A pressure sensor device prevents foreign matters from reaching a pressure sensor at the back of a pressure introducing passage, is superior in resistance against both fouling and freezing, and includes a temperature sensor. The pressure sensor device comprises a pressure sensor including a pressure detecting element is disposed to define an enclosed reference chamber and an enclosed pressure introducing chamber and is deformed depending on a pressure difference between the reference chamber and the pressure introducing chamber for detecting the pressure of an object to be measured, a pipe connected to the pressure introducing chamber, and a lead-out portion; a temperature sensor including a heat sensitive element for detecting the temperature of the measured object and a lead-out portion; and a sensor container containing the pressure sensor and the temperature sensor therein and including a pressure introducing passage formed therein which has one end air-tightly connected to the pipe and the other end being open to the exterior, and also has a labyrinth structure, the sensor container including a temperature sensor containing projection formed to accommodate the heat sensitive element embedded in its distal end portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pressure sensor device for detecting the pressure of an object to be measured, and more particularly to a pressure sensor device which is directly attached to an engine intake system in use. The pressure sensor device is superior in resistance against both fouling and freezing, and has high reliability. The present invention also relates to a pressure sensor device combined with a temperature sensor for also detecting the temperature of the measured object.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a conventional pressure sensor device disclosed in, e.g., Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-281519. In FIG. 8, a pressure sensor 1 is mounted on a circuit board 2 such that a lead 1 a projecting from one side of the pressure sensor 1 to serve as a lead-out portion is soldered to the circuit board 2. A reference chamber (not shown) is air-tightly formed inside the pressure sensor 1. A pressure detecting element (not shown) which also air-tightly forms a pressure introducing chamber is disposed in the reference chamber. A pipe 1b extending out of the pressure sensor 1 is connected to the pressure introducing chamber. The pipe 1b introduces the pressure of an object to be measured, e.g., air, to the pressure introducing chamber. The pressure detecting element is deformed depending on a pressure difference between the pressure introducing chamber and the reference chamber. An amount of the resulting deformation is converted into an electrical signal indicating the pressure of the measured object and then output to the exterior through the lead 1a.
The pressure sensor 1 is mounted on the circuit board 2 with the pipe 1b penetrating a through hole 2a bored in the circuit board 2. Above the circuit board 2, there is another ceramic circuit board 2c being U-shaped in section and disposed to cover the pressure sensor 1. Terminals 3 for delivering an output signal of the pressure sensor 1 to the exterior are extended from one end of the circuit board 2. An assembly of the circuit board 2 and the pressure sensor 1 is placed on a base 4 with an outer peripheral portion of the circuit board 2 supported by the base 4, and is further covered by a resin-made, box-shaped housing 5. Both the base 4 and the housing 5 jointly constitute a sensor container 6 for containing the above assembly.
The pressure sensor 1 and the ceramic circuit board 2c are installed in a space defined by the base 4 and the housing 5, i.e., an inner space of the sensor container 6, in such a state as not contacting the container. Between the housing 5 and the ceramic circuit board 2c, a box-shaped cover 5b is disposed so as to cover the ceramic circuit board 2c. A peripheral edge of the cover 5b is entirely brought into abutment with the outer peripheral portion of the circuit board 2, while a top portion of the cover 5b on the opposite side is brought into abutment with an inner wall of the housing 5, thereby pressing the circuit board 2 to the base 4 from above for positioning of the circuit board 2.
A connector portion Sa for connection to an external connector (not shown) is formed at one side of the housing 5. The terminals 3 are embedded and supported in the center of the connector portion 5a. A pressure introducing passage 7 is formed through the base 4 and connected to the pipe 1b. A filter 7a is disposed near the middle of the pressure introducing passage 7. To grip the filter 7a from both sides, the base 4 is divided into two members 4a, 4b in the axial direction of the pressure introducing passage 7 (in the vertical direction in FIG. 8). The members 4a, 4b support the filter 7a in place by gripping it from above and below. A portion of the pressure introducing passage 7 formed in the member 4a on the side facing the filter 7a is flared into a conical shape for the purpose of enabling the measured object to pass the filter 7a in a sufficient amount. The pressure introducing passage 7 is air-tightly connected to the pipe 1b with an O-ring 10 fitted over the pipe 1b.
An attachment surface 4c is formed along an outer peripheral portion of the base 4, and the pressure sensor device is supported at the attachment surface 4c when it is attached in a predetermined place. An O-ring 22 is fitted over the attachment surface 4c along its outer peripheral edge.
The conventional pressure sensor device having the above-explained structure is attached to an attachment hole 50a bored in a wall of an engine intake system 50, for example, such that the base 4 is inserted in the attachment hole 50a, the attachment surface 4c is engaged with a peripheral edge of the attachment hole 50a, and the boundary between the attachment surface 4c and attachment hole 50a is sealed by the O-ring 22. After being thus attached, the pressure sensor device measures the pressure in the engine intake system.
The filter 7a is disposed, as necessary, to prevent foreign matters from entering the pressure sensor 1. Because the provision of the filter 7a increases the number of parts and makes the structure more complicated, however, there are also many pressure sensor devices of this type not including the filter 7a. In the pressure sensor device without the filter 7a, the base 4 is not divided into two members and the pressure introducing passage 7 has a cylindrical shape extending linearly.
Further, FIG. 9 is a view showing the structure of a conventional temperature sensor device disclosed in, e.g., Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 4-30448. In FIG. 9, a thermistor 16 as a heat sensitive element is contained in a holder 15 and sealed by a resin 20 filling the surrounding of the thermistor 16. Two lead wires 17, 17 are connected to the thermistor 16, and one lead wire 17 is covered by a tube 13 for insulating the lead wires 17, 17 from each other. The temperature signal detected by the thermistor 16 is output to the exterior from terminals 25 embedded in a connector 24. A housing 26 supports the holder 15 and the connector 24, and has a threaded portion 26a formed in its outer peripheral surface for attachment of the temperature sensor device to a predetermined position. Between the housing 26 and the holder 15, an O-ring 27 is disposed to seal an object to be measured from the open air.
The conventional temperature sensor device having the above-explained structure is attached to an attachment hole 50b bored in a wall of an engine intake system 50, for example, such that the threaded portion 26a formed in the outer peripheral surface of the housing 26 is fastened into the attachment hole 50b to close it. After being thus attached, the temperature sensor device detects the temperature of the measured object.
Because the conventional pressure sensor device and temperature sensor device are constructed as explained above, separate sensor devices have been necessary to detect the pressure and temperature of the measured object. This has resulted in the problems of requiring individual attachment of the separate sensor devices to the engine intake system 50, for example, to the respective attachment holes 50a, 50b, as well as requiring external connectors and connecting wires specific to the separate sensor devices for supplying electrical power and outputting signals. In addition, external covering parts and internal constituent parts are also required for each of the separate sensor devices. It has been, therefore, difficult to manufacture the separate sensor devices cost-effectively in total.
In the conventional pressure sensor device having the structure shown in FIG. 8, as stated above, the pressure sensor device is attached to the attachment hole 50a bored in the wall of the engine intake system 50, for example, so as to close it. Meanwhile, it is generally known that the pressure in the engine intake system 50 is abruptly changed upon pressure pulsation and quick opening/closing of a throttle. When the pressure is changed from negative pressure to atmospheric pressure or positive pressure, solid foreign matters present in a pressure source are forced to fly toward the lower pressure side at high speeds. The solid foreign matters having thus flied and come to the pressure sensor device may enter the interior of the pressure sensor device in some cases. In the conventional pressure sensor device having the structure shown in FIG. 8, however, the pressure introducing passage 7 formed in the base 4 extends linearly in alignment with the axis of the pipe 1b. This has raised a problem that, for the pressure sensor device of the type not having the filter 7a, the solid foreign matters possibly reach the pressure detecting element disposed at the back of the pressure introducing passage 7 without attenuation of their kinetic energy and damage the pressure detecting element to such an extent as to make it no longer operate.
Also, in the conventional pressure sensor device having the structure shown in FIG. 8, if the pressure introducing passage 7 is attached in a horizontal state, for example, water droplets stagnate in the conical portion of the pressure introducing passage 7 facing the filter 7a. The presence of water droplets in the pressure introducing passage 7 may causes a failure in pressure sensing operation because the pressure introducing passage 7 is closed due to, e.g., freezing of the water droplets. For that reason, the conventional pressure sensor device has been avoided from being attached in an inclined mount place or the like, and is generally attached in such a state that the pressure introducing passage 7 extends vertically.
Another problem in the conventional pressure sensor device having the above-explained structure is that because of the pressure introducing passage 7 having only one opening, if the opening is closed due to freezing of water droplets or adhesion of a highly viscous material, no pressure introducing passage exists and a failure in pressure sensing operation results.
Furthermore, when measuring an object having high moisture, if the temperature surrounding the pressure sensor device is lowered, water vapor residing in the pressure introducing passage 7 and the pipe 1b is cooled so as to cause dew condensation on inner wall surfaces. At this time, the dew condensation occurs in a place where the temperature of the wall surface is lowest. Because the pipe 1b of the pressure sensor 1 is made of metal and has smaller specific heat than the base 4 made of resin, the temperature of the pipe 1b lowers more quickly than that of the base 4. Accordingly, the dew condensation occurs on the surface of the pipe 1b ranging from its inner wall to extremity. This has raised a problem that water droplets generated from the dew condensation are frozen and a failure in pressure sensing operation results.
In the conventional temperature sensor device having the structure shown in FIG. 9, a gap 51 is left between the threaded portion 26a contacting the attachment hole 50b and the holder 15 to prevent the temperature of the intake system 50 from being transmitted to the thermistor 16. But that structure is complicated and has been the cause of pushing up the cost. Furthermore, heat is transmitted to the holder 15 and the resin 20 and then finally reaches the thermistor 16; thus, the above structure has not been complete in preventing transmission of heat.


A collection apparatus for use in vacuum cleaners appliance to collect sucked up materials includes a tank that has a bottom, peripheral walls and an upper opening opposite to the bottom, and that is adapted to be closed by a removable lid; suction means that are coupled to the tank to create a negative pressure therein; and separation means that separate the sucked up materials from the air flows moving in a suction direction defined from an inlet into the tank and an outlet from the tank, which are either wet separation means or dry separation means that can be alternately and interchangeably mounted within the tank using removable mounting means.

Vacuum cleaners are known, both for domestic and industrial use, in which an internal tank is provided, typically removable from the body of the appliance and having a substantially horizontal flat bottom, for receiving the flow of air sucked up from the outside, with collected dirt and debris mixed therewith.
According to a first technique, known as wet filtration, the tank is loaded with a water volume that fills a portion of limited height and the flow of sucked up air is bubbled through this water volume to cause the release of collected debris and remove fine particulate matter.
The air emerging from the water volume flows back to the outside environment through a special path, and possibly flows therein over the motor of the appliance for cooling it and through a fine-mesh filter for removing any fine particulate residues.
A vacuum cleaner appliance is also known which comprises a dynamic dust removal unit, which is mounted in the tank containing the water volume.
This dynamic dust removal unit comprises a rotatably motor-driven fan which is mounted to the tank ceiling.
The fan has a large number of blades, with passages for the sucked up air therebetween, communicating with a pipe for collecting air and conveying it to the outside.
The fan is driven by a motor whereby it provides the sucking action, by creating a negative pressure in the tank.
The air emerging from the water volume after bubbling and release of debris and fine particulate matter is sucked up through the passages defined between the blades and any residual suspended dirt particles or debris are separated from the air flow by direct impact against the blades of the rotating fan.
The particles rejected by the blades fall back into the water volume with those collected during bubbling, for disposal when the water volume is heavily loaded with dirt and is emptied from the tank and replaced with a new clean water volume.
According to another technique, known as dry filtration, vacuum cleaners are known in which the debris and dirt collection tank uses no water but only one or more filters mounted in the tank or directly to the motor that generates the suction force, which filters separate the debris and the particulate matter from the flow of sucked up air prior to reintroduction thereof into the environment after purification.
While these known appliances have an adequate operation, they still suffer from certain drawbacks.
A first drawback is that each vacuum cleaner appliance is manufactured and commercially available in one of the above described versions only.
Therefore, in order that a user can purify the sucked up air prior to reintroduction thereof into the environment using wet filtration, by simple bubbling in water or by dynamic dust removal, or using dry filtration, he/she should buy three distinct appliances, or select one of them and give up the others.
A further drawback of prior art appliances is that the bottom of the compartment in which the sucked up dirt is collected is substantially flat and parallel to the ground, whereby the solid debris sucked up and separated from the air flow are collected on the bottom in random fashion, and no spontaneous accumulation area is provided, for such debris to be quickly picked up and discharged without repeatedly removing the tank from the suction cleaner when small amounts of collected debris and particulate matter are present.

Collecting apparatus of sucked materials for vacuum cleaner appliances


A keyboard is configured for inputting letters of an alphabet into a computing device. The keyboard has a left-side keyboard section and a right-side keyboard section. The left-side keyboard section comprises a left-side cluster of letter keys formed from letter keys in multiple different left-side rows, including a left-side top row and a left-side bottom row that each has only a single letter key. Letter keys forming a perimeter of the left-side cluster are arranged around the perimeter in alphabetical order according to said alphabet. Similarly, the right-side keyboard section comprises a right-side cluster of letter keys formed from letter keys in multiple different right-side rows, including a right-side top row and a right-side bottom row that each has only a single letter key. Letter keys forming a perimeter of the right-side cluster are arranged around the perimeter in alphabetical order according to said alphabet.

The QWERTY keyboard for Latin-script alphabets was first implemented in the 1870s as part of a mechanical typewriter. Placing commonly used letter-pairs so that their type bars were not neighboring, the QWERTY keyboard reduced typewriter jams. This popular QWERTY design persisted on modern keyboards, with only minimal changes, long after mechanical typewriter jams were no longer a problem. In fact, the QWERTY design has even persisted on virtual keyboards provided by mobile devices with a touchscreen.
The QWERTY keyboard is nonetheless inherently difficult to learn how to use. The non-intuitive arrangement of the letters on the keyboard not only steepens the keyboard's learning curve, but also threatens to slow typing speeds. This proves especially true when the QWERTY keyboard is used on mobile devices and other handheld devices whose small form factor dictates that a person use two thumbs, or one thumb and one finger, to type rather than the ten fingers for which the QWERTY keyboard's elongated footprint was designed.


An analog to digital converting apparatus and an initial method thereof are provided. The analog to digital converting apparatus includes a first and a second switching capacitor units, a circuit unit, a first and a second initialization switches, a third and a fourth capacitors and a logic buffer. The first and the second switching capacitor units respectively couple first capacitors and second capacitors to a first logic voltage, a second logic voltage or a first or a second input voltage according to a first control signal, and respectively generate a first and a second voltage. The circuit unit compares the first voltage and the second voltage to generate the first control signal. The first and the second initialization switches are respectively connected in series between the first and the second voltage and a common-mode endpoint. The logic buffer outputs the first or the second logic voltage to the common-mode endpoint.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an analog to digital converting apparatus, and particularly relates to a successive approximation register analog to digital converting apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
In the recent trends of integrated circuit design, the demands for lower power consumption, higher performance, and lower cost are more and more strict. In the design of an analog front-end circuit, an efficient analog to digital converter (ADC) can significantly improve the overall performance of the system.
There are several different frameworks of ADC, such as flash ADC, pipeline ADC, successive approximation register ADC (SAR-ADC), and two-step ADC. These ADC frameworks respectively have suitable conditions. When the requirements on specification remain the same, SAR-ADC has the advantage of lower power consumption and smaller chip area over the pipeline ADC. Thus, the development on SAR-ADC has gradually been valued in relevant industries.
The current framework of SAR-ADC usually includes an analog buffer for generating a common mode voltage. However, when the converting precision and frequency of SAR-ADC are higher, the power of the analog buffer may significantly increase, making the circuit design more difficult.

Analog to digital converting apparatus and initial method thereof


A braking apparatus for a fishing reel and a braking element assembly preferred for use in the inventive apparatus. The inventive braking apparatus comprises: a contacting structure; a plurality of braking elements for contacting the contacting structure to generate a braking force; a dial and cam slider assembly for selectively placing the contacting structure in a plurality of predetermined positions relative to the braking elements; and an indexing structure for identifying the predetermined positions. The inventive braking element assembly preferably comprises: (a) a housing having a longitudinal axis and a longitudinal end and (b) a plurality of braking elements retained in the housing for radial braking movement relative to the longitudinal axis. A first and second one of the braking elements are each retained in the housing at a first longitudinal position spaced a first longitudinal distance from the first end. A third one and a fourth one of the braking elements are each retained in the housing at a second longitudinal position spaced a second longitudinal distance from the longitudinal end. The second longitudinal distance is greater than the first longitudinal distance.

Baitcast fishing reels are well known in the art. A baitcasting reel will typically comprise: a split frame having a pair of opposing side plates; a foot extending from the frame for attaching the reel to a fishing rod; a line spool, rotatably positioned between the frame side plates, for retrieving and holding a fishing line; a spool shaft, on which the spool is secured, having ends extending through the frame side plates; a pinion gear (typically a helical gear) provided on the spool shaft; a manually rotatable crank handle; a gear train and crankshaft assembly mechanically linking the crank handle to the spool shaft pinion gear; a level-wind mechanism which transverses the spool during winding to ensure that the fishing line is properly wound along the length of the spool; an anti-reverse mechanism for preventing reverse rotation of the crank handle and spool; a clutch mechanism for disengaging the pinion gear from the spool shaft to allow the spool to rotate freely during casting; an exterior actuator (typically a thumb lever) for engaging the clutch; and a spool drag or spool braking mechanism.
In most cases, right and left side covers are removably attached to the frame side plates for housing the reel's various operating mechanisms. A right-handed baitcasting reel (i.e., a reel designed for a right-handed user) will typically be structured such that: the spool drag or spool braking mechanism is housed under the left side cover; the crank handle is rotatably mounted outside of the right side cover; and the crankshaft, gear train, pinion gear, clutch, and anti-reverse mechanism are housed under the right side cover. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, a left-handed version of generally any baitcasting reel can be produced by simply reversing the arrangement and structure of the reel's components such that the left-handed reel is a mirror image of the right-handed version of the reel.
Two basic styles of reels dominate the baitcasting market. One type consists of traditional baitcasting reels having high, round profiles. The other type consists of low profile, contemporary reels having teardrop or generally oval shapes. As used herein, the term "high profile" refers to a reel profile wherein, when the reel is secured to a fishing rod, the spacing of the top of the reel above the top of the rod is relatively high. The term "low profile," as used herein, refers to a reel profile wherein the spacing of the top of the reel above the top of the rod is relatively low.
The low profile nature of the contemporary baitcasting reel desirably allows the user to "palm" the reel during winding. When palming the fishing reel, the user positions one hand around both the reel and the rod and turns the crank handle with the other hand. Many users find that holding the rod and reel in this manner provides comfort and balance. While palming the reel, the user will also typically hold the fishing line such that, during winding, the line passes between the thumb and the forefinger of the palming hand. Thus, palming also serves to remove moisture from the line and, by maintaining a desirable amount of tension on the line, promotes efficient winding.
Spool drag or spool braking systems are commonly used in baitcasting reels to alleviate line backlashing (also referred to as "line nesting") problems. Because they utilize transversely-oriented spools which rotate during casting, baitcasting reels are more prone to backlashing problems than are spinning reels and spin-casting reels. Such problems result primarily from the rotational momentum carried by the spool. The most common types of drag/braking mechanisms used in baitcasting reels are magnetic drag systems and centrifugal braking systems.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,108,042 discloses an adjustable, magnetic drag mechanism housed within the left side cover of a right-handed baitcast reel. The mechanism operates by exerting a magnetic drag force on the left end of the reel spool. The magnetic force slows the rotation of the spool during casting. The U.S. Pat. No. 5,108,042 mechanism comprises: a magnet carrier ring having a plurality of permanent magnets attached thereto; an axially movable cam disc to which the magnet carrier ring is secured; and an adjustment dial projecting through a recess in the left cover. The dial is operatively associated with the cam disc for selectively moving the carrier ring toward and away from the left end of the spool in order to adjust the amount of magnetic drag force applied to the spool.
Unfortunately, the amount of drag force imparted by this type of magnetic system does not vary in proportion to the rotational speed of the spool. Rather, for any selected magnet position, the system imparts a constant magnetic dragging force. Thus, for example, when the user has been casting a short distance and then decides to cast a long distance, the user must either adjust the magnetic drag system prior to making the long cast or compensate the magnetic force by applying thumb pressure to the reel spool.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,308,021 discloses a centrifugal braking system commonly used in baitcasting reels. The centrifugal braking system includes: a plurality of rod-like members projecting radially from the end of the spool shaft; a plurality of tubular braking pieces or weights slidably mounted on the rod-like members; and a fixed brake ring encompassing the distal ends of the rod-like members. When the spool shaft rotates, the braking pieces move outwardly on the rodlike members into frictional contact with the brake ring. This frictional contact provides a braking force which slows the rotation of the spool.
The centrifugal braking system desirably exerts a braking force which varies in proportion to the rotational speed of the spool. Unfortunately, however, to make even minor adjustments to the centrifugal system (e.g., to account for the use of a heavier or lighter lure), the left side of the reel must be disassembled and the individual braking pieces must be individually manipulated. Typically, the individual pieces can be snapped into fixed position adjacent the spool shaft whereby the pieces are prevented from sliding into frictional contact with the brake disc. Alternatively, the individual braking pieces can be either replaced or removed.
In addition to such adjustment problems, centrifugal braking assemblies of the type used in U.S. Pat. No. 5,308,021 (a) require a relatively large amount of space, (b) are easily damaged (e.g., by bending the rods while making system adjustments), and (c) can easily become unbalanced.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,308,021 discloses a centrifugal braking system wherein the braking force exerted by the system can be selectively adjusted by operating a dial mechanism positioned under the left cover of the reel. Like the standard centrifugal braking system discussed above, the U.S. Pat. No. 5,308,021 system utilizes a plurality of individual, tubular, braking pieces slidably mounted on radial, rod-like members projecting from the end of the spool shaft. However, rather than using a fixed braking ring, the U.S. Pat. No. 5,308,021 system employs an axially movable braking structure. Additionally, rather than having a strictly cylindrical braking surface, the U.S. Pat. No. 5,308,021 braking structure presents a frusto-conical braking surface which diverges toward a small diameter, cylindrical braking surface. Further, the roughness of the braking surface varies such that the frictional coefficient presented by the surface increases as the surface is adjusted axially toward the braking elements. Thus, the degree of frictional braking force provided by the U.S. Pat. No. 5,308,021 system can be adjusted by changing the point of contact between the braking structure and the braking pieces.
Unfortunately, the U.S. Pat. No. 5,308,021 system uses only a tubular-type braking element assembly and is therefore subject to the same space, damage, and balance problems discussed above. Further, unless the U.S. Pat. No. 5,308,021 reel is disassembled and the individual braking elements are either removed or locked into position adjacent to the spool shaft, the U.S. Pat. No. 5,308,021 system cannot be adjusted such that the individual braking pieces are completely prevented from contacting any portion of the braking surface. Moreover, the production of a braking surface of the type employed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,308,021 having a varying degree of roughness would be both difficult and costly.
The braking system of U.S. Pat. No. 5,308,021 is also likely to produce significant noise problems. Tubular braking elements of the type used in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,308,021 system will spin and wear when contacting either an inclined braking surface or a braking surface having a progressively increasing coefficient of friction. Such spinning and wear will likely cause the tubular braking elements to rattle. A substantial amount of rattle will likely also occur when the braking elements frictionally contact the rougher portions of the braking surface.


In hierarchical design of a logic circuit by utilizing lower-level blocks of the logic circuit, data on the logic circuit with the hierarchical structure, library data holding primitive information on the logic circuit and timing constraints on the lower-level blocks are input at a data input step. Based on these input data, it is determined whether or not interface specifications of timing constraints on the lower-level blocks match each other at a matching determination step before a constraint converting step of converting the timing constraints on the lower-level blocks into a timing constraint on a higher-level block. Accordingly, it is possible to avoid generation of an excessively reduced or rigorous timing constraint on the higher-level block resulting from mismatching between interface specifications of timing constraints on the lower-level blocks.

The present invention relates to methods for generating timing constraints of logic circuits and particularly to a method for generating a timing constraint on a higher-level block in hierarchical design without an error.
With recent miniaturization in semiconductor fabrication processes, logic circuits to be designed have become larger in scale and more complicated. Therefore, hierarchical design in which a logic circuit to be implemented is divided into a plurality of partial circuits each having a specific function and the partial circuits are designed in parallel has been adopted in most cases.
FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a hierarchically designed logic circuit. A highest-level block 31 represents a whole logic circuit to be designed and includes circuit blocks 32 and 33 respectively representing partial circuits. The circuit block 32 includes circuit blocks 34 and 35 respectively representing partial circuits. The circuit block 34 includes primitive circuits 36, 37 and 38 and is at the lowest level.
Timing design of a logic circuit is generally carried out by using a logic synthesis tool, a logic optimization tool, a timing analysis tool and other tools and needs circuit constraints that define circuit specifications to be implemented. These circuit constraints include a timing constraint such as a constraint defining a signal transmission time from an element in a circuit to another element to be connected thereto.
In performing timing designs on blocks at respective levels in a hierarchical structure, a timing constraint is required for each block. If a whole logic circuit is to be designed, a timing constraint on the highest-level block is generated. The timing constraint on the highest-level block is generated by a designer based on circuit specifications. In general, timing constraints on lower-level blocks are repeatedly generated based on the timing constraint on the higher-level block, thereby designing a desired logic circuit. Such a technique is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 10-187787, for example.
In addition to the technique of generating timing constraints on lower-level blocks based on a timing constraint on a higher-level block described above, a technique of generating a timing constraint on a higher-level block based on existing timing constraints on lower-level blocks has been proposed to share design resources. This technique is often adopted for an SOC design in which functions, which were previously implemented with a plurality of chips in the past, are integrated into one chip.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing process steps of a proposal of a timing constraint generating method for generating a timing constraint on a higher-level block based on existing timing constraints on lower-level blocks. In FIG. 4, step 41 is a data input step of inputting data on a logic circuit having a hierarchical structure, library data holding primitive information on the logic circuit and timing constraints on lower-level blocks of the logic circuit. Step 42 is a constraint converting step of converting the input constraints on the lower-level blocks into a constraint on the higher-level block.
Procedures according to the timing constraint generating method thus constructed will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the constraint converting step 42 shown in FIG. 4 in detail. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing examples of a logic circuit to which data has been input and timing constraints. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 60 denotes a higher-level block representing a whole logic circuit shown in the drawing. A lower-level block BLKA61 and a lower-level block BLKB62 are at a level immediately below the higher-level block 60. The lower-level block BLKA61 includes a flip-flop 611 and a combinational circuit 612. The lower-level block BLKB62 includes a flip-flop 622 and a combinational circuit 621. The flip-flop 611 in the lower-level block BLKA61 receives a clock CK1 and the flip-flop 622 in the lower-level block BLKB62 receives a clock CK2. A timing constraint 63 is set at a block pin OUT613 of the lower-level block BLKA61. This timing constraint 63 includes an output delay constraint 631 and a multi-cycle constraint 632. A timing constraint 64 is set at a block pin IN623 of the lower-level block BLKB62. This timing constraint 64 includes an input delay constraint 641 and a multi-cycle constraint 642.
Now, a flow of the constraint converting step shown in FIG. 5 will be described with reference to FIG. 6.
First, at step 51, a timing constraint on a lower-level block is extracted. Then, at step 52, it is determined whether the extracted timing constraint is an object of conversion or not. For example, in the logic circuit shown in FIG. 6, if the extracted timing constraint is the output delay constraint 631, this extracted timing constraint is determined to be unnecessary for the higher-level block whereas if the extracted timing constraint is the multi-cycle constraint 632, this constraint is determined to be necessary. In the case of the determination to be an object of conversion, a set point at which the extracted timing constraint is set is switched from a point in the lower-level block to a point in the higher-level block at step 53. For example, a set point for the multi-cycle constraint 632 is changed from "OUT" in the lower-level block to a "BLKA/OUT" in the higher-level block.
On the other hand, in the case of the determination not to be an object of conversion at step 52, it is determined whether all the timing constraints are extracted or not at step 54. If one or more timing constraints have not been extracted yet, the process returns to step 51. After all the timing constraints have been extracted, at least one converted timing constraint is output at step 55. This converted timing constraint is a timing constraint on the higher-level block 60 as shown in FIG. 7, for example. Specifically, the set point is switched in such a manner that "mcp 2—to OUT", i.e., the multi-cycle constraint 632 in the timing constraint 63 which has been set at the block pin OUT613 of the lower-level block BLKA61 shown in FIG. 6, is changed into "mcp 2—through BLKA/OUT" shown in FIG. 7. Then, "mcp 2—through BLKA/OUT" is output as a timing constraint on the higher-level block. The same holds for the timing constraint 64 at the block pin IN623 of the lower-level block BLKB62.
In the timing constraint generating method as described above, however, if an extracted timing constraint is a timing constraint on a lower-level block and reflected as a timing constraint on a higher-level block, e.g., the multi-cycle constraint as described above, multi-cycle constraints on lower-level blocks are used as a timing constraint on a higher-level block without change, though the clocks CK1 and CK2 referred to by the respective two lower-level blocks 61 and 62 shown in FIG. 6 differ from each other and do not match each other. That is, the matching between interface specifications of the lower-level blocks at the same level is not taken into consideration in this way. Accordingly, if a timing constraint on a higher-level block is generated based on timing constraints on a plurality of lower-level blocks exhibiting no matching, the timing constraint on the higher-level block might be too reduced or too rigorous. In this case, debugging for analyzing an error occurring in interface specifications between the lower-level blocks at the same level is needed or there arises a drawback in which timing designs for the lower-level blocks need to be performed again because circuit specifications are not satisfied.

Method for generating timing constraints of logic circuit

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A aromatic amine derivative having an specific structure having a diphenyl amino group, and two or more of substituent bonding to benzene ring thereof, and in an organic electroluminescence device which comprises at least one organic thin film layer comprising a light emitting layer sandwiched between a pair of electrode consisting of an anode and a cathode, at least one of the organic thin film layer comprises the aromatic amine derivative singly or a component for a mixture thereof. The organic electroluminescence device exhibiting a long lifetime and high current efficiency as well as emitting blue light with high color purity, and also the aromatic amine derivative for realizing the organic EL device are provided.

Since an organic EL device employing organic materials has been expected as an application for a display device based on a solid light emission having a popular price and a large viewing surface, substantial development have been conducted.
An organic EL device is constructed generally from a light emitting layer and a pair of counter electrodes which sandwiches the layer. A light emission is a phenomenon as follows; when an electric field is applied between the electrodes, electrons are injected from the cathode side and holes are injected from the anode side. Further, the electrons recombine with the holes in the light emitting layer to produce its excitation state, and the energy from the excitation state is released as a light on returning to the ground state. The conventional organic EL devices required a higher driving voltage and had lower luminance and current efficiency in comparison with inorganic light emission diodes. In addition, the devices have not yet been put to practical use due to notable deterioration of properties thereof.
Although current organic EL devices have been improved by inches, longer lifetime as well as higher current efficiency has been desired. For example, the technology employed the individual mono-anthracene compounds as an organic light emission material has been disclosed (Patent literature 1). However, it has provided with the organic EL devices having for example, only the luminance of 1650 cd/m2 at the luminance of 165 mA/cm2, and also the current efficiency is extremely low so as to put them in practical use.
Further, the technology employing the individual bisanthracene compounds as an organic light emission material has been disclosed (Patent literature 2). However, it has provided with an organic EL device having the low current efficiency such as 1 to 3 cd/A, therefore further improvement has been required so as to put in practical use.
Meanwhile, the organic EL device with a long lifetime, which employed the distyryl compound added by styryl amine or so forth as an organic light emitting material, has been proposed (Patent literature). However, the device has been required to improve its inadequate lifetime further. In addition, the technology employing the organic light emitting medium layer of the monoanthracene compounds or the bisanthracene compounds, and the distyryl compounds has been disclosed (Patent literature 4). However, it has provided with worsened color purity since the emission spectrum become long wavelength due to the conjugated structure of the styryl compounds.
Further, the devices emitting blue light employed the diaminochrysene derivatives have been disclosed in Patent literature 5. However, the device has been required to improve its inadequate lifetime in spite of its excellent current efficiency.
Patent literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Heisei 11 (1999)-3782, Patent literature 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Heisei 8 (1996)-12600, Patent literature 3: International PCT publication No. WO 094/006157, Patent literature 4: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-284050, Patent literature 5: International PCT publication No. WO 04/044088.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Aromatic amine derivative and organic electroluminescence device using the same


A controller and associated sensor system for augmenting the automatic delivery of drugs is provided. The controller and associated sensor system is based on the detection and determination of particular physical lifestyle events. As a specific example, a pump augmentation system includes a six-axis accelerometer sensor, a gyroscopic pitch sensor and a controller. The controller is configured to receive motion data from the six-axis accelerometer sensor and orientation data from the gyroscopic pitch sensor. The controller provides a pump instruction signal for changing a delivery rate of a drug to a user based on the motion data and the orientation data. When the pump is an insulin pump, the pump augmentation system is an insulin pump augmentation system and provides accurate insulin control for controlling blood glucose levels of a user.

Despite the progress of diabetic management via an insulin pump, even after the introduction and integration of continuous glucose monitoring with a "closed loop" approach, there still remains a disconnect between the capability of conventional insulin pump systems to satisfactorily detect and compensate for changing physiological, lifestyle, and exercise of an individual. All of these situations frequently result in unexpected raising and/or lowering of blood glucose levels, often times such that the blood glucose levels are outside of their desired, targeted or acceptable glucose ranges.
As an example, the everyday act of simply awakening for an individual triggers a release of hormones that characteristically causes a person's blood glucose level to rise. In a non-diabetic individual, the blood glucose levels are organically adjusted so these situations go unnoticed. In a diabetic individual, however, there is no (or only a limited) physiological mechanism that recognizes and compensates for such circumstances. Currently, treatment of diabetes generally relies on an "after the fact" corrective measures to bring the changing blood glucose levels back to normal ranges.
In contrast to the need to treat rising blood glucose levels, diabetic individuals also continually face the opposite problem, even with "closed-loop" insulin pump therapy. Normal physical activity such as working, walking, or exercising can frequently bring a diabetic individual's blood glucose level down to dangerously low levels. To complicate matters even further, in certain circumstances the same physical exertion during a period of elevated blood glucose levels can actually further increase the blood glucose levels to a dangerous degree.
At its core, the overall control problem results from the fact that insulin pumps follow a rigid, time of day based delivery process for the continuous, or basal, rate of insulin delivery, as well as only being able to react to an abnormal glucose level after a deviation has already occurred, or is in the process of taking place.
At its best, conventional insulin pumps or closed-loop insulin pumps are inherently limited to indirectly reacting to changes in interstitial fluid glucose levels, which are in of itself a delayed measure of true blood glucose levels. Present treatment methods lack the ability to dynamically and automatically proactively increase or decrease an insulin delivery rate, and therefore such methods merely treat the consequential effects of lifestyle or physiological activity.

Controller based on lifestyle event detection


An internal combustion engine controller for automobiles which realizes torque increasing performance and exhaust gas purifying performance in a well-balanced manner even when a high-response torque increase is demanded in uniform charge stoichiometric combustion which is operated at a value close to the theoretical air-fuel ratio in torque base type engine control.

As for the engine torque control of an internal combustion engine controller for automobiles, so-called "torque base (torque demand) type engine control" in which target engine torque is computed from the angle of an accelerator and the speed of an engine and throttle control, fuel control and ignition control are carried out to achieve the target engine torque and the target air-fuel ratio has recently been implemented.
The torque base (torque demand) type engine control of the internal combustion engine has advantages that a torque difference at the time of switching between uniform charge combustion and stratified charge combustion in a stratified charge lean combustion system can be reduced and that traction control and engine torque demanded from an external device such as an auto-cruise or AT can be processed smoothly by adding an interface for external demand torque to a logic for computing the above target engine torque.
The above torque base type engine control has an advantage that torque control can be carried out while the target air-fuel ratio is maintained as torque control is basically carried out by controlling the quantity of air sucked by an electrically controlled throttle. However, it has a problem that its response for achieving desired torque is low due to a phenomenon that the supply of intake air into cylinders is delayed. To cope with this problem, when high-speed response is desired for traction control or VDC (vehicle dynamics control), for example, other torque control means is used in combination to improve the torque response. As one example of this, there is known technology making use of a fuel cut or ignition retard when torque is reduced (deceleration).
Another technology concerning the torque response is disclosed by JP-A H11-72033, for example. In this technology, when high-speed torque response is desired in a stratified charge lean combustion system, the torque response is improved by correcting the ignition time at the time of uniform charge combustion and the air-fuel ratio at the time of stratified charge combustion. In this technology, torque correction is carried out by correcting the ignition time as the purification efficiency of a three-way catalyst is reduced to deteriorate exhaust gas when the air-fuel ratio is corrected at the time of uniform charge combustion, and torque correction is carried out by correcting the air-fuel ratio in the case of stratified charge combustion as the variable range of ignition time is small.
Meanwhile, as for the recent exhaust gas purification control of an automobile internal combustion engine, there is generally known technology for improving the exhaust purification ratio with a three-way catalyst by carrying out air-fuel ratio feed-back control, using a detection signal from an O2 sensor installed in the exhaust pipe, so that the air-fuel ratio becomes a value close to the theoretical air-fuel ratio.
However, the three-way catalyst has an O2 storage effect (effect of storing oxygen in a catalyst) and the function of reacting with an exhaust component in the catalyst so that the stored O2 cancels a shift from the theoretical air-fuel ratio in exhaust from the engine. Therefore, when air-fuel ratio feed-back control is carried out by using information only from the O2 sensor without considering the exhaust purification function of the stored O2, the correction quantity of fuel becomes inappropriate and over-correction occurs, thereby deteriorating the exhaust gas. To cope with this problem, for example, technology disclosed by JP-A H2-230935 is to prevent the deterioration of the purification of exhaust gas by adjusting the amount of air-fuel ratio feed-back control based on an estimated value obtained by O2 storage quantity estimation means for estimating the storage quantity of O2 in a three-way catalyst provided in an internal combustion engine controller.
For the torque base type control of the conventional internal combustion engine controller for automobiles, technology for improving the torque response by using other high-speed torque control means is used to compensate for a delay in the supply of intake air when high-speed torque response is desired. In a uniform charge stoichiometric combustion system which is operated at a value close to the theoretical air-fuel ratio, there has not been proposed appropriate torque assist means when high-speed torque increase is demanded during non-idling.
One of the reasons for this is that torque increase is impossible at the time of non-idling by further advancing the ignition time as a value (MBT) at which the ignition time is advanced to enable the generation of the maximum torque is generally set as a standard ignition time even when torque assist is tried by changing the ignition time.
Another reason is that when the air-fuel ratio is simply made rich, the purification of exhaust gas may be deteriorated (specifically, increases in the quantities of CO or HC) as the air-fuel ratio must be maintained at a value close to the theoretical air-fuel ratio due to the exhaust gas purification properties of the three-way catalyst used in a uniform charge stoichiometric combustion system though it is commonly known that the torque can be increased by making the air-fuel ratio rich (for example, power air-fuel ratio of about 12) as for the technology of assisting torque by the air-fuel ratio control of an internal combustion engine.
It is an object of the present invention which has been made in view of the above problems to provide an internal combustion engine controller for automobiles which can realize torque increasing performance and exhaust gas purification performance in a well-balanced manner even when a high-speed torque increase is demanded in uniform charge stoichiometric combustion which is operated at a value close to a theoretical air-fuel ratio in the torque base type engine control of an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: The internal combustion engine controller comprises target torque computation means for computing the target torque based on the demand torque of the internal combustion engine such as the operation quantity of an accelerator, means of computing the target throttle angle based on the target torque, and torque assist control means for assisting torque based on the state of the target torque and the operation state of the internal combustion engine. The above torque assist control means carries out torque assist control by increasing the quantity of fuel when a torque increase is demanded.


There is disclosed a modular trailer hitch and tow bar having multiple coupling points at which the trailer may be separated from its towing vehicle. The first is a pivoting coupling on a vehicle mount unit near the horizontal axis of the towing vehicle rear wheels. The second coupling is rearwardly displaced from the first and is a sleeve and bar coupling which is normally used to separate the tow bar into a trailer connector unit and a vehicle mount unit. The third coupling is rearwardly displaced from the second and is arranged to conform to the juncture of the bifurcated arms of a conventional travel trailer tongue. The third coupling operates in conjunction with clamps engaging the tongue to form a rigid and rugged joinder of tow bar to trailer tongue arms. A vehicle mounted tow bar holder holds the truck mount unit portion stationary when the tow bar is disconnected at the second coupling. In one embodiment the tow bar forward of second coupling is telescopically adjustable to allow for different vehicular lengths.

The present invention relates to an under-vehicle trailer hitch and tow bar having a coupling point near the position of vehicle rear bumper at which the trailer may be separated from its towing vehicle. The invention transfers the pivot point of the tow bar from near the rear bumper of the towing vehicle to the position of the axis of the rear wheels. The prior art does include various tow bars which are designed to attach to the towing vehicle near the rear wheels axis of the towing vehicle to provide greater control of the trailer and thereby a greater degree of safety. Some prior art devices which have attempted to solve the problem of accessibility of the coupling and uncoupling procedure for a coupling point located near or above the rear axle of the towing vehicle include gooseneck and fifth wheel-type hitches. However, these attempts at solving the placement and accessibility problems have resulted in substantial and unsightly modifications to the towing vehicle as well as the loss of the use of a substantial amount of the space of the towing vehicle. Additionally, these prior art devices cannot be used on vehicles which have no open bed in which their mounts can be placed. This leaves a large category of vehicles in which the typical gooseneck and fifth wheel hitch cannot be used. The present invention overcomes the difficulties associated with these types of hitches, and, also attaches to the towing vehicle with a minimal reduction of the towing vehicle normal utility. Prior trailer hitches and tow bars have also suffered from problems associated with transferring the trailer weight-bearing point to a location adjacent to the axis of the rear wheels of the towing vehicle.
These problems include the difficulty with which the trailers and towing vehicles were coupled and uncoupled, together with the problems associated with the different rear bumper-to-axle distance on different towing vehicles. The present invention overcomes both these difficulties in that it provides a convenient coupling and uncoupling procedure with the coupling near the rear bumper of the towing vehicle and easily accessible by the operator.
In certain embodiments the invention also accommodates different sizes of towing vehicles in that it is adjustable in its total horizontal length.


This invention pertains to vaccine compositions comprising a mixture of antigen, such as a herpes simplex virus antigen, and the interleukin IL-12, which may be adsorbed onto a mineral in suspension. These vaccine compositions modulate the protective immune response to the antigen.

The immune system uses many mechanisms for attacking pathogens; however, not all of these mechanisms are necessarily activated after immunization. Protective immunity induced by vaccination is dependent on the capacity of the vaccine to elicit the appropriate immune response to resist or eliminate the pathogen. Depending on the pathogen, this may require a cell-mediated and/or humoral immune response.
The current paradigm for the role of helper T cells in the immune response is that T cells can be separated into subsets on the basis of the cytokines they produce, and that the distinct cytokine profile observed in these cells determines their function. This T cell model Includes two major subsets: TH-1 cells that produce IL-2 and interferon xcex3 (IFN-xcex3) which augment both cellular and humoral immune responses, and TH-2 cells that produce IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10 which augment humoral immune responses (Mosmann et al., J. Immunol. 126:2348 (1986)). It is often desirable to enhance the immunogenic potency of an antigen in order to obtain a stronger immune response in the organism being immunized and to strengthen host resistance to the antigen-bearing agent. A substance that enhances the immunogenicity of an antigen with which it is administered is known as an adjuvant. For example, certain lymphokines have been shown to have adjuvant activity, thereby enhancing the immune response to an antigen (Nencioni et al., J. Immunol. 139:800-804 (1987); EP285441 to Howard et al.).
This invention pertains to vaccine compositions comprising a mixture of herpes simplex virus glycoprotein D, the interleukin IL-12 and a mineral in suspension. The IL-12 may be either adsorbed onto the mineral suspension or simply mixed therewith. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the IL-12 is adsorbed onto a mineral suspension such as alum (e.g., aluminum hydroxide or aluminum phosphate). In a particular embodiment, the IL-12 is human IL-12. The invention also pertains to vaccine compositions which further comprise a physiologically acceptable vehicle. The invention further relates to immunogenic compositions comprising a mixture of a herpes simplex virus glycoprotein D, an adjuvant amount of interleukin-12, a mineral in suspension, and optionally comprising a physiologically acceptable vehicle.
The compositions of the present invention modulate the protective immune response to the antigen; that is, the vaccine composition is capable of quantitatively and qualitatively improving the vaccinated host""s antibody response, and quantitatively increasing cell-mediated immunity for a protective response to a pathogen. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the antigen is a herpes simplex viral (HSV) antigen, such as envelope glycoprotein D (gD) of herpes simplex virus types I and/or II.
The invention also pertains to methods for preparing a vaccine composition comprising mixing HSV gD and IL-12 with a mineral in suspension. In particular, the IL-12 is adsorbed onto the mineral suspension. The invention also pertains to methods for eliciting or increasing a vaccinate""s humoral and/or cell-mediated immunity, for a protective immune response, comprising administering to a vertebrate host an effective amount of a vaccine composition comprising a mixture of HSV gD, IL-12 and a mineral in suspension in a physiologically acceptable solution. In particular, the IL-12 is adsorbed onto the mineral suspension.
Glycoprotein D (gD) is an envelope glycoprotein of herpes simplex virus (HSV) types I and II. HSV gD has been shown to be a potent inducer of protective immunity against primary and recurrent HSV infection in animal models (Mishkin et al., Vaccine 9:147-153 (1991); Landolfi et al., Vaccine 11:407-414 (1993)).
IL-12 is produced by a variety of antigen-presenting cells, principally macrophages and monocytes. It is a critical element in the induction of TH-1 cells from naive T cells. Production of IL-12 or the ability to respond to it has been shown to be critical in the development of protective TH-1-like responses, for example, during parasitic infections, most notably Leishmaniasis (Scott et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,571,515). The effects of IL-12 are mediated by IFN-xcex3 produced by NK cells and T helper cells. IFN-xcex3 is critical for the induction of IgG2a antibodies to T-dependent protein antigens (Finkelman and Holmes, Annu. Rev. Immunol. 8:303-33 (1990)) and IgG3 responses to T-independent antigens (Snapper et al., J. Exp. Med. 175:1367-1371 (1992)). Interleukin-12 (IL-12), originally called natural killer cell stimulatory factor, is a heterodimeric cytokine (Kobayashi et al., J. Exp. Med. 170:827 (1989)). The expression and isolation of IL-12 protein in recombinant host cells is described in International Patent Application WO 90/05147, published May 17, 1990.
The studies described herein relate to the utility of IL-12 as an adjuvant in a herpes simplex virus (HSV) vaccine. Accordingly, this invention pertains to vaccine compositions comprising a mixture of HSV gD, IL-12 and a mineral in suspension. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the IL-12 is adsorbed onto a mineral suspension such as alum (e.g., aluminum hydroxide or aluminum phosphate). These vaccine compositions modulate the protective immune response to HSV; that is, the vaccine composition is capable of eliciting the vaccinated host""s cell-mediated immunity for a protective response to the pathogenic antigen.
IL-12 can be obtained from several suitable sources. It can be produced by recombinant DNA methodology; for example, the gene encoding human IL-12 has been cloned and expressed in host systems, permitting the production of large quantities of pure human IL-12. Also useful in the present invention are biologically active subunits or fragments of IL-12. Further, certain T lymphocyte lines produce high levels of IL-12, thus providing a readily available source. Commercial sources of recombinant human and murine IL-12 include Genetics Institute, Inc. (Cambridge, Mass.).
The antigen of this invention, e.g., an HSV antigen, can be used to elicit an immune response to she antigen in a vertebrate such as a mammalian host. For example, the antigen can be an HSV gD protein antigen or a portion thereof which retains the ability to stimulate an immune response.
The method of the present invention comprises administering to a mammal, particularly a human or other primate, an immunologically effective dose of a vaccine composition comprising a mixture of an antigen, e.g., an HSV gD antigen, an adjuvant amount of IL-12 and a mineral in suspension. In particular, the IL-12 is adsorbed onto the mineral suspension. As used herein, an xe2x80x9cadjuvant amountxe2x80x9d of IL-12 is intended to mean doses of from about 1 nanogram to about 20 micrograms, and more particularly from about 100 nanograms to about 5 micrograms. As used herein, an xe2x80x9cimmunologically effectivexe2x80x9d dose of the vaccine composition is a dose which is suitable to elicit an immune response. The particular dosage will depend upon the age, weight and medical condition of the mammal to be treated, as well as on the method of administration. Suitable doses will be readily determined by the skilled artisan. The vaccine composition can be optionally administered in a pharmaceutically or physiologically acceptable vehicle, such as physiological or phosphate buffered saline or ethanol polyols such as glycerol or propylene glycol. A small amount of detergent may also be included to enhance vaccine stability.
The vaccine composition may optionally comprise additional adjuvants such as vegetable oils or emulsions thereof, surface active substances, e.g., hexadecylamin, octadecyl amino acid esters, octadecylamine, lysolecithin, dimethyl-dioctadecylammonium bromide, N,N-dicoctadecyl-Nxe2x80x2-Nxe2x80x2bis(2-hydroxyethyl-propane diamine), methoxyhexadecylglycerol, and pluronic polyols; polyamines, e.g., pyran, dextransulfate, poly IC, carbopol; peptides, e g., muramly. dipeptide, dimethylglycine, tuftsin; immune stimulating complexes; oil emulsions; lipopolysaccharides such as MPL (3-O-deacylated monophosphoryl lipid A; RIBI ImmunoChem Research, Inc., Hamilton, Mont.); and mineral gels. The antigens of this invention can also be incorporated into liposomes, cochleates, biodegradable polymers such as poly-lactide, poly-glycolide and poly-lactide-co-glycolides, or ISCOMS (immunostimulating complexes), and supplementary active ingredients may also be employed. Antigens of the present invention can also be administered in combination with bacterial toxins and their attenuated derivatives. The antigens of the invention can also be administered in combination with other lymphokines including, but not limited to, interleukin-2, IFN-xcex3 and GM-CSF.
The vaccines can be administered to a human or animal by a variety of routes, including but not limited to parenteral, intraarterial, intradermal, transdermal (such as by the use of slow release polymers), intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intravenous, subcutaneous, oral and intranasal routes of administration. The amount of antigen employed in such vaccines will vary depending upon the identity of the antigen. Adjustment and manipulation of established dosage ranges used with traditional carrier antigens for adaptation to the present vaccine is well within the ability of those skilled in the art. The vaccines of the present invention are intended for use in the treatment of both immature and adult warm-blooded animals, and, in particular, humans. Typically, the antigen and IL-12/alum combination will be administered at the same time.
The adjuvant action of IL-12 has a number of important implications. The adjuvanticity of IL-12 can increase the concentration of protective antibodies produced against the antigen in the vaccinated organism. As a result, effective (i.e., protective) vaccination can be achieved with a smaller quantity of antigen than would be normally required. This reduction in the required amount of antigen may lead to more widespread use of vaccines which are difficult and costly to prepare. Additionally, the use of IL-12 as an adjuvant can enhance the ability of antigens which are weakly antigenic or poorly immunogenic to elicit an immune response. It may also provide for safer vaccination when the antigen is toxic at the concentration normally required for effective immunization. By reducing the amount of antigen, the risk of toxic reaction is reduced.
Typically, vaccination regimens call for the administration of antigen over a period of weeks or months in order to stimulate a xe2x80x9cprotectivexe2x80x9d immune response. A protective immune response is an immune response sufficient to protect the immunized organism from disease caused by a particular pathogen or pathogens to which the vaccine is directed. IL-12, when administered with an antigen, such as an HSV antigen, and mixed with or adsorbed onto a mineral (e.g., alum) in suspension can accelerate the generation of a protective immune response. This may reduce the time course of effective vaccination regimens. In some instances, it may result in the generation of a protective response in a single dose. The vaccine compositions of this invention are also useful therapeutically, to reduce the number and severity of symptomatic episodes in subjects already infected with HSV.
As the result of work described herein, coadministration of HSV subunit vaccine with IL-12 adsorbed on alum in suspension has been shown to elicit an overwhelmingly TH-1-associated profile of response; this is a novel pattern of immune induction for gD subunit vaccine. As further described herein, dose ranges of TL-12 operative in preclinical models of immunization with soluble and aluminum phosphate adsorbed gD have been determined Results described herein also reveal that immunization with the cytokine/glycoprotein combination with or without alum elicits a TH-1-associated antibody profile. Coadministration of vaccine and IL-12/alum has adjuvant effects on immune responsiveness to the subunit vaccine as indicated by increases in the level of anti-gD antibodies measured by ELISA and virus neutralization.
Glycoprotein D (gD), an envelope glycoprotein of herpes simplex virus types I and II shown to be requisite for virus infectivity and a major target of humoral and cellular immune responses, serves as a primary vaccine candidate for use against primary and recurrent herpes infection in humans. Administration of gD subunit vaccine formulated with aluminum-based or other immunoadsorbents currently accepted for use in humans has been shown in several preclinical studies to induce a profile of immune response attributable to a predominant stimulation of TH-2 T helper lymphocytes. However, it appears that interdiction of recurrent herpes disease and the establishment of appropriate protective immune function will require the induction of a potent TH-1 profile of response.
Results of work described herein indicate that coadministration of IL-12 with soluble and AlPO4-adsorbed gD results in a quantitative increase in humoral and cellular immune responses, as well as in a Qualitative alteration in the humoral response. This is demonstrated by the altered IgG subclass profile elicited by the vaccine in the presence of IL-12. Indeed, the preferential induction of IgG2a antibodies, with their efficient complement fixing capability, is one of the hallmarks of a TH-1 response profile. The immunomodulation of the immune response by IL-12 administration is also evident in the shifted proportion and magnitude of IFN-xcex3 (TH-1 associated) secretion when compared with IL-4 (TH-2 associated).
Furthermore, it is particularly important to note the induction of antigen-specific cytolytic activity in mice immunized with soluble subunit vaccine coadministered with IL-12. This pattern of response suggests that the addition of IL-12 results in a fundamental change in the character of the immune response to gD subunit vaccines, because gD subunit vaccines have rarely, if ever, demonstrated the ability to induce cytolytic activity in previous studies.
The spectrum of immune response elicited by this novel formulation is closely correlated with that induced by natural virus infection and associated with a pattern of immunity observed in disease free seropositive humans. Taken together, these results suggest that IL-12-mediated immunomodulation provides a significant benefit in establishing an immunological response profile effective in immunotherapeutic and/or prophylactic intervention against herpes simplex virus disease.
The following Examples are offered for the purpose of illustrating the present invention and are not to be construed to limit the scope of this invention. The teachings of all references cited herein are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Immunogenic composition of interleukin-12 (IL-12), alum, herpes simplex viral (HSV) antigen, and method thereof


A computer implemented method for providing workload resource management to applications in an embedded system. The method includes receiving, by an application-specific basic runtime environment (BRE), workload resource requirements of an application installed on the embedded system. The method includes obtaining, by the application-specific BRE, the workload resource requirements from an operating system of the embedded system. The method includes providing, by the application-specific BRE, the workload resource requirements to the application. The method includes initiating, by the application-specific BRE, the execution of the application on the embedded system.

An embedded system is a combination of computer hardware and software that is designed to perform a dedicated or a particular set of functions. Examples of embedded systems include, but are not limited to, microwave ovens, calculators, digital watches, global positioning system (GPS) receivers, heart monitors, radar guns, engine controllers, digital cameras, traffic lights, remote controls, fax machines, cash registers, gas pumps, credit/debit card readers, thermostats, pacemakers, blood gas monitors, and grain analyzers.
Embedded systems may also be part of a larger system or product as in the case of an antilock braking system in a car, or Internet of Things (IoT) devices and gateways. IoT devices are physical devices, vehicles, home appliances and other items (commonly referred to as smart devices) that are embedded with electronics, software, sensors, actuators, and connectivity which enable these devices to connect and exchange data, creating opportunities for more direct or autonomous integration with less human interaction. IoT gateways enable IoT devices to communicate across various networks.


A method may include presenting an image capture user interface on a display device of a multipurpose device including a live view portion configured to display a live view of image data currently sensed by an image capture device of the multipurpose device and a recall portion configured to display a thumbnail preview of stored image data most recently captured by the image capture device; receiving an indication of a first touch input on the display device, the first touch input starting at a first position on or near the recall portion of the user interface; receiving an indication of a swiping gesture from the recall portion to a second position with contact being maintained of the first touch input; and in response to the first touch input, displaying an enlarged preview of the stored image data, the enlarged preview being larger in size than the thumbnail preview.

To capture a picture on a mobile phone a user may first open an image capture application, such as a camera application. The user may be presented with an interface that shows data currently sensed by an image sensor on the mobile device. The user may then activate a user interface element or press a physical button to instruct the mobile device to capture a still image or video. A small thumbnail of the captured image data may be shown in the image capture application.


An improved technique is disclosed for routing data across multiple topology subnets, and for improving the connectivity between nodes in multiple topology subnets, by using a common connection network. A new type of virtual node, referred to herein as a “global” virtual routing node or “GVRN”, is defined to represent connectivity to an underlying network that may extend beyond the boundaries of the topology subnets in the end-to-end path. This underlying network is also referred to as a “common connection network” or a “global connection network”. The present invention also defines novel techniques with which border nodes pass routing information between networks to convey connectivity to the GVRN. In many cases, use of GVRNs will result in shorter end-to-end data transmission paths.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to computer networks, and deals more particularly with methods, systems, and computer program products for improving the connectivity between nodes in multiple topology subnets by using a common connection network (such as the public Internet).
2. Description of the Related Art
For purposes of the following descriptions, a computer data network (or, equivalently, a computer communications network) can be defined generally as a collection of nodes and the communications links which connect various ones of the nodes to each other. Nodes may be general purpose computers or special purpose computers such as routers. Nodes may also be terminal devices such as printers or display devices. Links are generally connected to nodes on either end by "adapters". For example, a node may connect to a token ring local area network ("LAN") using a token ring adapter, and/or may connect to an Ethernet LAN using an Ethernet adapter. Collectively, the nodes and links between them are referred to as network resources. The physical configuration and characteristics of the various nodes and links in a network are said to be the topology of the network.
To transmit data from one node to another node, a path or route must be set up through the network. The route will include the originating node, the destination node, possibly one or more intermediate nodes, and the links or transmission groups which connect the nodes on the route. A transmission group or "TG", as the term is used herein, refers to a set of parallel links with similar characteristics, which may be combined as a single logical link with a higher aggregated capacity. (A transmission group may alternatively comprise only a single link. The terms "link" and "transmission group" are used interchangeably hereinafter.) Links between nodes may use any one of a number of types of transmission media, and may be permanent in nature (such as conventional cable connections) or may be enabled only when needed (such as dial-up telephone connections).
Those nodes which are capable of performing functions within the network, including routing of messages between the node itself and its adjacent or neighboring nodes, selection of routes for messages to be transmitted between two nodes, and the furnishing of directory services for other nodes, are referred to herein as "network nodes". Nodes which do not provide these types of functions are referred to herein as "end nodes". End nodes may host application programs, but require the services of network nodes to locate partner programs in the network and set up communications. Border nodes which combine the function of a network node and an end node were disclosed in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,241,682, which is entitled "Border Node having Routing and Functional Capability in a First Network and Only Local Address Capability in a Second Network" (hereinafter referred to as "the border node patent"), which is hereby incorporated herein by reference as if set forth fully. Border nodes enable communication between two (or more) networks, and have a network node interface for outbound communications from the native (e.g. originating node's) network and an end node interface for inbound communications from the non-native (e.g. destination node's) network.
To transmit data effectively through a network, the nodes cooperate with each other on the implementation of various distributed communication protocols. Some of the more important protocols are a location protocol, which is used to find the destination node which implements a desired application program, and a routing protocol, which is used to select an appropriate route or path through the network on which to transmit the data. Typically, the selected route is optimized in some sense. While there are many techniques for route optimization, most involve minimizing the number of nodes and links in the path. One example is the "Open Shortest Path First", or "OSPF", routing protocol. OSPF is defined in Request For Comments ("RFC") 2178, "OSPF Version 2" (July 1997), from the Internet Engineering Task Force ("IETF"). Another routing protocol is the Routing Information Protocol, or "RIP", which is defined in RFC 1723, "RIP Version 2" (November 1994). OSPF and RIP are commonly used for routing in Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol ("TCP/IP") networks, and are well known in the art.
Layered network architectures are common. One example is the Systems Network Architecture ("SNA") which was defined by the International Business Machines Corporation ("IBM"). Another example is the Open Systems Interconnection ("OSI") reference model, which is defined in International Standard ISO/IEC 7498-1 (1994), "Open Systems Interconnection—Basic Reference Model". These layered network architectures are comprised of a physical layer at the lowest layer, where the actual data transmission over physical media occurs, and a highest layer where transmitted and received data is abstracted for use by an application program. Different layered architectures use different numbers of intermediate layers and different functional divisions for those layers, but in general include a lower layer commonly referred to as the "network layer" in which routing functions reside. A connection through a network may pass through intermediate network nodes, such as routers, whose highest implemented layer is often the network layer.
IBM's Advanced Peer-to-Peer Network ("APPN") is an example of a layered computer network architecture in which the nodes of the network are peers. That is, each node is considered to be an equal to all other nodes from a control perspective.
In many cases, the links between nodes in a network are actually logical connections provided by an "underlying network". An underlying network is a portion of a network made up of physical nodes and links which are reachable using a common protocol and/or a common transmission medium. For example, many links in SNA or TCP/IP networks are actually comprised of underlying networks which use protocols such as Ethernet, Frame Relay, or Asynchronous Transfer Mode ("ATM"). An underlying network provides services that are used to create logical links at the network layer.
The APPN architecture uses "Topology Routing Services" to share route and topology information. By definition, a topology subnetwork shares routing and topology information among its own network nodes, but this information is not shared with nodes outside the topology subnetwork. Therefore, while a border node in one topology subnetwork may be aware of a link address to a border node in an adjacent topology subnetwork, it has no other information about the topology of that adjacent topology subnetwork.
The underlying networks, while constructed from nodes and links like the networks, may have very different capabilities. Underlying networks may use different location protocols and different routing protocols, and may transmit data in different data packet formats. The functionality provided for nodes at the underlying network layer (sometimes referred to as the "data link" layer or "data link control" layer) is often unaware of the higher layer protocols, and in particular of the network layer protocols. Similarly, the network layer functionality may have minimal knowledge of the underlying network.
Routing protocols can take advantage of knowledge that two nodes are connected via an underlying network, and can use this knowledge to set up a logical link or path between these two nodes through the underlying network without requiring the path to be routed through any network nodes. An example scenario is illustrated in FIG. 1, where end node 100, which is located on token ring LAN segment 110, may communicate with end node 150 which is located on a different token ring LAN segment 160, without requiring the data path to be routed through either of network nodes 120, 170. Initially, a route from node 100 to node 150 may be calculated as passing through network node 120, and then to bridge 140, and from there to network node 170 after which the path ends with node 150. However, if the LAN segments 110 and 160 have been defined as being connected to the same "virtual routing node" or "VRN", then the route may be compressed such that node 100 directly addresses node 150. A VRN is an abstract representation of the underlying network which may be used for route calculation purposes. Using the compressed route, the data packets sent by node 100 use node 150 as the destination address. When the packets reach bridge 140, the bridge detects that the packets need to be transferred to LAN segment 160. Node 150 then sees that it is the destination of the packets, and removes them from the ring. A technique which may be used to implement this avoidance of the network nodes for the data transmission path was disclosed in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,943,317, which is entitled "Sub-network Route Optimization Over a Shared Access Transport Facility" (hereinafter "the route optimization patent"), which is hereby incorporated herein by reference as if set forth fully.
The route optimization patent applies to underlying networks wherein a common connection network, referred to therein as a "shared access transport facility" or "SATF", exists. An SATF is a communications medium that can be shared among users simultaneously. Examples include a token ring LAN and an Ethernet LAN, where use of collision detection and/or collision avoidance protocols allows the nodes on the LAN to share the medium for transmitting and receiving packets. Other examples of SATFs include X.25 networks, Frame Relay networks, and ATM networks where underlying network switches provide the arbitration necessary to permit simultaneous use.
In APPN networks, nodes which identify their connectivity to the SATF by a common virtual routing node communicate efficiently between one another even though they do not have individually defined connections to one another. (For example, with reference to FIG. 1, node 100 does not have a defined connection to node 150, yet it can communicate directly with node 150 using the techniques disclosed in the route optimization patent.) "Dual network" nodes—that is, nodes (which may be end nodes, network nodes, or border nodes) that participate in both the network and underlying network—are used for transmission and routing in the combined network, but the distributed routing protocols at the network and underlying network layer are effectively isolated from each other with this approach.
As stated earlier, networks of nodes and links may be interconnected through border nodes. The Border Gateway Protocol, or "BGP", defined in RFC 1771, "A Border Gateway Protocol 4 (BGP-4)", (March 1995), is a routing protocol that enables network-to-network communication by exchanging information through gateway nodes which are located at the border of each network. An "extended border node" or "EBN" is a border node implemented according to "APPN Extended Border Node Architecture Reference", IBM Publication SV40-0128-00. Hereinafter, the terms "border node" and "extended border node" are used interchangeably.
Border nodes allow location protocols to pass through to other topology subnets, in order to search for a particular destination node. (A "topology subnet", as the term is used herein, refers to a group of APPN network nodes that share a common topology database and participate with each other in the APPN topology and routing services protocols.) The EBNs then obtain information to be used in calculating a route to that node, and propagate this information backwards along the location protocol's path until reaching the network node from which the locate request message of the location protocol originated. FIG. 2 illustrates an example scenario where end node 200 in a first APPN network 210 requests a connection to end node 260 in a second APPN network 270. End node 260 reports information on its own address and its TG 255 to network node 250. Border node 240 obtains information on how to reach network node 250 (e.g. by consulting a topology database for network 270), and concatenates that information to the TG 255 and addressing information for end node 260. The border node then sends the information it obtained backwards along the path of the locate request message, as a locate response message. In this prior art process, one of the two EBNs at each network boundary is required to provide the other EBN a list of the links between them so that the other EBN knows which links to use to compute the data transmission path. In the example of FIG. 2, to cross between network 210 and network 270, EBN 240 is required to pass information regarding TG 235 to EBN 230.
Once the location protocol information is returned to network node 220, the network node then obtains end node 200's address and connectivity information regarding TG 205, and concatenates this to the path information returned in the locate response message. This concatenated path may be represented abstractly as:                EN 200–TG 205–NN 220–TG 225–EBN 230–TG 235–EBN 240–TG 245–NN 250–TG 255–EN 260
Route optimization is applied to this route as it is constructed. For example, the path need not traverse NNs such as 220 and 250 if there are other links or underlying networks available. However, the path must always traverse EBN 230 and EBN 240.
FIG. 3 shows an abstract representation of this prior art route selection approach, wherein the path used by the location protocol to locate end node 260 is shown using a dashed line as the upper path 310. Note that this path 310 traverses both networks 210 and 270, as described with reference to FIG. 2. The same route selection algorithm is used in each network to select a piece of the end-to-end path, and these pieces are then connected by the border nodes. The data transmission path which may result is shown using a solid line as the lower path 320. This figure illustrates that the data transmission path 320 within each network may be optimized and need not follow the same route as the location protocol. In particular, the data transmission path 320 may take full advantage of the connectivity of end node 200 and EBN 230 to underlying network 330, and of EBN 240 and end node 260 to underlying network 340. However, the data transmission path 320 may not bypass the EBNs 230, 240 through which the location protocol traversed. This is so even if underlying networks 330 and 340 are the same underlying network, such as the public Internet or other commonly-addressable collection of nodes and links. As a result, the data transmission path 320 is not truly optimized in many cases. (Furthermore, a data transmission path computed in this manner is not sufficiently flexible to avoid outages and/or network congestion that may occur at the EBNs.)
Additional drawbacks of prior art cross-network routing occur when the data transmission path crosses several networks. An example is illustrated in FIG. 4, where a path from end node 410 to end node 490 is needed. The location protocol in this example sends a locate request message from network 420 through EBN 430, to EBN 440 and then through network 450 to EBN 460. EBN 460 forwards the locate request message to an EBN in another network, such as EBN 470 which is located at the boundary of network 480. As the results of the location protocol are assembled and sent back along the location protocol's path, for example from EBN 470 to EBN 460 and so forth, the data structures used to store the concatenated route information may become quite large. A composite route selection sub-vector ("CRSS") for the path through the border nodes is stored within the locate response message when using APPN, and contains the routing information to span more than one sub-network. The CRSS has a maximum size of 256 bytes. If the routing information in this CRSS becomes too large, then the CRSS is removed. However, removing the CRSS means that route optimizations (such as the route compression technique defined in the route optimization patent) cannot be performed, and this is therefore an undesirable situation.
Accordingly, what is needed is an improved technique for routing data across multiple topology subnets which avoids the problems of the prior art.

Efficient connectivity between multiple topology subnets via common connection network


Heat exchanger systems described and illustrated here in include multiple stacked plates each defining an aperture, first and second flow ducts formed by the stacked plates, multiple inflow and outflow ducts formed by the apertures in the stacked plates, a first heat exchanger section defining a condenser including first and second flow ducts, a second heat exchanger section defining an evaporator, first, second and third fluids, and an expansion element for the first fluid connected to the heat exchanger. In some embodiments, the first fluid is in heat-exchanging contact with the second fluid in one of the first and second heat exchanger sections, the first fluid is in heat-exchanging contact with the third fluid in the other of the first and second heat exchanger sections, and/or the first fluid flows through the first flow duct in the first heat exchanger section.

The invention relates to a system having a heat exchanger.
A heat exchanger has been described in WO 95/35474 A1. In said heat exchanger, two refrigerants and a coolant are in heat-exchanging contact. In said publication, it is regarded as being advantageous that each flow duct for the first and for the second refrigerant is in heat-exchanging contact, at its two flat sides, with the third fluid, specifically with the coolant. The plates and the flow ducts are designed accordingly, and are arranged in the manner described and presented in said document.
In the heat exchanger according to DE-A-3 017 701, four fluids participate in the exchange of heat, wherein one of said fluids is cooling air which can flow freely through one section of the heat exchanger.
EP 1 054 225 B1 presents and describes an absorption refrigeration machine. One component of said refrigeration machine is used as a recovery heat exchanger. Said heat exchanger also has a plurality of heat exchanger sections formed from a plurality of plates or flow ducts. It is provided in EP 1 054 225 B1 that a fluid is placed in heat exchanging contact, in one heat exchanger section, first with a second fluid and, in another heat exchanger section, with a third fluid.
For example, in a motor vehicle, there is often provided an air-conditioning system which has an air-conditioning circuit through which a refrigerant flows and which comprises a condenser, evaporator, expansion valve and compressor, and in some cases, also an intermediate heat exchanger. Furthermore, a cooling or temperature control system having a liquid coolant for the drive engine, for the operating fluids thereof and if appropriate for further auxiliary units is generally provided.

Multi-fluid plate heat exchanger for a refrigeration system


Methods and apparatus for target identification are disclosed. Example methods disclosed herein to respond to a target identification interrogation include aligning an optical transceiver based on a detected optical signal to establish an optical communication link with a target detector, receiving a first signal from the target detector using the optical communication link, extracting a first code from the first signal, and transmitting a second signal using the communication link, wherein the second signal is encoded with a second code based on the first code of the first signal.

Today's military commander relies on a variety of techniques to acquire and identify potential enemy targets in a battlefield. Such techniques include, for example, radar detection, infrared detection, human reconnaissance, etc. Additionally, in the ever-changing battlefield, a constant situational awareness of friendly assets is needed to allocate such assets properly and avoid the potential for "friendly fire" incidents. Typical "identify friend or foe" (IFF) systems for determining whether a potential target is a friendly or enemy asset utilize physical markings to tag friendly assets and/or radio communications to exchange codes identifying an asset as friendly. However, physical markings for identifying friendly assets are prone to spoofing and are substantially ineffective at night or in battlefield scenarios in which visibility is limited. IFF systems utilizing radio communications are also prone to spoofing and the emitted radio frequency (RF) energy subjects the friendly assets to detection by the enemy.


A device for opening a cylindrically bilateral filter canister, such as that houses the M98 chemical, biological, radiological filter for storage and transport. The filter canister is sealed with an epoxy-covered pull-cord that ends in an eye-loop. The device is disposed on a platform for the opening operation. The device includes a frame, first and second rollers, and a winch. The frame includes first and second support members. The first support member engages the platform and supports the second support member. The first and second rollers are disposed parallel to the platform to support the canister along its periphery. The winch includes a drum and a motor and is disposed on the frame. The drum engages the eye-loop. The motor turns said drum to receive the pull-cord from the canister.

The invention relates generally to a device to open filter canisters. In particular, the device is particularly related to a motorized mechanism to reduce risks and fatigue associated with manual labor effort for such opening operations.
Collective protection (COLPRO) systems are employed in military environments, such as naval ships to remove contaminants from air. The military standard filter set employs M98 chemical, biological, radiological (CBR) filters for this purpose. For warehousing and transport, each filter is packed into a ruggedized cylindrical aluminum canister to protect against environmental and handling hazards.
The shipping weight of a single loaded canister is approximately 65 lbs. Each canister is tightly sealed with a thick strip of epoxy, into which a plastic coated wire as a pull-cord with eye-loops on either end is embedded. The two ends of the pull-cord wire protrude from the epoxy seal. To open the canister the pull cord wire must be torn out from the epoxy, thereby removing the epoxy seal.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy