A microwave applicator (10) including a tunable cavity (12) having by an elongated casing formed from a transition section (14) axially secured between upstream and downstream end sections (16) and by first and second end assemblies (28) each axially movable in the elongated casing. A tube assembly (72) passes through and is rotatably supported within tubes (36) of the end assemblies (28) and passes through the elongated casing. Material in the tube assembly (72) in the elongated casing and between the end assemblies (28) are subjected to microwave power introduced into the transition section (14) by a waveguide (110) via an opening 20. The axis of the tube assembly (72) is adjustably offset from that of the elongated casing and the transition section (14) is adjustably fixed at various circumferential positions to superimpose the material bed in the tube assembly (72) with the area of highest field strength. Material is introduced into the tube assembly (72) by an auger (90) having holes (92) in the spiral flight above the material to allow air to flow concurrently with the material in the auger (90) and in the tube assembly (72). The tube assembly (72) includes a tube (74) formed by sections (74A, 74B) interconnected together by generally T-shaped extensions (132, 133) which interfit in generally T-shaped slots (120, 121) formed on the axial ends of the sections (74A, 74B). A control system (170) is used to adjust operating parameters for the applicator and includes a generator (146), a network analyzer (148), a microwave switch (152), a dual directional coupler (164) and an impedance matching device (112). A method of adjusting the applicator (10) to overcouple the microwave energy to the cavity (12) includes adjusting the end assemblies (28) and an impedance matching device (112) while minimizing the reflected power.

In the past, it has been observed that microwave heating (i.e., temperature rise of a load) is related to its thermal properties, its dielectric properties (at the frequency of operation), and the extent that microwave energy is coupled to the load, microwave propagation into the load is affected by reflections due to impedance mismatches, and diffraction due to geometrical curvature of such mismatches. All the mentioned parameters are of use to control heating rate.
Controlling microwave absorption by manipulating material composition is possible to some extent, but it is difficult and has limitations, which are sometimes severe. The thermal and dielectric properties are functions of the material composition, and are often interdependent. Other requirements may constrain the material composition; therefore, controlling microwave absorption by manipulating material composition has limited utility.
Controlling microwave absorption with frequency is impractical because the frequencies for industrial, scientific, and medical uses are mandated to 915 and 2450 MHz by law.
The microwave applicator design is the primary method available in practice to control heating. To have high efficiency, it is necessary to minimize energy reflected back to the microwave generator.
Coupling is the degree to which energy is delivered from the feed structure to the cavity compared to the energy reflected back from the cavity to the feed structure. A "matched" condition where the delivered energy balances the reflected energy and no power is returned to the generator is termed critical coupling. This principle can also be applied to the free space field-load interface within the cavity. Critical coupling here allows the greatest microwave field strength in the material to be created, thereby allowing the highest microwave heating rate possible.
The coupling factor is normally defined by an equivalent lumped circuit model of cavity behavior, as the quotient between the feed impedance as seen from the cavity and the combined cavity and load impedance as seen from the feed. The former can be controlled by mechanical changes of the coupling port. The latter is determined by the mode type in the cavity, and by the geometry and dielectric properties of the load. If the load has a low (relative) loss factor .epsilon." the latter generally becomes large. When these impedances are equal, critical coupling occurs and the coupling factor is 1. Thus, manipulation of the coupling is the most efficient way of optimizing the overall heating efficiency with any load in the cavity. Furthermore, it can easily be measured by replacing the magnetron generator by microwave instrumentation incorporating a variable frequency generator and means such as directional detector for measuring the reflected power as a function of the input frequency. Both the resonance bandwidth and the coupling factor can then be easily quantified, and observed continuously on the instrument display during changes of the coupling and other parameters. However, any influence by the dynamic temperature dependence of the dielectric properties of the load cannot be studied directly, since the instrumentation generator power is only in the order of milliwatts.
Of course, varying the generator power output provides an additional means for controlling the load power. Industrial size variable power generators are commercially available and quite reliable. It is therefore possible to set the optimum load power at or near the favorable critical coupling condition.
Most resonant cavities described in the literature are of fixed geometry. If the geometry and dielectric properties of the load material vary substantially, and the same installation is to be used under such strongly variable conditions, the option of changing some cavity dimensions becomes interesting. In particular, relatively low-loss loads create a relatively high quality factor (Q value) which in turn results in a narrow bandwidth of the cavity resonance, which in turn may make it necessary to change the cavity dimensions since the frequency of operation is fixed. This is called cavity tuning, and is not to be confused with the feed port changes, which is called impedance tuning. The former changes the resonant frequency, and the latter changes the coupling factor. They are essentially independent.
In the literature, most tunable resonant cavities for microwave heating have limited tuning ability. Various methods have been employed for tuning including a single moveable end wall to change the cavity length, movable coaxial antennas, stubs and tubes. Most tunable resonant cavities have been designed for batch processing, usually for small quantities of material. Correspondingly, most tunable resonant cavity systems are low power, i.e. less than 10 kW.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,714,812 discloses a tunable cavity having one movable wall that overcomes many of the shortcomings of other designs for high power, continuous process, industrial use. The cavity of this patent has a movable piston at one end of a cylindrical cavity through which product flows in a vertically arranged dielectric tube while being subjected to microwave energy. At least two of these cavities are used together in series to form a working system. The first cavity heats the material and the second cavity monitors the material condition. Power is transmitted to the first cavity through a coaxial transmission line. The maximum power delivered to the first cavity is 5 kW. The movable piston in the first cavity is positioned to maximize the forward power into and minimize the reflected power out of the first cavity. The second cavity is used to determine the material condition by adjusting the cavity length to provide significant reflected power, and then using the reflected power to indicate the state or value of the material property of interest, for instance the moisture. A controller adjusts the power applied to the first cavity based on the monitored value of the second cavity. Liberated moisture is removed from the system in a third unit where crossflow air is passed through perforations formed in the vertical plastic tube carrying the material.
However, a need continues to exist for microwave applicators achieving higher heating rates than existing continuous, industrial microwave applicators and which overcome the shortcomings of such existing applicators.


An actuator for precisely moving and positioning a manufacturing component includes a housing on which a magnet is mounted. An electrical coil is wound around a coil piston which is slidingly mounted on the housing for movement within the magnetic field generated by the magnet. A rod, having a member for gripping the component, is attached for translational movement with the coil piston, and a source of electrical current is connected to the coil which is wrapped around the coil piston. A drive motor is mounted on the device, and a linkage connects the drive motor to the grip for rotation of the grip as desired. In the operation of the actuator, a current is selectively passed through the coil. This current in the coil then moves the coil piston and the attached grip within the magnetic field to position the component as desired in translation. Also, the drive motor can be activated to move the grip in rotation as desired. Additionally, position sensors can be mounted on the device to determine the location of the coil piston and a controller can be incorporated in the actuator to use this position determination for controlling movement of the coil piston and the attached grip in translation and rotation.

Numerous devices which are useful for the automated assembly of products have been successfully used for many years. In each instance, automated assembly devices have been employed with a view toward increasing the efficiencies and accuracies of the methods, procedures and processes which are followed during the manufacture and the assembly of a completed product. Indeed, the vast majority of consumer products are now manufactured on assembly lines which incorporate automated assembly devices.
It is easy to appreciate that as the complexity of a manufactured product increases, there may also be a commensurate increase in the complexity of the machines that are required to manufacture the product. This is particularly so where the component parts are delicate or fragile and precision is important. For example, many products require the precise positioning and assembly of extremely small and light weight components in their manufacture. More specifically, these operations require precision in both the movement of the component into position and in the force with which the component is moved and assembled with other components. Furthermore, for quality control purposes it is often necessary that there be some way to obtain a real time check on the precision with which the component was positioned during the assembly of the product. Where very small, fragile or light weight components are being used in the manufacturing process, and where either very light forces or normal forces are required for the assembly of these components these considerations become very important.
Of the known devices which are typically used for automated assembly, pneumatic devices are notoriously imprecise. This is so due primarily to the poor damping achieved by pneumatic systems. On the other hand, systems incorporating solenoids can be quite precise. However, the forces which solenoids impose on components during their handling of the component can be destructive to the component or be otherwise unacceptable. One other general type device, the well-known stepper motor, also deserves some mention. Generally, stepper-motor systems can be spatially precise in their operation, and the forces which they generate can be effectively controlled. Steppermotors, however, are bulky items and do not have good light force generation characteristics. In some manufacturing procedures these factors can be of significant disadvantage. Consequently, the present invention has recognized that an electronically operated system can be effective for the precise placement of a product component during assembly without encountering the force and spatial problems confronted by the above discussed types of systems. More specifically, the present invention recognizes that a voice coil linear motor can be applied for these purposes.
While U.S. Pat. No. 4,498,023 which issued to Stout for an invention entitled "Voice Coil Linear Motor with Integral Capacitor" addresses some of the issues which are of concern to the present invention, it does not address all of the important issues. For example, the present invention is concerned with maintaining precise concentricity between the parts of the actuator device as they move relative to each other. Stout does not precisely address this problem. Further, the present invention envisions a compact configuration for the actuator which may not be attainable with the cylindrical coil disclosed for the Stout device. Additionally, due to the suggested magnet strengths, a device such as the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,498,023 can expect to have heat generation problems which drastically effect the proposed sensors accuracy thereby rendering the device ineffective.
The present invention also recognizes there are instances when it is important that a work product be both properly moved in a translational motion, and properly oriented rotationally. Further, there are instances when it is necessary for the work product to be rotated to join the work product to another component such as when it is necessary to thread or screw one component into another. In the event it may be necessary, in order for the system to precisely position the work piece, that the work piece be moved both in translation and in rotation.
In addition to the advantages alluded to above, an electronic system has other characteristics which can be advantageous for a device which is to be used in the automated assembly of an end product. For example, some electronic system can rather easily lend itself to compact configurations. Further, an electronic system is responsive and can be configured to provide signals which can be used to monitor and control the operation of the system.
In light of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for moving, inspecting and positioning a component in an automated assembly operation which is capable of picking-up, transporting and depositing fragile and light weight components. It is another object of the present invention to provide a device for moving and positioning a component in an automated assembly operation which has effective control of either extremely small forces or normal forces, and which can control such forces within a relatively fast response time. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device which can transport assembly components with minimal bounce (i.e. little, if any, changes in linear direction) at the end of a component placement operation. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a device for moving, inspecting and positioning a component in an automated assembly operation which can be effectively monitored for real time verification of operational accuracy. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device for moving and positioning a component in an automated assembly operation wherein there is effective control over both the translational and rotational positioning of the work piece being transported. Another object of the present invention is to provide an automated assembly device which is relatively simple to use, is relatively easy to manufacture and is comparatively cost effective.

Actuator with translational and rotational control

Systems, Machines, Automation Corporation


In the case where a request for printing is mage during execution of a continuous calibration, it is possible to interrupt a job without impairing the quality of printing by performing printing after executing an effective calibration in accordance with the kind of job, however, there is no mechanism to cancel each calibration in the standby state, and in order to make cancellation, it is necessary to wait until execution of each calibration is started, and therefore, the printing chances are lessened. There is provided a mechanism to display kinds of jobs in which printing is recommended at the point of time of end of each calibration and to enable cancellation of the calibration function of calibrations other than effective calibration after the effective calibration is executed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control technique at the time of executing a plurality of calibrations together in an image forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, accompanying the trend of computerization, the need to output a document and an image in color is spreading and printers of various kinds of systems are put on the market. The systems for forming a color image include the sublimation system, the thermal transfer system, the inkjet system, etc., however, from the viewpoint of forming an image quickly, the electrophotographic system is said to be the most excellent.
However, the image forming apparatus of electrophotographic system has such a problem that the density of an image varies considerably depending on the use environment (temperature and humidity), the variation in the characteristics of photoreceptor and developer, and the durability state of the developing equipment etc. In particular, the color image forming apparatus has such a problem that the color tone also changes.
To address these problems, a calibration using a one-dimensional LUT (Look Up Table) for density correction corresponding to the "single color" of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (hereinafter, described as C, M, Y, and K) is executed conventionally. The LUT is a table indicating output data corresponding to input data separated into specified intervals and enables representation of nonlinear characteristics that cannot be expressed by an arithmetic operation expression. The one-dimensional LUT for density correction includes printer-side output signal values capable of representing the input signal value of each of CMYK and an image is formed on a sheet using the toner corresponding to the output signal value. First, a chart including data at different densities corresponding to the toner of each of CMYK is prepared and output in a printer unit. Then, by reading the value of the output chart with a scanner or colorimeter and by comparing the read value with the target data possessed in advance, the one-dimensional LUT for density correction for each of CMYK independently of one another. Hereinafter, the calibration for each color independent of one another is called the "single color calibration".
However, even by adjusting the density characteristic of a single color by the one-dimensional LUT, a "multi color" causes a nonlinear difference depending on the printer, and therefore, it is difficult to guarantee the color tone. Here, the "multi color" is a color using toner of a plurality of colors, such as red, green, and blue using two colors of C, M, and Y, gray using C, M, and Y, etc. In particular, in the electrophotographic system, even by correcting the gradation characteristic of a single color by the one-dimensional LUT, in the case where a "multi color" is represented using toner of a plurality of colors, a nonlinear difference is caused frequently. Because of this, by executing a calibration, the color reproduction characteristic of a multi color represented by a combination (superimposition etc.) of toner of a plurality of colors is corrected. For example, the technique to correct a color difference of a multi color by focusing attention on the destination profile of the ICC profile and by modifying the profile has been proposed (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-165864). The ICC profile is the data specified by the ICC (International Color Consortium) and used at the time of color conversion. First, a chart created by a multi color is output by a printer and the chart is measured with a scanner or colorimeter. Then, a difference is created using the colorimetry result and the target value and a three-dimensional LUT (destination profile) for converting a device-independent color space (L*a*b*) of the ICC profile into a device-dependent color space (CMYK) is updated. Due to this, it is made possible to correct the reproduction characteristic of a multi color. Hereinafter, the calibration for such a multi color is called the "multi color calibration". The L*a*b* is one of device-independent color spaces and L* represents luminance and a*b* represent hue and saturation. Further, as the technique to correct the reproduction characteristic of a multi color, the calibration technique has also been proposed, in which a chart created by a multi color in the range that can be reproduced by a printer is output and the chart is measured with a scanner or colorimeter, and then, the measured value is compared with the target value and thus the correction value is created (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2011-254350).
Then, the calibrations the correction targets of which are different should be executed individually for each calibration, however, there are apparatuses equipped with the function to combine those calibrations and to execute the calibrations continuously. Hereinafter, the function to continuously execute a plurality of calibrations the correction targets of which are different is called the "continuous calibration function". Once such a continuous calibration is started, it is no longer possible to do a job accompanied by printing, and therefore, there is a possibility that the printing chances are lessened. To address this, it has been proposed to abort the calibration in the case where the accumulated number of printed sheets to which the number of sheets related to the printing of image data is added is less than a fixed number, and to continue the calibration in the case where the number is equal to or more than the fixed number (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2011-022231).
In the conventional mechanism, in the case where a request for printing is made, calibration processing being currently performed is aborted by giving instructions to cancel. Because of this, it is necessary to wait until the execution of a calibration is started in order to cancel the calibration.

Device, method, and recording medium for controlling image forming apparatus


The present invention relates to the polymorphic crystalline hydrochloride salts of a nucleoside valinate ester according to formula Ib, methods of treating diseases mediated by Hepatitis C Virus and pharmaceutical composition containing Ib

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is responsible for a large proportion of the chronic liver disease worldwide and accounts for 70% of cases of chronic hepatitis in industrialized countries. The global proportion of hepatitis C is estimated to average 3% (ranging from 0.1% to 5.0%); there are an estimated 170 million chronic carriers throughout the world. There is a continuing need for effective therapeutic agents against HCV. Standard therapy for hepatitis C infection presently consists of combination therapy with an antiviral, ribavirin, and an immunomodulatory interferon derivative.
WO 01/45509 (J. Lau et al.) discloses L-nucleosides with in vivo antiviral activity against HCV. Levovirin (1-(3S,4R-dihydroxy-5S-hydroxymethyl-tetrahydro-furan-2S-yl)-1H-[1,2,4]triazole-3-carboxylic acid amide; Ia), is the L-isomer of the antiviral nucleoside ribavirin (II). Unlike ribavirin, levovirin does not have direct detectable antiviral activity; however, levovirin stimulates immune responses by enhancing antiviral Th1 cytokine expression. Levovirin appears to lack toxicity associated with ribavirin.

While nucleoside derivatives frequently possess high levels of biological activity, their clinical utility is often hampered by suboptimal physical properties and limited bioavailability requiring large doses at frequent intervals to maintain therapeutically effective levels. Chemical modification of the nucleoside can alter the physicochemical properties of the compound and improve the efficiency and selectivity of drug delivery.
Esters of neutral amino acid acids have been found to actively transported across the intestinal mucosa by amino acid transporters. Colla et al. (J. Med. Chem. 1983 26:602-04) disclose the preparation of water soluble ester derivatives of acyclovir. L. M. Beauchamp et al. (Antiviral Chem. & Chemother. 1992 3(3):157-64) disclose eighteen amino acid esters of the antiherpetic drug acyclovir and identified the L-valyl ester of acyclovir as the best prodrug among the esters investigated.
EP 0 375 329 (L. M. Beauchamp) disclosed the preparation of the bis-iso-leucine ester of gangciclovir. U.S. Pat. No. 6,083,953 (J. J. Nestor et al.) discloses a crystalline from of 2-(2-amino-1,6-dihydro-6-oxo-purin-9-yl)methoxy-3-hydroxy-1-propanyl-L-valinate hydrochloride
WO 00/23454 (A. K. Ganguly et al.) disclose bioreversible prodrugs of ribavirin II. Compounds in which the 5-hydroxy of II is esterified to natural and unnatural amino acids are disclosed. U.S. Pat. No. 6,423,695 (R. Tam et al.) disclose methods of treating a patient with a virus infection by administering amidine prodrugs of ribavirin.
WO 01/68034 (G. Wang et al.) disclose bioreversible phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated prodrugs of levovirin. 5-Acyl and 2,3,5-triacyl compounds are disclosed and 5-amino acid esters are also described generically. U.S. Ser. No. 60/432,108 discloses acylated prodrugs of levovirin.
Salts of acidic and basic compounds can alter or improve the physical properties of a parent compound. These salt forming agents, however, must be identified empirically by the pharmaceutical chemist since there is no reliable method to predict the influence of a salt species on the behavior of a parent compound in dosage forms. Effective screening techniques, which potentially could simplify the selection process, are unfortunately absent (G. W. Radebaugh and L. J. Ravin Preformulation. In, Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy; A. R. Gennaro Ed.; Mack Publishing Co. Easton, Pa., 1995; pp 1456-1457).
Polymorphism is the ability of any element or compound to crystallize as more than one distinct crystalline species. Different polymorphic forms of salts are frequently encountered among pharmaceutically useful compounds. Physical properties including solubility, melting point, density, hardness, crystalline shape and stability can be quite different for different polymorphic forms of the same chemical compound.
Polymorphic forms are characterized by scattering techniques, e.g., x-ray diffraction powder pattern, by spectroscopic methods, e.g., infa-red, 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and by thermal techniques, e.g, differential scanning calorimetry or differential thermal analysis. The compound of this invention is best characterized by the X-ray powder diffraction pattern determined in accordance with procedures which are known in the art. For a discussion of these techniques see J. Haleblian, J. Pharm. Sci. 1975 64:1269-1288, and J. Haleblain and W. McCrone, J. Pharm. Sci. 1969 58:911-929. Although the intensities of peaks in the x-ray powder diffraction patterns of different batches of the valinate ester Ia may vary slightly, the peaks and the peak locations are characteristic for a specific polymorphic form.
The problem which must be solved is to identify a suitable salt and/or polymorph which (i) possesses adequate chemical stability during the manufacturing process, (ii) is efficiently prepared, purified and recovered, (ii) provides acceptable solubility in pharmaceutically acceptable solvents, (iii) is amenable to manipulation (e.g. flowability and particle size) and formulation with negligible decomposition or change of the physical and chemical characteristics of the compound, (iv) exhibits acceptable chemical stability in the formulation. In addition, salts which contribute minimally to the molar weight so that the resulting material comprises a high molar percent of the active ingredient are highly desirable since the quantity of material which must be formulated and administered to produce a therapeutically effective dose is minimized. These oft conflicting requirements make identification suitable salts a challenging and important problem which must be solved by the skilled pharmaceutical scientist before drug development can proceed in earnest.

Polymorphic antiviral nucleoside compounds


A method and apparatus for producing x-ray and/or extreme ultraviolet (EUV) is described. A liquid edge 2 is electrically connected to a cathode 8 via a high voltage pulse power supply 10. Liquid edge 2 is set to be parallel to cathode 8. When high voltage pulse power supply 10 is turned on, a vacuum discharge will occur in a space between liquid edge 2 and cathode 8. The plasma will be confined into a high density and high temperature thin plasma column 4 in a space near liquid edge 2 by strong magnetic field induced by the huge discharge current. A population inversion in the confined plasma column will lead to a amplified simultaneous emission of x-ray and/or EUV 6 along the axis of plasma column 4. Moreover, a large power x-ray and/or EUV laser can be built by using multi-liquid edge-shape anodes placed in a straight line and operated in a traveling-wave mode.

The basic requirement of any laser is existence of population inversion between two atomic or molecular states in a gaseous or a solid material so that decay by stimulated emission may yield amplification. The production of population inversion needs pumping energy. In the case of conventional laser, the photon energies are eV order, and transition lifetime is nanosecond order. However, in the case of X-ray lasers the photon energies are hundreds or thousands eV order, and the transition life time is less than picosecond. This means that X-ray laser needs a large amount of pumping energy to be brought into the active medium in a very short time.
Much efforts have been done toward the development of x-ray and/or extreme ultraviolet (EUV) laser since the conventional lasers appeared in 1960. It was not until recently that soft x-ray lasers were successfully operated. The first operational laboratory X-ray laser is reported by Rosen et al in Physical Review Letters 54, 106 (1985), and experimentally demonstrated by Matthews et al in Physical Review Letters 54, 110 (1985). This seminal X-ray laser system is also fully disclosed by Campbell et al in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 676,338 filed Nov. 29, 1984. A related short wavelength laser, whose output extends into the EUV and X-ray region, is disclosed by Hagelstein in U.S. Pat. No. 4,589,113 issued May 13, 1986. However, those soft x-ray lasers are very large apparatus requiring very large energy lasers as the excitation source, typically delivering laser pulses of hundreds of Joules to kilojoules at longer wavelength. The cost, complexity, and size of the equipment required to form such x-ray laser apparatus make them impractical for most technical and scientific applications. Another disadvantage of these types of lasers is the low energy converting efficiency. This is because the energy converting process is from the electrical energy into long wavelength laser radiation, and then using the long wavelength laser to create a plasma from which the x-ray laser light emits.
Another approach for generating a x-ray laser is to directly deposit electrical energy in a plasma column which lases x-ray. These types of x-ray lasers are more direct and potentially more efficient than those driven by conventional laser drivers. Moreover, they use capacitors as energy sources to excite the plasma, and the size of the capacitor storing the same amount of energy as that of the laser driver output is much smaller than the size of the laser driver. There are two types of electrical discharge x-ray lasers: 1) Z-pinch discharge; 2) Capillary discharge. A power of 25 GW has been measured from 11 .ANG. spectral line in Z-pinch discharge by J. P. Apruzese, et al. in SPIE Proc. 875, 2 (1988). However, this Z-pinch x-ray laser is difficult to be combined with resonator for making large power, high coherent x-ray laser. In the capillary discharge type x-ray laser, a capillary tube is used to confine a column plasma which lases x-ray. The pulse duration in most of such capillary discharge type x-ray lasers tested to date is in the 100s of nanoseconds range. Because of interactions with the wall of the capillary on such time scales, the temperature of plasma has been limited to a few tens of eV. Therefore, the capillary discharge is difficult to be used for generating x-ray laser in a wavelength shorter than 100 .ANG..

Method and apparatus for generating x-ray and/or extreme ultraviolet laser


The present invention relates to compounds of the formula

The present invention relates to novel pyrazine-2-carboxamide derivatives, their manufacture, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use as medicaments. The active compounds of the present invention are useful in treating diseases associated with the modulation of CB2 receptors.
Two different subtypes of cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) have been isolated and both belong to G protein coupled receptor superfamily. Alternative spliced forms of CB1, CB1A and CB1B have also been described, but are expressed only at low levels in the tissues tested. (D. Shire, C. Carrillon, M. Kaghad, B. Calandra, M. Rinaldi-Carmona, G. Le Fur, D. Caput, P. Ferrara, J. Biol. Chem. 270 (8), 1995, 3726-31; E. Ryberg, H. K. Vu, N. Larsson, T. Groblewski, S. Hjorth, T. Elebring, S. Sjögren, P. J. Greasley, FEBS Lett. 579, 2005, 259-264). The CB1 receptor is mainly located in the brain and to a lesser extent in several peripheral organs, whereas the CB2 receptor is predominately distributed in the periphery primarily localized in spleen and cells of the immune system (S. Munro, K. L. Thomas, M. Abu-Shaar, Nature 365, 1993, 61-61). Therefore in order to avoid side effects a CB2-selective compound is desirable.
Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) is the principal psychoactive compound in the Indian hemp (Y. Gaoni, R. Mechoulam, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 86 (1964) 1646), cannabis sativa (marijuana), and has medicinal uses (R. Mechoulam (Ed.) in "Cannabinoids as therapeutic Agents", 1986, pp. 1-20, CRC Press). Δ9-THC is a non-selective CB1/2 receptor agonist and is available in the USA as dronabinol (Marinol®) for the alleviation of cancer chemotherapy-induced emesis (CIE) and the reversal of body weight loss experienced by AIDS patients through appetite stimulation. In the UK Nabolinone (LY-109514, Cesamet®), a synthetic analogue of Δ9-THC, is used for CIE (R. G. Pertwee, Pharmaceut. Sci. 3 (11), 1997, 539-545, E. M. Williamson, F. J. Evans, Drugs 60 (6), 2000, 1303-1314).
Following the cloning of CB1- (1990) and CB2-receptors (1993) two endocannabinoids (2-arachidonoylethanolamide (=anandamide) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG)) were identified and further characterized. Subsequently, notable studies appeared showing anti-inflammatory properties of cannabinoids like Δ9-THC or metabolites of THC.
CB2 receptor selective agonists/ligands are considered to be useful for the treatment of inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease while being devoid of psychotropic effects associated with CB1 receptor agonism (J. Hynes, K. Leftheris, Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters 12, 2002, 2399-2402). It is therefore an object of this invention to provide selective, directly acting CB2 receptor agonists/ligands. Such agonists/ligands are useful in medical therapy, particularly in the treatment and/or prevention of diseases which are associated with the modulation of CB2 receptors.

Pyrazine-2-carboxamide derivatives as CB2 receptor modulators

Abstract: wherein R1 to R4 are as defined in the description and claims, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The compounds are useful for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases which are associated with the modulation of CB2 receptors.


An image reading apparatus includes a platen, a frame for holding the platen, an installation device disposed to the frame so that the platen can be held in a substantially vertical state, and a scanning device for reading a document along the platen substantially vertically held. The reading of the document is carried out by elevating or lowering the scanning device.

This invention relates to an image reading apparatus for reading an image on a document, such as a photograph, more particularly, to an image reading apparatus for reading an image on a stationary document placed on a contact glass while a scanning device is moving.
There have been two types of image reading apparatuses for reading an image on a document commercially available in a market.
One of them is generally called as a flatbed type scanner, which has a contact glass for placing a document thereon. A scanning device including photoelectric conversion elements, such as CCD, and an optical system, i.e. a light source or the like, moves to read an image on a stationary document on the contact glass.
The other is generally called as a document-type scanner, wherein the scanning device of the flatbed type scanner is fixed, and the document is moved with respect to the scanning device so that the image thereon is read.
However, in the flatbed type scanner, the contact glass needs a large area enough to place the document, and is placed horizontally with respect to an installation place so that the document is placed thereon. Therefore, since the installation space of the apparatus becomes large, it has not been possible to meet a recent requirement to reduce the installation space.
Also, while the document-type scanner has an advantage of a small installation space compared to the flatbed type scanner, since the image on the moving document is read, there has been a problem such that the image data is affected by vibrations generated from the document movement, thus a high quality image can not be obtained.
In view of the above problems, the present invention has been made, and an object of the invention is to provide an image reading apparatus, wherein the installation space of the apparatus can be small, and high quality image data can be obtained.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention.


A Braille display for use by blind and low vision users. The Braille display can be detachably mounted on a notetaker which includes either a Braille keyboard or a conventional QWERTY keyboard and a memory for storing in digital form information which is entered through the keyboard. Preferably, the Braille display includes a conventional port for connecting through a cable to a personal computer or other computer operated device for displaying information.

Various Braille products are available for blind and low vision users for use in taking notes. These include personal computers having a keyboard and a refreshable Braille display and/or synthesized speech for reading text outloud. The keyboard may be of a conventional QWERTY type or a Braille keyboard. In some cases, the computer may have synthesized speech capability for reading digital text which was entered through a keyboard or which is obtained from other sources, such as from a CD-ROM, from a scanner, from the computer's internal memory or from a local or a global network.
Small special purpose portable computers, sometimes known as notetakers, are available for blind and low vision users. For example, the Braille'n Speak notetaker manufactured and sold by Freedom Scientific Inc. includes a standard Perkins-style Braille keyboard for inputting information which is stored in an internal memory. In response to a single command, stored information is read back to the user using a built-in speech synthesizer. In order to minimize the product weight and cost, the product does not have a Braille display. Notetakers also are available with a conventional QWERTY keyboard for users who prefer this type of keyboard or who are not skilled in Braille.
Notetakers also are available with an integral Braille display located adjacent the keyboard to allow users to read stored text. The Braille display consists of a row of Braille cells. Each cell has a grid of pins which can be selectively raised to form letters and characters in Braille. These notetakers are larger, heavier and more costly than notetakers which do not have a Braille display.
In addition to being useful for taking notes, some notetakers include software for performing other functions which are commonly found on a laptop computer, such as software for maintaining a calendar for the user and for maintaining a contact list of names, address and telephone numbers. These notetakers can function as a personal digital assistant (PDA).
Light weight notetakers are particularly useful for students, business persons and those who travel, since they are easily carried. The lightest and most portable notetakers do not include a Braille display. Consequently, users desiring the lightest weight product have had to forego products having an integral refreshable Braille display. At times, it is useful for the user to have a refreshable Braille display for these notetakers, for example, to facilitate reviewing and editing notes. Users would sometimes connect their notetakers to personal computers which are connected to a refreshable Braille display for reading and editing information stored in the notetaker.

Braille display for use with a notetaker and with personal computers for blind and low vision users


A method for measuring the actual tension in an elastic string such as in a strung racquet. The method comprises holding one length of string (42) substantially a constant length, and measuring the force (58) required to maintain this length, while the tension in an adjacent section of string (36) is reduced to zero. Once the tension in the adjacent section of string has been reduced to zero, the force maintaining the first section of string a constant length is an indication of the actual string tension.

This invention relates to stringing racquets, specifically a means for measuring the actual tension of the strings in a strung racquet.
To illustrate the current situation of measuring the tension of the strings in a strung racquet it is appropriate to quote the 1992-1993 Stringer's Digest, a publication of the U.S. Racquet Stringers Association.
Dictionary of Terms: PA0 ACTUAL TENSION: The tension of the strings in the strung racquet. Actual tension will consistently be lower than REFERENCE TENSION (the tension commonly specified by racquet manufacturers and players) due to numerous variables--such as ELONGATION and friction. Actual tension can be less than the reference tension by as much as 5-25%. Actual tension will continue to decrease over a period of time due to a strings' stretch, loss of resilience and wear.
Shortly after stringing, the actual tension will depend on the stringer's technique, the characteristics of the stringing machine, and the properties of the string being used. If the actual tension can be as much as 25% less than the reference tension, a reference tension of 27 kg (60 lb) could result in an actual tension as low as 20 kg (45 lb). This is a big variation and would have a noticeable impact on even a beginner's game. Experienced players would like to control their racquet tension to within 1.4 to 2.3 kg (3 to 5 lb). It would be extremely valuable to be able to measure the actual tension after the racquet has been strung so that this variable could be eliminated for the players.
After some use, because of a natural loss of tension and elasticity, a racquet will eventually need restringing, even if a string has not broken. A frequently heard guide is "to restring as many times in a year as the racquet is played with in a week". This is obviously a very rough guide. Many factors will influence the need for new strings. For example, a hard hitter will cause faster deterioration in the strings than a soft hitter, and strings are made in a range of quality, gauge, strength, endurance, and elasticity. Clearly a measure of the actual tension would give a good indication of the time to restring.
Current string tension testing devices do not measure the actual tension. There are three basic ways in which existing devices get a measurement which is related to, but not the same as the actual tension:
(a) a measurement of the force required to deflect the string face a predetermined distance (or the distance deflected by a predetermined force)
(b) a measurement of the torque required to deflect a short length of string through a predetermined angle (or the angle deflected by a predetermined torque).
(c) a measurement of the string's natural frequency of vibration.
All of these methods are influenced by the string elasticity. One manifestation of method (a) has a means of (roughly) restricting the deflection to a standard length of string, but (b) and (c) will depend on the string length. Methods (a) and (c) will be influenced by the string pattern and the friction between strings. The best that can be said about these methods is that they will give a relative indication of the tension.
Accordingly there is a real need for a device which measures the actual tension.
Accordingly, several objects and advantages of my invention are:
(a) to provide a direct measurement of the actual tension.
(b) to provide a measure of the tension in any particular string
(c) to provide a measure of string tension which does not depend on the string properties such as its length, or its elasticity.
(d) to provide a measure of string tension which does not depend on the size of the racquet, or the density of stringing,
(e) to provide a measure of string tension which can be used directly to decide whether or not the racquet needs to be restrung.
(f) to provide a measurement device which can be made in various sizes, and adjustable, so that the tension on almost any string on a tennis, racquetball, squash, badminton, or any other racquet could be measured.
Further objects and advantages of my actual tension measuring device will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuring description.

Racquet string actual tension measuring device


In order to prevent the material (52) from being pressed through the press plate seal between press plate (2) and surrounding barrel (50) by means of a press plate (2) when emptying a barrel (50) in which viscous material (52) is supplied, a two-stage construction is used in accordance with the invention:

When processing highly viscous materials, e.g. in adhesive technology or the cosmetics industry, there is often the problem that these materials or their basic materials are delivered in transport containers such as 200 l barrels or 20 l buckets and the viscous material has to be delivered from there to a consumer, for example a dosing gun or a mixer.
In the following, only barrels are mentioned, but for the purposes of the present invention this should include all containers which are open on one side, since, for example, in the case of a cartridge, the face of the cartridge, which is in principle open, is generally closed by a stopper which is movable in the axial direction and closes tightly, and, in addition, the cartridge usually has a emptying opening on the opposite face.
The removal from the container and the transport to the distant consumer should take place automatically as required, and it should be possible to empty the barrel as completely as possible without time-consuming manual reworking.
Due to the characteristics of the viscous material, it is often not permissible to heat it prior to removal and transport via pipes in order to increase its flowability.
In this context, so-called barrel presses are already known, in which a press plate is placed on the viscous material in the barrel to be emptied, which has, for example, a through opening in the middle to which a conveyer line for the viscous material is connected.
The outer circumference of this press plate is tightly fitted to the inner circumference of the barrel. By pressing the pressing plate downwards with sufficient force and corresponding to the path, the viscous material is pressed into the conveyer line and in this way delivered to the consumer remote from the barrel in the desired quantity and with sufficient pressure at the consumer, whereby depending on the length of the conveyer line in the course of which one or more pumps can be additionally arranged.
This type of barrel emptying has several problems:                On the one hand, the force required to press the press plate down increases sharply with increasing viscosity, i.e. toughness, of the material to be conveyed, so that it is hardly possible to convey relatively tough, highly viscous material over longer conveying distances without an additional pump in the emptying device or along the conveying distance.        Another problem is that when the press plate is placed on the viscous material, air is trapped under the press plate, which enters the conveyer line when the material is conveyed. This is basically undesirable, as the material is often to be dispensed in precisely metered quantities by the consumer, and this metering is no longer possible with air bubbles in the conveying line, and as a result, for example, an adhesive application produced can become incomplete and thus faulty.        Furthermore, in order to reduce the necessary pressing force, especially with highly viscous materials, it would be advisable to advantage the flow of the material into the conveyer line by a conical design of the pressing plate. This, however, leads to a high residual quantity which remains in the barrel towards the end of the emptying process.        Furthermore, it must be avoided that the relatively high forces on the press plate damage the press plate or the drive of the press plate if the press plate reaches the bottom of the barrel and the drive is not stopped in time.        Another problem is that with increasing viscosity of the material, the pressure drop increases massively over the conveying length and the pressure in the material to be conveyed in or near the barrel press cannot be used to deduce the pressure in the material at the consumer.        If, on the other hand, such a container is emptied conventionally, i.e. by means of a pump, for example a piston pump, the problem is that many different materials contain very abrasive fillers which cause each pump to wear out within a short time.        Another problem in this context is that the rear side pressure in the conveyer line can become so high that the seal between the outer edge of the pressing plate and the inner circumferential wall of the barrel is penetrated by the material and material reaches the top of the pressing plate.

Emptying device for viscous materials and method for same

Abstract: A press cylinder (22) is connected to the rear side of the press plate (2), in which in turn a conveying piston (24) is guided in a sealing manner, which in turn has a smaller end face than the press plate (2). In addition, non-return valves (19) are arranged in the press plate (2) in the region radially inside the press cylinder (22), which allow the material (52) to flow only in the direction of the conveying piston (24), but not vice versa, when the press plate (2) is pressed in the direction to the bottom (50a) of the barrel (50).

Abstract: After the press plate (2) has come to a standstill, the conveying piston (24) can thus be guided in the direction of the bottom of the press cylinder (22), i.e. in the direction of the press plate (2), and the material (52) can thereby be pressed through the conveying piston (24) into the conveyer line (4) with a pressure, which can also be significantly higher than the maximum pressure with which the press plate seal between the press plate (2) and the inner circumference of the barrel (50) may be pressurised, which, however, does not pose a problem for the much more accurate press cylinder seal between the conveying piston (24) and the press cylinder (22).


A solid electrolytic capacitor comprises a capacitor element including a valve-acting metal substrate including a core part and a porous part disposed on at least one principal surface of the core part, a dielectric layer formed on a surface of the porous part and a solid electrolyte layer is disposed on the dielectric layer. The capacitor element further includes a conductive layer disposed on the solid electrolyte layer. A sealing resin is located on the conductive layer and seals a principal surface of the capacitor element. A cathodic outer electrode is located on the sealing resin and is electrically connected to the conductive layer by a cathodic via electrode which extends through the sealing resin. An anodic outer electrode is electrically connected to the core part.

Solid electrolytic capacitors typically include a capacitor element that includes a valve-acting metal substrate including a core part composed of a valve metal, such as aluminum, and a porous part formed in the surface of the core part, a dielectric layer formed in the surface of the porous part, a solid electrolyte layer disposed on the dielectric layer, and a conductive layer disposed on the solid electrolyte layer.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2008-135427 ("Patent Document 1" 0) discloses a solid electrolytic capacitor where a plurality of capacitor elements are stacked on top of one another. The capacitor elements are then electrically connected to a lead frame, and resin sealing is subsequently performed by transfer molding or the like. In another case, the capacitor elements are electrically connected to a mount board, such as a printed circuit board, instead of a lead frame and resin sealing is subsequently performed.
The part of a solid electrolytic capacitor which is responsible for the formation of electrostatic capacity (hereinafter, such a part is referred to as "capacitance formation part") is the porous part, such as an etched layer, in which the dielectric layer is formed. It is advantageous to reduce the distance between the capacitance formation part and an outer electrode from which current is drawn, such as a lead frame, for reducing the ESR (equivalent series resistance) and ESL (equivalent series inductance) of a solid electrolytic capacitor. However, in the production methods used in the related art in which a plurality of capacitor elements are stacked on top of one another, the distance between the capacitance formation part and the outer electrode is large and, accordingly, the ESR and ESL of a solid electrolytic capacitor are reduced disadvantageously. Furthermore, in the production methods used in the related art, it is difficult to increase the ratio of the volume of the capacitance formation part to the overall volume of the capacitor. Thus, it is difficult to produce a thin solid electrolytic capacitor having a low ESR and a low ESL by the production methods used in the related art.
The present invention was made in order to address the above issues. An object of the present invention is to provide a solid electrolytic capacitor that may have a low ESR, and a low ESL, and a small thickness.


A motor and a spoke-type rotor structure thereof are disclosed. The rotor structure comprises a rotor core which has a plurality of spoke-type first magnetic members. Two oblique second magnetic members arranged in a V shape are provided between every adjacent two of the first magnetic members. A radius of the rotor core is R. A length of the first magnetic member is ls. A length of the second magnetic member is lv. A length component of the second magnetic member on the radius of the rotor core is x. An included angle between the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member is β. An included angle between every adjacent two of the first magnetic members is α. The parameters satisfy:ls+x<R, wherein x=lv·cos(180°−β);90°+α/2<β<180°.

Referring to FIG. 6, a conventional motor structure comprises a rotor (A) and a corresponding stator (B). The rotor (A) has a plurality of magnetic members (A1) arranged annularly. The stator (B) has a plurality of stator windings (B1) corresponding to the magnetic members (A1). When the motor runs, the magnetic lines of force generated by the magnetic members (A1) of the rotor (A) are partially directed to the inside of the rotor (A). This will cause the loss of magnetic lines of force and affects the efficiency of the motor.
In order to improve the above problem, another conventional motor structure as shown in FIG. 7 is developed, which comprises a rotor (C) and a stator (D). The rotor (C) has a plurality of first magnetic members (C1) arranged annularly. A second magnetic member (C2) is provided between every adjacent two of the first magnetic members (C1). The second magnetic member (C2) extends linearly. The stator (D) has a plurality of stator windings (D1) corresponding to the first magnetic members (C1) and the second magnetic members (C2), thereby reducing the loss of magnetic lines of force. Please refer to Chinese Patent Publication No. CN102170212 titled "Permanent Magnet Rotating Motor", which discloses a similar motor structure.

Motor and spoke-type rotor structure thereof


This invention relates to a home game machine, and more particularly, to a game machine control module having a plurality of operation buttons, which is connected to a game machine body through a cable. The game machine control module comprises a control member for transmitting the operation data obtained by a plurality of operation buttons through the cable to the game machine body and for receiving the data from the game machine body through the cable, and a response member positioned at a predetermined place on the game machine control module and controlled by the control member based on a predetermined dynamic transmission data which is contained in the data transmitted from the game machine body. Therefore, this makes it possible to enjoy games giving the feeling of being at a live performance comparing to the conventional one.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a game machine control module for playing a game through operation of a plurality of buttons, and a game machine, and more particularly, to a game machine control module having a function causing ambience based on a specific signal from a game machine body that has a function for reproducing a video recording medium and such game machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
A game machine control module CM of prior art is formed in a form of glasses, as shown in FIG. 1, and has a housing comprising an upper case 2 and a lower case 3, which can be vertically separated. The housing is formed with first and second controller supports 4 and 5 at the longitudinal ends thereof that project in a square shape, and that are gripped by the palms of the hands for support. A start/select section 6 is formed on a constricted portion at the center of the housing, the section containing switches to start and select a game. Moreover, circular projections are formed at bilateral symmetric ends of the housing, and comprise first and second control sections 7 and 8 consisting of a plurality of switches disposed substantially at the center of each projection, as well as third and fourth control sections 9 and 10 having a plurality of switches disposed at bilateral positions on the front side wall surface of the housing, and that can be operated mainly by the forefingers and the middle fingers.
The start/select section 6 comprises so-called switches that include a start switch 11 and a select switch 12 disposed at an intermediate position between the first and second control sections 7 and 8. The select switch 12 is, for example, to select difficulty of a game when it is begun, while the start switch 11 is a switch for actually stating the game.
The first control section 7 comprises a recess 13 that is recessed in a substantially cross shape at the center of the circular projection at one end of the housing, and a window 15 in the recess 13 through which four key tops 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14d can be outwardly projected from inside. The window 15 is arranged with the upper ends of four key tops 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14d in a cross shape for the substantially cross-shaped recess 13.
The second control section 8 is provided, as shown in FIG. 1, with a recess 16 that is recessed in a substantially cross shape at the center of the circular projection at the other end, and four cylinders 17 with openings with size that allows cylindrical key tops 16a, 16b, 16c, and 16d to outwardly project from inside at respective corners of the cross-shaped recess 16.
The top surfaces of four key tops 16a, 16b, 16c, and 16d are marked with visually identifiable marks such as ".largecircle.", ".DELTA.", ".quadrature.", and "X" for indicating functions so that the functions of the respective switches can be easily identified. In addition, the lower ends of these key tops 16a, 16b, 16c, and 16c, and the lower portion of the cylinder 17 are provided with unique projections or notches so that they do not engage other cylinders 17 when they are assembled.
The third and fourth control sections 9 and 10 are formed, as shown in FIG. 1, to bulge from the front wall of the first and second control sections 7 and 8, and comprises an opening 18 consisting two rows of elongated holes vertically parallel to the bulged wall, and a motion instructing control switch that is formed by projecting key tops 19a, 19b, 19c, and 19d with an elongated shape substantially fitting in the opening 18.
The game machine control module CM with such arrangement is connected to a video machine for reproducing a CD-ROM (not shown), a video recording medium, through a predetermined connector, and the video machine is connected to a monitor such as a TV receiver. Then, the control module is held by the palms of both hands, and the control buttons on the first to fourth control sections 7, 8, 9, and 10 are operated by the fingers of both hands to instruct motion of an action target such as a character on the monitor screen for playing the game.
However, the above-mentioned control module CM particularly for a household game machine is arranged to play the game by instructing motion of an action target on the monitor screen through operation of the buttons on the first to fourth control sections with the fingers, and the user can only perceive the character on the monitor screen by viewing it, or through visual sensation, and by hearing sound generated from the character, or through hearing sense. Thus, the control module itself does not have bodily sensation through feedback because the control module is operated by variously moving both hands and arms, but only substantially exploits a function for instructing one direction through operation with the fingers.

Game machine control module and game machine


Roller modules have roller assemblies that are retractable below a cargo floor. Each module includes a housing, at least one roller for engaging cargo on the floor and, a mechanism mounting the roller on the housing for shifting movement between an extended position in which the roller extends above the floor for engaging cargo, and a retracted position in which the roller is disposed below the floor.

Transportation vehicles that carry cargo often have cargo area floors that may be specially constructed to facilitate cargo handling. For example, roller systems are sometimes used inside aircraft or container vessels to move palletized cargo. These roller systems may be integrated into the cargo area floor or into the container system, which may make it difficult to change the type of roller used in order to better suit a particular type of cargo. Also, at least a part of the roller system may be disposed above the surface of the cargo floor, resulting in obstructions that may impede the movement of certain types of cargo that are better suited for movement over a smooth, unobstructed floor.
Cargo roller systems exist that may be raised or lowered to suit particular types of cargos, but these systems may not have the capacity to lift heavy cargo loads, and are typically long and may not be reconfigurable. Roller systems are also known that may be removed entirely to provide a flat cargo surface, while some other existing roller systems must be flipped over in order to present a smooth cargo surface, free of obstructions.
Accordingly, there is a need for a cargo roller system that may be quickly retracted into a cargo floor in order to present a smooth cargo floor surface, substantially free of obstructions. There is also a need for a cargo roller system that is modular in construction, easily reconfigurable and is capable of lifting heavy cargo loads.


Methods and apparatuses for measuring a distance between two signal distributions in a common signal space are described. A measurement network is configured to receive first and second signal distributions as input and output a measurement of a Wasserstein distance between the first and second signal distributions. The measurement network may be implemented using a neural network.

In a modern communication system, a goal of the physical layer interface is usually to increase system capacity (e.g., increase number of users and/or multiplexed data streams) given a limited bandwidth and time resource. In general, approaches to achieving this goal include adding new dimension(s) to a signal space and/or improving the resource allocation resolution of a signal space.
Existing communication techniques (at the transmitter and at the receiver) have been developed with the aim of maximizing the Shannon channel capacity, using a metric and measurement that is based on the well-accepted Shannon-Hartley theorem. For future wireless communications developments (e.g., 5G and later generations) in particular, it will be desirable to extend the signal space for larger capacity and higher spectrum efficiency. Continued reliance on Shannon-based metric and measurement for developing new technologies for dimension extension may be unsatisfactory.
For example, the Shannon-based approach assumes a Gaussian distribution for interferences and noisy channel randomness. Such an assumption may not be an accurate representation of the actual conditions, and may result in less efficient use of the signal space at both transmitter and receiver sides.
Accordingly, it would be useful, including for future communications systems, to provide a distance metric that may be more suitable for measurements in a higher-dimensional signal space.

Neural-network-based distance metric for use in a communication system


A method is provided of producing a multiple focus stack image of a target. The stack image has a plurality of images of the target, each image having a corresponding focal range or position. The method utilizes relative scanning movement between the target and an array of light detectors, the array being used to repeatedly receive image information as scan lines from the target during the scan. During the scan the relative focus between the target and the array is modified between the focal range or position of the respective images so as to obtain the images in the stack. Each image is thereby formed from the image information obtained at the respective focal range or position during the scan. Apparatus for performing the method is likewise provided.

In a number of market sectors such as medical applications samples are examined with a microscope and digital images are generated with a 2D digital camera attached to the microscope. This has a restriction of limited area of the sample viewed being captured with the digital camera. For a 40× objective a typical area is only 0.7 mm wide. Given that the active area on a microscope slide is 64×24 mm this is only a very small area of the possible sample area. One answer to this is to step and repeat otherwise known as macro dither over the whole of the sample area. A more preferred process is to use a line scan device similar to that described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,711,283 where long strips of data can be collected of 0.7 by 64 mm. Then adjacent strips can be scanned and the images butted together or stitched together as described in patent GB2206011.
As mentioned in U.S. Pat. No. 6,711,283 one problem with this long strip scanning is that the focus must be maintained over the whole length of the scan. As an example for a 40× lens with numerical aperture of 0.65 the depth of focus is around 1 micrometre. A typical microscope slide is not manufactured to hold this sort of tolerance and when mounted may flex due to the mounting method or under the force of gravity in excess of one micron. Also the sample being imaged may not itself be flat to 1 micrometre. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,711,283 this problem is addressed by separately building a focus map over the length of the scan and then adjusting the focus dynamically during scanning to fit the focus map. Unfortunately this is time consuming in building the focus map for each sample. A typical method of focusing is to scan the same area of the image at different focus levels and use a merit algorithm to determine the best focus. There are a number of merit algorithms used but an example is to take the sum of the squares of the differences between adjacent pixels. The merit algorithm produces a function, an example of which is shown in FIG. 1 where the peak (indicated by an arrow) is considered to be the point of focus.
Another method used to address this problem is to have multiple scans at different focus levels. This is called focus stacking or z stacking and is shown in FIG. 2. The idea is that at least one of the scan images is in focus at any one time and the stack of Z images 400 can be combined at a later date to give a single in focus image. Software for combining images can be obtained from a number of vendors. The problem with this method is that with small depth of focus in relation to the range of focus change in the sample, many layers of image will be needed to cover the full focus range and this will be time consuming. The line of best focus is shown at 401. At various positions 402, the images in the stack provide little useful information.
There is therefore a need to address these disadvantages.

Method and apparatus for forming a multiple focus stack image


A method of data transmission in a data communication network includes negotiating a connection between a source terminal and a destination terminal in the data communication network. During the connection negotiation process, optimal field lengths are determined for recording a source identifier and a sequence number in data packets transmitted in the connection. The source identifier identifies a connection from the source end to the destination end of the data transmission, while the sequence number identifies the relative position of a data packet in a series of data packets transmitted in the connection. The length of the source identifier and sequence number fields may either be calculated or selected from a set of predetermined field length values. Data packets formatted according to different transmission protocols (xe2x80x9csecondary data packetsxe2x80x9d) that are received for transmission through the data communication network are packed into one or more xe2x80x9cprimary data packetsxe2x80x9d formatted according to the transmission protocol of the data communication network. In addition to a source identifier and sequence number, the primary data packets include a first packet offset to identify the location of a first new secondary data packet that is packed into the primary data packet. A first packet offset field length is determined during connection negotiation. The data transmission method of the invention includes packing one or more secondary data packets, or a portion thereof, in a primary data packet to fill the primary data packet, thus minimizing unused data bits in the primary data packet. After transmission, the primary data packets are reordered, if necessary, and the secondary data packets are unpacked therefrom.

The present invention relates to data communication, and particularly to data transmission in data communication networks.
In recent years, the need for global data networking capability has rapidly expanded. Computers at one location often have a need to transmit data to computers at a distant location. In order to meet this need, broadband satellite communication systems have been proposed as an alternative to land-based communication systems. One type of satellite communication system is described in a number of U.S. patents assigned to the assignee of this patent application, including U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,386,953; 5,408,237; 5,527,001; 5,548,294; 5,621,415; 5,641,135; 5,642,122; 5,650,788; 5,736,959; and 5,740,164. These patents and other pending applications assigned to the assignee of this patent application describe a satellite communication system that includes a constellation of low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellites capable of transmitting data from one location on the Earth""s surface to another location. Each LEO satellite has a communication footprint that covers a portion of the Earth""s surface as the satellite passes over the Earth. The communication footprint defines the area of the Earth within which ground terminals can communicate with the satellite. During the period of time a ground terminal remains within the borders of a satellite footprint, the ground terminal may transmit data to and receive data from the xe2x80x9cservicingxe2x80x9d satellite. When a satellite reaches the end of its servicing arc, another satellite in orbit is positioned to xe2x80x9cservicexe2x80x9d the ground terminal previously covered by the satellite reaching the end of its servicing arc.
Data to be sent from one location on the Earth to another location is transmitted from a source ground terminal to the satellite servicing the ground terminal via an uplink data channel. The data is routed through the constellation of LEO satellites to the satellite servicing the ground terminal that is to receive the data. The latter satellite transmits the data to the destination ground terminal via a downlink data channel. Thus, the constellation of LEO satellites and the ground terminals form a data communication network wherein the ground terminals and satellites form nodes of the network.
A data communication network uses a transmission protocol to govern the format and manner in which data communication takes place in the network. Data to be communicated through a network is typically broken up and formatted into digital data xe2x80x9cpackets.xe2x80x9d The resulting data packets are addressed and routed through the network to a destination terminal in accordance with the transmission protocol used by the network.
In a preferred embodiment of the LEO satellite communication system described above, the data packets are routed independently through the satellites in the constellation. The data packets may therefore arrive at the destination ground terminal in a different order than which they were sent by the source ground terminal. The communication handoff from one servicing satellite to the next servicing satellite and changes in the phasing of satellites in their orbital planes may also contribute to out-of-order delivery of the data packets.
For circumstances in which in-order packet delivery is required (e.g., by the transmission protocol of the data packets), sequence information may be included in the data packets prior to transmission. While sequence information that is included in a data packet may be used to reorder the transmitted data packets, the sequence information adds to the overhead information for routing and control that is transmitted in each data packet. Where transmission resources in a data communication network are limited, adding to the overhead information in transmitted data packets reduces the communication efficiency of the data communication network. The added information uses resources that could otherwise be used for transmitting user data. A need therefore exists for a method to minimize the number of bits used in a data packet for sequence information so that transmission overhead is reduced while still providing a mechanism for reordering packets delivered out of order.
Furthermore, a destination terminal may receive data packets from a number of different source terminals. Without using dedicated communication links to effectively identify the source of the data packets and the particular data transmission in which the packets were sent, the data packets themselves must include source information so that the destination terminal will know how to organize and process the incoming data packets. In some existing networks (e.g., networks using Internet Protocol), data packets include a source terminal""s complete network address in their routing and control information to identify the transmission source. However, as noted above, adding to the transmission overhead information reduces the data communication efficiency of the network. A complete network address is often longer than necessary to adequately identify a data transmission source to a destination terminal. A need therefore exists for a method to minimize the number of bits in a data packet allocated for a source identifier.
A need also exists for a method of setting up a source identifier having a minimal number of bits allocated to the source identifier, as discussed above. In some existing networks (e.g., networks using Frame Relay or Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) protocol), contexts are set up for data transmissions from one point to another in the network in which labels are set up to identify the transmission over a particular link. However, these labels have no meaning outside of that particular point-to-point link. In other networks, header compression schemes have been used in which routing and control information in a data packet is compressed and later reconstructed. These compression schemes, however, have been limited to point-to-point links as well. Accordingly, there is a need for a method of data transmission that spans a plurality of point-to-point transmission links and uses a reduced-size source identifier that has meaning to the destination end of the data transmission.
As noted above, a transmission protocol governs the format and manner in which data transmission takes place in a data communication network. Those skilled in the art of data communication will appreciate that different computer networks may use different transmission protocols that are not directly compatible with one another. For example, an Internet Protocol (IP) network may incorporate subnetworks and links that use ATM protocol. An adaptation is required before an IP packet can be communicated through an ATM link. In order for a LEO satellite data communication network to be competitive in a market with diverse end users desiring to transmit data via the satellite network, the satellite network must allow for transmission of data packets formatted according to a wide variety of data transmission protocols that are potentially incompatible with the transmission protocol of the satellite network.
Moreover, because end users typically use a satellite network only as an intermediary in the transmission of data, it is preferable that the operation of the satellite network be xe2x80x9cinvisiblexe2x80x9d to the end users. Accordingly, there is a need for a data transmission method that efficiently transmits different protocol data packets through a satellite network such that the data packets received by an end user at the receiving end of a data communication are in the same format as sent by an end user at the sending end of the communication, even when the packets are received out of order.
The present invention provides a method of data transmission that addresses the above-identified needs and other shortcomings in the prior art.
The present invention is a method of data transmission in a data communication network. In accordance with the present invention, a data communication network, such as a LEO satellite data communication network of the type discussed above, receives data packets formatted according to a wide variety of different transmission protocols for transmission through the data communication network. The different protocol data packets (also referred to herein as xe2x80x9csecondary data packetsxe2x80x9d) that are received by the data communication network are packed into new data packets formed in accordance with the transmission protocol of the data communication network (also referred to herein as xe2x80x9cprimary data packetsxe2x80x9d). The primary data packets are then transmitted through the data communication network. Where packet reordering is required, the transmitted primary data packets are reordered if received out of order. The secondary data packets are then unpacked from the primary data packets and placed in an output queue.
According to one aspect of the invention, the primary data packets transmitted through the data communication network include variable length-fields for recording a source identifier, sequence number, and first packet offset. The field lengths for the source identifier, sequence number, and first packet offset fields are established during a connection negotiation process that occurs prior to the data transmission. In the connection negotiation process, a source terminal and destination terminal in the data communication network exchange one or more messages to establish a xe2x80x9cconnection,xe2x80x9d or association, between the respective terminals.
The source identifier field holds a source identifier that uniquely identifies the data transmission, or connection, to the destination terminal. If a destination terminal decides to admit a connection after receiving a connection request, the destination terminal determines the number of bits to be assigned to the source identifier field. The length of the source identifier field is based largely on the number of connections the destination terminal is handling or expects to handle.
The sequence number field in a primary data packet holds a value indicating the relative position of the data packet in a series of primary data packets. The sequence number field length is primarily based on the number of data packets expected to be transmitted in the connection during a particular period of time. The number of data packets may be derived from connection parameters, such as the bandwidth allotted to the connection, as well as the xe2x80x9ctime to livexe2x80x9d of a primary data packet.
During the connection negotiation process, the destination terminal also determines a field length for a first packet offset field. The first packet offset field in a primary data packet holds information indicating the location at which a first new secondary data packet is packed into the primary data packet. The first packet offset parameter is used in unpacking secondary data packets from the primary data packets transmitted through the data communication network.
To report the connection admission to the source terminal, the destination terminal sends a connection reply. The destination terminal communicates the determined field lengths for the source identifier, sequence number, and first packet offset fields to the source terminal in the connection reply. During the connection negotiation process, the destination terminal also assigns a unique source identifier for the connection and communicates the source identifier to the source terminal in the connection reply.
For an embodiment of the invention described herein, primary data packets have an overall fixed length. As secondary data packets are packed into primary data packets, if a secondary data packet does not completely fill a primary data packet, another secondary data packet is added to the same primary data packet until the primary data packet is filled. If the available xe2x80x9cspacexe2x80x9d remaining at the end of a primary packet is smaller than the length of the next secondary data packet to be packed, the next secondary data packet is preferably divided to define a portion that fills the available space. The remaining, unpacked portion of the secondary data packet is carried over and packed in a new primary data packet. The packing operation is repeated for all of the secondary data packets to be transmitted in the connection. In this manner, the available space in a primary data packet is more fully used, thus improving the data transmission efficiency of the data communication network.
After the primary data packets are transmitted, the destination terminal reorders the received primary data packets (if necessary) and unpacks the secondary data packets. The destination terminal uses the first packet offset value in the received primary data packet to locate secondary data packets for unpacking. The first packet offset allows secondary data packets to be unpacked from the received primary data packets even if one or more transmitted primary data packets are lost, delayed, or received out of order.
It is appreciated that optimizing field lengths for the source identifier, sequence number, and first packet offset fields, and transmitting different protocol data packets through the data communication network are applicable to many types of data communication networks and are particularly suitable for a LEO satellite data communication network.

Method of data transmission in a data communication network


A projector system is provided with at least one projector mobile in a specified space and adapted to project a video to a projection area included in the specified space in accordance with inputted video information, a plurality of position sensors each including a position detecting section for detecting a positional relationship of the projector with the projection area and arranged in a specified positional relationship with the specified space, and a controller for controlling a video to be projected from the projector to the projection area based on detection results by the position detecting sections of the plurality of position sensors.

There is known a projector in which a small-size projection unit and a direction sensor or an acceleration sensor are incorporated into a helmet (patent literatures 1, 2). This is constructed such that a facing direction of the projector is detected by the sensor incorporated in the projector and a display image is projected while being appropriately changed based on detection information.
In another projector, there is known a method for optimizing a projected image from image information by taking in an image projected from the projector again (patent literature 3). By this method, the display information of the image projected by the projector is obtained by a CCD or the like, and the display image is projected while being appropriately changed based on that information.
There is also known a method for controlling the position of a projector by providing a reference point on a screen and detecting the reference point using an image sensor (patent literature 4).
However, since the facing direction of a user is detected by the direction sensor or the acceleration sensor by the method disclosed in patent literatures 1 and 2, it is not easy to precisely detect the posture and distance of the projector with respect to a projection plane. Thus, there has been a problem of difficulty in properly projecting a display image according to the posture of the projector with respect to the projection plane and a distance of the projector to the projection plane.
On the other hand, in the construction disclosed in patent literature 3 for detecting the display image, there has been a problem of taking time to display a precise image with a mobile projector with volatile movements since it takes time for focus control and image analysis to precisely read the display image. If the display surface is on the corner or not a flat surface, e.g. with unevenness, there has been a problem of being unable to determine optimal projection conditions from image information.
By the method disclosed in patent literature 4, positioning cannot be performed unless the reference point on the screen can be detected, wherefore there has been a problem of restricting the display surface of the projector to a limited place.    Patent Literature 1:
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H07-24140    Patent Literature 2:
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H06-167687    Patent Literature 3:
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-339269    Patent Literature 4:
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-292563

Projector system and video projection method


This invention is comprised of a method and apparatus for increasing fluid flow from weak geothermal wells that marginally or cannot, on its own, flow into a production gathering system by passive use of squandered energy inherent in a strong well geothermal well. The apparatus is comprised of a venturi-like nozzle called an eductor and associated piping connected to both the weak and the strong wells and the production gathering system. The method utilizes the eductor apparatus to harness some of the energy from strong well to induce fluid flow from the weak well by reducing the flowing back-pressure for the weaker well.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a passive (no external power input required) apparatus useful for enhancing (increasing) geothermal fluid production from a weak (low pressure) wells by using strong (higher pressure) wells.
2. The Relevant Technology
In geothermal hot water flash (brine or two-phase) systems, multiple wells flow into a fluid gathering system (pipelines) to feed a steam turbine driven electric power plant. The production pressure at the surface in some of the wells may be declining or weak, and produce at marginal rates or not at all if the gathering system pipeline pressure (back-pressure) is too high to allow the required flow. To decrease this back-pressure, the strong wells are often throttled back to allow flow from the weak wells resulting in decrease fluid production from the strong wells. This throttling process reduces the system back-pressure allowing the weaker wells to flow into the pipeline, but curtails production from the strong wells. At some point, as the pressure in the underground reservoir declines with cumulative production, the weaker wells will cease to flow.
Normally, new wells are drilled to make up for the production short-fall. Alternatively, a larger pipeline or a separator station and brine lines are installed on two-phase flash systems to reduce the pressure loss thus allowing the weaker wells to enter the system. Larger diameter, two-phase flow lines can be a concern since oversized pipes can result in flow instability such as dangerous slugging conditions. Separator stations can be used but are very expensive especially if brine transfer pumps are required.
Geothermal two-phase wells will cease to produce fluid when the flowing pressure declines below the maximum shut-in pressure at the well-head. For each psi (pounds per square inch) reduction in effective flowing back-pressure, an increase of 2% to 15% in the total mass flow rate from the lower pressure wells can be obtained. This bonus capacity, in conjunction with keeping the weak wells flowing, can delay supplemental drilling. Geothermal wells cost from $1,500,000 to $3,000,000 to drill and complete. In some geothermal hot water flash fields, up to one-third (1/3) of the original production wells are shut in due to high production pressures (high back pressure).

Eductor/ejector apparatus and the process for increasing fluid recovery from geothermal wells


A search system performs a search in a database. In one embodiment, a process of the search system includes, but is not limited to, in response to a request to search a search term in the database, performing the search in the database based on semantics relationships of the search term and an entity in view of one or more transactions associated with the entity, and presenting a search result of the search, the search result including one or more documents associated with the one or more transactions.

Enterprise software is generally used to manage the inventory, transactions, customer relationship, manufacturing, purchases, sales, services, and finance of a business. Enterprise software often stores business data in a business database, e.g., a company's proprietary database. To obtain information from the database, a user often conducts a search in the database.
Conventional business databases often store information based on a pre-determined classification of the information. If a user's search term is not in one of the pre-determined classifications, either no result will be produced at all, or a result will be produced after several search steps. For example, FIG. 1 shows the operations of a command center 150 of a conventional business database. In FIG. 1, an end user wishes to obtain the stock status of a product item A0001 purchased from vendor V0001. In operation 11, the user first locates "Stock Status" from a menu provided by a user interface of command center 150. In operation 12, the user clicks on the "Stock Status" in a menu. In response to the clicking, in operation 13, command center 150 opens a display window in the user interface to provide a plurality of selection criteria. In operation 14, the user enters product item code "A0001" to specify the product of interest. In operation 15, the user enters supplier code "V0001" to specify the vendor of interest. In operation 16, the user clicks on an "OK" button to run report. In operation 18, command center 150 generates a stock status report. In operation 19, the user prints the report. In operation 20, the user finishes the task and closes the search program.
In the above example, multiple user operations are typically needed in order for the command center to gather all the information necessary for the report. Thus, the conventional database search tool is generally inefficient for business purposes. Moreover, the information necessary for the report is often stored under several different directories in different locations. Thus, the search and retrieval of the information are also inefficient for business purposes.