A rotatable cutting tool has a cutting tool body having at least one recess for receiving a replaceable insert. The recess has a wall defined by a deformable clamp extending radially from the tool body, the clamp having a leaf isolated from the tool body except at the base of the leaf by an isolating channel in the tool body. The tool further has an adjustable leaf-bending element for elastically deforming the leaf to retain a replaceable insert in the recess.

I. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to rotatable cutting tools, particularly tools having replaceable cutting blades or inserts releasably retained by clamping means in the tool body.
II. Description of Related Art
It is known to provide rotatable tools comprising a tool body and one or more replaceable blades or inserts for machining operations. An insert for these tools comprises a cutting element made of a relatively long wearing material chosen for compatibility with the material to be cut and comprising one or more cutting edges. An insert may further comprise a holder for mounting the cuffing element to the tool body. A tool body for such tools comprises at least one recess for receiving a replaceable insert and the tool further comprises means for releasably retaining the inserts on the tool body. Tools of this type include drilling tools, boring tools, reaming tools and milling tools.
A particular type of rotatable tool is a tool for machining valve seats in cylinder heads of internal combustion engines, the tool having cutting inserts arrayed on the periphery of the tool and having a reaming tool for machining the valve stem guide bore. As the number of valves per cylinder have increased and overall engine dimensions have decreased, valve diameters have decreased. Consequently tools for performing valve seat machining operations are required to retain cutting blades or inserts in tool bodies having reduced diameters. Known tools for such applications, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,704,741, have included exchangeable cartridges for retaining replaceable cutting inserts. With the demand for smaller diameter valves, smaller diameter tools are required, reducing the tool body volume that can be consumed with blade retaining devices.
FIGS. 1a and 1b illustrate one known tool wherein the replaceable blades are retained in recesses in the tool body by clamping screws. In FIG. 1a, replaceable blades 112 and 114 are retained in recesses of tool body 110. As shown with respect to replaceable blade 112, clamping screws 116 are transverse to recess 118 (FIG. 1b) and are threadably engaged with tool body 110. With replaceable blade 112 in place in recess 118, advance of clamping screws 116 into tool body 110 clamps blade 112 (shown dashed in FIG. 1b) against a side wall of recess 118. As shown in FIG. 1a, plural screws are used and are spaced apart to distribute the clamping forces over the length of the blade to improve resistance of the blade to displacement from cutting forces and from distortion from clamping forces.
FIGS. 1c and 1d illustrate an alternative known clamping arrangement for retaining replaceable tools in a tool body. In FIG. 1c, replaceable blades 122 and 124 are retained in recesses of tool body 120. As shown with respect to replaceable blade 122, wedges 128 are held in recesses 130 adjacent blade receiving recess 132 (FIG. 1d) by screws 126. Screws 126 are threadably engaged with tool body 120. With replaceable blade 122 in place in recess 132, advance of screws 126 into tool body 120 advances the forward edges of wedges 128 to clamp blade 122 (shown dashed in FIG. 1d) against a sidewall of recess 132. Each of wedges 128 serves to distribute the forces from each of screws 126 over larger portions of blade 122 than would be done by the screws alone as in the arrangement of FIG. 1a. However, while larger wedges would provide improved distribution of forces, large wedge receiving recesses, such as recesses 130 are not desirable because of the attendant weakening of the tool body.
In light of the shortcomings of the known clamping means as illustrated in FIGS. 1a and 1c, there remains a need for improved clamping means for replaceable blades in rotating tools.


The object is to provide a method of manufacturing a sliding contact which has a high yield of manufacturing sliding contacts and can positively make smooth the tip portion surface of a finger of a brush of a sliding contact. According to the invention, in a method of manufacturing a sliding contact having a metal brush, the tip portion of a finger 12a′ of a sliding contact piece 10′ is melted and thereafter the tip portion is solidified in a gas, whereby the surface of the tip portion is made smooth. For example, when a sliding contact is manufactured by blanking a metal sheet material, the tip portion of the finger 12a′ of the brush 12′ of the sliding contact piece 10′ which is obtained by blanking is irradiated with a laser beam, whereby the tip portion is heated and melted. Then, a sharp portion and a burr which exist before melting disappear. When the tip portion of the finger 12a′ is solidified in a gas after melting, a sliding contact having a brush provided with a finger whose tip portion surface is a smooth curved surface is manufactured.

In sensors such as a position sensor, a brush-like slider 100 as shown in FIG. 8, for example, is used in order to send and receive electrical signals, power, etc. between a member on the main body side of a sensor and an assembly (a part) which performs movements, such as rotational or linear movements, with respect to this member. In this slider 100, a sliding contact 10 in the tip portion of the slider which comes into sliding contact with a rotor etc. is an important part. The sliding contact 10 is used in a condition brought into sliding contact with an object of contact in the tip portion of each finger 12a which constitutes a brush 12, and it is preferred that the tip portion of the finger 12a be slidable as smoothly as possible. In view of this point, in the manufacturing of the sliding contact 10, the surface of the tip portion of the finger 12a may sometimes be worked to provide a curved surface.
For example, there is a method of manufacturing a sliding contact by blanking in press working as a method of relatively easily manufacturing a sliding contact. Schematically, this method involves fabricating sliding contact pieces having unbent tip portions (refer to sliding contact pieces 10′ in FIG. 1) by the press working of a sheet material for sliding contacts and fabricating a sliding contact by further performing working. However, in the case of blanking, the periphery of the tip portion of a finger of a brush may sometimes become sharp or a burr may sometimes occur on this periphery (refer to FIG. 2(b)). If the tip portion of a finger is sharp or the periphery has a burr, it may be impossible to cause the tip portion of the brush 12 to slide smoothly, with the tip portion of the brush 12 kept in contact with an object of contact. Therefore, in the case of blanking, the tip portion of a finger of a brush of a sliding contact piece obtained by blanking is polished and worked to provide a curved surface thereby ensuring smooth sliding.
Barrel polishing is used as a method of polishing the tip portion of the finger 12a of the brush 12. Usually, the sliding contact (sliding contact piece) 10 has an about 15×15 mm size. This is because this size is suitable for performing barrel polishing, with the sliding contact put in the vessel of a barrel polishing machine. Furthermore, this is because the tip portion of a finger to be polished usually has a size of 0.1 mm (thickness)×0.4 mm (width) or a minute region smaller than this and it is difficult to polish only this part, which is possible when barrel polishing is performed.
Incidentally, in barrel polishing, a polishing medium, such as a polishing stone, and a sliding contact piece are put in the vessel of a barrel polishing machine and the whole peripheral surface of the sliding contact piece is polished by rotating the vessel. That is, in barrel polishing it is impossible to polish only the tip portion of the finger of the brush in a concentrated manner. Therefore, when barrel polishing is adopted, it is difficult to positively polish the tip portion until a sufficiently smooth state is obtained and besides variations are apt to occur in the polished state.
And some sliding contact pieces (sliding contacts) are made of a sheet material and such sliding contact pieces (sliding contacts) may sometimes be deformed due to the force received from the polishing medium during barrel polishing. Because deformed materials cannot be made as products, the problem of a decrease in the product yield arises.
However, when sliding contact pieces are to be barrel polished, it is necessary that the sliding contact pieces be beforehand brought into a state capable of being put in the vessel by separating the sliding contact pieces as a unit into individual ones. However, when once the sliding contact pieces as a unit are separated, the sliding contacts (sliding contact pieces) become less easy to handle after that. For example, it takes time and labor when the sliding contacts (sliding contact pieces) are to be aligned in the same direction and when the number of sliding contacts is to be counted. Therefore, from the standpoint of handling of sliding contacts, it is preferable to use a strip material in which a plurality of sliding contact pieces stretch in line (refer to the strip material of sliding contact pieces shown in FIG. 1). This is because transfer and counting are easy when a plurality of sliding contacts stretch as a unit. Furthermore, this is because when sliders are automatically continuously manufactured, sliding contacts can be continuously fed easily and rapidly if strip-like sliding contact pieces can be used.

Sliding contact and method for producing the same


A stacked multi-junction solar cell having a first subcell and second subcell, the second subcell having a larger band gap than the first subcell. A third subcell has a larger band gap than the second subcell, and each of the subcells include an emitter and a base. The second subcell has a layer which includes a compound formed at least the elements GaInAsP, and a thickness of the layer is greater than 100 nm, and the layer is formed as part of the emitter and/or as part of the base and/or as part of the space-charge zone situated between the emitter and the base. The third subcell has a layer including a compound formed of at least the elements GaInP, and the thickness of the layer is greater than 100 nm.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multi-junction solar cell.
Description of the Background Art
A multi-junction solar cell is known from the publication, "Current-matched triple-junction solar cell reaching 41.1% conversion efficiency under concentrated sunlight," by Guter et al., Applied Physics Letters 94, 223504 (2009)]. The disclosed structure is a metamorphic three-junction Ga0.35In0.65P/Ga0.83In0.17As/Ge solar cell having a high efficiency. A metamorphic buffer having GaYIn1-YAs is used between the Ge substrate or the Ge subcell and the Ga0.83In0.17As subcell.
Four-junction GaInP/GaAs/GaInAsP/GaInAs and five-junction GaInP/AlGaInAs/GaAs/GaInAsP/GaInAs solar cells based on semiconductor bond technology are furthermore known from the publication, "Development of Advanced Space Solar Cells at Spectrolab," by Boisvert et al. in Proc. of 35th IEEE PVSC, Honolulu, Hi., 2010, ISBN: 978-1-4244-5891-2. Another four-junction solar cell is also known from the publication, "Wafer bonded four-junction GaInP/GaAs/GaInAsP/GaInAs concentrator solar cells with 44.7% efficiency," by Dimroth et al. in Progr. Photovolt: Res. Appl. 2014; 22: 277-282.
In the latter two publications cited, GaInAsP solar cells having an energy gap of approximately 1.0 eV are deposited, lattice-matched, based on an InP substrate. The upper solar cells having a higher band gap are manufactured in reverse order on a GaAs substrate in a second deposition step. The entire multi-junction solar cell is formed by a direct semiconductor bond of the two epitaxial wafers, followed by a removal of the GaAs substrate and additional process steps. However, the manufacturing process is cost-intensive. Multi-junction solar cells without a semiconductor bond are furthermore known from EP 1 134 813 A2 (which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 6,316,715), EP 2 960 950 A1 and DE 10 2005 000 767 A1 (which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 9,502,598).
A four-junction GaInP/GaAs/GaInAs/buffer/Ge solar cell based on both semiconductor bond technology and on metamorphic epitaxy is known from DE 10 2012 004 734 A1, which corresponds to US 2015/0053257. The manufacturing costs are still high, due to the two necessary depositions on two separate substrates, the necessary substrate removal and the necessary bond process.
Optimizing the radiation hardness, in particular also for very high radiation doses, is an important objective in the development of space solar cells. In addition to increasing the beginning-of-life (BOL) efficiency, the goal is also to boost the end-of-life (EOL) efficiency.
The manufacturing costs are also extremely important. Lattice-matched and the metamorphic three-junction GaInP/GaInAs/Ge solar cells constitute the industrial standard at the point in time of the invention. For this purpose, multi-junction solar cells are manufactured by depositing the GaInP top cell and GaInAs middle cell onto a cost-effective Ge substrate relative to GaAs and InP substrates, the Ge substrate forming the bottom cell.


A method for controlling gait-training apparatus using biofeedback is provided. A biosignal-detecting loop is used to detect and analyze the electromyographic signal of a user using the gait-training apparatus. A feedback control loop is used to drive the gait-training apparatus and determine the fatigue level of the user. When the user's muscle starts to become fatigue, the feedback control loop can further adjust the threshold for triggering the gait-training apparatus to retain the training session so that the training intensity can be regulated on-line and the user's muscle can be trained effectively based on the concept of progressive overload.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to gait-training apparatuses, and more particularly to a method for controlling a gait-training apparatus using biofeedback.
2. Description of Related Art
Progressively overloading a muscle during exercise has been recognized as an effective way to enhance the muscle strength. However, excessive overload may lead to overfatigue of the muscle and cause muscle injury. One known approach to prevent the situation is to measure and analyze the electromyographic signal of the individual to identify the fatigue level of the muscles and adjust the training intensity.
Several solutions have been proposed in the art. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 7,857,774 disclosed a device could provide proper training by using a control unit to monitor multiple sensors simultaneously and regulate the exoskeleton based on collected data. However, this existing device uses many different types of sensors. The final product may be too expensive so that people in need may not afford this kind of rehabilitation therapy.

Method for controlling gait-training apparatus using biofeedback


An interface circuit for a lamp ballast includes first and second input power lines, L1 and L2, with first and second respective switches, and a neutral power line N, all coupled to a diode bridge. Closing one of the first or second input power lines L1 or L2 causes a photodiode in an opto-isolator coupled to the diode bridge to turn ON, which in turn causes a MOSFET in a control circuit to be in an open state. When in the open state, a first resistor coupled to the source of the MOSFET is included in the control circuit and causes a lamp attached thereto to operate in a dimmed state. When both input power line switches are closed, L1 and L2 are both coupled to the diode bridge and thereby cause the phototransistor to be in an OFF state, which causes the MOSFET to close, thereby including a second resistor, coupled to the drain of the MOSFET, in the control circuit in parallel with the first resistor. This in turn causes the lamp to operate at full intensity.

The present application relates to electronic lighting. More specifically, it relates to a dimming interface for a power line and will be described with particular reference thereto. It is to be appreciated that the present interface can also be used in other lighting applications and/or other power line applications, and is not limited to the aforementioned application.
In the past, dimmable ballast systems have typically been composed of multiple discrete ballasts. In order to achieve a lower light output, one or more of the ballasts would be shut off. Conversely, when greater light output is desired, more ballasts are activated. This approach has the drawback of only being able to produce discrete levels of light output. With each ballast only able to produce a single light output, the aggregate output is limited to what the various combinations of the ballasts present can produce. Moreover, this setup also requires multiple lamps for the same space to be lighted, resulting in an inefficient use of space.
Another approach in dimmable lighting applications has been to dim a single ballast by varying the operating voltage of the ballast, that is, by varying the voltage of the high frequency signal used to power the lamp. One drawback in such a system is that as the voltage of the high frequency signal is diminished, the lamp cathodes cool down. This can lead to the lamp extinguishing, and unnecessary damage to the cathodes. To avoid this problem, such systems apply an external cathode heating. While this solves the problem of premature extinguishing, the ballast is drawing power that is not being used to power the lamp. This decreases the overall efficiency of the ballast.
Another option is to reduce the range from full light output to a lower light output, but not low enough that external cathode heating is required. In T8 lamps, this amounts to a ballast that can change the lamp current from a high ballast factor level (typically 265 mA of arc current) to a low ballast factor level of only 140 mA. This provides a dimming range where a considerable amount of energy can be saved without sacrificing too much light. Associated with this high-low ballast factor approach is the interface between the power line and the ballast control input, which determines the light level. Conventional dimming interfaces have 2 output levels: a high ballast factor at which full power is output, and a low ballast factor at which less than full power is output. A drawback of conventional dimming interfaces is that they are subject to capacitive loading by non-dimming ballasts coupled to the circuit, which can cause the dimming interface to malfunction.
The following description provides new systems and methods that overcome the above referenced problem caused by capacitive loading by other dimming or non-dimming ballasts.


A system and method for performing anticipatory hand-off setup between communication networks. Various aspects of the present invention may, for example and without limitation, provide a system and method for performing anticipatory hand-off setup between communication networks. For example and without limitation, prior to a determination to perform a hand-off of a mobile communication device from a first communication network to a second communication network, a determination may be made that hand-off setup information should be communicated with the second communication network. For example, such a determination may be made in anticipation of a hand-off that may or may not happen. Such hand-off setup information may then be communicated with the second communication network. Such communicated setup information may then, for example, be utilized to at least partially prepare for performing the anticipated hand-off.

In a dynamic network environment, a communication system (e.g., a mobile or portable communication system) may move in and out of coverage areas associated with a plurality of different communication networks.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Anticipatory hand-off setup between networks


An electric shock bullet launching device includes a gun body and a magazine for receiving electric shock bullets. The magazine includes a power supply device and a charging device which charges the bullets. The magazine includes a hole in the underside thereof and is slidably connected to the body of the launching device so that the bullets are fed into a slot in a top of the body via the hole.

A conventional electric shock bullet launching device 40 is shown in FIG. 9 and generally includes two electric shock bullets 42 which are connected with two wires 410, 420 and the two wires 410, 420 are connected to the launching device so as to provide electric power to the bullets 41, 42 to shock the object when the two bullets 41, 42 are both in contact with the object. However, the wires 410, 420 have limited length so that the range that the bullets 41, 42 is short. Besides, the object that the bullets 41, 42 hit may struggle to pull and break the wires 410, 420. Once the wires 410, 420 are broken, no electric power is send to the bullets 41, 42.
FIGS. 11 and 12 show another electric shock bullet launching device 60 which includes a barrel and a handle 61 in which a magazine 62 is inserted. A plurality of bullets 50 are received in the magazine 62 and fed into a chamber 610 in the barrel. Each bullet 50 includes a case 51 and a capacitor 52 is received in the case 51. Two pole needles 53, 54 extend through the front end of the case 51 and are connected to the capacitor 52. A polygonal conductive part 55 is connected to a rear end of the case 51 and a positive plate 550 and a negative plate 551 are connected to an outside of the conductive part 55. A firing device 63 and a charging device 64 are connected to a rear end of the barrel and a power supply 640 is connected tot eh charging device 64. The charging device 64 includes a positive wire 6410 connected with a positive pad 641 and a negative wire 6420 connected with a negative pad 642. The positive and negative pads 641, 642 are respectively located in the launching device 60 such that the positive plate 550 and the negative plate 551 of the bullet 50 located at the first one of the bullets 50 in the handle 61 are in contact with the positive pad 641 and the pad 642 so as to charge the bullet 50. When pulling the trigger of the launching device 60, the bullet 50 ejects out from the launching device 60 without limitation of wires or the like as described in the launching device in FIG. 9. However, the launching device 60 has to be equipped with the firing device 63 and the charging device 64, or the bullets cannot be launched.
The present invention intends to provide an electric shock bullet launching device wherein the magazine includes charging device for charging the bullets in the magazine so that the magazine can be used with different types of launching devices.

Magazine for receiving electric shock bullets


Disclosed is a calibrating apparatus which is adapted to remove a measurement deviation of a pyrometer, and more particularly, to an apparatus for calibrating a pyrometer, which calibrates a reference value so as to remove a deviation in a temperature measured in a pyrometer. The apparatus for calibrating a pyrometer includes a blackbody including a radiant space from which radiant energy is radiated, a body housing configured to receive the blackbody therein and including a light output wall having a light output port connected with the radiant space, a light output wall protecting cover comprising a transparent blocking plate disposed at a position opposite to the light output port so as to transmit a long wavelength of approximately 5 μm to approximately 20 μm may and configured to be coupled with the light output wall of the body housing, and a fixing member configured to fix the light output wall protecting cover to the light output wall of the body housing.

The present disclosure relates to a calibrating apparatus which removes a measurement deviation of a pyrometer, and more particularly, to an apparatus for calibrating a pyrometer, which calibrates a reference value so as to measured a low temperature without a deviation in a temperature.
In a heat treatment apparatus which performs a heat treatment process with respect to a substrate, heat is supplied to a silicon substrate using a heating lamp such as a halogen lamp, and a temperature of the substrate is measured through an optical probe, and the measured temperature of the substrate is fed back to a heating controller so as to control the heating lamp.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a low temperature heat treatment apparatus. As illustrated in FIG. 1, in a state in which a substrate 20 is installed at an edge ring 30 in a process chamber 10, a heat treatment is carried out by a plurality of heating lamps 61, and a temperature of the substrate 20 is measured by a low temperature measuring pyrometer 40 in a non-contact manner. That is, the temperature measuring pyrometer 40 serves to concentrate a radiant energy intensity of approximately 5 μm to approximately 20 μm, which has a low temperature of approximately 600° C. or less and is radiated from the substrate 20, through a lens 41 and then calculate the temperature of the substrate in the non -contact manner, based on blackbody radiation temperature relationship. The temperature calculated by the temperature measuring pyrometer 40 is fed back to a heating part 60 through a heating controller 50 so as to control temperature of the plurality of heating lamp 61.
Meanwhile, when the temperature measuring pyrometer 40 is assembled to the heat treatment apparatus for the first time, a reference vale of the temperature measuring pyrometer 40 should be calibrated in order to calculate a correct temperature when the temperature measuring pyrometer 40 is exposed to the radiant energy from the heated substrate. Further, when the temperature measuring pyrometer 40 is used for a long time, the temperature detected by the temperature measuring pyrometer 40 may not be correct, and it is necessary to periodically re-calibrate the temperature measuring pyrometer 40. For example, when an area through which light radiated from the substrate during heating of the substrate passes is contaminated, the measured temperature may not be correct, and thus a corresponding re-calibration operation is needed.
The calibration of the reference value with respect to the temperature measuring pyrometer is performed through a deviation correction of approximately ±1 by a calibrating apparatus using a blackbody.
FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a state in which a calibrating apparatus is in contact with a temperature measuring pyrometer in order to calibrate the temperature measuring pyrometer using the calibrating apparatus. The calibrating apparatus 1 has a blackbody 110 therein, and radiant energy radiated from a radiant space S in the blackbody 110 is released through a light output port to an outside. Therefore, the radiant energy released through the light output port to the outside may be transmitted to a lens 41 provided at the temperature measuring pyrometer 40 arranged at the light output port. Therefore, when the blackbody 110 in the calibrating apparatus is set to a certain temperature, e.g., approximately 600° C., the corresponding radiant energy is transmitted to the temperature measuring pyrometer 40, and a temperature correction of the temperature measuring pyrometer 40 is performed to correspond to the temperature of the blackbody 110, i.e., approximately 600° C. For example, if a temperature calculated by the temperature measuring pyrometer 40 is approximately 598° C. in a situation in which the radiant energy of approximately 600° C. is actually released from the radiant space S of the blackbody 110, the reference value used for calculating the temperature in the temperature measuring pyrometer 40 is calibrated to correspond to the temperature of approximately 600° C.
Meanwhile, in the calibrating apparatus 1, the radiant energy radiated from the radiant space S enclosed by the blackbody 110 is radiated through a light output port C of the calibrating apparatus 1. The radiant energy radiated through the light output port C may be transferred to the pyrometer 40 through a tube passage 71 of a substrate stage block housing 70. Since the light output port C has a structure in which the radiant space S is communicated with an external environment, foreign substances may be usually introduced into the radiant space S through the light output port C.
Even though the light output port is blocked by a blocking plate in order to prevent introduction of the foreign substances, the radiant energy radiated from the radiant space S in the calibrating apparatus is blocked by the blocking plate, and a thermal efficiency is also deteriorated.
Particularly, although the blocking plate made of a transparent material is provided at the light output port, the radiant energy having a long wavelength and a temperature of approximately 600° C. or less radiated from the radiant space S of the blackbody may be hardly transmitted. That is, in case of the heat treatment apparatus having a low temperature of approximately 600° C. or less, it is necessary to calibrate the low temperature measuring pyrometer in order to exactly read the temperature of approximately 600° C. or less. Therefore, for an calibrating operation, the blackbody 1 of the calibrating apparatus radiates the radiant energy having a long wavelength of approximately 5 μm to approximately 20 μm and the temperature of approximately 600° C. or less. The blocking plate made of a general transparent material, such as glass and quartz, may hardly transmit the radiant energy having the long wavelength of approximately 5 μm to approximately 20 μm.


A method for inspecting a feature applied to a box blank during manufacture of a paper box, comprising the steps of illuminating at least that portion of box blank including the feature with an illumination source, receiving an image of the illuminated portion of the box blank from at least one optical sensor, varying a characteristic of the illumination source for optically distinguishing between the feature a surface of said portion of the box blank to which the feature is applied, comparing the received image to a stored product profile containing an optimal image of the feature to determine if features in the received image are similar to the features in the stored product profile, and using the comparison to indicate when the box blank does not conform to the product profile.

Rigid paper containers for product packaging are frequently constructed from boxes or containers folded from corrugated paper. The fabrication of corrugated boxes, folding carton containers, and other packaging materials involves a series of forming operations all of which are subject to errors that can result in the end container being unacceptable for its intended purpose.
With the drive towards greater economic efficiency the manufacture of cardboard boxes has been vertically integrated such that the producer of the original cardboard stock will often perform the box fabrication. In this manner transportation and handling of the packaging is reduced as is the profit lost to third parties. Increases in the automation of box assembly, for example utilizing case erecting equipment, offer the opportunity to reduce cost, however for this automation to be cost effective high quality box blanks must be provided. Poor quality blanks exhibiting inadequate or inappropriate gluing, scoring, incomplete or incorrect die cutting, or poor substrate quality, may cause the case erection equipment to jam or otherwise malfunction resulting in very expensive down time.
A further driver of improvement in box manufacture is the out-sourcing of production and even end product inventories with the goods manufacturer relying on respectively just-in-time delivery of packing materials or indirect shipments of the final packed goods directly to end customers and distribution channels. This increases pressure to assure the quality of the packaging which will enclose the goods as the cost of errors caught late in the supply chain increases with vertical integration and just in time inventory techniques.
A yet further trend is the differentiation of the end goods through its packaging. Increasingly the containers are being relied upon to differentiate the end product through advanced printing, embossing, die-cutting, folding and scoring techniques. As the operations performed on the box both increase in number and complexity, the opportunity for unacceptable errors to be introduced also increases as does the cost of these errors resulting from scrapping the increasingly valuable box.
A further trend is the increased regulation of the packaging industry as the manufacturers who produce regulated product, such as pharmaceuticals, food stuffs and medical equipment companies, themselves face increasing governmental regulation. As regulation of the end product increases, pressure increases on suppliers of packaging to the regulated industry to adopt repeatable and transparent processes and to assure to their customers and their regulators that the goods they ship have followed these processes and have been produced within acceptable tolerances.
As can be seen from the combination of these market pressures, the value of delivering a "perfect box" to an end customer has increased, yet the innovation to assure the delivery of "perfect boxes" has not increased commensurate with the need.
Rigid paper containers, can be made on a variety of equipment. Common fabrication machines include integrated flexo/folder/gluers which receive blanks of cardboard from corrugation machines, print the walls of the blank with decorative patterns, labels and tracking symbols, die cut holes and shapes into the blank, score fold lines, apply glue and then perform initial folding of the blank. Other equipment, such as specialty gluers, may perform folding and gluing, while die-cutters typically perform printing, scoring, and die-cutting. Still others may perform any single or combination of these operations. A characteristic of this equipment is that its design life may be decades in length, and capital may not be available to replace it, thus requiring field upgrade of the equipment if technical innovations are to be applied to improve the equipment's capabilities. As the new capability being upgraded into the machine was frequently not envisioned (nor even feasible) at the time the equipment was originally designed and built, the space available to retrofit functions is by necessity constrained if available at all.
It is in the nature of box blank finishing and box production equipment that it is versatile, being able to produce a variety of boxes or cartons on various substrate stock, of various sizes, base colors and shapes, in varying quantities and employing a range of adhesives the color and properties of which may also vary. Also, the throughput of the production equipment may be changed between runs or within runs as the quality of the substrate and finishing operations varies. Further, judging the quality of the box following the production operations must be done without interrupting or delaying the throughput of the production equipment, permitting rejected boxes to be identified, flagged for rejection, or mechanically sorted from acceptable product into a reject stream.
As should be clear from the afore-described situation, providing assurance against errors in box blank finishing in a transparent, auditable, robust, and easily-used manner has become increasingly important. To address this need a variety of technologies are known for assessing box fabrication operations, however none of these technologies, or methods employing such technologies, adequately addresses the need as has been outlined.
Conventional box blank finishing systems commonly include a sensor for detecting as a single parameter the presence of glues within a specified area along the direction of travel of the box blank, such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,389,969. Such single-degree-of-freedom systems may monitor the level of a single measured parameter along the axis of blank travel such as humidity, capacitance, UV light absorption, light scatter, etc. and check for a strong sensor signal when glue is adjacent to the sensor relative to a weaker sensor signal when an unglued substrate is adjacent to the sensor. While such sensors may be satisfactory for gross verification of the amount of glue present on a blank in a well controlled environment, they are inadequate to check as to whether the pattern of glue laid down is correct. Additionally such single degree of freedom sensing systems are inadequate to capture or display a complete image of the box or for checking other parameters of the box such as print or fold quality. Further and in the case of moisture sensors they may give false positive readings of glue presence if the substrate contains a high level of moisture while being otherwise within specification.
Numerous systems are available which check for registration of printing. While most employ high resolution printer targets intended to be reviewed by a skilled printing machine operator from samples pulled from a print run, some automated print register control systems are available from companies such as Quadtech Inc for use on high speed sheet and web presses. While these systems operate at very high speeds and are capable of controlling printing register to a degree adequate for box manufacture, their capabilities rely on the use of area-scan cameras with unrestricted access to a specific and small field of the substrate. This is not desirable in box manufacturing where the entire box is to be checked for print and die cutting errors ideally by way of a narrow window across the substrate as it passes the camera and illumination source. In addition, automated print register control systems are specific-purposed systems not suitable for print as well as glue or die cut verification.
The present disclosure provides a method and apparatus for improving the delivery of the "perfect box" from the equipment currently used to produce paper-based packaging containers and to perform box blank finishing, in an inexpensive and robust manner in a physically form factor convenient for retrofit to installed equipment.

Error detection system for verifying the construction of paper boxes


An object is to reduce the leakage current of a piezoelectric element including a potassium-sodium niobate thin film, enhance the reliability of the piezoelectric element and, in addition, enhance the withstand voltage by including a pair of electrodes and a piezoelectric layer sandwiched between the above-described pair of electrode layers, wherein the above-described piezoelectric layer is provided with at least one layer each of first piezoelectric layer which is a potassium-sodium niobate thin film substantially not containing Mn (manganese) and second piezoelectric layer which is a potassium-sodium niobate thin film containing Mn.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a piezoelectric element by using a thin film piezoelectric material, a piezoelectric actuator including the piezoelectric element, and a piezoelectric sensor, and a hard disc drive provided with the thin film piezoelectric actuator and an ink-jet printer.
2. Background Art
In recent years, there is an increasing demand for a piezoelectric material becoming lead-free and research on potassium-sodium niobate ((K,Na)NbO3 (hereafter may be referred to as KNN) has become active. It is believed that a relatively high Curie temperature and good piezoelectric characteristics are obtained by KNN among lead-free piezoelectric materials and, therefore, KNN has been noted.
In addition, instead of bulk piezoelectric materials, commercialization of a piezoelectric element by using a thin film piezoelectric material has proceeded. Examples include piezoelectric sensor taking advantage of a piezoelectric effect, in which a force applied to a piezoelectric layer is converted to a voltage, e.g., a gyro sensor, a pressure sensor, a pulse wave sensor, a shock sensor, and a microphone, piezoelectric actuators taking advantage of an inverse piezoelectric effect, in which a piezoelectric layer is deformed when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric layer, e.g., a hard disc drive head assembly and an ink-jet print head, and a speaker, a buzzer, a resonator, and the like taking advantage of the inverse piezoelectric effect in the same manner.
In the case where a piezoelectric material is made into a thin film, miniaturization of an element becomes possible, applicable fields are expanded and, in addition, mass productivity increases because many elements can be produced on a substrate in one operation. Furthermore, there are many advantages in performances, for example, the sensitivity is improved in the case where a sensor is produced.

Piezoelectric element, piezoelectric actuator, piezoelectric sensor, hard disk drive, and inkjet printer device


A method, medium and implementing processing system are provided for controlling the number of Ethernet adapters connected in an EtherChannel depending upon the current bandwidth requirements of the system. This system reduces power consumption, inter alia, wherever possible while not sacrificing performance or flexibility of an EthernetChannel. An exemplary embodiment EtherChannel's total bandwidth utilization is monitored and controlled. When the bandwidth utilization is a predetermined amount less than or more than a predetermined threshold level, power supplied to one or more of the physical Ethernet adapters that are part of the EtherChannel is adjusted, i.e. reduced or increased, accordingly. In another embodiment, in systems where ethernet devices support different levels of power, the power supplied to one or more adapters can be systematically incrementally reduced or increased in response to reduced or increased bandwidth utilization.

Computer system interconnection networks, including but not limited to the Internet, rely on an Ethernet system to enable communication between computer systems connected to each other through the network. EtherChannel and IEEE 802.3ad Link Aggregation are network port aggregation technologies that allow several physical Ethernet adapters to be aggregated together to form a single pseudo-Ethernet device. EtherChannel also supports load-balancing for outgoing traffic using two methods, i.e. "round-robin" and "standard".
It is desirable to reduce power consumption wherever possible while not sacrificing performance or flexibility. Both of the load-balancing options mentioned above do not focus on saving power.
Thus there is a need for an improved methodology and implementing system which controls adapter connectivity in an EtherChannel and provides a new solution to enable a reduction in power consumption on physical adapters when they are part of EtherChannel.

Controlling connection status of network adapters

International Business Machines Corporation


An electrical connector includes a flexible circuit substrate extending between a pair of mechanical connectors to electrically couple circuits, and a supporting member between the mechanical connectors to reduce twisting of the flexible circuit substrate. The supporting member cambered to permit the mechanical connectors to translate with respect to one another. A clamping member includes a tapered clamping surface in an undeformed, unclamped position. The clamping member bends when in a clamped position, resulting in approximately planar clamping surface. Resilient pressure pads on the clamping members bias the flexible circuit substrate to the circuit board. The pressure pads are mounted in wells in the clamping members to support a side wall of the pressure pads. Frames provide additional support to the side walls of the pressure pads. The pressure pads include a raised edge along a periphery of a contact surface of the pressure pad. Additionally, or alternatively, a support shoulder in the well cooperates with a recess along a periphery of a mounting surface of the pressure pad to support the side wall. Alignment structure on the frame cooperates with alignment structure on the clamping members, the printed circuit boards and the flexible circuit substrates to align contacts on the flexible circuit substrates with contacts on the printed circuit boards, and to further align the pressure pads with the contacts.

This invention relates to electrical connectors, and more particular to electrical connectors for coupling circuits on printed circuit boards.
Many computing devices, such as desktop computers, workstations, mainframe and super-computers employ multiple printed circuit boards (xe2x80x9cPCBxe2x80x9d) that include various microprocessors, printed circuits and other components that must be electrically coupled together to transmit data and/or power. The electrical traces on one or more layers of the PCB form the printed circuits and typically terminate in one or more terminals or contacts for making connections. Ever decreasing element sizes, such a pitch (i.e., the spacing between successive components), width, and height, exacerbate the problem of providing secure and reliable connections between the printed circuits. Precise positioning on the order of thousandths of an inch is often necessary. Consistent pressure across each of the many contacts is also desirable to assure a reliable connection. A single failed or intermittent connection can result in large amounts of xe2x80x9cdown-timexe2x80x9d for the computing device, and costly troubleshooting by highly skilled technicians.
Flexible circuit substrates provide low resistance, low impedance connections. Such connections are particularly desirable in parallel processing systems, where the timing of signals is critical. Flexible circuit substrates consist of a number of electrical traces on a small number of layers (e.g., approximately 2-8) of printed circuit board material (e.g., FR-4 epoxy-fiberglass laminate). The resulting substrate is highly flexible, hence convenient for making connections in tight spaces and/or at an angle. However, because of their flexibility, such connectors present a challenge in providing even contact pressure across all contacts.
Highly parallel processing super-computers present a particularly significant problem in terms of space constraints. These computers rely on a high number of connections between circuit boards that each carry one or more microprocessors. The nature of parallel processing places high demands on the timing of signals, including clock signals across the various computer components. The PCBs are spaced relatively close together to reduce the length of the connections between the PCBs in an effort to improve the timing of the signals. The tight spacing hinders the ability of technicians to access particular computer components, such as the PCBs and electrical connectors. This presents a particular problem to computer manufacturers and owners who desire a modular design that permits failed components to be quickly and easily replaced. If serviceable, a modular design would also permit the addition of new or additional processors as desired, for example when more processing power is required or when the processors become more affordable. This could significantly extend the life of the computing device.
A reliable, precise, and highly manipulable electrical connector is required to couple printed circuits between printed circuit boards. Additionally the connection should be secure over a time period commensurate with the expected life of the computing device to avoid costly maintenance and should allow easy replacement and/or addition of various computer components such as PCBs.
Under one aspect of the invention, resilient pressure pads carried by opposed clamping members of an electrical connector bias flexible circuit substrates to a circuit board. Respective wells in the clamping members receive the pressure pads and provide support to a side wall of the pressure pads. Frames carried by the clamping members provide additional support to the side walls of the pressure pads.
Under another aspect of the invention, the pressure pads include a raised edge along a periphery of a contact surface of the pressure pad. Additionally, or alternatively, a support shoulder in the well cooperates with a recess along a periphery of a mounting surface of the pressure pad opposed to the contact surface.
Under another aspect of the invention, the pressure pads include a resilient pressure pad core having a first durometer value and a resilient pressure pad sleeve having a second duormeter value greater than the first durometer value.
Under a further aspect of the invention, alignment structure on the frame cooperate with alignment structure on the clamping members, the printed circuit boards and the flexible circuit substrates to align contacts on the flexible circuit substrates with contacts on the printed circuit boards, and to further align the pressure pads with the contacts.

Electrical circuit connector with resilient pressure pads


A coilable tape rule includes a pair of rollers that are convexly rounded in both axial and transaxial planes, about which rollers the measuring blade moves during passage through the casing and which cause the blade to turn on its longitudinal axis so as to reorient its width dimension to a perpendicular relationship to the axis of coiling. The blade is of concavo-convex cross section and cooperates with the rollers for tracking control and to enhance the smoothness and reliability of extension and retraction.

It is often desirable to place the casing of a tape rule at a certain position with the measuring blade extended so as to enable measurements to be made at remote locations, and to do so without need for holding the casing. In the conventional tape rule the blade pays out through a peripheral aperture, and is oriented with its width dimension corresponding to that of the casing. Even if the casing has straight, flat edge sections on which it can be supported, therefore, standing the casing on edge (as must be done if the indicia on the face of the blade are to be visible) affords a very low level of stability. If left unattended, there is a likelihood that the rule casing will tip over, particularly if the extended blade is disturbed in any way, thus not only making it difficult to read the distance scale but, indeed, making the measurement itself unreliable due to displacement of the rule from its original position.

Tape rule having reoriented measuring blade


An easily transportable cotton module builder includes a side mounted dump basket for receiving a load of cotton bolls from a cotton picker or stripper. The module builder is sized to form a module of half standard size, which enables the unit to be readily transportable on fields and roads. The basket expands outwardly, is lightweight and is sized to receive a full load dump from a cotton picker or stripper, then the basket swings up and over a module builder compression chamber. A compression bridge extends across the top of the compression chamber and supports a tamper bar assembly which compresses the cotton dumped in the chamber. The module builder compression chamber takes two to three loads from a cotton picker or stripper before it reaches capacity.

Cotton module builders are used for assembling a module, or formed block of packed cotton, from a harvester, in preparation for the cotton to be transported to a cotton gin. The gin combs the cotton fibers, separates the desirable lint from the seeds, discards stems, and weed components, and readies the combed lint cotton for further processing into batting, milling into sliver and thread and other uses for cotton. Because harvested cotton is fluffy and takes up significant transport space, the building of a compressed module for storage, transport and further processing is an important and necessary step in cotton processing.
Historically, cotton was dumped from a storage basket integral to a cotton harvester picker or stripper and from the storage basket into a trailer for transporting the seed cotton to a gin. Modern practices employ a module builder which receives harvested cotton and forms a block of compressed cotton ready for transport to a gin. The module of compressed cotton is intended to reduce the number of loads to the gin because the cotton is compressed. Module builders have, before the present invention been seen to lack efficiency, require additional equipment and operators, be too slow in processing, have too little capacity and not be as advanced as possible.
The present invention is considered to improve upon prior module builders and is targeted toward improving capacity, efficiency, speed and reduction of additional equipment and operators.

Combination cotton transport cart and module builder


A power receiving apparatus includes a power reception circuit, a first member having a cylindrical shape, a power receiving coil disposed on a cylinder side surface of the first member and connected through wires to the power reception circuit, and a resonance coil configured to be freely movable along the cylinder side surface in a circumferential direction around a cylinder center axis of the first member, wherein the power receiving coil and the resonance coil are coupled to each other through electromagnetic induction.

Wireless power transmission technology that transmits electric power between two points in space without use of a power transmission cable includes a magnetic resonance power transmission technology that uses magnetic resonance to transmit power. In the magnetic resonance power transmission system, a coil (i.e., LC resonance coil) having a resonance function based on capacitor and inductor is provided on each of the transmission side and the reception side. The LC resonance coil provided on the transmission side and the LC resonance coil provided on the reception side have a common resonance frequency. Electric power is transmitted from the transmission side to the reception side via a high-frequency alternating-current magnetic field that oscillates at this resonance frequency.
The magnetic resonance power transmission system allows longer power transmission distance (i.e., distance in the direction perpendicular to the coil plane) and a wider margin for the position of a power receiving side (i.e., greater tolerance to a displacement in the direction parallel to the coil plane) than the wireless power transmission system that uses electromagnetic induction without utilizing resonance. Further, highly efficient power transmission is achieved between coils having different sizes.
Wireless electric charge systems that use electromagnetic induction without utilizing resonance are used in chargers for rechargeable batteries, and have already been commercially available. Such chargers require exact positional alignment between the power-transmission-side coil and the power-reception-side coil in order to transmit power through electromagnetic induction. For example, a rechargeable battery may be placed with respect to a recess of a charger such that the negative pole of the rechargeable battery faces the bottom surface of the recess, thereby achieving exact positional alignment. There may be a case, however, where a plurality of batteries may need to be charged. Aligning the individual batteries with respect to the respective recesses of a charger in the manner as described above is quite cumbersome.
The use of magnetic resonance in place of electromagnetic induction allows efficient wireless electric charge without exact positional alignment relative to a charger. In the case of charging a plurality of batteries at once, the use of electromagnetic induction may require that a plurality of power transmitting coils be provided for the respective batteries. The use of magnetic resonance, on the other hand, allows a single large power transmitting coil to efficiently transmit power to a plurality of power receiving coils for electric charge.
A typical shape of a rechargeable battery is a cylinder. In order to secure a large power receiving area size, it is preferable to provide the power receiving coil on the side surface of the rechargeable battery. Further, in order to charge a plurality of rechargeable batteries without requiring these batteries to be placed in specific position and/or at specific spatial locations, a large power transmitting coil may be disposed across the entirety of a charger platform that is placed in a horizontal position. Rechargeable batteries may then be laid horizontally on the surface of the charger platform. In this arrangement, efficient power reception may be achieved when the power transmitting coil embedded in the charger platform and the power receiving coil embedded in a rechargeable battery substantially face each other. With a power receiving coil situated at a specific position on the lateral surface of a rechargeable battery, however, the fact that cylindrical rechargeable battery is easy to rotate makes it difficult to keep the battery still in such a position that the power receiving coil and the power transmitting coil face each other.    [Patent Document 1] Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2010-193701    [Patent Document 2] Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2004-260917

Power receiving apparatus and power transmission system


Apparatus for producing liquid or solid xenon comprises a duct 12 having an inlet 14 for receiving gaseous xenon and an outlet 16 for outputting gaseous xenon at a reduced temperature to a nozzle located in a vacuum chamber 60. A housing 18 extends about the duct and contains a halocarbon coolant in thermal contact with the duct, and a second duct 24 in thermal contact with the halocarbon coolant for conveying a flow of liquid nitrogen through the housing 18 to control the temperature of the halocarbon. In view of the difference in the pressure of the xenon gas output from the duct and the pressure in the chamber, the thus-cooled gas is caused to liquefy or solidify in the vicinity of the nozzle.

The invention relates to a system for producing a flow of liquid or solid xenon, and also to apparatus for, and a method of, cooling a fluid flow, for example of an inert gas such as xenon, to produce a target for the generation of extreme ultra violet (EUV) radiation.
Extreme ultra violet lithography (EUVL) extends the current technology of optical lithography by using wavelengths in the range from 11 to 14 nm, in order to offer a reduction in the size of printable features during the manufacture of integrated circuits. A known method for the generation of EUV radiation for EUVL is the focussing of an electrical discharge or a laser beam onto a target. Targets are typically formed from metal, such as tin or lithium, or from an inert gas, such as xenon. However, the use of a metal target can result in the evaporation of undesirable debris, such as small particles, atoms and ions, from the surface of the target, which debris may be deposited on sensitive optical components used to focus the beam on the target. The use of metal targets also requires relatively complex optical systems to focus the laser beam over the target surface. These problems may be overcome through the use of an inert gas such as xenon as the target material.
In systems that use xenon as the target material for the generation of EUV radiation, a stream of xenon is emitted from a nozzle into a chamber. As the EUV radiation has a poor transmissibility through xenon, it is necessary to employ a pumping system to generate a reduced pressure in the vicinity of the site at which the xenon plasma is to be generated. Furthermore, the distance between the nozzle and the plasma site should be of sufficient magnitude so as to avoid ablation of the nozzle by the laser beam. In practice, the location of this site is dependent on the density of the stream output from the nozzle; as the density of the output stream is increased, so the distance between the nozzle and the plasma site can be increased.
It is an object of at least the preferred embodiment of the invention to provide apparatus to enable the site at which xenon plasma is generated to be sufficiently spaced from the nozzle that nozzle damage is minimised.
One problem associated with the use of xenon as the target material for the generation of EUV radiation lies in the relatively high cost of the material in comparison to metallic targets, due to the occurrence of xenon in atmospheric air in very low concentrations (around 0.087 ppm). It is therefore another object of at least the preferred embodiment of the invention to provide a system that enables xenon to be retrieved from the evacuated chamber and re-circulated for return to the chamber.


The present invention provides mammalian chimeric NPY Y.sub.5 receptors, nucleic acids and vectors encoding the receptors, methods for making the receptors, fragments or fusion proteins thereof using recombinant DNA methodology or chemical synthesis, and methods for using the receptors in screening systems to identify compounds for the treatment of various diseases.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a 36 amino acid peptide that is widely distributed in both the central and peripheral nervous systems (1). As might be expected from its widespread distribution, NPY has a plethora of physiological actions, including effects on blood pressure, hormone release, gut motility, smooth muscle tone, sleep and circadian rhythms, feeding, thermogenesis, neuronal excitability, nociception, cognition, mood and emotional responses. NPY mediates these physiological effects via interaction with at least six distinct G protein-coupled receptors (designated Y.sub.1 -Y.sub.6) (2). It is possible that additional NPY receptors remain to be cloned and characterized. Available data indicate that the NPY Y.sub.5 receptor mediates the effects of NPY on feeding, thermogenesis, neuronal excitability and seizure activity, diuresis, natriuresis and calciuresis (3,4,5).
Several lines of evidence suggest that NPY plays a key role in the control of body weight. Central administration of NPY increases food intake and decreases thermogenesis in satiated animals while reductions in endogenous NPY via antisense oligonucleotide or immunoneutralization techniques leads to a decrease in food intake (1,6,7). As would be expected for an orexigenic peptide, hypothalamic NPY peptide and mRNA levels are increased after fasting and in genetically obese mice (8). In fact, recent experiments with transgenic mice lacking NPY indicate that NPY is required for the maintenance of the obese phenotype of ob/ob mice (9). Conversely, the satiety signal leptin appears to decrease food intake and body weight in part by decreasing NPY synthesis and release (10). The pharmacological properties of the Y.sub.5 receptor subtype most closely match the pharmacological properties of the receptor mediating the effects of NPY on feeding (3). These data suggest that NPY is a key modulator of body weight and that NPY Y.sub.5 receptor antagonists will be useful anti-obesity agents.
NPY has also been shown to block kainic acid-induced seizures in rats, suggesting that NPY may be a potent anti-epileptic agent (4). The pharmacological properties of the receptor that mediate the anti-epileptic effects of NPY are similar to the pharmacological properties of the Y.sub.5 receptor (4). Therefore, NPY Y.sub.5 receptor agonists may be useful anti-epileptic agents.
NPY also elicits a diuretic, natriuretic and calciuretic effect in the kidney (5). Again, the pharmacological properties of the receptor that mediates these effects are similar to the pharmacological properties of the Y.sub.5 receptor (5). It is conceivable, therefore, that NPY Y.sub.5 receptor agonists would be effective anti-hypertensive agents and/or useful in the treatment of disorders of calcium metabolism.
NPY has numerous physiological effects which cannot yet be conclusively ascribed to a particular NPY receptor subtype (1). It is certainly possible that some of these effects are due to interaction of NPY with the Y.sub.5 receptor. The involvement of NPY in sleep and other circadian rhythms suggests that Y.sub.5 receptor agonists might be useful in the treatment of sleep disorders, including jet lag. The known effects of NPY on hormone release suggest that Y.sub.5 agonists or antagonists might be useful as contraceptives or in the treatment of infertility or sexual dysfunction. NPY also regulates vascular tone in cerebral vessels, suggesting that Y.sub.5 agonists or antagonists might have value in the treatment of migraine. Since NPY is also known to be involved in the transmission of painful stimuli, Y.sub.5 agonists or antagonists might be useful analgesics. NPY has also been shown to have effects on cognitive processes and, hence, Y.sub.5 receptor agonists or antagonists might be effective cognition-enhancing agents. Disorders of gut motility could also be treated with a Y.sub.5 agonist or antagonist. NPY itself is also anxiolytic and, thus, Y.sub.5 receptor agonists might be useful anxiolytic agents. Finally, NPY is localized in brain regions that play a role in affective disorders, suggesting that Y.sub.5 ligands could be useful antidepressants or antipsychotic agents.
The present inventors have isolated cDNAs encoding the rat and human NPY Y.sub.5 receptors and used those nucleic acids to construct a novel chimeric cDNA construct that enables high levels of human NPY Y.sub.5 receptor expression.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,024 ('024 patent) refers to isolated cDNAs encoding human and rat NPY Y.sub.5 receptors. The cDNA sequences disclosed in the '024 patent, however, differ from the sequences of the cDNAs isolated by the present inventors and used in the construction of the novel chimeric receptor cDNA.
For example, the sequences of the human NPY Y.sub.5 receptor isolated by the present inventors and that disclosed in the '024 patent diverge prior to nucleotide number 82 of the '024 sequence. The net result of this divergence is that the translated human NPY Y.sub.5 receptor protein encoded by the '024 patent cDNA has 10 additional amino acids at the amino terminus relative to the translated protein encoded by the human cDNA isolated by the present inventors. Sequencing of the human NPY Y.sub.5 receptor gene reveals that the sequence disclosed in the '024 patent is in reality a genomic sequence.
Likewise, sequence analysis indicates that the rat NPY Y.sub.5 receptor cDNA sequence disclosed in the '024 patent is in fact a genomic sequence.
Similar conclusions were drawn in the recently published International Application WO 97/17440.
In view of the important role of the NPY Y.sub.5 receptor in many physiological processes and medical conditions, there is a need for materials and methods for identifying selective agonists and antagonists of the NPY Y.sub.5 receptor.

Chimeric mammalian NPY Y.sub.5 receptors


Compositions comprising bile acids or their salts and methods of use thereof for the treatment of residual lesions of vascular anomalies.

Vascular anomalies encompass a variety of rare and often complex tumors, malformations, vascular birthmark-producing syndromes that are produced by some localized defect in one or more elements of the vasculature (i.e., arteries, veins, capillaries and lymphatics). As their name suggests, vascular anomalies are primarily of a vascular nature and tend to actively profilerate. However, in many cases these anomalies comprise residual lesions that form once the anomaly has entered a non-proliferating stage. These residual lesions have a vascular component, but also have a fibrous or fibro-fatty tissue component as well.
Infantile hemangiomas (IH) are the most common soft tissue tumor of infancy with a prevalence of approximately 4.5%. They appear shortly after birth, grow to peak size by about nine months of age, and then involute over months to years. When left untreated, up to 70% of the time, the process of vascular degeneration results in permanent sequelae such as, telangiectasia, anetoderma, and/or excess fibrofatty tissue, all of which can cause significant cosmetic or functional concerns.
IHs have a distinct natural history involving three stages. An early proliferative phase is characterized by rapid growth of abnormal blood vessels during the first 6 months of life and extends to the first 10-12 months of life. This proliferative stage is followed by a plateau stage and then an involuting stage starting at about 1 year of age that may continue for several years. Finally, the IH becomes involuted, which can comprise one or more subtypes: atrophic scars, fibrofatty remnants (FFR), residual telangiectasia, and residual lesions or discoloration. Anetoderma, or macular atrophy, is another condition associated with involuted IH.
Congenital hemangioma is a vascular lesion that is present and fully grown at birth.
Kaposiform hemangiomendothelioma (KHE) is a rare vascular tumor. It is usually seen at birth or as a newborn. KHE is most common on the trunk, arms, legs and back, but is sometimes seen on the head or neck.
A tufted angioma is a similar to KHE, and there is some thought that it may be a mild form of KHE.
Lymphatic malformations comprise a collection of lymphatic channels in loose connective tissue stroma, and result in fluid collecting in tissues.
Commonly used options for treating vascular anomalies include embolization, radiation, laser therapy, sclerotheapy, and surgery. However, these existing treatment options are associated with inherent risks related to surgery and anesthesia, such as scarring, nerve damage, infection, bleeding, and tissue necrosis. Additionally, the cost associated with these treatment options is an additional barrier for many patients. Thus, there is a need in the art for non-surgical, cost-effective therapeutic approaches to treating residual lesions of vascular anomalies, which improve cosmetic and functional outcomes and lower the risks of adverse side-effects associated with presently available treatment options.

Methods of treating residual lesions of vascular anomalies


An apparatus and method for transilluminating a tubular tissue within the body. The apparatus comprises an elongate catheter having a fiber optic substantially coextensive with the length thereof which provides diffuse illumination laterally along at least a portion of the length of the catheter. The fiber optic terminus at the proximal end of the catheter is flared to form a light receiving aperture for collecting illuminating light. The flared proximal end of the optical fiber presents an effectively greater light input aperture and enables the fiber to conduct more light to the distal delivery end than would otherwise be possible with a fiber having a flat cut end and receiving light from a divergent light source. The distal end of the catheter is dimensioned to fit within a tubular tissue and be advanced therethrough. A portion of the distal end of the fiber optic is adapted to redirect the light laterally away from the optical axis along a length thereof to provide diffuse cylindrical illumination directed radially outward from the optical axis. The catheter is particularly adapted for transilluminating the wall of a length of a tubular tissue for visualization during surgical procedures such as laparoscopic surgery.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a method and device for transilluminating a tubular tissue within the body of a patient.
2. Prior Art
Catheters such as transilluminating light delivery catheters, endoscopes, bougies and the like are frequently introduced into a lumen of the body for the purpose of transillumination. Such catheters include light delivery catheters having a diffuser tip on distal portion thereof. Such catheters are useful for delivering light to a distal portion of the body for performing phototherapeutic procedures as well as transillumination.
The majority of current standard operating room light sources have only a single light output port. Such sources are not designed for multiple catheter illumination. The operating room, therefore, must have a separate light source for each illuminator in more than one illuminator is to be employed in a procedure. There are a few light source manufacturers providing dual ports for dual illumination, however most multi-port sources permit only one catheter at a time to be attached thereto. Thus, if it is desired to have more than one tubular tissue transilluminated simultaneously, it is necessary to have more than one illuminating source to provide the power necessary for such transillumination.
Prior art fiber optics for illuminating small tissues have a relatively small cross-sectional diameter and the input end is flat cut to reduce reflection and loss of the input light from the source of light. The flat cut input aperture for such fibers limits the amount of light power which can be coupled into the catheter from a conventional non-collimated light source. In order to couple sufficient power into a light delivery catheter for certain applications such as transillumination, a complicated lensing system must be interposed between the light output port of the light source and the light input end of the fiber optic or fiber optic bundle within the catheter.
Martinez, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,290, provides a fiber optic having a flared proximal end suitable for collecting light from a single source of divergent or collimated light. The connector for attaching the proximal light-receiving end of the fiber to the light source requires collimating optics to be installed in optical alignment within the connector. In addition, the catheter can supply power to only a single fiber optic for transillumination.
During the performance of laparoscopic procedures such as surgery on or around the ureters, it is desirable to provide dual transillumination of the ureters in order to clearly visualize the operative field laparoscopically. In order to do so in accordance with the prior art, one must have separate delivery fibers attached to separate light sources threaded through the urethra into the bladder and transversing the ureters prior to initiating surgical procedures. It would, therefore, be desirable to have single optical fiber bundle which can be inserted the bladder through the urethra and which upon entry into the bladder could be made to bifurcate and diverge to form separate transilluminating fibers to simultaneously transilluminate both ureters from a single light source.
The Martinez patent referenced above contemplates a fiber optic having a proximal end which receives light from a rod having a flat face in optical communication with the proximal end of the fiber. The proximal end of the fiber optic is heated and shaped to form a lens. The lens is a-refractive lens; the radius or curvature of which is adapted to focus collimated light incident thereupon into the fiber optic for conduction along the length thereof to the distal end. The light incident upon the flared proximal end of the fiber optic is substantially collimated. It is desirable to provide a right delivery catheter wherein the light input end is adapted to receive light from a non-collimated source.


This invention is directed to therapeutic compositions containing non-MHC-restricted T-cells/NK-cells in combination with MHC-restricted T-cells and especially to therapeutic compositions, which comprise LAK cells. Furthermore, the present invention is directed to the use of the above combination in the treatment of tumors in humans, which tumors show a missing, low or aberrant expression of MHC class 1a or 1b molecules. By using the aforementioned compositions/combinations it is possible to provide a balanced selective pressure against emergence of tumor cell variants that would otherwise escape immune detection.

Immune recognition by most T lymphocytes occurs through surface interactions involving a specific T cell receptor (TCR) on the lymphocyte and an antigen on the target cell. Unlike antibodies, TCR do not recognize intact antigens. With few exceptions, they only recognize fragments of antigens, in the form of peptides, which are presented on the cell surface by molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). The ability of T cells to recognize antigen only when it is presented by MHC molecules is called "MHC restriction". The reacting T cells are referred to as MHC-restricted lymphocytes. There are two classes of MHC molecules, class I and class II, which are functionally distinguished by the type of antigen they bind and the subset of T cells with which they interact. The dichotomy between class I and class II molecules relates to their different roles in T cell activation. Class I molecules present peptides to MHC-restricted CD8 positive cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). These cells directly lyse target cells; therefore it is biologically appropriate that they recognize peptides derived from intracellular antigens that are presented by class I molecules. Moreover, since class I molecules are expressed by nearly all nucleated cells, CTL are able to recognize and destroy virtually any cell if it presents the appropriate MHC/peptide complex. On the other hand, class II molecules present peptides to CD4 positive T helper cells, the primary function of which is to secrete cytokines that promote activities of other lymphocytes, including B cells, macrophages and CTL. They play a dominant role in orchestrating an immune response.
MHC molecules are characterized by their highly polymorphic nature and many different variants have been defined which are encoded by different gene loci and alleles. Many of the amino acid variations that distinguish MHC alleles are localized in the binding groove where they modulate its shape and charge. Peptides capable of binding to a particular MHC molecule must fit to the configuration of that molecule's binding groove. Within the human population there are many different MHC alleles and an individual generally expresses six different class Ia molecules (encoded by the HLA-A, -B, C loci), each of which binds a different repertoire of peptides due to different amino acid composition of the peptide binding groove. In addition an individual has HLA alleles encoding a number of class Ib molecules, including HLA-E, F and G.
For MHC-restricted cells to respond to antigenic stimulation, NMC/peptide complexes must be expressed at the surface of a target cell and the T cells must express a cognate TCR. The specific ability of T-cells, to recognize specific antigens, which are presented via MHC molecules, was used in a variety of therapeutical approaches, e.g. in the antitumor therapy.
However, the known strategies do not take into consideration that the immune system has a substantial repertoire of non-MHC-restricted T-cells, which might be used for the elimination of tumor cells. This is partially due to the fact that attempts to use them in the anti-tumor therapy simply were not successful. Generally, the non-MHC-restricted type of T-lymphocytes combat tumors by their recognition of tumor cells, that occurs independently of MHC-peptide ligand expression.
Examples of cells which show non-MHC-restricted immune response are Lymphokine Activated Killer (LAK) cells. They represent mixtures of activated natural killer (NK) and non-MHC-restricted T cells that lyse various tumor cells as well as HLA class I negative target cells. Activated NK cells, like those present in LAK populations, are inhibited in their cytolytic function following interaction with MHC class I molecules. Regulation of LAK-derived T (LAK-T) cells has never been clarified.
The emerging understanding of the role of negative regulation of lymphocyte function through inhibitory receptor interactions with MHC class I molecules provides new insight into mechanisms that influence LAK function. While activating receptors such as natural cytotoxicity receptors are responsible for the induction of NK-mediated lysis, the cytolytic capacity of NK cells is ultimately determined by their inhibitory receptor expression. Natural killer cells (NK) are crucial for T cell activation in the present invention. Natural killer (NK) cells are a lineage of lymphoid cells, which lacks antigen-specific receptors, and NK cells are part of the innate immune system. These cells circulate in the blood as large lymphocytes with distinctive cytotoxic granules. These lymphocyte-like cells show important functions in innate immunity. They are able to recognize and kill some abnormal cells, for example tumor cells and virus-infected cells, and are thought to be important in the innate immune defence against intracellular pathogens. Although lacking antigen-specific receptors, they can detect and attack certain virus-infected cells.
Extensive analyses of different sources of NK cells have shown that essentially all human NK cells bear inhibitory receptors that interact with class I molecules and inhibit their cytotoxicity, thereby protecting normal somatic cells from NK-mediated attack (reviewed in(1-3). Two forms of inhibitory receptors are expressed by NK cells: the killer cell inhibitory receptors (KIR) belong to the immunoglobulin superfamily and interact with classical MHC class Ia (HLA-A, -B, -C) molecules whereas inhibitory receptors of the C-type lectin superfamily are composed of CD94/NKG2A heterodimers that bind non-classical MHC class Ib (HLA-E) molecules (4; 5). Through expression of class Ia and Ib molecules, nucleated cells bear two sets of ligands that can independently prevent their attack by NK cells bearing either of these inhibitory receptor types.
However, as stated above, the regulation of LAK-derived T (LAK-T) cells has never been clarified.
In recent years, new therapeutic approaches utilizing the immune system have been investigated for treatment of tumors that can not be eliminated by current chemotherapies or radiation therapies. The first immune therapies used systematic application of Interferons, either IFNα or FNγ, often in combination with IL-2 (6-9).
Rosenberg and colleagues were the first to explore the antitumor potential of LAK cells for immune therapy of cancer patients (10; 11). Following adoptive transfer of LAK cells into patients with advanced disease, some patients showed dramatic responses but many tumors failed to regress. Numerous animal studies and in vitro analyses of human LAK cells pinpointed activated NK cells as the major effector component mediating tumor regression, although weaker cytotoxic function was also found in the T cell fraction. However, clinical trials using LAK cells, applied either alone or in combination with high dose IL-2 to retain NK viability, failed to improve clinical efficacy. Furthermore, clinical benefits were severely limited by concurrent toxicity, particularly when IL-2 was coadministered with the LAK cells.
Further clinical trials studied the capacity of unseparated LAK cells to mediate antitumor activity in vivo following the adoptive transfer of large numbers of cells into patients with advanced disease (10; 12-20). While dramatic regression of some tumor lesions was observed, this occurred rarely, was short-lived and associated with high toxicity. In patients receiving systemic high dose IL-2 therapy, induction of LAK cells was observed in vivo and in vitro in most individuals, irrespective of their clinical responses, indicating that the efficacy of LAK cells was most likely regulated at the level of interaction between effector cells and tumor cells. The failure to identify the basis of LAK-mediated tumor regression, thereby allowing patients to be identified who might benefit from this therapy despite its associated toxicity, limited further clinical development.
This toxicity, together with the inability to understand why only some tumors regressed, led to the abandonment of non-MHC-restricted tumor cells, like LAK cells in favor of therapeutic strategies designed to adoptively transfer tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes or to induce MHC-restricted T cell responses. These newer strategies also show promise but, once again, tumor regression has only been observed in some patients. Interestingly, in several well-studied examples it was found that tumor variants emerged that showed partial or complete loss of MHC class I expression in patients who had generated strong class I-restricted CTL responses in vivo.
Thus, it appears that selective pressure by the CTL led to the emergence of tumor variants that no longer express the corresponding MHC-peptide complexes that are seen by the TCR of the CTL.
Extensive immunohistochemical studies of tumors have revealed a high prevalence of cells showing aberrant expression of HLA molecules, often limited to selected HLA allotypes. While such tumors still bind pan class I antibodies, like W6/32, their disturbed MHC expression might allow them to escape elimination by MHC-restricted CTL.
Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to provide an improved strategy for the treatment of tumors, which show a low, missing or aberrant expression of MHC class I molecules.
This problem is solved by the features set forth in the independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the present invention are detailed in the dependent claims.
The problems that are related to the therapies/compositions that have been used up to now are on the one hand due to the above described escape mechanism, which causes a reduced susceptibility of tumor cells for attack by MHC-restricted T-cells. On the other hand, as indicated above, therapies that involved non-MHC-restricted T-cells have not shown long lasting, reproducible and effective therapeutic results.
In recent experiments the inventors showed, that non MHC-restricted T-cells, e.g. LAK-T cells, like activated NK cells, are inhibited by interactions with HLA class I molecules. LAK-T cells lyse class I positive tumor cells but lysis is suppressed when tumor cells are stimulated with interferon-gamma to increase their class I expression. This inhibition of cytotoxicity is however reversed in the presence of class I-specific monoclonal antibody. HLA negative target cells can be partially protected from lysis by LAK-T cells following their transfection to express HLA class Ia or class Ib molecules. The principle of negative regulation by HLA molecules thus applies to non-MHC-restricted T-cells, such as LAK-T cells generated from tumor patients and healthy control donors. Although LAK-T cells are inhibited by class Ia and class Ib molecules, they do not express known NK inhibitory receptors. Apparently, they are negatively regulated through hitherto undefined inhibitory receptors. Experiments conducted by the inventors showed that these T-cells would be most effective in recognizing tumor cell variants that show low or disturbed MHC class I expression since their cytotoxic function could not be efficiently inhibited by interactions with class I molecules. These results have lead to a new approach, which allows an effective use of non-MHC restricted T-cells, e.g. LAK T-cells, in the therapy of tumor diseases by combating tumor variants showing low or aberrant expression of specific HLA allotypes.
Based on this research work, the use of therapeutic compositions containing immune cells, which attack tumor cells in a non-MHC-restricted way, in combination with MHC-restricted T-cells, provide a balanced selective pressure against emergence of tumor cell variants that would otherwise escape immune detection.
Generally, a therapeutic composition according to the present invention contains:                a) activated non-MHC-restricted T-cells and/or Natural Killer (NK) cells in combination with        b) MHC-restricted T-cells or        c) therapeutic agents, which induce immune responses of MHC-restricted T cells.
These ingredients may also be contained in a kit of parts comprising one or more containers filled with one or more of the ingredients of the aforementioned composition of the invention. By means of this kit it is possible to separately or simultaneously administer those ingredients.

Attack of tumor cells with missing, low or aberrant MHC expression by combining non MHC-restricted T-cells/NK-cells and MHC-restricted cells

Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen Deutsches Forschungszentrum fur Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH)


In some embodiments, a method receives a request for supplemental content to be provided in association with main content. The method selects an instance of supplemental content based on a long-term reward metric and a short-term reward metric. The long-term reward metric is based on feedback from delivery of a plurality of instances of supplemental content and a delivery status for a delivery constraint of one instance of supplemental content. The short-term reward metric is based on feedback from delivery of the one instance of supplemental content. The long-term reward metric is based on feedback from delivery of a plurality of instances of supplemental content and the short-term reward metric is based on feedback from delivery of one instance of supplemental content. The instance of supplemental content is provided to a client device.

In a guaranteed delivery environment, a main content provider may enter into contracts with individual supplemental content providers that guarantee to show their supplemental content a pre-specified number of times to user accounts that match targeting constraints. For example, a supplemental content provider may wish to target adults between the ages of 21 to 35 and require the supplemental content to be displayed 50 million times to this group. In guaranteed contracts, the main content provider takes on the risk of uncertainty in supply to display the supplemental content and guarantees that the supplemental content will be displayed 50 million times to user accounts that match the targeting constraints. The main content provider may face penalties for under-delivering the supplemental content. To avoid penalties, the main content provider may attempt to deliver on the supplemental content as much as possible to meet the delivery goal.
The main content provider may have large numbers of contracts that compete for overlapping requirements and may attempt to allocate the impressions to satisfy all constraints. However, the allocation may not optimally allocate instances of supplemental content to user accounts because the main content provider may consider under delivery as a metric to measure the delivery performance. For example, a user account may include characteristics that may be targeted by many supplemental content providers and a list of instances of supplemental content compete for the opportunity. The main content provider may have to allocate which instance of supplemental content is displayed for the opportunity. Typically, the main content provider may select the instance of supplemental content based on short-term impact, such as the delivery goal. Prior methods failed to handle user heterogeneity within crowds and optimization of long-term rewards in guaranteed delivery environments.

Reinforcement learning for guaranteed delivery of supplemental content


Methods, systems, and apparatus for communications are provided. In one aspect, a communication method including: determining, by a first communications apparatus, buffer latency information, and sending, by the first communications apparatus, the buffer latency information. The buffer latency information is determined based on a buffer latency of one or more data packets. The buffer latency indicates one of a time interval between a time point at which a data packet arrives at an access stratum (AS) and a time point at which a corresponding buffer status report (BSR) is sent, or a time interval between a time point at which a data packet arrives at an AS and a time point at which a corresponding uplink grant is received.

An end to end latency is an important parameter used to indicate a service transmission latency. The end to end latency may be a latency from user equipment (User Equipment, UE) to an application server, or may be a latency from user equipment to user equipment.
Currently, in some communications systems, user experience is expected to be improved by reducing the end to end latency. For example, in a new radio access technology (new radio access technology, NR) of a 5th generation (5th generation, 5G) communications system, the end to end latency is expected to be controlled within 1 millisecond (ms). In particular, some services that have a relatively high requirement on the latency, such as ultra-reliable low-latency communications (ultra-reliable and low latency communication, URLLC), propose a higher requirement on the end to end latency.
Therefore, an access network device intends to learn of the end to end latency more accurately, so as to properly schedule a resource for user equipment and increase a latency gain.

Communication method, communications apparatus, and system


A relaxation device comprising: a resting platform having a generally planar surface; a frame assembly supporting the resting platform; the frame assembly having at least one rail extending along an axis oriented along the width of the resting platform; a frame support for supporting the frame assembly above the ground, the frame support having a rail guide extending along an axis oriented along the width of the resting platform, the at least one rail slidably mounted to the rail guide; and a cam assembly having a cam, a cam arm, a cam guide and a motor, the cam guide fixedly mounted to the at least one rail, the cam guide having a slot extending orthogonal to the at least one rail, the slot defining a cam path, the cam mounted to a distal end of the cam arm, the cam operatively disposed within the slot, the motor mechanically connected to the cam arm so as to rotate the cam arm, wherein the cam is moved along the cam path further moving the at least one rail between opposing ends of the rail guide so as to move the resting platform in a side-to-side manner.

Relaxation devices such as massage therapy beds are used to provide stimulation to the muscles while enabling the user to lie down and relax. Such devices require the use of pulsed outputs to simulate massaging of a muscle. However, such outputs may distract a user and may even cause the user physical pain. Accordingly, it remains desirable to have a relaxation device wherein the user may be swayed side to side without any outputs pulsed into the body so as to help the user enter a peaceful state of mind.


A system for attaching a dental prosthesis to a dental implant has a first element which is fixedly connectable with the dental implant, a second element which is fixedly connectable with the dental prosthesis, at least one of the elements being provided with elastic means which elastically engage a part of the other of the elements so as to retain the elements together with one another and therefore to fix the dental prosthesis on the dental implant, and a releasing element extending outwardly of the dental prosthesis and actuatable by a user so as to displace the elastically engaging means and disengage the one element from the part of the other element so as to allow easy removal of the one element together with the prosthesis from the other element connected with the dental implant.

The present invention relates to a system for attaching a dental prosthesis to a dental implant.
Systems of the above mentioned general type are known in the art. The known systems are designed so that when a dental prosthesis is attached to a dental implant, it cannot be easily removed from the implant in the event any problems with the dental prosthesis or surrounding area of a patient's mouth. It is necessary to destroy an existing prothesis and to install a new one. In other instances the removal is possible, by can be done only by a dentist. Also, easy hygienic maintenance of the prosthesis and implant or tooth abutment is not possible.

System for attaching a dental prosthesis to a dental implant