A system and method for sample droplet processing, the system including a substrate, an electrode array network coupled to the substrate and configured to provide a pattern of controlled electric fields for manipulation of the set of sample droplets; a first layer in communication with the electrode array network, the first layer separating the electrode array network from fluid of the set of sample droplets; and a second layer opposing the first layer and displaced from the first layer to define a region wherein droplets of the set of sample droplets can reside. In some variations, the system can additionally include an electronics subsystem coupled to at least one of the substrate and the electrode array network, and a control module in communication with the electronics subsystem, wherein the control module generates and manipulates the pattern of controlled electric fields.

Manipulation of sample fluids in a controllable manner can improve process flow and assay reliability in automated sample processing. Simultaneous manipulation of multiple samples can further be extremely useful in increasing the throughput of a process. While current systems can achieve simultaneous manipulation of multiple samples, such systems often implement complex fluid delivery systems that are prone to failure modes (e.g., clogging, sample cross contamination, etc.). Current systems and methods further typically process large sample volumes, while being incapable of processing small sample volumes (e.g., nanoliter volumes). In relation to processing of larger sample volumes, such systems and methods thus require larger spaces to accommodate equipment size, which limits the design of compact systems. Compactness is further a challenge in relation to performing a multi-step protocol for larger sample volumes in an automated manner. As such, current systems and methods for simultaneous and/or parallel processing of multiple fluid samples having small volumes can be improved in many areas.
There is thus a need in the field of sample processing for a new and useful digital microfluidics system and method. This invention creates such a new and useful system and method.

Manipulation of sample droplets with an electrode system


An electrode having a plurality of connected strands retained by a current collector is described. A connected strand has first and second ends that are retained by a current collector, and may be retained at different locations along the length of the current collector. A connected strand retained by the current collector in substantially the same location along the current collector, is a looped strand. A connected strand provides two paths for current to move through the strand to the current collector and may therefore provide lower resistance than a free strand having only one end coupled to the current collector. Furthermore, a connected may move less as a function of fluid forces and retain more bio-film in turbulent conditions than free strands. Finally, a connected strand has no free extended end and therefore is less likely to puncture through an ion conductive membrane.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrodes comprising a plurality of connected strands and particularly anodes for microbial electrochemical cells.
Background
Electrodes comprising free strands, such as electrodes for microbial electrochemical cells comprising strands of carbon fiber bundles, have a number of limitations and shortcomings. First, these electrodes comprise individual free strands, or strands that have one end retained by a current collector and a free end that extends from the current collector. These free ends can protrude into an ion conducting membrane and cause a short in a microbial fuel cell, for example. In addition, the loose strands freely move in liquid streams and more easily dislodge bio-film and reduce the effectiveness of the cell. Furthermore, the electrical conductivity of the individual strands having a free end may be limited and the contact resistance of the strand with the current collector may be higher than desired.
Wastewater from industrial and domestic sources typically contains dissolved organics that need to be removed before the water can be reused. Traditionally, this has been accomplished by aerobic biological treatment. However, this treatment method requires aeration, which consumes large amounts of energy and thus it is an energy intensive process.
Although wastewater is typically thought of as a nuisance, it is being increasingly recognized as a resource for the production of energy, fuels, and chemicals. While anaerobic digestion has already developed into a mature technology for conversion of wastewater organics to the energetic gas methane (CH4), not all of the energy extracted from wastewater is available for use, as there are significant losses associated with the conversion of methane to easily usable energy forms such as electricity.
Recently, a new technology, referred to as Microbial Electrochemical Cells (MXCs), has gained significant attention with respect to sustainable wastewater treatment. This technology relies on specialized bacteria called anode-respiring bacteria (ARB) that oxidize wastewater organics, and transfer electrons to an anode. Microbial Electrochemical Cells can be configured as electricity-generating Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) or hydrogen-generating Microbial Electrolysis Cells (MECs). In a Microbial Electrolysis Cell, electrons harvested on the anode side of the reactors move through a circuit to a cathode, where water (H2O) is reduced to produce hydrogen (H2) gas by applying additional voltage between the anode/cathode bridge. The MEC is especially attractive since the produced H2 gas has higher energetic value than CH4, and can be readily converted to useful electrical power using chemical fuel cells, and is a major feedstock to the chemical and petrochemical industries. Other chemical products may be produced, such as caustic soda (NaOH), which is useful in the manufacture of pulp and paper, textiles, soaps and detergents. In electricity-producing Microbial Fuel Cells, the mode of operation is different, in that electrons from the breakdown of organic pollutants on the cathode are directly used to power a load between anode and cathode, with the additional voltage derived from the redox reaction of oxygen formation into water.

Multi-strand electrode and method of making


A management system for a partitioned multi-bandwidth communications network, i.e., a network in which end users are allocated virtual networks of limited bandwidth residing on lines of larger bandwidth. The management system includes a central management computer for use by network operators in communication with local terminals for use by end users. Tasks such as configurations for new circuits may be requested by the central operators as well as by the end users. Such requests are specified in terms of abstract logical objects, and the management system is programmed to correlate these logical objects to actual physical devices that comprise the circuit. The correlation programming is bi-directional so that in the case of a task such as failure detection, the management system may automatically correlate a failed physical object to a logical object for replacement.

In digital data communications, the transmission speed of the communications link from one node to another is one of the main factors in the bandwidth. To improve efficiency, systems using various bandwidths (at different transmission speeds) have been made available.
A number of carrier systems having different bandwidths are available from common carriers, such as AT&T. These systems include T1, T1C, T2 and other systems, each of which is associated with a specific data transmission rate. For example, the T1 system is associated with a 1.544 Mbps data rate, also referred to as the DS1 rate, and provides up to 24 combined data and PCM voice channels. The T2 carrier system is associated with a 6.132 Mbps data rate (DS2), and provides 96 channels. The FT3 system is an optical fiber carrier system with a 44.736 Mbps (DS3), and provides 672 channels. A single channel voice grade line is referred to as a DS0 line.
A recent development in data communications has been systems in which different units of equipment associated with different bandwidths are linked in the same network. For example, DS0 equipment might be integrated with DS1 or DS3 equipment, with all equipment being managed by a single management system. Networks that manage or integrate equipment for different bandwidths are referred to as "multi-bandwidth systems".
Another recent development in data communications has involved new system management techniques for the benefit of multiple network subscribers. One new technique is the partitioning of bandwidths, in which the bandwidth service provider allocates the bandwidth in a network among different subscribers. Each subscriber's portion of the network is referred to as its "private virtual network".
Often in partitioned systems, the service provider manages a bandwidth pool. From this pool, each subscriber is allocated a certain permanent bandwidth, but if for some reason, that bandwidth is temporarily unavailable or insufficient, the subscriber's portion of the network may be reconfigured from a pool of unallocated bandwidth.
The more innovative partitioned bandwidth systems give each subscriber the ability to control the bandwidth assigned to it by the service provider. Typically, the subscriber has a computer terminal with access to a management system. One type of management system for partitioned networks, referred to as a "customer controlled configuration" system, permits the subscriber to change the bandwidth available to it. The result is an economic savings in that the customer need not pay for more bandwidth than is needed at a given time. A problem with such existing systems, however, is that at the central management level, changes in the physical elements of each customer's virtual network make maintaining records of each customer's network difficult.
A characteristic of today's management systems for partitioned, multi-bandwidth, networks is the need to tie equipment together using physical device identifiers. In other words, the management system defines connections through different bandwidths in terms of specific physical components. However, from the service provider's point of view, record keeping and restoration is complicated. From a subscriber's point of view, the need for a physical representation of the network requires that network configurations be performed by someone specially knowledgeable about the physical network components.
The increasing use of partitioned, multi-bandwidth, networks calls for improved management methods. Ideally, a partitioned multi-bandwidth system should permit each subscriber to directly implement bandwidth requests, without the need to make requests at a central administrative level. Also, the system must not be overly complicated from the subscriber's point of view. A need has arisen for management systems which provide the ability to reconfigure the physical network resources managed by the system without impacting the user's perspective of the network, or in other words, the ability to provide transparency. Further, a need has arisen for such a management system which selectively enables such transparency at any network resource or user-subscriber level in the network hierarchy.

Management system for partitioned multi-bandwidth communications network


Provided herein are methods and compositions for treating cancer, including cancer that is not responsive to immunotherapy. In one aspect, the methods of treatment comprise administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a β-catenin inhibitor and a therapeutically effective amount of an immunotherapeutic agent. Another aspect is directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising a β-catenin inhibitor for use in treating cancer, wherein the composition is administered in combination with an immunotherapeutic agent. Yet another aspect is directed to a method of potentiating the therapeutic effect of immunotherapy against a cancer using a β-catenin inhibitor, such as a β-catenin nucleic acid inhibitor molecule.

The immune system uses certain molecules on the surface of immune cells as checkpoints to control T cell activation and prevent the immune system from targeting healthy cells and inducing autoimmunity. Certain cancer cells are able to take advantage of these immune checkpoint molecules to evade the immune system. In recent years, immunotherapeutic strategies to block immune checkpoint molecules, such as cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein-4 (CTLA-4) and programmed cell death receptor 1 (PD-1), have shown success against certain cancers. An anti-CTLA-4 monoclonal antibody (ipilimumab) was approved for the treatment of patients with advanced melanoma in 2011. An anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody (nivolumab) was approved for the treatment of patients with certain advanced cancers in 2014, alone or in combination with ipilimumab. Antibodies that block immune checkpoint molecules like CTLA-4, PD-1, and PD-L1 appear to release the brakes on T cell activation and promote potent anti-tumor immune responses. However, only a subset of patients respond to this immunotherapy.
At least in certain instances, the tumors that respond to immunotherapy have a pre-existing T cell inflamed phenotype, with infiltrating T cells, a broad chemokine profile that recruits T cells to the tumor microenvironment, and high levels of IFN gamma secretion (also called hot or inflamed tumors). Gajewski et al., Nat Immunol., 2013, 14(10):1014-22; Ji et al., Cancer Immunol Immunother, 2012, 61:1019-31. Conversely, certain tumors that do not respond to immunotherapy have been shown to not have a T cell inflamed phenotype (also known as cold or non-inflamed tumors). Id.
There remains a need in the art to develop new cancer treatment options, including options that would make non-inflamed tumors responsive to immunotherapy.

Reducing beta-catenin expression to potentiate immunotherapy


The positive electrode active material of a positive electrode includes a sodium-containing transition metal oxide (NaaLibMxO2±α). The M includes at least two of manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), and nickel (Ni). For a negative electrode, a sodium metal or a metal that forms an alloy with sodium is used. A non-aqueous electrolyte produced by dissolving an electrolytic salt (sodium salt) in a non-aqueous solvent is used. Examples of the non-aqueous solvent may include a cyclic carbonate, a chain carbonate, esters, cyclic ethers, chain ethers, nitrites, amides and a combination thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sodium ion secondary battery including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte.
2. Description of the Background Art
Non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries have recently been in wide use as secondary batteries having high energy densities. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery uses a non-aqueous electrolyte and carries out charge and discharge by allowing for example lithium ions to be transferred between its positive and negative electrodes.
Such a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery generally uses a lithiumtransitionmetal composite oxide having a layered structure such as lithium nickelate (LiNiO2) and lithium cobaltate (LiCoO2) for a positive electrode and a material capable of intercalating and deintercalating lithium such as a carbon material, a lithium metal, and a lithium alloy for a negative electrode (see for example JP 2003-151549 A).
The use of the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery described above results in a discharge capacity from 150 mAh/g to 180 mAh/g, a potential of about 4 V, and a theoretical capacity of about 260 mAh/g.
The non-aqueous electrolyte is produced by dissolving an electrolytic salt such as lithium tetrafluoroborate (LiBF4) and lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6) in an organic solvent such as ethylene carbonate and diethyl carbonate.
In the conventional non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery that uses the lithium ions as described above, an oxide of cobalt (Co) or nickel (Ni) is mainly used for its positive electrode and these materials are limited as natural resources.
If all the lithium ions are deintercalated from the lithium nickelate or the lithium cobaltate in the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery described above, the crystal structure of the lithium nickelate or the lithium cobaltate is destroyed. As a result, oxygen is released from the lithium nickelate or the lithium cobaltate, which may cause a safety concern. Therefore, the discharge capacity cannot be increased from the above-described level.
Manganese (Mn) available in abundance as a resource may be used in place of nickel or cobalt, but the capacity of the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is halved in the case.
It is difficult to produce lithium manganate (LiMnO2) having a layered structure effective in improving the mobility of lithium ions using manganese. Therefore, lithium manganate (LiMn2O4) having a spinel structure is generally used. With the LiMn2O4, if all the lithium ions are deintercalated, the state of MnO2 is maintained. Since manganese is stable in a tetravalent state, it does not release oxygen and is therefore considerably safe.
The use of LiMn2O4 allows a potential of 4 V to be obtained, but a discharge capacity only from 100 mAh/g to 120 mAh/g can be obtained.
Furthermore, attempts to produce layered LiMnO2 have been made but when the potential becomes about as low as 3 V and the charge and discharge cycle is repeatedly carried out, the LiMnO2 is transformed into spinel LiMn2O4. It is believed that the layered LiMnO2 is chemically unstable because the radius of the lithium ions is small.


The present application provides data transmitting and receiving methods and devices for an Optical Transport Network (OTN). The service transmitting method for the OTN includes that: Optical Data Unit (ODU) services are mapped into cells of a payload area of an OTN interface frame, the payload area including N cells with a fixed size, one cell being used for carrying one ODU service and N being an integer larger than or equal to 1; and the OTN interface frame is encapsulated and transmitted.

An Optical Transport Network (OTN) standard is a standard, set by the International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T), for optical transport devices. At present, almost all long-distance transport networks are formed by OTN-standard-based devices.
An OTN has standard signal formats, including Optical Transport Unit k (OTUk) (k=1, 2, 3, 4), Flexible OTN (FlexO), and a new OTN signal that will be defined in the future. An OTN signal is configured to bear various non-OTN signals or multiple low-speed Optical Data Unit i (ODUi) (i=0, 1, 2, 2e, 3, 4, flex) signals. A rate of an ODUi is lower than a rate of an ODUk, and the low-speed ODUi (i<k) signal represents an ODUi signal of which a rate is lower than that of the ODUk in the present application. The non-OTN signals refer to various other signals except for OTN signals, for example, a Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) signal, an Ethernet signal, a fiber channel signal, and various packet signals. An OTN signal includes two parts, i.e., an overhead part and a payload part. The parts of the OTN signal are further described with an OTUk as an example. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a frame structure of an OTUk according to a related art. As shown in FIG. 1, an OTUk signal is formed by an OTUk frame; The OTUk frame consists of an OTUk overhead and an ODUk frame; The ODUk frame consists of an ODUk overhead and an Optical Payload Unit k (OPUk) frame; The OPUk frame consists of an OPUk overhead and an OPUk payload; and the OPUk payload may be configured to bear a non-OTN signal or multiple low-speed ODUi (i<k) signals. A signal formed by an ODUk frame is called an ODUk signal.
In a related OTN signal definition, mapping methods for carrying a service signal to an OTN payload area for use mainly include Asynchronous Mapping Procedure (AMP), Bit-synchronous Mapping Procedure (BMP) and Generic Mapping Procedure (GMP). Use of BMP is greatly limited, namely it is required that an OTN signal and the service signal are completely synchronous in rate and a ratio of the rates of the OTN signal and the service signal complies with a specific relationship. For AMP and GMP, it is not required that the OTN signal and the service signal are synchronous in rate. Particularly, GMP is a main method for carrying the service signal in the OTN signal.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the division of an OPUk payload into four time slots in an optical transport standard according to the related art. As shown in FIG. 2, in a related OTN definition, a method for carrying multiple services signals in an OTN signal payload is to divide the OTN signal payload into n time slots and then bear the service signals in at least one time slot of the OTN signal payload, where the slot is implemented in a byte interleaving manner. For example, for an OTN signal OTUk, an OPUk payload is a byte block with 4 rows and 3,808 columns, where the columns are numbered from 17 to 3,824 (the first 17 columns correspond to an OTUk overhead, an ODUk overhead and an OPUk overhead) and the rows are numbered from 1 to 4. In FIG. 2, a small box represents one byte. An OPUk payload area of an OPUk frame is formed by 4*3,808 bytes that are arranged in 4 rows and 3,808 columns, as shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 shows the condition that the OPUk payload is divided into four time slots in the byte interleaving manner, namely four adjacent bytes form a group from column 17 in the 3,808 columns, and the four bytes in each group are divided to four different time slots TS1, TS2, TS3 and TS4 respectively, namely four continuous bytes from column 17 represent the four time slots respectively, and in such a manner, all the 4*3,808 bytes in the OPUk payload are divided into the four time slots named after TS1, TS2, TS3 and TS4 respectively. m time slots may bear one ODUi (m is smaller than the maximum number n of slots in the OPUk payload, and n=4 in FIG. 2).
According to a related OTN standard G.709, an OPU4 payload in a 100 G OTU4 is divided into 80 time slots. Since a minimum ODUk in an OTN is an ODU0 of which a rate is 1.25 G, an OPUk payload in an OTU frame of any rate should theoretically be divided into time slots according to a granularity (i.e., unit) of 1.25 G to ensure that the ODU0 may be most efficiently. However, when a rate of an OTUk is very high, for example, the rate of the OTU4 is 100 G, if the time slots are divided according to the granularity of 1.25 G, a large number of time slots may be required, for example, the OPU4 payload of the OTU4 is required to be divided into 80 time slots. Dividing into too many time slots brings more difficulties to hardware implementation of carrying of multiple low-speed ODUi (i<k) in the OTUk. In a signal format OTUCn of more than 100 G (n is an integer larger than or equal to 1), considering a related hardware level, a time slot granularity of the OTUCn is 5 G rather than 1.25 G. However, in such case, if an ODUi of which a rate is lower than 5 G is in the OTUCn, the space may be wasted, and a fixed slot size also limits the number of services that may be in an ODU. In addition, some operating companies do not maintain SDH devices anymore, some small-bandwidth services (less than 1 G) also require transitions from the SDH devices to OTN devices, but time slot granularities of the related OTN devices are minimally 1.25 G, and direct carrying causes serious bandwidth waste, so that it is also desirable to improve a related OTN technology.
For the condition of the serious bandwidth waste caused by transporting an optical transport service in a manner of dividing a payload area into time slots in the related art, there is yet no improvement solution.

Service transmitting and receiving methods and devices for optical transport network (OTN)


The invention provides improved systems, devices, and methods for analyzing a large number of sample compounds contained in standard multi-well microtiter plates or other array structures. The multi-well plates travel along a conveyor system to a test station having a microfluidic device. At the test station, each plate is removed from the conveyor and the wells of the multi-well plate are sequentially aligned with an input port of the microfluidic device. After at least a portion of each sample has been input into the microfluidic channel system, the plate is returned to the conveyor system. Pre and/or post testing stations may be disposed along the conveyor system, and the use of an X-Y-Z robotic arm and novel plate support bracket allows each of the samples in the wells to be input into the microfluidic network through a probe affixed to a microfluidic chip. A clamshell structure having a hinged lid can releasably support the chip while providing and/or accommodating the electrical, optical, structural, and other interface connections between the microfluidic device and the surrounding system.

The present invention relates generally to microfluidic systems, devices, and methods. More particularly, the present invention provides structures and methods that are useful for handling and sequentially introducing large numbers of samples into devices having microfluidic channels.
Considerable work is now underway to develop microfluidic systems, particularly for performing chemical, clinical, and environmental analysis of chemical and biological specimens. The term microfluidic refers to a system or device having a network of chambers connected by channels, in which the channels have microscale dimensions, e.g., having at least one cross sectional dimension in the range from about 0.1 xcexcm to about 500 xcexcm. Microfluidic substrates are often fabricated using photolithography, wet chemical etching, injection molding, embossing, and other techniques similar to those employed in the semiconductor industry. The resulting devices can be used to perform a variety of sophisticated chemical and biological analytical techniques.
Microfluidic analytical systems have a number of advantages over conventional chemical or physical laboratory techniques. For example, microfluidic systems are particularly well adapted for analyzing small samples sizes, typically making use of samples on the order of nanoliters and even picoliters. The channel defining substrates may be produced at relatively low cost, and the channels can be arranged to perform numerous specific analytical operations, including mixing, dispensing, valving, reactions, detections, electrophoresis, and the like. The analytical capabilities of microfluidic systems are generally enhanced by increasing the number and complexity of network channels, reaction chambers, and the like.
Substantial advances have recently been made in the general areas of flow control and physical interactions between the samples and the supporting analytical structures. Flow control management may make use of a variety of mechanisms, including the patterned application of voltage, current, or electrical power to the substrate (for example, to induce and/or control electrokinetic flow or electrophoretic separations). Alternatively, fluid flows may be induced mechanically through the application of differential pressure, acoustic energy, or the like. Selective heating, cooling, exposure to light or other radiation, or other inputs may be provided at selected locations distributed about the substrate to promote the desired chemical and/or biological interactions. Similarly, measurements of light or other emissions, electrical/electrochemical signals, and pH may be taken from the substrate to provide analytical results. As work has progressed in each of these areas, the channel size has gradually decreased while the channel network has increased in complexity, significantly enhancing the overall capabilities of microfluidic systems.
One particularly advantageous application for microfluidic techniques is to screen collections of large numbers of samples. There has long been a need to rapidly assay numerous compounds for their effects on various biological processes. For example, enzymologists have long sought improved substrates, inhibitors, and/or catalysts for enzymatic reactions. The pharmaceutical industry has focussed on identifying compounds that may block, reduce, or enhance the interactions between biological molecules, such as the interaction between a receptor and its ligand. The ability to rapidly process numerous samples for detection of biological molecules relevant to diagnostic or forensic analysis could also have substantial benefits for diagnostic medicine, archaeology, anthropology, and modern criminal investigations. Modern drug discovery has long suffered under the limited throughput of known assay systems for screening collections of chemically synthesized molecules and/or natural products. Unfortunately, the dramatic increase in the number of test compounds provided by modern combinatorial chemistry and human genome research has overwhelmed the ability of existing techniques for assaying sample compounds.
The throughput capabilities of existing sample handling and assaying techniques have been improved using parallel screening methods in a variety of robotic sample handling and detection system approaches. While these improvements have increased the number of compounds which can be tested by a system, these existing systems generally require a significant amount of space to accommodate the samples and robotic equipment, and the sample handling equipment often has extremely high costs. Additionally, large quantities of reagents and compounds are used in performing the assays, which reagents have their own associated costs, as well as producing significant waste disposal problems. Use of small amounts of test compounds with these existing techniques can increase the errors associated with fluid handling and management due to evaporation, dispensing errors, and surface tension effects.
A high throughput screening assay system using microfluidic devices has previously been described. Published P.C.T. Patent Application No. WO 98/00231, the full disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes, describes a microlaboratory system which can sequentially introduce a large number of test compounds (typically contained in multi-well plates) into a number of assay chips or microfluidic devices. This advantageous system allows testing of a large number of sample compounds with a compact sample handling arrangement, while the manipulation of picoliter or nanoliter volumes of chemicals can both enhance the speed of each chemical analysis and minimize sample and waste product volumes. Hence, such a microlaboratory system represents a significant advancement for handling and testing large numbers of chemical and biological compounds.
Although the proposed application of microfluidic devices to high throughput screening provides a tremendous increase in the number of sample compounds which can be cost effectively tested, still further improvements would be desirable. In particular, it would be helpful to develop devices and methods which were adapted to efficiently handle the tremendous number of sample compounds that might be tested with such a system. It would be best if these sample handling techniques were flexibly adaptable to the wide variety of analyses that might be performed in a microfluidic screening system. Such sample handling systems should be tailored to take advantage of the strengths of a microfluidic analytical device, while minimizing any limitations of microfluidic analysis, and while accommodating any particular sensitivity of these new structures which might otherwise induce error. Ideally, all of these enhanced capabilities will be provided in a compact, high throughput system which can be produced at a moderate cost.
The present invention generally provides improved systems, devices, and methods for analyzing a large number of sample compounds. In many embodiments, the samples will be contained in standard multi-well microtiter plates, such as those having 96, 384, 1536, or higher numbers of wells. These multi-well plates will typically travel along a conveyor system between an input stack and an output stack. One or more test stations, each having a microfluidic device, will be disposed along the conveyor system. At the test station, each multi-well plate can be removed from the conveyor, and the wells of the multi-well plate will typically be sequentially aligned with an input port of the microfluidic device. After at least a portion of each sample has been injected into the microfluidic channel system, the plate will be returned to the conveyor system. Pre and/or post processing stations may be disposed along the conveyor system, and the use of an X-Y-Z robotic arm and a novel plate support bracket allows each of the samples in the wells to be accurately introduced into the microfluidic network. This arrangement avoids having to move the microfluidic device or its port between entering of the samples, significantly simplifying the chip interface structure. In the exemplary embodiment, a clamshell structure having a hinged lid releasably supports the chip while providing and/or accommodating the electrical, fluid, optical, structural, and any other interface connections between the microfluidic device and the surrounding high throughput system.
In a first aspect, the present invention provides a system for analyzing a large number of sample compounds. The system comprises a plurality of arrays, each array having a plurality of regions for holding samples. An array transport system translates the arrays sequentially along an array path. At least one microfluidic device will be disposed off of the array path. The microfluidic device has a sample input port and a channel system with a channel cross sectional dimension in the range from about 0.1 xcexcm to about 500 xcexcm. A transportation mechanism moves each array from the array path and sequentially aligns the regions of the array with the port of the microfluidic device.
Preferably, a microfluidic device interface structure supports the microfluidic device (and its port) at a fixed position. This interface structure will preferably comprise a clamshell having a lid pivotally coupled to a base so as to restrain the microfluidic device therebetween. A window through the lid or base facilitates optically coupling an optical detection system to the channel system of the microfluidic device for monitoring an optical characteristic of a reaction within a channel system. Electrodes extending from the base or lid can couple an electrical potential source to fluid within the channel system through electrode ports of the microfluidic device for electrokinetically transporting the fluids within the microfluidic channel system.
In the exemplary embodiment, the array comprises multi-well plates, and the transportation system for moving the plates from the conveyor system includes a robot arm having at least two, and preferably three degrees of freedom. Where the plates define a planar array of wells, such a robotic arm allows the port to be selectively aligned with any of the wells (along the X and Y axes), and allows the plate to be lifted to bring the sample within each well into contact with the input port (along the Z axis). By using a plate support bracket which is narrower than the plate, lifting pins adjacent to the conveyor system can engage exposed peripheral portions of the plate""s lower edge to transfer the plate between the bracket and the conveyor system. This avoids complex robotic grasping mechanisms supported by the robotic arm. Pre and/or post testing stations may be disposed along the conveyor system. Such stations might include a sample management station, for example, a card reader which enters data from a bar code affixed to each plate so as to identify the samples thereon. Alternatively, reaction stations may be positioned before and/or after the test station, for example, to controllably dilute the samples contained in the wells of a plate prior to testing, for reconstituting test compounds in an aqueous buffer, and the like. The use of a bi-directional conveyor belt and/or programmable transportation mechanisms provides flexibility in defining different testing sequences. For example, a single sample disposed within one well of a plate might be moved back and forth between a dilution station and the test station to provide data at different reaction times, multiple concentrations, and the like.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a system for analyzing a large number of samples. The system comprises a plurality of plates, each plate having an array of wells. A plate conveyor translates the plates along a plate path. At least one test station will be disposed along the plate path. The at least one test station includes a microfluidic substrate having a sample input port in fluid communication with at least one channel with a cross sectional dimension in a range from about 0.1 xcexcm to about 500 xcexcm. The test station further includes a plurality of lifting pins to sequentially lift the plates from the conveyor, and a plate transportation mechanism. The transportation mechanism moves the lifted plates from the plate path with at least two degrees of freedom to sequentially align the wells of the plate with the input port of the substrate. The transportation mechanism comprises a rigid plate support bracket that fittingly receives the plate when the plate rests on the bracket.
The present invention also provides a method for testing a large number of samples. The method comprises arranging the samples in a plurality of wells. The wells are disposed in a plurality of plates, and the plates are transported along a plate path. The plates are removed from the path and the wells are sequentially aligned with a fluid inflow port of a microfluidic device. The samples are transferred sequentially from the wells into a channel system, the channel system having a cross sectional dimension in a range from about 0.1 xcexcm to 500 xcexcm.
The present invention further provides a system for analyzing a large number of sample compounds. The system comprises a plurality of arrays, each array having a plurality of regions for holding samples. An array transport system translates the arrays sequentially along an array path. A batch process station is disposed along the array path for simultaneously processing the samples of each array while the array will be disposed at the batch station. At least one sample test device will be disposed off the array path. The test device has a sample input port, and a transportation mechanism moves each array from the array path and sequentially aligns the regions of the array with the port of the test device.
In another aspect, the present invention also provides a support structure for robotic manipulation of a plurality of assay samples. The assay samples are disposed in wells of a plurality of plates, each plate having an upper surface and a lower surface with front, back, left, and right edge surfaces extending therebetween. The support structure comprises a beam defining a proximal end and a distal end with an axis therebetween. An upwardly oriented tab near the distal end of the beam inhibits axial movement of the plate when the plate rests on the support structure. A pair of horizontally opposed sidewalls adjacent the proximal end of the beam fittingly receive left and right edge surfaces of the plate when the plate rests on the support structure.
The invention also provides a related method for manipulating a plurality of assay samples. The method comprises distributing the assay samples in wells of a plurality of plates. Each plate has an upper surface and a lower surface with front, back, left and right edge surfaces extending therebetween. The plates are positioned on a support structure such that a beam of the support structure extends from adjacent the front surface of the plate to adjacent the back surface of the plate. An upwardly oriented tab near the distal end of the beam inhibits movement of the plate. The assay samples within the wells of the plate are moved by translating the bracket.
In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a system for analyzing samples. The system comprises a microfluidic device having a channel system with a channel cross sectional dimension in the range from about 0.1 xcexcm to about 500 xcexcm. An interface structure supports the microfluidic device, the structure comprising a base and a lid movably coupled to the base so that the microfluidic device will be restrainable therebetween. At least one of the lid and the base define a window. An optical detection system will be optically coupled to the channel system through the window of the interface structure for monitoring an optical characteristic of a reaction within the channel system.
In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a system for analyzing samples. The system comprises at least one microfluidic device having a channel system with a channel cross sectional dimension in the range from about 0.1 xcexcm to about 500 xcexcm. A support structure supports the microfluidic device, the support structure including a base and a lid. The lid rotatably engages the base so as to move between an open position and a closed position. At least one electrode will be mounted within the lid. The at least one electrode will extend into the channel system of the microfluidic device when the lid is disposed in the closed position. The at least one electrode will be clear of the microfluidic device (so that the microfluidic device is removable from the support structure) when the lid is in the open position.
In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a system for testing a large number of sample compounds. The system comprises at least one sample array. A sample transfer mechanism distributes the samples from the sample array to a plurality of reusable arrays. An array transport system translates the reusable arrays sequentially along an array path from the sample transfer mechanism. At least one microfluidic device will be disposed along the array path. The device has a sample input port that admits the samples from the reusable arrays into a channel system with a channel cross sectional dimension in a range from about 0.1 xcexcm to about 500 xcexcm. A cleaning system will be disposed along the array path for removing the samples from the arrays.
Preferably, the array path defines a closed loop, so that the reusable arrays are loaded with samples, the samples are moved to and tested in the microfluidic device, the tested arrays are cleaned of the tested samples, and the arrays are loaded with new samples continuously. This may allow the use of specialized arrays incorporating electrodes to facilitate electrokinetically introducing the samples into the microfluidic devices. Advantageously, such a reusable array system avoids the waste problems associated with large numbers of disposable multi-well plates when testing libraries of test compounds. Such libraries will typically include at least 1,000 different test compounds, the libraries preferably having at least 10,000 test compounds, and often having over 100,000 different test compounds.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a screening system for screening a large number of test compounds in a screening assay. The system comprises a first sample array or set of sample arrays comprising at least 1,000 different test compounds. Each of the test compounds is disposed in a separate region of the first sample array or set of sample arrays. A dilution system separately samples each of the different test compounds and delivers each of the different test compounds to a different region on a second sample array or set of sample arrays. The second sample array or set of sample arrays comprises a plurality of different regions for retaining a sample. A screening apparatus is provided for contacting each different test compound with a biochemical system, and for monitoring an effect, if any, of the test compound on the biochemical system. A sampling system samples each of the test compounds from the second sample array or set of sample arrays, and delivers each of the test compounds to the screening apparatus. A sample array recycling system removes the different test compounds from the second sample array or set of sample arrays, dries the second sample array or set of sample arrays, and moves the second sample array or set of sample arrays into position to receive test compounds from the dilution system.

High throughput microfluidic systems and methods


A computer-implemented method for managing sub-clusters within a multi-cluster computing system subsequent to a network-partition event may include: 1) identifying a plurality of computer clusters, 2) identifying a network-partition event that partitions each of the plurality of computer clusters into multiple sub-clusters, 3) identifying, within the multiple sub-clusters, a plurality of nodes that share a common attribute or property, and then 4) ensuring that only those nodes that share the common attribute survive subsequent to the network-partition event. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Computer clusters typically include multiple nodes that collectively perform one or more computing tasks. Occasionally, a network-partition event (such as a device or communication-infrastructure failure) may impair communication within a computer cluster, effectively partitioning the computer cluster into multiple sub-clusters (e.g., groups of one or more nodes) that are unable to communicate with each other. Due to the network-partition event, these isolated sub-clusters may be unable to coordinate operations, such as writing data to and/or reading data from shared resources. In order to avoid overwriting and/or corrupting data related to these tasks, system administrators may seek to ensure that only one sub-cluster performs such tasks after a network-partition event occurs.
Multi-cluster computing systems may include various computer clusters that operate independently of each other. When a network-partition event affects computer clusters on a multi-cluster system, the coordination point may allow a single sub-cluster within each computer cluster to perform computing tasks. However, such computer clusters often incorporate sub-clusters that are located at different sites. As a result, traditional multi-cluster systems may sacrifice efficiency and performance by allowing sub-clusters at different sites to perform computing tasks on behalf of the computer clusters. Accordingly, the instant disclosure identifies a need for efficiently and effectively managing sub-clusters within multiple computer clusters subsequent to a network-partition event.

Systems and methods for managing sub-clusters within a multi-cluster computing system subsequent to a network-partition event


An image pickup apparatus having optical and electronic zooms. A manually operated zoom element allows for movement of the optical zoom and an electrically operated zoom switch permits electric driving of the optical and electronic zooms. A control unit controls the apparatus so that the magnification is varied while the electronic zoom is kept constant, if the focal length of the optical zoom is varied by the manually operated zoom element in the state that the optical zoom is at its telephoto end and the electronic zoom is being operated

1. Field of the Invention
This application is a division of application Ser. No. 08/689,467, filed Aug. 15, 1996, U.S. Pat. No. 5,650,819, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 08/313,379, filed Sep. 27, 1994, abandoned.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a greater number of image pickup apparatuses, such as video cameras or electronic still cameras, have been provided with the zooming function of varying an angle of view.
There are three major zoom systems which will be described in the following paragraphs (a), (b) and (c).
(a) Optical-Zoom System
The optical-zoom system optically varies a photographic angle of view by means of a zoom lens or the like, and is arranged to enlarge or reduce an image by causing a zooming lens group which performs a zooming operation to move along the optical axis by manual operation or by means of a motor (actuator). The advantage of the optical-zoom system is that no great degradation occurs in image quality. The disadvantage of the optical-zoom system is that a large optical system and a driving circuit or mechanism, hence a rise in price, are needed.
(b) Electronic-Zoom System
The electronic-zoom system varies an angle of view by electronic image processing, and is arranged to enlarge or reduce an image by the conversion of the coordinates of a video signal. The advantage of the electronic-zoom system is that the electronic-zoom system is inexpensive and suited for miniaturization. The disadvantage of the electronic-zoom system is that since subsampling and interpolation of pixels, scanning lines and the like are needed, image quality is degraded.
(c) Hybrid-Zoom System
The hybrid-zoom system is a combination of an optical zoom and an electronic zoom. Since the magnification of the optical zoom can be set low and electronic zooming can be implemented by using a high-resolution image pickup element, the hybrid-zoom system can realize small-size, high-magnification zooming means having good characteristics which do not cause a great degradation of image quality.
As is known, a greater number of video cameras have currently been provided with an image-shake correcting function (image stabilizing function). There are three types of image-shake correcting systems: mechanical, optical and electronic, and a purely electronic, image-shake correcting system is particularly suited to a reduction in size and weight because no complex, correcting optical system is needed.
The operational principle of the purely electronic, image-shake correcting system will be described below with reference to FIG. 1.
First, an xe2x80x9cimage-shake vectorxe2x80x9d indicative of a motion of an image due to an image shake, i.e., the amount and the direction of the image shake, is detected from a picked-up video signal (Part (a) of FIG. 1). Then, a xe2x80x9ccut-out framexe2x80x9d which is required to cut out photographed-image information from an image pickup element or a memory in which an image for one picture is stored is moved according to the detected image-shake vector (Parts (b1) and (b2) of FIG. 1). Finally, the cut-out image is enlarged to the size of a television (TV) picture frame (Part (c) of FIG. 1). Therefore, the xe2x80x9ccut-out framexe2x80x9d is smaller than the image pickup area of the image pickup element or the area of the memory in which image data for one picture can be stored.
By continuously performing the above-described operations, it is possible to obtain a video image in which the influence of the image shake is greatly reduced.
The above-described image-shake correcting operation is executed by an image-shake correcting device, such as that shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the construction of the image-shake correcting device. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a video signal which is already digitized after having been picked up by an image pickup element. The video signal 1 is an input signal of an image-shake correction detecting system. The image-shake correcting device shown in FIG. 2 includes a filter 2 for extracting from the input signal a signal (representative point) which has a feature in terms of chrominance and luminance in a photographed subject image, and a representative-point memory 3 for storing the representative point. The representative point is obtained by using, for example, a pattern of color information, a luminance peak, a bi-level luminance image or the like. The device shown in FIG. 2 also includes a computing part 4 for detecting a motion of an image from the past representative points and the current representative points, a computation memory 5 for storing a computation result provided by the computing part 4, and a data detecting part 6 for reading computing data from the computation memory 5 and sending it to a microcomputer which will be described later.
The device shown in FIG. 2 also includes a microcomputer 7 for determining the setting of the xe2x80x9ccut-out framexe2x80x9d according to the value of the image-shake vector, a field memory 8 for storing the input video signal 1 in an amount corresponding to one picture, and a field memory control part 9 for cutting out part of the video signal stored in the field memory 8 by varying the read-out addresses of the field memory 8 in response to information indicative of the cut-out frame set by the microcomputer 7. Specifically, the field memory control part 9 shifts the cut-out position of an image on the field memory 8 in a direction in which the image-shake vector is cancelled, thereby compensating for a motion of the image. The shown device also includes an electronic-zoom part 10 for electronically enlarging or reducing the cut-out video signal to the size of the TV picture frame. The electronic-zoom part 10 also performs interpolation processing for enlargement. Reference numeral 11 denotes a corrected video output.
The conventional hybrid-zoom system, in which the optical zoom and the electronic zoom are combined, merely uses the electronic zoom as an extension of the optical zoom and is not set so that the disadvantages of both zooms can be compensated for each other. A hybrid-zoom system in which the electronic zoom and the optical zoom are combined in such a simple manner is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,475, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 078,565 (Jun. 17, 1993) and others.
In the conventional electronic image-shake correcting device, since one particular size is preset as the size of the xe2x80x9ccut-out framexe2x80x9d, the range of image-shake correction is comparatively narrow, and if the magnitude of an image shake exceeds the range, a spatially or temporarily discontinuous video image will be produced.
A first object of the present invention which has been made in light of the above-described problems is to improve image quality in a camera provided with an optical zoom and an electronic zoom.
A second object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup apparatus capable of effecting zooming suited to individual photographic scenes and lowering the probability that a temporarily or spatially discontinuous video image may be produced.
To achieve the above objects, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image pickup apparatus which comprises optical-zoom means for varying an angle of view by using an optical system, electronic-zoom means for varying the angle of view by using electronic image processing, detecting means for detecting a spatial frequency of a video signal, and control means for providing control to vary a set value of a zoom magnification of the electronic-zoom means on the basis of a detection result provided by the detecting means.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image pickup apparatus which comprises control means for controlling a lens position of the optical-zoom means by setting a zoom magnification of the optical-zoom means to keep constant an overall zoom magnification determined by a multiplication of the zoom magnification of the optical-zoom means by the zoom magnification of the electronic-zoom means.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image pickup apparatus which comprises image-shake detecting means for detecting an image shake due to a vibration applied to an apparatus body, image-shake correcting means for correcting the image shake, selecting means for determining whether the image-shake correcting means is to be activated, and control means for providing control to read part of a video signal from a memory so as to correct the image shake, if activation of the image-shake correcting means is selected by the selecting means.
In the above-described arrangement, the control means provides control to vary the set value of the zoom magnification of the electronic-zoom means on the basis of a detection result provided by the detecting means for detecting a spatial frequency of a video signal.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Image pickup apparatus with optical and electronic zoom


Generally, this disclosure describes devices, systems and methods for wireless data transfer with improved transport mechanism selection. The device may include a near field communication (NFC) circuit configured to initiate a data transfer between a first communication device and a second communication device; a Soft Access Point (Soft AP) data transport circuit configured to transfer data between the communication device and the second communication device; one or more additional data transport circuits configured to transfer data between the communication device and the second communication device; and a transport mechanism selection circuit coupled to the NFC interface circuit and further coupled to the one or more data transport circuits, the transport mechanism selection circuit configured to select one of the data transport circuits for the data transfer, wherein the selection is based on a determination of the size of the data transfer.

Some existing wireless communication devices enable data to be transferred between the devices by tapping them together, which is sometimes referred to as "Tap and Share." This is accomplished through the use of Near Field Communication (NFC) circuitry in the devices that detect the presence of the other device and initiate the data transfer. The data transfer is then typically performed through either NFC or Bluetooth (BT) wireless transport mechanisms. NFC and BT, however, provide slower data transfer speeds compared to other wireless transport mechanisms, making them generally unsuitable for use with large data transfers such as required, for example, with pictures or videos.
Some devices transfer data through the Cloud, but this technique also suffers from limitations on data transfer speed making it unsuitable for the transfer of larger data files. Additionally, this technique typically requires user intervention in the form of dialog prompts that must be answered, detracting from the relative ease of use that "Tap and Share" is meant to provide.
Although the following Detailed Description will proceed with reference being made to illustrative embodiments, many alternatives, modifications, and variations thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Wireless data transfer with improved transport mechanism selection


A motor vehicle gearbox with an infinitely variable reduction ratio comprises an input shaft, an output shaft, a first gear stage with a continuously adjustable reduction ratio, and a second gear stage in the form of a summarizing gear. The input shaft is connected to the input of the first gear stage and, via a first coupling, to a first input of the second gear stage. The output of the first gear stage is connected to a second input of the second gear stage and, via a second coupling, to the output shaft, which simultaneously forms the output of the second gear stage. The first gear stage is part of a main gear. The main gear and the second gear stage are disposed coaxially relative to each other and to a common main axis. The first gear stage takes the form of a frictional body gear, in particular a frictional wheel epicyclic gear, in which two bodies abut each other in a frictionally engaging manner in a region. The frictional bodies rotate over the entire reduction range at a higher speed (n.sub.3) than the drive speed (n.sub.1).

The invention relates to a motor vehicle transmission having a continuously variable transmission ratio and comprising a transmission input shaft, a first input shaft, a transmission output shaft, a first transmission stage with continuously variable transmission ratio and a second transmission stage configured as a summing transmission, the transmission input shaft being connected on the one hand side with the input of the first transmission stage and on the other hand side via a first clutch with a first input of the second transmission stage, the output of the first transmission stage, further, being connected on the one hand side with a second input of the second transmission stage and, on the other hand side via a second clutch with the transmission output shaft constituting also the output of the second transmission stage, the first transmission stage being, particularly, configured as a friction wheel epicyclic transmission in which two bodies contact each other in an area. The invention is particularly related to such transmissions in which by switching two clutches two modes of operation may be set being characterized by a synchronous transition.
A transmission of the afore-mentioned kind is disclosed in a conference report "4. Aachener Kolloquium, Fahrzeug- und Motor-entechnik '93", pages 607-622. The transmission in question has become well-known in the art under the manufacturer's denomination "TOROTRAK".
In a "TOROTRAK" transmission two toroidal frictional bodies, so-called globoides are arranged non-rotationally on an input shaft. Between the two toroidal frictional bodies a toothed disk of a toothed chain is arranged rotationally which, at its two radial outer surfaces is also configured as a toroidal frictional body. Between the two opposing toroidal frictional surfaces of the non-rotational and the rotational toroidal frictional bodies, respectively, frictional transmission bodies are arranged at a distance from the axis which contact the two frictional surfaces of the toroidal frictional bodies. By tilting these frictional transmission bodies relative to the direction of the axis, the contact point on the respective toroidal frictional bodies may be adjusted in a radial direction so that a continuously variable transmission ratio is achieved. The toothed disk, therefore, rotates at a speed which may be adjusted continuously with respect to the speed of the input shaft. The transmission ratio may be varied between 2.0 and 0.5, corresponding to a gear ratio spread of 4. The transmission may be operated in a certain range (i<1) such that the speed is converted into faster speeds. Transmission ratios being smaller than 0.5 may not be achieved due to the specific design of that transmission because the frictional transmission bodies would have to be arranged to steep with respect to the direction of the axis.
An output shaft is arranged parallel to the input shaft. The output shaft has two axially neighbored hollow shaft sections, a first of which supporting the second pulley of the chain drive as well as the sun gear wheel of a planetary gear set. The other hollow shaft section is connected with the arm of the planetary gear set whereas the ring gear wheel is connected to the output shaft extending through the two hollow shaft sections.
The first hollow shaft section is adapted to be connected with the output shaft via a first clutch, whereas the second hollow shaft section is adapted to be connected to a toothed wheel via a second clutch, the toothed wheel meshing with a corresponding fixed wheel on the transmission input shaft via a fixed transmission ratio.
In a first mode of operation the first clutch is closed and the second clutch is opened. Hence, the variator drives the sun gear wheel and the input shaft drives the arm of the planetary gear set via the fixed transmission, the planetary gear set, in this instance, acting as a summing gear. The output of the planetary gear train, i.e. the ring gear wheel, drives the output shaft.
In a second mode of operation the first clutch is opened and the second clutch is closed so that the first hollow shaft section is non-rotationally connected to the output shaft. Accordingly, the variator directly drives the output shaft.
In this way the first mode of operation allows low output speeds with high torque. The high torque is essentially transmitted via the fixedly toothed path of the flow of torque via the second clutch. In the second mode of operation, however, high output speeds are possible, while the lower torque (at same power) is transmitted via the high variator speeds directly onto the output shaft.
The "TOROTRAK" transmission, however, has some disadvantages. On the one hand side the variator is relatively complex in its design. This holds true in particular with respect to the design of the toroidal frictional bodies as well as of the frictional transmission bodies, including the relative control thereof as well as the maintaining of the frictional contact between the afore-mentioned elements over the entire transmission ratio range.
Another advantage of the afore-described "TOROTRAK" transmission is that due to the necessity of having two parallel shafts together with a chain drive therebetween, considerable dimensions of the transmission are necessary which are not acceptable in numerous applications of passenger vehicle transmissions.
EP-B1-0 560 840 discloses a modification of the afore-described "TOROTRAK" transmission. This prior art transmission, however, is only suited to be installed in a motor vehicle in a longitudinal direction due to its long axial design, however, it may not be installed transversely in the front section of the vehicle.
EP-B1 0 149 892 discloses a motor vehicle transmission having a continuously variable transmission ratio which is another modification of the above-explained "TOROTRAK" transmission.
This prior art transmission comprises a variator being identical in its design with the above-described variator having globoides. The modification consists in that the transmission is of coaxial design. The output shaft of the variator is designed as a hollow shaft and is arranged as an axial extension of the variator input shaft. These two shafts are each connected with the sun gear wheels of two planetary gear trains acting as a summing stage. The two planetary gear sets are arranged axially one after the other. In the planetary gear set being driven by the hollow output shaft of the variator and being switched into the flow of power only in the slow mode of operation, the arm may be held stationary on the transmission housing by means of a brake. In contrast, in the other planetary gear set being driven by the extended input shaft of the variator, the arm may be coupled with the hollow output shaft of the variator via a switchable clutch, wherein the arm concurrently drives the output shaft of the entire transmission.
In the fast mode of operation only the variator is switched into the flow of power and the two other planetary gear sets are functionally decoupled. Therefore, for this transmission two planetary gear sets of the described design are required for the function of the transmission stage being configured as a summing gear for the slow mode of operation.
JP-A-59 001 862 discloses a mechanical continuously variable transmission being of the type of a so-called Graham transmission. Two friction cones are journalled in a carrier, the carrier being driven by the transmission input shaft. The friction cone shafts are provided with a pinion on each of their free ends which, in turn, drive a ring gear wheel of a planetary gear train. The sun gear wheel of the planetary gear train is directly driven by the input shaft. The output of the transmission is connected to the arm of the planetary gear train.
This prior art transmission is, therefore, a purely continuously variable transmission without the possibility of switching between driving ranges with a mode of operation "load operation" on the one hand side and a mode of operation "direct operation" on the other hand side.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,353,136 discloses another motor vehicle transmission of the Graham type.
In this prior art transmission the input shaft is connected with a carrier for two rotating friction cones via a planetary inversion stage and is, further, directed through the friction cone arrangement. The output of the friction cone arrangement is configured as a hollow shaft being coaxial to the input shaft extending therethrough. These two shafts are input to a summing gear consisting of two cascaded planetary gear sets. In the first planetary gear set the variator output speed is converted and this converted speed is then added to the input speed in the second planetary gear train. The sum speed is the speed of the output shaft.
This transmission, too, is a one-range variator transmission without the possibility of switching between two operational ranges.
Another transmission with inclined frictional bodies is disclosed in JP-A-03 249 459.

Motor vehicle transmission having a continuously variable transmission ratio


A spray dispensing device is provided which can be used with non-pressurized containers. The device includes passageways for directing streams of air and liquid to a mixing chamber wherein the liquid is broken up into droplets and emitted as a fine spray through an orifice. An annular air passageway is concentrically disposed around a liquid passageway, both of which lead to the mixing chamber wherein the annular stream of air will be deflected by tapered walls of the mixing chamber to converge and impinge open the core stream of liquid, at a point in proximity to the orifice. The device may include a dip tube for the liquid which is provided with a check valve for retaining liquid at a high level in the dip tube after each spray cycle so that spraying is nearly instantaneous upon actuation.

Although squeeze bottle types sprayers have been used for many years, such sprayers were largely replaced for a long period of time by pressurized can dispensing systems. A major advantage to the use of pressurized cans is the nearly instantaneous spraying which occurs upon actuation. However, there has been an increasing concern over the harmful effects on the atmosphere of the propelling gases, such as fluorocarbons, which are used in such pressurized cans. In addition, pressurized can dispensing systems are relatively expensive to manufacture. Accordingly, squeeze bottle type sprayers and manual pump sprayers have become more prevalent in recent years.
Products which can be dispensed in the form of a spray can be easily atomizable liquids, such as water based materials, or viscous materials which are more difficult to atomize such as oil based materials. In the case of a pressurized can there is sufficient force available for mechanical means to break up liquid droplets into a fine spray. However, in squeeze bottle type sprayers the force required to break up droplets must be supplied manually, that is by squeezing the bottle. Therefore, it is much more difficult to achieve a high degree of atomization with such bottles.
Squeeze bottle type sprayers typically utilize a dip tube for directing liquid to a mixing chamber. Upon squeezing the bottle, air located above the liquid level is forced under pressure through a passage toward the mixing chamber where it impinges on a stream of the liquid in an effort to break up the liquid into droplets. The liquid is dispersed in a spray pattern through an orifice in the mixing chamber.
One major drawback to the use of conventional venturi squeeze bottles is that they do not always effectively atomize the liquid into a fine spray characterized by a symmetrical circular spray pattern and a symmetrical droplet size distribution. Furthermore, they do not always effectively atomize relatively viscous liquids.

Spray dispensing device having a tapered mixing chamber


An outgoing light from a light source transmits a photo coupler, a single-fiber optical fiber array, an optical wave guide chip, a four-fiber optical fiber array and an optical fiber, and is reversed, and an outgoing light from another end of the photo coupler is received by a light receiving unit to roughly position the respective components. Thereafter, the four-fiber optical fiber array is positioned with respect to the optical wave guide chip in such a manner that the amount of light that reaches the light receiving unit becomes maximum. The adjustment of the optical axis is enabled with only a single light receiving unit without the use of plural expensive light receiving units, and the adjustment of the optical axis can be performed with ease in a short period of time.

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing an optical wave guide device, and more particularly to a method of connecting an optical fiber array to an optical wave guide chip.
As the optical wave guide device, there have been known a 1.times.N branch device that branches a light in one optical fiber into lights for N optical fibers, an M.times.M switch device that distributes any light in M optical fibers to any one of M optical fibers, and so on.
Those optical wave guide devices are so designed as to connect the optical fibers to both ends of the optical wave guide chip section that performs the above function, and because several optical fibers are connected to both ends of the chip, an optical fiber array that has the optical fibers arrayed is used.
Up to now, as shown in FIG. 4, the connection of an optical wave guide chip (5) to optical fiber arrays (1, 3) is accomplished through a method in which a light is inputted from an optical fiber (7) on one end side of the optical wave guide chip (5), respective light receiving units (13) are connected to corresponding optical fibers (7) on an opposite end side of the optical wave guide chip (5), and the optical wave guide chip (5) and the optical fiber arrays (1, 3) are positioned so that the amount of received light of those light receiving units (13) becomes maximum before the respective units are fixed.
Pitches between the respective optical fibers are set to a predetermined value by use of the optical fiber array, and pitches between input/output ports of the branched waveguide on the optical wave guide chip are also set to a predetermined value. However, because of manufacturing fluctuations, the respective pitches and pitches between the optical fiber arrays and the optical wave guide chip 5 are not always identical. Therefore, even if one optical fiber on the optical fiber array can be connected to one of the branched waveguides so that the amount of transmitted light becomes maximum, the amount of transmitted light of the optical fiber which is connected to another branched waveguide cannot be always set to the same value. Accordingly, taking the manufacturing fluctuations into account, the optical fiber arrays and the optical wave guide chip need to be connected at a position where a whole sum of the amount of transmitted light of each of the plural optical fibers is maximum. Simultaneously, the amount of light is measured on the respective end surfaces of the plural optical fibers by the light receiving units, and while the amount of light from the respective optical fibers is compared with each other, or a total amount of the light is obtained, a relative position between the optical fiber arrays and the optical wave guide chip needs to be determined.
The present invention has been made in view of the above problem inherent in the prior art, and therefore an object of the present invention is to provide a method through which it is capable of adjusting an optical axis by a single light receiving unit without using a plurality of expensive light receiving units, and is also capable of adjusting the optical axis with ease in a short period of time.

Method of aligning optical waveguide device


A multi-linear beard shaping template include a nose guide edge, a curved-cut edge, a first jawline edge, a comb section, a second jawline edge, and a step-cut edge. The curved-cut edge that enables a curved beard cut is terminally connected to the nose guide edge. The step-cut edge that enables a step beard cut is terminally connected to the nose guide edge, opposite of the curved-cut edge. The first jawline edge is terminally connected to the curved-cut edge, opposite of the nose guide edge. The second jawline edge is terminally connected to the step-cut edge, opposite of the nose guide edge. The first and second jawline edges and the nose guide provide symmetricity for different types of beard cuts. The comb section is terminally connected to the first jawline edge and the second jawline edge as the comb section and the nose guide are oriented opposite of each other.

When an individual need to edge up the beard line, that is usually done by a professional stylist or a barber as most individuals are not capable or cutting their own beard. Often time, going to a professional stylist or a barber requires time and money with respect to an appointment time and a service fee. However, if the individual is pressed with time, making an appointment won't be a solution. Due to these reasons, many individuals try to cut their own beard and often fail due to lack of practice, skills, or limited beard cutting tools.
It is therefore an objective of the present invention to produce a multi-linear beard shaping template that allows an individual to attain a perfect edge for beard lines through multiple edges of the shaping template. More specifically, the present invention enables the users to shape their beard into symmetric step edges, symmetric curved edges, symmetric neckline edges, and symmetrical goatee edges. The present invention also provides a plurality of symmetrical indicators that functions as measuring units for perfectly balance sideburns. The present invention also provides an integrated comb so that the users can eliminate the necessity of an additional comb. Furthermore, the present invention is formed as a transparent body to provide unobstructed view of the user during the lining up of the beard lines.


A circuit arrangement for generating charge pulses during digital telecommunications is indicated, whereby subscribers (Tln) of a telephone network are connected by cables with an exchange. The subscriber telephones are connected by electric service lines to an interface unit that is connected to the exchange. The interface unit has a digital interface on the exchange side and at least one analog interface on the subscriber side. A generating circuit (3) is located in the interface unit and produces charge pulses as a function of signals transmitted by the exchange, the charge pulses being transmitted to the respective subscriber (Tln). When loop current flows through the electric circuit of each subscriber (Tln) telephone, the interface unit measures an input voltage that is proportional to the length of the service line. The thus gained voltage value is used to adjust the voltage level of the charge pulses produced by the generating circuit (3).

1. Technical Field
The invention concerns telecommunications, and more particularly, the generation of charge pulses for transmission to respective telephone network subscribers.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A circuit for generating charge pulses for indicating telephone charges during analog telecommunications is known from German patent document DE 35 16 007 C2. A telephone exchange controls a corresponding charge indicator by means of special charge signals via telephone lines. To adapt the charge signal level to the user line and to its specific total impedance, a signal which is an image of the total call signal and the charge signal is obtained from a point in the circuit. The thus obtained total signal is rectified and supplied to a comparator, which compares it with a reference signal. If the amplitude of the rectified signal is greater than the amplitude of the reference signal, a signal is generated whose level is kept constant with the use of a memory element.
With digital telecommunications, such as the digital telecommunications disclosed in German patent document DE 36 36 563 A1, the telephone exchange is unable to transmit 16 kHz charge pulses. Instead, a charge pulse must be generated after a corresponding signal is received directly by the subscriber or by an interface unit (SU), to which the subscriber's telephone is connected through an electrical service line. The subscriber's telephone must receive a sufficiently high voltage, for example 140 mV, from the interface unit, even with a maximum length of the service line between the interface unit and the subscriber's telephone. To that end the interface unit must generate a charge pulse with a level of 4.2 Volt for example. With a charge pulse of this level, the maximum length of the service line is then for example 4.5 km with a cable containing 0.4 mm diameter conductors.
On the one hand, all elements of the interface unit including the power source or power sources must be designed for maximum voltage. On the other, the extreme case of no-load running must be taken into consideration if a very high-impedance telephone with a very short service line is directly connected at 16 kHz to the interface unit. Problems with respect to the interface unit do not take place when such a high voltage pulse is transmitted to a telephone, provided that a maximum length service line interconnects the telephone to the interface unit. The impedance of such maximum length service lines represents a sufficient "load" for the interface unit. However, in shorter service lines, the control range of the power source of the respective subscriber can be exceeded by the alternating-voltage amplitude provided by the service line from the interface unit. This happens for example with the above-mentioned no-load running when the sum of the supply voltage of the telephone and its superimposed alternating-voltage for the charge pulse reaches or even exceeds the controlled bias voltage of the power source.

Circuit arrangement for generating charge pulses


A method and apparatus for abandoning an interrupted task is provided. The method includes setting at least one of a plurality of logic elements associated with at least one of a plurality of first registers, wherein the plurality of first registers are adapted to access data stored in a plurality of second registers at substantially the same time when the plurality of logic elements are set. The method further includes resetting the plurality of logic elements substantially before the plurality of first registers access the data stored in the plurality of second registers.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to processor-based systems, and, more particularly, to abandoning an interrupted task in processor-based systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
Businesses may use processor-based systems to perform a variety of tasks. These tasks may include, but are not limited to, developing new software, maintaining databases of information related to operations and management, and hosting a web server that may facilitate communications with customers. To handle such a wide range of tasks, businesses may employ a processor-based system used in a network-centric environment. One example of a processor-based system used in a network-centric environment is a mid-range server system. A single mid-range server system may have a plurality of system boards that may, for example, contain one or more processors and one or more cache memory elements that store copies of frequently used data in close proximity to the one or more processors to provide the one or more processors with faster access to the data. The one or more processors may also include one or more associated memory elements that may store larger blocks of data.
The plurality of system boards in the mid-range server system may be configured as one or more domains, where a domain, for example, may act as a separate machine by running its own instance of an operating system to perform one or more of the configured tasks. For example, one domain may be configured as a web server, another as a database server, and a third as a network server. The demands on the different domains may change over time and thus the configuration of the various domains may be altered to make more efficient use of the available resources. For example, if the number of users attempting to access the web server declines, system boards may be removed from the web domain and added to another domain, such as the domain that supports the database server. As a part of the reconfiguration process, one or more configuration registers in the domains may be updated in a serial manner.
The reconfiguration process may occasionally be interrupted. For example, an error or other undesirable event may occur after a first portion of the registers has been updated, but before the reconfiguration is complete. For another example, a user may decide that it may be desirable to abort before the reconfiguration process is complete. If configuration data has been provided to the first portion of the registers, interrupting the process may leave the system in an incoherent state wherein the first portion of the registers may be in one configuration state and a second portion of the registers may be in a second configuration state. The system may not be able to operate in the incoherent state and may crash.
The chance that the system may enter an incoherent state may be reduced by returning the configuration registers to their pre-reconfiguration state in a controlled manner. However, traditional methods of returning the configuration registers to their pre-reconfiguration state may consume extensive system resources. For example, each time new data is written to the configuration register, essentially all of the new data may also be copied to a separate memory location. If an error, an operator abort, or similar event interrupts the reconfiguration process, the system may be returned to the pre-reconfiguration state by rewriting the stored copy of the data to the portion of the configuration registers that may have been updated. Since errors or other undesirable events are generally less common than reconfigurations, copying essentially all of the data in the configuration registers to a separate memory location before every reconfiguration may be an undesirable expenditure of resources and may decrease the efficiency of the system.

Method and apparatus for abandoning an interrupted task


A method and apparatus is capable of processing a sensory effect of image data. The apparatus includes an image analyzer that analyzes depth information and texture information about at least one object included in an image. A motion analyzer analyzes a motion of a user. An image matching processor matches the motion of the user to the image. An image output unit outputs the image to which the motion of the user is matched, and a sensory effect output unit outputs a texture of an object touched by the body of the user to the body of the user.

In general, video media content includes audio data and video data (moving pictures, still images, and the like). The video media content is played to a user by displaying images on a display and emitting sound through a speaker.
To provide a user with more real video media content, video media content has recently been created to include 3-dimensional (3D) images that stereoscopically represent objects included in images and various devices for providing video media content with 3D images to a user have been studied. Further, such video media content is created in such a manner that various effects of images can be imparted to the user beyond simple 3D visualization of images.
However, various effects of images are provided through changes in wind, vibration, or water in a limited area through a fixed device at a limited position.
Because effects represented in an image are given to a user through a fixed device at a limited position, the conventional scheme has limitations in imparting various effects of images to the user. Rather, it just gives simple effects such as changes in wind, vibration or water. Moreover, since effects of images are provided through the fixed device at the limited position, once the user moves out of the coverage of the device, intended effects of video media content are not provided successfully to the user.
Consequently, the conventional scheme of providing effects of images through a fixed device at a limited position is not effective in providing various effects of images to a user with an enhanced sense of reality and cannot reflect a motion or gesture of the user.

Apparatus and method for processing sensory effect of image data


A set activation fee pay telephone permits a telephone customer to place a telephone call from a pay telephone if the customer presents valid billing information, and charges the customer a fixed fee for the call, plus any other applicable network charges. The set activation pay telephone accepts two inputs: a telephone number the customer desires to call and billing information. The set activation fee pay telephone stores the telephone number locally and transmits the billing information to a network element. A determination is made as to whether the billing information is valid. Typically, the determination is made by querying a billing database. If the billing information is valid, then an approval signal is transmitted to the set activation fee pay telephone. Once the set activation fee pay telephone receives the approval signal, it passes the telephone number stored in memory to the PSTN and the call is placed normally. Once the customer terminates the call, a set activation fee is added to the customer's bill reflecting the cost for the use of the set activation fee pay telephone in addition to any other applicable network charges.

In today's society, the telephone is a common instrument. People use telephones to communicate in many different environments. Indeed, the telephone is nearly omnipresent and used by millions of people. Even public locations typically have a pay telephone within easy walking distance to provide access to the public switched telephone network.
However, providing land-line based telephone service to certain remote locations is not economically feasible. The cost of installing a pay telephone includes running a line, setting up a local switch, and installing the actual pay telephone. Sometimes these costs drastically exceed the potential revenues of the pay telephone. Typically, the provider of a pay telephone receives only a nominal fee for each call placed from the pay telephone. If the installation of a pay telephone is not economically feasible, then there is no incentive to provide pay telephone service at the remote location.
Current solutions to this problem remain unsatisfactory. Cellular technology suffers from problems similar to land-line based telephony. The cost of erecting cellular transmission towers may also be too expensive to justify providing service. Microwave connections require sophisticated, specialized equipment. This leaves service providers with no options for extending coverage to all those who desire pay telephone service.
For example, providing telephone service to an oil derrick at sea may be economically prohibitive. The derrick would not only require a telephone but a transmission path to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). The number of telephone calls placed from the derrick using traditional billing methods would never generate enough revenue to pay for the cost of providing the pay telephone service in this example. Other remote locations suffer similar problems. These problems persist in any environment where significant expenditures are required to provide service.
Thus, there is a need in the art for an economically feasible method to provide pay telephone service to even the most isolated locations. There is a further need in the art for a system which allows a service provider to recoup the costs of providing access to a public switched telephone network via a pay telephone.

Method and system for charging a set activation fee for pay telephone usage

BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation


A method and apparatus for providing buffer state accounting at a link level, otherwise known as link flow control, in addition to flow control at the virtual connection level. Link flow control enables receiver cell buffer sharing while maintaining perconnection bandwidth with lossless cell transmission. High link level update frequency is enabled without a significant sacrifice in overall link forward bandwidth. A higher and thus more efficient utilization of receiver cell buffers is achieved.

A Flow Controlled Virtual Connection (FCVC) protocol for use in a distributed switching architecture is presently known in the art, and is briefly discussed below with reference to FIG. 1. This protocol involves communication of status (buffer allocation and current state) on a per virtual connection, such as a virtual channel connection or virtual path connection, basis between upstream and downstream network elements to provide a "no cell loss" guarantee. A cell is the unit of data to be transmitted. Each cell requires a buffer to store it.
One example of this protocol involves a credit-based flow control system, where a number of connections exist within the same link with the necessary buffers established and flow control monitored on a per-connection basis. Buffer usage over a known time interval, the link round-trip time, is determined in order to calculate the per-connection bandwidth. A trade-off is established between maximum bandwidth and buffer allocation per connection. Such per-connection feedback and subsequent flow control at the transmitter avoids data loss from an inability of the downstream element to store data cells sent from the upstream element. The flow control protocol isolates each connection, ensuring lossless cell transmission for that connection. However, since buffers reserved for a first connection cannot be made available for (that is, shared with) a second connection without risking cell loss in the first connection, the cost of the potentially enormous number of cell buffers required for long-haul, high-bandwidth links, each supporting a large number of connections, quickly becomes of great significance.
Connection-level flow control results in a trade-off between update frequency and the realized bandwidth for the connection. High update frequency has the effect of minimizing situations in which a large number of receiver cell buffers are available, though the transmitter incorrectly believes the buffers to be unavailable. Thus it reduces the number of buffers that must be set aside for a connection. However, a high update frequency to control a traffic flow will require a high utilization of bandwidth (in the reverse direction) to supply the necessary flow control buffer update information where a large number of connections exist in the same link. Realizing that transmission systems are typically symmetrical with traffic flowing in both directions, and flow control buffer update information likewise flowing in both directions, it is readily apparent that a high update frequency is wasteful of the bandwidth of the link. On the other hand, using a lower update frequency to lower the high cost of this bandwidth loss in the link, in turn requires that more buffers be set aside for each connection. This trade-off can thus be restated as being between more efficient receiver cell buffer usage and a higher cell transmission rate. In practice, given a large number of connections in a given link, it turns out that any compromise results in both too high a cost for buffers and too much bandwidth wasted in the link.
Therefore, presently known cell transfer flow control protocols fail to provide for a minimized receiver cell buffer pool and a high link data transfer efficiency, while simultaneously maintaining the "no cell loss" guarantee on a per-connection basis when a plurality of connections exist in the same link.

Method and apparatus for providing buffer state flow control at the link level in addition to flow control on a per-connection basis