A motion picture film projector illumination system (100) for minimizing film buckle comprises a light source (405) for producing a beam of light (416). Beam shaping optics (411) focus the light beam onto a film through an aperture (408) having an aperture opening (410) corresponding to a film frame (324). A secondary beam steering optics (465) directs stray light around edges of the aperture to illuminate film edge to frame edge areas (446).

The invention relates to the field of motion picture film projectors, and in particular to an illumination system suitable for reducing film buckle in a film gate.
Motion picture film projectors have been successfully used in theatres for decades to project high quality imagery. Aside from the development and popularization of very large screen film formats (such as 70 mm) and the associated projection equipment, the industry has made very few design changes to film projectors which actually improve the on screen image quality. Among the various problems which degrade the projected image quality, including the obvious scratches, dirt, and film jump and weave, film buckle is a less obvious, but perhaps the most significant, contributor to quality loss.
The basic phenomenon of film buckle is discussed in the paper xe2x80x9cModulating Air Blast for Reducing Film Bucklexe2x80x9d by W. Borberg in the Journal of the SMPTE, Vol. 59, August 1952. While much of the light incident on the film is transmitted through it, and subsequently imaged to the screen by the projection lens, a portion of this light is absorbed, either by the dyes in the case of color film, or by the silver grains in the case of black and white film. Indeed, the images themselves are stored on the film as spatially varying density patterns, which rely on light absorption, rather than light reflection, to modulate the incident light. However, the absorbed light in turn heats the film, which then being an elastic material, deforms out of the film plane. This thermally induced deformation or pillowing can shift the image in a variable fashion, outside of the designed depth of focus of the projection lens, and degrade the on screen image resolution. Film buckle is further complicated by the action of the shutter, which is typically located between the lamp source and the film gate in most projectors. For example, when the popular two bladed shutters are used, the incident light to the film sees two short pulses of light per film frame. The film buckles during the first illumination period, relaxes some during the intervening dark period, and then buckles or deforms further during the second illumination period.
A variety of methods have been used or considered to alleviate or compensate for the problem of film buckle. In his paper, Borberg describes the results of his experiments to counter the film buckling with either continuous or pulsed inputs of pressurized air. Although the pressurized air undoubtedly cools the film to some extent, the pressurized air provides its greatest contribution to counteract buckle by providing a counteracting force to push against the deforming film surface. Unfortunately, while the pulsed air experiments were successful, the Borberg approach was not adopted by the industry due to the mechanical complications and the noise generated by the pressurized air system.
As another approach, a custom dichroic shutter, with blade areas which block visible radiation while transmitting the infrared has been attempted. The intent was to utilize the plentiful infrared radiation emitted by an unfiltered xenon arc lamp source to heat the film image area during the shuttered or dark periods, such that the thermal load and resulting film buckle would be averaged and less variable within the frame time. However, as color films transmit the greater majority of incident radiation, and absorbs perhaps as little as 5 percent of such light in the near infrared (out to xcx9c2 nm), this method was only marginally effective. Furthermore, as discussed in the Borberg paper, and to a greater extent in another paper, xe2x80x9cProjection Performance of Theatrical Motion Picture Films using Xenon Short Arc Lampsxe2x80x9d, by P. Preo, further heating of the film frame will cause yet further film deformation, and beyond certain thresholds, actual damage such as dye fade, blistering, or scorching.
Likewise, other approaches, such as preheating the film frame image area before projection, so as to reduce the range of deformation which would occur during projection, have been considered, but would only add further thermal loading to the film in a minimally useful manner.
The most effective method employed in the industry to counteract the effects of film buckle is to design the projection lenses with curved object xe2x80x9cplanesxe2x80x9d, such that the region of best focus follows a curve roughly corresponding to the curvature of the film deformation or buckle. While this technique has proven reasonably effective, the curved plane of best focus is static, while film buckle is dynamic, varying not only with the exposure time in the gate, but also with film density, the actual film type or dye layer formulation, and finally with the film base formulation.
Thus, it would be desirable to provide alternate approaches to the problem of film buckle in which the thermal deformation experienced within the film frame image area is actually reduced.
It is an object of the present invention to provide full film width illumination, rather than merely frame width illumination, which reduces film buckle by one-third to one-half, and thereby improves the projected image resolution. Targeted heating of the film can most effectively be applied to the areas between the film edges and frame edges by incident light, rather than some other means, such as a heater plate. Various optical system configurations are possible, based on both traditional and new optical illumination designs, where light can be directed onto the areas between the frame edges and the film edges, without cutting into the efficiency of the light delivered to the screen. This idea could also be used for film scanners.
The on-screen image quality provided by motion picture film projectors is significantly degraded by film buckle; that is warpage or deformation of the film when it is subjected to a heat load by the incident light. This warpage typically causes portions of the film to be deformed sufficiently that some portions of the image are displaced outside the projection lenses"" depth of focus for optimal screen imaging, resulting in a loss in image resolution with field. The present invention corrects these deficiencies.
The invention and its objects and advantages will become apparent in the detailed description of the preferred embodiment presented below.

Motion picture film projector illumination system for minimizing film buckle


An apparatus for generating acoustic rarefaction pulses, i.e., a negative pressure pulse, has a pressure pulse source and reflector having a negative reflection factor, and an acoustic propagation medium filling the space between the pressure pulse source and the reflector. The reflector has a boundary surface facing toward the pressure pulse source, consisting of a medium which is acoustically soft in comparison to the acoustic propagation medium. The boundary surface medium is separated from the acoustic propagation medium by a wall which is impenetrable by the acoustic propagation medium.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a generator for generating acoustic traction pulses having a pressure pulse source, a reflector having a negative reflection factor and an acoustic propagation medium filling out at least the space between the pressure pulse source and the reflector.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Medical therapy devices are known which generate a negative pressure pulse, commonly referred to as a rarefaction or tensile pulse, wherein an inversion of the operational sign of the pressure pulse incident into the reflector, and emanating positive from the pressure pulse source, occurs given reflection at a reflector having a negative reflection factor. The term "pressure pulse" shall be employed below exclusively for pressure pulses having a positive operational sign. Generators that are capable of generating rarefaction pulses are employed for treating pathological tissue modifications, for example tumors. There are indications that the cavitation phenomena in the pathological tissue occurring due to irradiation with rarefaction pulses lead to cell damage that at least opposes the further spread of the pathological tissue modifications.
German OS 38 06 532 discloses a generator of this type, however, no details are provided about the structure of the reflector having a negative reflection factor. Such generators have been tested with reflectors formed of a foamed material having closed pores. As a result of the gas enclosed in the pores, such foams are acoustically softer than the standard propagation media, which are usually liquid. As a consequence of the fact that the material of the reflector is acoustically softer than the acoustic propagation medium, i.e. has a characteristic acoustic impedance that is lower than that of the acoustic propagation medium, there is a negative reflection factor between the acoustic propagation medium and the reflector. Pressure pulses incident into the reflector are thus reflected as rarefaction pulses. The tested generators were in fact fundamentally functional; however, there is a risk that the pore walls of the foamed material will become perforated if subjected to the influence of pressure pulses over a longer period of time. This results in the liquid acoustic propagation medium penetrating into the formed material so that the reflector and thus the generator, can no longer function as desired. There is also the risk that liquid acoustic propagation medium will slowly diffuse into the foamed material, likewise leading to a malfunction of the generator.

Apparatus for generating acoustic rarefaction pulses


An optical waveguide in which the rate of change with wavelength of the reciprocal of the difference between the effective refractive indices of a fundamental wavelength mode and a second harmonic wavelength mode is zero at a first wavelength, and there is an internal periodic grating providing phase matching in the wavelength region of the first wavelength.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to optical waveguides, and in particular to optical waveguides having an internal grating for phase matching through mode dispersion for a pair of fundamental and second harmonic wavelength modes. The present invention also relates to a method of making such optical waveguides.
2. Related Art
Waveguided nonlinear optics has grown rapidly since the laser was invented. Most postulated phase-matching techniques for frequency mixing have been demonstrated in bulk media and refinements peculiar to waveguides have been exploited in many different configurations. Phase-matching in second-harmonic generation refers to the condition when the fundamental wavelength and the generated second-harmonic wavelength fields propagate in a material in such a direction that both experience the same refractive index. The most recent interest has been in the applications of periodic structures for phase-matching. Although phase-matching to radiation modes of a waveguide can allow the use of the largest second-order nonlinear tensor coefficient in materials, the only known practical technique for phase-matching guided-waves in frequency mixing experiments uses periodic structures. In this respect periodic structures offer the most elegant phase-matching technique for use with waveguides. The confined optical fields with their correspondingly high intensities propagated over long lengths can be exploited optimally.
The scheme for phase-matching based on the use of periodic structures has been known in nonlinear optics for over 20 years. It has been theoretically shown that if the sign of the second-order nonlinear susceptibility was reversed at exactly the coherence length l.sub.c, at which point the `free-wave` and `bound` wave get out of phase, then the effects of dispersion can be compensated, and the material is artificially phase-matched. It is also known that by modulating the refractive index in a spatially periodic fashion a similar result can be achieved, albeit less efficiently. The principle of periodic phase-matching can be understood in the following way. As the fundamental wavelength field propagates through a nonlinear material it generates a second-harmonic wavelength polarisation field which travels at the same velocity as the fundamental wavelength field and is referred to as the `bound` wave (being bound to the fundamental wavelength field). The radiated field at the second-harmonic wavelength is referred to as a `free` wave and travels at a phase velocity determined by the refractive index at the second-harmonic wavelength. The `free` and `bound` waves interfere and periodically exchange energy after an accumulated phase difference of n.pi./2 (where n is an integer). A .pi./2 phase difference is accumulated in a distance of a coherence length. If the phase of the bound wave were changed by .pi./2 every coherence length the `free` wave could be made to grow rather than interferring destructively. The periodic change in the sign of the nonlinear coefficient in the fibre changes the phase of the frequency doubled `bound` wave and therefore gives rise to `periodic` or `quasi phase-matching`.
Recently, an interesting phenomenon was discovered by Hill et al who noted (see Hill K. O., Kawasaki B. S., Johnson D. C. and MacDonald R. I., "CW three wave mixing in single mode optical fibres" J Appl Phys, 49(10), 5098-5106, October 1978) that optical fibres could frequency double light when pumped with high power-densities despite being centro-symmetric. This effect was then investigated by Osterberg and Margulis W. (see: a) Digest of XIV International Quantum Electronics Conference (OSA), Paper WBB2, pp102, Washington DC, 1986; and b) "Dye laser pumped by Nd:YAG laser pulses frequency doubled in glass optical fibre", Optics Letts, 11,516-518, 1986) who showed that not only was the fibre capable of frequency-doubling, but that the frequency-doubled light grew with time to levels of a few percent of the pump power. This observation could only occur if the process was phase-matched. It was later postulated to be achieved through a periodically written second-order susceptibility, X.sup.(2), grating which had a wave-vector equivalent to the momentum mismatch between the pump and the frequency doubled light.
This self-seeded quasi-phase matching (and equivalent externally seeded) scheme in optical fibres is wavelength sensitive and the sensitivity to frequency doubling rapidly tails off at wavelengths longer than 1064 .mu.m for germania doped silica fibres.

Optical waveguide and method of making an optical waveguide

British Telecommunications public limited company


A method of producing a novel separating agent for separating enantiomeric isomers, characterized by including: a step of supporting an optically active polymer compound and a compound having an asymmetric structure of a molecular weight of 1,000 or less on a carrier using a solvent; a step of removing the solvent; and a step of removing the compound having the asymmetric structure of the molecular weight of 1,000 or less by washing.

Many organic compounds have enantiomeric isomers which have completely the same physical and chemical properties but differ in physiological activity. This is attributable to the following. In most cases, proteins or glucides per se constituting a living being are composed of only one of the enantiomeric isomers, and for this reason, a difference arising in the manner of acting on the other enantiomeric isomer results in a difference in physiological activity. In particular, in many cases, there are significant differences in medical properties and toxicity between the enantiomeric isomers of the pharmaceuticals, and this problem is recognized as a significant problem in the field of pharmaceuticals. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan prescribes in the Guideline for the Production of Medicines that "in the case where the drug is a racemi form, it is desirable that studies on the dynamic behaviors of absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion be made on each enantiomeric isomer".
Since the enantiomeric isomers have completely the same physical and chemical properties, for example, the physical properties such as a boiling point, a melting point or a solubility, as described above, they cannot be analyzed by ordinary separation means. For this reason, extensive investigations have been made on techniques for analyzing a wide variety of enantiomeric isomers in a simple manner and with a high precision. As a result, an optical resolution method by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), in particular, an optical resolution method using an enantiomeric isomer separation column for HPLC has been developed as an analyzing method that meets those requirements. The enantiomeric isomer separation column defined herein uses an asymmetry identifying agent itself or a chiral immobilizing phase having the asymmetry identifying agent supported on a suitable carrier.
As examples of the chiral immobilizing phase, optically active poly(triphenylmethyl methacrylate) (cf., JP-A 57-150432), cellulose and amylose derivatives (cf., JP-A 60-40952, JP-A 60-108751, JP-A 60-142930 and JP-A 63-178101), ovomucoid, which is a protein (JP-A 63-307829), and the like have been developed. It is known that, of the many chiral immobilizing phases for HPLC, a column for enantiomeric isomer separation having the cellulose or amylose derivatives supported on silica gel has a high asymmetry identification ability for a very wide variety of compounds (for example, Okamoto et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 1998, 37, 1020).
In the case of aiming at analyses such as an optical purity measurement, it has been desired that as many unidentified enantiomeric isomer compounds as possible can be separated by as few kinds as possible of enantiomeric isomer separation columns. As a result, the above-mentioned column for enantiomeric isomer separation having the cellulose or amylose derivatives supported on the silica gel has been accepted as practical separation media.
In recent years, studies on liquid preparative chromatography for optically active substances on an industrial scale in a combination of a chiral immobilizing phase for HPLC and a simulated moving bed method have been developed (Phrarm. Tech. Japan, 12, 43(1996). In such studies, not only analysis, but also preparative separation, namely, chromatographic separation as a production means, are noted.
For that purpose, in order to not only merely perform base line separation, but to improve the productivity of the preparative chromatography and decrease the production cost, it has been demanded to develop a chiral immobilizing phase that enables the further separation of a target compound for the limited, specified preparative separation, that is, has a value of separation coefficient α as high as possible.
On the other hand, a molecular imprinting method is known as a method of specifically identifying the specific target compound. The most popular method in general production methods for a molecular template is that the target compound (guest) and a monomer for performing non-conjugated-bond-type interaction therewith are reacted in a test tube using a crosslinking agent or the like for polymerization, thereby obtaining a polymer compound (host). Further, a method of obtaining a host by mixing the guest and a polymer and subjecting the polymer to a crosslinking reaction in an interaction state is known (for example, G. Wulff et al., Angew. Chem., 1972, 84, 364).
A filler for chromatography obtained by such molecular imprinting has a high identification ability for a guest. However, it is known that such a filler is extremely high in its degree of adsorption for a guest, and as a result, the corresponding elution peak shows a widely extended form. This is not satisfactory in terms of chromatography efficiency. Further, the polymer compound obtained by the molecular imprinting method cannot include a dissolution operation that may decompose a prepared template. For this reason, the polymer compound is prepared into the filler for chromatography by pulverization processing or the like. However, an operation such as classification is complicated, and a particle size is not uniform, resulting in a decrease in chromatography efficiency. For the above reason, the filler for chromatography obtained by the technique using the molecular imprinting method has not been yet put into practical use.
A purpose of the present invention is to provide a process for producing a novel separating agent for separating enantiomeric isomers to obtain a separating agent for separating enantiomeric isomers, which is greatly improved in separation efficiency for objective compounds for separation.
Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a separating agent for separating enantiomeric isomers, which has a greatly improved separation performance for a compound to be separated and can separate compounds that could not conventionally be separated.
Still another purpose of the present invention is to provide an immobilizing phase for chromatography or an immobilizing phase for continuous liquid preparative chromatography, using the separating agent for separating enantiomeric isomers, and a separation method for enantiomeric isomers using the separating agent for separating enantiomeric isomers.

Separation agent for separating optical isomer and method for preparation thereof


An electronic apparatus hibernation recovery setting method for an electronic apparatus is provided. The method includes: assigning different priorities to multiple tasks in process before the electronic apparatus enters a hibernation state; storing multiple image files of the tasks; and first reading and loading the image file for the task having a highest priority when the electronic apparatus recovers from the hibernation state.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to an electronic apparatus hibernation recovery setting method and an electronic apparatus having a hibernation state and a hibernation recovery mechanism, and more particularly, to an electronic apparatus hibernation recovery setting method and an electronic apparatus having a hibernation state and a hibernation recovery mechanism that assign different priorities for different tasks and read image files according to the priorities.
2. Description of the Related Art
In addition to a normal power-on/off procedure, an electronic apparatus is generally provided with a hibernation mechanism for prompting the electronic apparatus to enter a suspend-to-disk state, also commonly referred to as a hibernation state. Under the hibernation state, a hibernation image file recording all tasks in process on the electronic apparatus is generated and stored for all components of the electronic apparatus before entering the hibernation state. When recovering from the hibernation state, the hibernation image file is read and loaded, and the electronic apparatus is restored to a state prior to entering the hibernation state according to the hibernation image file.
The storable hibernation image file is limited to a certain size. In some prior art, a part of memory pages in the hibernation image file is relocated to swap space in a hard drive through a predetermined algorithm and stored therein. After completing the recovery from the hibernation state, the relocated memory pages are loaded by a habitual page fault process of a virtual memory to solve the issue of insufficient memory. Although the above conventional solution effectively overcomes the issue of insufficient memory, inevitable lag occurring in a normal operation period is resulted from the page default process for loading the memory pages in the hard drive. In designs of certain hibernation mechanisms, data of a colossal amount of memory pages need to be placed into swap space, which further leads to a greater lag. For example, in a Software Suspend algorithm of a conventional hibernation technique, a total number of at least one-half of the memory pages need to be placed into swap space.
In another conventional hibernation technique, e.g., TuxOnIce, the number of memory pages placed into swap space is reduced to below one-half. However, an electronic apparatus exits a hibernation state and starts executing all tasks only when a hibernation image file corresponding to all the tasks is altogether read and completely loaded, such that a time required for recovering from the hibernation state may be extended. Such occurrence is aggravated as the number of tasks in process becomes larger. Consequently, as all tasks have different priorities and tasks with higher priorities can only be operated after recovering and executing all the tasks, the hibernation recovery of an electronic apparatus utilizing the above hibernation mechanism is quite inefficient.

Electronic apparatus hibernation recovery setting method and electronic apparatus having hibernation state and hibernation recovery mechanism


A liquid ejection head includes a nozzle orifice communicated with a pressure chamber, and a pressure generating element. A drive signal generator generates a drive signal containing, within one cycle thereof, a first drive subsignal containing first drive pulses driving the pressure generating element so as to eject the liquid, and a second drive pulse driving the pressure generating element so as not to eject the liquid, and at least one second drive subsignal containing the first drive pulses without containing the second drive pulse. A pulse supplier selectively supplies at least one of the first drive pulses and the second drive pulse to the pressure generating element, in accordance with an amount of the liquid to be ejected. Each of the first drive subsignal and the second drive subsignal is associated with a minimum area subjected to the liquid ejection.

The present invention relates to a liquid ejection apparatus for ejecting liquid as liquid drops from nozzle orifices and a method of controlling such an apparatus. More particularly, the invention relates to a liquid ejection apparatus capable of preventing the viscosity of the liquid from increasing by finely vibrating the meniscus of liquid in the nozzle orifice.
An image recording apparatus such as a printer, plotter, or the like is available as one kind of liquid ejection apparatus capable of ejecting liquid in the state of liquid drops. In this image recording apparatus, liquid ink is ejected from an ejection head and made to land on a recording medium such as paper. Thus, characters and images are recorded. Furthermore, recently, by making use of the characteristics permitting an extremely small amount of liquid to land on the medium accurately, application to various apparatus has been discussed. For example, display fabrication equipment for fabricating color filters such as for liquid crystal displays, electrode fabrication equipment for forming electrodes such as organic electroluminescent displays and FEDs (field emission displays), and chip fabrication equipment for fabricating biochips (biochemical devices) have been proposed.
In this kind of liquid ejection apparatus, the ejected liquid is exposed at the nozzle orifices and forms a meniscus (free surface of liquid). Through this meniscus, evaporation of the solvent component occurs, and the viscosity of the liquid may increase in the vicinities of the nozzle orifices. In an attempt to prevent this viscosity increase, the meniscus is vibrated finely to such an extent that liquid drops are not be ejected and the liquid is stirred. Such a vibrating operation is performed during the period in which liquid drops can be ejected. For example, as is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 10-81013A, a vibrating pulse is contained in a signal for driving a pressure generating element, and the vibrating operation is performed by selectively supplying the vibrating pulse to the pressure generating element.
In this case, a drive signal generator generates a series of drive signal in response to reception of a trigger signal. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, in an ink jet printer that is one kind of liquid ejection apparatus, a series of drive signal COM is generated over a signal generation period T when a trigger signal PTS is received, in order to accurately define the landing positions of liquid drops. Specifically, the aforementioned trigger signal is created by multiplying (increasing the frequency several-fold) the output from a linear encoder indicative of the carriage position. As a consequence, the deviation between the scan position of the recording head and the signal generation timing can be reduced as less as possible. The accuracy of the landing positions can be accordingly enhanced. Furthermore, in the above printer, a trigger signal PTS is generated every time when the printing for a 1-dot area (pixel) is performed.
Incidentally, this kind of liquid ejection apparatus is required of high-frequency ejection of liquid drops since the processing speed can be increased and the landing density can be improved. For example, in an ink jet printer, if the ejection frequency of ink drops can be increased, the scanning speed of the recording head can be increased accordingly, while maintaining the image resolution (quality). In other words, the image resolution can be enhanced while maintaining the scanning speed of the recording head unchanged.
In order to attain high-frequency ejection of liquid drops, it is necessary to shorten the interval at which ejection pulses are generated regarding the ejection pulses for ejecting the liquid drops. However, the above-described vibrating pulse is used only to vibrate the meniscus and does not involve ejection of the liquid drops. Therefore, in the configuration where a vibrating pulse is contained within each ejection period, a time for the vibrating pulse is necessary. Accordingly, the ejection interval of the liquid drops is prolonged by an amount corresponding to the vibrating pulse. This creates an impediment to high-frequency ejection of liquid drops.
Furthermore, the degree of necessity of the vibrating operation varies according to the kind of the ejected liquid. That is, some liquids need frequent vibration in non-ejection periods, while others do not. Therefore, performing the operation impartially regardless of the kind of liquid is not efficient.

Liquid ejection apparatus and method of controlling the same


An injection device including a drive unit, a delivery unit, a dosing unit, a trigger for triggering an injection, a first coupling mechanism between the drive unit and the delivery unit, and a second coupling mechanism between the dosing unit and the drive unit, wherein the drive unit is tensioned by a rotation of the dosing unit and when the drive unit is tensioned the first coupling mechanism is disengaged and the second coupling mechanism is engaged, and wherein when an injection is triggered first the first coupling mechanism is engaged and then the second coupling mechanism is disengaged. In some embodiments, the device may include a third coupling mechanism which only releases the delivery unit after the engagement and disengagement which follow a triggering.

The present invention relates to devices for administering, injecting, delivering, infusing or dispensing a substance, and to methods of making and using such devices. More particularly, it relates to such a device for delivering a fluid product, wherein the device can be developed as an injection device for the injection of an adjustable dose of the product and can take the form of an injection pen, i.e. a compact injection device in pen-like form.
A large number of injection devices are known from the prior art for the dosed administering of medicaments or therapeutic agents such as insulin, growth hormones or osteoporosis drugs, which must be administered regularly. Such devices are on one hand intended to reliably and precisely deliver a dose which is able to be pre-set. On the other hand, they are intended to be user-friendly to a high degree. This applies all the more because they are generally operated by a person for self-administration.
The medicament can be housed in an exchangeable carpule (which also may be thought of and/or referred to as an ampoule, receptacle, container or reservoir), which is able to be inserted into a carpule holder. The latter can then be associated with or fastened to a housing of the injection device, e.g. by a screw connection or a bayonet connection. For distribution, a product stopper or piston in the carpule is pushed forward (toward the needle associated with the injection device) by a delivery arrangement with a delivery element in the form of a piston rod.
Compact, pen-shaped administering devices are known, in which the distribution takes place automatically after a first triggering (e.g. "power-assisted pens"). The dose in such devices is generally pre-set by a rotation of a dosing button. A drive is present in the device, e.g. a spring drive, which is tensioned on setting of the dose. The device is triggered by pressing a triggering arrangement, which can be identical to the dosing button. In so doing, the drive generates a drive movement, e.g. in the form of a rotary movement, which is converted into an advancing movement of the piston rod. In the case of a drive by a rotary movement, the piston rod may be constructed as a threaded rod on which a drive nut runs.
Injection pens are disclosed in DE-A 10 2004 063 644. These comprise a housing with a reservoir for the product and a delivery arrangement for delivering the product. The delivery arrangement is able to be driven by a drive arrangement. In one embodiment, the drive arrangement has a torsion spring and a coupling input member which is able to be driven rotatably thereby, which is able to be coupled with a coupling output member of the delivery arrangement. A triggering element, which at the same time also serves as a dosing member, is connected with the drive arrangement so that the drive arrangement is tensioned by a rotation of the triggering element. With this tensioning movement, the coupling which is formed by the coupling input member and the coupling output member is uncoupled, i.e. the tensioning movement is only transferred to the drive arrangement, but not to the delivery arrangement. On tensioning, the drive arrangement is prevented from turning back relative to the housing by a ratchet connection with an element which is fixed to the housing. By axial pressing in of the triggering element, firstly the connection between the triggering element and the drive arrangement is released, so that the triggering element can idle. Then the coupling is coupled and a connection is thus produced between the drive arrangement and the delivery arrangement. Finally, the ratchet connection between the drive arrangement and the housing is released, so that the drive arrangement can now carry out a rotation and can thereby drive the delivery arrangement.
A disadvantage in the preceding arrangement is that when the triggering element is not pressed in completely, only the connection between the triggering element and the drive arrangement is released, without, however, an administering being triggered. This is an undefined operating state. In this state, the user can turn the triggering element, which in fact at the same time also serves as dosing member, without this having any influence on the administering. Such an undefined state can lead to operating errors; such a state is therefore to be avoided. Furthermore, three operations or operational phases are necessary to trigger an administering: (a) releasing of the triggering and dosing element; (b) coupling of the coupling for the connecting of drive arrangement and delivery arrangement; and (c) releasing of the ratchet connection between drive arrangement and housing. None of these phases can be omitted without destroying the functionality of the device. In actual terms, even further connections are produced and released in the known injection device. Accordingly, this requires a relatively complicated structure.

Injection device comprising several coupling mechanisms


A method for handling service requests in a data processing system is disclosed. In response to a service request, a priority of the service request is determined by mapping a context of the service request to a service level agreement (SLA). SLA-aware and timeout-conscious and preemptive and replayable lock manager is designed to account for different operational goals and different importance to satisfy various SLAs. An average processing time of the service request is then calculated based on statistical results. The service request will be allowed to process if the determined average processing time meets historical guarantee situations.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to data processing systems in general and in particular to a method and apparatus for handling service requests in data processing systems. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for handling service requests in a data processing system by enabling clients differentiations while satisfying different service level agreements.
2. Description of Related Art
A clustered server system typically receives millions of requests coming from multiple clients concurrently. Each client may have different operational goals and guarantee service levels based on its service level agreement (SLA). Because requests from one client may also have different levels of importance, each request needs to be handled differently according to the SLA requirements of the corresponding client.
Before requests reach a clustered server system, they are initially handled by routers, such as on-demand routers (ODRs). An ODR classifies requests into service groups having different operational goals and requirements, such as timeout value, response time, importance, thresholds, etc. After classifying incoming requests into several service groups with different operational goals and requirements, the ODR routes the requests accordingly.
With concurrent processing being used in clustered server systems, data lock mechanisms must be utilized to ensure data integrity. However, all prior art lock mechanisms cannot account for classification, cannot enforce response time, and cannot be timeout conscious to rearrange waiting queue. Thus, the above-mentioned ODR approach for meeting different operational goals sometimes does not work because it cannot resolve different data tier and cache tier problems.
Quite often, data tier and cache tier are the biggest limitation for clients to meet their own operational goals. When different classes of users are trying to access the same data, and since data tier is fixed and cannot be shrunk and expanded, the same data can be locked by a low-class request while a high-class request has to wait for a lock to be released by the low-class request.
Since a low-class request may hold a lock such that a high-class request cannot access data in a server, a transactional local or remote cache, a databases, etc., an SLA may be violated due to certain operational requirements not being met. For example, if request1 and request2 are received at about the same time, with request1 being a low-class request (e.g., importance=7, response time=5 minutes, timeout=30 minutes, threshold=90%, SLA=50% 3 minutes) and request2 being a high-class request (e.g., importance=1, response time=2 seconds, timeout=5 seconds, SLA=100% 1.5 seconds); and if request1, which needs 10 seconds to complete, is received 0.05 seconds earlier than request2, then request1 will hold locks in a database server and a server cache, and request2 has to wait for the locks to be released by request1. If timeout occurs before request2 can get the locks, the condition of the SLA for request2 is violated.
Consequently, it would be desirable to provide an improved method and apparatus for handling service requests in a data processing system; especially for concurrent data accesses by different kinds of clients with different SLAs.

Method and apparatus for handling service requests in a data processing system

International Business Machines Corporation


The present invention relates to a method for the transmission of data in a multi-carrier system, provided with a frequency band, the carrier frequencies of which are distributed in a sub-carrier band, dividing the frequency band. On the transmission side, dependent on current transmission properties, an adaptive pre-emphasis of the transmission signal is carried out for a part of the carrier frequencies in the sub-carrier band. The transmitter thus has the capacity to determine current transmission properties as well as adaptive pre-emphasis of a part of the carrier frequencies in the sub-carrier band of the transmission signal.

In Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing OFDM, which is used particularly in WLAN radio networks, such as those functioning in accordance with the IEEE 802.11 Standard as well as for HiperLAN, a method is used in which simultaneously a number of carrier frequencies, also simply referred to as carriers, are employed for the transmission of a digital signal. However, these carrier frequencies are only modulated with a reduced transmission rate in relation to the overall transmission rate available (across all carriers).
For this purpose, the frequency band available for OFDM is subdivided into a number of (sub)carrier bands. The carrier frequency spacing is governed by the transmission rates.
An OFDMA-based access scenario in a system with a number of users (Multiple User system) is based on the approach of assigning each of the users their own OFDM sub-carrier.
In a system of this type and under real transmission conditions crosstalk effects between the carriers arise, also referred to as ICI (Inter-Channel Interferences).
ICI is produced in this case both as a result of a doppler shift arising from the movement of mobile terminals and also as a result of an oscillator phase noise.
In an OFDM system, the so-called "downlink," which in mobile communications generally identifies communication going from a base station to a mobile station, both the doppler shift as well as the part of the oscillator phase noise generally corrected/compensated in the receiver, which is called Common Phase Error (CPE), is the same for all carrier frequencies of the sub-carrier bands, so that for this communication direction no access problem triggered by the OFDMA principle arises.
A system and a method is known here from US 2002/0105901 A1 in which, by forming the signal waves, a manipulation of the spectrum of an OFDM signal is achieved.
From Staamoulis et al: "Space-time block codes OFDMA with linear preceding for multirate services," IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing, January 2002, a system is known which eliminates a multi-user interference in an OFDMA system.
From EP 0 938 208 an OFDMA/TDMA system is known with a number of users, in which sub-carriers in edge areas of a sub-carrier band are not modulated, in order to eliminate interference on adjoining frequency slots.
In the "uplink," a term generally used in mobile communication to designate the communication going in the opposite direction, from a mobile station to a base station, the problem arises of the doppler shifts not being constant over all sub-carriers as a result of the different relative speeds of the mobile subscribers. In addition, the phase noise or the correctable part of the phase noise for this communication direction is uncorrelated as a rule since it is predominantly generated by the unsynchronized oscillators of the individual users.
The Inter Channel Interference produced by the doppler shift as well as the phase noise with his/her communication direction represents, in an OFDMA-based uplink a limitation of the transmission characteristics which can go as far as resulting in a complete failure of the system.
Accordingly, the present invention seeks to specify a method as well as an arrangement which make possible an essentially interference-free OFDMA access in the uplink.

Method and transmission device for transmission of data in a multi-carrier system


An electronic control unit includes a processor performing a process necessary for a charging control based on a pilot signal, an input circuit disposed in a stage preceding an input port of the processor, and a pseudo-signal supply circuit supplying a pseudo-pilot signal to a pilot signal line under the control of the processor, and the processor performs a malfunction diagnosis for the input circuit based on a signal state of the input port when controlling the pseudo-signal supply circuit to supply the pseudo-pilot signal to the pilot signal line.

Field of the Invention
In recent years, vehicles (hereinafter, collectively referred to as plug-in vehicles) such as electric cars or plug-in hybrid cars that can be charged by the use of an external power supply have been increasingly put to practical use. A dedicated charging cable having a control unit called a CCID (Charge Circuit Interrupt Device) is used to connect a plug-in vehicle to an external power supply.
The standard on an interface between the charging cable and the plug-in vehicle is defined by the "SAE (Electric Vehicle Conductive Charge Coupler) standard" of the U.S. or the "General Requirements for Electric Vehicle Conductive Charging System (the Japanese Electric Vehicle Standard)" of Japan. The charging sequence of a plug-in vehicle defined in the standard is substantially as follows.
First, a CCID of a charging cable transmits a control pilot signal (hereinafter, abbreviated as a pilot signal) to a charging-control ECU (Electronic Control Unit) mounted on a plug-in vehicle and determines that the charging cable is connected to the plug-in vehicle when the voltage of the pilot signal is changed from an initial value V1 (for example, 12 V) to V2 (for example, 9 V).
Then, the CCID of the charging cable informs the ECU of the plug-in vehicle of the rated current of a power supply facility by transmitting a pilot signal with a duty ratio corresponding to the rated current of the power supply facility (including an external power supply and a charging cable).
Subsequently, the ECU of the plug-in vehicle informs the CCID of the charging cable of completion of the preparation for charging by changing the voltage of the pilot signal from V2 to V3 (for example, 6 V).
Then, when detecting that the voltage of the pilot signal has changed from V2 to V3, the CCID of the charging cable determines that the preparation for charging of the plug-in vehicle side is completed, and turns on a relay used to supply the power of the external power supply to the plug-in vehicle (that is, starts the supply of power).
In this way, the pilot signal is a signal essential for controlling the charging of the plug-in vehicle and it is very important to detect abnormality of the pilot signal. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2009-71989 discloses a technique of detecting a disconnection of a control line used for transmission of a pilot signal in a state where a plug-in vehicle is connected to an external power supply via a charging cable.
Description of the Related Art
As described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2009-71989, the pilot signal is input to a processor such as a CPU via an input circuit (such as an input buffer) in an ECU of the plug-in vehicle. When the input circuit is out of order, the processor of the ECU is not started up or an appropriate charging control is not performed. Accordingly, a circuit for diagnosing the malfunction of the input circuit is necessary, but such a circuit is not disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2009-71989.
The invention is made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances and an object thereof is to provide an electronic control unit that can diagnose a malfunction of an input circuit disposed in a stage preceding a processor performing a process necessary for a charging control based on a pilot signal.


A method and system provide an approach to support the aggregation of multiple broadband services including voice, high speed data, video and image through the transmission of packets and cells simultaneously over a passive optical network. The method of communication between a central terminal and plural remote terminals over a passive optical network includes transmitting downstream data from the central terminal to the plural remote terminals in successive downstream frames over a downstream network portion and transmitting upstream data from the plural remote terminals to the central terminal in respective upstream timeslots over an upstream network portion, the upstream timeslots forming successive upstream frames. The downstream data includes downstream packet data and downstream ATM cell data and the upstream data including upstream packet data and upstream ATM cell data. The upstream data can be transmitted from at least one of the plural remote terminals in multiple upstream timeslots which can be non-contiguous.

A well-known optical fiber communications network is the passive optical network. Such networks typically use time division multiplexing from a central terminal controller to several remote customer terminals and time division multiple access from the customer terminals to the central terminal controller over one or two fibers. Known systems were designed to support circuit-based services including telephony, low speed data, and residential video. Passive optical networks have been used in limited deployments mainly due to the relatively high cost of components, system complexity and high price points for residential customer services.
Emerging broadband service providers seek to build network infrastructure to deliver multiple broadband services to business customers. Whereas traditional networks have been circuit-based, new network infrastructures are largely based on Internet Protocol (IP) packet-based or Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) cell-based technologies. The ITU-T Recommendation G.983.1 xe2x80x9cBroadband Optical Access System Based On Passive Optical Networks (PON)xe2x80x9d discloses ATM cell-based PONs.
There is a need for a way to provide both packet-based and cell-based broadband services over a low cost, high bandwidth access network.
The present method and system provide an approach to support the aggregation of multiple broadband services including voice, high speed data, video and image through the transmission of packets and cells simultaneously over a PON.
Accordingly, a method of communication between a central terminal and plural remote terminals over a passive optical network having a downstream portion and an upstream portion includes transmitting downstream data from the central terminal to the plural remote terminals in successive downstream frames over the downstream network portion and transmitting upstream data from the plural remote terminals to the central terminal in respective upstream timeslots over the upstream network portion, the upstream timeslots forming successive upstream frames. The downstream data includes downstream packet data and downstream ATM cell data and the upstream data includes upstream packet data and upstream ATM cell data. The upstream data can be transmitted from at least one of the plural remote terminals in multiple upstream timeslots which can be non-contiguous.
According to the present approach, a communication system includes a shared medium, e.g., a passive optical network, having a downstream portion and an upstream portion, a central terminal and a plurality of remote terminals coupled to the shared medium for communicating with the central terminal. The central terminal transmits downstream data to the plural remote terminals in successive downstream frames over the downstream shared medium portion, the downstream data including downstream packet data and ATM cell data. The plural remote terminals transmit upstream data to the central terminal in respective upstream timeslots over the upstream shared medium portion, the upstream timeslots forming successive upstream TDMA frames, the upstream data including upstream packet data and ATM cell data.
Each downstream frame comprises a first number of downstream subframes each of which includes a second number of downstream timeslots. Each downstream timeslot has one of a plurality of downstream formats which include a downstream packet format for carrying downstream packet data and a downstream cell format for carrying downstream ATM cell data. The downstream subframe further includes a downstream communication channel for communicating downstream control information (e.g., provisioning information) to the remote terminals.
The downstream packet format for carrying downstream packet data includes a downstream packet header and a downstream packet payload for carrying a portion or all of a single downstream packet. The downstream packet header includes a first field identifying at least one of the plural remote terminals to receive the downstream packet data, a second field identifying a port of the at least one remote terminal identified in the first field to terminate the downstream packet data and a third field indicating whether the corresponding downstream packet payload includes an end of packet.
The downstream cell format for carrying downstream ATM cell data includes a downstream cell header and a downstream cell payload. The downstream cell header includes a first field identifying at least one of the remote terminals to receive the downstream ATM cell data. The downstream cell payload includes an ATM cell header having a first field identifying a port of the at least one remote terminal identified in the downstream cell header to terminate the downstream ATM cell data.
Each upstream timeslot includes an upstream header and an upstream payload. The upstream header includes a first field for a guard time, a second field comprising an upstream timeslot sync pattern for synchronizing phase alignment of the upstream data received at the central terminal, a third field comprising an upstream timeslot start delimiter for byte alignment of the upstream data received at the central terminal and a fourth field comprising an upstream communication channel for communicating upstream control information to the central terminal from the respective remote terminal.
Each upstream timeslot has one of a plurality of upstream formats which include an upstream packet format for carrying upstream packet data and an upstream cell format for carrying upstream ATM cell data.
The upstream packet format for carrying upstream packet data includes an upstream packet header and an upstream packet payload; the upstream packet header including a first field identifying a next packet start byte in the upstream packet payload and a second field indicating length of the upstream packet payload. The upstream packet payload includes at least a portion of a packet and can include multiple packets.
The upstream cell format for carrying upstream ATM cell data includes an upstream cell header and an upstream cell payload; the upstream cell header including a first field identifying a next ATM cell start byte in the upstream cell payload and a second field indicating length of the upstream cell payload. The upstream cell payload includes at least a portion of an ATM cell and can include multiple ATM cells.

Method and system for packet transmission over passive optical network


A coil assembly (11) comprising two coil sections (13a and 13b). Each of the sections (13) consists of a combinat of a spiral coil (15) having a variable coil pitch arranged in a saddle shape configuration. The saddle shape has a central port (17) and a pair of outer coextending portions (19). The coil sections (13) are located opposite each other with the central p(17) of the respective sections disposed in parallel spaced apart relationship and the corresponding coextending portions (19) of respective sections disposed in coplanar alignment with each other so that the sections combine to circumscribe a scanned volume within which the target substance is to be disposed.

The proceeding discussion of the background art is intended to facilitate an understanding of the present invention only. It should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to was part of the common general knowledge in Australia as at the priority date of the application.
The probe coil of a pulsed NQR detector having a radio frequency (RF) transmitter and an RF receiver is a device providing interaction between the radio frequency (RF) field of the RF transmitter and a target substance irradiated by the RF field, as well as between the RF field response from the target substance and the RF receiver of the NQR detector, pursuant to being irradiated by the RF field. This interaction is implemented as a rule by a coil that constitutes a part of the resonant circuit of the probe coil, which coil circumscribes a scanned volume that can be permeated by the RF field and which can receive an RF field responsive to a target substance irradiated by the RF field within the scanned volume.
The sensitivity of the NQR detector is determined to a large extent by the efficiency of this interaction, with the degree of homogeneity of the magnetic component of the RF field within the scanned volume being designated as its main characteristic. The homogeneity of the magnetic component of an RF field is mathematically described by the gradient of the function of the magnetic component.
The detection of substances in large volumes places special requirements on the sensitivity of the NQR detector and, consequently, on the homogeneity of the RF field inside the volume circumscribed by the coil.
For example, when searching for substances (such as explosives or narcotics) inside a package or luggage item, the amount of the substance to be detected will usually occupy a relatively insignificant volume, located somewhere within the item to be scanned. The natural requirement therefore is for the response from the substance to be independent of the position of the substance within the volume circumscribed by the coil.
When using a multi-pulse sequence, such as that described in our co-pending International Patent Application PCT/AU00/01214, the level of the registered signal depends on the average value of the amplitude of the magnetic component of the RF field within the period of the sequence, determined at the location of the sample as described in the paper by S S Kim, J R P Jayacody and R A Marino, "Experimental investigations of the Strong Off-resonant Comb (SORC) pulse sequence in NQR", Z Naturforsch. 47a 415–420 (1992). Therefore, the requirement stated above for the response of the substance to be independent of the position of the substance within the scanned volume is associated with the need for a homogeneous RF field in the total volume circumscribed by the coil.
To create a homogeneous RF field at the substance location, U.S. Pat. No. 5,168,224 (Maruizumi et al) suggests the use of a paired NQR detector coil arrangement consisting of two flat identical spirals placed in parallel spaced apart relationship on the same axis, with the target substance placed in the space between them. Such a coil arrangement was studied in detail within the article by Rudakov et al, "A System of Coils for Detecting Signals of Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance", Instrument and Experimental Techniques 41 398–400 (1998). A disadvantage of this system of coils is the low homogeneity of the distribution of the RF field along the radius of the spiral, with especially strong variations observed near the surfaces of each of the spirals.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,457,385 (Sydney and Shaw) two arrays of parallel spaced apart coils are described, the coils being arranged into sets of opposed coil pairs with one coil of a set disposed in one array and the other coil of the same set disposed in the other array, opposite to each other. In addition to simple single annular coil arrangements, it is suggested to use a more complex coil arrangement for one of the coils to comprise a pair of square and flat spirally wound coils, electrically connected in parallel, and disposed in parallel juxtaposed relationship, instead of a single angular coil arrangement. Thus the resultant coil consists of two windings etched onto opposite sides of an insulating board each winding being in the shape of a flat band of constant width and being radially displaced to each other so that one winding is juxtaposed between the gap of the other winding. The width of the band and the gaps between the turns of the band are equal so that the resultant plane of the coil is continuously and alternately covered by the windings, except for a central rectangular region that is not occupied by either of the coils. The distance between the parallel planes of the windings, is provided by the thickness of the insulating board, and is so small that it can be assumed to be zero when studying the RF fields generated by the coil. The radial displacement of the turns of each winding corresponds to the width of the band, which serves to exclude variations in the RF field amplitude near to the coil windings. However, both windings are situated inside a region forming an annular belt, which circumscribes the central rectangular region that is devoid of coil windings. The disadvantage of such a system of coils is the fact that inside the volume circumscribed by this system, particularly near the surface of the spiral coils, the distribution of the RF field depends on the coordinates of the points, within which the amplitude of the RF field is determined in space. When moving from the external periphery of the coil to its centre close to its surface, the amplitude of the RF field first increases over the coil windings in the annular belt, and then drops sharply over the central rectangular region. Another disadvantage of this system is the necessity to use two windings for each of the spirals to exclude variations of the RF field amplitude near the turns of the coil in the annular belt.
The disadvantage of the coils suggested in patents U.S. Pat. No. 5,168,224 (Maruizumi et al) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,457,385 is that to create a sufficiently homogeneous RF field inside the scanned object, the geometrical dimensions of the coils must considerably exceed the geometrical dimensions of the scanned object. The use of such coils as compared with coils that have dimensions similar to the scanned objects, results in an increase in the RF power of the NQR spectrometer necessary to achieve the required RF field intensity, and results in a decreased filling factor of the coil and therefore a reduced sensitivity (to the NQR response).

Probe coil for detecting NQR-responsive materials in large volumes


There is presented a system 10,100 for sorting microscopic objects 76, 78, 80, where the system comprises a fluid channel 66 with an inlet 68 and an outlet 70, where the fluid channel is arranged for allowing the fluid flow to be laminar. The system furthermore comprises a detection system 52 which enables detecting microscopic objects in the fluid channel and furthermore enables determining their position. The system furthermore comprises a controller 67, such as a computer, which receives the positions and accordingly controls a source of light beams so as to “shoot” light beams towards selected microscopic objects so as to “push” them into a new position. The system thereby enables sorting the selected microscopic objects. In more specific embodiments, the detection system furthermore assigns different categories to different microscopic objects, so as to enable sorting based on multiple categories.

For many applications it would be advantageous to be able to sort microscopic objects in a time-efficient manner. As an example, sorting of cells so as to isolate Circulating Tumour Cells (CTCs), is mentioned.
The reference WO 2006/078759 A2 describes using a method and apparatus for selecting a specific fraction from a heterogeneous fluid-borne sample using optical gradient forces in a microfluidic or fluidic system are presented. Samples may range in size from a few nanometers to at least tens of micrometers, may be dispersed in any fluid medium, and may be sorted on the basis of size, shape, optical characteristics, charge, and other physical properties. The selection process involves passive transport through optical intensity field driven by flowing fluid, and so offers several advantages over competing techniques. These include continuous rather than batch-mode operation, continuous and dynamic tunability, operation over a wide range of samples, compactness, and low cost.
It would be advantageous to provide a system which is time-efficient.
Hence, an improved system would be advantageous, and in particular a more time-efficient and/or reliable system would be advantageous.

System for sorting microscopic objects using electromagnetic radiation


The present invention relates to the treatment of keloid and hypertrophic scars by covering the scar with a gas-or gel-filled cushion made of smooth or textured silicone sheeting. It relates particularly to a cushion in the form of a hollow bag filled with completely dry air, inert gel or an inert gas. The invention also relates to a silicone sheeting cushion enclosing silicone beads, polymeric pieces or bodies made of polyfluoroethylene sheeting or a related polymer which produces a negative static charge or, preferably, a silicone sponge or hydrophobic gel, most preferably silicone gel.

Keloid and hypertrophic scars appear on the skin after injury or acne or spontaneously in the shape of a hard bump or swelling which usually causes much distress, both aesthetic and functional, besides pain, it causes both itching and burning sensations and can become a lifelong problem unless medically treated.
Silicone gel or occlusive sheeting is widely used at present for the treatment of hypertrophic and keloid scars without any scientific explanation as to its mode of action. See, Ahn, et al., Surgery, 106:781-787 (1989), Mercer N. S. G., Br J Plast Surg, 42:83-87, (1989); Perkins, et al., Burns, 9:201-204, (1982); Quinn K. J., Burns, 13 Suppl!S33-S40, (1987); Quinn, et al., Burns, 12:102-108, (1985); Sawada and Sone, Br J Plast Surg, 43:683-688, (1990); and Ohmori, S., Aesth. Plast Surg 12:95-99, (1988). With this treatment, softening and flattening of the scar was experienced after from 7 to 12 months of continuous covering of the scar. Professor B. Hirshowitz and other researchers recently noted that rubbing contact with silicone sheeting creates a static electric field which, they believe, acts on the scar, prompting its reversal to normal tissue. See, Hirshowitz, et al., Eur J Plast Surg., 16:5-9, 1993).
The skin and the dermis of hypertrophic and keloid scars are histologically and chemically different from that of intact skin. In the epidermis of these scars the keratin layer is thin or even absent, while in intact skin keratin forms an insulating layer. Paucity of this layer reduces its electrical resistance, and it appears that an electrical charge causes polarization of the ions within the scar and thereby the internal components of the interstitium. The negative ions on the silicone repel circulating negatively charged components in the scar tissue and attract positively charged components. It is also thought that the electrical field may reduce the concentration of mast cells which appear in those scars during proliferation. In short, it is postulated that treatment of this type of scar by tightly covering it with a layer of a soft sheet of silicone causes softening of the keloid matter by reducing the number of mast cells, by reducing the blood flow and by softening the scar. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a non-invasive treatment for hypertrophic and keloid scars which would shorten the time of scar involution by many months.
It is reasoned that increasing of the static electric field (negative charge) applied to the scar could hasten the inhibitory healing process and shorten the time until involution of the scar occurs.

Gas or gel-filled silicone cushion for treatment of keloid and hypertrophic scars


A vector that allows for easy accomplishment of a variety of cloning, and use of the vector for measurement of the transcription-inducing activity of a promoter or production of a desired gene product in Corynebacterium.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to shuttle vectors for Corynebacterium and Escherichia coli, and promoter screening and gene product production using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Corynebacterium is a gram-positive bacterial strain widely used for the production of amino acids, such as glutamate, lysine, and threonine, and purine based nucleic acids, such as inosinic acid. Corynebacterium glutamicum, in particular, is easy to grow, tolerates high concentration cultivation (e.g., cultivation at concentrations up to approximately four times greater than concentrations tolerated by Escherichia coli (E. coli)), and has a stable genome that resists mutations. In addition, Corynebacterium glutamicum has several merits as an industrial strain, such as being a nonpathogenic strain, not forming spores, thus having no deleterious effects on the environment, and the like.
A cloning vector is a cyclic DNA which can be replicated independently from a main chromosome in bacteria. A cloning vector includes an origin of replication for maintenance of a plasmid form within the strain, a selectable marker gene for selection of strains having the cloning vector, and a multi-cloning site (MCS) for cloning an exogenous gene.
A shuttle vector generally includes a vector which is capable of being maintained in a plurality of strains. Corynebacterium-E. coli shuttle vectors include both an origin of replication of Corynebacterium and an origin of replication of E. coli. Use of shuttle vectors allows for easy introduction of a desired trait into a subject strain. For example, desired traits can be induced by cloning exogenous genes or mutation-inducing genes into a shuttle vector in E. coli, and then introducing the shuttle vector into Corynebacterium.
There is a need for shuttle vectors which are able to maintain and proliferate in both Corynebacterium and E. coli, and which allow for easy accomplishment of a variety of cloning by improving a multi-cloning site.


To improve a biodegradable plastic substrate by applying a coating, the invention provides a process for producing a composite material in which a biodegradable plastic substrate is provided, which is coated on at least one surface with at least one barrier layer, the barrier layer being deposited by chemical vapor deposition.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general terms to a process for applying a coating to a biodegradable plastic substrate, and specifically to a process for applying a coating of this type in which a three-dimensional body, in particular a hollow body, is used as a plastic substrate and at least one barrier layer is deposited on the surface of the plastic substrate, and also relates to a composite material produced using the process.
The invention also relates to a composite material comprising a three-dimensional biodegradable plastic substrate and at least one coating having at least one barrier layer which is applied by chemical vapor deposition.
2. Relevant Art
Biodegradable plastics are becoming increasingly important on account of the growing problems of disposing of in particular packaging waste. Biodegradable plastics can be broken down into their basic constituents by the combined action of heat, moisture and micro organisms. They do not represent critical problems when disposed of by land fill, combustion, composting and recycling.
The degradation generally forms carbon dioxide, water and biomass, which can be returned to the nutrient cycle for example via the compost.
Biodegradable plastics can be produced using a very wide range of technologies, both from renewable resources, i.e. from raw materials of animal or vegetable origin which regrow, and from fossil resources. The biodegradable property is a consequence of the chemical composition of the plastic and not of the origin of raw material.
Nowadays, the following groups of materials based on raw materials which regrow are among those available: starch and starch blend, polylactides (PLA), cellulose, cellulose acetate (CA), polyhydroxybutyrate/valerate (PHB/PHV), polyhydroxyalkanoates, cellulose film, viscose, animal and vegetable raw materials and residue materials, such as gelatin. Certain polyesters and copolyesters, polycaprolactone (PCL), certain polyesteramides, polyester urethanes and polyvinyl alcohol (PVAL) are known biodegradable plastics based on fossil raw materials.
Some biodegradable plastics, such as polyhydroxybutyrate/valerate, can be produced and enriched directly in micro organisms or in plants. Others are generated from natural raw materials; one example is polylactide, which is based on lactic acid building blocks.
Polylactides have long been known for medical applications. They are considered to have good technological chances of economic production as future mass-produced plastics. Polylactides can be prepared using all conventional plastics processing methods and can therefore be used for a very wide range of products. Examples include thermoformed packaging materials, foamed shaped bodies, film packaging materials, woven fabrics, nonwovens, wound coverings and stretch blow molded hollow bodies.
Polyhydroxybutyrate has also long been known from the medical sector. In particular the specific properties of compatibility and degradability even in the human body are of interest for its use in implants, stitches, stitching and bandaging material and pharmaceutical capsules.
Further biodegradable plastics are being developed in particular for foodstuff packaging, but also generally in sectors in which biodegradability constitutes an advantage in use, for example in agriculture and forestry and in horticulture, as well as wherever the plastic is highly mixed with organic waste, so that its separation and conventional plastic recycling are not suitable. One example is thermoplastic starch.
The use of pure thermoplastic starch as a material is prevented by its extremely strong hydrophilicity. Therefore, to produce a thermoplastic material based on starch, it is necessary to modify the starch in order to make the material resistant to water and less sensitive to moisture. One possible way of doing this is to produce polymer mixtures with a water-resistant polymer.
The processing and use properties of the biodegradable plastics are often improved by additives, such as for example plasticizers or lubricants. Fillers are used to satisfy both optical and economic requirements. Therefore, finished products are often composite materials comprising different components. However, if the biodegradability or combustibility is to be retained, this factor must always be borne in mind when selecting the processes and/or materials.
To make it possible to dispense with the use of polymer blends when producing biodegradable plastics with satisfactory use properties, it is advantageous to provide plastic substrates with a barrier coating, in order to ensure a reduction in the permeation of gases and liquids, and furthermore to protect the plastics material from chemical attacks or UV radiation.
German Patent Document DE 199 544 03 A1 describes a multilayer biodegradable film with improved barrier properties with respect to oxygen and water vapor and also a process for producing it and its use. The improvement to the barrier action is achieved by providing the biodegradable film with a layer of a biologically harmless nonpolymeric material. The coating is in this case preferably applied by evaporation coating in vacuo, with the evaporation coating medium being evaporated thermally or by electron beams. The evaporated material can be activated before it actually comes into contact with the film surface by generating a plasma discharge in the material in vapor form using microwave radiation which has been introduced.
In practice, however, it has been found that known coating processes, when they are used to apply barrier layers to biodegradable plastic substrates, result in a considerable deterioration in the material properties of the plastic substrate. On account of the relatively low glass transition temperature of the biodegradable plastics, which is generally below 80° C., for example in the case of polylactides is 55° C., the material is softened on account of the higher temperatures used during the coating operation. Known processes fail in particular when they are used to coat shaped plastic bodies, since the shaped bodies readily lose their shape on account of the softening which occurs during coating.

Production of a composite material having a biodegradable plastic substrate and at least one coating


A robot system, operable to perform a task, is integrated on a robot with a sensor, a control module, and a virtual world. The virtual world represents a generic continuum including a collection of information replicating the spatial and temporal properties of a number of articles and related circumstances in an environment of the robot system. As the virtual world provides a common space-time reference for all of the articles, including the robot system itself, the robot system may perform its task in an efficient and robust manner. For example, the robot may move about its environment without colliding with the other articles. Further, the virtual world may include predicted information about the articles, including an anticipated position or condition of the article at a particular time. In this way, the robot system may perform its task in a timely manner, since its operations can be synchronized with the other articles and an idle time may be reduced.

Conventional robot systems are often fixed in space, and may include various sensors and actuators designed to enable performance of a specific task or tasks. Conventional robot systems often receive instructions from a limited number of sources, such as, for example, a local processor or a non-local process control system. Although a conventional robot system may function in an environment that includes other automated systems, it may be unable to dynamically interact with those systems in a sufficiently efficient manner.
Mobile robots exist that move through a physical environment to accomplish a task. Such robots often include sensors, which, in addition to providing data for use by associated actuators in performing the task, allow the robot to detect physical phenomena in the environment, such as walls or other robots. In this way, the robot may avoid obstacles and/or locate items needed in performing the task.


The object of the present invention is to provide an abrasion resistant aluminum bronze alloy for sliding members of various industrial machines.. The abrasion resistant aluminum bronze alloy consists of Al: 7-12%, Mn: 1.5-5.5%, Si: 0.45-2.7%, respectively in weight, and the rest is substantially Cu, wherein metallic compound of Mn and Si is dispersed among said alloy structure, and elongation percentage is at least 5%.. The abrasion resistant aluminum bronze alloy is superior to conventional aluminum bronze alloy (JIS-ALBC2) in seizure resistance and abrasion resistance by more than two times.

The present invention relates to high abrasion resistant aluminum bronze alloy, especially aluminum bronze alloy preferable as material for sliding members which slide with sliding portions of mechanical structure steel, and tool steel etc. in various industrial machines such as hydraulic machines and machine tools etc.
Generally speaking, copper alloy has been used as material for sliding members such as, for example, gears, bearings, worm wheels etc. in various industrial machines. Because, if the sliding members are composed from the same material as machine structural steel such as carbon steel, Cr-Mo steel, and case hardening steel etc. or as tool steel such as bearing steel, and high speed steel etc., the abrasion increases by wearing with metal of same kind. Farther, various copper alloys are respectively used depending on characteristics required for each member.
As an example, high tensile brass and aluminum bronze are used for gears and worm wheels which are required for hardness and mechanical strength, and bronze and phosphor bronze are used for bearings which is required for anti-seizing and anti-galling characteristics. Farther, depending on requirement for high strength and high abrasion resistance, Cu-Zn alloy group in which Mn-Si compounds crystallize and are dispersed (JP No. 882216), and Cu-Al alloy group in which Fe-Si compounds crystallize and are dispersed (JP No. 1189793) are proposed. However, the above described alloys are still not sufficient as abrasion resistant alloys, and appearance of farther high performance alloy is expected.
Besides, very hard abrasion resistant aluminum bronze alloy (JP No. 1374020) is proposed as material for cold work dies for active metals such as stainless steel and titanium etc. Because of containing hyper-eutectoid aluminum (more than 12%) and having high Mn composition (Mn: more than 6%), the alloy has small elongation (less than 3% of elongation percentage) as for a mechanical property and is not suitable as sliding members for industrial machines.

High abrasion resistant aluminum bronze alloy, and sliding members using same


An apparatus, method and computer program for performing a plurality of operation steps of a dialysis process is disclosed. In one embodiment, a process controller controls the apparatus to perform the operation steps, monitor the dialysis process and monitor sensor inputs of sensors of the apparatus. The apparatus further includes a user interface (“UI”), comprising a display, an input device and a UI controller, wherein the UI controller enables presentation of graphical data on the display, enables user interaction with the graphical data and exchanges information with the process controller. Each of the operation steps is classified as a sequential operation step or a non-sequential operation step. The UI controller, for each of the operation steps, dynamically controls enabling and disabling of interaction with displayed corresponding operation step items based on a state of the respective operation step (i.e., completed, non-completed, selectable, non-selectable).

Apparatuses for dialysis process, e.g. dialysis apparatuses and possible attached apparatuses such as water cleaners, substrate supply, medical file systems, etc., normally have a user interface, UI, that is rigidly connected to the hardware of the apparatus. The user will thus need to be trained on that particular apparatus, and the apparatus will be limited in what context it can be used.
US 2008/0176210 A1 discloses a dialysis apparatus having a program library comprising several data sets, each corresponding to a functional process. The programs stored in the program library include configuration data sets, user wishes and further information items. For establishing the data sets, a computer receives a model of the dialysis apparatus which is adapted to have parameters entered, and will simulate a functional process with these parameters. Subsequent to such a functional process, the respective data set will be stored in the program library. A larger number of data sets and thus functional processes can be at disposal of an experienced user than to an average-skilled nurse. The latter kind of users will be given a restricted range of options. A specific and optimised treatment process can thus be used without entailing a risk of misguided operation by normal health-care personnel since the handling of the blood treatment apparatus is reduced to those operating steps which are absolutely required. This provides for some degree of flexibility, but still suffers from the static behaviour of the apparatus once a data set has been selected prior the treatment, and the limitation to pre-programmed data sets, which in practice will not fit optimally to each combination of treatment and user.
It is therefore a desire to provide an enhanced UI, which in turn will provide a more versatile apparatus for dialysis.

Dialysis apparatus with versatile user interface and method and computer program therefor


Disclosed is a photochromic curable composition comprising [A] not less than 0.1 part and less than 5 parts by mass of a specific radically polymerizable monomer having an epoxy group, [B] 1.0 to 15 parts by mass of a specific polyfunctional radically polymerizable monomer, [C] 1.0 to 30.0 parts by mass of a specific di(meth)acrylate monomer, [D] more than 50.0 parts and not more than 97.9 parts by mass of a (meth)acrylate monomer except the components [A] to [C] and/or a thio(meth)acrylate monomer, and [E] 0.001 to 10 parts by mass of a photochromic compound based on 100 parts by mass of the total of the polymerizable monomers.

Photochromism is a reversible function that a certain compound changes its color when it is irradiated by sunlight or light including ultraviolet radiation such as light from a mercury lamp and returns to its original color when it is placed in the dark by stopping the irradiation, and used for various applications. Fulgimide compounds, spirooxazine compounds and chromene compounds have been found as photochromic compounds having this photochromism. Since optical goods having photochromic properties can be obtained from complexes of these compounds and plastics, a large number of studies on complexes of photochromic compounds are now under way.
For example, photochromism is applied in the field of eyeglass lenses. A photochromic eyeglass lens comprising a photochromic compound is quickly colored outdoors where it is irradiated by light including ultraviolet radiation like sunlight to serve as a sunglass lens and faded indoors where there is no irradiation to serve as an ordinary transparent eyeglass lens. Demand for this kind of lenses is growing nowadays.
Plastic photochromic eyeglass lenses are particularly preferred from the viewpoints of lightweight and safety. To provide photochromic properties to these plastic lenses, the above photochromic compound is generally compounded. As means of compounding the photochromic compound, there are known a method in which the surface of a lens having no photochromic properties is imbibed with a photochromic compound (to be referred to as "imbibition method" hereinafter) and a method in which a photochromic compound is dissolved in a monomer and the monomer is polymerized to obtain a photochromic lens directly (to be referred to as "casting method" hereinafter). Various proposals are made for the imbibition method (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,739,243, 5,973,093 and WO95/10790) and the casting method (JP-A 5-306392, WO96/037574, WO01/005854, WO01/092414, WO02/028930 and WO2004/083268).


In a method, whether there is a first bar having a width and located at at least one of both ends of a first black and white pattern is determined. The width of the bar is greater than a maximum width of a second bar. The maximum width of the second bar appears in a second black and white pattern assuming that the black and white pattern is part of the first barcode. The first black and white pattern is determined as readout data of the second barcode when it is determined that there is the first bar having the width greater than the maximum width of the second bar and located at at least one of both ends of the first black and white pattern.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods and apparatuses, which are capable of optically reading out information stored in different barcode symbologies, and relates to a program product executable by computers for controlling the apparatuses.
2. Description of the Related Art
Different barcode symbologies have been designed and actually utilized. Some barcode symbologies partially consist of another one of barcode symbologies. Barcode readers for meeting readout of such different symbologies of barcodes are required to clearly identify each symbology of the barcodes, otherwise read errors may occur.
For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H6-295352 discloses an example of the structure of an apparatus capable of meeting readout of a plurality of symbologies of barcodes.
The techniques disclosed in the Patent Publication initially carry out processes associated with readout in common among the plurality of symbologies of barcodes to shorten the time required to read out information stored in at least one of the plurality of symbologies of barcodes.
The techniques disclosed in the Patent Publication therefore fail to show how to identify each symbology of barcodes when scanning similar symbologies of barcodes.

Method and apparatus for optically reading out information stored in a barcode


The system and method of the invention relates to voice detection technology for determining instants of time at which a snapshot of noise characteristics results in improved adaptation of noise floors used in voice detection. The approach is based on the "lower envelope" of the smoothed input signal power. Incorporation of this approach in a simple time domain VAD (Voice Activity Detector) results in an effective low-complexity system which, on the basis of simulations, gives good performance down to SNR values of about 0 dB. In the invention the lower envelope also provides the updated value of the noise threshold during the presence of speech. The invention can also be embedded in other, more complex (e.g., frequency domain) VADs at low computational cost.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to voice detection technology, and more particularly to estimation of noise floors to aid in voice discrimination.
2. Description of Related Art
Voice Activity Detectors (VADs) are an important component in speech coding systems which make use of the natural silence periods in the speech signal to increase transmission efficiency. They are also an essential part of most speech enhancement systems, since in these systems the input noise level and spectral shape are typically measured and updated in only those segments which contain noise only.
VAD information is useful in other applications as well, such as streamlining speech packets on the Internet by compensating for network delays at gaps in speech activity, or detecting end points of speech utterances under noisy conditions in speech recognition tasks.
In most of these applications the background noise is not always stationary. In a hands-free mobile telephone system for instance both car and road noise may change quickly. The VAD therefore has to adapt quickly to the varying noise conditions to provide an accurate indication of noise-only segments. Since the speech signal itself is also not stationary, this task is usually not a simple one. Several VAD algorithms and adaptation methods have been reported in recent years, some of them being part (or in the process of being standardized as part) of standard speech coding systems known in the art. However, these VADs are complicated, and leave room for improvements, both in terms of performance and complexity, particularly for applications other than speech coding.

System and method for noise threshold adaptation for voice activity detection in nonstationary noise environments