The present invention provides a method of channel estimation implemented in a receiver having multiple antennas configured to receive at least one common pilot available to a plurality of users and a plurality of dedicated pilots. Each dedicated pilot is allocated to one of the plurality of users. The method includes estimating at least one first channel associated with a first user and at least one second channel associated with a second user based on observations of the plurality of dedicated pilots and of said at least one common pilot.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to communication systems, and, more particularly, to wireless communication systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional wireless communication systems include a network of base stations, base station routers, and/or other wireless access points that are used to provide wireless connectivity to access terminals in geographic areas (or cells) associated with the network. Information may be communicated between the network and the access terminals over an air interface using wireless communication links that typically include multiple channels. The channels include forward link (or downlink) channels that carry signals from the base stations to the access terminals and reverse link (or uplink) channels that carry signals from the access terminals to the base station. The channels may be defined using time slots, frequencies, scrambling codes or sequences, or any combination thereof. For example, the channels in a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system are defined by modulating signals transmitted on the channels using orthogonal codes or sequences. For another example, the channels in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) system are defined using a set of orthogonal frequencies known as tones or subcarriers.
Next (4th) generation wireless systems such as 802.16e WiMAX, UMTS Long Term Evolution (LTE) and cdma2000 EV-DO Revision C Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB) are based on Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access. In OFDMA, the transmitted signal consists of narrowband tones that are nearly orthogonal to each other in the frequency domain. A group of tones transmitted over the duration of one time slot (or frame) constitutes the smallest scheduling resource unit, also known as a tile, a resource block (RB), or a base node (BN). Different tones belonging to a tile may be scattered across the entire carrier frequency band used by the OFDMA system so that each tile transmission experiences diversified channels and interference on each sub-carrier. Alternatively, a tile can be formed of a contiguous set of tones so that the channel and interference experienced by the tile are more localized. Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) is employed to increase the capacity of the OFDMA system. To this end, the encoder packet transmission includes multiple HARQ interlaces repeating every certain number of frames and having a fixed maximum allowed number of sub-packet retransmissions.
Modern wireless systems typically implement coherent detection in both the forward and reverse links. This requires the transmission of pilot signals (which may also be referred to as reference signals or training signals) that can be used as a reference to estimate the amplitude and phase of the fading channel that carries the uplink/downlink signals. For example, on the reverse link, coherent detection requires that each user transmit pilot signals to its serving base station(s). The pilot signals from different mobile units (or different antennas in each mobile unit) can be multiplexed with the data and each other in time, frequency, code or a combination thereof. Typically, a set of common pilot signals are defined and divided among the various users. For example: in an OFDMA (orthogonal frequency division multiple access) system such as the one in FIG. 1, the tones are divided into data tones (open circles in FIG. 1) and common pilot tones (shaded circles in FIG. 1). Each user utilizes some of the common pilot tones, preferably those in the vicinity of its assigned data tones, to send its pilot signals. For example, user A transmits on data tones at the left side of FIG. 1 and therefore also uses the common pilots in this region. User B transmits on data tones at the right side of FIG. 1 and therefore also uses the common pilots in this region.
A growing trend in wireless systems is to equip receivers with multiple antennas. Transmissions from these users are resolved and detected by virtue of their distinct spatial characteristics across the various receive antennas (so-called spatial multiple access or virtual MIMO). This enables several users to share each time/frequency/code resource, e.g., it allows multiple users to transmit concurrently on the same frequency band and with the same code. Detecting concurrent signals is contingent on the receiver having estimates of the amplitude and phase of each of the user channels. Conventional techniques for acquiring these estimates use separate pilot transmissions from each of the users involved. The separate pilot transmissions are used to define the user channels corresponding to the multiple receive antennas. However, the pilot transmissions used to define spatial channels are not conventionally transmitted using common pilot signals because collisions between multiple users significantly reduces the ability of the receiver to detect the pilot signals of the separate users and determine the amplitude and phase of the user channels.
Wireless communication systems that implement spatially defined channels typically include dedicated pilots in addition to the common pilots. The dedicated pilot channels can be assigned to individual users so that the pilot signals transmitted on the dedicated pilot channels do not collide with signals transmitted by other users. For example: in an OFDMA (orthogonal frequency division multiple access) system such as the one in FIG. 2, the tones are divided into data tones (open circles in FIG. 2), common pilot tones (shaded circles in FIG. 2), and dedicated pilot tones (circles with shaded boundaries in FIG. 2). One range of tones on the left-hand side of FIG. 2 is assigned to Users A and C and another range of tones on the right-hand side of FIG. 2 is assigned to Users B and D. Each range of tones includes data tones, common pilot tones, and the dedicated pilot tones that can be assigned to particular users.
Allocating some of the tones to be dedicated pilot tones has a number of drawbacks. For example, the number of dedicated pilots needed to support the users in the system scales with the number of users that are performing spatial multiple access. In contrast, the number of common pilots does not scale with the number of users because all of the users can use the common pilot tones. Consequently, fewer dedicated pilot tones (relative to the potential number of common pilot tones) are typically available to each user in a system that implements dedicated pilot tones. For example, in FIG. 2, each user is allocated a single dedicated pilot tone whereas in the corresponding scenario without spatial multiple access, such as depicted in FIG. 1, each user can be allocated 2-3 common pilots. Moreover, when spatial multiple access with dedicated pilots is implemented, the common pilots are not typically used for channel estimation because of the high probability of collisions between pilot signals transmitted by different users. The common pilots may therefore represent wasted resources. Moreover, because of the reduced number of dedicated pilot channels and the unavailability of the common pilot channels, spatial multiple access systems are at a disadvantage (relative to common pilot channel systems) in terms of channel estimation because less information may be available to estimate the spatial channels.

Reverse link channel estimation using common and dedicated pilot channels


A novel, soluble protein similar to the known Toll-like receptor (TLR) family is disclosed. The present invention relates to these new soluble polypeptides, to nucleotide sequences encoding the polypeptides, to antibodies selectively binding to the polypeptide and to expression systems suitable for producing the polypeptide. The polypeptide is useful for modulating inflammatory reactions in mammals that include the actions of TLR.

The sterile fetal intestine is abruptly colonised by environemental microbes immediately after birth. The main bacterial components early during colonisation are Gram-negative, endotoxin (LPS) producing bacteria. They may contribute to a number of infectious and inflammatory conditions of the newborn gastrointestinal tract. It has been demonstrated that breast-fed newborns have a lower incidence of intestinal infections, intestinal inflammatory conditions, lower incidence of respiratory infections, and, later in life, less allergic diseases. A number of human milk components may explain the protective role, among, others, immunocompetent cells, antibodies transfering pasive immune protection, human milk oligosaccharides, lysozyme, lactoferrin and other factors have been evoked.
Toll receptors, mediating cell signalling in Drosophila, have to be seen in a completely different context. This important family of trans-membrane molecules is primarily involved in morphogenesis, but later in the life of the adult fly its activation induces a defensive response during infections.
The mammalian homologues of the Toll receptor family were discovered recently (Medzhitov R, Janeway C A Jr. Innate immunity: the virtues of a nonclonal system of recognition, Cell (1997) 91: 295-298). Owing to the apparent relationship, the mammalian homologues are called Toll-like receptors (TLR). As Toll and Toll related proteins in the fly, TLR are transmembrane cell-surface proteins that extend into the intracellular domain. The extracellular region (N-terminal end) generally contains multiple leucine-rich repeats (LRR), and, in the known human and Drosophila family members, a top Cys-rich module that presumably is a juxtamembrane spacer. The intracellular (C-terminal end) domains of the mammalian TLR and Drosophila Toll proteins are similar to the one of the well-described Interleukin 1 and 18 receptors (IL-1R and IL-18R), which indicates similar mechanisms and participants of downstrem signal transducing. So far a family of about ten mammalian TLRs has been identified.
A lot of research has since been conducted in order to find potential ligands that could activate the TLR-mediated signalling from the extracellular side, and, to determine the intracellular signalling pathway of the activated receptor.
It has become clear that the TLR family members are part of the mammalian innate immune system responsible for recognition of and response to bacteria and bacterial cell wall components.
WO 0075358 is based on the discovery of novel TOLL family members (TOLL nucleic acid family members). It is thought that the TOLL molecules according to the invention are useful as targets for developing modulating agents. Hence, nucleotide and amino acid sequences are disclosed and claimed. FIG. 1 of WO 0075358 shows the nucleotide sequence of the human TOLL protein as well as the amino acid sequence encoded therewith. This TOLL protein may be membrane proteins, which function as receptors, and they may be involved in immune signalling mechanisms.
WO 0024776 discloses a novel molecular species TLR6 which belongs to the Toll family. Hence, TLR6 regulates the expression of various genes participating in immune response. Also a gene encoding the receptor is given.
Besides the scientific research, no technically exploitable effect and no other functioning that the ones described above has been disclosed so far.
Consequently, a problem of the present invention is to provide a means of administering an active substance to an individual, whereby the substance will regulate the activatory pathways induced by bacterial products as mediated through components of TLRs, and more specifically TLR-2.


A portable iontophoresis apparatus for facilitating delivery of medication across the cutaneous membrane into adjacent underlying tissues and blood vessels. The apparatus employs a modular, detachable non-reusable medicament-containing applicator electrode which is adapted to attach to a base assembly. The apparatus is designed to be hand-held and includes a circumferential tactile electrode band on the base assembly which provides electrical connection between the skin of the user's hand and one pole of a bipolar power source housed within the base assembly. The opposing pole of the power source is connected to the applicator electrode. The user's body completes the electrical circuit between the applicator and tactile electrodes. A method for using the device for the treatment of Herpes simplex infection and related viral infections which produce similar cutaneous lesions is presented. The apparatus, when used in accordance with the method described herein, demonstrated >90% treatment efficacy in clinical trials.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the transdermal electrokinetic mass transfer of medication into a diseased tissue, and, more specifically, to a portable apparatus for the iontophoretic delivery of medication across the skin and incorporation of the medication into diseased tissues and blood vessels adjacent to the delivery site. The apparatus provides a new method for treating and managing diseases presenting cutaneous lesions.
2. Prior Art
Iontophoresis has been employed for several centuries as a means for applying medication locally through a patient's skin and for delivering medicaments to the eyes and ears. The application of an electric field to the skin is known to greatly enhance the skin's permeability to various ionic agents. The use of iontophoretic transdermal delivery techniques has obviated the need for hypodermic injection for many medicaments, thereby eliminating the concomitant problems of trauma, pain and risk of infection to the patient.
Iontophoresis involves the application of an electromotive force to drive or repel oppositely charged ions through the dermal layers into a target tissue. Particularly suitable target tissue include tissues adjacent to the delivery site for localized treatment or tissues remote therefrom in which case the medicament enters into the circulatory system and is transported to a tissue by the blood. Positively charged ions are driven into the skin at an anode while negatively charged ions are driven into the skin at a cathode. Studies have shown increased skin penetration of drugs at anodic or cathodic electrodes regardless of the predominant molecular ionic charge on the drug. This effect is medicated by polarization and osmotic effects.
Regardless of the charge of the medicament to be administered, a iontophoretic delivery device employs two electrodes (an anode and a cathode) in conjunction with the patient's skin to form a closed circuit between one of the electrodes (referred to herein alternatively as a "working" or "application" or "applicator" electrode) which is positioned at the delivered site of drug delivery and a passive or "grounding" electrode affixed to a second site on the skin to enhance the rate of penetration of the medicament into the skin adjacent to the applicator electrode.
Recent interest in the use of iontophoresis for delivering drugs through a patient's skin to a desired treatment site has stimulated a redesign of many of such drugs with concomitant increased efficacy of the drugs when delivered transdermally. As iontophoretic delivery of medicaments become more widely used, the opportunity for a consumer/patient to iontophoretically administer a transdermal dosage of medicaments simply and safely at non-medical or non-professional facilities would be desirable and practical. Similarly, when a consumer/patient travels, it would be desirable to have a personal, easily transportable apparatus available which is operable for the iontophoretic transdermal delivery of a medication packaged in a single dosage applicator. The present invention provides a portable iontophoretic medicament delivery apparatus and a unit-dosage medicament-containing applicator electrode which is disposable and adapted for use with the apparatus for self-administering medicament.

Method for iontophoretic delivery of antiviral agents


A flat-storable container comprises a bottom deck and a pair of opposed sidewalls attached to the bottom deck in hinged relation thereto, to permit the sidewalls to lie flat against the deck in a folded position, and to stand in perpendicular relation thereto in a container-forming position. The sidewalls each typically carry a pair of opposed, foldable side flaps which are proportioned to be unfolded in the container-forming position to form lateral walls between the sidewalls. Thus, sets of the engaging side flaps define lateral container walls extending between ends of the opposed sidewalls, to define with the deck an open-top, rectangular container. A container lid is typically provided, plus straps for holding the lid on the container and for holding engaging side flaps together, when engaging side flaps are used. Alternatively each lateral wall may be defined by a single side flap. Such containers may be of relatively large size, and used in airliner baggage compartments or any other desired use.

In the airline industry, passenger luggage and other cargo is typically stored in the large holds of airliners in movable containers which are typically made of aluminum. This prevents the undue shifting of cargo, and also permits the sorting of cargo by destination, and the like, as well as assuring that the small bags in the large airliner hold will not fly around in rough transit. Typically, these aluminum cargo containers may be preloaded and then placed into the hold of the airliner.
However, the use of such aluminum cargo containers causes the airliner to be dependent upon the supply of cargo containers found at the various airports that they visit. In the event of a shortage of such cargo containers, significant problems develop in the entire cargo handling operation.
In accordance with this invention, a foldable cargo container is provided. The cargo container of this invention is flat-storable, but can be quickly assembled into an unfolded, container-forming position, for use where permanent, aluminum cargo containers are unavailable or, if desired, in place of such permanent containers. The flat-storable cargo containers of this invention may be carried along in the airplane so that the airplane will never be without a supply of cargo containers for use in its own hold. Also, the container of this invention is lighter than a typical aluminum cargo container of equal size, for saving of weight.
When the container of this invention is not needed, it may be refolded down into its flat-stored configuration, to permit its convenient storage in the cargo hold of an airplane, or a boat, a warehouse, or anywhere else where such a container would be desired.


Methods are described for generating autologous tissue grafts, including generating grafts at the point of care, which include isolated cell populations that are enriched with stem cells and are mixed with hyaluronic acid and derivatives thereof. The hyaluronic acid localizes the cells to a desired injection site and stimulates collagen production thus enhancing the viability and the longevity of the graft.

Without limiting the scope of the invention, its background is described in connection with novel compositions and methods for therapeutic delivery of reparative cell populations in the treatment of soft tissue loss and disfigurement due to pathologic, traumatic, and aging-related processes. Scaffold-based biocompatible prosthetic grafts have been used with some success for restoring soft tissue loss. See e.g. Butler, C. E. The role of bioprosthetics in abdominal wall reconstruction. Clin. Plast. Surg. 33 (2006) 199-211. Despite the availability of biocompatible grafts, functional restoration of compromised tissues and organs presents a ongoing challenge in medicine.
Coinciding with advances in both materials-based and cell-based therapeutics for injectable soft tissue augmentation, advances in stem cell biology have provided potential tools for treatment in a variety of settings. In particular, findings that tissue regenerative stem cells can be obtained from adult tissues have made autologous transplantation a possibility. Following this, findings that stem cells can be obtained from tissues other than bone marrow have made autologous transplantation a practicable solution for treatment of other than the most dire conditions. Adipose tissue has emerged as a particularly desirable source of stem cells.
However, practical application of the above mentioned advances has heretofore been unavailable for various reasons to be explained in more detail in the context of the solutions provided herein.

Reparative cell delivery via hyaluronic acid vehicles

Board of Regents, The University of Texas System


There is a receiving apparatus in which the received data is recorded by a recording head which accesses each portion of a recording medium. This receiving apparatus comprises: a discriminating circuit to discriminate whether the portion accessed by the recording head is the recorded portion or the unrecorded portion upon reception; and a control circuit for allowing the recording head to access the unrecorded portion on the basis of the result of the discrimination of the discriminating circuit. Upon reception, the control circuit controls the recording head so as to automatically access the unrecorded portion. Further, upon reception, an amount of unrecorded portions is displayed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a receiving apparatus and, more particularly, to a receiving apparatus for recording the received data onto a recording medium.
2. Related Background Art
Hitherto, for example, a facsimile apparatus has been known as a transmitting and receiving apparatus for recording the received data onto a recording medium such as, e.g., paper or the like.
In such a facsimile apparatus, the paper as a recording medium is fed at a constant speed, thereby enabling the recording head to always access the unrecorded portion of the paper.
On the other hand, for example, there is considered a receiving apparatus for recording the received data at an arbitrary position of a recording medium which can be accessed at random.
However, since such a receiving apparatus records the data at an arbitrary position of the recording medium, if the portion accessed by the recording means is unexpectedly the portion at which the data has already been recorded, the problem occurs that data may be written over previously recorded data.
In the apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus, memory means (such as, for example, a semiconductor memory) is provided and the data which has once been received is written on the memory and after completion of the writing of this data, it is recorded onto a recording medium.
For example, if a disk-shaped rotary medium is used as a recording medium, the recording medium needs to be set into the recordable state, namely, the rotary medium needs to be rotated at a constant speed. Therefore, there is a problem such that if the recording medium is driven in response to the completion of the storage of data into the memory means, a time lag occurs until the apparatus enters the actually recordable state.
On the other hand, in such a conventional facsimile apparatus, when the paper (as a recording medium onto which the received data is to be recorded) does not exist in the apparatus, a warning indicates that data cannot be received.
However, in the conventional facsimile apparatus, the amount of remaining unrecorded portion of the recording medium is not displayed. Therefore, when a large amount of data is transmitted, there is a problem such that it is impossible to know whether all of the data can be received and recorded or not. This problem occurs in not only the facsimile apparatus but also the receiving apparatus for receiving and recording the data onto the recording medium such as, e.g., the receiving apparatus for receiving and recording still image data onto a recording medium such as a magnetic sheet.

Receiving apparatus and method for selectively receiving and recording image data in response to setting of an automatic receiving mode and reproducing image data in response to a manual instruction


A method of discharging workpieces cut from a planar material on a processing machine. A workpiece discharge device has several holding elements to receive and carry respective workpieces. After receiving a cut workpiece, the discharge device is moved to a waiting position outside and adjacent a processing region of the machine, and may then be moved back into the processing region to receive a subsequently cut workpiece before being moved to an unloading station.

During processing of planar material, it is known to discharge each produced workpiece from the processing region individually, with the workpiece discharged with a discharge device after being cut free, and then being supplied to an unloading station. The cycle time required for the discharge and unloading of the workpiece can be greater than for the time required to cut out a subsequent workpiece. This can lead, particularly in the case of small workpiece parts, to waiting times and to deterioration of the degree of automation.
Reductions in cycle time, and corresponding improvements in productivity, are sought, particularly in skeleton-free processing of planar materials.


A portable electronic equipment (1) has an autostereoscopic display (11), a sensor device (2), and a controller (6, 7). The autostereoscopic display (11) comprises a display panel and an image directing device. The sensor device (2) is configured to capture distance information indicative of a distance of a user from the autostereoscopic display (11) and a direction in which the user is positioned. The controller (6, 7) is coupled to the autostereoscopic display (11) to control the display panel (12) and the image directing device based on the distance information and/or direction informa-tion. The controller (6, 7) is configured to compute plural images to be output based on the distance information, to control the display panel to output the computed plural images, and to control the image directing device based on the distance information and/or direction information.

A wide variety of portable electronic devices may be equipped with displays which provide dimensional information. Such stereoscopic imaging provides the illusion of depth to the user. This has a variety of applications in interfaces used for control operations and/or for entertainment purposes. For illustration, modern mobile telephones or personal digital assistants may be equipped with stereoscopic displays.
Autostereoscopic displays which do not require the user to wear specifically designed glasses for providing different images to the left and right eye are particularly attractive with regard to user convenience. Such autostereoscopic displays have a display panel which outputs plural images, and an optical device which directs one of the images to one eye and another one of the images to another eye of the user.
Conventionally, autostereoscopic displays have required the user to remain at a pre-defined position relative to the autostereoscopic display for obtaining good three-dimensional viewing experience. One approach to further enhance convenience for the user is based on using a multi-view configuration in which different perspective images are generated and displayed in various angular zones. This approach is computationally costly, as the constituent images of more than one perspective view must be computed even when there is only one user present in front of the display. Another approach to enhance convenience for the user is based on using an optical device overlaid on the display panel. The optical device can be controlled based on a direction in which the user is positioned relative to the autostereoscopic display.
While stereoscopic imaging can be implemented by generating only two images that are directed to the user's left and right eye, respectively, when a control of the optical device based on the direction in which the user is positioned is used, this still imposes limitations on the relative positions between the user and the autostereoscopic display where good depth illusion is provided by the autostereoscopic display.

Portable electronic equipment and method of controlling an autostereoscopic display


Methods and apparatus are provided for disabling error handling countermeasures in various processing contexts, such as by monitoring whether a given processing context requires error handling countermeasures; and disabling any recoverable error correction countermeasures when such countermeasures are not required.

The present invention relates to error handling in computing systems, for example methods and apparatus for disabling error countermeasures in a processing system.
Real-time, multimedia applications are becoming increasingly important. These applications require extremely fast processing speeds, such as many thousands of megabits of data per second. Such applications may be executed on single processing units, which are capable of fast processing speeds, as well as multi-processor architectures, which generally exhibit even faster processing speeds. Indeed, in multi-processor systems, a plurality of sub-processors can operate in parallel (or at least in concert) to achieve desired processing results.
The types of computers and computing devices that may be used to execute real-time, multimedia applications are extensive. In addition to personal computers (PCs) and servers, these computing devices include cellular telephones, mobile computers, gaming consoles, personal digital assistants (PDAs), set top boxes, digital televisions and many others.
A design concern in many processing systems is how to manage a processing error. Indeed, a processing error could affect the overall performance of the processing system and adversely impact the real-time, multimedia experience of a user. This is particularly true in a multi-processor system when the result of one sub-processing unit is to be used by other sub-processing units in order to achieve a desired result.
Hard processor errors, such as error correction code (ECC) errors, parity errors, processor hang-ups, etc., may be characterized as fatal errors or recoverable errors. Fatal errors may occur due to operating system errors, kernel errors, etc., while recoverable errors generally do not involve operating system errors or kernel errors. In accordance with conventional techniques, when a recoverable error occurs, some form of error recovery technique is employed, for example, re-booting the processing system (or re-booting a sub-processing unit in a multi-processing system) and re-executing the processor tasks from the beginning.
Under some circumstances, executing an error correction process can do more harm than good. For example, when an application program involves the processing of streaming video in a multi-media context, the execution of an error correction process may unnecessarily delay the execution of the application program. Indeed, the human eye tends to integrate video images from one frame to the next, and will often not perceive a data error in a particular frame of a streaming video clip. Thus, it may be beneficial to disable any error correction countermeasures in the streaming video context because unnecessary re-boot and/or re-execution of the given processor tasks may be avoided.
Another context in which it may be desirable to disable an error correction process is when such error countermeasures would be duplicative. For example, reference is made to co-pending, commonly assigned, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/849,623, filed May 19, 2004, entitled METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING PROCESSING ERRORS IN A MULTI-PROCESSOR SYSTEM, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. This patent application discloses a hardware-implemented error handling countermeasure in a multi-processing system environment. The system calls for moving the processor tasks from one sub-processing unit (in which an error has occurred) to another sub-processing unit that is capable of handling those tasks. It may be desirable to disable this technique of handling processing errors when other countermeasures are in place, such as software countermeasures, etc.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for new methods and apparatus for achieving efficient data processing that reduces any adverse affects of handling processing errors by at least temporarily disabling any error countermeasures when possible.

Methods and apparatus for disabling error countermeasures in a processing system


A circuit breaker (10) has a housing (12). A crossbar (114) is pivotally connected to the housing to pivot about an axis (117) between open and closed positions. A load contact arm (110) is pivotally connected to the crossbar (114). The load contact arm (110) is capable of pivoting about the axis (117). A cam mechanism (140) is mechanically coupled to the load contact arm (110). The cam mechanism (140) is slideably mounted within the crossbar (114) for movement between first and second positions. In the first position of the cam mechanism (140), the load contact arm (110) pivots through an angle (.beta.) about the axis, relative to the crossbar (114) between the "touch" and closed positions, and the load contact arm (110) pivots together with the crossbar (114) through an angle (.alpha.) about the axis (117) between the open and "touch" positions. (2) In the second position of the cam mechanism (140), the load contact arm (110) is free to pivot about the axis (117) through the angle .alpha. to the open position while the crossbar (114) is in the closed position. A biasing spring (160) applies a biasing force to bias the cam mechanism (140) towards the first position.

This invention relates to the contact operating mechanism of a circuit breaker and more particularly to a cam structure in that mechanism which improves blow-open performance of the contact arm of the circuit breaker during short circuit conditions.
The terms "blow open" or "blow off" are commonly used to describe a current interrupting mechanism which is used to handle very large short-circuit overcurrent conditions (e.g. when the current flow may be greater than 100 times the rated current of the breaker). The blow open mechanism causes the breaker contacts to open during the first millisecond that the overcurrent condition exists. This rapid operation is important to limit the current flow to a fraction of the available current and, therefore, to limit damage to the breaker and to apparatus connected to receive power through the circuit breaker.
The blow open force is a magnetic force which is generated by the large current flowing through a load contact arm (load blade) and a line contact arm (line strap) of the circuit breaker. To generate sufficient force to "blow open" the load and line contacts, the breaker is designed such that the load blade is in close proximity to and parallel to the line strap at least along part of its length. In addition, the currents flowing through the parallel portions of the load blade and the line strap are in opposite directions. This current flow produces opposing magnetic fields. Because the load blade and line strap are in close proximity, these opposing magnetic fields interact strongly, producing forces sufficient to blow the contacts apart more quickly than the current flow could be stopped by the instantaneous tripping function of the circuit breaker mechanism. When the contacts have been blown open, some current will continue to flow due to electrical arcs in the arc chamber and ionization of the air in the arc chamber. These currents plus the initial overcurrent condition, activate the trip mechanism of the breaker to ensure that the contacts do not reclose after they have been blown open.
The strength of the magnetic fields is a function of: 1) the amount of current flowing through the breaker, 2) the length of the parallel portions of the load blade and line strap and 3) the separation between the load blade and line contact. While this force can be made quite large by lengthening the parallel portions of the load blade and line strap, it may be difficult to implement a design of this type in the small space that is typically allowed for a circuit breaker. The blow-open force may also be increased by reducing the separation between the load blade and the line strap. This minimum separation, however, is limited by factors such as the need for strong electrical insulation between the load blade and line strap, the strength of the housing for the breaker and the ease with which the breaker may be assembled.
Another way in which the blow open force may be adjusted is to reduce the biasing force that holds the contacts closed during normal operation. If this force is reduced to too great an extent, however, the contacts may undesirably open during normal operation.
Some circuit breakers provide contact pressure by means of a plain spring-biasing the contact arm to the closed position. During blow open, the spring provides an opposing force that increases and is proportional to angle of opening of the contact arm. A problem with this structure is that the contact arm opens more slowly during a short circuit due to the higher opposing spring forces, and the contact arm is more likely to reclose before the electric current stops flowing.
A further conventional circuit breaker requires different amounts of force for normal opening and for a blow open condition. This capability is provided via a cam surface fixed to the crossbar, and a spring-biased pin that slides in a slot in the contact arm. A disadvantage of such a construction is that it requires a multi-piece crossbar because the cam needs to be metallic in order to resist wear. In other systems, this capability is provided by a cam surface on the edge of the contact arm. A spring-biased member acts against the cam-shaped edge of contact arm near the pivoting end. Such a structure typically requires a relatively large amount of space.
Still another conventional circuit breaker uses a spring, acting in compression, with one end hinged on a molded crossbar and the other end hinged on the contact arm. This creates a bi-stable toggle action. The disadvantages of this design, are (1) typically, the toggle mechanism is not compact because the spring must swing through a wide rotation angle relative to the crossbar, and (2) the toggle mechanism may cause a torque acting against the operating mechanism after a blow open event, reducing the force available to rotate the crossbar to the open position.
An improved circuit breaker is desired for quickly opening in a blow open condition, without occupying excessive space.

Movable contact structure for a circuit breaker, including crossbar and spring biased cam mechanism


The apparatus of the present invention uses radar altimeter measurements and stored terrain altitude profiles to provide pre-filtered observations to a Kalman filter for estimating barometric offset at the airport runway, and barometric scale factor for offsets above the runway. These offsets are used with the smoothed baro-inertial output from an inertial reference system to provide 3 dimensional constant rate of descent approach procedures to replace non-precision approach procedures based on constant barometric altitude step approaches. The horizontal positions used as reference for the stored terrain altitude profiles are obtained from a prior art navigation apparatus. The integrity of all measurements is assured by using long term averages of the Kalman filter residuals to detect failures. In addition, the estimated baro offset at the runway is compared for consistency with the baro offset obtained by the pilot from the airport by radio.

Th invention relates generally to aircraft navigation apparatus used during an approach, and more particularly to apparatus combining an inertial reference system (IRS) using air data inputs with the Global Positioning System (GPS) and a radar altimeter. This apparatus can be used on a worldwide basis to replace non-precision approach procedures with 3-dimensional approach procedures, without the use of any ground-based augmentation systems.
It is generally recognized that it will be many years before satellite navigation augmentation systems, such as the wide-area augmentation system (WAAS) and equivalent systems, will provide such a capability. As stated in Aviation Week magazine, 8/18/97, pp 23, 26, "nonprecision approaches are associated with 60% of the commercial airline crashes worldwide that are attributed to controlled flight into terrain (CFIT)" and "CFIT is the leading cause of fatal accidents in commercial aviation." "[I]t will be at least 10-15 years before fully autonomous, airborne navigation systems with 3-D capabilities are available to replace them".
The technology required for fully autonomous airborne navigation systems with 3-D capabilities already exists today in the proven 3D AIME™ system of the present invention. Unlike WAAS, the 3D AIME™ system will be available on a worldwide basis autonomously on the aircraft, without using any ground based navigation aids.

Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Company, Inc.


Provided is a front structure of a vehicle 1, and the front structure includes a pair of side frames 2 and a first cross member 31. The pair of side frames 2 are disposed respectively on both sides of the vehicle in a vehicle-width direction and extend in a front-to-rear direction. The first cross member extends in the vehicle-width direction, and connects front-end portions 25 of the pair of side frames 2. Each of the front-end portions 25 of the side frames 2 includes a protruding portion 26 that extends frontwards integrally thereof beyond the first cross member 31. In the event of a frontal collision of the vehicle 1, the protruding portions 26 absorb the produced energy, so that the amount of deformation of portions respectively of the side frames 2 located at rear sides of the front-end portions 25 can be reduced.

In the event of a frontal collision of a vehicle against a rigid barrier (hereinafter referred to as a barrier), the kinetic energy is absorbed by effectively deforming a chassis frame that hits the barrier, so that a survival space can be secured and the safety of the occupants can be thus improved.
JP-A-2000-203451 discloses a structure in which inner reinforcements are fixed respectively to a pair of side-member bodies which extend in a front-to-rear direction and each of which has an inflecting portion formed in a middle portion thereof. Each of the inner reinforcements has a variable cross-sectional structure which provides approximately uniform cross-sectional stiffness to the corresponding side-member body.    Patent Document 1: JP-A-2000-203451


A power in a mechanical energy transfer between one of several stationary machines and a shaft assembly is determined. The shaft assembly traverses the machine along a given axis and it rotates about the axis with an angular velocity. The torsion angle by which the shaft assembly is twisted in the machine is measured, and the power in the energy transfer is determined from the product of the torsion angle with a predetermined calibration coefficient. Measuring devices are positioned at the shaft assembly on both sides of the machine which measure the torsion angle. A computer receives the measurement signals from the measuring devices and determines therefrom the power. The system is particularly important in a monitoring system for a machine set with a plurality of machines along a shaft assembly, such as in turbo sets.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to a method for determining a power by means of which mechanical energy is exchanged between a stationary machine and a shaft assembly which traverses the machine along a given axis and which rotates about the axis with a given angular velocity, and whereby the energy in the shaft assembly flows along the axis.
The invention further pertains to the determination of a power which is output by a machine onto a shaft assembly, and to the determination of a power which a machine absorbs from a shaft assembly.
2. Description of the Related Art
Several kinds of methods and devices for determining a power with which mechanical energy is exchanged between a stationary machine and a rotating shaft assembly have become known in the pertinent art. In particular, there has become known a device in which the determination of the power is derived from a torque which becomes active in a test specimen introduced into the shaft assembly and which causes torsion in the latter. The test specimen may, for example, be an appropriately tapered piece of the shaft assembly which is provided with suitable sensors.
With regard to specific prior art publications, reference may be had to U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,440,938 and 5,452,616 (corresp. EP 0 609 726 A2), GB 2 262 345 A, U.S. Pat. No. 5,215,145 (corresp. EP 0 412 780 A2), and to an extract from "Patent Abstracts of Japan", Volume 11, No. 35 (P542) [2482]. Each of these documents relates to a measurement method and a measuring device for determining a power with which mechanical energy flows through a rotating shaft. The device respectively comprises a plurality of shaft marks provided on the shaft, a plurality of stationary sensors each assigned to a shaft mark, and means for evaluating signals which are output by the sensors and from which the power is calculated. In each case, the shaft between the shaft marks is configured simply and without structure, that is to say it is a slight spacing from one another. This configuration permits the torsion of the shaft occurring for the given power to be predicted theoretically and renders it possible for the power to be measured directly and in absolute terms using such predictions. While these systems provide certain advantages, the devices are deprived of flexibility with regard to further developments. Also, every known device and every known method must manage with a comparatively slight torsion of the rotating shaft, which may lead to substantial impairment of the accuracy of the measurement.
This invention is particularly directed to monitoring a machine set consisting of a plurality of machines, with the machines of the machine set being arranged successively along a common, rotating shaft assembly. For example, the inventor gave particular consideration to a single-shaft turbo set comprising, as a rule, a plurality of steam turbines, in some instances a gas turbine, and a generator. With regard to this application, reference may be had once again to U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,440,938 and 5,452,616 (EP 0 609 726 A2). It is often most important in such an environment to ensure carefully tune and balance the supply and extraction of mechanical energy to the individual machines, in order to load the machines evenly and to avoid overloading. Overloading can consist in this case both in an excessive load and in unplanned idling; the last criterion applies, in particular, to a steam turbine which given inadequate application of steam operates no longer as a turbine but as a compressor and can thereby be exposed to extreme temperature loads.

Method and device for determining a power


A fishing spinning reel that includes a rotor having a pair of opposing arms on both sides of a rotor body, wherein one of the pair of arms is provided with, at a forefront end thereof, a supporting member including a fishing line guide; a spool configured to wind up a fishing line through the fishing line guide; and a stiffening member extending from each of fore portions of the pair of the arms towards a rear portion of the rotor body. In one embodiment, the stiffening member is formed to be more spaced apart from the pair of the arms as approaching butt ends of the pair of the arms. In one embodiment, a portion of the stiffening member apart from the pair of arms may be connected to the rotor body.

The present invention relates to a fishing spinning reel having a rotor that is rotatable in response to a rotating operation of a handle.
A conventional fishing spinning reel comprises a rotor having a line roller, a handle, and a spool for winding up a fishing line. A rotating operation of the handle causes the rotor to rotate and simultaneously causes the spool to reciprocate. The rotor comprises a cylindrical body having a pair of arms on both sides of a rear end of the rotor body. A fishing line is wound up on the reciprocating spool through a line roller disposed on one of the pair of arms.
When the handle rotates in response to a bite, a significant load may be applied to the fishing line and may cause the pair of arms to be deformed in a radially inward direction, which may bring the pair of the arms into abutting contact with an outer periphery of the spool. In addition, when a fishing line is pulled out by performing a drag operation, the deformation of the arms may cause a pulsation of the fishing line, which may prevent a smooth drag operation.
Japanese Patent No. 2,894,422 discloses a fishing spinning reel comprising a belt-like stiffening member that is arranged on a fishing line releasing side to connect the front ends of a pair of arms with a predetermined radial clearance from the outer surface of the rotor.


A method for making a shoebox includes preparing a pulp tank and a mold which includes a first upper mold, a first lower mold and a second lower mold; a step of forming a flat sheet of a semi-final product which includes closing the first upper and lower molds to produce the semi-final product; a step of vacuum suction and mold movement which includes vacuum sucking the semi-final product to the first upper mold, moving the first upper mold to above the second lower mold; a step of hot pressing of the semi-final product into a flat sheet of a final product with patterns and fold lines by closing and heating the first upper mold and the second lower mold; and a step of separating the first upper mold and the second lower mold, taking out the final product and folding it into a shoebox.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a shoebox, and more particularly to a method for making a shoebox.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As shown in FIGS. 1A-1B, a method for making a shoebox usually comprises: using a molding machine to form three layers of large sheets, which include two exterior layers 11, 12 and a wavy interior layer 13; coating the two exterior layers 11, 12 and the wavy interior layer 13 with adhesive, and gluing the wavy interior layer 13 between the two exterior layers 11, 12 to form a cardboard; printing of patterns or characters (not shown); cutting and pressing the cardboard into an unfolded sheet 14 of a shoebox with fold lines 141, and finally folding the unfolded sheet 14 into a shoebox.
In addition to the fact that the manufacturing process is too complicated since it involves the processes of gluing, cutting and folding, wastes will also be produced during the cutting process, which is cost intensive and environmentally unfriendly.
The conventional shoebox is only capable of being printed with two-dimensional patterns or characters, and the use of printing ink is detrimental to human health.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages.


Specifically provided is a light emitting device for image display, wherein each of light emitting elements, a PWM control unit which PWM-controls a current to be supplied to the light emitting element, a control condition setting unit which, according to the APL of image data, determines and updatably sets the PWM limiting condition for limiting the PWM value that is the duty ratio of the PWM control, and the reference current value that is the value of the current flowing to the light emitting element in response to turn-on of the PWM control, and a PWM value calculation unit which on the basis of the image data, the PWM limit condition, and the reference current value, calculates the PWM value of each area, and the PWM control unit performs the PWM control on the basis of the reference current value and the calculated PWM value.

Conventionally, various image display apparatuses such as a liquid crystal display apparatus, a PDP [Plasma Display Panel] and the like are proposed. Generally, an image display apparatus is provided with a light emitting device for image display that emits light which is used for image display. The image display apparatus suitably controls light transmittance and light intensity based on given image data, thereby displaying an image.
For example, a liquid crystal display apparatus includes a backlight unit (which corresponds to a portion of the above light emitting device for image display) and a liquid crystal panel; to display an image, light transmittance of the backlight unit is controlled by the liquid crystal panel. Besides, as such backlight unit, various types are devised.
As an example, a backlight is devised, in which a plate-shaped member disposed to oppose a liquid crystal panel is divided in a plurality of areas (regions) and light emitting elements are disposed on each area. Besides, further, a patent document 1 discloses a type of backlight unit (hereinafter, sometimes called an "area drive type" for the sake of convenience), in which light emitted from light emitting elements disposed in each area is controlled for each area.
According to the image display apparatus disclosed in the patent document 1, brightness of backlight (i.e., light emission power supplied to the light emitting element of the backlight unit) is adjustable for each area based on image data (i.e., the brighter a corresponding image portion is, the brighter light the light emitting element belonging to the area is made to emit), and an image having a high contrast ratio is obtainable.
Here, as the light emitting element, an element, typically, an LED [Light Emitting Diode], which emits light in accordance with a supplied current (brightness of the emitted light changes), is the most common. Besides, consumed power of a backlight unit using such a light emitting element nearly depends on a sum of currents flowing (supplied) in respective light emitting elements when a voltage applied to the light emitting element during a time of light emission is constant.

Light emitting device for image display, image display apparatus, and LED driver


Two-part anti-fouling and anti-icing coating materials. The A side contains an epoxy resin, and the B side includes a reactive silicone. Particulate metal may be added to the A side for increased wear and the minimization of differential thermal expansion between the coatings and the substrates to which the coatings are applied. Multiple applications of the coating may be made but are not in all cases required.

Ship and boat hulls and other underwater structures are commonly coated to keep barnacles, tubeworms, and other marine organisms from adhering to the hull or other structure. Such organisms can damage the structure to which they adhere and, in the case of ship and boat hulls, significantly increase the drag on the hull as it moves through the water. This disadvantageously reduces the speed which the hull can achieve and increases the fuel required to drive the ship or boat through the water.
Fouling has heretofore been dealt with by coating or impregnating a vessel or structure with a composition containing a microbiocide. Among the microbiocidal compounds heretofore employed to retard fouling by marine organisms are tributyl tin, copper dioxide, and copper hydroxide. All of these compounds are water-soluble, self-leaching, and highly toxic. Current federal regulations prohibit the use of coatings which contain tributyl tin and regulations limiting the use of copper dioxide and copper hydroxide are being promulgated in ever increasing numbers in the interest of protecting the marine ecosystems.
There is accordingly a current and continuing need for new coatings which can be employed to retard the fouling of vessels and underwater structures with the effectiveness of those heretofore available but which will, at the same time, not require the highly toxic compounds currently employed in anti-fouling coatings.
Icing is another pervasive problem. For example, ice may accumulate in a thickness of many inches on the rigging of a boat fishing in Arctic or sub-Arctic waters. This can make the vessel top heavy and significantly affect the stability of the vessel. Also, drag is increased with a concomitant increase in fuel consumption.
Equally well known problems arise when ice and mud accumulate on other structures. As a single example, the freezing of water to the inner walls of a coal hopper can make it difficult and expensive to unload the coal from the hopper.
Consequently, there is also a need for coatings which can be employed to inhibit the build-up of ice and mud on a variety of structures in circumstances where such build-up would be disadvantageous.


The present invention is an apparatus for forming nozzles in a nozzle member for a printhead. The apparatus includes a radiation source for forming nozzles of a selected shape in the nozzle member. Also included is a support layer positioned proximate the nozzle member opposite the radiation source. The support layer is formed of a material that is selected to limit energy transfer from the support layer to prevent damage to the nozzle member.

The present invention relates to ink jet printers and, more particularly, to the formation of nozzles in a printhead nozzle member for use with an ink jet printer.
Thermal ink jet printers operate by rapidly heating a small volume of ink and causing the ink to vaporize, thereby ejecting a droplet of ink through an orifice to strike a recording medium, such as a sheet of paper. When a number of orifices are arranged in a pattern, the properly sequenced ejection of ink from each orifice causes characters or other images to be printed upon the recording media as the printhead is moved relative to the recording medium.
In these printers, print quality depends upon the physical characteristics of the orifices, or nozzles, in the printhead. For example, the geometry of the nozzles affects the size, shape, trajectory, and speed of the ink drop ejected. Therefore, it is critical that the nozzles formed have the proper taper and that the nozzles are uniform both on the same printhead and from printhead to printhead.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,291,226 to Schantz et al, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, is incorporated herein by reference describes a method for forming tapered ink jet nozzles using a laser ablation technique. A Tape Automated Bonding (TAB) technique is used to form the printheads in long strips of film or tapes which extend between a pair of reels. Sprocket holes are formed in the tape to accurately transport and position the tape beneath a radiation source which is used to form the nozzle members. A metal support layer is positioned adjacent the nozzle member opposite a radiation source such as an excimer laser. The radiation source then provides a selected amount of energy for a selected time period in a selected location to ablate through the nozzle member thereby forming a properly tapered nozzle. A vacuum hole is located in the metal support layer beneath the nozzles is used to remove debris during ablation.
A problem associated with this technique is that the nozzle is not ablated uniformly. As a result a portion of the debris that is to be ablated remains partially attached to the nozzle member and is pulled toward the support member by the vacuum. This partially attached portion of debris referred to as a "trapdoor" remains attached to the nozzle member and is not removed by the ablation process. This debris or trapdoors must be removed in an additional manufacturing step adding to the production cost of the printhead.
In an attempt to prevent trap door formation the vacuum holes beneath the nozzles were eliminated. A problem with eliminating vacuum holes has been damage to the nozzle member in the region proximate the nozzle. Applicants believe that this damage to the nozzle member is due to one of the following mechanisms. The first of these mechanisms is that the support layer reflects some of the energy which is incident on the support layer toward the nozzle member which increases the amount of energy being provided to the nozzle member. This increase in energy provided to the nozzle member results in ablation of additional portions of the nozzle member. Ablation of the nozzle member resulting from reflections from the support layer surface tends to result in poorly defined orifice tapers as well as the ablation of the orifice surface adjacent the support layer or support member. Nozzle members having poorly formed tapers as well as ablated surfaces adjacent the taper form poor quality images on print media.
A second mechanism which can account for the observed damage to the nozzle member is that localized heating of the support layer due to absorption of incident energy from the radiation source which produces conductive heating of the orifice layer. If this conductive heating of the orifice layer is sufficient to heat the orifice layer to a glass transition temperature deformation of the orifice layer adjacent the support layer can occur.
Another problem is that the heating of the support layer surface results in conductive heating of the nozzle member which produces thermal expansions which alters nozzle spacing. Because the heating of the support layer is very localized and for short time durations it is difficult to provide cooling to maintain a support layer temperature that is both uniform sufficiently low to prevent thermal expansion which can alter nozzle spacing or damage to the nozzle member or nozzle member films.
There is an ever present need for techniques for forming tapered nozzles in polymer based nozzle members. These techniques should allow for the reliable formation of properly tapered nozzles with little or no defect. In addition, this technique should allow the nozzle members formed to have a high degree of consistency thereby producing a more uniform and consistent drop size from orifice member to orifice member. Finally, this technique should be well suited to a manufacturing environment to reduce the cost and complexity of the manufacturing process.

Method and apparatus for laser ablating a nozzle member


The invention provides a dining table including integral dishwasher units. An access cover providing access to the dishwasher is provided in the dining surface and is adapted for being recessed within portions of the dining surface while the user is dining. A perforate chute extending from below the dining surface into the dishwasher is used for placing and retrieving dishes and for storing dishes during washing. A pot washer is used to wash pots and other large utensils in a separate washer. The pot washer includes a pot washer basket which is slidably mounted on a fixed support in such a way as to be accessible through doors from either side of the table. A switch arrangement prevents the potwasher from being used except when the doors are closed. The control panel as well as compartments for condiments and the like are mounted in such a way as to be accessible to the handicapped.

A relatively recent review of the prior art is to be found in applicant's prior U.S. Pat. No. 6,378,537 issued Apr. 30, 2002, as well as in Applicant's co-pending patent application Ser. No. 10/378,511 for "Dining Table with Integral Dishwasher" and anticipated to issue as U.S. Pat. No. 6,832,618 on Dec. 21, 2004. The present application for patent constitutes a continuation in part of patent application Ser. No. 10/378,511.
Reference to the prior art as described in said U.S. Pat. No. 6,378,537 and patent application Ser. No. 10/378,511, as well as the teachings of said '537 patent and '511 patent application should be regarded as being incorporated herein by reference and will not be duplicated here. The reader's attention is directed to such prior art review as being useful background for understanding the present invention that represents an improvement over the apparatus described in the aforementioned '537 patent and '511 patent application.
With the above mentioned background in mind, the present invention has for its principal object that of providing a dining table with both an integral dishwasher as well as an integral pot washer of simplified construction and arrangement and adapted to provide ease of access to its washing and storage components particularly when used by handicapped individuals. Other objects will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Table-dishwasher apparatus particularly adapted for use by the handicapped


A solid axle is laterally positioned by a pan-hard rod. The fore, aft and vertical position of the axle is controlled by a combination of a windup link and a canted position link. The position link is attached to the body or frame of the vehicle at one of its ends and at its other end it is attached to the windup link. One end of the windup link is attached to the axle and the other is attached to the vehicle body or frame. The geometric relationship between the windup link and the position link determine the ride and roll motion of the axle and the wheel centers. Advantageously, the unique arrangement of the windup link and position link effect a roll steer characteristic that is independent of side view wheel path motion.

The rear axles of vehicles can generally be classified as independent, twist or solid. With a solid axle the two rear-wheels of a vehicle are connected together with some form of a rigid beam, bar or tube so that when one of the wheels encounters an irregularity in the road surface the other wheel is also affected. This type of construction gives rise to the terminology: solid axle suspension. In the usual case, this type of axle is found at the rear of a rear-wheel drive vehicle and is therefore a live axle, meaning that the attached wheels are driven through a connected drive shaft from the vehicle's engine. With a typical solid axle suspension such as the conventional five-link type, roll steer characteristics are effected by the side view wheel path motion. Side view wheel path motion generally influences the steering motion of the axle and thus, the wheels with respect to the vehicle's body during roll motion. This is because the fore-aft location of the wheel relative to the body can change as the suspension system deflects in jounce and rebound motions. As changes occur in the fore-aft location of the wheels during body roll, one wheel jounce, and one wheel rebound, roll steer is imparted to the axle. The effects can induce vehicle understeer or oversteer. Preferably roll steer characteristics that are imparted to a vehicle's body would be independent of side view wheel path motion.


A thiophene compound represented by formula (I):

Polythiophenes have been studied extensively due to their interesting electrical and/or optical properties. Polythiophenes become electrically conducting upon chemical or electrochemical oxidation or reduction. Their ultimately achievable electrical conductivity is determined by their chemical composition, the stereoregularity of the polymerization of the thiophene monomers in the polythiophene chain and by their π-conjugation lengths. Such stereoregularity problems do not arise when unsubstituted thiophenes or thiophenes substituted in the 3- and 4-positions with identical groups are polymerized.
EP-A 257 573 discloses an intrinsically electrically conductive polymer, wherein through connection in the 2-position and/or the 5-position are coupled to one another, statistically averaged from 60 to 100% by weight structural units, which are derived from at least one monomer of the formula (1):
in which R1 is a C1–C2-alkoxy group or —O(CH2CH2O)nCH3 with n=1 to 4 and R2 is a hydrogen atom, a C1–C12-alkyl group, a C1–C12-alkoxy group or —O(CH2CH2O)nCH3 with n=1 to 4, or R1 and R2 together are —O(CH2)m—CH2— or —O(CH2)m—O— with m=1 to 12, 0 to 40% by weight structural units, which are derived from at least one monomer of the formula (2):
wherein R4 and R5 are independently of one another a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C1–C12 alkyl group or aryl or together with C-atoms connected to them form an aromatic ring, R3 and R6 independently of one another represent a hydrogen atom or R3 together with R4 and the C-atoms connected to them or R5 together with R6 and the C-atoms connected to them each form an aromatic ring, X represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a ═NH group, a ═N-alkyl group or a ═N-aryl group, 0 to 40& by weight structural units, which are derived from at least one monomer of formula (3):
where R7, R8, R9 and R10 independently of one another represent a hydrogen atom, a C1–C12 alkyl group, a C1–C12 alkoxy group or an aryl group, Y and Z independently of one another represent an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a ═NH group, a ═N-alkyl group or a ═N-aryl group, R11 represents an arylene group, a heteroarylene group or a conjugated system of the formula (CH═CH)o, wherein o is 1, 2 or 3, 0 to 40& by weight structural units, which are derived from at least one monomer of formula (4):
wherein R12 and R13 independently of one another represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C1–C12 alkyl group, a C1–C12 alkoxy group, a C1–C4 alkylamino group or a C1–C4 acylamino group, R14 represents a halogen atom, a C1–C12 alkyl group, a C1–C12 alkoxy group, a C1–C4 alkylamino group or a C1–C4 acylamino group and X has the meaning given above, wherein the polymer in the oxidized form is completely soluble in dipolar aprotic solvents at 25° C. and solutions with a content of at least 0.1 g of the polymer in 100 mL solvent at 25° C. are obtained.
EP-A 339 340 discloses a polythiophene containing structural units of the formula:
in which A denotes an optionally substituted C1–C4-alkylene radical, its preparation by oxidative polymerization of the corresponding thiophene and exemplifies poly(3,4-ethylene-dioxythiophene), poly[3,4-(1′-methyl)ethylenedioxy-thiophene], poly[3,4-(1′-n-hexyl)-ethylene-dioxythiophene) and poly[3,4-(1′-n-decyl)ethylenedioxythiophene]. B Sankaran and J. R. Reynolds in 1995 in Polymer Material Science and Engineering, volume 72, pages 319–320 disclosed the synthesis of 3,4-(1′-n-octyl)ethylenedioxy-thiophene, 3,4-(1′-n-tetradecyl)-ethylenedioxythiophene and their corresponding homopolymers and D. M. Welsh et al. in 1997 in Polymer Preprints, volume 38(2), page 320 disclosed acrylate- and glyme-substituted 3,4-(1′-hydroxymethyl)-ethylenedioxythiophene). S. C. Ng et al. in 1997 in Journal of Materials Science Letters, volume 16, pages 809–811 disclosed the synthesis of 3,4-(1′-allyloxymethyl)ethylenedioxythiophene, 3,4-(1′-glycidoxymethyl-ethylene)dioxy-thiophene and 3,4-(1′-ω-hydroxyhexyloxymethyl)-ethylenedioxythiophene, 3,4-(2′-allyloxymethyl-propylene)dioxy-thiophene, 3,4-(2′-glycidoxy-methyl)propylenedioxy-thiophene and 3,4-(2′-ω-hydroxyhexyloxy-methyl)propylenedioxy-thiophene and their corresponding homopolymers. O. Stephan, et al. in 1998 in Journal of Electoanalytical Chemistry, volume 443, pages 217–226 disclosed the synthesis of 3,4-(1′-ω-sulfobutyloxymethyl)ethylenedioxythiophene and the corresponding homopolymer. P. Scottland et al. in 1998 in J. Chim. Phys., volume 95, pages 1258–1261 disclosed the synthesis of 3,4-(1′-n-hexyloxymethyl)-ethylenedioxythiophene, 3,4-(1′-n-octyloxymethyl)ethylenedioxy-thiophene, 3,4-(1′-n-decyloxymethyl)ethylenedioxythiophene, 3,4-(1′-n-dodecyloxymethyl)ethylenedioxythiophene, 3,4-(1′-n-tetradecyloxymethyl)ethylenedioxythiophene, 3,4-(1′-n-hexadecyloxymethyl)ethylenedioxythiophene and their corresponding homopolymers. S. Akoudad et al. in 2000 in Electochemistry Communications, volume 2, pages 72–76 disclosed the synthesis of 3,4-(1′-(polyoxyethyleneoxymethyl-ethylene)dioxy-thiophene and the corresponding homopolymer.
D. M. Welsh et al. in 1999 in Polymer Preprints, volume 40(2), page 1206 disclosed the synthesis of 3,4-(2′,2′-dimethyl)-propylenedioxythiophene and 3,4-(2′,2′-diethyl)propylenedioxythiophene by a transetherification reaction and polymers derived therefrom. L. J. Kloeppner et al. in 1999 in Polymer Preprints, volume 40(2), page 792 also disclosed the synthesis of 3,4-(2′,2′-diethyl)propylenedioxythiophene, 3,4-(2′,2′-dibutyl)propylene-dioxythiophene and 3,4-(2′,2′-dioctyl)propylenedioxythiophene by a transetherification reaction and polymers derived therefrom.
M. Lemaire et al. in 1988 in Journal of the Chemical Society Chemical Communications page 658 disclosed the polymerization of the chiral thiophenes: (S)(+)- and (R)(−)-2-phenylbutyl ether of 3-propylthiophene. M. M. Bouman et al. in 1995 disclosed the polymerization of poly{3-[2-((S)-2-methylbutoxy)ethyl]thiophene}. Furthermore, G. Bidam, S. Guillerez and V. Sorokin in 1996 in Advanced Materials, volume 8, pages 157–160 disclosed the preparation of regioregular poly[3-(S-3′,7′-dimethyloctyl)-thiophene]. They showed that if the steric group is far enough removed from the backbone then the conjugation is relatively unaffected and this polymer exhibited large conformational changes induced by minute solvent variation.
B. Groenendaal, G. Zotti and F. Jonas in 2001 in Synthetic Metals, volume 118(1–3), pages 105–109 disclosed the conductivity of electrochemically polymerized 3,4-(1′-methyl)ethylenedioxy-thiophene, 3,4-(1′-n-hexyl-ethylene)-dioxythiophene, 3,4-(1′-n-decyl)ethylene-dioxythiophene and 3,4-(1′-n-tetradecyl)ethylene-dioxythiophene and established that poly(3,4-ethylenedioxy-thiophene)s substituted at the 1′-position with n-alkyl groups with 10 carbon atoms or less exhibited lower electrical conductivities than that of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene). Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) substituted with a n-C14H29 group exhibited a 30% increase in electrical conductivity compared with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxy-thiophene) from 650 to 850 S/cm.
A general drawback of conductive polymers which have been prepared and studied up to now, is that their conductivities are still too low for certain applications, their visible light transmittances are insufficiently high and/or they are not processable.

Thiophenes and polymers derived therefrom

Abstract: in which:

Abstract: A represents a C2–C5 alkylene bridge; R represents a stereoselectively substituted, linear or branched C2–C24 alkyl, C3–C18 cycloalkyl, C1–C18 alkoxy or polyethyleneoxide group, optionally substituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of an alcohol, amide, ether, ester or sulfonate group; or an optionally substituted aryl group having at least one chiral center substituted at said C2–C5 alkylene bridge; polymers derived therefrom; a process for polymerizing a thiophene according to formula (I), optionally chemically or electrochemically; and dispersions, pastes and layers containing polymers derived therefrom.


The present disclosure provides a cDNA, protein sequence, and genomic structure of the human cardiac isoform of myosin light chain kinase (cMLCK), and describes mutations in the cMLCK gene that are associated with cardiac dysfunction. Methods are provided for identifying individuals who can harbor mutations in the cMLCK gene, or carry alleles that can predisposed them to cardiac dysfunction. Disclosed also is a significant role for cMLCK in modulating cardiac contractility. The cMLCK protein is shown herein to reduce the amplitude of stretch activation and increase the tension production, a property of muscle which has heretofore had an unknown role in cardiac contraction. Moreover, the cMLCK protein is shown to be regionally distributed in the heart, thereby having differential effects on contractility and stretch activation. Methods herein are provided to exploit this effect of cMLCK, to treat individuals who have or are prone to cardiac dysfunction. In addition, methods are provided to identify agents that modulate cMLCK activity, thereby having potential therapeutic importance in the treatment of cardiac dysfunction.

The function of a mammal's circulatory system—its heart, lungs, blood vessels and red blood cells—is to provide oxygen and nutrients to every cell. The heart's role is to pump oxygenated red blood cells to the tissues, to receive deoxygenated blood from the tissues, and to pump deoxygenated blood to the lungs where it can again take up oxygen. Heart failure can be viewed as the failure to fulfill this role.
Heart failure affects more than 2 million Americans, and is a major cause of illness, hospitalization, and death around the world. Currently available therapies includes medications such as digoxin and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, but these have had limited impact on morbidity and mortality. Left ventricular assist devices show promise, but remain experimental. Cardiac transplantation is limited by a shortage of available hearts, and the need for permanent immunosuppression. Thus, improved therapies for heart failure are needed.
To develop improved therapies for heart failure, a more complete understanding of the heart's normal operation is needed. With this more complete understanding, specific aspects of heart function can be targeted for pharmacologic therapy, gene therapy, and other novel therapeutic approaches.
Many basic facts about heart function are known. The heart is largely made up of cardiac muscle, or myocardium. The myocardium mediates the heart's pumping function by automatically contracting and relaxing in a cyclical manner. The contraction drives the blood forward, while the relaxation phase creates negative pressure that helps the heart to fill with blood. This alternation of myocardial contraction and relaxation is termed the cardiac cycle.
In pumping blood, the vertebrate heart takes advantage of the increased efficiency of wringing compared to compression. Just as both hands rotate in opposite directions during the squeeze, the base of the heart rotates in the clockwise direction as the apex rotates counter-clockwise. An advantage of these mechanics is the reduction of chamber volume and consequential decrease in wall stress. The orientations of many cardiac muscle bundles facilitate the wringing as well as compressing forces.
The molecular motor that drives contraction of cardiac muscle is myosin. The role of myosin is to transduce chemical energy into movement by hydrolyzing the high-energy phosphodiester bond of ATP.
Myosin is a large protein made up of three subunits, the myosin heavy chain and two myosin light chains termed essential light chain (ELC) and regulatory light chain (RLC). The myosin heavy chain is an elongated molecule with a filamentous tail and a globular head. A "neck" region lies between the tail and head. The tails self-assemble into filaments, with the myosin head extending outward from the filament. These myosin-containing filaments are termed thick filaments. They interact with thin filaments, which contain actin polymers. The actin polymers activate the ATPase activity found in the myosin head. Movement is generated when the myosin heads: (1) bind to actin filaments; (2) hydrolyze ATP, thereby generating a lever like motion at the myosin neck; and (3) detach from sites on the actin-containing thin filament. The constant repetition of this cycle pushes the thin filament past the thick filaments, thereby generating differential motion. Multiplied over millions of highly organized cardiac cells, the result is a highly coordinated cycle of contraction and relaxation.
The trigger for cardiac contraction is a transient rise in the intracellular level of calcium. The actin-containing thin filament binds an additional protein complex called troponin. In the absence of calcium, troponin interferes with the actin-myosin interaction. However, the troponin complex contains a high-affinity calcium binding protein which binds calcium, thereby triggering a movement of the complex which allows actin and myosin to interact productively. Cardiomyocytes contain intracellular calcium stores that rapidly release calcium and take it back, thereby promoting the cycle of contraction and relaxation.
The neck region of the myosin heavy chain is supported by the two myosin light chains. The precise role of these myosin light chains in cardiac muscle has remained elusive. In smooth muscle (found in blood vessels and internal organs, for example) the RLC plays a critical regulatory role: for contraction to proceed, the RLC must be phosphorylated by a calcium-activated enzyme called myosin light chain kinase (MLCK). In the absence of MLCK-mediated RLC phosphorylation, smooth muscle myosin ATPase activity is not activated, and the muscle remains relaxed.
In stark contrast to smooth muscle, cardiac RLC phosphorylation has little effect on myosin ATPase activity. A modest increase in sensitivity to calcium has been described in isolated, chemically "skinned" (i.e., outer membranes removed) fibers in vitro, but this observation is of doubtful in vivo significance. Nevertheless, a phosphorylatable serine homologous to smooth muscle RLC has been preserved throughout evolution, and the reasons for this conservation have remained a mystery.
Further study of a possible role for cardiac RLC phosphorylation has been significantly hampered by the lack of sequence information about the cardiac form of MLCK. What is needed is the complete cDNA sequence of cardiac MLCK in humans and other mammalian species, as well as the deduced amino acid sequence and genomic sequence.
Indirect flight muscle (IFM) of insects has the same basic contractile apparatus as mammalian cardiac muscle: a myosin based thick filament comprised of myosin heavy and light chains; and an actin-containing thin filament activated by calcium binding to troponin. However, IFM must contract and relax 150 times per second during flight. It would be energetically wasteful to regulate this extraordinarily rapid cycle exclusively through release and reuptake of calcium from intracellular stores. Thus, IFM has evolved to accentuate and exploit a property of muscle contraction termed stretch activation.
The stretch activation response of IFM manifests itself as a "delayed tension" when an activated muscle fiber is subjected to a quick stretch When tension is monitored as a function of time (for example, by attaching an isolated muscle to a sensitive force transducer), and IFM is quickly stretched, an immediate increase in tension is observed which rapidly decays. This immediate tension increase is mediated by elastic recoil. In IFM, there is a second, delayed rise in tension which is defined as stretch activation. This response has been shown to be a critical component of IFM function, since it contributes substantially to oscillatory power output. Drosophila mutants lacking stretch activation have no ability to fly.
The role of stretch activation can be likened to pushing a child on a swing: when a swing is at the rear of its arc, it has zero velocity and is about to be pulled forward by gravity. A properly timed push is a very efficient way to enhance the forward swinging force. In IFM, stretch activation corresponds to the push
Stretch activation is intimately related to another important property of IFM, namely resonant frequency. As in the swing metaphor, the swing arc has a predictable frequency, and will return to the pushing individual at a particular time. This predictable frequency is the swing's resonant frequency. The individual must time the push to the resonant frequency. Such precise timing will maximally enhance the swinging motion's amplitude with the least amount of effort. An improperly timed push will not enhance the amplitude, and may in fact work against the swinging motion. Similarly, the resonant frequency of stretch activation in IFM must be precisely matched to the cycle of muscle contraction and relaxation.
Several mutations in human cardiac ELCs and RLCs are associated with an unusual inherited disease of cardiac muscle (cardiomyopathy) termed mid-cavitary ventricular hypertrophy (MCVH; Poetter et al., Nature Genetics 13: 63-69, 1996). In its fully developed form, MCVH is characterized by massive overgrowth or hypertrophy largely confined to the center of the left ventricle—the papillary muscles, and adjacent interventricular septum and left ventricular free walls. The physiologic basis for this unusual, regionally confined hypertrophy is unknown. Interestingly, however, when a mutant human cardiac ELC is expressed in transgenic mice, the mice develop regional hypertrophy indistinguishable from human MCVH. Papillary muscles removed from the hearts of these transgenic mice show altered stretch activation, even before the hypertrophy develops (Vermuri et al., PNAS 96: 1048-1053, 1999). The alteration included a significantly increased resonant frequency.
It would be helpful to determine whether stretch activation has a significant role in mammalian cardiac muscle, and to develop new therapies for heart disease based on modulation of stretch activation. Improved and more comprehensive methods of identifying individuals at risk of developing cardiac dysfunctions, such as cardiomyopathy, would also be beneficial.

Cardiac myosin light chain kinase polypeptide, encoding nucleic acid, and methods of use

The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services


Systems and methods of providing a mobile device cover are described. In some embodiments, the mobile device cover may include, for example, an acoustic sensor, a processor, and lighting devices. The processor can be operatively coupled to the acoustic sensor and the lighting devices. The acoustic sensor can be configured to receive sound generated by the mobile phone and to convert the sound into an acoustic signal. The processor can be configured to receive the acoustic signal and to determine whether the acoustic signal is similar to one of a plurality of acoustic signals previously stored on the mobile phone cover. Each of the previously stored acoustic signals can be indicative of, for example, a particular caller, a particular message sender, or a particular alert. Based on the acoustic signal determination, the processor is configured to cause lighting of the one or more lighting devices corresponding to the indicated caller, indicated message sender, or indicated alert.

Conventional mobile phone covers are passive accessories to mobile phones. They can have static designs and can offer some measure of protection for the mobile phone.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art through the comparison of such systems with some aspects of some embodiments according to the present disclosure as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

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