A bench mounted machine allows an operator to produce both mating components for woodworking through and half-blind dovetails in workpieces suitable for case construction and drawer construction with computer controlled programmable flexibility to determine size and centerline spacing of pins and tails as well as half-pin widths. Symmetrical and asymmetrical through and half-blind dovetail configurations can be created without the use of guide templates or fixed spindle arrangements. Stationary workpieces are mounted vertically and horizontally above an automated two axis dovetail cutting means. Pins and tails for interlocking through and half-blind dovetail joints are milled in the ends of workpiece boards based upon operator input commands from a personal computer control station.

The invention relates to woodworking apparatus and methods for making dovetails.
The dovetail joint is one of the most decorative and mechanically advantageous joints used in furniture making. By far, its most common and recognizable function has been in joining the corners of wooden boxes for either case or drawer construction. Two types of dovetails are generally employed for this purpose: through and half-blind or lap dovetails. The through dovetail is most often associated with casework construction, like that seen in a traditional blanket chest. The half-blind dovetail is thought of as a drawer joint. However, half-blind dovetails are also very important in the construction of cases when used as a substitute for through dovetails. Detailed descriptions of both of these joints are included in the preferred embodiment of the invention.
Hand cut through and half-blind dovetails are very time consuming and expensive to produce, but because of their widespread desirability and association with high quality furniture construction, many machines and hand held router jigs have evolved which attempt to duplicate their look with some degree of production efficiency. Presently, there is no machine specifically designed to cut a through dovetail like that described in this disclosure, although many purport to do so. The machines that do exist cut half-blind dovetails and are used for mass producing drawers. It is important to note that because of the method of operation of these machines, the resulting dovetail configurations have pins and tails of identical widths.
These machines offer no capability to vary the size and centerline spacing of pins and tails within the same dovetail configuration. There are hand held router jigs that will produce both through and half-blind dovetails as describe herein; however, these are strictly manual methods and cannot be considered machines, nor can they be used efficiently in a production environment.
The major drawback of all of these existing systems is that they limit the woodworker/operator to dovetail configurations determined by a template/templates or a fixed spindle arrangement.
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a bench top system whereby through and half-blind dovetail configurations can be designed and efficiently produced in boards suitable for case and drawer construction without the use of guide templates or fixed spindle arrangements. Consequently, the present invention offers the operator the flexibility to cut the pin/tail configurations dictated by his furniture designs rather than requiring him to adjust his designs to fit the templates or spindle arrangements available.

Programmable woodworking dovetail machine


An information module and an information distribution system and method are disclosed, which permit information to be shared among individuals in a particular environment while avoiding visual access to other individuals displays. The information distribution system includes a main display unit having a first display region and a second display region; and a plurality of information modules, each of the information modules comprising: an operator region configured for receiving an operator in an operator position; a heads-up display region arranged relative to the operator position, configured for displaying textual information; and a virtual display region comprising at least one virtual display, the at least one virtual display configured for displaying information according to at least an information criteria, the virtual display region arranged adjacent the heads-up display region. The information modules are arranged such that an operator in the operator position does not have a line of sight to the first display region.

Information distribution systems for a team working on a common mission are known. For example, mission rooms for command and control missions are known. In many situations, however, these information distribution systems do not readily discriminate and differentiate information to be provided to different locations of the room according to the particular information needs and/or security level of the individuals in team.
In a typical environment, many individuals are seated in a common area, and have common or overlapping visual lines of sight to individual or common information displays (such as CRTs, LCDs, LEDs, plasma displays, or other displays as are used to provide visually to a user). For example, air traffic or mission controllers may be seated in a room, with individual controllers having a designated information display. One or more common displays may be positioned above the individuals within the line of sight to several individuals. With such arrangement, many or all individuals in the environment may have access to the information displayed on the individual or common displays. Consequently, access to the environment must be limited to a particular control group if information is intended to be restricted.
Further, it often occurs that individuals accessing controlled information may have different levels of access. In a conventional environment, the level of information displayed in the environment cannot exceed that of the lowest level among those of the group having access to the environment. If individuals with a higher level wish to access a higher level of information than permitted to be seen by others in the environment, they often must move to separate environment, such as a smaller room, that provides the more limited level of information.
There are many environments in which controlled access to information is desirable. In addition to defense and air control environments, they may include, for example, hospitals and clinics, where patient registration may retrieve confidential information of patients. It would be desirable in such environments to ensure that such confidential information may not be readily seen by other patients, and is restricted to medical staff having a need to access such information.

Information module assembly and method of controlling access to different levels of information


A touch display substrate includes a first data line, a first gate line, a first pixel electrode, a second gate line, a second pixel electrode, a sensor data line and a first sensor electrode. The first data line extends along a first direction. The first gate line extends along a second direction. The first pixel electrode is electrically connected to the first data line and the first gate line. The second gate line is substantially parallel with the first gate line. The second pixel electrode is adjacent to the first pixel electrode and electrically connected to the first data line and the second gate line. The sensor data line is adjacent to the second pixel electrode and substantially parallel to the first data line. The first sensor electrode is electrically connected to the sensor data line.

1. Field of the Invention
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a touch display substrate and a touch display panel having the touch display substrate.
2. Description of the Background
Generally, a liquid crystal display (LCD) is relatively thin, light-weight, and has a low power consumption. Thus LCD's are used in devices such as monitors, laptop computers, and cellular phones. An LCD includes an LCD panel that displays images by controlling the light transmittance of a liquid crystal layer, and a backlight assembly disposed under the LCD panel that provides light to the LCD panel.
The LCD panel includes: an array substrate having a signal line, a thin film transistor (TFT), and a pixel electrode; an opposite substrate facing the array substrate and having a common electrode; and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the array substrate and the opposite substrate.
Recently, a film-type touch-sensor panel (TSP) has been attached to an LCD panel, so that the LCD apparatus may display images and detect touch position at the same time. However, optical efficiency of an LCD having the TSP is decreased, because of light interference generated between the TSP and the LCD panel. An LCD panel having a touch sensor inside of the LCD panel has been developed, to improve optical efficiency.
An LCD panel having the touch sensor disposed inside includes a signal line and a pixel electrode for displaying images, and further includes a sensor line and a sensor electrode to detect the touches. For example, the sensor line is disposed on the array substrate, and is spaced apart from the signal line. The sensor electrode is electrically connected to the sensor line in each pixel. Compared to an LCD without a touch sensor, an aperture ratio of the LCD panel having the touch sensor is decreased, due to the sensor line and the sensor electrode.

Touch display substrate and touch display panel having the same


The invention provides fumed silica comprising aggregates that have an aggregate size and a surface area that satisfy particular formulas relating aggregate size to surface area, as well as aggregates that exhibit particular viscosity, power law exponent index, and/or elastic modulus characteristics when dispersed in liquid media. The invention also provides processes of preparing such fumed silica by combining a silica precursor with a stream of combustible gas, combusting the stream, and producing a stream of combusted gas and fumed silica particles, wherein dopants are introduced, the time/temperature profile, or history, of the stream of combusted gas and fumed silica particles is adjusted to allow for post-quench aggregate growth, and/or additional silica precursor is introduced into the stream of combusted gas.

There are many applications for fumed metal oxides, particularly for fumed silica. Such applications include fillers for polymers such as rubber, coatings such as for paper (i.e., recording media), cosmetics, the manufacture of optical fibers and quartz glassware, thermal insulation, and chemical-mechanical polishing compositions intended for use in semiconductor manufacturing.
Fumed silica is generally produced by the vapor phase hydrolysis of chlorosilanes, such as silicon tetrachloride, in a hydrogen oxygen flame. Such processes are generally referred to as pyrogenic processes. The overall reaction is:SiCl4+2H2+O2→SiO2+4HCl
Organosilanes also have been used in pyrogenic processes for the production of fumed silica. In the vapor phase hydrolysis of organosilanes, the carbon-bearing fragments undergo oxidation to form carbon dioxide as a by-product along with hydrochloric acid.
In this process, submicron-sized molten spheres of silica are formed. These particles collide and fuse to form three-dimensional, branched, chain-like aggregates, of approximately 0.1-0.5 μm in length. Cooling takes place very quickly, limiting the particle growth and ensuring that the fumed silica is amorphous. These aggregates in turn form agglomerates of 0.5-44 μm (about 325 US mesh). Fumed silica can have high purity, with total impurities in many cases below 100 ppm (parts per million). This high purity makes fumed silica dispersions particularly advantageous for many applications.
Numerous methods have been developed in the art to produce fumed silica via pyrogenic processes. U.S. Pat. No. 2,990,249 describes a process for the pyrogenic production of fumed silica. In accordance with this process, a gaseous feedstock comprising a fuel, such as methane or hydrogen, oxygen, and a volatile silicon compound, such as silicon tetrachloride, wherein the oxygen is present in a stoichiometric or hyperstoichiometric proportion, is fed into a burner supporting a short flame having a ratio of height to diameter of about 2:1 or below. Water formed by the combustion of the fuel in oxygen reacts with the silicon tetrachloride to produce silicon dioxide particles, which coalesce and aggregate to form fumed silica. The effluent from the burner is cooled, and the fumed silica is then collected.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,108,964 describes a process for the pyrogenic production of fumed silica using organosilanes as the silicon-containing component. In accordance with this process, an organosilane, such as methyltrichlorosilane, is volatilized at a temperature above the boiling point of the organosilane. The vaporized organosilane is mixed with a gaseous fuel, such as hydrogen or methane, and an oxygen-containing gas containing from 15-100% oxygen, to form a feedstock. The feedstock is fed to a flame supported by a burner at various flow rates to produce fumed silica. The volume ratios of the individual gas components are reported not to be of critical importance. The molar ratio of the organosilane to the water-forming gases generally is said to be in the range of from 1:0 to 1:12.
Conventional processes produce fumed silica with particular, relatively narrow, ranges of aggregate size and surface area. Conventional processes do not achieve a wider range of aggregate sizes because the flame temperature largely determines the size and the structure of the aggregates produced by such processes. Specifically, when silica particles are formed in the flame, the particles are initially in a semi-liquid form and grow into aggregates up to a certain extent, depending on the flame temperature. However, due to radiative cooling or forced cooling, the temperature of the aggregates rapidly drops to the point at which the particles can no longer grow into larger aggregates, thereby limiting the aggregates to a relatively narrow size range. A process capable of producing fumed silica with a wider range of possible aggregate sizes for a given surface area would be useful, especially to produce fumed silica having a relatively larger aggregate size, which can provide many benefits, including improved rheological properties (such as higher viscosity and greater dispersibility in liquid media).
Fumed silica aggregates also have an inherent structure, because they are fractal-like, or branched, particles. Because a fumed silica aggregate is branched, and is not a solid, convex shape, it encompasses a volume associated with its apparent aggregate size, as is well-known in the field of fumed particles. This encompassed volume can be described in a ratio known as the coefficient of structure, i.e., the ratio of the aggregate's encompassed volume to its actual volume of solid silica. In a conventional fumed silica process, the coefficient of structure is set by surface area, aggregate size, and fractal dimension.
There is a need for fumed silica having different combinations of physical features, such as aggregate size, surface area, and coefficient of structure. For example, a process that raises aggregate size and coefficient of structure at the same time would enhance the improvements in rheological and reinforcement properties that would follow an aggregate size increase. Moreover, a process capable of changing the coefficient of structure independently of aggregate size could be useful in producing fumed silica with increased dispersibility, and could offer performance tradeoffs different from currently commercially available materials.

Fumed silica of controlled aggregate size and processes for manufacturing the same


An LCD device includes a plurality of data pads; an LCD panel defined by a plurality of pad regions; a first shorting bar connected to odd numbered data pads among the plurality of data pads; a second shorting bar connected to even numbered data pads among the plurality of data pads; and a test pad formed in a predetermined portion of a pad region among the plurality of pad regions to apply a signal voltage for on/off testing to the first shorting bar and the second shorting bar.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display device, and more particularly, to a test pad of a liquid crystal display (LCD) device.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
CRT Braun tubes have been widely used for monitors of televisions and computers to achieve a relatively easy display of colors and a rapid operation time.
However, CRT Braun tubes tend to have high power consumption. In a typical CRT Braun tube, a certain distance is needed between an electron gun and a screen. This distance makes it difficult to construct compact CRT Brown tubes. Also, a CRT Braun tube is typically heavy, so that it is hard to carry. To solve these problems, various display devices have been studied. Among these display devices, LCD devices have been widely used.
An LCD device can be manufactured to have a relatively thin structure, so that the LCD device can be used as an ultra thin display device for a wall-tapestry television set, for example. Also, LCD devices are light in weight and tend to have low power consumption. For these reasons, LCD devices have attracted attention as substitutes for CRT Braun tubes. For example, LCD devices are now widely used for notebook computers operated by batteries.
As shown in FIG. 1, an LCD device includes a lower substrate 1 having a TFT as a switching device, an upper substrate 2 having a color filter, and a liquid crystal 3 formed between the lower substrate 1 and the upper substrate 2. Even though the LCD device does not emit light itself, picture images are displayed by an electro-optical mechanism of the liquid crystal.
As shown in FIG. 1, TFT array 4 is formed on the lower substrate 1, and a black matrix 5, a color filter film 6, a common electrode 7, and an alignment film 8 are sequentially formed on the upper substrate 2.
The lower substrate 1 and the upper substrate 2 are attached to each other by a sealant 9, which may be, for example, an epoxy resin. Then, a driving circuit 11 and a printed circuit board (PCB) 10 is connected to the lower substrate 1 through a tape carrier package (TCP) 12.
In the TFT array 4, a plurality of gate lines and data lines are formed to cross each other, and a plurality of TFTs are formed at intersections of the gate lines and the data lines.
The LCD device is divided into three parts: an LCD panel, a printed circuit board (PCB), and an external part. The LCD panel includes two substrates having liquid crystal. The PCB injected therebetween has drivers that drive the LCD panel and internal circuitry. The external part includes a backlight 13.
FIG. 2 is a module diagram showing a structure of the LCD panel and the driver.
As shown in FIG. 2, the LCD device includes an LCD panel 21, a gate driver 23 that drives a gate driving signal to the LCD panel 21, and a source driver 25 that applies signal data to the LCD panel 21.
The gate driver 23 generates scan signals sequentially to a plurality of gate lines arranged on the LCD panel 21. Then, the source driver 25 applies a signal voltage through the data lines when the gate driver 23 turns on the TFTs.
In the LCD panel, the plurality of gate lines and data lines have a matrix structure. A TFT and a pixel electrode are formed at each intersection of the gate lines and data lines. If a TFT is turned on by the scan signal that is applied from the gate driver 23 to the gate lines, the signal voltage applied from the source driver 25 to the data lines is transmitted to the pixel electrodes through the TFTs, thereby displaying a picture image.
At this time, a plurality of gate pads and data pads are extended, respectively, from the gate lines and data lines in the vicinity of the LCD panel 21 to transmit signals generated from the gate driver 23 and the source driver 25 to the LCD panel. The gate pads and data pads are connected to shorting bars to perform testing. When the testing is completed, the shorting bar is removed.
The tests can be classified into an In Processing Test (IPT) and an on/off test of a TFT.
The IPT tests for a line defect or a point defect of the gate and data lines after the lower substrate 1 is formed. The on/off test of a TFT tests for a defect in the on/off operation of a TFT after the lower substrate 1 and the upper substrate 2 are attached to each other.
The structure of a test pad according to a related art LCD device will be described in detail.
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the structure of the test pad according to the related art LCD device.
As shown in FIG. 3, the test pad includes a first shorting bar 31a, a second shorting bar 31b, a first test pad 33a, a second test pad 33b, a third shorting bar 31c, a fourth shorting bar 31d, a third test pad 33c, and a fourth test pad 33d.
The first shorting bar 31a is connected to odd numbered data pads (Dp1, Dp3, . . . ) among a plurality of data pads (Dp1 to Dpn) and the second shorting bar 31b is connected to even numbered data pads (Dp2, Dp4 . . . ). Then, the first test pad 33a applies a signal voltage for testing to the first shorting bar 31a, and the second test pad 33b is formed in a different portion of the pad region than the first test pad 33a to apply the signal voltage for testing to the second shorting bar 31b. The third shorting bar 31c is connected to odd numbered gate pads (Gp1, Gp3, . . . ) among a plurality of gate pads (Gp1 to Gpn), and the fourth shorting bar 31d is connected to even numbered gate pads (Gp2, GP4, . . . ). Then, the third test pad 33c applies a signal voltage for testing to the third shorting bar 31c, and the fourth test pad 33d is formed on a different portion of the pad region than the third test pad 33c to apply the signal voltage for testing to the fourth shorting bar 31d.
Each gate pad is extended from gate lines (G1, G2, . . . ,Gm) arranged on the LCD panel 100. Each data pad is extended from data lines (D1, D2, . . . ,Dn) arranged on the LCD panel to cross gate lines.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the first test pad of FIG. 3. FIG. 5A is a sectional view of the first test pad taken along line I–I′ of FIG. 4.
As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5A, a substrate 100a is formed, and a gate insulating film 101 is formed on the substrate 100a. Then, the first test pad 33a is formed on the gate insulating film 101 and is electrically connected to the first shorting bar 31a. A passivation film 102 is formed on an entire surface of the substrate 100a including the first test pad 33a and includes a contact hole to expose a predetermined portion of the first test pad 33a. Then, a transparent conductive film 37 is electrically connected to the first test pad 33a through the contact hole of the passivation film 102.
FIG. 5B is a sectional view of the third test pad of the gate side taken along line I–I′ of FIG. 3.
As shown in FIG. 5B, the substrate 100a is formed, and the third test pad 33c is formed on the substrate 100a. Then, the gate insulating film 101 is formed on the entire surface of the substrate 100a including the third test pad 33c, and the passivation film 102 is formed on the gate insulating film 101. The transparent conductive film 37 is electrically connected to the third test pad 33c by penetrating the passivation film 102 and the gate insulating film 101.
In the test pad according to the related art LCD device, the first test pad 33a is formed in a predetermined portion of the pad region to apply the signal voltage for testing to the first shorting bar 31a, and the second test pad 33b is formed in a different portion of the pad region than the first test pad 33a to apply the signal voltage for testing to the second shorting bar 31b. Also, the third test pad 33c that applies the signal voltage for testing to the third shorting bar 31c is formed in a different portion of the pad region than the fourth test pad 33d applying the signal voltage to the fourth shorting bar 31d.
The test pad according to the related art LCD device has the following problems.
In forming the test pads of the gate and data sides, a test pad that applies a signal voltage for testing to the odd numbered data pads or gate pads is formed in a different portion of the pad region than the test pad that applies a signal voltage for testing to the even numbered data pads or gate pads when on/off testing of the TFT is performed. As a result, a resistance value of the shorting bar is high.
With a high resolution of the LCD device, an area of the test pad becomes smaller. In the test pad according to the related art LCD device, because the test pads are formed in the different portions, the resistance of the shorting bar is increased. Therefore, a width of the shorting bar has to be increased to decrease the resistance.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Liquid crystal display device with a test pad for testing plural shorting bars


The invention relates to an enhancement solution for an assay technology using lanthanide ions or their chelates as labels and dissociative fluorescence enhancement as a tool for detection, wherein said enhancement solution comprises a β-diketone of formula I

The publications and other materials used herein to illuminate the background of the invention and, in particular, cases to provide additional details respecting the practice, are incorporated by reference.
Lanthanides and their chelates have become an important group of labels in various assays, such as immunoassays, hybridization assays, receptor-ligand assays and others [reviews: Hemmilä, Application of Fluorescence in Immunoassays, Wiley, 1991; Hemmilä, St{dot over (a)}hlberg and Mottram (eds.), Bioanalytical Applications of Labeling Technologies, Wallac, 1995; Hemmilä and Mukkala, Crit. Rev. Clin. Lab. Sci., 38(6): 441–519 (2001)]. The long excited state lifetimes of lanthanides makes it possible to exploit very efficiently and simply time-resolution in order to get rid of background interferences and to obtain ultimate sensitivities of fluorometry. Other advantages of lanthanide labels relate to their exceptional spectral properties such as long Stokes' shifts (over 250 nm) and narrow banded ion-characteristic emission lines. The spectral properties allow lanthanides to be used in real multi-label assays where the detection can take advantage of both spectral and temporal resolutions.
There are numerous technologies using lanthanides as labels. The first and the original technology, i.e. the DELFIA® technology, uses two chelate systems, one optimized for labeling and the second, which is created after the actual assay is accomplished, to enable fluorescence enhancement and detection (U.S. Pat. No. 4,565,790, EP 0 064 484). This technology is still the most sensitive and widely used. It has many applications in diagnostics, screening, drug discovery and other research areas. Regardless of an extensive search and numerous patents, development of a single lanthanide chelate structure with optimized properties allowing similar assay performances without enhancement has remained a challenge, due to e.g. energy transfer, intensity, protection, biocompatibility and coupling problems.
A major problem with the original DELFIA® technology relates to the change in ligand of the enhancement process. Using existing enhancement composed of trifluoro derivatives of β-diketones, most commonly naphthoyltrifluoroacetone (β-NTA, i.e. 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(2-naphthyl)-1,3-butanedione), the lowest pH one can use is about 3.0. A special protein labeling chelate for that purpose has therefore been developed based on diethylenetriamine-N,N′,N″,N″-tetraacetate group (DTTA) (U.S. Pat. No. 4,808,541, EP 0 139 675), which at the pH applied in the enhancement solution rapidly releases europium ions and creates new, highly fluorescent chelates with naphthoyltrifluoroacetone present in excess in the enhancement solution.
When a bioassay requires a labeling chelate of higher thermodynamic or kinetic stability, the original enhancement system requires considerably longer time for enhancement, which is not convenient or even acceptable when rapid universal systems are to be developed. For example, the use of DNA probes quite often require a more stable labeling chelate reagent and for DNA based applications lanthanide chelate of 2,2′,2″,2′″-[[4-[2-(4-isothiocyanatophenyl)ethyl]-pyridine-2,6-diyl ]bis(methylenenitrilo)]tetrakis(acetic acid) (EP 0 298 939, U.S. Pat. No. 6,127,529) is found optimal. The chelate used, however, requires longer fluorescence development times and routinely 20–30 minutes are required to stabilize the fluorescence in the enhancement solution.
An application where the present DELFIA® technology has been found unsuitable is rapid random access analysis of samples performed with all-in-one dry reagent system [Pettersson et al., Luminescence, 15:399–407 (2000)]. In this system the drying procedure used to prepare dry-reagent assay-specific all-in-one wells requires a strong chelating reagent due to risk of ion dissociation during the drying process. Use of DATA chelates optimized for DELFIA® have not been found very suitable for this approach. On the other hand, when more strongly chelating labeling reagents are used, the time required for enhancement becomes too long for the whole process.
Another case where original DELFIA® technology is not suitable is the analysis of plasma samples that may contain high concentration of citrate or EDTA. In one-step assays of analytes (required e.g. in competitive analysis of haptenic antigens) the DELFIA-optimized DTTA chelate can not be used due to the competing chelation processes.
Yet another assay-type requiring improved enhancement/labeling system relates to applications where either free or complexed lanthanides are used as labels. Example of these assays is e.g. cytotoxicity assays, where europium chelate of DTPA is used as intracellular label. Other resembling assays can use lanthanide as labels/tracers for a wide variety of processes (environmental samples, metabolic routes etc.).
A further assay-type requiring label chelates with higher stability than that of DTTA and improved enhancement relates to applications where the reaction mixture contains high concentrations of metal ions, Examples of these assays are e.g. enzyme activity measurements and soil analysis with immunoassays where relatively high amounts of heavy metals may be present.
Mullinax et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,030,840, WO 99/66333) modified the DELFIA® method by adding some polyanionic compound to the enhancement solution. They teach that the dissociation of the lanthanide ion from the chelate is faster already at higher pH. The chelates used in their examples are a benzyl-EDTA derivative and DTPA where one acetate group is used for coupling to the biomolecule. The stabilities of these chelates are lower or about the same than those of the DTTA derivative used in the DELFIA® method. There is no proof or data that the method presented by Mullinax et al. would work with more stable chelates used for labeling of biomolecules. Compared to the commercialised enhancement solution (Wallac product), the above mentioned method does not provide improvement, also because the commercial DELFIA® enhancement already contains polyanions (phthalic acid).
Dakubu (U.S. Pat. No. 5,124,268) divided the fluorescence enhancement in two parts. The first part is the dissociation of the metal from the stable lanthanide chelate by lowering the pH to 1.5–3.0. The second part of the process is the change of the pH to over 3.5 and the development of the fluorescent lanthanide chelate. This two-step method is, however, too laborious to be used in automatic diagnostic systems because it demands one extra incubation and addition step.

Dissociative fluorescence enhancement assay

Abstract: wherein R1 is an aryl, optionally mono- or multi-substituted, and R2 is a straight or branched alkyl chain with 2 to 9 carbon atoms substituted with four or more fluorine atoms. The invention further relates to a bioaffinity assay using lanthanide ions or their chelates as labels and dissociative fluorescence enhancement as a tool for detection comprising the use of said enhancement solution.


The present invention relates to a recombinant nucleic acid encoding a hybrid polypeptide which comprises a transit peptide for the translocation of the polypeptide into an appropriate organelles such as plastids, a starch-encapsulating region from maize starch synthase and a payload polypeptide, wherein said payload polypeptide can be either N- or C-terminal to the starch encapsulating region. The invention also relates to the expression vectors comprising said nucleic acid, and hosts comprising the said vector. Also, the invention encompasses methods of producing the hybrid polypeptide thereof from starch and particularly from starch granules, and industrial uses of the payload polypeptide recombinantly produced in said hybrid polypeptide wherein said payload polypeptide is a biologically active molecule.

Polysaccharide Enzymes
Both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells use polysaccharide enzymes as a storage reserve. In the prokaryotic cell the primary reserve polysaccharide is glycogen. Although glycogen is similar to the starch found in most vascular plants it exhibits different chain lengths and degrees of polymerization. In many plants, starch is used as the primary reserve polysaccharide. Starch is stored in the various tissues of the starch bearing plant. Starch is made of two components in most instances; one is amylose and one is amylopectin. Amylose is formed as linear glucans and amylopectin is formed as branched chains of glucans. Typical starch has a ratio of 25% amylose to 75% amylopectin. Variations in the amylose to amylopectin ratio in a plant can effect the properties of the starch. Additionally starches from different plants often have different properties. Maize starch and potato starch appear to differ due to the presence or absence of phosphate groups. Certain plants' starch properties differ because of mutations that have been introduced into the plant genome. Mutant starches are well known in maize, rice and peas and the like.
The changes in starch branching or in the ratios of the starch components result in different starch characteristic. One characteristic of starch is the formation of starch granules which are formed particularly in leaves, roots, tubers and seeds. These granules are formed during the starch synthesis process. Certain synthases of starch, particularly granule-bound starch synthase, soluble starch synthases and branching enzymes are proteins that are "encapsulated" within the starch granule when it is formed.
The use of cDNA clones of animal and bacterial glycogen synthases are described in International patent application publication number GB92/101881. The nucleotide and amino acid sequences of glycogen synthase are known from the literature. For example, the nucleotide sequence for the E. coli glgA gene encoding glycogen synthase can be retrieved from the GenBank/EMBL (SWISSPROT) database, accession number J02616 (Kumar et al., 1986, J. Biol. Chem., 261:16256–16259). E. coli glycogen biosynthetic enzyme structural genes were also cloned by Okita et al. (1981, J. Biol. Chem., 256(13):6944–6952). The glycogen synthase glgA structural gene was cloned from Salmonella typhimurium LT2 by Leung et al. (1987, J. Bacteriol., 169(9):4349–4354). The sequences of glycogen synthase from rabbit skeletal muscle (Zhang et al., 1989, FASEB J., 3:2532–2536) and human muscle (Browner et al., 1989, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 86:1443–1447) are also known.
The use of cDNA clones of plant soluble starch synthases has been reported. The amino acid sequences of pea soluble starch synthase isoforms I and II were published by Dry et al. (1991, Plant Journal, 2:193202). The amino acid sequence of rice soluble starch synthase (SSTS) was described by Baba et al. (1993, Plant Physiology,). This last sequence (rice SSTA) incorrectly cites the N-terminal sequence and hence is misleading. Presumably this is because of some extraction error involving a protease degradation or other inherent instability in the extracted enzyme. The correct N-terminal sequence (starting with AELSR SEQ. ID NO:38) is present in what they refer to as the transit peptide sequence of the rice SSTS.
The sequence of maize branching enzyme I was investigated by Baba et al., 1991, BBRC, 181:8794. Starch branching enzyme II from maize endosperm was investigated by Fisher and Shrable (1993, Plant Physiol., 102:10451046). The use of cDNA clones of plant, bacterial and animal branching enzymes have been reported. The nucleotide and amino acid sequences for bacterial branching enzymes (BE) are known from the literature. For example, Kiel et al. cloned the branching enzyme gene glgB from Cyanobacterium synechococcussp PCC7942 (1989, Gene (Amst), 78(1):918) and from Bacillus stearothermophilus (Kiel et al., 1991, Mol. Gen. Genet., 230(12):136–144). The genes glc3 and gha1 of S. cerevisiae are allelic and encode the glycogen branching enzyme (Rowen et al., 1992, Mol. Cell Biol., 12(1):22–29). Matsumomoto et al. investigated glycogen branching enzyme from Neurospora crassa (1990, J. Biochem., 107:118–122). The GenBank/EMBL database also contains sequences for the E. coli glgB gene encoding branching enzyme.
Starch synthase (EC 126.96.36.199) elongates starch molecules and is thought to act on both amylose and amylopectin. Starch synthase (STS) activity can be found associated both with the granule and in the stroma of the plastid. The capacity for starch association of the bound starch synthase enzyme is well known. Various enzymes involved in starch biosynthesis are now known to have differing propensities for binding as described by Mu-Forster et al. (1996, Plant Phys. 111: 821–829). Granule-bound starch synthase (GBSTS) activity is strongly correlated with the product of the waxy gene (Shure et al., 1983, Cell 35: 225–233). The synthesis of amylose in a number of species such as maize, rice and potato has been shown to depend on the expression of this gene (Tsai, 1974, Biochem Gen 11: 83–96; Hovenkamp-Hermelink et al., 1987, Theor. Appl. Gen. 75: 217–221). Visser et al. described the molecular cloning and partial characterization of the gene for granule-bound starch synthase from potato (1989, Plant Sci. 64(2):185192). Visser et al. have also described the inhibition of the expression of the gene for granule-bound starch synthase in potato by antisense constructs (1991, Mol. Gen. Genet. 225(2):289296).
The other STS enzymes have become known as soluble starch synthases, following the pioneering work of Frydman and Cardini (Frydman and Cardini, 1964, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Communications 17: 407–411). Recently, the appropriateness of the term "soluble" has become questionable in light of discoveries that these enzymes are associated with the granule as well as being present in the soluble phase (Denyer et al., 1993, Plant J. 4: 191–198; Denyer et al., 1995, Planta 97: 57–62; Mu-Forster et al., 1996, Plant Physiol. 111: 821–829). It is generally believed that the biosynthesis of amylopectin involves the interaction of soluble starch synthases and starch branching enzymes. Different isoforms of soluble starch synthase have been identified and cloned in pea (Denyer and Smith, 1992, Planta 186: 609–617; Dry et al., 1992, Plant Journal, 2: 193–202), potato (Edwards et al., 1995, Plant Physiol. 112: 89–97; Marshall et al., 1996, Plant Cell 8: 1121–1135) and in rice (Baba et al., 1993, Plant Physiol. 103: 565–573), while barley appears to contain multiple isoforms, some of which are associated with starch branching enzyme (Tyynela and Schulman, 1994, Physiol. Plantarum 89: 835–841). A common characteristic of STS clones is the presence of a KXGGLGDV (SEQ. ID NO:39) consensus sequence which is believed to be the ADP-Glc binding site of the enzyme (Furukawa et al., 1990, J. Biol. Chem. 265: 2086–2090; Furukawa et al., 1993, J. Biol. Chem. 268:23837–23842).
In maize, two soluble forms of STS, known as isoforms I and II, have been identified (Macdonald and Preiss, 1983, Plant Physiol. 73: 175–178; Boyer and Preiss, 1978, Carb. Res. 61: 321–334; Pollock and Preiss, 1980, Arch Biochem. Biophys. 204: 578–588; Macdonald and Preiss, 1985 Plant Physiol. 78: 849–852; Dang and Boyer, 1988, Phytochemistry 27: 1255–1259; Mu et al., 1994, Plant J. 6: 151–159), but neither of these has been cloned. STSI activity of maize endosperm was recently correlated with a 76-kDa polypeptide found in both soluble and granule-associated fractions (Mu et al., 1994, Plant J. 6: 151–159). The polypeptide identity of STSII remains unknown. STSI and II exhibit different enzymological characteristics. STSI exhibits primer-independent activity whereas STSII requires glycogen primer to catalyze glucosyl transfer. Soluble starch synthases have been reported to have a high flux control coefficient for starch deposition (Jenner et al., 1993, Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 22: 703–709; Keeling et al., 1993, Planta 191: 342–348) and to have unusual kinetic properties at elevated temperatures (Keeling et al., 1995, Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 21807–827). The respective isoforms in maize exhibit significant differences in both temperature optima and stability.
Plant starch synthase (and E. coli glycogen synthase) sequences include the sequence KTGGL (SEQ ID NO:40) which is known to be the adenosine diphosphate glucose (ADPG) binding domain. The genes for any such starch synthase protein may be used in constructs according to this invention.
Branching enzyme [α1,4Dglucan: α1,4Dglucan 6D(α1,4Dglucano) transferase (E.C. 184.108.40.206)], sometimes called Q-enzyme, converts amylose to amylopectin. A segment of a α1,4Dglucan chain is transferred to a primary hydroxyl group in a similar glucan chain.
Bacterial branching enzyme genes and plant sequences have been reported (rice endosperm: Nakamura et. al., 1992, Physiologia Plantarum, 84:329–335 and Nakamura and Yamanouchi, 1992, Plant Physiol., 99:1265–1266; pea: Smith, 1988, Planta, 175:270–279 and Bhattacharyya et al., 1989, J. Cell Biochem., Suppl. 13D:331; maize endosperm: Singh and Preiss, 1985, Plant Physiology, 79:34–40; VosScherperkeuter et al., 1989, Plant Physiology, 90:75–84; potato: Kossmann et al., 1991, Mol. Gen. Genet., 230(12):39–44; cassava: Salehuzzaman and Visser, 1992, Plant Mol Biol, 20:809–819).
In the area of polysaccharide enzymes there are reports of vectors for engineering modification in the starch pathway of plants by use of a number of starch synthesis genes in various plant species. That some of these polysaccharide enzymes bind to cellulose or starch or glycogen is well known. One specific patent example of the use of a polysaccharide enzyme shows the use of glycogen biosynthesis enzymes to modify plant starch. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,349,123 to Shewmaker a vector containing DNA to form glycogen biosynthetic enzymes within plant cells is taught. Specifically, this patent refers to the changes in potato starch due to the introduction of these enzymes. Other starch synthesis genes and their use have also been reported.
Hybrid (Fusion) Peptides
Hybrid proteins (also called "fusion proteins") are polypeptide chains that consist of two or more proteins fused together into a single polypeptide. Often one of the proteins is a ligand which binds to a specific receptor cell. Vectors encoding fusion peptides are primarily used to produce foreign proteins through fermentation of microbes. The fusion proteins produced can then be purified by affinity chromatography. The binding portion of one of the polypeptides is used to attach the hybrid polypeptide to an affinity matrix. For example, fusion proteins can be formed with beta galactosidase which can be bound to a column. This method has been used to form viral antigens.
Another use is to recover one of the polypeptides of the hybrid polypeptide. Chemical and biological methods are known for cleaving the fused peptide. Low pH can be used to cleave the peptides if an acid-labile aspartate-proline linkage is employed between the peptides and the peptides are not affected by the acid. Hormones have been cleaved with cyanobromide. Additionally, cleavage by site-specific proteolysis has been reported. Other methods of protein purification such as ion chromatography have been enhanced with the use of polyarginine tails which increase the overall basicity of the protein thus enhancing binding to ion exchange columns.
A number of patents have outlined improvements in methods of making hybrid peptides or specific hybrid peptides targeted for specific uses. U.S. Pat. No. 5,635,599 to Pastan et al. outlines an improvement of hybrid proteins. This patent reports a circularly permuted ligand as part of the hybrid peptide. This ligand possesses specificity and good binding affinity. Another improvement in hybrid proteins is reported in U.S. Pat. No. 5,648,244 to Kuliopulos. This patent describes a method for producing a hybrid peptide with a carrier peptide. This nucleic acid region, when recognized by a restriction endonuclease, creates a nonpalindromic 3-base overhang. This allows the vector to be cleaved.
An example of a specifically targeted hybrid protein is reported in U.S. Pat. No. 5,643,756. This patent reports a vector for expression of glycosylated proteins in cells. This hybrid protein is adapted for use in proper immunoreactivity of HIV gp120. The isolation of gp120 domains which are highly glycosylated is enhanced by this reported vector.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,202,247 and 5,137,819 discuss hybrid proteins having polysaccharide binding domains and methods and compositions for preparation of hybrid proteins which are capable of binding to a polysaccharide matrix. U.S. Pat. No. 5,202,247 specifically teaches a hybrid protein linking a cellulase binding region to a peptide of interest. The patent specifies that the hybrid protein can be purified after expression in a bacterial host by affinity chromatography on cellulose.
The development of genetic engineering techniques has made it possible to transfer genes from various organisms and plants into other organisms or plants. Although starch has been altered by transformation and mutagenesis in the past there is still a need for further starch modification. To this end vectors that provide for encapsulation of desired amino acids or peptides within the starch and specifically within the starch granule are desirable. The resultant starch is modified and the tissue from the plant carrying the vector is modified.


A wire termination block includes at least one conductive contact; and a body having a base portion and a driving portion, the driving portion having a plurality of apertures for receiving wires and being operable in at least two driving modes to terminate and couple a received wire to the conductive contact. One of the two driving modes may be operable with a tool and the other of the two modes is operable without a tool by a user. For example, the driving portion may include a lever driven mechanism for terminating and coupling the received wires in a first of the two driving modes and a bolt driven mechanism for terminating and coupling the received wire in a second of the two driving modes. The conductive contact may be insulation displacement connector or contact (IDC).

Insulation displacement connector (IDC) terminals are used, for example, in various application such as with telephone cables or wires. These terminal may employ for instance a driving mechanism or driver, such as a hardware driven arrangement (e.g., driver bolts), which directs various gauge wires received therein over the IDC connectors. Generally, a hardware driven connector may be employed with small and large wire gauges. When a hardware driven connector is employed, the method of terminating either large or small gauge wire involves the use of a tool to back out the driver mechanism with a bolt that was captivated in the driver. When turning the bolt counter clockwise the driver mechanism would back out away from the IDC connector in a linear direction. Terminating the wire involves turning the bolt in a clockwise direction driving the driver housing downward over the IDC and cutting/terminating the wire. Therefore, for terminating large and small gauge, it is necessary to use the bolt and tool in this situation.
In many circumstances, wire termination operations often appear to involve small gauge wire terminations. Accordingly, the utilization of hardware driven connectors such as the bolt driven connections to terminate small gauge wires is cumbersome.

Terminal block with two modes of terminating a wire


The present invention is directed to a method and a device for the production of security elements for electronic article surveillance, the security elements being comprised of at least two layers, as well as to a web material manufactured by means of said method.

This invention relates to a method and a device for the production of security elements for electronic article surveillance as well as to a corresponding security element, one security element being comprised of at least two layers.
The goods in department stores and warehouses are being protected from theft increasingly by electronic devices. One way to guard against theft by electronic surveillance is to attach strip elements, meaning elongate soft magnetic pieces of metal (e.g., VITROVAC from the Vacuumschmelze company), to the goods. These strip elements trigger an alarm when present in corresponding monitoring systems, which are usually positioned in the exit area of the facility to be protected.
Electronic article surveillance can be described roughly as follows: A monitoring system has a transmitting device and a receiveing device. The transmitting device transmits an interrogating signal into a monitoring zone. This interrogating signal excites the strip element into transmitting a reply signal which is detected and identified by the receive device. The occurrence of a reply signal is equated with the unauthorized passing of an electronically protected article through the interrogation zone, and the alarm is triggered. An example of such a monitoring system is described in European Patent EP 0 123 586 A1.
Resonant security elements are used in addition to the strip-shaped security elements for electromagnetic article surveillance. These resonant security elements are comprised of a resonant circuit having capacitive and inductive elements. As soon as such a resonant circuit is exposed to a corresponding electromagnetic field insided an interrogation zone it transmits a reply signal with its resonant frequency.
It is an object of the present invention to provided a simple, economical method, a corresponding device and a web material manufactured by the method for the purposes of electronic article surveillance.
The object of the present with regard to the method is accomplished in that sections of a second web material cut to a predetermined length are conveyed in a direction transverse to the running direction of a first continuous material web and are applied to the first material web. An application example of web materials produced in this manner follows below.
The previously mentioned strip elements for electronic article surveillance come in a length of several centimeters (e.g., 3 cm). Labels, each containing one strip element, are conventionally provided in the form of a roll of labels and dispensed by means of suitable dispensing devices. Ifxe2x80x94as is usualxe2x80x94the strip elements measuring several centimeters in length are wound up in the longitudinal direction to a roll of labels, one roll of labels will contain relatively few labels. The picture is quite different, however, if the strip elements are wound up in the transverse direction to the dispensing direction. It is then possible to materially increase the number of strip elements per roll of labels.
The transverse arrangement of the strip elements affords particular advantages when it is considered how these strip elements are normally produced: A relatively wide soft magnetic endless strip is produced; this endless strip is subsequently split into several soft magnetic endless strips lying in side-by-side arrangement. A label applied from the side to the first material web thus contains several parallel strip elements. This way it is possible to achieve a further notable reduction in the production costs for label rolls containing strip elements.
According to a further application example, sections cut from a thin-film material are applied to an endless strip made of thin-film material (materials of this type are described in detail in European Patent EP 0 295 028). For production-related reasons, thin-film materials display a preferential direction, i.e., the reply signal is at its maximum level when the interrogation field is oriented parallel to this preferential direction but is at zero level when the angle of incidence is perpendicular to the preferential direction. If two layers of thin-film materials are arranged perpendicular to each other, the security element in question will always be excited into transmitting a reply signal regardless of its orientation in the interrogation zone.
The method of the present invention is characterized in that according to an advantageous further aspect the sections of predetermined length cut from the second material web can be applied to the first material web in steps or continuously. The advantage of the continuous method is, of course, the higher production rate.
The object of the present invention with regard to the device is accomplished in that a guide device is provided for a first material web, at least one dispensing device for feeding the sections of a predetermined length cut from a second material web is provided at right angles to the guide device, and a conveying device is provided to take successively from the dispensing device those sections of predetermined length cut from the second material web and affix them to the first material web either directly a side by side a or with a gap in between.
While in use of just a single dispensing device the sections are applied to the first material web in steps, with two or more dispensing devices a it is possible for the device of the present invention to work continuously. All that is necessary in this case is for there to be a certain distance between each of the n dispensing devices and for the sections to be fed at a rate coordinated with the running speed of the first material web. The rate at which the sections are fed has to be set at least high enough for a section to be in the correct xe2x80x9creadyxe2x80x9d position as soon as that area of the first material web is reached where the section is to be applied.
According to an advantageous further aspect of the device of the present invention, provision is made for the dispensing device to be a conveyor belt, for at least one electromagnet to be positioned in the inner space formed by the revolving conveyor belt, for at least one further electromagnet to be provided in the area underneath the first material web where the sections of the second material web are to be applied to the first material web, and for a control/regulating unit to be provided to switch the electromagnets on and off so that the sections of the second material web are applied to the first material web.
Furthermore, in accordance with a favorable embodiment of the device of the present invention the following is proposed: A stop or a sensor for detecting the correct position of the section of the second material web relative to the first material web is arranged in the end zone of the conveying device; the control/regulating unit switches the first electromagnet off and the second electromagnet on as soon as the stop or the sensor signals that the section of predetermined length cut from the second material web has reached the predetermined position relative to the first material web.
According to an advantageous further aspect of the device of the present invention, provision is made for n dispensing devices arranged at a relative distance of (2n+1)*(b+z), where b is the width of the sections of the second material web, and z the desired distance between two consecutive sections of the second material web. This embodiment permits the n dispensing devices to work parallel to each other, i.e., without time off-set. Obviously, the control effort is thus reduced considerably.
The advantages of a further aspect of the device of the present invention, which involve the setting of the running speed of the first material web so that the sections of predetermined length of the second material web are applied to the first material web in a continuous process, have already been mentioned in the foregoing.
Advantageously, provision is made for a take-up reel onto which the finished web material is wound.
The object of the present invention with regard to the security element is accomplished in that the first material web is a continuous material web to which the sections of a predetermined length cut from a second material web made of a magnetic material are conveyed in a direction transverse to the running direction (x) of the first material web and applied thereto.
Preferably, the first material web is a substrate; and sections of a predetermined length cut from the second material web are adhesive labels, each containing at least one security element for electronic article surveillance.
Alternatively, the security elements are a plurality of deactivatable or non-deactivatable strip elements arranged parallel to each other and in a direction transverse to the running direction (x) of the first material web.
A further embodiment of the security element of the present invention provides for the first material web to be a thin-film material whose preferential direction extends transverse or parallel to the running direction (x) of the first material web, and for the sections of predetermined length (x) cut from the second material web to be equally thin-film labels whose preferential direction extends respectively parallel or transverse to the running direction (x) of the first material web.
Similarly, it is possible for the sections of a predetermined length cut from the second material web to be resonant labels.

Method and device for producing security elements for electronically securing goods and a corresponding security element

Abstract: The present invention proposes a simple, economical method, a corresponding device for the production of web material, as well as a web material manufactured by the method for the purposes of electronic article surveillance.

Abstract: With regard to the method the present invention is accomplished in that sections of a predetermined length cut from a second material web are conveyed in a direction transverse to the running direction (x) of a first continuous material web and are applied to the first material web.


An engagement-pressure control portion and a first torque decrease control portion are provided. The engagement-pressure control portion controls an engagement pressure for a friction engagement element to be engaged when an automatic transmission upshifts so that the engagement pressure increases to a standby pressure at which an inertia phase does not start on the condition that torque output from a power source is equal to a first predetermined value, and then the engagement pressure is maintained at the standby pressure. The first torque decrease control portion controls the torque output from the power source so that the torque gradually decreases from the first predetermined value after the engagement pressure for the friction engagement element is maintained at the standby pressure, and a predetermined condition is satisfied.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a control apparatus for a vehicle, and a method of controlling a vehicle. More specifically, the invention relates to a technology in which torque output from a power source is boosted during a toque phase when an automatic transmission upshifts.
2. Description of the Related Art
When an automatic transmission upshifts, a driving force decreases during a torque phase, and then the driving force increases and a shock occurs when the torque phase ends and an inertia phase starts. To suppress the shock when the automatic transmission shifts, the technology in which the torque is boosted during the torque phase is proposed.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-248466 (JP-A-2001-248466) describes an upshift shock reduction apparatus for an automatic transmission for a vehicle that includes a power train that includes a power source and the automatic transmission. When the automatic transmission upshifts, the upshift shock reduction apparatus boosts torque output from the power source, and then decreases the torque during the torque phase, thereby reducing a shock due to a decrease in the torque during the torque phase.
The upshift shock reduction apparatus described in the patent publication changes a timing at which the torque output from the power source starts to be decreased after the torque is boosted, according to the load of the power source so that the torque reliably starts to be decreased before the start of the inertia phase. Thus, although the start of the inertia phase chances according to the load of the power source, the torque reliably starts to be decreased before the start of the inertia phase. Therefore, the torque output from the power source is not maintained at a large value until the inertia phase starts. As a result, it is possible to avoid a problem that a shock occurs in an initial stage during the start of the inertia phase, or a problem that the inertia phase does not start until the end of the decrease in the torque.
The progress of the gear shift depends on the relation between torque input to the automatic transmission and transmission torque of a friction engagement element to be engaged (engagement pressure for the friction engagement element). When the transmission torque exceeds a value set in accordance with the input torque, the inertia phase starts. It is important to start the inertia phase by appropriately controlling the relation between the input torque and the transmission torque. However, the upshift shock reduction apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-248466 decreases the increased engine torque in a stepwise manner during the torque phase. Therefore, it is difficult to appropriately control the relation between the input torque and the transmission torque. As a result, a shock may occur during the gear shift.

Control apparatus for vehicle and method of controlling vehicle


A system and method of detecting a type of media for an imaging apparatus. In the system and method of the present invention, a backside of the media is scanned or read to detect the presence of indicia on the backside of the media. The spacing between the repeated indicia on the media is measured for the purpose of detecting the type of media. That is, the system of the present invention includes a sensor that makes sequential spatial measurements of a moving media that contains repeated indicia to determine a repeat frequency and repeat distance of the indicia. The repeat distance is then compared against known values to determine the type of media present.

In the processing of media in, for example, a printer or scanner, knowledge of the type of media being processed is beneficial, to optimize the use of the media and to assure that the processing that is performed on the media is consistent with the specific type of media in the processor.
There are many methods of detecting media type. Some of these methods require additional manufacturing steps, such as applying a special mark, a barcode or a notch on the media. This adds to the cost of manufacturing the media and also creates unsightly markings on the media.
During the manufacture of media, logos or other indicia are often printed on the backside in a repeating pattern due to the web printing manufacturing methodology. If the indicia spacings are unique for each type of product, then the spacing of the indicia can differentiate product type.

Media detecting method and system for an imaging apparatus


The present invention comprises a terminator which features an internal termination resistor and capacitor mounted on a substrate which is in electrical and mechanical communication with a center terminal pin at one end, and the connector body at the other end. The body of the terminator is grounded via the connection of the terminator to a cooperating connector. The present invention includes a support insulator which protects the internal components of the terminator by preventing transmission of tensile, torsional, and bending stresses through the terminal into the termination chip assembly. The stresses are absorbed by means of a supportive insulator which frictionally supports a textured section of the center terminal within the terminator. The stresses typically occur during installation or removal of the terminator to or from a connector. With the present invention it is possible to twist and bend the metal terminal of the terminator to the point of fracture without damaging the termination chip. Additionally, the performance of the terminator is improved since the connection from the substrate of the termination chip to the terminator body has been enhanced, thereby reducing the high levels of intermodulation distortion associated with prior art terminators.

Coaxial cables are used in many applications, such as local area networks or cable television (CATV) systems. In these types of applications, when a computer system is removed from the local area network or a television receiver is removed from the CATV cabling network, the cable should be terminated to avoid undue signal reflections, noise or an impedance mismatch.
A terminator is an electronic device which absorbs surplus power in a cable system, improving signal quality. A terminator typically includes a body having a cavity therein, a termination chip positioned within the cavity, and a terminal which extends from the termination chip to beyond the end of the body. The terminal and the termination chip are fixed within the cavity of the body. The body includes a section for mating with a connector such that the terminal is brought into electrical communication with a center conductor of the connector when the terminator is mated with the connector. There are several terminators available in the marketplace. Most terminator designs are susceptible to damage when excessive force is applied to the center conductor, such as when the terminator is installed or removed from a cooperating connector. This is due to the fragile nature of the electronic components of the chip inside the assembly which are subjected to the forces applied to the terminal as part of the installation of the terminator onto a connector.


An especially configured, ringless, container-lid design is disclosed having improved sealing characteristics applicable to paint containers for the consuming public. The rim portion of the container is provided with a tapered, especially shaped wall section terminating in a curled bead which is received in a sealing groove in the lid. The container rim section is rigidized by a single protrusion in the form of a stiffening groove to prevent vertical collapse of the container. The lid has an inverted U-shaped groove sealingly engaging the container's bead. Extending from the inner wall segment of the U-shaped groove in the lid is a frusto conical wall segment extending radially-inwardly and vertically-upwardly to a flat, annular, radially-inwardly extending surface which in turn terminates in a downwardly-extruding frusto conical surface so that a raised collecting basin is formed in the lid. The collecting basin provides a mechanism resisting lid sealing groove deformation when the lid is pierced for tint plug insertion while effectively providing an ingress-egress path for paint flow to prevent any potential for paint leakage during mixing of the paint in automatic shaker machines.

A.) Ring Cans
Conventional metal containers, particularly paint containers and the like used by the consuming public are cylindrical in shape, and typically comprise a container body, a bottom plate closing one end of the container, a ring which is secured to the open end of the container and a lid or a plug which fits into the ring to close the container. Reference may be had to U.S. Pat. No. 4,421,247 to Lombardo et al for a typical example showing the plug and ring construction and the fit therebetween.
The cylindrical container body is usually formed from a rectangular flat piece of sheet metal rolled into a cylinder with the sides joined together by a continuous soldered side seam and a circular bottom plate is then attached, usually by a crimped double seam, to one of the open ends of the cylinder. At the other end of the cylinder, an annular, grooved ring member is similarly attached. Various types of seams can be used and some container are simply drawn or stamped into a one piece container body although the seamed construction described is widely used.
Paint containers of the type described have proven acceptable for their intended function and use. There are, however, a number of drawbacks which are principally centered about or arise because of the ring and plug construction described.
From the viewpoint of a can manufacturer, the ring is an unnecessary appendage which, if removed, would materially simplify the container. That is the container could be manufactured with less metal. The container could also be manufactured quicker and more easily because making the ring and then seaming the ring to the container's side wall opening would not be required. Thus, if the ring could be eliminated, the cost of the container would materially decrease.
From the consumer's viewpoint, the ring is undesirable because, despite several patented concepts to the contrary, the ring collects paint and prevents the container from being resealed in an air-tight manner. The ring also inhibits the ability of the user to pour the contents of the container. The ring also prevents all the contents of the container from being emptied.
A less obvious drawback of the plug-ring design is that stacking or nesting of the containers, one on top of the other, cannot occur with conventional designs. Stacking is important from both a shipping and dealer inventory standpoint. Such a feature is simply not readily available with conventional designs because the ring sealing grooves interfere with or prevent the formation of a plug or lid which can function as an interlocking member.
Within the container art, the ring is viewed as a necessary evil which is required to meet the stringent requirements of the paint industry so that, at least initially, an air-tight, shock resistant seal is achieved for the container body. Inherent in the ring-plug seal approach is the elimination of any problems which might otherwise result in attempting to seal, in a repeatable manner, a soldered seam. That is the container is rolled and maintained in a cylindrical shape by a longitudinal soldered seam which extends the entire length of the container. More precisely, each longitudinal end of the container is formed as a "U" and the ends are interlocked, crimped and soldered. The soldered seam is thus four times the thickness of the metal. By crimping the ring to the open end of the container and over the soldered seam permits the plug to be sealed within seamless grooves formed in the ring. The ring-plug seal is taught in the container art as being effective because of the multiplicity of sealing surfaces. In practice, it is believed that the ring-plug closure initially operates as a seal because i) there is no soldered seam to seal and ii) an interference fit is established between the ring and the plug. That is, as the plug is wedged into the ring, various interference fits are formed by opposing wedge angles between the plug and ring which permanently deform the metal so that the lid is prevented from popping off when the container is dropped. Inherently, the effectiveness of the interference fit is diminished once the plug is removed from and then reapplied to the ring since the metal has already undergone a plastic deformation.

Ringless paint container with drip free lid


When a plurality of image data are received, a form data from among at least one form data and a format data from among at least one format data are selected based on number of the image data. The image data, selected form data and format data are combined to generate an output image.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technology for combining image data and format depicting data.
2. Description of the Related Art
Digital still cameras have become very popular. In these digital still cameras, photographed digital images are stored in a recording medium such as a memory card.
When printing the photographed digital images, the digital still camera is connected to an external device, such as a personal computer, and the photographed digital images are transmitted to the external device. The photographed digital images are then printed by a printer attached to the external device.
However, the job of connecting a digital still camera to a personal computer, transferring the photographed digital images from the digital still camera to the personal computer, connecting a printer to the personal computer, and operating the personal computer to print the photographed digital images on the printer is not an easy job for a common man. To make the printing process easy, there has been developed a technology in which a digital still camera can be directly connected to a printer.
Japanese Patent Application Laid Open Nos. H11-8831, 2000-71575, 2002-16833 disclose various techniques for printing images with or without using a personal computer.
In some conventional digital still cameras it is possible to insert images into spaces prepared in a template form. However, when the number of images to be printed does not match with the spaces in the form, an undesirable result is obtained. For example, when the spaces are more and the images to be printed are less, some of the spaces remain blank.

Camera and printer system and method allowing capturing and formatting multiple images based on the number received


An improved wire and cable packaging system for use with a spool wound with wire rotatable about a spiral-wrapped paper tube includes a container and a unitary insert, disposable in the container, both made of cardboard. The container includes a pair of retaining flaps and a pay-out slot for dispensing the wire. The insert is adapted to fit inside the container and is provided for receiving and supporting the tube when assembled. The insert includes a base with a pair of end walls extending vertically from opposing ends of the base. The end walls each having a support flap extending therefrom that is foldable about bend lines to a vertical position, adjacent the end walls, for improving support strength. The insert includes a pair of support flutes centrally formed about each bend line to define a cradle for receiving the tube. The retaining flaps of the container also have a flute for engaging the tube when the retaining flaps are moved from an open position to a closed position to thereby hold the tube and the insert in place.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an improved packaging system for storing, transporting, and dispensing wire or cable.
2. Related Art
Wire shipping and dispensing boxes are well-known. Particularly, wire and cable packaging designers have focused their efforts on providing a package that is easy to use by an installer of the wire. Thus, there has been much investigation in the art relating to techniques for solving this problem of easily dispensing the packaged wire or cable--the so-called payoff problem. Initially, the payoff problem solution was separate from the packaging. For example, for wire shipped on spools, the installer had to purchase or rent payoff equipment that allowed the spool to turn freely while the installer pulled wire through a conduit, or the like. The industry responded with the development of the so-called "knock-out" carton. The "knock-out" carton eliminated the need for separate payoff equipment, but had the undesirable tendency to allow the wire to twist during installation, causing a tangle which could not be pulled through the conduit. Others have improved upon the "knock-out" carton to eliminate the above-mentioned twisting problem; however, such designs introduced another problem--in those designs, the wire had a tendency to tangle inside the box during payoff.
An improvement over these early systems was the introduction of a so-called spool-in-a-box design. The general operation of these designs permit the spool to spin inside the box, thus negating the need for external payoff equipment. Such a package has the benefit of reducing the number of different packages stocked by a distributor or contractor. Further, the spool-in-a-box designs are flexible. The wire or cable contained therein may be paid out directly using the package itself, or, the spool may be removed from the package and placed in traditional racks or payoff equipment, if desired.
However, conventional spool-in-a-box designs are not without their drawbacks. In particular, conventional designs have employed a great variety of material in their construction, thus increasing costs, weight, and complicating recyclability. For example, one conventional design uses plastic inserts to support the spool for rotation, which are expensive, require special tooling and molding equipment, and are likely provided by a source other than the wire container supplier itself, thus requiring coordination among multiple vendors. Others in the art have further used a variety of wood, and hardboard in their designs. In addition to the foregoing deficiencies with respect to weight, cost, and recyclability, the conventional designs have also often been found lacking in performance.
Accordingly, an improved wire and cable storing and dispensing package is needed that minimizes or eliminates one or more of the problems as set forth above.


This invention is directed to a flash spun plexifilamentary strand material comprising blends of thermoplastic material including polyethylene and polypropylene, the resulting strand has a unique morphology comprising a three dimensional integral plexus of semicrystalline fibrous elements.

This invention relates to fibers that are flash-spun from blends of polymers that include two or more polyolefin polymers. More particularly, the invention relates to flash-spun plexifilamentary fibers comprised of a polymer blend that includes significant polyethylene and polypropylene components.
The art of flash-spinning strands of plexifilamentary film-fibriis from polymer in a solution or a dispersion is known in the art. The term "plexifilamentary" means a three-dimensional integral network of a multitude of thin, ribbon-like, film-fibril elements of random length and with a mean film thickness of less than about 4 microns and with a median fibril width of less than about 25 microns. In plexifilamentary structures, the film-fibril elements are generally coextensively aligned with the longitudinal axis of the structure and they intermittently unite and separate at irregular intervals in various places throughout the length, width and thickness of the structure to form a continuous three-dimensional network.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,227,784 to Blades et al. (assigned to E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Company ("DuPont")) describes a process wherein a polymer in solution is forwarded continuously to a spin orifice at a temperature above the boiling point of the solvent, and at autogenous pressure or greater, and is flash-spun into a zone of lower temperature and substantially lower pressure to generate a strand of plexifilamentary material. U.S. Pat. No. 3,227,794 to Anderson et al. (assigned to DuPont) teaches that plexifilamentary film-fibrils are best obtained from solution when fiber-forming polymer is dissolved in a solvent at a temperature and at a pressure above the pressure at which two liquid phases form, which pressure is generally known as the cloud point pressure at the given temperature. This solution is passed to a pressure let-down chamber, where the pressure decreases below the cloud point pressure for the solution thereby causing phase separation. The resulting two phase dispersion of a solvent-rich phase in a polymer-rich phase is discharged through a spinneret orifice to form the plexifilamentary strand.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,484,899 to Smith (assigned to DuPont) discloses an apparatus with a horizontally oriented spin orifice through which a plexifilamentary strand can be flash-spun. The polymer strand is conventionally directed against a rotating lobed deflector baffle to spread the strand into a more planar web structure that the baffle alternately directs to the left and right as the web descends to a moving collection belt. The fibrous sheet formed on the belt has plexifilamentary film-fibril networks oriented in an overlapping multi-directional configuration.
European Patent Publication 645480 filed by Unitika Ltd. discloses a plexifilamentary fiber structure that is flash-spun from a solution of polyolefin and polyester polymers dissolved in methylene chloride. The polyolefins disclosed include polyethylene and polypropylene polymers and copolymers. The polyesters disclosed include polyethylene terephthalate and polybutylene terephthalate. The Unitika patent discloses that the mixing ratio (by weight) of the polyolefin to the polyester is from 5/95 to 95/5.
British Patent Specification 970,070 (assigned to DuPont) discloses nonwoven sheets made from fibers that were flash-spun from a blend of polyethylene and a minor amount of another polymer such as polyamide, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, or polyurethane. The patent suggests that a "blends of linear polyethylene and minor amounts of branched polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutylene, polyisobutylene, polybutadiene, polyvinyl chloride, or cellulose acetate" might be advantageous. However, the patent does not appear to disclose the actual flash-spinning of polyethylene and polypropylene blends.
Many improvements to the basic flash-spinning process have been reported or patented over the years. An alternative process for flash-spinning a plexifilamentary strand according to which a mechanically generated dispersion of melt-spinnable polymer, carbon dioxide and water under high pressure is flashed through a spin orifice into a zone of substantially lower temperature and pressure to form a plexifilamentary strand is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,192,468 to Coates et al. (assigned to DuPont). Flash-spinning of polyethylene to produce non-woven sheets is practiced commercially and is the subject of numerous patents, including U.S. Pat. No. 3,851,023 to Brethauer et al (assigned to DuPont).
The commercial application for flash-spinning has been primarily directed to the manufacture of sheets of bonded polyethylene plexifilaments. Polyethylene is an ideal polymer for flash-spinning. It can be flash-spun into a strong well fibrillated plexifilament over a wide range of processing conditions. However, its melting point is relatively low (.about.140.degree. C.), and therefore it is not suitable for applications where end use temperatures are 140.degree. C. or higher. One such application is steam sterilizable sterile packing, and CSR (i.e., central storage room) wraps used in the hospitals for steam sterilization. Polypropylene, on the other hand, has a higher melting point (165.degree. C.) that is above the temperatures used during steam sterilization. However, polypropylene is more difficult to flash-spin than polyethylene and as-spun fibers are not as strong. In addition, polypropylene requires substantially higher spin temperatures than polyethylene.
There is a need for a flash-spun product that enjoys the strength and ease of processing associated with polyethylene, but that can withstand higher end use temperatures.

Fibers flash-spun from blends of polyolefin polymers


A network system where vessel instruments including sensors are connected through a communication network is provided. The sensors generate the same type of navigation data. The system includes a first network for realizing one-to-many communication, a first group instruments connected with each other through the first network, and a second group instruments connected to the first network with a different protocol from the first network. The first group instrument is an input/output gate between the second group instruments and the first network. At least one of the first group instruments has a server function. The first group instruments obtain identification information and types of navigation data of the second group instruments using the first group instruments as the gates, and the server-function instrument obtains identification information and types of navigation data of the instruments. The server function instrument selects one of the sensors generating the same type of navigation data, and outputs a sharing instruction of the data of the selected sensor, through the first network. The first group instrument provides the sharing instruction to the second group instruments using the first group instrument as the gate.

For the convenience of operators and safety of navigation, various detection devices, such as fish finders, sonar; radars, and GPS units are equipped on a vessel, and this type of detection devices are typically interconnected to form a network system on the vessel. Thus, the typical vessel may equip a plurality of the same type of the detection devices.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-150872 discloses a vessel that includes a plurality of ultrasonic detectors (e.g., fish finders or sonar), and a plurality of indicators for the detectors (the indicator may be integrally provided or may be separately provided to the detection device).
In the vessel instrument network system of Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-150872, navigation data generated by the detection devices can be selectively displayed on any of the indicators by a user's selection. Thus, the selection must be made by the user manually, and must be made considering which detection device provides the best possible results, etc. In addition, the detection devices that generate the same type of the navigation data may not be operated at the same time. Therefore, in this case, one of the detection devices must be manually disabled or disconnected from the network, and thereby further requiring the operator to perform troublesome operations.


A 3D image display apparatus includes a display panel including a plurality of pixels to display an image and a lenticular lens plate disposed in front of the display panel and including a plurality of lenticular lenses. The pixels are arranged to have an arrangement axis inclined with respect to a vertical axis of the display panel, and the lenticular lenses have a lens axis inclined with respect to the vertical axis of the display panel.

1. Field of Disclosure
The present invention relates to a three-dimensional (3D) image display apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a 3D image display apparatus with improved display quality.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a 3D image display apparatus provides a left-eye image and a right-eye image separately to a left eye and a right eye of an observer. The left-eye image and right-eye image are offset to provide binocular disparity. The observer watches the left- and right-eye images provided from the 3D image display apparatus through each eye, and thereby perceives a 3D image.
In order to provide the left-eye and right-eye images separately to the left and right eyes of the observer, polarizing glasses are frequently used. The polarizing glasses utilize linear-polarization to separate the left-eye image and the right-eye image. Such polarizing glasses are, however, inconvenient for the observer to wear when viewing 3D images in, for instance, 3D movies.
Recently, various methods have been suggested that allow the observer to perceive the 3D image without having to wear polarizing glasses. Such methods include, for instance, a lenticular method, a parallax method, an integral photography method, a holography method, etc.
However, a cross-talk phenomenon and a moiré effect occur in the 3D image display apparatus employing the lenticular method.

Three-dimensional image display apparatus


Some embodiments relate to a semiconducting device that includes a substrate, a die and an interconnect device. The die and interconnect device are attached to an upper surface of the substrate. The semiconducting device further includes a first wire that is bonded to the substrate and to the interconnect device and a second wire that is bonded to the interconnect device and to the die. Other example embodiments include a stack of dice that has a bottom die attached to the upper surface of the substrate and a top die stacked onto the other dice in the stack of dice. The interconnect device is attached to an upper surface of any die in the stack of dice such that a first wire is bonded to the substrate and to the interconnect device and a second wire is bonded to the interconnect device and to the top die.

High performance semiconducting devices are continually being redesigned in order to increase processing speed and/or power. Each increase in processing speed and power generally carries a cost of increased size such that additional innovations must be made in order to minimize the size of the semiconducting devices. Manufacturers of semiconducting devices continually try to improve product performance and reduce product size while minimizing production costs.
Several methods have been employed to improve the speed of semiconducting devices while minimizing the overall size of semiconducting devices. One method includes stacking multiple dice onto a substrate that electrically connects one or more of the stacked dice to other electronic components which make up part of an electronic system.
One drawback with stacking dice in this manner is that there are often problems associated with wire-bonding one or more of the stacked dice to the substrate. In some instances the wires may be inadvertently swept away from their intended location as the stack of dice is encapsulated. In addition, as the number of dice in a stack increases, the drawbacks that are associated with wire-bonding may be exacerbated because many of the wires need to be relatively long in order to reach some of the dice in the stack.
The drawbacks associated with wire-bonding may be present when even just one die is placed onto a substrate. As an example, the wires that are used to bond the substrate to the die may be problematically long depending on the design of the substrate and/or die.

Semiconducting device that includes wirebonds


An acoustic resonator structure comprises a piezoelectric layer having a first surface and a second surface, a first electrode disposed adjacent to the first surface, and a second electrode disposed adjacent to the second surface. The first electrode comprises a first conductive layer disposed adjacent to the piezoelectric layer and having a first acoustic impedance, and a second conductive layer disposed on a side of the first conductive layer opposite the piezoelectric layer and having a second acoustic impedance greater than the first acoustic impedance. The second electrode may be disposed between a substrate and the piezoelectric layer, and it may comprise a third conductive layer disposed adjacent to the piezoelectric layer and having a third acoustic impedance, and a fourth conductive layer disposed on a side of the third conductive layer opposite the piezoelectric layer and having a fourth acoustic impedance greater than the third acoustic impedance.

Acoustic resonators can be used to implement signal processing functions in various electronic applications. For example, some cellular phones and other communication devices use acoustic resonators to implement frequency filters for transmitted and/or received signals. Several different types of acoustic resonators can be used according to different applications, with examples including bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonators such as thin film bulk acoustic resonators (FBARs), coupled resonator filters (CRFs), stacked bulk acoustic resonators (SBARs), double bulk acoustic resonators (DBARs), and solidly mounted resonators (SMRs).
A typical acoustic resonator comprises a layer of piezoelectric material sandwiched between two plate electrodes in a structure referred to as an acoustic stack. Where an input electrical signal is applied between the electrodes, reciprocal or inverse piezoelectric effect causes the acoustic stack to mechanically expand or contract depending on the polarization of the piezoelectric material. As the input electrical signal varies over time, expansion and contraction of the acoustic stack produces acoustic waves (or modes) that propagate through the acoustic resonator in various directions and are converted into an output electrical signal by the piezoelectric effect. Some of the acoustic waves achieve resonance across the acoustic stack, with the resonant frequency being determined by factors such as the materials, dimensions, and operating conditions of the acoustic stack. These and other mechanical characteristics of the acoustic resonator determine its frequency response.
In general, the performance of an acoustic resonator can be evaluated by the values of its parallel resistance Rp, series resistance Rs, quality (Q) factor, and its electromechanical coupling coefficient kt2. The series resistance Rs is the smallest value of magnitude of input impedance of the acoustic resonator, and series resonance frequency Fs is a frequency at which that minimum occurs. The parallel resistance Rp is the largest value of magnitude of input impedance of the acoustic resonator, and parallel resonance frequency Fp is a frequency at which that maximum occurs. The Q-factor is a parameter that quantifies the amount of energy lost in one cycle of oscillations. The electromechanical coupling coefficient kt2 is a normalized difference between parallel and series resonance frequencies Fp and Fs and is typically expressed in percent values (%).
Devices with higher Rp, higher Q-factor and lower Rs are considered to have superior performance compared to devices with lower Rp, lower Q-factor and higher Rs. Thus, other things being equal, it is desirable to provide a filter with an acoustic resonator having a higher Rp, higher Q-factor, and lower Rs. Nevertheless, these performance parameters are typically in a tradeoff relationship with other design factors, such as the cost and size of an acoustic resonator. For instance, in some designs, reducing the size of an acoustic resonator to achieve reduced cost may degrade one or more of the performance parameters. Accordingly, there is a general need for improved resonator designs that achieve improvements such as cost and size scaling without unduly compromising performance.

Acoustic resonator comprising acoustic redistribution layers

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