogenation of cis-1,4-poly-(isoprene) (CPIP) in the presence of OsHCl(CO)(O2)(PCy3)2 as catalyst over the temperature range of 115-140° C. in solution.
Parent, McManus, and Rempel in Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, (v 37, n 11, November 1998, p 4253-4261) describes the selective hydrogenation of olefin within acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymers by homogeneous catalyst precursor, OsHCl(CO)(L)(PCy3)2 (1, L=vacant; 2, L=O2) in solution. Reversible coordination of nitrile to complex 1 not only reduces the hydrogenation rate but creates an unprecedented sensitivity of the process to pressure. Unique to this system is an apparent second-order dependence of the hydrogenation rate on [H2], which diminishes toward zero order as pressures exceed 60 bar.
Parent, McManus, and Rempel, in Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research (v 35, n 12, December 1996, p 4417-4423) describes homogeneous catalyst precursors of the forms RhCl(PPh3)3 and RhH(PPh3)4 for the selective hydrogenation of acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymers in solution. The kinetic results suggest the behavior observed under severe conditions is consistent with that reported for pressures and temperatures near ambient. Dilute solution viscosity data are used to demonstrate the uniform selectivity of both RhCl(PPh3)3 and RhH(PPh3)4 catalyzed hydrogenations.
Pan and Rempel in Macromolecular Rapid Communications (v 25, April, 2004, p 843-847) describe an efficient hydrogenation of butadiene-styrene copolymers in solution using a ruthenium complex.
In summary, the research in this area, the hydrogenation of diene-based polymers has been very successful if the polymers were dissolved in an organic solvent.
However, many diene-based polymers/copolymers are made by emulsion polymerization processes and they are in latex form when they are discharged from polymerization reactors. Therefore it is very desirable to invent a process in which the diene-based polymer latex can be hydrogenated directly. Direct hydrogenation of polymer latex is receiving increasing attention in the recent decade. Many efforts have been made to realize such a process as discussed below.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,552,132 claims a process for the hydrogenation of a polymer composed of diene monomer units and nitrile group containing monomer units, in which the hydrogenation in the form of an aqueous dispersion in the presence of hydrazine and an oxidizing compound.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,521,694 describes a process for hydrogenating carbon-carbon double bonds of an unsaturated polymer in the form of an aqueous dispersion by adding to the unsaturated polymer (1) a reducing agent selected from the group comprising hydrazines and hydrazine-releasing compounds, (2) an oxidizing compound and (3) a catalyst, wherein the catalyst contains an element from group 13 of the Periodic Table of the Elements.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,272,202 describes a process for the selective hydrogenation of the carbon-carbon double bonds of an unsaturated, nitrile-group-containing polymer with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst. An aqueous emulsion of the unsaturated, nitrile-group-containing polymer is involved. Optionally, an organic solvent capable of dissolving or swelling the polymer is caused to exist at a volume ratio of the aqueous emulsion to the organic solvent in a range of from 1:3 to 1:0. A palladium compound is used as the hydrogenation catalyst. The aqueous emulsion is brought into contact with gaseous or dissolved hydrogen while maintaining an emulsified state.
JP 02178305 describes a process for the hydrogenation of nitrile rubber by contacting the emulsions and optionally swelling the emulsions in organic solvents with hydrogen in the presence of Pd compounds. Thus, a 100 mL 10 percent nitrile rubber emulsion (containing 39.4 percent units derived from acrylonitrile) was mixed with 63.3 mg palladium benzoate in 50 mL benzene, and heated at 50° C. under 30 atm of hydrogen pressure for 6 hours to give a 90.2 percent hydrogenated emulsion.
JP 2001288212 describes a process for hydrogenated diene-based polymer latexes. Latexes of 2-chloro-1,3-butadiene (co)polymers were mixed with solutions or dispersions of catalysts in organic solvents which dissolve or swell the (co)polymers, and then contacted with hydrogen. Thus, a latex of poly(2-chloro-1,3-butadiene) rubber (Tg −42° C. and Mn 150,000) was added to a toluene solution containing RhCl(PPh3)3 and Ph3P, and hydrogenated at 100° C. and 5.0 MPa for 2 hours to give a hydrogenated polymer with Tg −54° C. and Mn 120,000.
DE 19924340 teaches a process for selective hydrogenation of nonaromatic C═C and C≡C bonds in polymers with hydrogen in the presence of Rh or Ru complexes or salts as catalysts and a nonionic P compound, such as PR3 or R2P(O)xZ(O)yPR2[R═C1-10 alkyl, C4-12 cycloalkyl, C1-10 alkoxy, aryl(oxy), F, etc.; Z=bivalent hydrocarbon residue; x, y=0, 1]. The hydrogenation is carried out in aqueous dispersions instead of in an organic medium. Aqueous dispersions containing hydrogenated polymers and their use for coatings were also claimed. Thus, an acrylic acid-butadiene-styrene copolymer latex was prepared by radical polymerization of a mixture of monomers containing also Ru(acac)3. Bu3P which was added to the latex. The system was stirred for 16 h at ambient temperature followed by hydrogenation at 150° C. and 280 bar to give a dispersion which was used to formulate a pigmented outdoor paint and a silicate-containing paint.
Guo and Rempel in Journal of Applied Polymer Science (v 65, n 4, Jul. 25, 1997, p 667-675) describes two processes for the selective hydrogenation of the C═C bonds in nitrile-butadiene rubber emulsions in the presence of a number of RuCl2(PPh3)3 complex catalysts. Both process can realize quantitative hydrogenation of the C═C, with the help of a certain amount of organic solvent to dissolve or swell the polymers.
Mudalige and Rempel in J. Molecular Catalysis (123, 15-20. 1997) describes aqueous-phase hydrogenation of polybutadiene, styrene-butadiene and nitrile-butadiene polymer emulsions catalyzed by water-soluble rhodium complexes, at 100° C. and 5.5 MPa of hydrogen pressure. The use of some organic solvent is also involved.
Zhang, et al in Hecheng Xiangjiao Gongye (2003, 26(2), 78-80) describes hydrogenation of nitrile rubber latex at ambient pressure by hydrazine hydrate/hydrogen peroxide redox system in the presence of boric acid catalyst. It was claimed that the hydrogenated nitrile latex had a degree of hydrogenation of over 90 percent when boric acid (2.64 mmol), hydrazine hydrate (95.2 mmol), reaction temperature of 60° C., and reaction time 6 hours were employed.
Wei in Guilin Gongxueyuan Xuebao (1999, 9(1), 66-69) describes a process for polyisoprene latex hydrogenation by using hydrazine hydrate and H2O2 as a redox system. The structural change of polyisoprene in hydrogenation was studied. The hydrogenated polymer from the 1,2-structure was better and the reaction rate was faster than from the 3,4- and 1,4-structures. DSC showed that the Tg of hydrogenated polyisoprene was near to that of ethylene-propylene rubber.
Singha, et al in Polym. Sci. (1994,1, 181-5) describes the use of a water-soluble analog of the Wilkinson catalyst for hydrogenation of nitrile rubber latex. The hydrogenation occurs under mild conditions (1 atm of hydrogen pressure, 75° C.) without coagulation of the latex, and up to 60 percent hydrogenation can be achieved. Gel content in latex increases with increasing catalyst concentration.
Sokolov et al in Proizvodstvo i Ispol'zovanie Elastomerov (1992, (12), 4-8) describes the effects of pH, Cu catalyst type, oxygen concentration and temperature on conversion of double bonds during hydrogenation of nitrile rubber SKN-40ASM latex with hydrazine hydrate. The maximal degree of hydrogenation was achieved at pH 8.3. CuSO4.5H2O catalyst was more active than CuCl2.xH2O. Replacement of air with oxygen in the reaction medium accelerated the process, e.g., by increasing the degree of hydrogenation after 3 h from 39.1 to 58.21 percent. Increasing the temperature from 10 to 60° C. led to a rise in side reactions, notably crosslinking.
In summary for research in this area, there are two major approaches: one approach is similar to conventional solution catalytic hydrogenation, but the polymer is hydrogenated in latex form with the presence of organic solvents instead of homogeneous organic solutions; another approach involves the use of diimide, in which a hydrogen source is generated in situ as a result of redox reactions. At present, both these approaches encounter deficiency to achieve high conversion and eliminate gel formation. The present invention is directed to a process wherein selective hydrogenation of diene-based polymer latex without any use of organic solvent, is achieved efficiently with high degree of hydrogenation and without any gel problem.

Hydrogenation of diene-based polymer latex


In a display device having a light source and a storage for storing at least one reference frame of image data, a driving method includes receiving a current frame of image data; comparing grey levels between pixels of the current frame of image data and the corresponding pixels of the reference frame of image data; determining a pixel quantity of pixels having different grey levels in the current frame of image data and the reference frame of image data; and based on the determined pixel quantity, calculating and outputting a signal controlling a light emitting duty ratio and an amplitude of the light source while displaying the current frame. The display device further has a comparing unit and light source control unit for performing the driving method.

Along with the coming of the information age, the demand for display devices as information presenting media continuously increases. Cathode ray tube (CRT) displays, having good display performance and being technologically mature, have dominated the display market for decades. However, recently developed high-tech products, such as LCDs, tend to be slimmer and better miniaturized. Therefore, LCDs with the advantages such as higher display quality, less space demand, lower power consumption and non-radiation technology gradually replace conventional CRT displays and become a mainstream in the display market.
Both of the foregoing two type displays have their advantages and disadvantages. A CRT display uses an electron beam in an impulse type driving to emit light. In other words, in a frame time (about 16.7 ms at 60 Hz refresh rate), the amplitude of a pixel brightness of the CRT display varies with time, so that the CRT display is adapted for displaying dynamic frames. However, when displaying static frames, such a CRT display is likely to cause flickering problems. Watching such flickering static frames for a long time may leave viewers' eyes uncomfortable.
As to LCD displays, most of them are driven to emit light in a hold type. In other words, in each frame time, the amplitude of backlight provided by a backlight source is constant. Therefore, LCD displays do not flicker when displaying static frames, which are more comfortable to viewers' eyes. However, such a backlight source when displaying dynamic frames causes problems of frame blurring due to the visual characteristics of human eyes.
In order to obtain better display performance, some LCD displays use impulse type backlight sources for displaying dynamic frames. Although such LCDs perform as good as CRT displays when displaying dynamic frames, unfortunately, they also suffer from CRT-like poor performance when displaying static frames.

Liquid crystal display and driving method thereof


According to one embodiment, a reception processing device receives and stores a data packet and a quality enhancement packet. The device includes a third storage unit that stores association between the quality enhancement packet stored in a second storage unit and the data packet stored in a first storage unit, and a fourth storage unit that stores, at each quality enhancement processing, a processing state representing at least one of an interim result and a final result in the quality enhancement processing. The device performs the quality enhancement processing using redundant data included in the quality enhancement packet and the data packet identified by the association and associated with the quality enhancement packet, stores, in the fourth storage unit, the processing state representing the interim result of the operation when interrupting the quality enhancement processing, and resumes the quality enhancement processing by using the processing state.

In the related art, a real-time transport protocol (RTP) has been used as a protocol for real-time streaming transmission of video and audio in an IP communication network. With the RTP, while it is possible to resolve a change in the sequence of data and a variation in the transmission interval (referred to as RTP processing), lost data can only be detected but cannot be recovered. Examples of typical techniques for recovering lost data include techniques of retransmitting data and techniques using error correcting codes. The techniques of retransmitting data are not always suitable for application in real-time streaming transmission in terms of time and because of uncertainty of retransmission and difficulty in requesting retransmission. With respect to the techniques using error correcting codes, on the other hand, a recovery process using forward error correction (FEC) coded transmission is known as a practical one. According to the FEC, at a transmitting side, data (referred to as original data) to be transmitted are grouped, the grouped data are operated according to a predetermined technique to generate redundant data for each group, and the redundant data are stored in an FEC packet and transmitted in parallel with the original data. At a receiving side, in a case where part of the original data is lost in each group, it is possible to perform operation on the redundant data associated with the remaining part of the original data according to a predetermined technique to recover the lost original data. Such processing is referred to as quality enhancement processing (FEC processing). Since the redundant data and the original data are transmitted with little delay, immediate recovery is possible at the receiving side and a delay resulting from the processing is smaller as compared to a case where the lost original data are retransmitted. Note that examples of typical FEC schemes to be applied to the RTP include schemes defined in RFC5109 and RFC2733 ("RFC5109-RTP Payload Format for Generic Forward Error Correction", IETF, December 2007, up to 3. Basic Operation).
In the related art, the RTP processing and the FEC processing are separate processes independent of each other. This is for the purpose of hiding and separating the FEC processing that is a secondary processing system and esoteric as compared to the RTP processing that is a primary processing system. This is on the assumption that there is a possibility that the FEC processing cannot be properly performed if all necessary data cannot be provided at a point before inputting necessary data to an FEC processor. More specifically, the FEC processing needs to be started after a period of time required for resolving the change in the sequence and the variation in the transmission interval by performing the RTP processing, and particularly when the variation in the transmission interval is large, the waiting time for the RTP processing also becomes longer. As a result, a wasteful delay time is caused, and the time for propagation between communication devices is increased, which may result in an undesirable condition for a telephone call or real-time transmission of video and the like. On the other hand, if the FEC processing is started without waiting for a required time in the RTP processing, the FEC processing will be incomplete since all necessary data are not provided, and the robustness against packet loss may be lowered.


A method and apparatus for controlling continuously variable dampers in a vehicle suspension system is provided. A microcontroller receives sensor signals from the vehicle and generates heave, pitch and roll acceleration signals, heave, pitch and roll actual velocity signals, and heave, pitch and roll velocity level signals based on the received sensor signals. Heave, pitch and roll control signals are then calculated based on the acceleration, actual velocity, and velocity level signals, and the continuously variable dampers are adjusted in accordance with the calculated heave, pitch and roll control signals. A deadband schedule function is provided for adjusting the control signals in accordance with the significance of the particular ride event.

Vehicle shock absorbers (also known as dampers) have undergone various design changes in recent years. Originally, shock absorbers were not adjustable. Then, multi-stage shock absorbers were developed which had two or perhaps three settings: soft, firm, and in some instances, an intermediate setting. Adaptive ride control systems based on this type of shock absorber must make many performance compromises due to the quantized damping levels. Most recently, "continuously variable" shock absorbers have been developed, which have an infinite, or at least large, number of settings between soft and firm. In the art, the term "continuously variable" includes dampers which have 16 or more settings. In addition, some continuously variable shock absorbers are soft when the control signal has some value, and become firm for rebound strokes only when the control signal is increased from that value, and become firm for bump strokes only when it is decreased. These are referred to as "skyhook" dampers, because they simplify the implementation of a control system based on "skyhook" theory. This theory states that damping force should be applied such that it opposes the velocity of the sprung mass, independent of the relative velocity between the sprung and unsprung masses.
Various "skyhook" theory based damping force control systems for adjustable automotive shock absorbers have been developed. Some of these systems have poor "balance", which means that the amplitude and phase relationship between bounce and pitch motions is objectionable. Some of these systems result in increased ride harshness due to "over-controlling" during smaller ride events. Some of these systems are perceived as "jerky" or "grabby" due to the control algorithms used to dynamically adjust the damping. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a method and apparatus for controlling continuously variable dampers in a manner which provides a high level of ride quality, with good balance, reduced harshness, and without any jerkiness.


One embodiment of a portable media equipment support device comprising a hollow shaft having a first shaft end and a second shaft end. A manually rotatable handle is operatively mounted relative to the first shaft end and a mounting device rotational actuator is operatively mounted to the second shaft end. The manually rotatable handle is connected to mounting device rotational actuator by a drive rod internally running through said hollow shaft. A bevel gear system is internally located in said rotational actuator and used to translate motion approximately 90 degrees into a media mounting device. The media mounting device is used to secure and carry a media equipment element. The rotatable handle serves to control the motion of the drive rod and is thereby translated by the bevel gear system. This sequence of mechanical reactions is used to facilitate at least one of the panning or tilting motions of the media equipment. A locking screw connected to the head unit of the mounting device rotational actuator serves to secure the bevel gear system from rotation. Thereby allowing for said media equipment to be secured in a locked position, if desired. Other embodiments are described and shown.

Photographers and videographers, among others (e.g., sound technicians) often need to position their equipment where the equipment cannot be readily held. While tripods are commercially available to steady camera equipment, these are typically used for stationary applications (e.g., holding a camera steady for taking a photograph of a sunset, or to avoid shaking Introduced by the user's hands when taking video). There many devices that are used to extend the scope of how said media equipment may be used and positioned. A problem faced with some of these devices is that they can be inconvenient to transport. Also these devices may pose problems to there end user by limiting the range of motion that can be achieved by the media equipment.
Camera Jibs are a support device which do extend the range of a cameras motion. Although camera jibs do serve the end user by allowing for their media equipment to be tilted and moved from a distance, they also have short comings. Camera jibs require a tripod, counter weights, only allow for camera tilting and are generally not easily transportable. For example, US patent 20140014807 (2014) to Zeke L. Kamm, a "Telescoping Portable Camera Jib" is designed to be a compact alternative to a conventional camera jib. Although more portable then previous options, even the current most portable camera jib is cumbersome to transport and requires supplements for use (IE. Tripod and counterweights).
Another device which currently extends the range of media equipment is an adjustable length boom pole. This devices primary function is to hold media equipment at a distance allowing for camera positions that can not be readily held. The boom pole may be used similarly to a camera jib because of its lengthy arm and preferred for its handheld nature. Although more portable then a camera jib, an obstacle of the boom pole is that it can only hold the equipment in a stationary locked position. In most cases the media equipment will either be pointed away from or towards the end user in this locked position. In order to change the media devices orientation, it is necessary for end user to stop, reposition media equipment and re-lock its position before they can engage in using there device again. For this reason using a common boom pole can be troublesome.

Portable media equipment support device with rotating action


The present invention provides bacterial immunogenic agents for administration to humans and non-human animals to stimulate an immune response. It particularly relates to the vaccination of mammalian species with heteropolymeric protein complexes as a mechanism for stimulating production of antibodies that protect the vaccine recipient against infection by pathogenic bacterial species. In another aspect the invention provides antibodies against such proteins and protein complexes that may be used as diagnostics and/or as protective/treatment agents for pathogenic bacterial species. A novel vector for expressing the FimC-H complex at optimal levels is also disclosed.

This invention relates generally to the field of bacterial antigens and their use, for example, as immunogenic agents in humans and animals to stimulate an immune response. More specifically, it relates to the vaccination of mammalian species with heteropolymeric protein complexes as a mechanism for stimulating production of antibodies that protect the vaccine recipient against infection by pathogenic bacterial species, including all types of enterobacteriacea.
In a particular aspect, the present invention relates to the prevention and treatment of urinary tract infections such as cystitis and/or pyelonephritis that are caused by pilus-carrying bacteria (uropathogenic bacteria). In this regard, certain types of Escherichia coli are of particular interest since they are the predominant etiologic agent of urinary tract infections (UTIs).
UTIs provide one example of a disease process that is mediated (or assisted) by the attachment to bacteria to cells. E. coli is the most common pathogen of the urinary tract, accounting for greater than 85% of cases of asymptomatic bacteriuria, acute cystitis and acute pyelonephritis, as well as greater than 60% of recurrent cystitis, and at least 35% of recurrent pyelonephritis infections. Furthermore, approximately 25%-30% of women experience a recurrent E. coli urinary tract infection within the first 12 months following an initial infection: after a second or third infection the rate of recurrence increases to 60%-75%. Given the high incidence, continued persistence, and significant expense associated with E. coli urinary tract infections, there is a need for a prophylactic vaccine to reduce susceptibility to this disease.
While many factors contribute to the acquisition and progression of E. coli urinary tract infections, it is widely accepted that colonization of the urinary epithelium is a prerequisite to infection. In a typical course of E. coli urinary tract infection, bacteria originate from the bowel, ascend into the bladder, and adhere to the bladder mucosa where they multiply and establish an infection (cystitis) before ascending into the ureters and kidneys. Disruption or prevention of pilus-mediated attachment of E. coli to urinary epithelia may prevent or retard the development of urinary tract infections. In this regard, a number of studies have pointed to a role for pili in mediating attachment to host uroepithelial cells.
To initiate infection bacterial pathogens must first be able to colonize an appropriate target tissue of the host. For many pathogens this tissue is located at a mucosal surface. Colonization begins with the attachment of the bacterium to receptors expressed by cells forming the lining of the mucosa. Attachment is mediated via proteins on the bacterium that bind specifically to cellular receptors. These proteins, or adhesins, are expressed either directly on the surface of the bacterium, or more typically, as components of elongated rod-like protein structures called pili, fimbriae or fibrillae.
Type 1 pili are thought to be important in initiating colonization of the bladder and inducing cystitis, whereas P pili are thought to play a role in ascending infections and the ensuing pyelonephritis.
Such pili are heteropolymeric structures that are composed of several different structural proteins required for pilus assembly. Two types of pili are of particular interest: P pili and type 1 pili. P pili-carrying bacteria recognize and bind to the galxcex1(1-4)gal moiety present in the globoseries of glycolipids on kidney cells in mammals. Type 1 pili-carrying bacteria recognize and bind to D-mannose in glycolipids and glycoproteins of bladder epithelial cells.
PapG, the adhesin protein in P pili bacteria that mediates the specific interaction of the pilus with receptors on the surface of host cells, is found at the distal end of the tip fibrillum. Its periplasmic chaperone protein is PapD which is highly conserved across strains of E. coli. (Hultgren et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:4357 (1989); EMBO Journal 15:3792-3805 (1996).
With regard to type 1 pili, tip adhesins and other ancillary subunits also have been identified. FimH is the D-mannose-binding adhesin that promotes attachment of type 1-piliated bacteria to host cells via mannose-containing glycoproteins on eukaryotic cell surfaces. FimC is its periplasmic chaperone protein. FimH is also highly conserved not only among uropathogenic strains of E. coli, but also among a wide range of gram-negative bacteria. For example, all Enterobacteriacea produce FimH. Thus, vaccines incorporating the FimH antigen should exhibit a broad spectrum of protection.
Chaperone proteins are a class of proteins in gram-negative bacteria that are involved in the assembly of pili by mediating such assembly, but are not incorporated into the structure. PapD is the periplasmic chaperone protein mediating the assembly of pili for P piliated bacteria and FimC is the periplasmic chaperone protein that mediates assembly of type 1 pili in bacteria.
Antibodies directed against purified whole type 1 or P pili protect against cystitis and pyelonephritis, respectively, in both murine and primate models for these diseases. Abraham et al., Infect Immun. 48:625 (1985), Roberts et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA) 91:11889 (1994), O""Hantey et al., J. Clin. Invest. 75: 347 (1985). However, such protection is limited to either homologous E. coli strains from which the pili used as immunogens were derived, or to a small subset of serologically cross-reactive heterologous strains. Therefore, vaccines composed predominantly of the major structural proteins of pili (i.e., PapA or FimA) appear to be of limited value because antibodies developed against these highly variable proteins are specific for the strains used for immunization.
In one aspect the present invention relates to a vaccine for treating or preventing bacterial infections which utilizes as an immunogen a complex of a bacterial periplasmic chaperone protein with a bacterial adhesin protein. Preferably, the adhesin protein is a pilus adhesin protein. In one embodiment, the periplasmic chaperone protein and pilus adhesin protein are from E. coli; for example, a member selected from the complexes PapD/PapG and FimC/FimH.
In a particular aspect, the invention relates to vaccines formulated from type 1 pilus-associated adhesins (or from mannose-binding fragments thereof) or from complexes of chaperone proteins (including PapD-like chaperones) and pilus-associated adhesins for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases caused by pathogenic species of gram-negative bacteria, such as Escherichia coli (E. coli). For example, it relates to treatment and/or prophylaxis of urinary tract infections caused by E. coli with vaccines formulated from at least one of (1) a fragment of the pilus-associated adhesin FimH that retains mannose binding capability (alone or complexed with its chaperone FimC), (2) the pilus-associated adhesin PapG protein complexed with its periplasmic chaperone protein PapD or (3) the full-length pilus-associated adhesin FimH (alone or in a complex with its chaperone protein FimC). This invention also relates generally to the use of heteropolymeric protein complexes to raise antibodies in non-human mammalian species useful, for example, as diagnostic reagents and vaccines.
In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to the production of essentially full-length bacterial adhesin proteins in a recombinant host (in E. coli, another bacterial species, a bacterial species with one or more disabled proteases, or a non-bacterial production vector or host cell) or by synthesis. Such recombinant or synthetic methods permit the production of the full-length adhesin protein in the presence or absence of its chaperone protein and when chaperones are absent preferably in the absence of proteases that will shorten its length or start to break it down. Even more preferable is the production of essentially full-length FimH or a mannose binding analog or variant for use as a vaccine. If such recombinant production is performed in a host which is capable of producing an usher protein, the recombinant production is under conditions which eliminate usher production.
Using novel methods disclosed herein, it is possible to recombinantly introduce into a bacterial cell the Fimh and FimC genes using a single vector, commonly a plasmid but in no way limited thereto.
In a yet further aspect, the present invention relates to the production of mannose-binding fragments of bacterial adhesin proteins in a recombinant host (in E. coli, another bacterial species, or a non-bacterial production vector or host cell) or by synthesis. Preferably, when such protein fragments are expressed in a bacterial host that produces an usher protein they are expressed under such conditions that their usher protein is not expressed. Such recombinant or synthetic methods permit the production of mannose-binding adhesin protein fragments in the absence of the their chaperone protein or as a complex with their chaperone protein that can later be separated from the chaperone protein. Preferably, such fragments are produced under conditions that avoid shortening of their length by cleavage or break down by proteases.
In another aspect, the proteins are produced with a histidine label (or other suitable label) such that the full-length proteins or fragments can be isolated due to their label.
In a further aspect, the present invention relates to the production of a periplasmic chaperone protein in a complex with an essentially full-length bacterial adhesin protein or appropriate fragment thereof in a recombinant host (in E. coli, another bacterial species, a bacterial species with one or more disabled proteases, or a non-bacterial production vector or host cell) or by synthesis or by recovering from a natural source. Even more preferable is the production of the periplasmic chaperone protein FimC complexed with essentially full-length FimH or a mannose binding analog or variant for use as a vaccine.
In another aspect the present invention relates to a method of prophylaxis and/or treatment of diseases that are mediated by pili-bearing bacteria that have adhesin proteins. In particular, the invention relates to a method for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of infectious diseases that are mediated by type 1 pili adhesin proteins. In a still further preferred aspect, the invention relates to a method for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of UTIs in humans, particularly in women or children.
In still another aspect the present invention relates to a method of using one or more antibodies (monoclonal, polyclonal or sera) to either a periplasmic chaperone protein or fragment thereof complexed with an adhesin protein or an adhesin protein (alone) for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of diseases that are mediated by pili-bearing bacteria that have adhesin proteins. In particular, the invention relates to a method for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of infectious diseases that are mediated by type 1 pili adhesin proteins. In a still further preferred aspect, the invention relates to a method for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of UTIs in humans, particularly in women or children, by utilizing antibodies to either the periplasmic chaperone protein FimC complexed with the adhesin protein FimH (anti-FimC-H) or the adhesin protein FimH alone (anti-FimH).

Chaperone and adhesin proteins; vaccines, diagnostics and method for treating infections


A rectifier generates a rectified output and a dc power output. The rectifier has an antenna element, a tuning capacitor, a coupling capacitor, first and second rectifying diodes, and a storage capacitor. The antenna element and the tuning capacitor are coupled in parallel and grounded at one terminal. The first rectifying diode is grounded at its anode terminal and the storage capacitor is grounded at one terminal. The coupling capacitor is coupled between the ungrounded terminal of the antenna element and the cathode terminal of the first rectifying diode. The anode terminal of the second rectifying diode is coupled to the cathode terminal of the first rectifying diode. The cathode terminal of the second rectifying diode is coupled to the ungrounded terminal of the storage capacitor. The rectified output is generated between the rectifying diodes. The dc power output is generated between the second rectifying diode and the storage capacitor.

Radio frequency identification (RFID) transponders (tags) are usually used in conjunction with an RFID base station, typically in applications such as inventory control, security, access cards, and personal identification. The base station transmits a carrier signal that powers circuitry in the RFID tag when the RFID tag is brought within a read range of the base station. Data communication between the tag and the station is achieved by modulating the amplitude of the carrier signal with a binary data pattern, usually amplitude shift keying. To that end, RFID tags are typically integrated circuits that include, among other components, antenna elements for coupling the radiated field, rectifiers to convert the AC carrier signal to dc power, and demodulators to extract the data pattern from the envelope of the carrier signal.
If fabricated at sufficiently low cost, RFID tags can also be useful in cost-sensitive applications such as product pricing, baggage tracking, parcel tracking, asset identification, authentication of paper money, and animal identification, to mention just a few application. RFID tags could provide significant advantages over systems conventionally used for such applications, such as bar code identification systems. For example, a basket full of items marked with RFID tags could be read rapidly without having to handle each item, whereas they would have to be handled individually when using a bar code system. Unlike bar codes, RFID tags provide the ability to update information on the tag. However, the RFID technology of today is too expensive for dominant use in such applications. There are several factors that drive up the cost of RFID tags, the most significant of which is the size of the silicon integrated circuit that makes up the tag.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional rectifier utilizing a diode bridge 2. Antenna element 4 requires two connections 6, 8 on opposite sides of diode bridge 2. The rectified signal is output at node 10.
FIG. 2 shows another conventional rectifier utilizing a MOSFET bridge 12. Antenna element 4 also requires two connections 6, 8 on opposite sides of MOSFET bridge 12. In order to accommodate these connections 6, 8, conventional RFID tags require at least two pads large enough to bond wire for the attachment of an external antenna coil 4. Since RFID tag chips are generally relatively small, these pads consume a significant percentage of the integrated circuit area of a conventional RFID tag.
Another concern with conventional RFID tags is the maximum operating reading distance from the base station. In both examples of prior art shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rectified output signals at node 10 are only one half the peak-to-peak voltage of the corresponding resonating nodes 6. The amplitudes of the signals on output nodes 10 are related to the maximum operational distance between the RFID tag and the base station.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An object of the present invention is to provide a control apparatus for an electric vehicle capable of preventing the vehicle from being destabilized because a rear wheel is locked first or drivability from reducing because a front wheel is locked early. A control apparatus includes a regenerative braking force calculation portion configured to calculate a regenerative braking force to be generated on each of a front motor and a rear motor based on a request braking force requested to an electric vehicle, a power limit portion configured to reduce the regenerative braking force based on a power limit on a power source, and a frictional braking force output portion configured to output an instruction for generating a frictional braking force according to a regenerative braking force reduction amount, which is an amount of a reduction in the regenerative braking force by the power limit portion, to a brake apparatus.

As a conventional technique, there is a control apparatus for an electric vehicle discussed in PTL 1. This control apparatus includes a front motor capable of controlling and driving a front wheel and a rear motor capable of controlling and driving a rear wheel. Then, PTL 1 discloses a technique that calculates an ideal braking force distribution ratio between a braking torque on the front wheel and a braking torque on the rear wheel and a tolerance for the ideal braking force distribution ratio, corrects the ideal braking force distribution ratio so as to increase power generation efficiency within a range of this tolerance, and outputs a torque instruction to each of the motors based on the acquired distribution ratio.

Control apparatus for electric vehicle, control system for electric vehicle, and control method for electric vehicle


A method and a network device for transferring signaling based immediate Minimization of Drive Test (MDT) configuration information are provided. The method is applied in an inter-Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) handover process in a scenario of multiple PLMNs, and includes: during a handover process of a user equipment, if it is determined that a target PLMN selected for the user equipment is the same as one PLMN in an MDT-allowable PLMN list of the user equipment, a source network device transmitting the immediate MDT configuration information of the user equipment to a target network device.

At present, the Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN for short) includes a base station (Node B) and a Radio Network Controller (RNC for short), and a corresponding Core Network (CN for short) includes: a Home Subscriber Server (HSS for short), a Mobile Switching Centre Server (MSC Server for short) and a serving General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN for short) etc. The Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN for short) includes an evolved NodeB (eNB), and a corresponding core network includes a Home Subscriber Server (HSS for short) and a Mobile Management Entity (MME for short) etc.
In order to reduce the cost and complexity of manual drive test by a carrier using a dedicated device, the Third Generation Partnership Projects (3GPP for short) organization begins to introduce a Minimization of Drive Test (MDT for short) function in Release-10 of the UTRAN and E-UTRAN systems. The MDT function collects a measurement report automatically using a User Equipment (UE for short), reports the measurement report to the Radio Access Network (RAN for short, for the UTRAN system, the RAN refers to RNC, and for the E-UTRAN system, the RAN refers to eNB) through control plane signaling, and reports the measurement report to a Trace Collection entity (Entity TCE for short) of the Operation And Maintenance (OAM for short) through the RAN. The application scenarios of the MDT primarily include aspects such as coverage optimization, capacity optimization, mobility optimization, public channel parameter optimization etc.
The MDT supports Management based MDT and Signaling based MDT. Taking the E-UTRAN system as an example, the process of activating the Management based MDT is generally a process that the OAM transmits a message to the eNB to activate MDT measurements of some UEs, and the eNB selects a UE according to the received area information, and transmits the MDT configuration information to the selected UE; while the process of activating the signaling based MDT is generally a process that the OAM transmits a message to the HSS to activate MDT measurement of a certain UE, the HSS transmits the MDT configuration information of the UE to the MME, the MME transmits the MDT configuration information of the UE to the eNB, and the eNB finally transmits the MDT configuration information to the UE. The Signaling based MDT generally designates a certain UE using an International Mobile Subscriber identity (IMSI for short) or an International Mobile Station Equipment Identity (IMEI for short), and sometimes will limit the selection of the UE with the addition of the area information.
The UE may perform MDT in the connected state and the idle state, wherein, the MDT performed in the connected state is referred to as immediate MDT, and the MDT performed in the idle state is referred to as a logged MDT. There may be two kinds of independent configuration information configured on the UE at the same time, including immediate MDT configuration information and logged MDT configuration information. Wherein, the immediate MDT configuration information is used to instruct the UE to measure and report the immediate MDT, and the logged MDT configuration information is used to instruct the UE to measure and store the logged MDT Both kinds of MDT configuration information are configured by the network side for the UE when the UE is in a connected state. The immediate MDT refers to a process that the UE in a connected state measures the MDT according to the received immediate MDT configuration information and reports the measurement report to the RAN in time, and the RAN reports it to the TCE; and the logged MDT refers to a process that the UE in an idle state measures the MDT according to the received logged MDT configuration information, stores the obtained measurement report, and reports the measurement report to the RAN until the UE enters a connected state later, and the RAN reports it to the TCE.
At present, for the two different measurement types including immediate MDT and logged MDT, the contents included in corresponding MDT configuration information are also different. Two kinds of configuration information include an MDT applicable range, an available cell list or Time Advance (TA) list, flag information of the UE (only applicable for UE based track in the UMTS) and MDT measurement contents. At the same time, the MDT-allowable Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) list information may be added in both kinds of MDT configuration information. For the immediate MDT configuration information, it further needs to include a report trigger event, a report interval and a report number; and for the logged MDT configuration information, it further needs to include a logged report interval and logged configuration duration.
In actual networking, the network sharing enables the carriers to manage respective parts of their own flexibly while constructing a communication network cooperatively, thus largely shortening the construction period of the network, and largely reducing the Total Operating Cost (TCO). At the same time, the network sharing may facilitate resource optimization configuration, avoid repeated construction, and implement the maintenance and increment of the assets. Therefore, the network sharing has become a very important issue in the network construction.
There are many implementation methods for network sharing. One is access network sharing, i.e., multiple carriers share the same RAN in the sharing area, but use the core networks and the service networks independently. As shown in FIG. 1, the carrier A and carrier B may share the RAN provided by the RAN carrier. While in the process of MDT management and maintenance, the carriers want to have the benefit of the function in a network equivalent to the Home Public Land Mobile Network (HPLMN), so as to better collect the network information for network optimization. The equivalent network here may refer to an Equivalent Home PLMN (EHPLMN), or may also be a PLMN selected by a user during roaming and belonging to the same carrier and having the same national code as the HPLMN, which may be referred to as a Visited PLMN (VPLMN).
As long as the UE is located in a PLMN allowing MDT measurement, the UE may be selected to implement a task of MDT measurement. In the current handover process, as long as the UE does not perform an inter-PLMN handover, the immediate MDT configuration information may be transferred during the handover. If the UE performs an inter-PLMN handover, the immediate MDT configuration information of the UE needs to be deactivated, thus resulting in that the UE can not perform the immediate MDT measurement due to lacking of corresponding immediate MDT configuration information, even the UE is handed over to an EPLMN network supporting the mode of signaling based MDT.

Signaling based method and network apparatus for transferring instant MDT configuration information


An automatic transmission having a hydraulic torque converter and a multiple-ratio gear system in an automotive vehicle driveline wherein the converter includes a pressure-actuated bypass clutch and a control valve system for maintaining a regulated charge pressure in the torque converter and for controlling the actuation and release of the bypass clutch, the valve system including a main regulator that establishes a circuit pressure and that establishes priority distribution of pressurized fluid to the torque converter while temporarily interrupting distribution of pressurized fluid to the transmission lubrication circuit.

My invention comprises improvements in an electronic control system of the kind described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,157,608, 5,081,886 and 5,029,087. It is an improvement also in a hydraulic control system of the kind shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,665,770. Each of these patents is assigned to the assignee of my present invention.
Transmissions of the kind described in these prior art patents include multiple-ratio planetary gearing having clutch and brake structure for establishing multiple torque flow paths from an internal combustion engine to the traction wheels of an automotive vehicle. The multiple-ratio gearing defines a range of torque ratios for the torque flow paths. A hydrokinetic torque converter situated between the engine and the torque input element of the gearing comprises an impeller connected to the engine and a turbine adapted to be drivably connected to torque input elements of the gearing. A friction bypass clutch that forms a part of the torque converter is adapted to establish a positive driving connection between the impeller and the turbine when the torque converter achieves a hydrokinetic coupling condition. The bypass clutch unlocks to permit normal open converter operation when the vehicle driving conditions demand hydrokinetic torque multiplication.
The transmission includes a positive displacement pump that forms a part of a control valve system. Friction clutches and brakes control relative motion of the elements of the gearing and establish and disestablish torque reaction points in the gearing as the multiple ratios are effected. Fluid pressure-operated servos actuate the clutches and brakes.
A main regulator valve in the valve system maintains a circuit pressure as the valve system establishes controlled distribution of pressurized fluid to a transmission lubrication fluid circuit as well as to the hydraulic torque converter.
An electronically controlled throttle pressure solenoid establishes a solenoid feed pressure for various shift solenoids that are under the control of a microprocessor. The shift solenoids, in turn, are in communication with shift valves that form a part of the valve system. The shift valves selectively control distribution of actuating pressure to the clutch and brake servos. The solenoid feed pressure is distributed to the main regulator valve which effects the distribution of a control pressure to a bypass clutch control valve and to the lubrication fluid circuit. The bypass clutch control valve responds to operating variables either to engage or to disengage the bypass clutch.
If the operating conditions are such that a high pump output is required to accommodate a transient operating condition (e.g., a rapid change in ratio), the main regulator valve will respond by interrupting distribution of pressure to the torque converter and to the lubrication circuit until the valve system stabilizes and the demand for pressurized fluid by the valve system subsides.
It has been observed that there is a tendency for the bypass clutch and the torque converter to lose pressure during such transient condition when the supply of fluid to the converter is interrupted. This is due to the tendency of the fluid passages communicating with the converter to bleed down. When the transient condition subsides and pressurized fluid is reintroduced to the converter circuit, an uncontrolled harsh engagement of the bypass clutch may occur if the bypass clutch control valve is positioned to cause the bypass clutch to engage. Engagement timing of the bypass clutch, furthermore, may vary from its calibrated value due to a temporary reduction in converter pressure that results from such a transient condition.

Automatic transmission with a modulated pressure converter bypass clutch priority valve circuit


An improved scintillator nanocomposite comprising nanoparticles with scintillating properties and a diameter between 10 and 50 nanometer and a first matrix material comprises is obtained by introducing the nanoparticles into a dispersing medium to form a stable suspension. The dispersing medium is a precursor to the first matrix material, which is cured to form the first matrix material.

Radiation detection materials, such as phosphors, are used in many applications, e.g. as scintillator materials in security or medical scanners, such as x-ray, CT, PET or SPECT scanners. These materials are usually used in single crystal form, which are restricted in size due to synthesis method limitations.
Composites of nanoscale materials bypass the limitations of single crystals and are an interesting approach of developing radiation detectors. Composite materials may be produced in a variety of shapes and sizes. The cost of scintillator production may be significantly reduced, as well. Furthermore, composites filled with nano-sized filler materials have higher surface-to-volume ratio than conventional composites with micro-sized fillers.
Scintillator nanocomposites 10 are commonly prepared starting from nanoparticles 12 with scintillating properties in powder form, which are dispersed in a dispersing agent or in a pre-polymer, which forms a polymeric matrix 11 in which the nanoparticles are distributed (see FIG. 1a for a configuration of a scintillator nanocomposite 10 with well-dispersed nanoparticles).
However, a significant limitation to the use of nanocomposite materials in radiation detection is that it is very difficult to obtain uniform dispersion and compatibility in known scintillator nanocomposites (see FIG. 1b). This is partly because to be able to properly disperse the nanoparticle powder into the pre-polymer a dispersion agent and/or a solvent is used that needs to be removed before polymerization. However, this is an extremely difficult process and any unwanted material left in the scintillator causes internal disruptions 14 of the matrix structure such as inclusions and/or voids that lowers transparency and quality of the scintillator nanocomposites. Furthermore, it is difficult to introduce a large amount of nanoparticles 12 into any matrix material 11. More dispersing agent and/or solvent might be necessary, making it even more difficult to remove these, thereby increasing the problem. The higher nanoparticle content may lead to increased nanoparticle agglomeration in composite.
Also, for many optical applications, such as radiation detectors, nanoparticle powder size is restricted to the range of 10-50 nm. Such particles have a small enough light scattering coefficient to obtain (partly) transparent nanocomposites. However, nanoparticle powders with such a small size normally strongly agglomerate into larger agglomerate structures 13 and resulting in that a required transparency is not obtained. In WO2009/054946 agglomeration of nanophosphor scintillators in a matrix material is addressed by surface modification of nanophosphor particles using ligands that allow for isolating surface charges or direct chemical bonding to the matrix material. However, such nanoparticles need to be specifically modified, making their production more complex and the particles more expensive. Also, the ligands may have an influence on scatter and absorption properties.
On top of that, dopants used in scintillator materials, such as Cerium dopants, that are present at the surface of the scintillator material cause increased formation of surface defects 15 that reduce light emission and therefore result in lower quality scintillators.