A method is provided for use in communication involving first and second parties. The method includes determining a first capacity associated with a first channel of a communication link between the first and second parties. The method also includes assigning a second capacity to a second channel of the communication link based on the first capacity and a third capacity associated with at least the first and second channels.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to communication systems and, more particularly, to assigning uplink and/or downlink capacities in communication systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
Parties in a conventional communication system typically exchange signals over a channel that is divided into an uplink channel and a downlink channel. One example of a conventional wired communication system is a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL). A DSL system, such as Asymmetric DSL, provides high-speed data connectivity over a local loop or a final mile of the communication network. The DSL connection includes an uplink and a downlink channel. Subscribers to the DSL system contract for a selected uplink capacity and a selected downlink capacity. For example, a subscriber to the DSL system may contract for an uplink capacity of 1 Mbps and a downlink capacity of 8 Mbps.
Conventional wireless communication systems include one or more access points, which may also be referred to as base stations or node-Bs, for providing wireless connectivity to one or more access terminals, which may also be referred to using terms such as user equipment, subscriber equipment, and mobile units. Exemplary access terminals include cellular telephones, personal data assistants, smart phones, text messaging devices, laptop computers, desktop computers, and the like. Each access point may provide wireless connectivity to one or more access terminals, such as the access terminals in a geographical area, or cell, associated with the access point. For example, an access point may provide wireless connectivity to access terminals located in a "hot spot" according to an IEEE 802.11 protocol, such as a WiFi protocol. Alternatively, the access point may provide wireless connectivity to access terminals located in the hot spot according to an IEEE 802.16 protocol, a Bluetooth protocol, and or other protocols.
In operation, an access terminal maintains a wireless communication link, or leg, with an access point. The wireless communication link typically includes an uplink for transmitting information from the access terminal to the access point and a downlink for transmitting information from the access point to the access terminal. The downlink may also be referred to as a forward link and the uplink may be referred to as a reverse link. The capacity of the wireless communication link is typically shared by the uplink and the downlink between the access terminal and the access point, as well as by uplinks and/or downlinks associated with other access terminals. Thus, the capacity of the wireless communication link is often a scarce resource. Portions of the available uplink capacity and/or the downlink capacity may therefore be assigned to the wireless communication link between the access terminal and the access point. For example, a capacity of 10 Gbps may be assigned to the uplink and a capacity of 10 Gbps may be assigned to the downlink.
The wired and/or wireless communication systems use a variety of techniques to enforce the agreed-upon capacity limits for the uplink and/or the downlink. For example, a DSL system may simply drop transmissions in excess of the contracted uplink and/or downlink capacities. For another example, if an access point in a wireless communication system receives information that would need to be transmitted at a capacity of more than the contracted downlink capacity to the access terminal on the downlink, the access point may only transmit information to the access terminal at or below the contracted downlink capacity and choose to ignore, or drop, surplus traffic in excess of the agreed-upon downlink capacity limit. For yet another example, if an access terminal attempts to transmit more than the contracted uplink capacity to the access point on the uplink, the access point may choose to ignore, or drop, surplus traffic in excess of the agreed-upon uplink capacity limit. Dropping surplus traffic is sometimes referred to as "traffic policing."
Policing traffic based on the separate uplink and downlink capacity limits may reduce the efficiency of wired and/or wireless communication links. For example, conventional traffic policing techniques cannot adaptively change the uplink and/or downlink capacity limits. Accordingly, if a first party in the network is transmitting information to a second party over the downlink at more than the agreed-upon downlink capacity and the second party is transmitting information to the first party over the uplink at much less than the agreed-upon uplink capacity, the conventional traffic policing technique may drop surplus downlink traffic, even though capacity associated with the uplink may be available. Furthermore, even if the uplink and downlink capacity limits could be determined adaptively, variations in the demand for uplink and/or downlink capacity over time could cause a mismatch between the demand for uplink and/or downlink capacity, as well as the allocated ratio of uplink-to-downlink capacity. Responsibility for policing the uplink or downlink traffic in conventional traffic policing schemes rests with the community of users affected by the surplus traffic, and not the device that transmits the surplus traffic.

Method for assigning uplink and/or downlink capacities based on available capacity


The present invention relates generally to the treatment and prevention of diseases characterized by excess cell proliferation and/or activation. In particular, the present invention provides compositions and methods to suppress the activation and/or proliferation of various cells. In preferred embodiments, the present invention provides compositions and methods to suppress the activation and/or proliferation of mesenchymally derived cells (including, but not limited to hepatic stellate cells), as well as cells with abnormal growth characteristics. In particularly preferred embodiments, the present invention provides compositions and methods to induce fibrosis.

Abnormal cell proliferation is a hallmark of various pathological conditions. In particular, uncontrolled cell growth is associated with diseases such as fibrosis (e.g., hepatic fibrosis), and various other diseases and conditions associated with abnormal cell proliferation.
For example, chronic hepatitis is characterized as an inflammatory liver disease continuing for at least six months without improvement. Chronic hepatitis C represents one form of chronic hepatitis. Left unchecked, chronic hepatitis C can progress to cirrhosis and extensive necrosis of the liver. Although chronic hepatitis C is often associated with deposition of collagen type I leading to hepatic fibrosis, the mechanisms of fibrogenesis remain unknown. Indeed, there is no established treatment for hepatic fibrogenesis related to the over-production of collagen type I (See, e.g., Maher and McGuire, J. Clin. Invest. 86:1641-48 (1990); Chojkier Pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis. In Extracellular Matrix, Marcel Dekker Inc., New York, N.Y., pp. 541-57 [1993]). However, it is known that ribosomal protein S-6 kinases (RSKs) are critical for survival of cells such as the hepatic stellate cells that overproduce the fibrous tissue that results in cirrhosis. Nonetheless, despite the tremendous research effort and funding dedicated fibrotic diseases (e.g., hepatic fibrosis), there remains a need in the art for compositions and methods that are effective in suppressing the activation and/or proliferation of abnormal cells.

Treatment of disease by inducing cell apoptosis

The Regents of the University of California

The United States of America as represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of the General Counsel (024)


The information such as address is to be efficiently formed into wobble components and further the S/N ratio in reproducing the information formed into the wobble components is to be improved. In an optical disc of the present invention, there are recorded in a wobble the address information modulated in accordance with the MSK (minimum shift keying) system and the address information modulated in accordance with a modulation system in which even harmonics signals are added to a sinusoidal carrier signal and in which the polarity of the harmonics signal is changed depending on the sign of the data for modulation.

Up to now, an optical disc having a guide groove, termed circling a pre-groove, has been known. If this pre-groove is formed, the groove and/or the land (area sandwiched between neighboring turns of the groove) becomes a recording track. By this pre-groove, formed in the optical disc, the disc driving side, responsible for recording and/or reproduction, is able to detect components of both edges of the recording track from the reflected laser light to effect servo control so that the laser light will be illuminated centrally of the two edges.
There has so far been known an optical disc in which the pre-groove is caused to meander in meeting with the wobble signal corresponding to FM modulated or PSK modulated carrier signal. In the modulating components of the wobble signal, there is contained e.g., the physical address information of the recording track at the recording positions of the wobble signal. So, the disc driving side, responsible for recording and/or reproduction, is able to detect the wobble signal from signals representing fluctuating components of both edges of the recording tracks (so-called push-pull signals) to demodulate the address information contained in the wobble signal to perform address control of the recording and/or reproducing positions.
However, with the system of inserting e.g., the address information into the wobble signal corresponding to the FM modulated carrier signals, a problem is raised that address reproduction characteristics are deteriorated by cross-talk components from neighboring tracks. In the system of inserting e.g., the address information into the wobble signal by PSK modulating the carrier signal, there is raised a problem that higher harmonics at the phase change points are superimposed on the playback signals to deteriorate reproduction characteristics. Moreover, in the case of the PSK modulation, the higher harmonics components are contained, with the result that the circuit configuration of the wobble signal demodulating circuit becomes complicated.

Disc-shaped recording medium disc driving device and method and apparatus for producing disc


A lighting apparatus of high intensity discharge lamp comprises a DC power source, a series connection of a first and a second transistors; a series connection of a first and a second capacitors connected in parallel with the series connection of the transistors; a series connection including at least an inductor and a discharge lamp connected between a connection point of the transistors and another connection point of the capacitors, and a control circuit for switching on and off of the transistors so as to supply electric power to the discharge lamp. A voltage of the first capacitor is set to be higher than that of the second capacitor corresponding to the capacitances of the first and second capacitors. Thus, the pulse height in negative or positive phase of the rectangular alternating voltage applied to the discharge lamp can be increased without increasing the output voltage from the DC power source.

A circuitry of a conventional lighting apparatus of high intensity discharge lamp is described with reference to FIGS. 49 to 51.
As shown in FIG. 49, the lighting apparatus comprises a DC power supply 1A, a series connection of transistors (MOS-FET) Q1 and Q2, and a series connection of capacitors C1 and C2 which is connected in parallel with the series connection of transistors Q1 and Q2. The lighting apparatus further comprises a series connection of an inductor L1, an ignitor 2, a high intensity discharge lamp (high-luminance discharge lamp) DL and a resistor R1, which is connected between a connection point of the transistors Q1 and Q2 and another connection point of the capacitors C1 and C2. Another capacitor C3 is connected in parallel with a series connection of the ignitor 2, the discharge lamp DL and the resistor R1. The lighting apparatus further comprises a voltage sensing circuit 4, a current sensing circuit 9 and a control circuit 3.
The DC power supply 1A comprises a diode bridge connection DB serving as a full wave rectifier rectifying AC voltage of commercial power source Vs to DC voltage, a boosting chopper 11 constituted by an inductor L11, a transistor Q11 and a diode D11, and a control circuit 12 sensing an output of the boosting chopper 11 and controlling on and off of the transistor Q11 so as to make the voltage of the output of the boosting chopper 11 be a predetermined value.
The ignitor 2 is constituted by a pulse transformer PT and so on which applies a high pulse voltage to the discharge lamp DL while the discharge lamp DL is not lighted. The voltage sensing circuit 4 senses a voltage value applied to the discharge lamp DL. The current sensing circuit 9 senses a current value flowing to the discharge lamp DL from the resistor R1.
The control circuit 3 controls switching on and off of the transistors Q1 and Q2 as shown in FIGS. 50 and 51 so as to supply an electric power to the discharge lamp DL, in which voltage of the electric power has low frequency of rectangular pulse. The control circuit 3 is constituted by a power sensing circuit 330 which calculates an electric power necessary for lighting the discharge lamp DL from sensing results of the voltage sensing circuit 4 and the current sensing circuit 9, and a driving circuit 33 which drives the transistors Q1 and Q2 corresponding to the calculation result.
While the discharge lamp DL is not lighted, the transistors Q1 and Q2 are alternately switched off with a low frequency, but the transistor Q1 is frequently switched on and off with a high frequency in a term T1 while the transistor Q2 is switched off, and the transistor Q2 is frequently switched on and off with a high frequency while the transistor Q1 is switched off, as shown in FIG. 50. By such switching operations, a rectangular alternating voltage VDL having a low frequency is generated. The alternating voltage VDL, on which alternating voltages VP of several kV outputted from the ignitor 2 are further superimposed, is applied to the discharge lamp DL.
When the discharge lamp DL is lighted, a proper rectangular alternating voltage is supplied to the discharge lamp DL, as shown in FIG. 51 owing to similar switching operations. The high frequency of the switching on and off of the transistors Q1 and Q2 is several tens kHz, and the low frequency of the switching on and off of the transistors Q1 and Q2 is defined by a frequency of a term addition of the terms T1 and T2, which is generally in a range from several tens Hz to several hundreds Hz.
The voltage applied to the discharge lamp DL while the discharge lamp DL is not lighted, however, becomes a half of the voltage E outputted from the DC power supply 1A, as shown in FIG. 50. In the high intensity discharge lamp, it is necessary to apply a no-load voltage of about 250V to 450V to both terminals of the discharge lamp while the discharge lamp is not lighted in order to make the transition from glow discharge to arc discharge smoothly, after starting up of the lighting of the discharge lamp. Thus, the voltage E outputted from the DC power supply 1A must be increased to two-fold of the above-mentioned no-load voltage. It causes the increase of stresses and the upsizing of elements of the lighting apparatus.
Another conventional lighting apparatus of high intensity discharge lamp is described with reference to FIGS. 52 to 54, which is, for example, shown in Japanese patent No. 2948600.
As shown in FIG. 52, the lighting apparatus comprises a DC power source 1, a series connection of transistors (bipolar transistors) Tr1 and Tr2, and a series connection of capacitors C1 and C2 which is connected in parallel with the series connection of the transistors Tr1 and Tr2. The capacitors C1 and C2 have the same capacitance. The lighting apparatus further comprises a series connection of an inductance L1 and a high intensity discharge lamp DL which is connected between a connection point of the transistors Tr1 and Tr2 and another connection point of the capacitors C1 and C2, a capacitor C3 connected in parallel with the discharge lamp DL, and diodes D1 and D2 which are connected back to back with the transistors Tr1 and Tr2. Control signals shown in FIG. 53 are respectively supplied to control terminals of the transistors Tr1 and Tr2. The capacitors C1 and C2 are respectively applied to about a half of the voltage of the DC power source 1 so as to be charged.
In terms T1 and T3 shown in FIG. 53, the transistors Tr1 and Tr2 are alternately switched on and off. Thus, high frequency alternating voltages VP shown in FIG. 54 are applied to the discharge lamp DL. In a term T2, the transistor Tr1 is high frequently switched on and off while the transistor Tr2 is switched off, so that a positive DC voltage VDL is applied to the discharge lamp DL. In a term T4, the transistor Tr2 is high frequently switched on and off while the transistor Tr1 is switched off, so that a negative DC voltage VDL is applied to the discharge lamp DL.
By selecting the frequency of switching on and off of the transistors Tr1 and Tr2 in the high frequency state to be a value near to a resonance frequency of the inductor L1 and the capacitor C3 in no-loaded state, it is possible to generate a high voltage which is sufficient to start up the lighting of the discharge lamp can be generated by the inductor L1 and the capacitor C3.
In such the conventional lighting apparatus, even though a half of the voltage E outputted from the DC power source 1 is applied to the discharge lamp DL, the no-load voltage which is sufficiently higher can be applied to the discharge lamp DL with utilizing resonance of the inductor L1 and the capacitor C3. There, however, is a problem that an excessive voltage might be applied to the discharge lamp DL due to the resonance of the inductor L1 and the capacitor C3. It will be the cause of increasing the withstand voltage of the switching elements. Alternatively, it will be the cause of complexity of structure of the control circuit so as to prevent the increase of the withstand voltage of the elements.

Lighting apparatus for high intensity discharge lamp


A dither circuit is monolitically integrated with a subranging ADC to add a dither signal at the input of the ADC's fine quantizer element to randomize its nonlinear quantization level errors. Because the subranging ADC has at least one overlap bit, the amplitude of the dither signal can range up to at least 2.sup.M-1 LSBs of the fine quantizer without saturating it. The digital equivalent of the dither signal is subtracted at the output of the fine quantizer to maintain the ADC's overall SNR. The randomization of only the fine quantizer element avoids gaining up the nonlinear errors associated with the dither signal itself thereby improving the overall SNR. This approach optimizes performance for small input signals while sacrificing flexibility to correct other sources of error.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of reducing nonlinearity errors in a subranging ADC and more specifically to a method for adding a dither signal to only the ADC's fine quantizer to optimize its small signal performance.
2. Description of the Related Art
Analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) are employed to convert "real world" signals into digital signals that are susceptible to manipulation by digital computers. In this context the term "computer" does not refer exclusively to general purpose computers, but includes special processors such as digital signal processors, vector processors, waveform encoders, etc. The most popular circuit designs for ADCs include successive-approximate, integration (single-, dual, and quad-slope, v-to-f, and .SIGMA.-.DELTA.), counter or "servo", flash and subranging types. Each approach has characteristics that make it most useful for a specific class of applications based on its linearity, absolute and relative accuracy, no-missing codes, resolution, conversion speed, stability, and price.
An ADC's linearity is measured by the deviation of its transfer function from the ideal stair-case transfer function. Ideally, the width of each output code, i.e. the quantum of analog input signal for a given digital output code, is exactly 1 least-significant bit (LSB) and the centers of each output code lie along a straight line. An ADC's differential nonlinearity (DNL) is defined as the deviation in code width from the value of 1 LSB. If DNL errors are large, the output code widths may represent excessively large and small ranges of the input signal so that one or more codes may vanish entirely. Integral nonlinearity error is the deviation of the ADC's transfer function from the straight line and represents the accumulated DNL errors. The sources of DNL and INL errors are many, but are primarily attributable to resistor and transistor gain mismatch in comparators and DACs inside the ADC.
ADCs are used in audio and video recording and transmission, in RADAR and SONAR detection and analysis, and in process monitoring and control systems, to name just a few of the myriad ADC applications. The ADC's nonlinearity errors tend to repeat in response to an analog input signal, and thus produce spurs in its frequency response that distort the signal. Because the spurs tend to lie very close to the signal frequency, it is difficult and expensive to remove them using conventional filtering techniques. The most widely used approach to improve linearity is to laser trim the ADC's bias resistors to correct mismatch, and thus reduce the DNL and INL errors directly.
Another approach, as described by Manfred Bartz, Hewlett-Packard Journal, December 1993, pp. 44-45, is to add a dither signal to the analog input signal and subtract its digital equivalent from the output of the ADC. This randomizes the ADC's nonlinear quantization errors and thus distributes them throughout its frequency response, reducing or eliminating the spurs, without degrading the overall SNR.
The degree of improvement is directly related to the magnitude of the dither signal; the larger the dither signal the greater the randomization of the quantization errors. However, if the analog input signal varies over the full-scale input range of the ADC, a dither signal greater than 1 LSB may saturate the ADC thereby lowering the overall SNR. As a practical matter, the analog input signal must be constrained to be no greater than mid-scale to realize any significant benefit from dithering. This effectively wastes one bit of resolution. Furthermore, the dither circuitry is external to the ADC, and thus will not track processing variations or temperature changes.
Flash and subranging ADCs are discussed by Paul Horowitz, Winfield Hill, The Art of Electronics, Cambridge University Press, New York, 1989, pages 621 and 622. The highest conversion rates are attainable using a single N-bit flash quantizer that has 2.sup.N -1 comparators biased 1 LSB apart using a resistive ladder. As the input increases, it causes an increasing number of comparators to switch states. The outputs of the comparators are applied to a logic encoder, which can implement any one of several encoding schemes, including offset binary, 2's complement, sign magnitude, Gray code and binary-coded-decimal (BCD). The great advantage of a flash converter is that the only delays encountered in the conversion process are those attributable to the ladder/comparator stage and to the encoder. However, a high resolution flash ADC is not cost or space efficient due to the enormous number of resistors and comparators.
For these reasons, the flash ADC architecture is employed as a component in a subranging ADC, which capitalizes on the flash ADC's speed but also substantially reduces the number of components. A subranging ADC captures an analog signal using a sample and hold circuit that couples the "held" signal to a course (L-bit) flash-quantizer and a summing amplifier. The course quantizer provides a digital signal to a DAC which "reconstructs" the original analog input signal. The summing amplifier subtracts the reconstructed signal from the held input signal, gains up the residual and feeds it to a fine M-bit flash-quantizer, which converts the residual signal to provide the least significant bits of the subranging ADC. An extra bit(s) is provided in the fine-quantizer to provide an "overlap" that compensates for the quantization level error in the coarse quantizer. To achieve the same resolution as a single N-bit flash quantizer with one overlap bit, the coarse and fine quantizer bit rates satisfy L+M-1=N.
The subranging ADC may exhibit significant nonlinearity errors, which are attributable to its parallel architecture that requires a relatively large number of matched resistors and comparators as compared to other ADC types. Typically, the resistor values are laser trimmed as described above. If Hewlett-Packard's external dithering circuitry were connected around a subranging ADC, the dither signal would randomize the quantization errors in both the coarse and fine quantizers as well as the nonlinear errors in the other circuit components. However, in order to add enough noise to realize these benefits the input signal would have to be constrained to be less than mid-scale of the coarse quantizer. Furthermore, the discrete dithering circuit and ADC would not track processing and temperature variations. Most importantly, the nonlinear errors in the external DAC are gained up by the summing amplifier. This additional noise is significant, and will severely degrade the overall noise figure and SNR of the subranging ADC, especially for small input signals.

Monolithic circuit and method for adding a randomized dither signal to the fine quantizer element of a subranging analog-to digital converter (ADC)


A cable tidying device includes a bracket mounted to a cabinet, a bobbin for wrapping cables inserted into the cabinet, and a locating member for locating the bobbin. The bracket includes a positioning plate defining a positioning hole and a first groove surrounding the positioning hole. The bobbin includes a wrapping axis extending through the first groove, and a driving portion extending from the wrapping axis. The locating member includes a spine plate, a fixing portion, and a spring resisting between the fixing portion and the positioning plate. The spine plate includes a main body, a protruding post protruding from the main body, and a plurality of ratchets spaced from each other. The fixing portion is attached to the protruding post. The driving portion engages with a different ratchet to locate the bobbin in a different position of the first groove.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a cable tidying device.
2. Description of Related Art
An electronic system may comprise a pair of bobbins for wrapping cables on two sides of the electronic system. Different cables extend from different openings of the bobbins. However, without a cable tidying device to adjust length of the cables, it is hard and takes a long time to tidy the long cables of the electronic system.
Therefore, a need exists in the industry to overcome the described limitations.


An indicator for attachment to objects to display elapsed times and/or changes of state, in which a visible display is brought about by color change of the indicator upon reaction of chemical substances and with destruction of a barrier preliminarily separating the chemical substances. The barrier is a separating or covering layer that can be penetrated by selective pitting by a chemical substance preliminarily enclosed by the barrier. An embodiment of the invention includes selective pitting of the barrier member with a resulting visible change of the indicator. Another embodiment of the invention includes initial separation of two chemical substances that can react with one another with visible change, of which at least one reacts chemically with the barrier for the latter's penetration.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to indicators and more particularly to decay indicators, degree of ripeness indicators (in fermentation processes), general elapsed time indicators and the like, which can be applied to objects which are perishable or subjected to other changes of state, to provide to the consumer, user, or any control person a visible display that the moment has arrived in which a change of state in the object, and in the case of the simple elapsed time, has taken place or is to be expected.
2. Description of Related Art
Such indicators have been known in various forms. An indicator in which a visible display is brought about by color or change of the indicator by reaction of chemical substances and with destruction first of a barrier separating chemical substances is the object of prior patent application P 39 07 683 of the applicant. In the prior application, two chemical compounds reacting with one other under visible color change are first impeded in the reaction by microencapsulation. If the barrier of the reactant formed by the microcapsules is then destroyed by action of mechanical pressure, the reaction can begin.
Numerous other indicators to display elapsed times and/or changes of state have also become known, which aim at a solution of the varied requirements of indicators for respective purposes.
DE-30 29 289 shows an aging indicator, which is to be applied, for example, to perishable foods and consists of at least one sealed container, which includes a single compartment and contains at least one fluid, which is able to travel or to diffuse outward as a function of time and temperature through at least one part of the container, and the aging of the related product is evaluated by determining the amount of fluid leaked from this container.
DE-PS 32 10 907 relates to an indicator, in which the time/temperature stress of objects is detected in a fluid medium by the extent of penetration of a solvent and to control the penetration depth to which gelling agents are added to the solids contained in a storage element. Between the storage element and the fluid substance, a barrier made from a film strip is present, however, and this film strip initially has to be removed.
DE-PS 37 17 025 shows a display device, in which an indicator compound contained in a storage chamber is brought into contact by a channel with an indicator strip by using outside pressure, and the discoloration of the indicator strip begins and continues over the entire strip and with continuous discoloration the end of the period is indicated. Between the storage antechamber and the display channel, a gate can be made which basically prevents penetration of the indicator compound into the display channel.

Indicator for display of elapsed times and/or of the moment when changes of state occur

Badische Tabakmanufaktur Roth-Handle GmbH


A decoding system for use with a drug delivery device having a drug dose dialing mode and a drug dose delivery mode is presented where the decoding system comprising has a first sensor configured to read encoded information from a first rotatable component of a drug delivery device, a second sensor configured to read encoded information from a second rotatable component of a drug delivery device, wherein the second sensor comprises an optical sensor configured to be directed at the second rotatable component, and a processor. The processor is configured to receive signals from the first and second sensors, and to determine from the received signals whether the drug delivery device is in a drug dose dialing mode or a drug dose delivery mode.

Pen type drug delivery devices have application where regular injection by persons without formal medical training occurs. This is increasingly common among patients having diabetes where self-treatment enables such patients to conduct effective management of their diabetes. For instance, a pre-filled disposable insulin pen can be used as an injection device. Alternatively, a re-usable pen may be used. A re-usable pen allows replacement of an empty medicament cartridge by a new one.
For good or perfect glycemic control, the dose of insulin or insulin glargine has to be adjusted for each individual in accordance with a blood glucose level to be achieved. The present invention relates to decoding systems for injectors, for example hand-held injectors, especially pen-type injectors, that is to injectors of the kind that provide for administration by injection of medicinal products from a multidose cartridge.
A user undertaking self-administration of insulin will commonly need to administer between 1 and 80 International Units. A user is also required to record their dosage history. The dosage history is an important factor in calculating future doses.


The present invention provides novel photopolymers for use in liquid crystal display. The photopolymers are cinnamate-containing photopolymers wherein a mesogen, preferably containing a benzene ring, is introduced between a polyvinyl main chain and a cinnamate group, and also wherein the cinnamate group can be substituted with a cyanide group, an alkyl group, a halogen atom or a fluorocarbonyl group. The cinnamate-containing photopolymers have improved stability and photoelectric properties, and improved pre-tilt angle. The photopolymers can be used to form an orientation film for an LCD in a non-rubbing process, and can be used alone or with a cross linking agent.

A liquid crystal display which can substitute for a cathode ray tube (CRT) has advantages of relatively light weight and low consumption of electricity. In particular, as a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) operates each pixel independently, response time is relatively short and a high quality of resolution of moving images can be obtained. Accordingly, the TFT LCD has many applications, including, for example, notebook computers, wall hangings, televisions and the like.
LCDs can be in one of a number of different "modes", including twisted nematic (TN) mode, in-plane switching (IPS) mode, and vertically aligned (VA) mode. These modes differ from one another in a number of properties including the initial orientation of the liquid crystals, the structure of the thin film transistor, polarized film, operating method of liquid crystal, etc. For example, in a conventional TN mode, the liquid crystal is initially oriented so that is twisted by 90.degree. and an electric field is formed between the upper glass electrode and the lower glass electrode. In contrast, in the IPS mode, the liquid crystal is initially oriented horizontally and an electric field is generated parallel to the layer of liquid crystal. A VA mode LCD has a relatively high contrast ratio and a wide visual angle, as compared to a TN mode LCD. The liquid crystal molecules in a VA mode LCD normally appear black due to an initial orientation vertical to the glass electrodes.
A TN mode LCD has a relatively narrow visual angle, because the liquid crystal molecules are oriented in a particular direction by an electric field. On the other hand, an IPS mode LCD has a relatively wide visual angle, because the liquid crystal molecules rotate parallel to the glass electrodes to produce a small refraction difference of the liquid crystal molecules, and because phase retardation of light passing through the LCD cell is compensated. However, when a rubbing process is applied to an IPS mode LCD, a number of problems can result. First, unwanted backlight transmission through the LCD cell can occur due to non-uniformity of liquid crystal molecules, which is in turn caused by poor orientation of the orientation film. This is referred to as a "leak phenomenon". Although leaking can be prevented in a color filter process by use of a black matrix, this can cause other problems such as, for example, a poor brightness or contrast ratio. Second, an IPS mode LCD has a poorer response time than a TN mode LCD, which is believed to be due to interaction between liquid crystal molecules and the orientation film. Thirdly, an IPS mode LCD has an image sticking which is not observed in a TN mode LCD, which is believed to be due to the structure of the cell and the interaction between liquid crystal molecules and the orientation film.
Generally, a conventional TFT LCD cell is composed of a glass substrate, a thin film transistor device, an indium tin oxide (ITO) transparent electrode and an orientation film. For a TFT LCD to operate, liquid crystal molecules should be initially oriented between the TFT LCD cells. The degree of orientation of the liquid crystal is the most important factor influencing the quality of the LCD. The degree of orientation of a liquid crystal is indicated by the "pretilt angle". The pretilt angle is a fixed angle by which liquid crystal molecules on the surface of an electrode are tilted with respect to the surface. The pretilt angle is dependent on a number of factors including composition of the liquid crystal, type of alignment layer, and rubbing strength. Generally, a TFT- LCD requires a pretilt angle of at least about 1.degree. to 3.degree., and a STN-LCD (super twisted nematic--liquid crystal display) requires a pretilt angle of at least about 5.degree..
For orientation of a liquid crystal, an orientation film is formed from a polymeric material. The polymeric material is coated onto an ITO electrode to form an orientation film, and then the orientation film is rubbed with a rubbing cloth of nylon or rayon, in a so-called "rubbing process". Conventionally, a heat resistant polymeric material such as a polyimide is applied by a spin coating or a printing method, which can be readily carried out by a person of ordinary skill in the art, and the rubbing process follows. This conventional method of preparing the orientation film is generally applied in mass production of LCDs because the polymeric material can be easily and rapidly coated onto the ITO electrode. However, the conventional method has shortcomings, including potential damage to the thin film transistor due to static electricity generated during the rubbing process, and potential adverse effects on the orientation film due to dust or fibers from the rubbing cloth.
Accordingly, in recent years, a method of preparing a TFT LCD without using a rubbing process has been developed, called a "non-rubbing process". In the non-rubbing process, a photopolymer is used as the orientation film material. Some examples of the non rubbing process are disclosed in Jpn. J. Appl. Phys., Vol 31, 1992, 2155; U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,669 to Dae S. Kang et al.; and Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. Vol. 34, 1995, L1000. The method disclosed in the Kang patent uses a polyvinyl 4-fluorocinnamate polymer to form an orientation film. A photopolymer contains photosensitive groups which, when exposed to linearly polarized ultraviolet light, respond so that the main chains of the photopolymer are oriented, thus causing orientation of the liquid crystal molecules.
Conventional cinnamate-containing photopolymers such as polyvinylcinnamate have poor thermostability, i.e. they soften significantly at the glass transition temperature (Tg). This can destroy orientation of the polymer, thereby destroying orientation of the liquid crystal molecules. Also, because the sealing process for binding two glass electrodes in fabricating an LCD is carried out at an elevated temperature, the photopolymer used in the orientation film should be able to withstand temperatures of at least about 100.degree. C. Furthermore, the conventional cinnamate-containing photopolymers do not provide sufficient resolution of moving images, because they do not have a sufficient pretilt angle.
In order to overcome the shortcomings of the conventional cinnamate-containing photopolymers, the present inventors have developed new cinnamate-containing photopolymers which can provide improved resolution of moving images and a wide visual angle, and which can be applied by a non rubbing process. The cinnamate-containing photopolymers can be applied to an LCD of a TN (twisted nematic) mode, an IPS (in-plane switching) mode or a VA (vertically aligned) mode.

Cinnamate-containing photopolymer for orientation film of liquid crystal display (LCD) and method of forming the orientation film using the photopolymer


The present disclosure discloses a method and system for reducing a circulating current between a plurality of non-isolated modules operating in parallel. The input terminals and the output terminals of the plurality of non-isolated modules are respectively connected in parallel, and each of the non-isolated modules comprises a first stage converter, a bus capacitor and a second stage converter, which are electrically connected in sequence. For each of the non-isolated modules, the method comprises: comparing a first signal reflecting the input power of the non-isolated module with a reference value to obtain a comparison result; and adjusting the voltage of the bus capacitor according to the comparison result, wherein the voltage of the bus capacitor is decreased when the first signal is greater than the reference value, and the voltage of the bus capacitor is increased when the first signal is less than the reference value.

In switch mode power supplies domain, the non-isolated modules usually have higher efficiency and higher power density than the isolated modules. However, when the inputs and outputs of the modules are respectively connected in parallel, a circulating current may easily occur between the modules. As a result, the input current of some modules may be too large to trigger current limiting, such that the total output power of the system cannot reach the rated value. In severe cases, some modules may be damaged due to the excessive input current.
Accordingly, there is an urgent need for a method and system that can efficiently reduce or eliminate the circulating current between a plurality of non-isolated modules operating in parallel.

Method and system for reducing the circulating current between multiple non-isolated modules operating in parallel


An aluminum alloy additive manufacturing product and a method manufactures the same. The aluminum alloy additive manufacturing product is formed by molding a raw metal by an additive manufacturing method. The raw metal is made of an aluminum alloy. The aluminum alloy contains Fe and one or more of Mn and Cr. The Fe is an inevitable impurity of 0.3 weight % or less. The one or more of Mn and Cr have a total weight of 0.3 to 10 weight %. The aluminum alloy additive manufacturing product contains any one or more of an intermetallic compound and an aluminum alloy solid solution. The intermetallic compound contains two or more of Al, Mn, Fe, and Cr. One or more elements of Mn, Fe, and Cr are dissolved in the aluminum alloy solid solution.

Conventionally, various studies have been conducted on a room-temperature high-strength alloy, a high-temperature high-strength alloy, a high-ductility alloy, and the like. As a method for manufacturing high-quality metal products from these alloys, processing methods, such as extrusion and forging, have been generally known. In these processing methods, a material that has been casted once is processed, and therefore, a final product internally has almost no defect, thus providing a high-quality and high-strength metal product (for example, see Patent Literature 1).
There has been known a method where a metal powder formed by rapid solidification by an atomization method is performed with sealed tube and degassing treatment, and molded by extrusion and the like. With this method, since an alloy having a composition that cannot be manufactured by the conventional casting can be used, a high-strength product can be manufactured. This method has been examined a lot especially for an aluminum alloy (for example, see Patent Literature 2).
There has been known a powder metallurgy method where a metal powder is prepared, and after that, the metal powder is sintered to produce one close to a final product shape. Since an alloy having a composition that cannot be manufactured by the conventional casting method can be used, this method can be expected to obtain a high-performance and high-strength material (for example, see Patent Literature 3).
Furthermore, there has been known a powder metallurgy method where a different metal powder is prepared, and rotated by a mechanical alloying method to generate a new alloy material. Since an alloy having a composition that cannot be used by the conventional casting method can be used, this method can be expected for manufacturing a high-performance and high-strength product (for example, see Patent Literature 4).
As a method for casting an aluminum molten metal, a vacuum die-casting method without air entrainment has been known. Since the molten metal is poured into a mold kept vacuum at a speed exceeding 10 m/s, a speed in solidification range is high at 100 m/s, and thus a product that has a fine micro structure, an intermetallic compound, and almost no defect can be obtained (for example, see Patent Literature 5).
Furthermore, as a method for casting an aluminum molten metal, there has been known a squeeze casting method where the molten metal is filled inside the mold at a low speed so as not to entrain air. With this method, since the air is not trapped in because of the low speed filling at a gate speed of 0.5 m/s or less, and moreover, pressure is applied at a high pressure of 100 MPa, a metal product that has a fine micro structure and almost no defect can be obtained (for example, see Patent Literature 6).
There has been known a metal additive manufacturing method where a metal powder is spread all over layer by layer, irradiated with a laser beam, an electron beam, or the like, and laminated while only a specific part is melted and solidified, thus forming a final product without a mold. An aluminum product formed using this manufacturing method is known to exhibit a strength higher than that of the molded body obtained by the conventional manufacturing method (for example, see Non Patent Literature 1).

High-strength aluminum alloy laminated molding and production method therefor


A method in a user equipment for handling a scheduling request, SR, is provided. The user equipment is served by a base station in a cellular communications network. The user equipment receives a first message from the base station. The first message comprises a first assignment of SR resources. The first message is received using a first protocol. The first assignment of SR resources is semi-static. The user equipment further receives a second message from the base station. The second message comprising a second assignment of SR resources. The second message is received using a second protocol. The second protocol is associated with a layer that is lower than a layer associated with the first protocol. The user equipment then applies the SR resources according to the first assignment and the SR resources according to the second assignment at the same time or separately.

Communication devices such as User Equipments (UE) are also known as e.g. mobile terminals, wireless terminals and/or mobile stations. User equipments are enabled to communicate wirelessly in a cellular communications network or wireless communication system, sometimes also referred to as a cellular radio system or cellular networks. The communication may be performed e.g. between two user equipments, between a user equipment and a regular telephone and/or between a user equipment and a server via a Radio Access Network (RAN) and possibly one or more core networks, comprised within the cellular communications network.
User equipments may further be referred to as mobile telephones, cellular telephones, or laptops with wireless capability, just to mention some further examples. The user equipments in the present context may be, for example, portable, pocket-storable, hand-held, computer-comprised, or vehicle-mounted mobile devices, enabled to communicate voice and/or data, via the RAN, with another entity, such as another user equipment or a server.
The cellular communications network covers a geographical area which is divided into cell areas, wherein each cell area being served by a base station, e.g. a Radio Base Station (RBS), which sometimes may be referred to as e.g. "eNB", "eNodeB", "NodeB", "B node", or BTS (Base Transceiver Station), depending on the technology and terminology used. The base stations may be of different classes such as e.g. macro eNodeB, home eNodeB or pico base station, based on transmission power and thereby also cell size. A cell is the geographical area where radio coverage is provided by the base station at a base station site. One base station, situated on the base station site, may serve one or several cells. Further, each base station may support one or several communication technologies. The base stations communicate over the air interface operating on radio frequencies with the user equipments within range of the base stations.
In some RANs, several base stations may be connected, e.g. by landlines or microwave, to a radio network controller, e.g. a Radio Network Controller (RNC) in Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), and/or to each other. The radio network controller, also sometimes termed a Base Station Controller (BSC) e.g. in GSM, may supervise and coordinate various activities of the plural base stations connected thereto. GSM is an abbreviation for Global System for Mobile Communications (originally: Groupe Spécial Mobile).
In 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE), base stations, which may be referred to as eNodeBs or even eNBs, may be directly connected to one or more core networks.
UMTS is a third generation mobile communication system, which evolved from the GSM, and is intended to provide improved mobile communication services based on Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) access technology. UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) is essentially a radio access network using wideband code division multiple access for user equipments. The 3GPP has undertaken to evolve further the UTRAN and GSM based radio access network technologies.
In the context of this disclosure, the expression Downlink (DL) is used for the transmission path from the base station to the mobile station. The expression Uplink (UL) is used for the transmission path in the opposite direction i.e. from the mobile station to the base station.
3GPP LTE radio access standard has been written in order to support high bitrates and low latency both for uplink and downlink traffic. All data transmission is in LTE controlled by the radio base station. In order to support efficient uplink scheduling, a method has been defined to inform the base station of the buffer status of the UE. This method mainly comprises of buffer status reports (BSR) and scheduling request (SR). Both the BSR and the SR are sent from the UE to the base station. The UE triggers a BSR, this in turn trigger a SR to be sent unless a valid uplink data transmission resource is available, the base station receives the SR and give the UE a uplink data transmission resource, the UE then sends the BSR to the base station. A number of rules have been defined on when a UE should trigger a BSR, such as arrival of new data to an empty buffer. The BSR is sent on the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) like other data transmissions. Since a BSR transmission requires a valid uplink resource, SR has been defined as single bit information indicating to the base station that a BSR has been triggered in the UE. This may be performed by 1) a BSR is triggered in the UE, then 2) a SR message indicating that the BSR has been triggered is sent by the UE to the base station, and 3) then the triggered BSR is sent by the UE to the base station. The SR message is sent to the base station to request resources for the BSR. However, the base station may select to give a resource larger than just containing the BSR. The SR message may be transmitted either on a preconfigured semi-static configured periodic resource on the Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH), referred to as Dedicated Scheduling Request (D-SR). It means that the base station may configure a resource, e.g. may send a message comprising index, periodicity and time offset, that shall be valid until a further notice is sent to the user equipment. There are some release rules, to release assigned recourses but in principle the UE keep the resource. If no such resource has been configured or configured resources have been released, SR is transmitted on the Random Access Channel (RACH). This SR may be referred to as Random Access Scheduling Request (RA-SR). The expression configured means here that the UE has a D-SR resource, configured over Radio Resource Control (RRC) and which is not released according to the release rules. The D-SR resource on the PUCCH uses a code division multiple access scheme to uniquely identify the user on a specific time/frequency resource. On each LTE uplink resource block pair, up to 36 unique code resources is available. A resource block pair is a 3GPP specific resource definition, it comprises two 0.5 ms/180 kHz time frequency blocks consecutive in time. On PUCCH they are not on the same frequency but frequency hopping is used so the first resource block is on one band-edge and the other is on the other band edge. It is up to the LTE base station, i.e. the eNodeB, to define the total size of the PUCCH and to divide the resources in time, frequency and code to each user, where the trade-off stands between short periodicities giving low latency but costing in larger overhead for control channels versus lower overhead but with longer delay. Typically an eNodeB may assign different UEs different periodicities dependent on service. D-SR resources are assigned, i.e. configured semi-statically using RRC signalling. The term semi-statically means that the UE has a D-SR resource, configured over RRC and not released according to the release rules. The RRC protocol is used in LTE/Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN), and in Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) and handles the control plane signalling of Layer 3 between the UEs and the Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) or E-UTRAN. UTRAN is a collective term for the Node B's and Radio Network Controllers which make up the UMTS radio access network. RRC signalling is protected by both Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) and Radio Link Control (RLC) retransmission protocols, to be robust to packet loss in order to ensure that the same understanding of the configuration is valid in both the eNB and the UE. I.e all parameters set in the RRC message, for example the D-SR resource that this user equipment shall use.
The problem with the existing solution is that the UE need for D-SR resources may shift over time but the reconfiguration mechanism used, i.e. the procedure to send a further RRC message with a new configuration, is to slow and costly in terms of overhead in order to follow the variations.

Method and arrangement for handling a scheduling request


In a video communication performed by using an imaging unit and a video display device, a communication terminal acquires a video captured by the imaging unit, stores at least a part of the acquired video in a storing unit, and determines a video of a predetermined interval after a start of the video communication being currently in progress from the stored video, as a replacement video. Then, the communication terminal is triggered when a predetermined start condition is satisfied during the output of the video captured by the imaging unit, and outputs the replacement video instead of the video.

In the past, there have been known video telephone systems that make a call by transmitting a video captured by a camera, together with a voice, to a communication partner. In such video telephone systems, a video of a transmitting side is continually transmitted to a receiving side. At this time, there are cases where the user of the transmitting side is placed in a situation that is not appropriate to speak to the user of the receiving side. For example, a situation in which the user of the transmitting side suddenly leaves his or her seat or a situation in which a ringtone is rung in the mobile phone of the user is considered. In such a case, there is a problem that gives a feeling of distrust or discomfort to the user of the receiving side who watches the video of the user of the transmitting side.
On the other hand, Patent Literature 1 discloses a system that is configured to previously set a camera image transmission to ON and OFF in a storage unit. When set to ON, a video from a camera unit can be automatically switched and transmitted, and when set to OFF, an image or a video (illustration, self-portrait, an arbitrary video, and the like) previously stored in the storage unit can be automatically switched and transmitted.

Information processing apparatus, information processing method and information processing program


A wheel-mounting assembly includes: a pivot shaft; a frame-connecting part; a wheel-mounting part pivoted to the frame-connecting part through the pivot shaft and formed with a retaining hole; a limiting member mounted movably on the frame-connecting part and extendable into the retaining hole; an urging member for urging the limiting member to move toward the retaining hole; a controlling member pivoted to and rotatable relative to the frame-connecting part between a retaining position to retain the limiting member, and a releasing position to free the limiting member therefrom; and a locking member pivoted to and rotatable relative to the controlling member between a locking position to retain the controlling member at the retaining position, and an unlocking position to release the controlling member therefrom.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wheel-mounting assembly, more particularly to a wheel-mounting assembly with a wheel controlling mechanism for controlling orientation of wheels of a stroller.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the prior art, front wheels for a stroller are provided to guide moving direction of the stroller. FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a conventional stroller having a wheel-mounting assembly 1 mounted on the stroller frame thereof. The wheel-mounting assembly 1 includes: a wheel seat 11 adapted for mounting wheels 10 thereon; a wheel-mounting part 12 mounted on a top end of the wheel seat 11; a frame connecting part 13 coupled to the stroller frame (not shown) and pivoted to the wheel-mounting part 12; a pivot shaft 14 extending through the wheel-mounting part 12 and the frame connecting part 13 for pivot connection therebetween; a coupling pin 16 extending through the wheel seat 11 and the wheel-mounting part 12; and a positioning mechanism 15 mounted on the frame connecting part 13. The wheel-mounting part 12 has an upper front edge formed with a positioning notch 121. The frame connecting part 13 has a bottom side formed with a receiving chamber 131 defined by a chamber-defining wall 132. The positioning mechanism 15 includes a hollow engaging block 151 movably received in the receiving chamber 131, a tumbler 152 extending through the engaging block 151, a first spring 153 sleeved on the tumbler 152 and disposed in the engaging block 151, a second spring 154 disposed above the engaging block 151 and sleeved on an upper end portion of the tumbler 152, a control member 155 mounted rotatably on the frame connecting part 13 and disposed above the second spring 154, a locking pin 156 connecting an upper end of the tumbler 152 to a bottom end of the control member 155, and a lever 157 for driving movement of the engaging block 151 through the control member 155 and the second spring 154.
The wheels 10 can be operated through the positioning mechanism 15 between a free state, in which the wheels 10 together with the wheel seat 11 and the wheel mounting part 12 are free to rotate relative to the frame connecting part 13 as shown by the solid lines in FIG. 2, and a limited state, in which the wheels 10 together with the wheel seat 11 and the wheel mounting part 12 are locked against rotation relative to the frame connecting part 13 as shown by the imaginary lines in FIG. 2. To dispose the wheels 10 at the free state, the lever 157 is operated to move downward so as to displace the locking pin 156 to an upper position such that the engaging block 151 is retracted into the receiving chamber 131, thereby permitting the wheels 10 to rotate freely. To dispose the wheels 10 at the limited state, the lever 157 is operated to move upward so as to displace downward the locking pin 156 to a lower position, which results in downward movement of the second spring 154, which, in turn, moves the engaging block 151 into the positioning notch 121, thereby limiting the wheels 10 against rotation relative to the frame connecting part 13.
The wheel-mounting assembly 1 is disadvantageous in that assembly of the engaging block 151, the first and second springs 153, 154, the locking pin 156, and the control member 155 is laborious, and that mounting of the assembly of the engaging block 151, the first and second springs 153, 154, and the locking pin 156 in the receiving chamber 131 in the frame connecting part 13 is relatively inconvenient.


A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes sequence controlling circuitry and processing circuitry. The sequence controlling circuitry is configured to acquire k-space data by executing a pulse sequence while performing undersampling. The processing circuitry is configured to generate an output target image by generating a folded image by applying a Fourier transform to the k-space data and further unfolding the folded image by performing a process that uses a regularization term. The processing circuitry applies a weight to the regularization term on the basis of whether or not each of the pixels in the output target image is included in an observation target region.

During magnetic resonance imaging processes using a Parallel Imaging (PI) method, for example, k-space data is acquired by using a plurality of coils, and subsequently, a medical image (an output target image) is generated by performing an image reconstructing process. This image reconstructing process is an example of an inverse problem, which is to restore the output target image from the acquired k-space data. As for the image reconstructing process represented by the inverse problem, the solution to an optimization problem may sensitively be dependent on small changes in input data. As a result, for example, when the inverse problem s solved by using a least-squares method, the solution may not uniquely be determined and may diverge.
In that situation, for the purpose of improving the robustness of the solution, a regularization process is often performed, which is an operation to introduce a predetermined additional term into an objective function as a penalty term.
However, when the regularization process is performed on the image to be output (the output target image) by simply using a predetermined norm, the quality of the output target image resulting from the reconstructing process may be degraded, contrary to the expectation.

Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, image processing apparatus, and magnetic resonance imaging method


An ethylene-α-olefin copolymer having monomer units derived from ethylene and monomer units derived from an α-olefin of 3 to 20 carbon atoms, a melt flow rate (MFR) of 0.01 to 4 g/10 minutes, a density of 890 to 970 kg/m3, an activation energy of flow of 50 kJ/mol or more and a molecular weight distribution measured by gel permeation chromatography of 3 or more, wherein a characteristic relaxation time (τ) determined by a melt viscoelasticity measurement or an external haze ratio (EHR) satisfies a relationship of the following formula (1) or (2), respectively:3×MFR−0.75+1.1>τ>1.3×MFR−0.5+1.4  (1)EHR≦−15×log MFR+0.145×d−47  (2)

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ethylene-α-olefin copolymer, a resin composition containing the copolymer and a molded article obtained from the resin composition.
2. Description of the Related Arts
As films, sheets and tubes used for packaging foods or non-food, molded articles obtained by extrusion molding of ethylene-α-olefin copolymers are much used.
In these ethylene-α-olefin copolymers, an excellent moldability such as low extrusion load and good stability in processability is required. As such the ethylene-α-olefin copolymers, for example, there is disclosed an ethylene-1-butene copolymer which is obtained by copolymerizing ethylene and 1-butene with a catalyst formed by: adding triisobutylaluminum to silica; then adding an organic aluminumoxy compound thereto; and next adding a catalyst component produced by reacting bis(indenyl)ethane, n-butyllithium and zirconium tetrachloride (e.g. JP 4-213309 A). Further, there is disclosed an ethylene-1-butene copolymer which is obtained by copolymerizing ethylene and 1-butene with a catalyst formed by contacting triisobutylaluminum with racemi-ethylenebis(1-indenyl)zirconium diphenoxide, then contacting a co-catalyst therewith (e.g. JP 2004-149760 A, JP 2005-97481 A).
However, when the above-mentioned ethylene-α-olefin copolymer was compounded to a conventional ethylene-α-olefin copolymer to use as a resin composition for improving the moldability, a molded article obtained was not sufficiently satisfied in optical properties.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Ethylene-α-olefin copolymer, resin composition containing the same and molded article thereof


The present disclosure discloses a nonlinear all-optical deep-learning system and method with multistage space-frequency domain modulation. The system includes an optical input module, configured to convert input information to optical information, a multistage space-frequency domain modulation module, configured to perform multistage space-frequency domain modulation on the optical information generated by the optical input module so as to generate modulated optical information, and an information acquisition module, configured to transform the modulated optical information onto a Fourier plane or an image plane, and to acquire the transformed optical information so as to generate processed optical information.

Deep learning is one of the machine learning methods developed most quickly. The method uses a multi-layer artificial neural network implemented in a computer to learn information in data in a digital manner, and is capable of performing advanced tasks with performance comparable to or even better than human beings. Recently, deep learning makes significant progress in the field of machine learning, such as medical image analysis, speech recognition, image classification, and the like.
Currently, an all-optical diffraction-depth neural network is proposed, which implements an all-optical machine learning by using passive optical elements. Such a scheme may be used for designing a lamination of diffraction optical elements similar to the artificial neural network through deep learning, for patterning and manufacturing through a 3D printing, or for implementing functions such handwritten digit image classification of fashion products and the like. The scheme may execute some functions based on the neural network at a speed of light, and create an effective and quick mode to implement machine learning tasks.
It is promising to implement machine learning tasks in the all-optical artificial neural network, since it has obvious advantages in parallel computation capability, power consumption, and efficiency. The all-optical diffraction-depth neural network provides an effective and unique all-optical machine-learning model for implementing a diffraction operation at the speed of light by using passive elements. One important advantage of the model is that it may be easily extended by using various optical elements and detection systems with high-throughput and large area and based on 3D manufacturing methods and a wide field, and thus may implement hundreds of millions of neurons and billions of connections economically and efficiently in an extensible manner with low power-consumption, thereby having a potential to implement various complex applications. However, the above all-optical diffraction depth neural network only performs special function by performing modulation in spatial domain with the lamination of diffraction layers, with limitations in complexity of tasks as well as performance Particularly, it is limited in those tasks with higher requirements for nonlinearity.

Nonlinear all-optical deep-learning system and method with multistage space-frequency domain modulation


The present invention relates to an image input apparatus comprising a fiber optic plate and a light source for illuminating an entrance surface of the fiber optic plate. In order to obtain a vivid image, the image input apparatus according to the present invention comprises a specific structure for holding the light source at a predetermined position such that a luminous flux from the light source is made incident on the entrance surface of the fiber optic plate from a direction deviating from an angle region by which stray light can be incident on the entrance surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image input apparatus for obtaining an object image of a fingerprint, rubber stamp, or the like having irregularities (pits and projections).
2. Related Background Art
Known as this kind of image input apparatus, for example, are apparatus (first conventional example) disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,776 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-300930. As shown in FIG. 1, such an image input apparatus comprises a fiber optic plate (FOP) B in which a number of optical fibers A are bundled together and a light source (illuminating means) D for irradiating an entrance surface C of the fiber optic plate B, thereby outputting an image of a fingerprint or the like having irregularities. In this image input apparatus, when a finger C1 or the like comes into contact with the entrance surface C of the fiber optic plate B, light from the light source D is made incident on the fiber optic plate B only from protruded portions of the finger C1 which are directly in contact with the entrance surface C. Then, the incident light propagates through the fiber optic plate B so as to be outputted from an exit surface E, thereby yielding an image El (fingerprint image or the like) corresponding to the irregularity pattern of the fingerprint or the like.
In this image input apparatus, however, if light is incident from a part where the finger C1 or the like is not in contact with the entrance surface C, the image E1 to be outputted will have a lower contrast and become unclear. Accordingly, in general, the entrance surface C of the fiber optic plate B is inclined with respect to the optical axis (coinciding with the optical axis direction of each optical fiber therein) by a predetermined angle. In particular, such a fiber optic plate (first conventional example) having the entrance surface C inclined with respect to the optical axis has been known as slant FOP, and its angle of inclination .theta..sub.0 has been referred to as slant angle. In the fiber optic plate B of the first conventional example, the slant angle .theta..sub.0 and the numerical aperture NA of the optical fibers A are matched with each other in order to prevent the unnecessary light (stray light) incident thereon from the part not in contact with the entrance surface C (depressed portion of the finger or the like not in contact with the entrance surface C) from propagating through the optical fibers A (from satisfying a total reflection condition). As a result, the above-mentioned unnecessary light is not theoretically outputted from the exit surface E.
Also, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-174947 discloses, as a fiber optic plate of a second conventional example, a structure in which an optical absorber is disposed between optical fibers constituting the fiber optic plate. As this optical absorber is disposed, light is prevented from traveling across the neighboring optical fibers, thereby the unnecessary light incident on the fiber optic plate from the part where the object C1 and the entrance surface C are not in contact with each other is efficiently attenuated in the fiber optic plate. Accordingly, in the fiber optic plate having such a structure, the contrast of the image outputted therefrom can be improved.


A vanity mirror and light assembly is provided for use on a vehicle visor. The vanity assembly includes a clear frame molded to a reflective film to define a reflector portion and a partially transmissive portion. The assembly also includes a lighting device located behind the partially transmissive portion of the reflective film to provide a vanity light passing through the partially transmissive portion. A method of forming the vanity assembly in a mold is also provided.

Automotive vehicles are commonly equipped with a pair of sun visors generally connected to the roof or headliner forward of the driver and front passenger seats. Each visor may be actuatable between stowed and use positions to provide shade from sunlight. The conventional visor typically includes a vanity mirror and light assembly installed on one side of the visor body. The vanity mirror and light assembly typically has a mirror and one or more vanity lights to provide local lighting sufficient to enable a user to view an image in the mirror, particularly when ambient lighting conditions are poor. The vanity light(s) is activated on typically when the visor is in the use position and a lid of the vanity assembly is opened or uncovered.
The conventional vanity mirror has a plastic frame typically made of polypropylene (PP) or polycarbonate ABS (PCABS) which houses a glass mirror and an optical lens made of polycarbonate (PC) disposed in front of a light source. The conventional vanity assembly has several components including the frame, the glass mirror, and one or more lenses and light sources which generally must be assembled to form the vanity assembly. It is desirable to provide for an aesthetically pleasing vanity assembly with a reduced number of components and an easy to manufacture design.

Method of manufacturing a vanity assembly


The present invention relates to rice genomic promoter sequences which promote transcription preferentially in microspores and/or pollen of plants. Also provided are chimeric genes comprising these promoter sequences, and plant transformation vectors comprising these chimeric genes. The present invention also discloses plant cells, plant tissues, plants, seeds and grains comprising these chimeric genes. The invention further discloses methods for expressing foreign nucleic acid sequences preferentially in pollen and for producing plants with modified pollen fertility.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the isolation of promoters from rice capable of directing transcription of an operably linked foreign DNA sequence preferentially in microspores and/or pollen of plants, such as rice plants. The invention also relates to the use of chimeric genes for the preferential expression of biologically active RNA of interest in microspores and/or pollen of plants, such as rice plants. Plants, such as rice plants, comprising rice pollen-preferential promoters operably linked to a foreign DNA sequence which upon transcription yield biologically active RNA preferentially in microspores and/or pollen of said plants are also provided.
2. Description of Related Art
Promoters that can provide gene expression preferentially in microspores and/or pollen of a plant and thereby provide little or no gene expression in other parts of the plant are useful in the production of transformed plants, in which a gene is to be expressed preferentially in microspores and/or pollen. The promoters can for example be used to create pollen-lethality genes and maintainer genes as described in WO 93/25695 (which is incorporated herein by reference.
A pollen-specific cDNA clone from Nicotiana tabacum, designated as NTPc303, has been isolated and characterized by Weterings et al. (1992), Plant Mol Biol 18:1101-1111. The first NTP303 transcripts are detectable on northern blot at the early bi-nucleate state and accumulate until the pollen has reached maturity. During germination and pollen tube growth in vitro new NTP303 transcripts appear. The corresponding promoter, designed NPT303 promoter, has been isolated and characterized by Weterings et al., (1995), Plant J 8:55-63. The 5′-untranslated region of the NTP303 gene was characterized by Hulzink et al., (2002), Plant Physiol 129:342-353.
A genomic clone, named Bp10, of Brassica napus has been isolated and characterized by Albani et al. (1992), Plant J 2:331-342. Bp10 contains a member of a small pollen-specific gene family. The expression of the Bp10 gene family is maximal in early bi-nucleate microspores and declines considerably in mature tri-nucleate pollen.
A pollen-specific cDNA from Zea mays inbred line W-22, designated as Zmc13, has been isolated and characterized by Hanson et al. (1989), The Plant Cell 1:173. The corresponding genomic clone, designated as Zmg13, containing substantial portions of the 5′ flanking region has been isolated and characterized by Hamilton et al. (1989), Sex Plant Reprod 2:208 (see also Hamilton et al. (1992), Plant Mol Biol 18:211). A corresponding promoter region from Zea mays inbred line H99 was isolated as described in WO 93/25695.
Three pollen-expressed genes (LAT52, LAT56 and LAT59) from tomato were characterized by McCormick et al. (1991), Symp Soc Exp Biol 45:229-244. LAT52 encodes a protein that shows amino acid sequence similarity to the protein encoded by the pollen-specific cDNA clone Zmc13 isolated from maize. The proteins encoded by LAT56 and LAT59 genes show significant sequence similarity to bacterial pectate lyases and to a fungal pectin lyase. Twell et al. (1991), Genes Dev 5:496-507, investigated the functional organization and properties of cis regulatory elements in the promoter regions of the LAT 52 and LAT59 genes that are preferentially and coordinately expressed during pollen maturation and demonstrated that only minimal (less than 200 bp) promoter proximal regions are required for developmentally regulated expression in pollen and in specific cell types of the sporophyte. They identified two upstream regions in the LAT52 promoter and further showed that a 19 bp segment from one of those regions enhanced expression of the heterologous CaMV35S promoter in pollen. Eyal et al (1995), Plant Cell 7:373-384, further identified 30 bp proximal regions of LAT 52 and LAT 59 that are essential for their expression in pollen and that confer pollen specificity when fused to the heterologous CaMV35S core promoter. Adjacent upstream elements, the 52/56 box in LAT52 and the 56/59 box in LAT59, are involved in modulating the level of expression in pollen.
Xu et al. (1999) Proc Natl Acad Shi USA 96:2554-2558 identified and characterized a gene from Lily, LGC1, which was shown to be expressed exclusively in the male gametic cells. Singh et al. (2003), FEBS Left 542:47-52, report that a 0.8 kb promoter sequence upstream of the start of the transcription site of the generative cell-specific LGC1 gene is sufficient to regulate the expression of reporter genes in a cell-specific manner and identified −242 bp as the minimal sequence necessary for male gametic cell-specific expression. In addition, a regulatory sequence required for determining generative cell-specific expression of LGC1 was identified.
Despite the fact that pollen-preferential promoters are available in the art, a need remains for alternative promoters capable of preferential expression in microspores and/or pollen of a plant, e.g. for the independent expression of several foreign DNA sequences of interest without the possibility of post-transcriptional silencing due to the use of the same promoter. In addition, the known pollen-preferential promoters, each direct a particular temporal, spatial and/or developmental expression pattern, which does not always suit particular goals. There remains thus a need for novel pollen-preferential promoters with the capacity to control transcription in microspores and/or pollen of a plant.

Rice pollen-preferential promoters and uses thereof


A sabot system is defined by a tubular arrangement of curvilinear segments with the tubular arrangement being closed on a first end thereof and open on a second end thereof. The tubular arrangement defines a first outer diameter at its first end and a second and larger outer diameter at its second end. Each segment is made from an elastic material such that when the tubular arrangement is compressed radially at its second end, each of the segments stores a spring force.

A sabot supports a subcaliber projectile/round in a larger caliber launch barrel. After launch, a sabot should release or fall away from the projectile/round. Ideally, this situation occurs very quickly after the launch barrel is exited. Typically, sabot petals or segments are straight along their length and depend entirely on aerodynamic forces to bring about their separation from a projectile after exiting a launch barrel. Some sabot systems utilize retaining systems that must fail before aerodynamic forces can act on the petals/segments. Thus, current sabot systems designs have some inherent inefficiencies that can cause sabot petals/segments to remain with the projectile segments longer than necessary. These inefficiencies may cause unwanted drag and/or destabilizing forces on the projectile/round that ultimately affect its trajectory and/or range.

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


Headwear having a crown and a headband attached to and extending around the lower inside edge of the crown. A visor part may also be attached to the underside of the crown. The headband is made of two sheets of elastic cloth excluding polyurethane yarn so as to provide good stretch without imposing undue elastic pressure on the wearer. The crown is made of several sheets of material, at least two of which are attached to each other by an elastic connecting portion for increased stretch and wearer comfort.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to the field of headwear and, more particularly, to a headband and headwear including the same for automatically fitting a range of head sizes while remaining comfortable for extended wear.
2. Description of the Related Art
A baseball style cap generally includes a crown main body, a visor portion secured to the forward edge of the crown and extending outwardly therefrom, a headband attached to the lower part of the inside of the crown, and a size controller attached to an underside of the rear of the cap. The size controller is used to adapt the size of the cap which can be inconvenient as multiple size adjustments may be necessary.
In view of this inconvenience, so-called "free size" caps have been constructed which do not include separate size controlling portions. Instead, size adjustability is obtained through the elasticity of various portions of the cap. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,016,572 discloses a baseball-style cap in which two or more sheets of cloth among those used to make the crown portion are connected to one another with elastic material and coupled with an elastic headband which can be expanded to accommodate various head sizes without the need for a size controller. It has been found, however, that such a cap exerts pressure against the wearer's head which can become uncomfortable after the cap is worn for an extended period of time.
Accordingly, a need exists for a free-size cap having a stretchable headband that can accommodate a wide range of head sizes without imposing undue pressure on the wearer so as to remain comfortable over extended time periods.

Pressure resolving cap and headband thereof


A system and method for encryption and decryption of data is disclosed. The decryption system provides access to remotely stored data items, each of the data items being independently accessible. At least a subset of the remotely stored data items are encrypted and each encrypted data item has an associated access condition. Upon a client requesting access to a remotely stored data item, the decryption system is arranged provide non-encrypted data items and for encrypted data items provide a decrypted data item if the associated access condition is met.

There have always been concerns surrounding access of content of assets such as documents and communications. As assets have become predominantly electronic and mostly stored remotely of the user such as "in the cloud", this is becoming an increasing concern.
Encryption is sometimes desired (for example a person may wish to ensure his or her credit card number is not transmitted in a form that could be intercepted and used). In other situations, encryption may be mandated by an organisation or government. For example, some countries privacy laws require personnel records and the like to be encrypted.
There are many encryption mechanisms available. These vary in terms of factors such as the key types used (such as symmetric and asymmetric encryption), how keys are exchanged, encryption cipher and complexity. A particularly common form of encryption used on the internet is the PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) system. This can be based on different ciphers but typically uses AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) 128 or 256 bit encryption.
Encryption techniques can be mathematically intensive and must, above all, be trustable. A user will not entrust his or her data to a system that uses encryption that can be bypassed or defeated.
It is typical for a website or application developer to interface with an encryption/decryption system such that an asset (such as a document/communication to be encrypted or decrypted) is passed to the interface which is left to deal with encryption/decryption in its entirety. The interface typically passes the document/communication onwards to local or remote components that do the encryption or decryption. For example, the interface may be a link to a remote system or it may be an Application Programming Interface (API) that defines published functions that can be called upon by the program. In the case of an API, it is typically the interface to a locally stored library of functions although it may still call on remote systems and resources.
Often, an encryption system is treated as a layer in a communication stack—the communication/document is passed to the interface which encrypts it before passing it to the next layer in the stack. In the case of storage, the document/communication may not be decrypted at the destination. In the case of a communication system, a counterpart interface will decrypt the document or communication as it is being received and output a non-decrypted version for consumption at the recipient system. It is common (and generally considered desirable) that this process is transparent to the user and application/web developer.

Encryption and decryption system and method


A valve rotating mechanism for exhaust valves, especially of marine diesel engines, which mechanism is braced in a valve housing for the valve stem (1) between an upper and a lower drive element, is linked to the lower drive element via a freewheel device, which transmits rotation of the valve stem (1) during closing movement thereof, and is also braced relative to the upper drive element via a rotary cylinder (15), which brings about rotation of the valve stem (1) through engagement with a fixed support cylinder (13). Therein the rotary cylinder (15) and support cylinder (13) are engaged with one another via a helical gearing, wherein the rotary cylinder (15) is linked to the valve stem (1) via the freewheel device and the support cylinder (13) is fastened on the housing side.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a valve rotating mechanism for exhaust valves, especially of marine diesel engines or the like, which mechanism is braced in a valve housing for the valve stem between an upper and a lower drive element, wherein it is linked to the lower drive element via a freewheel device, which allows rotation of the valve stem during closing movement thereof, and wherein it is braced relative to the upper drive element via a rotary cylinder, which brings about rotation of the valve stem through engagement with a fixed support cylinder.
2. Description of the Related Art
Such a valve rotating mechanism is described in German Patent 3113944. The known mechanism comprises two cylindrical portions, which are disposed concentrically relative to one another and between which two balls are guided in rotational movement in such a way that they respectively engage in a ball socket of the one cylindrical portion and in a ball track of the other cylindrical portion, the said track running at an inclination to the cylinder axis. A more uniform distribution of force between the two cylindrical portions is achieved by providing a plurality of ball sockets and ball tracks disposed at intervals around the circumference of the two cylindrical portions. Preferably the ball tracks have the form of a spiral with constant pitch.
In this known valve rotating device, a cylindrical portion is rotated by the fact that the ball guided in the ball socket travels in the ball track of the other cylindrical portion, one of the cylindrical portions being locked by the freewheel device. During closing of the valve stem, the cylindrical portion locked during opening is driven in the direction of rotation.
By means of the known mechanism, a relatively high speed of rotation of the valve stem can be attained during the closing operation; however, some wear of the ball tracks has to be expected, meaning that regular replacement of the corresponding cylindrical portions is inevitable.

Valve rotating mechanism for exhaust valves, especially of marine diesel engines