Cells and cell lines which replicate HCV of non-hepatic human and non human origin are disclosed. Also provided are methods of using such cells and cell lines to identify anti-HCV agents for the treatment of HCV infection.

Several publications and patent documents are cited in this application in order to more fully describe the state of the art to which this invention pertains. The disclosure of each of these citations is incorporated by reference herein.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an enveloped, positive stranded RNA virus that belongs to the Flaviviridae, a family of viruses including human pathogens such as yellow fever virus, dengue virus and West Nile virus (Q. L. Choo et al., Science 244, 359-62 (1989)). Although broad tissue and species tropisms are hallmarks of these viruses, HCV replication has so far only been detected in human and chimpanzee livers. Moreover, for reasons that are not yet understood, HCV RNA levels in infected liver tissue are extremely low, generally below one copy of RNA per cell and hence, can only be detected with PCR, making it difficult to determine whether secondary sites for viral replication exist (J. Boisvert et al., J Infect Dis 184, 827-35 (Oct. 1, 2001); R. E. Lanford, et al., J Virol 69, 8079-83 (1995)).
HCV encodes a polyprotein that is processed proteolytically into ten polypeptides (K. E. Reed, C. M. Rice, Curr Top Microbiol immunol 242, 55-84 (2000)). Three of them are structural proteins required for capsid formation (core) and assembly into enveloped viral particles (E1 and E2). Four of them are enzymes including cysteine and serine proteases (NS2 and NS3), an ATP dependent helicase (NS3) and a RNA-directed RNA polymerase (NS5B). The functions of the remaining three polypeptides, p7, NS4B, and NS5A, for viral replication are not yet known. For study of replication of HCV in tissue culture cells, the structural proteins can be replaced with a selectable marker, such as the neomycin phosphotransferase. See for example FIG. 2, left panel of Lohman et al. (V. Lohmann et al., Science 285, 110-3 (1999)). Replication of such subgenomic HCV replicons in tissue culture cells has so far only been demonstrated in the human hepatoma cell line Huh7, consistent with the narrow host and tissue tropism of HCV infections.
HCV infection poses a significant public health problem. Approximately 3% of the world's population has persistent HCV infection. In 1989, the virus was identified as the major aetiological agent responsible for post-transfusion non-A and non-B hepatitis. Following primary HCV infection, persistent viraemia and chronic hepatitis develop in the majority of cases. Efforts to elucidate the mechanisms behind viral persistence and hepatocellular damage have been frustrated by the lack of a reliable cell culture system for viral propagation in vitro. In addition, as the chimpazee is the only experimental animal susceptible to HCV infection, progress in research is hampered by the lack of a small animal model to facilitate pathophysiological studies as well as the evaluation of antiviral treatment and vaccine strategies.
Furthermore, although the initial HCV infection is asymptomatic, subsequent clinical manifestations of HCV induced liver disease include fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (Alter, H. J., and L. B. Seeff. 2000. Semin. Liver Dis. 20:17-35). Combination antiviral therapy with alpha interferon (IFN-α) and ribavirin, a purine nucleoside analogue, arrests disease progression and can lead to sustained recovery in only 45 to 80% of treated patients (Di Bisceglie, A. M., and J. H. Hoofnagle. 2002. Hepatology 36:S121-S127). Additionally, response to IFN-α therapy can vary significantly depending on the viral genotype, ranging from 30 to 40% for genotype 1 to as high as 80% for genotypes 2 and 3. This suggests that viral determinants also play an important role in regulating the cellular IFN response against HCV (Kinzie, J. L., et al., 2001. J. Viral Hepatitis 8:264-269; McHutchison, J. G., et al., 1998. N. Engl. J. Med. 339:1485-1492). The parameters determining the success or failure of antiviral therapy are not understood, and their identification represents a major challenge in HCV biology.
Therefore, there is a desperate need for non-hepatic cell culture systems, and small animal models for the identification and characterization of anti-viral agents for the prevention and treatment of HCV infection. Additionally, there is a need in the art to elucidate the mechanism of HCV inhibition by IFN-α, so that other treatments may be found.

Replication of hepatitis C virus in non-hepatic epithelial and mouse hepatic cells


An automatic diaphragm apparatus in a lens in which an aperture diameter is varied in accordance with a set diaphragm value, set by a diaphragm set ring in a first section from the maximum aperture to a predetermined intermediate aperture. The aperture diameter is kept constant regardless of the set diaphragm value of the diaphragm set ring in a second section, from the predetermined intermediate aperture to the minimum aperture. The apparatus includes a diaphragm data transmission member in the form of an arc shape lever having one end which pivots on the diaphragm set ring at an offset position from the optical axis. On the other end, a diaphragm data transmission projection is provided. The apparatus also includes a cam mechanism which is provided between the diaphragm data transmission lever and an immovable portion of the lens. The cam mechanism is for holding the position of the diaphragm data transmission projection in a constant position when the diaphragm set ring is rotated in the first section. The cam mechanism is also for rotating the diaphragm data transmission projection together with the diaphragm set ring when the diaphragm set ring is rotated in the second section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an automatic diaphragm apparatus for a lens which is mounted to a single lens reflex camera. More precisely, it relates to an apparatus for transmitting photometric data related to the diaphragm apparatus to a camera body.
2. Description of the Related Art
The assignee of the present application is also the assignee of U.S. Pat. No. 5,270,759 which discloses a automatic diaphragm apparatus of a lens system. In the automatic diaphragm apparatus, the size of an aperture varies in accordance with a set diaphragm value set by a diaphragm set ring when the set diaphragm value is in the range from the minimum diaphragm value (maximum aperture) to a predetermined intermediate diaphragm value. The size is kept constant regardless of the set diaphragm value when the set diaphragm value is in the range from the intermediate diaphragm value to the maximum diaphragm value (minimum aperture). In this automatic diaphragm apparatus, if the set diaphragm value is changed when the aperture is in the range from the minimum diaphragm value to a predetermined intermediate diaphragm value, a diaphragm effect (soft-focus effect) can be visibly confirmed through a view finder. On the other hand, in the range from the intermediate diaphragm value to the maximum diaphragm value, an automatic diaphragm function is obtained in which the stop-down to the set diaphragm value takes place immediately before the shutter releasing operation. Namely, in the diaphragm range where the field of view of the finder becoming dark should be avoided, the automatic diaphragm function can be obtained without the need for confirmation of the diaphragm effect. The "soft-focus effect" refers to effects caused by spherical aberrations of the lens and are attenuated by the stop-down operation of the diaphragm.
The assignee of the present application is also the assignee of U.S. Pat. No. 5,250,971 which discloses a photometric data transmitting apparatus in the automatic diaphragm apparatus. In the photometric data transmitting apparatus, data indicating the kind of the photometering system used and diaphragm data are transmitted to the camera body. Furthermore, the so-called stop-down metering is carried out in the range from the minimum diaphragm value (maximum aperture) to the intermediate diaphragm value. The so-called full-aperture metering is carried out in the range from the intermediate diaphragm value to the maximum diaphragm value (minimum aperture), respectively. To this end, a diaphragm association member (diaphragm data transmitting member) is provided to transmit the diaphragm data to the camera body, in addition to the diaphragm set ring.
Also, an association mechanism is provided between the diaphragm set ring and the diaphragm association member. the association mechanism retains the diaphragm association member in a predetermined position regardless of the angular position of the diaphragm set ring in the range in which the size of the open aperture changes. The association mechanism also rotates the diaphragm association member together with the diaphragm set ring in the range in which the size of the open aperture does not change.
In the association mechanism, an association spring is provided between the diaphragm set ring and the diaphragm association member to bias the diaphragm set ring and the diaphragm association member in opposite directions. However, the tensile force of the association spring varies depending on the angular position (set diaphragm value) of the diaphragm set ring. Hence the rotational torque of the diaphragm set ring (diaphragm operation ring) is not constant. The click force to click the diaphragm set ring (diaphragm operation ring) at the set diaphragm value must be large enough to resist the maximum biasing force of the association spring. Consequently, a large operational force is necessary resulting in a bad operational perception.


A method for operating an island system is disclosed. The island system includes a group of voltage-controlling converters, wherein each of the voltage-controlling converters of the group are configured to convert power of respectively connected regenerative power sources into AC power in accordance with a respective frequency-power characteristic curve. The island system also includes a load having a power consumption that depends on a voltage amplitude of an AC voltage of the island system, and a control unit that is configured to transmit a default value of the voltage amplitude to the group of voltage-controlling converters. The method adapts the power to be consumed by the load.

In island systems, power generating units are connected to one or more energy consumers via one or more AC conductors for transporting the power. Since the island system only has very restricted options for storing power, an equal balance of power produced by the power generating units on the one hand and power consumed by the energy consumers on the other hand should be maintained at all times. Here, an AC voltage frequency in the island system signals whether the balance is tending to shift in favor of a power consumer (frequency below the nominal frequency) or in favor of a power producer (frequency above the nominal frequency). The frequency serves as a measure for the direction in which the power balance has to be shifted—power production or power consumption—in order to counteract the tendentious balance shift. Here, a power production is usually regulated as a function of the respective power consumption in conventional island systems; i.e., the power consumption defines the power production.
However, in some island systems it is desirable not to regulate the power production as a function of the power consumption but, conversely, to regulate the power consumption as a function of the maximum power production currently available. This is particularly the case if the island system contains a regenerative power generating unit, whose produced power should be fed to a long-term store, for example an electrolyzer as a load. In this case, the object is that of always operating the power generating unit or units at the respectively available power where possible in order to store a maximum of this power in a suitable energy carrier (in this case: hydrogen).
The prior art has disclosed island systems with a regenerative power generating unit and an electrolyzer as a load. However, for the purposes of generating the AC voltage in the island system, these usually contain an energy store that has an operating point that is variable on a short-term basis, for example a battery, in addition to the long-term energy store operating as a load. This energy store that is variable on a short-term basis, simply referred to as energy store below, is connected to an AC conductor of the island system by way of a bidirectionally operable converter. It has the object of, firstly, controlling an AC voltage with a constant voltage amplitude in the island system and, secondly, equalizing the power flow to the load in the case of a possibly fluctuating power production of the regenerative power generating unit by charging or discharging. To this end, the converter associated with the energy store has a voltage controlling and bidirectional embodiment. Likewise, island systems are known, in which a diesel generator is provided in place of the energy store, said diesel generator adopting the object of the energy store and, firstly, equalizing an AC voltage with a constant voltage amplitude and, secondly, equalizing the power flow to the load by a corresponding change of a primary power supply (fuel in this case).
Therefore, a conventional island system always requires an energy store and/or a diesel generator as a grid former and buffer store for a possibly strongly fluctuating power of the regenerative power generating unit. This not only entails a considerable investment in procurement but also additionally entails costs during operation (e.g., fuel costs). Moreover, an additional component that may require much servicing is required, as a result of which the operation of the island system becomes complicated.
DE 10140783 A1 has disclosed an apparatus for equitable parallel operation of at least two inductively coupled inverters that take account of a preselected frequency droop and a preselected voltage droop.
Document CA 2950809 A1 discloses a method for automatic characteristic curve control of inverters of an island system. In the method, slopes of a frequency-power (f-P) characteristic curve and a voltage-reactive power (U-Q) characteristic curve of the inverters are actively varied in order to maintain a frequency and a voltage of the AC voltage in the island system without deviations, even in the case of a change in load. The method employs a small signal stability analysis for verifying an implementability of the actively modified characteristic curves.
EP 2940826 A1 discloses a power converter, the control method of which need not be changed when an operation of an island system, to which the power converter is connected together with other generating units, is changed from a voltage-controlling to a current-controlling operation.
EP 3185386 A1 discloses a method for controlling an island system comprising a renewable generating unit and a synchronous generator. The renewable generating unit is designed to transfer the first power in characteristic curve-controlled fashion to the island system and can be operated in parallel with a synchronous generator that transfers a second power to the island system. The synchronous generator is started when a frequency of the island system lies below a frequency threshold and/or a voltage of the island system lies below a voltage threshold. The synchronous generator is stopped when the second power lies below a power threshold.

Method for operating an island system, and island system


An implantable subcutaneous electrical socket and corresponding percutaneous plug are disclosed for controlling and/or energizing an implanted medical device, such as a bone distraction motor, within a patient. The subcutaneous electrical socket is accessed percutaneously by the plug, to connect data and power electrodes deployed from the plug into the socket to conduct control signals and electrical power from an external source to an implanted medical device within the patient. The socket and plug include insulating materials to prevent electrical shock to the patient.

Several types of implantable medical devices require electricity to operate. Implantable medical devices such as distraction or adjustment devices can be implanted in subjects to correct structural malformations or injuries to the skeletal and muscular system. Many different types of distraction devices are known. For examples, devices are known in the art for the correction of spinal sclerosis, stenosis and other spinal conditions (e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 7,615,052, U.S. 2010/0262247), for lengthening long bones of the arm or legs (e.g. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,245,075, 6,383,185), treatment of micrognathia, and for craniofacial correction (e.g. U.S. 2009/0192514). Many apparatus design elements are known for the manufacture of distraction devices including devices designed for promoting osteogenesis over an extended time period of treatment.
Due to the slow growth rate of osseous tissue, distraction devices typically operate through the application of small changes in force over time to correct bone structure. For example, a distraction device can have two or more attachment points for connecting to bone in a subject and a distraction or adjustment mechanism to adjust a distance between the two attachment points over time. In a typical treatment, each adjustment of the distraction device can be 5 mm or less in distance due to the slow growth rate of osseous tissue. Numerous adjustments are made to the distraction device, sometimes over several months, with the distraction device implanted below the dermis and often the musculature of the subject.
Early distraction devices contained a frame or other scaffolding located outside of the subject's tissues with one or more pins extending through the subject's skin and connected to the bone or a separate distraction device. Adjustments to the frame were made periodically to affect adjustment of the distraction device. Hence, the implanted distraction device was adjustable over the extended time course of treatment despite the location of actual attachment to the bone being located under the skin and musculature. However, the external frame of the device is often heavy and cumbersome to the patient. Further, the pins or other transcutaneous elements extending from the external environment into the tissue of the patient are a source for infection and scarring.
Mandibular distraction is a treatment for the correction of micrognathia, and such treatment is frequently utilized for micrognathism in children. With children in particular, there are issues associated with current distraction solutions. The expansion of mandibular distraction devices is generally actuated via an input of mechanical force by an operator, typically a parent, however there remains the possibility of the child actuating the mechanism themselves, accidental or otherwise. Additionally, there are emotional aspects associated with the unaesthetic appearance of mandibular distraction devices protruding from the skin. A completely implanted device would be particularly useful for addressing these concerns, primarily in children, and to a lesser extent in adults. However, an implanted solution presents the problem of transmitting the energy necessary to actuate the device.
To avoid the complications caused by an external frame, systems where the entire device is implanted into the patient have been developed. In some instances, the device has a mechanical action that can be activated through external manipulation of the subject; however, operation of such devices is difficult. Other devices require the subject to be sedated for surgery and an incision made to gain access to the implanted device for the purpose of manual adjustment of the implant. The subject is undesirably subjected to risk of infection and complications from sedation.
Completely implantable devices without transcutaneous elements require a source of power other than direct mechanical power provided by a medical professional performing an adjustment. More recent devices include the implantation of a motor and power source, such as a battery, into the patient. For example, WO 92/22268 teaches a device where a motor, battery, and pre-programmed control components are implanted, where the control components carry out a preset series of instructions to adjust the distraction device. However, the course of treatment cannot be modified after the device is implanted. To overcome this limitation, other devices have been developed that contain an RF receiver to receive instructions from an external controller, for example, US 2009/0192514. However, such systems require capacitors and other electrical components to be implanted within a patient, with the capacitors serving as the sole power source over an extended course of treatment. The quality and duration of treatment deliverable by such systems is limited by the implanted power source. Further, there are risks inherent to implanting energized electrical components within a patient. Additionally, RF control signals can be obstructed in the cases of obese patients.
Some systems have addressed the limitation of the amount of total power capacity of an implantable battery through the use of a rechargeable battery or a motor operable by a current induced from an applied magnetic field (e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 7,135,022, U.S. 2010/0262247). The amount of energy that can be practically delivered by induction is limited. Further, batteries suitable for implantation are limited in their rate of current discharge even if rechargeable. Hence, the amount of mechanical work that can be performed to affect the adjustment is limited. Further, batteries and capacitors contain toxic materials that represent an elevated risk when implanted into the patient.
Systems which directly connect an electrical source to an implanted medical device conduct electricity at low voltages and currents but are generally restricted to data transmission to and from the medical device. The capacity for electrical transmission of such systems is unsuitable for operation of medical devices having high electrical operating requirements.
Due to the limitations discussed above, the scope of implanted medical devices requiring electricity is restricted to data transmission to and from devices, which require only small operating voltages and currents. Additionally, the types of therapies deliverable to a patient by an electrically operated implanted medical device is similarly limited due to the low power transmission capacities of induction and/or battery operated systems. Therapies and devices which might require a comparably higher degree of electrical transmission to an implanted device for treatment undesirably pose risks of electrical shock to both patients and operators.
Still other devices have contemplated the use of a magnetic field to affect adjustment of an implanted distraction device by interaction with magnetic components included with the implanted part of the device (e.g. U.S. 2009/0192514, U.S. 2010/0262239, WO 2009/060427, WO 2011/035308). However, the amount of torque force that can be developed by manipulation of an external magnetic field is often limited in practice leading to a similar limitation compared to devices including an implanted battery. As such, there is a need for a system that can deliver a higher voltage and current to implanted devices than currently available systems, without posing the risk of electric shock to patients and operators.

Implantable subcutaneous electrical socket and percutaneous plug


There is provided an image forming apparatus including: an image data acquiring unit that acquires image data of an image formed on a sheet; an identification information acquiring unit that acquires identification information that identifies the sheet on which the image is formed; an image forming unit that forms an image based on the image data on the sheet with a decolorable colorant which becomes colorless by a predetermined chemical reaction and that forms an identification information image based on the identification information on the sheet with a non-decolorable colorant which does not become colorless by the chemical reaction; and a storage control unit that stores the identification information and the image data of the image to be formed on the sheet, on which the identification information image corresponding to the identification information is formed, in a predetermined storage region in a correlated manner.

Conventionally, a decolorable colorant capable of erasing colors, such as ink containing a leuco dye was used to print images on a paper in order to reuse papers on which images were printed by an image forming apparatus such as MFP (Multi-Function Peripheral). The paper printed with the decolorable colorant can be reused for printing since a chemical reaction occurs therein when heat or the like is applied thereto, thus decoloring the decolorable colorant.
However, when printing is performed using a colorant which is made colorless with heat or the like in order to make a paper reusable, it is difficult to maintain images for a longer period of time compared to a printing method that uses a general non-decolorable toner and ink and the like. For example, when a paper printed with a colorant which is made colorless with heat is left in a place such as an inside of a vehicle that is heated in the summer season, the image on the paper will be decolored, and accordingly, the information printed on the paper will disappear. In addition, when a user carelessly performs processes that erase images printed with a decolorable colorant with the aim to recycle a paper, the printed information will disappear.
Moreover, another problem is the difficulty to discriminate at a glance between an image printed with a decolorable colorant and an image printed with a general non-decolorable colorant. Therefore, when a user tried to reuse a printed paper, it was difficult to determine whether the printed paper could be reused when the images on the paper are decolored.

Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and computer-readable recording medium having image forming program recorded therein


A capacitive touch panel and a display device are provided. The touch panel includes a plurality of first electrodes disposed in a first electrode layer, and a plurality of second electrodes corresponding to the plurality of first electrodes and disposed in a second electrode layer; a first gap is formed between adjacent the first electrodes, and a second gap is formed between adjacent the second electrodes; and an orthographic projection of each second gap on the first electrode layer overlaps a part or all of the first gap to which the second gap corresponds and a part of at least one of the first electrodes. The touch panel can make it not easy for a user to observe electrode patterns and thereby improve the visual effect of the touch panel.

Touch screens can be seen everywhere around us, and touch screens save space to make it easier to be carried about and have better human-computer interaction in the field of personal portable apparatus such as PDAs. Touch screens can be classified into resistive type, capacitive type, surface acoustic wave type, and so on, depending on principles of operation. At present, most commercially available products adopt resistive and capacitive touch screens, especially the latter.
A capacitive touch screen operates with human body's induction by current with the principle of operation as follows. One or two layers of transparent metallic conducting substance are disposed on a surface of a glass substrate as touch electrodes. When a human body touches the touch screen, the capacitance of the touch electrode at the touched spot changes, and according to the change, the position of the touched spot on the touch screen can be detected.
A touch screen using a single layer of transparent metallic conducting substance as touch electrodes is called a surface capacitive touch screen. A touch screen using two layers of transparent metallic conducting substance as touch electrodes is called an inductive capacitive touch screen. As compared with surface capacitive touch screens, inductive capacitive touch screens can penetrate a thicker overlying layer without correction.

Capacitive touch panel and display device with improved visual effect


An article includes a receptacle defining an interior void and an adjustment element attached to the receptacle. The adjustment element includes bladder defining one or more chambers each having a compressible component disposed therein. The adjustment element is operable between a contracted configuration providing the receptacle with a first size and an expanded configuration providing the receptacle with a second size different than the first size by adjusting a pressure within the one or more chambers.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
Articles of apparel such as garments and headwear and articles of footwear such as shoes and boots, typically include a receptacle for receiving a body part of a wearer. For example, an article of footwear may include an upper and a sole structure that cooperate to form a receptacle for receiving a foot of a wearer. Likewise, garments and headwear may include one or more pieces of material formed into a receptacle for receiving a torso or head of a wearer.
Articles of apparel or footwear are typically adjustable and/or are formed from a relatively flexible material to allow the article of apparel or footwear to accommodate various sizes of wearers, or to provide different fits on a single wearer. While conventional articles of apparel and articles of footwear are adjustable, such articles do not typically allow a wearer to conform the shape of the article to a body part of the wearer. For example, while laces adequately secure an article of footwear to a wearer by constricting a portion of an upper around the wearer's foot, the laces do not cause the upper to conform to the user's foot. Accordingly, an optimum fit of the upper around the foot is difficult to achieve.
Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

Vacuum adjustment device for article of apparel or footwear


Suture clip deployment devices for applying suture clips to sutures are described. Some embodiments can include a generally tubular main body and a vacuum port located at the distal end, a hollow inner body longitudinally slidable within the main body and extending from the main body at its distal end, and a suture recess located in the generally tubular main body. At least one suture clip configured to frictionally fit on an outer surface of the inner body is deployed during use. Clip deployment can occur after a vacuum source is applied to the device so as to draw the suture into the device. The suture lines can be retrieved through the suture recess, and the device can be actuated so as to deliver the suture clip off the delivery device and onto the suture, locking the suture in place.

Sutures are used for a variety of surgical purposes, such as approximation of tissue and ligation of tissue. When placing sutures, the strand of suture material to be used typically has a needle affixed to one end which is passed (looped) through the tissue to be approximated or ligated, forming a stitch. The stitch is then tensioned appropriately, and the two free ends of the suture loop, the needle end and the non-needle end, are knotted to retain the desired tension in the stitch. Forming knots in suture during open surgery is a simple matter, though time-consuming, but forming knots in sutures during endoscopic surgery can require two surgeons to cooperate in a multi-step process which is performed with multiple instruments to pass the needle and suture back and forth to tie the suture knot.
Suture locking devices that eliminate the need to tie knots in order to speed up heart valve replacement are known, as are suture locking devices in general. Suture retainers or locks are used in place of suture knots to prevent passage of a suture end into and through tissue and to maintain the tension applied to the suture material during the suturing procedure.
When using a method that employs a clip to secure the suture, the clip can be delivered by advancing the clip along a suture line to the area of interest, and then deploying the clip such that the clip secures the suture in place. With the clip thus secured, the excess suture can be cut and removed from the patient. An example of such a clip as well as methods and devices for use therewith are disclosed in U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2007/0005081 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,628,797, the entire contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.
Despite the existence of knotless suture locking devices in the art, there is a need for improved devices that enable easy access to the suture, accurate tensioning of the suture and are simple to use. In light of the foregoing, there is presently a need for improved systems for securing sutures with clips.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


In known fuel injection valves, a perforated disk having metering openings is disposed downstream of the valve seat. Adjusting the static fuel quantity injected during the steady opening state of the fuel injection valve is accomplished by means of the precise manufacture of the metering openings. Despite the high expense and effort of manufacture, an undesirably high deviation in the static fuel quantity of the various fuel injection valves occurs in mass production. The static fuel quantity is adjusted directly at the completely assembled fuel injection valve, so that the deviation of the static fuel quantity of the various fuel injection valves is minimized. To this end, the valve housing and the perforated disk are moved relative to one another, and as a result the various free flow cross sections of the metering openings are varied until the injected fuel quantity flow match the required fuel quantity flow. The method according to the invention is suitable for fuel injection valves of various types.

The invention is based on a method for adjusting the static fuel quantity injected during the steady opening state of a fuel injection valve, as generically defined hereinafter, as well as to a fuel injection valve, as disclosed herein and known from German Patent Disclosure Document DE-OS 37 10 467. The fuel injection valve known from DE-OS 37 10 467 has a perforated disk downstream of its valve seat. The adjustment of the static fuel quantity is effected by the accurate manufacture of the metering openings embodied in the perforated disk. Despite the high production investment, the deviation in the static fuel quantity of individual mass-produced fuel injection valves is undesirably pronounced. This creates the danger that a variably high fuel quantity will be delivered to the various cylinders of an internal combustion engine.

Method for calibrating a fuel injection valve, and fuel injection valve


A printed circuit board is provided with a solder pad configuration for wave soldering a surface mount device with its longitudinal axis in a direction perpendicular to the solder wave. A leading solder pad is not wider than the surface mount device. A trailing solder pad is wider than the surface mount device, thereby ensuring that the trailing pad is sufficiently wet by the solder wave.

The invention relates generally to wave soldering of surface mount devices to a printed circuit board, and more specifically to the size and configuration of the solder pads when a surface mounted device is oriented on a printed circuit board with its axis parallel to the direction the circuit board moves through a wave soldering machine.
Prior art wave soldering of a surface mount device (SMD) on a printed circuit board involves mounting the device with its contact ends on equally sized solder pads. The solder pads and SMD are oriented such that the axis of the SMD is perpendicular to the direction that the PC board will pass over the solder wave in a wave solder machine. This placement allows each end of the SMD to directly receive molten solder without the SMD blocking the flow of solder which would otherwise prevent the deposit of solder on the blocked pad.
An important aim in the design and layout of printed circuit boards is to minimize their size. Therefore, components must be packed together in the most efficient way possible. The requirement to orient all SMDs perpendicular to the wave-solder direction has limited packing efficiency in the prior art. Thus, it is very desirable to allow placement of an SMD with any orientation and with a sufficient amount of solder being deposited on each solder pad by wave soldering.

Method of wave soldering with unique solder pad configuration


The invention concerns a pharmaceutical and its use for the treatment of states of agitation and nervous dysfunctions, which comprises as active ingredients extracts of Corydalis and Eschscholtzia obtained by alcohol extraction (2.5:10), optionally together with conventional additives, the weight ratio of the extract Eschscholtzia to Corydalis being in the range from 20:1 to 1:1.

It is known that the interim and end products of the catecholamine metabolism have an influence on the state of agitation in human beings. Thus, for example, the end product adrenalin acts as a neurotransmitter of the adrenergic nervous system on alpha- and also on beta-receptors. As a sympathicomimetic agent, adrenalin increases the contraction force of the heart. Because adrenalin furthermore increases the oxidative metabolism in the cells, on the whole it causes an increased readiness of the organism for action. Correspondingly one also observes an increase of the adrenalin release in stress situations. Especially high concentrations of adrenalin as well as of its precursor, noradrenalin, may have the result of excess agitation, nervousness and therefore deficient performance capability of the body, whereas only slightly increased values of these amines have a very positive effect: the pulse rate and blood pressure are slightly increased, the muscles and brain are stimulated, the receptivity is raised.
Furthermore it is known that disturbances in the concentration of dopamine, a further precursor of adrenalin, may lead to states of agitation and nervous dysfunctions. In particular, depression may occur in the case of a lack of dopamine. A special dopamine deficiency syndrome is Parkinsonism, whose partial symptoms include akinesis, rigidity and passive tremor. Recent clinical results show evidence of a therapeutical activity of dopa when treating Parkinsonism; this effect appears to be understandable because of the observed dopamine reduction in the basal ganglia.
Therefore it is desirable in a case of dopamine deficiency to increase by natural means the concentration of this catecholamine. This can be achieved by increasing on the one hand the dopa/dopamine synthesis and on the other, by preventing dopamine decomposition.
The object of the present invention is to make available a pharmaceutical which increases the dopamine concentration of a patient in natural metabolism.
The object above is achieved in accordance with the invention by a pharmaceutical which is characterized in that it comprises as active ingredients extracts obtained by alcohol extraction (2.5:10) of Corydalis and Eschscholtzia, optionally together with the conventional additives, wherein the weight ratio of the extracts Eschscholtzia to Corydalis is in the range from 20:1 to 1:1.
The invention comprises additionally the use of the inventive pharmaceutical for the amelioration and/or suspension of states of agitation and nervous dysfunctions, which are based on a disturbance of the amine balance, particularly on a reduced concentration of dopa/dopamine.
The subject of the invention is furthermore the use of an extract obtained by alcoholic extraction (2.5:10) for the treatment and/or or for the preparation of a pharmaceutical for the treatment of states of agitation and nervous dysfunctions, which are based on a disturbance in the amine balance, in accordance with the present invention.

Pharmaceutical and its use for the treatment of states of agitation and nervous dysfunctions


In a pixel display there is disclosed a pixel arrangement for LCD displays having 5 subpixel components. Namely, red, blue, green with adjacent red green pixels bordered by blue subpixels. Circuitry is disclosed for such pixels in which capacitors, functioning in sample hold circuits receive pulses to their terminal immediately after transistors are open with the resulting voltage change there occurring as an unintended voltage signal being applied to an LCD cell thereby causing unintended image artifacts. A new circuit and method is disclosed by which no transistor is open without its sample and hold stable for the remainder of the frame. Thus, preceding gate lines are tied through subsequent transistors such that all transistors open after the capacitors have their reference terminal stablized. In this way, leakage current does not occur through the source and drain of the transistors attended and certain subpixels do not have unintended image artifacts present.

Over the years as computer and related displays have evolved, a need has arisen to convey information on such displays with greater accuracy and clarity, particularly in the field of color displays. Digital information on such display have traditionally been displayed via cathode ray tubes ("CRT") and, as technology progressed, liquid crystal displays ("LCDs") and plasma screen display. Either with a CRT, LCD or plasma screen, digital information is conveyed at a display by way of a pixel. Each pixel has subcomponents (i.e., red, green, and blue) which are also called "subpixels." Various hardware associated with actuating selected desired pixels and subpixels have evolved over the years in an attempt to keep pace with the need and demand for greater clarity and accuracy in conveying displayed information. Liquid crystal display technology in particular has also become more widespread in view of the increased clarity that such displays provide with respect to LCDs, economy of size, as well as other advantages.
Drawbacks, however, have existed in the prior art. Pixels have typically been divided into vertically disposed red green and blue subpixel lines. This arrangement, however, has had drawbacks in that the human eye does not perceive the color blue with the same clarity as the color red and green, due to a lack of blue receptor sites within the human eye. Various attempts have been made at restructuring the subpixel arrangement of the LCD pixels with the idea in mind of achieving greater clarity and taking into account the human realities of perception. One such arrangement has been proposed by ClairVoyante Labs.
Even with such structure, however, several drawbacks and problems still exist. Correcting image display problems with attendant supporting circuitry has been attempted, however, such attempts have not produced solutions to many display problems. For example, there remain undesirable image artifacts with such displays, such as losing contrast on every other line, creating undesirable patterns as well a general loss of contrast in the image resulting in non-uniformities of the image depending upon various transient conditions which vary with the imaging process. As such, it would be desirable to provide supporting circuitry which would lend itself to more accurately actuating visual displays, e.g. liquid crystal displays without the undesirable image artifacts and the unintended poorer image quality conditions. The present invention provides a solution to such drawbacks and overcomes many problems associated with poor image display.

Supporting circuitry and method for controlling pixels


A semiconductor device comprising a bipolar transistor and a method of making the same. A power amplifier including a bipolar transistor. The bipolar transistor includes a collector including a laterally extending drift region. The also includes a base located above the collector. The bipolar transistor further includes an emitter located above the base. The bipolar transistor also includes a doped region having a conductivity type that is different to that of the collector. The doped region extends laterally beneath the collector to form a junction at a region of contact between the doped region and the collector. The doped region has a non-uniform lateral doping profile. A doping level of the doped region is highest in a part of the doped region closest to a collector-base junction of the bipolar transistor.

RF power amplifiers are key components in any high-frequency system and application. The demand for higher bandwidth and higher speeds for multimedia applications puts stringent requirements on these amplifiers such as high output power, linearity and efficiency. Amplifiers comprising bipolar transistors (such as heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) are often used in preference to CMOS-based devices for RF power amplifiers because of their excellent performance at high frequencies.
A limitation of silicon based devices (e.g. SiGe HBTs) is that the smaller bandgap of silicon compared to some III-V materials typically gives rise to a lower breakdown voltage (BV), which can inhibit the operation of such devices at high voltages.
Efforts have been made to create higher-breakdown SiGe HBTs by optimization of collector profiles (trading off the breakdown voltage (BV) and cut-off frequency (fT)). For example, see:
D. R. Greenberg et al. "Large-signal performance of high-BVCEO graded epi-base SiGe HBTs at wireless frequencies " IEDM Proceedings, pp. 32.3.1-32.3.4, 1997;
E. J. Preisler et al. "Integration of a 5.5V BVCEO SiGe HBT within a 200 GHz SiGe BiCMOS flow", BCTM Proceedings, pp. 202-205, 2007;
B. Geynet et al., "High-voltage HBTs compatible with high-speed SiGe BiCMOS technology", SiRF Proceedings, pp. 210-213, 2008; and
H. Mertens et al. "Extended high voltage HBTs in high-performance BiCMOS process", BCTM Proceedings, 2011.
Other efforts have involved using reduced surface field (RESURF) effects (using either a field plate or pn junction) to improve performance in terms of BV×fT (see, for example, J. Melai et al., "A new sub-micron 24 V SiGe:C RESURF HBT", ISPSD Conference, 2004).
R. Sorge et al., "Concept of vertical bipolar transistor with lateral drift region, applied to high voltage SiGe HBT", SiRF, 2012 describes a vertical bipolar transistors having an additional lateral drift region introduced between a sub collector and collector contact region. This is described as enabling the fabrication of high voltage bipolar transistors for RF power applications. The introduction of an additional lateral drift region with a length of 1.2 μm increased the open base breakdown voltage BVCEO of the HBT 7V to 18V. The same device concept has been again shown to be able to have a much larger BVCEO, up to 35V, in R. Sorge et al., "Integration of a 50 BVCEO SiGe:C HBT into a 0.25 μm SiGe:C BiCMOS platform", SiRF, 2014. However, one of the main bottlenecks of these devices is a high collector resistance. This can turn on the parasitic PNP of the device and cause a strong reduction in fT.
A device having a lateral drift region, which does not suffer from an increase in collector resistance would be especially promising for power amplifier applications.


The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a composite material formed by an organic substrate reinforced by glass strands. The invention consists of the combination of an organic substrate and glass strands coated with a sizing composition constituted by a solution with a solvent content of less than 5% by weight, the said solution comprising a mixture of components which can be polymerized and/or cross-linked by heat treatment, amongst the said components, at least 60% being components with molecular weights (Mw) of less than 750, and from 0 to 25% by weight being coupling agents, lubricating agents, stabilizing agents, polymerization initiators and/or catalysts, the said agents and initiators optionally being capable of being polymerized and/or cross-linked, the said sizing composition being non-polymerized, and of the subsequent subjection of the assembly to heat treatment and/or to the action of actinic radiation.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the combination of an organic substrate and glass strands coated with a sizing composition constituted by a solution with a solvent content of less than 5% by weight, the solution comprising a mixture of components which can be polymerized and/or cross-linked by heat treatment, amongst the said components, at least 60% being components with molecular weights (Mw) of less than 750, and from 0 to 25% by weight being coupling agents, lubricating agents, stabilizing agents, polymerization initiators and/or catalysts, the said agents and initiators optionally being capable of being polymerized and/or cross-linked, the said sizing composition being non-polymerized, and of the subsequent subjection of the assembly to heat treatment and/or to the action of actinic radiation.
2. Discussion of the Background
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a composite material formed by an organic substrate reinforced by glass strands.
The manufacture of a composite material of this general type has been the subject of very many publications, particularly patent applications or patents.
In general, glass strands are coated, during their manufacture, with a sizing composition, the composition of which depends upon the nature of the organic substrate to be reinforced thereby.
The sizing composition, which is deposited on the glass filaments before the latter are assembled into at least one strand, should possess certain characteristics and should confer various properties on the strand. In particular, the sizing composition should be stable and should retain a constant composition in spite of the shear forces constantly brought about within the sizing composition by the filaments which pass through it at speeds of the order of several tens of meters per second.
The sizing composition should then protect the filaments from abrasion caused by the inevitable friction of the strand on various surfaces. It should also ensure the integrity of the strand, that is, the bonding together of the filaments which make it up. This characteristic is important because it not only enables a strand to be extracted easily from a winding (a very common arrangement for glass strands) but also limits the number of filaments which rub directly against all of the devices for guiding the strand. When the strand is intended to reinforce an organic substrate, the sizing composition should also facilitate the wetting of the filaments which make up the strand, by the said substrate.
The achievements of good integrity and of a good capacity to be wetted by the organic substrate are generally incompatible. In general, the greater the integrity of the strand, the stronger is the bonding between the filaments and the more difficult it is for the organic substrate to penetrate the interior of the strand. This difficulty in impregnating a strand with the organic substrate is even more marked when the strand has been twisted and is used as a reinforcement in the form of a fabric.
Finally, when the glass strand is intended to reinforce organic substrates, the sizing composition deposited on the filaments should be chemically compatible with the substrates.
Almost all known sizing compositions are sizing compositions in an aqueous phase in the form of solutions, or much more often, in the form of suspensions or emulsions, in water.
Before they are combined with an organic substrate, the glass strands thus sized have to be dried to eliminate the water which becomes useless or even a nuisance. In order to do this, the windings are subjected to temperature cycles generally of between 110 and 150.degree. C. for periods which may reach and exceed 16 hours. The quantity of water to be evaporated is large since it represents, on average, at least 10 to 15% by weight of the winding. This operation requires special installations and energy consumption, the cost of which increases production costs.
Moreover, the drying of the winding may sometimes detract from the quality of the strand when it causes uneven migration of the sizing components through the turns of the windings.
In order to mitigate these problems, it is known to dry the strand (U.S. Pat. No. 3,853,605) or the filaments (WO-92/05122) directly, before the formation of the winding.
The drying of the strands during the drawing step necessitates the installation of devices such as ovens beneath each die. Moreover, the effectiveness of this drying method is closely linked with the manufacturing conditions such as the quantity of water on the strand, the composition of the sizing composition, the drawing speed, the number of filaments and their diameter. etc.
In rare cases of sizing compositions composed solely of organic constituents, the glass strands coated with such sizing compositions are often subjected to a special treatment before they are reeled on a rotating support. The purpose of this treatment is to bring about a modification of the sizing composition on the strand before it is reeled, such that the sizing composition does not give rise to excessive bonding of the turns of the winding to one another, which bonding can make the strand difficult if not impossible to unwind. This treatment consists, for example, of heating of the layer of filaments coated with the sizing composition so as to eliminate the solvent from the said sizing composition before the strand is formed by the assembly of the said filaments (U.S. Pat. No. 3,425,862) or polymerization of the sizing composition by the subjection of the strand to the action of ultra-violet radiation (U.S. Pat. No. 5,049,407) over at least a portion of its path. Here again, this type of treatment necessitates the installation of devices beneath each die and does not avoid the search for the best possible compromise between the integrity of the strand and its capacity to be wetted by an organic substrate.
An integral strand coated with a purely organic sizing composition can be produced without having been subjected to heat or other treatment; it is the sizing composition itself which bonds the filaments together. The patent U.S. Pat. No. 4,530,860 describes sizing compositions of this type which comprise a large percentage of film-forming agents, the essential role of which is to confer the integrity necessary for the handling of the strand.
The mechanical characteristics of a composite material formed by an organic substrate reinforced by glass strands depend upon the quality of the adhesion of the strands to the substrate. This adhesion results from the capacity of the strands to be wetted by the substrate which depends, in particular, upon the nature of the sizing composition, upon its distribution on the strand, and upon the condition under which the sizing composition has to bring about the cohesion of the filaments forming the strand. Now, these different variables are closely linked to the aforementioned conditions of manufacture of the strand, which impede the production of a strand with the best possible impregnation by an organic substrate.

Method of manufacturing a composite material and the resulting material


A motor vehicle with a system for conditioning power take-off enablement has a powerplant, including an internal combustion engine, for propelling the vehicle. The powerplant is disposed within a compartment. A hood is positionable relative to the compartment to selectively allow and disallow access to the compartment. A power take-off unit comprises an input mechanically coupled to the powerplant and selectively enabled by a controller for coupling an output of the power take-off unit to the input of the power take-off unit when enabled by the controller and uncoupling the output of the power take-off unit from the input of the power take-off unit when not enabled by the controller. A device whose status distinguishes between the hood allowing access to the compartment and the hood disallowing access to the compartment causes the controller not to enable the power take-off unit when the device discloses that the hood is allowing access to the compartment.

Such a vehicle typically has a front-end engine compartment containing a powerplant, such as an internal combustion or hybrid-electric engine, that powers the vehicle. The engine is part of the vehicle's powertrain which in a rear wheel drive vehicle comprises a transmission coupled to the engine, a driveshaft coupling the transmission to a differential of a rear axle, and driven road wheels at the ends of the axle.
The power take-off unit has an input that is coupled either to the engine or to the transmission. While there are various types of power take-off units, they share a common characteristic of having a mechanism that is controlled in some manner for selectively coupling and uncoupling the unit's output to and from the unit's input.
A typical front-end engine compartment is essentially closed along its sides and top, but is partially open at the front to allow air to pass through a radiator that is disposed between the frontal opening and the engine to allow air to pass through a radiator in the engine cooling system and the engine compartment and eventually to exit by passing downward and under the vehicle body. Access to the engine compartment interior is available by opening a hood of the vehicle.
Although access to the engine compartment and its contents is restricted when the hood is closed, it may be possible for the engine to be cranked and started by operating the usual ignition switch in the occupant compartment of the vehicle while the hood is open. It may also be possible for the hood to be opened while the engine is running. Opening the hood to access the engine, either when running or when being cranked and started by the ignition switch, may be important for diagnostic or other purposes.

Motor vehicle with system for conditioning power take-off enablement on an engine compartment being closed

International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC


Aspects of the invention can provide a manufacturing method for fine structure elements having a first flat portion forming step of forming an upper flat surface serving as a first flat portion on a substrate with a flat cutting tool serving as a cutting section a second flat portion forming step of cutting the upper flat surface serving as the first flat portion by a predetermined depth and forming a lower flat portion serving as a second flat portion with the flat cutting tool serving as the cutting section, a refractive surface forming step of forming a slope serving as a refractive surface having a predetermined angle with respect to the lower flat surface serving as the second flat portion by the flat cutting tool serving as the cutting section.

Aspects of the invention can relate to a manufacturing method for a fine structure element, a fine structure element manufactured by the method, a spatial light modulator, and a projector. In particular, the invention can relate to a fine structure element, such as a micro-prism.
Related art dot matrix image display devices, such as a liquid crystal panel (a liquid crystal display device), a CRT display device, and a plasma display device are often used as image display devices. The dot matrix image display devices represent images with a large number of pixels periodically arranged two-dimensionally. In this case, so-called sampling noise is caused by this periodical arrangement structure and an image quality is deteriorated (an image looks rough). To cope with the problem, a method of reducing the deterioration in an image quality has been proposed. See, for example, JP-A-8-122709.
In the related art dot matrix image display devices, a light shielding section called a black matrix is provided in regions among the pixels in order to reduce unnecessary light. In recent years, a large screen is often observed from a relatively close distance as a form of using an image display device. Therefore, an observer may be conscious of an image of a black matrix. In the dot matrix image display devices in the past, an image quality is deteriorated as in an image with less smoothness, an image having roughness, or the like because of the image of the black matrix. For example, in JP-A-8-122709, it is difficult to reduce the deterioration in an image quality due to the image of the black matrix to improve an original image because of an influence of higher diffraction.
Therefore, it is conceivable to make light from the image display device incident on a prism group such that the observer is not conscious of the light shielding section of the black matrix or the like. A flat portion of the prism group transmits the light from the image display device directly. A refractive surface of the prism group refracts and transmits the light from the image display device. The light transmitted through the prism group generates light with an optical path thereof deflected on the refractive surface of the prism group in addition to light traveling straight after exiting from the flat portion. A pixel image can be formed on the black matrix by the light with the optical path thereof deflected. Consequently, the user is conscious of the black matrix less often.
A shape of respective prism elements forming the prism group is fine in the order of micrometer. In the related art, the prism elements of the fine shape are manufactured in a predetermined region by performing, for example, cutting using a cutting tool.
Usually, in the cutting using a cutting tool, a cutting tool having a desired shape is manufactured and prepared in advance. Then, the desired shape is obtained by cutting a member to be cut using this cutting tool. When the cutting tool is manufactured, it is possible to set an angle of the cutting tool by a unit of 0.1°. On the other hand, in the prism elements, it is desired that an angle formed by the flat surface and a slope serving as the refractive surface is in the order of one several hundredth, for example, 0.03°. Therefore, it is impossible to manufacture the cutting tool itself for manufacturing the prism elements.
Even when a microscope or the like is used, accuracy causing an error of about 3 μm is a limit of accuracy for a relative positional relation between a cutting object and a cutting tool, for example, a distance between the cutting tool and the cutting object and alignment concerning flatness (difference of elevation) of a surface of the cutting object. On the other hand, the prism elements are desired to be formed by cutting a substrate at a depth of 2 μm or less. Therefore, even if a machine tool, which performs cutting, is capable of controlling machining in the order of nanometer, the machine tool cannot perform machining for cutting the substrate at a depth of 2 μm or less accurately. Since it is extremely difficult to manufacture the prism elements of a fine shape, machining accuracy tends to be also determined by disturbances, such as temperature and the atmospheric pressure around the machine at the time of machining, temperature of the machine, wearing of the cutting tool, and the like. When fluctuation in the machining accuracy affects a shape of the prism elements, it is difficult to manufacture prism elements at high reproducibility. Therefore, in the cutting using the cutting tool, it is difficult to manufacture the prism elements in a desired prism shape.

Manufacturing method for fine structure element, fine structure element manufactured by the method, spatial light modulator, and projector


The invention is an integral two-layer preform (1) for the production of integrally blow-moulded bag-in-containers (2). The preform has an inner layer (11) and an outer layer (12), wherein the preform forms a two layer container upon blow-moulding, and wherein the thus obtained inner layer of the container releases from the thus obtained outer layer upon introduction of a gas at a point of interface of the two layers. The melting temperature of the inner layer is greater than or equal to the melting temperature of the outer layer.

Bag-in-containers, also referred to as bag-in-bottles or bag-in-boxes depending on the geometry of the outer vessel, all terms considered herein as being comprised within the meaning of the term bag-in-container, are a family of liquid dispensing packaging consisting of an outer container comprising an opening to the atmosphere the mouth and which contains a collapsible inner bag joined to said container and opening to the atmosphere at the region of said mouth. The system must comprise at least one vent fluidly connecting the atmosphere to the region between the inner bag and the outer container in order to control the pressure in said region to squeeze the inner bag and thus dispense the liquid contained therein.
Traditionally, bag-in-containers were and still are produced by independently producing an inner bag provided with a specific neck closure assembly and a structural container (usually in the form of a bottle). The bag is inserted into the fully formed bottle opening and fixed thereto by means of the neck closure assembly, which comprises one opening to the interior of the bag and vents fluidly connecting the space between bag and bottle to the atmosphere; examples of such constructions can be found inter alia in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,484,011, 3,450,254, 4,330,066, and 4,892,230. These types of bag-in-containers have the advantage of being reusable, but they are very expensive and labour-intensive to produce.
More recent developments focused on the production of "integrally blow-moulded bag-in-containers" thus avoiding the labour-intensive step of assembling the bag into the container, by blow-moulding a polymeric multilayer preform into a container comprising an inner layer and an outer layer, such that the adhesion between the inner and the outer layers of the thus produced container is sufficiently weak to readily delaminate upon introduction of a gas at the interface. The "inner layer" and "outer layer" may each consist of a single layer or a plurality of layers, but can in any case readily be identified, at least upon delamination. Said technology involves many challenges and many alternative solutions were proposed.
The multilayer preform may be extruded or injection moulded (cf. U.S. Pat. No. 6,238,201, JPA10128833, JPA11010719, JPA9208688, U.S. Pat. No. 6,649,121). When the former method is advantageous in terms of productivity, the latter is preferable when wall thickness accuracy is required, typically in containers for dispensing beverage.
Preforms for the production of integrally blow-moulded bag-in-containers clearly differ from preforms for the production of blow-moulded co-layered containers, wherein the various layers of the container are not meant to delaminate, in the thickness of the layers. A bag-in-container is comprised of an outer structural envelope containing a flexible, collapsible bag. It follows that the outer layer of the container is substantially thicker than the inner bag. This same relationship can of course be found in the preform as well, which are characterized by an inner layer being substantially thinner than the outer layer. Moreover, in some cases, the preform already comprised vents which are never present in preforms for the production of co-layered containers (cf. EPA1356915).
The formation of the vents fluidly connecting the space or interface between bag and bottle to the atmosphere remains a critical step in integrally blow-moulded bag-in-containers and several solutions were proposed in e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,301,838, 5,407,629, JPA5213373, JPA8001761, EPA1356915, U.S. Pat. No. 6,649,121, JPA10180853.
One redundant problem with integrally blow-moulded bag-in-containers is the choice of materials for the inner and outer layers which must be selected according to strict criteria of compatibility in terms of processing on the one hand and, on the other hand, of incompatibility in terms of adhesion. These criteria are sometimes difficult to fulfil in combination.
The preform usually consists of an assembly of two separate preforms and produced independently from one another and thereafter assembled such that the inner preform fits into the outer preform as illustrated in JPA10180853. This solution allows for greater freedom in the design of the neck and vents, as well as in the choice of materials for the inner and outer layers: the compatibility in terms of processing between the materials of the inner and outer layers concern the blow-moulding operation only. It is, however, expensive as it requires two separate production lines and an assembly line.
Replacing a preform assembly as discussed above by an integral preform obtained by injection moulding one layer on top of the other offers of course a number of potential advantages in terms of production costs. Other problems, however, arise and need be addressed. In particular, the choice of materials for the inner and outer layers is more complex since they must be compatible in terms of process in both the injection moulding and the blow-moulding operations. U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,838 discloses a complex injection moulded, five layer, integral preform comprising three PET layers interleafed by two thin layers of a material selected from the group of EVOH, PP, PE, PA6. This solution, however, is quite complex and requires that the materials of the thin layers have "little if any primary affinity for (i.e;, tendency to chemically bond or adhere to) the adjacent [PET] layers," which unduly restricts the choice of materials to be used.
EPA1356915 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,649,121 proposes that the materials for the inner and outer layers of the preform should be selected such that the melting temperature of the outer layer is higher than the one of the inner layer, Tm,outer>Tm,inner, lest a strong bond would form between layers when the inner layer is injection moulded over the outer layer, which had been injected into the mould cavity first. Examples of materials for the outer layer given by the authors include PET and EVOH, whilst polyethylene is given as an example for the inner layer.
It follows from the foregoing that there remains room in the art for solutions for the production of integral preforms made of materials compatible in terms of processing, both for the injection moulding and blow-moulding operations, and yielding bag-in-containers with good delamination properties.

Integral two layer preform, process and apparatus for the production thereof, process for producing a blow-moulded bag-in-container, and bag-in-container thus produced


A brassiere which comprises two molded and seamless breast cups and at least one chest band to hold the bra to a user of the brassiere, wherein the chest band includes as least one panel of material which is affixed to one or both of the breast cups and the panel of material does not extend across any part of the molded and seamless breast cups.

Our earlier patent application US2004/0224604 describes a molded brassiere (hereinafter referred to as "bra") wherein the bra consists of an assembly of plies that have been molded and laminated to each other to define a bra or component for a bra. More specifically our earlier patent application describes a bra that includes a core assembly and outer and inner layers encasing the core assembly. The inner and outer layers encase the core assembly and also extend beyond the core assembly to define the chest bands of a bra. The earlier patent application describes that the inner and outer layers each preferably consists of an assembly of plies comprising of a fabric layer laminated with a foam layer. The foam layers of each of the inner and outer layers are presented towards each other so that the fabric layer is presented outermost on each of the inner and the outer facing surfaces of the bra. A bra that may be manufactured according to the invention described in our earlier patent application may result in the chest bands of the bra including the foam ply. However this may not in all circumstances or by all end users, be a desirable result. It may be desirable especially during summer seasons or in hotter climates, for minimal foam to be present in a bra. A foam ply enhances shaping and form integrity of a bra but such may be undesirable from a comfort point of view to the end user.
Being limited to having a chest band that includes at least some of the plies of material that also extend across the core assembly or the bra cup region to define the chest band can also limit flexibility in appearance and finish.
Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a substantially molded bra having a foam-incorporating molded core assembly with a chest band that includes a ply or plies of material separately affixed to part of the core assembly, and in particular to provide such a bra wherein the chest band or bands may predominantly be absent of a foam ply or plies, or to at least provide the public with a useful choice.


Methods for determining a location of a client device in a wireless network having at least a first other network device with a known location are disclosed. Transmission-to-self calibrations are performed at the first other network device and/or the client device to determine RF group delay of the first other network device and/or the client device. The client device receives messages and acknowledgements from the other network devices and determines its location based on information received including the time at which it received the messages, the acknowledgements and the RF groupdelay of the first other network device. As such, the location calculation can be refined by accounting for the RF group delays of the first other network device and/or the client device.

Determining the location of a wireless device, such as a wireless telephone typically uses GPS or trilateration of mobile telephone signals broadcast from cell towers at known positions. These methods, however do not work well indoors due to the limited availability of GPS satellite signals and mobile telephone signals. Indoor positioning is important for determining the location of a portable device in buildings such as malls, hotels, offices, train stations etc.

Method for determining location of wireless devices

QUALCOMM TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, LTD.


A package for a folded inner tube for a pneumatic tire, e.g., a bicycle inner tube. The package is formed of a flexible material, and is in the form of a gussetted bag, defining a hollow interior in which the inner tube is located. The package includes plural panels or walls and a mouth which is arranged to be readily peeled open to provide access to the inner tube. When the vacuum is applied, this causes the material forming the package to closely conform to the exterior shape of the inner tube located within the package's hollow interior. This close conformance hardens the package, e.g., makes it resistant to injury. The close conformance of the walls of the package with the inner tube also causes the exterior surface of the package to assume an uneven, e.g., dimpled, state. If a wall of the package has been breached, as could occur by virtue of an impact by a sharp object, so that there is a loss of vacuum within the package, the material forming the walls of the package will tend to naturally assume their normal flat appearance. Thus, the user will be alerted to the possibility of injury to the inner tube by virtue of a smooth appearance of the package's walls.

This application relates generally to flexible vacuum packages, and more particularly to flexible vacuum packages for inner tubes for pneumatic tires, such as bicycle tires.
It is a common occurrence in bicycling for a tire to become punctured, thereby necessitating its replacement or repair. Thus, bicyclists frequently carry a spare inner tube with them on a ride in case of an emergency flat tire. Current packaging for bicycle inner tubes is typically a cardboard box, with the bicycle tube commonly being folded up in the interest of compactness. While such packaging may provide some measure of protection to the inner tube from damage, it never the less still leaves something to be desired from that standpoint.
Boxes which are sufficiently rugged to prevent injury to an inner tube are commonly too heavy or bulky to be carried on a bike for many riders. Thus in order to keep weight down, many riders commonly carry a spare inner tube unprotected by any protective packaging. If the rider does keep the inner tube in its protective box, and if that box should be impacted sufficiently to injure or otherwise compromise the inner tube, that fact may not be apparent from viewing the condition of the box. Thus, a seemingly intact box, may have been impacted in such a manner that the inner tube within it has been punctured or otherwise compromised.

Flexible vacuum package for bicycle inner tube


Provided herein are methods for selecting a cancer patient for anti-CTLA-4 immunotherapy, or predicting whether a cancer patient will respond to anti-CTLA4 immunotherapy, based on measured levels of CXCL1 1 and/or sMICA. Such methods are useful for determining whether an anti-CTLA-4 immunotherapy is likely to improve overall survival of a cancer patient. Also provided herein are methods of treating a cancer patient with an anti-CTLA-4 immunotherapy, wherein the patient is first tested for levels of CXCL1 1 and/or sMICA. Also provided are methods for treating a cancer patient with a CXCL1 1 antagonist or sMICA ant agonist alone, or in combination with each other and/or with additional anti-cancer agents, such as a CTLA-4 antagonist.

Ipilimumab is a human monoclonal antibody that specifically binds to cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4). CTLA-4 is expressed on activated T cells, has structural similarities to the costimulatory molecule CD28, and binds to the same ligands as CD28, albeit with higher affinity. Binding of CTLA-4 to CD80/CD86 inhibits T cell activation by limiting interleukin-2 (IL-2) production and expression of the IL-2 receptor (CD25) (Wolchok et al., Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 2013; 1291:1-13). Ipilimumab prevents CTLA-4 from binding its ligands, thereby promoting activation of effector T cells via prolonged CD28 signaling (Rudd et al., Immunol Rev 2009; 229:12-26). In addition, anti-CTLA-4 antibodies can deplete intratumoral regulatory T cells, subverting yet another mechanism of immunosuppression (Simpson et al., J Exp Med 2013; 210:1695-1710).
Ipilimumab was approved in the United States for the treatment of metastatic melanoma in 2011. While a significant breakthrough in the treatment of metastatic melanoma, there is a need to increase the percentage of patients who achieve a response to treatment, such as prolonged overall survival.
Unlike traditional cancer therapies, immunotherapeutics act primarily upon cells of the immune system. The requirement for the immune system as a third-party mediator of the drug's activity suggests the balance of positive and negative regulators of the immune response at the time of therapy may be a critical determinant of efficacy for any immunotherapy. Cytokines, chemokines, and soluble receptors regulate the survival, activity, and location of immune effector cells and thus represent potential players in determining drug efficacy. Of particular interest are soluble factors involved in the recruitment and regulation of effector T cells representing the most readily measurable clinical biomarkers. With an increasing number of treatment options available and increased use of targeted therapies, predictive biomarkers that identify those patients most likely to benefit from a specific treatment would be highly beneficial.

CXCL11 and SMICA as predictive biomarkers for efficacy of anti-CTLA4 immunotherapy


An analog-to-digital converter utilizing pulse width modulation and ramp and count techniques. A microcontroller generates the pulse width modulated digital signal which is converted into a floating triangle. When the floating triangle signal is equal to the analog, input signal, a comparator generates and output which is sensed by the microcontroller. During an initialization process, the microcontroller uses information with respect to the timing of the comparator output to adjust the duty cycle so that the triangle wave remains within maximum and minimum levels above and below the analog, output signal. Calculation of the voltage, of the input signal is made as a function of the timing of the comparator outputs on successive upward ramps of the floating triangle signal, and of the slope of the upward ramp signal. As a result, the analog-to-digital converter utilizes the same process for low and high resolution measurements, thereby significantly decreasing its cost and increasing its speed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to analog-to-digital converters and, more specifically, to an analog-to-digital converter which utilizes pulse width modulation combined with ramp and count techniques.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order for a digital computer to process information, it must receive the information in a digital form. When the information originates in an analog form, it must be converted into a digital representation before processing by the computer. This conversion is usually performed by an analog-to-digital converter (ADC).
ADCs are widely used in many applications as input devices for digital computers. Dedicated analog-to-digital converters are available which offer high speed and resolution. However, such devices, typically 16 bit devices, are relatively expensive. Thus, in many applications it is desired to achieve high speed, high resolution analog-to-digital conversion at a relatively low cost.
Some ADC techniques do not require dedicated analog-to-digital devices, and thus, can perform analog-to-digital conversion at a reduced low cost. One example of a technique for using a high speed microcontroller to achieve an 8 bit analog-to-digital conversion is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,189,421. This Patent discloses an analog-to-digital conversion technique which sweeps the duty cycle of a square wave generated by a microprocessor. A resister and capacitor convert the sweeping duty cycle into a sweeping voltage. When this voltage crosses the analog input voltage, a comparator trips, and the conversion is complete. The input voltage can be calculated from the duty cycle. This technique avoids the necessity of a separate dedicated ADC device, since its CMOS microcontroller may also be used for other control functions. However, techniques such as this one have a number of drawbacks. For example, in order for this technique to have high resolution (e.g., sub-millivolt resolution), it would have to use a very slow square wave, thereby slowing the conversion process.
There are numerous other techniques for accomplishing analog-to-digital conversion. These include parallel encoder (flash encoder), successive approximation, voltage to frequency conversion, single slope integration, charge balancing techniques, dual slope integration, delta sigma converters, and switched-capacitor converters. All of these ADCs have advantages and disadvantages. However, for some low cost applications, none of these techniques offers a satisfactory combination of speed, resolution, dynamic range and cost.
For example, these approaches typically use different hardware and different processes for the low resolution and high resolution portion of the analog-to-digital conversion. That is, generally, the conversion process takes place in two steps: first a low resolution determination (high order bits) measurement is made and then a high resolution (low order bits) is made. This is often necessary in applications where a small signal is superimposed on a larger offset voltage. The use of different hardware and different processes for these two steps adds significantly to the time required to accomplish the conversion, thereby reducing the converter speed. In addition, because these two steps are typically performed by different sets of hardware, the overall cost of the analog digital converter is increased accordingly. One of many examples of an application requiring high speed and low cost and where a small signal is superimposed on a larger offset voltage is the use of an analog-to-digital converter to measure the force that a user applies to a computer input device.
From the discussion above, it should be apparent that there is a need for an analog-to-digital converter that is fast, has high resolution, a wide dynamic range, and is low in cost. To reduce cost, there is a need for a technique for implementing an analog-to-digital converter which does not require a dedicated ADC circuit. In this regard, for example, it would be desirable to provide an analog-to-digital conversion technique which can be implemented on a low cost microcontroller in a way that other functions, besides analog-to-digital conversion, can also be performed by the microcontroller. It also would be desirable to provide an analog-to-digital converter which utilizes the same hardware and the same process for both high and low resolution portions of the analog-to-digital conversion process.
In order to increase the speed of an analog-to-digital converter, it would be desirable to provide an ADC that does not require the high and low resolution portions of the conversion process to be performed sequentially, but permits both of these processes to proceed at approximately the same time. Also, it would be desirable to provide an analog-to-digital converter that is able to quickly measure small signals superimposed on a larger offset voltage. The present invention satisfies these needs.

Floating triangle analog-to-digital conversion system and method

International Business Machines Corporation


A portable terminal device and a program for reading information, which can read a code correctly with simple operations, and a recording medium having the program recorded thereon. A portable telephone with a camera has a camera for inputting information of an image of interest, a small light, which emits light through the operation of ON/OFF button while reading a bar code, an LCD display part for displaying information, and a control part including a CPU for controlling the whole device. The control part switches photography modes depending on the existence of objects such as natural images or bar codes. The control part recognizes a bar code when the device switches to a mode for bar code photography. Then, the device notifies a user of the results of the recognition and then performs a predetermined process based on the content of the recognition.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a portable terminal device such as a portable telephone with a digital camera or a camera, a program for reading information, and a recording medium having the program recorded thereon.
2. Background Art
Current portable telephones, which are provided with display devices such as a liquid crystal panel and input devices through key inputting, etc., tend to have multiple functions such as e-mail exchange and game-playing, in addition to telephone functions for transmitting and receiving radio waves.
In recent years, small image sensors with low power consumption have been developed, and this has allowed a camera to be built in a portable terminal device such as a portable telephone. Thus, it is possible to send images by e-mail immediately after they are taken by a built-in camera. As for these cameras, priority is given to the fact that they are small, and their resolution is lower than that of generally available digital cameras.
Further, in recent years, portable telephones can be connected to the Internet. For the connection to the Internet, it is necessary to input a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) through the keys and it is troublesome to input a long URL through the keys of a portable telephone. To solve this problem, a unique number is assigned to a URL, a bar code corresponding to the number is printed, and the printed bar code is read by a bar code reader, which avoids excessive user labor for inputting the URL. This attempt has been made to improve the usability for users. In the case of such a device, an independent bar code reader is required to be connected to a portable telephone.
However, in the case of a portable terminal device having a camera built therein, when a bar code is recognized from a bar code image inputted by the built-in camera, the above service is available without the preparation of an independent bar code reader.
JP Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2002-111909 A, for example, discloses an information-providing service whereby a user can select and set among a photograph mode and a QR code (two-dimensional code) reading mode, and where processing is conducted in accordance with the setting mode. Further, JP Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 9-259215 A (1997) discloses a code reader, which processes a one-dimensional code by a line CCD and a two-dimensional code by an area CCD for enhancing reading accuracy. However, the setting of a camera image capture area in accordance with types of bar codes is not disclosed.
Furthermore, JP Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2001-197186 A discloses that a telephone number is replaced with a two-dimensional bar code and the two-dimensional bar code is read by a CCD scanner installed on a telephone.
In the meantime, the resolution of currently built-in cameras is lower than that of an image sensor used for a bar code reader and therefore it has been difficult to recognize a bar code with high accuracy.
Further, the cause for the above difficulty in recognizing bar codes is that the widths of bars photographed on an input image are not constant. This is because the distance between a bar code and a camera varies whenever an image is inputted. In the case of a close-up type scanner, a bar code can be always inputted in a constant size, and therefore the widths of bars can be predetermined. However, when a bar code is photographed by a hand held camera, it is impossible to predetermine constant bar widths.
A method for recognizing a bar code by determining bar widths based on a bar code image inputted by an image scanner has been proposed. For example, JP Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2002-176509 A discloses a device that recognizes a bar code included in an image captured by a camera, and generates speaker sound when the captured image is decodable. At the same time, it saves the bar code data and displays it as an image on a display part.
However, conventional portable terminals with cameras have the following problems.
For example, since a one-dimensional code or a two-dimensional code differs in physical size from a code to be read, suitable resolution has to be selected depending on the size of codes in the case of a portable telephone camera, which has a comparatively low resolution.
Also, a camera usually set for photographing persons or landscapes is not anticipated for use in macro-mode photographing of a bar code, and thus a bar code image suitable for reading cannot be taken.
Furthermore, since a camera of a portable terminal device has a comparatively narrow angle of view, it is difficult to set a code to be read in a range photographed by the camera. In this case, close-up photographing is necessary, and this causes a shadow of the main body of the device itself or the like, which is likely to affect a captured image, so that a stable image cannot be obtained.

Portable terminal device, program for reading information, and recording medium having the same recorded thereon


A novel pager and paging system provides subscribers with astronomical and meteorological information. A service provider compiles a database of astronomical and meteorological information such as: current and forecast weather conditions; where and when celestial phenomena can be observed; horoscope information; and constellation configurations. Subscribers provide the service provider with a profile detailing what information the subscriber wishes to receive. The service provider will collect information, match the information to the subscriber's profile, and transmit the matching information to the subscriber.

Portable radio receivers and transceivers, such as wireless pagers, have become increasingly popular as a means of communication. Pagers are typically carried by users who wish or need to receive communications when they are away from a telephone or computer, or are unable to predict where they may be reached at a given time.
In general, the user of a pager purchases the unit and enters into a contract with a service provider. As shown in FIG. 1, when someone 12 wishes to page a particular user, they contact the user's service provider 11, identify the user to be paged (perhaps with a personal identification number), and may give a message to the service provider 11 that is to be broadcast to the user's pager 15.
The service provider 11 maintains a network of radio transceiver base stations 13, 14 which are spread throughout the service area covered by the service provider. The transmitting base stations 13 are distributed so that transmissions from at least one base station can be received by a pager 15 anywhere in the service area.
In a simplistic system, when the service provider 11 receives a request to page a user 15, the page is broadcast by all the base stations 13 in the system. Thus, if the pager 15 is located anywhere in the service area, it will receive the page. The pager 15 will then alert the user that a page has been received with, for example, an audible or vibratory alert signal.
In a more sophisticated system, the pager 15 may have the capability to not only receive a transmission from the service provider's system, but may have the capability to transmit an answer back to the system. This is referred to as two-way paging.
With these advances, the usefulness of pagers as a means of communication has expanded rapidly. Service providers have encouraged this expansion by experimenting with pagers as a means to disseminate information of interest to pager users. For example, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,508,695 to Nelson et al., incorporated herein by reference, a one-way pager system is used to relay sports or financial information to a pager user who has contracted with the service provider for that service.
However, there are many potential, undiscovered applications of pager technology which may provide pager users with, as yet unheard of, abilities to communicate. This is particularly true of the developing two-way pager systems. Accordingly, there is a need for improved methods and applications of pager technology to meet the information and communication demands of pager users.
Amateur astronomy and sky-watching have also become popular hobbies in modern society. This is in part true because our technological capabilities to explore outer space continue to develop, thus sparking our imagination. Accordingly, science fiction movies and television programs envisioning future space exploration or contact with other intelligent life have also grown in popularity as the possibilities of space travel become more real with the advance of technology.
Interest in the position and movements of the stars and planets is also of interest to many people who follow their horoscopes or practice astrology. Consequently, there is a growing number of people, ranging from novices to educated sky-watchers, who have an interest in the heavens and the movement of the stars and planets.
Thus, there is a need for a means to disseminate information about celestial phenomena to those interested. There is a further need for a means to educate those interested in studying the sky. There is also a need to convey this information and educational material at a time and in a manner which is most useful to the recipient. There is also a need to convey meteorological information when needed by recipients.

Astronomical and meteoroligical information pager