A solution in water of fluorometallate and phosphate anions, divalent and/or trivalent metal cations, and polyhydroxylaminomethyl substituted polymers of vinyl phenol(s) provides an effective and economical post-rinse for conversion coatings, particularly predominantly zinc phosphate coatings that also contain manganese and may contain other cations.

This invention relates to post-rinse compositions and processes for improving the corrosion protective qualities of conversion coatings on metal substrates. Such materials and processes may alternatively be called, among other names, "final rinses", "passivating rinses or treatments!", "post-treatments", or "sealing rinses or treatments!". Their fundamental characteristics are that (1) they are contacted with the substrate to be treated only after completion of formation of a conversion coating and therefore normally have no direct contact with the underlying metal substrate, except possibly through pores in the conversion coating and (2) contact with the post-rinses, optionally followed by application of one or more additional protective coatings, results in a surface with better corrosion resistance, in at least one type of service or accelerated test procedure, than that shown in the same service or test by otherwise identical substrates treated in the same way, except for substituting contact with pure water for contact with the post-rinse.
Before the development of modern environmental consciousness in the last few decades, aqueous solutions containing hexavalent chromium were almost always used as post-rinses after the most common kinds of conversion coatings, those in which the predominant anions are phosphate and/or chromate ions. Hexavalent chromium is now regarded as a serious pollutant, however, so that eliminating or at least minimizing its use has been an objective of the metal finishing industry for about twenty years. Even so, no fully satisfactory replacement for aqueous hexavalent chromium containing solutions for all post-rinse uses has yet been provided.
In addition to causing pollution problems, hexavalent chromium containing aqueous solution post-rinses must normally, in order to obtain the maximum degree of corrosion resistance increase available from using them, be dried into place on a substrate treated with them before any subsequent operation in which the substrate previously treated with a hexavalent chromium containing post-rinse is contacted with another aqueous liquid composition. Even after such drying into place of a hexavalent chromium containing aqueous solution post-rinse, chromium can be leached from a substrate treated with it by contact with certain kinds of liquids subsequently used to treat the same substrate. This can cause paint discoloration and similar undesirable blemishes on the treated surface and can substantially reduce the corrosion protective value of the hexavalent chromium containing post-rinse aqueous solution treatment.
It is believed that the most generally satisfactory replacements for post-rinses containing hexavalent chromium that are now widely known and used in the art are aqueous solutions/dispersions containing predominantly, among their active ingredients, base polymers of vinyl phenol, on at least some of the aromatic rings of which have been grafted alkyl and/or hydroxy alkyl amino methylene groups, substituting for hydrogen atoms that would be present on the aromatic rings in a simple polymer of vinyl phenol. Syntheses and uses of these polymers are described in the following U. S. Patents to Lindert et al., all of which, except to any extent that may be inconsistent with any explicit statement herein, are hereby incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Pat. No. 4,433,015 of Feb. 21, 1981; U.S. Pat. No. 4,517,028 of May 14, 1985; U.S. Pat. No. 4,963,596 of Oct. 16, 1990; U.S. Pat. No. 5,039,770 of Aug. 13, 1991; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,063,089 of Nov. 5,1991. These materials, which may be collectively denoted hereinafter as "amino modified polyvinylphenol", have been found technically satisfactory in most types of post-rinse applications but have a substantially higher cost than conventional hexavalent chromium containing post-rinses. This higher cost has hampered acceptance of the amino modified polyvinylphenol type post-rinses.
Accordingly, one object of this invention is to provide a more economical, but still chromium free, post-rinse composition and process compared with previously used amino modified polyvinylphenol post-rinses. Another alternative or concurrent object is to provide a post-rinse composition and process after use of which the treated surface may be freely rinsed with aqueous liquid compositions without substantially reducing the corrosion protective quality that otherwise could be achieved. Other concurrent or alternative objects will be apparent from the description below.
Except in the claims and the operating examples, or where otherwise expressly indicated, all numerical quantities used in the description of the invention to indicate amounts of material or conditions of reaction and/or use are to be understood as modified by the word "about" in describing the broadest scope of the invention. Practice within the numerical limits stated is generally preferred, however. Also, throughout the description, unless expressly stated to the contrary: percent, "parts of", and ratio values are by weight; the term "polymer" includes "oligomer", "copolymer", "terpolymer", and the like; the description of a group or class of materials as suitable or preferred for a given purpose in connection with the invention implies that mixtures of any two or more of the members of the group or class are equally suitable or preferred; description of constituents in chemical terms refers to the constituents at the time of addition to any combination specified in the description or of generation in situ within the composition by chemical reaction(s) noted in the specification between one or more newly added constituents and one or more constituents already present in the composition when the other constituents are added, and does not necessarily preclude unspecified chemical interactions among the constituents of a mixture once mixed; specification of materials in ionic form implies the presence of sufficient counterions to produce electrical neutrality for the composition as a whole and for any substance added to the composition; any counterions thus implicitly specified preferably are selected from among other constituents explicitly specified in ionic form, to the extent possible; otherwise such counterions may be freely selected, except for avoiding counterions that act adversely to an object of the invention; the word "mole" means "gram mole", and the word itself and all of its grammatical variations may by used for any chemical species defined by all of the types and numbers of atoms present in it, irrespective of whether the species is ionic, neutral, unstable, hypothetical, or in fact a stable neutral substance with well defined molecules; and the terms "solution", "soluble", "homogeneous", and the like are to be understood as including not only true equilibrium solutions or homogeneity but also dispersions that show no visually detectable tendency toward phase separation over a period of observation of at least 100, or preferably at least 1000, hours during which the material is mechanically undisturbed and the temperature of the material is maintained within the range of 18.degree.-25.degree. C.

Chromium free, low organic content post-rinse for conversion coatings


A furnishing element with a conditioning function, which includes a base structure having a determinate aesthetic and/or functional conformation for furnishing, and one or more conditioning components, able to carry out a heat exchange with the environment to determine the conditioning thereof. The base structure defines at least a radiant surface and is made by lost mold casting. The mold or core used for casting is destroyed at the end of casting. The conditioning components are constrained to the base structure and are suitably shaped to be disposed in proximity to the radiant surface, so that the radiant surface determines a desired radiation, able to condition a room and/or one or more users.

Furnishing elements that have a function mainly of heating are known: as well as having the normal domestic and/or furnishing functions, they also have the function of heating the place where they are installed and/or its user or users.
These known furnishing elements have conformations imposed mainly by the heating function, while the traditional domestic and/or furnishing functions are neglected.
Indeed, the known techniques for making this type of furnishing element, such as for example pressure casting, shell mold casting, assembly by welding and other, provide to make, directly in the casting or welding step, the components which perform the heating function, such as for example the pipes inside which the heat-carrying fluid flows, or inside which the electric resistances are inserted.
As a result, the aesthetics of the furnishing element and the domestic and/or furnishing function is limited, in that it is constrained and adapted to the possible disposition of the pipes for each determinate process of production used.
An example of said furnishing elements produced by welding are the so-called towel warming radiators, which combine the functions of supporting the towels and those of heating, typical of a radiator.
As a result, the planning and production of said equipment to produce the furnishing elements must be concentrated on the conformation that the heating components must have: the components also determine the aesthetic guide lines, conditioning the possible conformations and domestic and/or furnishing functions themselves.
This necessity therefore limits the possible aesthetic conformations of the heating element, and the type of furnishing element to which the function of heating can be combined.
Therefore, in the state of the art, a furnishing element with a particular design having surfaces with three-dimensional curves, free in space, such as an armchair, an upright piece or other, is difficult to produce, while also guaranteeing an efficient and specific heating function.
Moreover, the known techniques do not allow to produce in advantageously economic terms the pipes conformed so as to be able to follow the development of surfaces with a three-dimensional curve, free in space.
Furthermore, the known techniques for making these furnishing elements are economically justified only for productions on a large scale, that is, in series with a large number of pieces.
This limits the possibility of functional, structural and aesthetic personalization of the furnishing elements, that is, of unitary production, or of a few units of the furnishing elements with heating function.
A furnishing element is known from the German patent application DE-A-38 18406, in this case a chair, made of plastic material provided with an integrated heater.
Movable chairs having integrated electric heating devices are also known form the European patent EP-A-0 188 002, in which the electric heating devices are activated or deactivated electronically depending on the position of the chair.
The British patent application GB-A-2 172 393 refers to a heating device which can be applied to an existing chair in order to actuate the heating of the backrest and of the seat part.
None of these documents teaches how to make the chairs in themselves, nor how to associate the heating device to the chair during the production step of the chair.
Applying the normal casting and molding techniques, the solutions described in these documents have the disadvantages discussed above.
One purpose of the present invention is to make a furnishing element with a conditioning function which is simple and economic to make even in small series, which can have substantially any aesthetic and functional shape, and which guarantees an efficient function of conditioning the room and/or the user/users.
Another purpose of the present invention is to perfect a method which allows to make a furnishing element with a conditioning function, in a simple and economic way, even in small series, substantially of any aesthetic and functional shape, and with an efficient function of conditioning the room and/or the user/users.
The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

Furnishing element with a conditioning function, and relative method to make it


A hitching device for attachment to a three-point hitch, or to a quick-attaching coupler on a three-point hitch, has a frame removably coupled to the draft links of the three-point hitch or hooks of a quick-attaching coupler. The frame has a horizontal member adapted to allow attachment of an implement. The horizontal member is disposed at a location that is below the draft links and that is forward of the ends of the draft links so that the horizontal member is closer to the tractor or other drive vehicle than the ends of the draft links. An alternative embodiment of hitching device includes an elevated hitch ball on top thereof for accommodating a fifth wheel trailer hitch. A pair of tine receiving slots are positioned in the two lowermost corners of the alternative hitching device frame for receiving a respective pair of rearwardly extending fork lift tines.

This invention relates to a hitching device which is attachable to or in association with a three-point hitch such as a three-point hitch of a tractor and which is adjustable to allow for easy attachment of an implement.
A typical tractor has a drawbar extending rearwardly from the back of the tractor. The drawbar is normally fixed at a particular height. The distance the drawbar extends beyond the back of the tractor is adjustable by a pin arrangement located on the bottom of the tractor chassis. A hitching aperture is formed adjacent the rearward end of the drawbar.
In order to hitch an implement to a tractor, the tractor operator first adjusts the height of the implement so that the implement hitch approximates the height of the drawbar. The height of the hitch is typically adjusted by utilizing a hand-cranked jack. After the operator adjusts the hitch's height to the correct level, the operator then backs the tractor while aligning the rearward end of the drawbar with a clevis located on the forward end of the implement hitch. The hitching aperture is aligned with apertures formed in the implement clevis. A pin is positioned in the aligned apertures to effectuate a connection between the implement and the tractor.
As is apparent, the hitching operation with a fixed height drawbar requires the operator to climb down from the operating platform of the tractor in order to adjust the height of the implement hitch. After the implement hitch has been adjusted, the operator must then climb back up onto the platform and align the drawbar with the implement hitch. If the operator does not adjust the implement hitch height correctly the first time, then he/she may be required to climb off of and back onto the tractor several times in order to perform the hitching operation.
In addition to a drawbar, many tractors have a three-point hitch. The three-point hitch includes a pair of draft links pivotally attached to the tractor chassis. The draft links are spaced apart and disposed at generally the same adjustable vertical height. Each of the draft links is further connected to a lift link along an intermediate portion of the draft link. Each of the lift links is attached to a laterally-disposed hydraulically-actuated rockshaft. As the shaft is actuated upwardly or downwardly, the draft links are also pivoted upwardly or downwardly via the lift links.
The three-point hitch further includes a center link pivotally connected to the tractor chassis at a location above and directly between the draft links. The center link has a connecting hole or hook formed on its rearward end. The connecting holes of the draft links and the center link are aligned with and connected to a corresponding three-point hitch structure located on an implement. After an implement has been attached to the three-point hitch of the tractor, the implement can be raised or lowered by actuating the rockshaft.
A prior art device is available for adapting the three-point hitch for attachment to an implement having a standard hitch with a clevis. This device is called a hitch bar and consists of an elongated bar with pin members extending from each end. The pin members engage the connecting holes in the ends of the draft links so that the elongated bar is supported in a horizontal orientation. The elongated bar has a plurality of hitching apertures along its length to allow adjustable connection of the implement clevis. The operator can adjust the height of the hitch bar by actuating the rockshaft of the three-point hitch.
The use of a hitch bar is disadvantageous for various reasons. First, because the hitch bar is only attached at its ends to each draft link at only one point, the bar can rotate on its longitudinal axis in its horizontally suspended position between the draft links. Incidental rotation of the bar may result in the hitching apertures of the bar not being properly aligned for attachment to the hitch of an implement. Thus, the operator may be required to rotate the bar to its proper position during the connecting operation. Further, the bar may rotate as the tractor pulls an implement attached to the bar. This can result in unwanted stresses and breakage or excessive wear in the bar, connecting pin, and implement hitch clevis.
A further disadvantage of the hitch bar is that it moves the connection of the implement to the tractor farther away from the tractor than is typical with a standard drawbar. Because of the nature of the three-point hitch, the connecting holes disposed on the ends of the draft links are positioned a substantial distance behind the end of the drawbar adjusted to its standard length. Thus, the implement is disposed further behind the tractor than is typical. When using an implement that requires connection to the power takeoff (PTO) of the tractor (for example, a baler), attachment of the implement to the hitch bar may require the use of an extra long PTO shaft to supply power to the implement. Increasing the length of the PTO shaft increases the possibility of damage to the shaft and the surrounding structures. Further, oftentimes an operator using a hitch bar with a PTO driven implement inadvertently raises the hitch bar such that it contacts the PTO shaft causing damage thereto.
It is further known within the farming industry that positioning the hitch point of the implement to the tractor at a location that is the center of the PTO shaft is advantageous. This hitching configuration results in a substantially constant driving velocity being conveyed from the tractor through the PTO shaft to the implement even during turning of the tractor. Often times, implements are constructed to provide this configuration with a drawbar adjusted to its standard length. Thus, the extended rearward position of the hitch bar does not allow this advantageous configuration. This can result in velocity fluctuations of the driven mechanisms of the implement.
In addition, tractors are often pressed into service to pull fifth wheel (gooseneck) trailers in conditions where access by a truck is difficult or impossible. Typical hitch bars, however, have no way to elevate the hitch high enough to allow the attachment of a fifth wheel type trailer.
It is often advantageous to have a type of lifting device, such as a fork lift, adapted for attachment to a tractor three point hitch. Typically the connection of such a lifting device would necessitate the removal of any equipment already connected to the three point hitch prior to installation of the lifting device.
It is further advantageous to have a hitching device which is adapted to be connected to a quick-attaching coupler for a three point hitch. The quick-attaching coupler connects to the three point hitch and generally provides three upwardly extending hooks just rearward of the distal end of the draft links and the center link respectively. Once the quick-attaching coupler is connected to the three point hitch the tractor operator can utilize the tractor hydraulic system to couple the quick-attaching coupler to all standard three-point type equipment without having to leave the tractor. One or more of the hooks is provided with a latch mechanism to prevent uncoupling of the three-point type equipment from the coupler until the latch is released by the tractor operator.
Thus, a hitching device is needed which can be attached to the three-point hitch, or to a quick-attaching coupler already attached to the three-point hitch, to allow adjustment of the vertical height of the hitching aperture relative to the drive vehicle. Further, a hitching device is needed which is stably secured to the three-point hitch so as to prevent inadvertent rotation. Further, a hitching device is needed which allows connection of the implement to a drawbar disposed at its standard length so that it can be driven with a tractor PTO shaft in a normal advantageous manner. The hitching device should allow free, unimpeded access to the PTO drive on the tractor. Further, a hitching device is needed which allows the connection of either a fifth wheel trailer or a standard trailer. Finally, a hitching device is needed which can serve double duty for both hitching and as a fork lift or round bale lift.

Hitching device for attachment to a tractor


A switchable glass panel, a method of forming switchable glass panel and a method of forming switchable glass are provided. The method includes: forming a first electrode layer and a first alignment layer sequentially on a first substrate, and forming a second electrode layer and a second alignment layer sequentially on a second substrate; forming first sealants distributed along a first direction, second sealants distributed along a second direction and an edge sealant at the edge of the first alignment layer on the first alignment layer, where the first sealants and the second sealants form a grid with a plurality of openings; forming a plurality of liquid crystal layers corresponding to the plurality of openings on the second alignment layer; and oppositely arranging the first substrate and the second substrate to form a cell, and curing the first sealants and the second sealants.

The switchable glass is also called as atomized glass, electric control glass and intelligent dimming photochromic glass, and the light transmittance of the switchable glass can be changed by adjusting the input voltage. At present, the light-adjusting glass is widely applied to the fields of high-speed rail windows, automobile windows, building curtain walls and the like. The size and specification of the switchable glass required are correspondingly different according to the application field of the switchable glass.
In the related art, when the switchable glass with different sizes and different specifications is produced, the sealant process design needs to be correspondingly carried out on the glass substrate, so that when the switchable glass with various sizes and different specifications needs to be produced simultaneously, the sealant process design needs to be carried out for multiple times, and the method has great challenges in debugging production line equipment, design of the sealant process.

Switchable glass panel, method of forming switchable glass panel and method of forming switchable glass


A method and apparatus for a high time resolution study of a reaction pattern of a cell or cell aggregates by light transmission microscopy during perfusion by different media. The apparatus comprises a light transparent chamber defining a first space for receiving a medium and a second space for receiving a cell or cell aggregates. The first space and second space are separated by a transparent slide and communicate with one another through a slit shaped opening. The slit shaped opening allows a first medium in the first space, for instance a control medium, to be drawn through the cell space by an external pump. The control medium in the first space may be replaced by a different medium, for instance a cytotoxic drug, by pumping the control medium from the first space and replacing it with the test medium. Pumping the control medium out of the first space however does not remove the control medium from the second space. The control medium is removed from the second space and replaced by the test medium when the test medium is drawn through the second space by the external pump. Accordingly, a comparison of the reaction patterns of the cell or cell aggregates may be performed to determine the effects of the control medium and test medium on cell shape, cell size, cell motility, cell death rate, and cell fluorescence among other parameters.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for studying a reaction pattern of a cell or cell aggregates, for instance cancer cells, by microscopy and with a high time resolution, during current perfusion (medium flowing by the cells) with at least one test medium in a liquid state, for instance containing cytotoxic drugs.
To date, cancer patients are usually treated with cytotoxic drugs according to specific programs of treatment. These programs are based on previous knowledge regarding the therapeutical spectrum of the drug or combination of drugs. The dosage and the type of drugs administered are often modified based on the rate of cancer proliferation in the patient. There may however be a considerable delay in valuable time before the dose or dosage of drugs may be modified since modification is based on the observed rate of cancer proliferation in the patient. There exists therefore a demonstrated need for an advancement in the art of determining the effect of drugs and drug dosages on a cell or cell aggregates.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel method and apparatus for studying a reaction pattern of a cell or cell aggregates.
It is another object of the present invention to study the response of cells or cell aggregate to different cytotoxic drugs outside the body of the patient to determine an optimum combination of cytotoxic drugs for the treatment of the patient.
It is a further object of the present invention to study the response of a cell or cell aggregates to different cytotoxic drugs over a minimal period of time.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for a high time resolution study of a reaction pattern of at least a cell or cell aggregates by light transmission microscopy during perfusion by different media.
The present invention is directed toward a method and apparatus of studying a reaction pattern of a cell or cell aggregates wherein the cell or cell aggregates are introduced into a small space in a perfusion chamber which is separated from a remaining, larger space in the chamber by a slide wherein the larger space functions as a reservoir for the perfusion medium. The cell or cell aggregates are then perfused with a control medium which is introduced into the larger space by a sucking means at the same time as the normal motility and reaction pattern of the cell or cell aggregates in the control medium is studied by microscopy and recorded by means of photometry, photography, and/or video recording. The sucking means is stopped and at the same time the control medium is drained from the larger space of the chamber. A test medium is then added to the larger space of the chamber. The sucking means is then restarted and the control medium in the small space is sucked out of said space, and a straight interface of test medium will simultaneously be sucked into the small space without mixing with the control medium, for reaction with the cell or cell aggregates. During the subsequent perfusion of the cell or cell aggregates it is possible to rapidly and with a high time resolution study the motility and reaction pattern of the cell or cell aggregates in the test medium by means of microscopy and record the reaction pattern by means of photometry, photography, or video. The photometry, photography, or video recordings may be studied by a computerized image processor, whereby information regarding cell shape, cell size, cell motility, cell death, cell fluorescence, etc. is obtained.
According to the present invention it is possible to determine an optimum combination of cyto-toxic drugs for treatment of the patient upon the onset of a disease. The method and apparatus of the present invention safely determine an abnormal motility and reaction pattern of the cell or cell aggregates during perfusion with a test medium, following perfusion with a control medium wherein a straight or well defined interface of test medium and control medium washes away the control medium.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following Detailed Description of the Invention and the accompanying drawings.

Method and apparatus for studying a reaction pattern of a cell or cell aggregates during perfusion with different media


A distributed bid processing method uses a number of computers to process bids for a given open-cry auction or descending price auction in a distributed manner. The computers examine a set of bids and quickly filter out the losing bids. This helps in achieving faster processing and reduces response times. Two methods are developed for open-cry auctions and one for descending price auction. The methods apply to a distributed web server where some servers may be placed far apart geographically.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to electronic auctions and, more particularly, to a distributed bid processing method for open-cry and descending price auctions.
2. Background Description
Most business activity on the Internet is limited to publicizing the business opportunity and conducting catalog based sales, but it will rapidly expand to include the negotiations conducted to settle the price of the goods or commodities being traded. These negotiations are currently conducted by human intermediaries through various forms of auctions, bidding systems for awarding contracts, and brokerages. The role of the intermediaries can now be performed by Internet trading applications at a fraction of the cost. Trading on the Internet allows a business to reach a larger number of potential customers and suppliers in a shorter time and a lower cost than possible by other modes of communication, and to settle business transactions with lower cost overhead in a shorter time. Hence the rapid emergence of Internet based trading applications. See Manoj Kumar and Stuart I. Feldman, "Internet Auctions", published on IBM's Web site at /iac/papers/auction_fp.pdf, 1998.
Auctioned or brokered sales are the norm in the business world for negotiating trades of large value. But consumer sales and small scale purchases typically stay with fixed prices, perhaps because of the high overhead cost of using the auction or brokerage method. The new economics of the Internet will make auctions popular in consumer and small business transactions as well. H. G. Lee and T. H. Clark in "Impact of the Electronic Marketplace on Transaction Cost and Market Structure", International Journal of Electronic Commerce, Vol. 1, No. 1, Fall 1996, at pages 127-149, present economic forces underlying this transition. Several success stories about Internet auctions are cited by Efraim Turban in "Auctions and Bidding on the Internet: An Assessment", International Journal of Electronic Markets, Vol. 7, No. 4.

Distributed bid processing method for open-cry and descending price auctions

International Business Machines Corporation


A loading device for transporting workpieces (3) from a readiness position, preferably a workpiece transport means, to a machining unit (1) and vice versa, or between machining units, is provided with a loading portal arranged above the machining site, on which linear robots (5, 6), bent-arm robots or similar means are arranged displaceably for transporting and releasing or picking up the workpieces (3) at or from the machining unit (1). One or more tray-like catching means (7) arranged under the workpieces (3) are also arranged displaceably at the loading portal (4, 10) with the displaceable means (5, 6).

A loading means for a machining unit to be loaded from a position in which the workpiece is in a readiness position is known from DE 196 42 042 A1, wherein a loading carriage with a pivoting arm and a workpiece gripper is displaceable for transporting the workpiece on an elevated guide path above the machining unit. In production systems with such loading means arranged above the machine tools, it belongs to the state of the art to stationarily arrange plates, especially plate trays that both offer protection against the lowering of the loader in case of error and catch cooling lubricants dripping from the workpieces and chips between the machines, especially between the readiness place and the machining area. The cost of such constructions is relatively high because of the frequently great distances.


A display apparatus comprises a CRT having an evacuated envelope including a faceplate with a luminescent screen on the interior surface thereof. An electron gun is disposed within a neck of the envelope for generating and directing at least one electron beam toward the screen. A funnel connects the neck of the envelope with the faceplate. A deflection yoke is disposed around the envelope at the junction of the neck and the funnel. The yoke is attached to the envelope with an adhesive. The envelope further includes a first conductive coating on the interior surface of the funnel, a second conductive coating on at least a portion of the exterior surface of the envelope, and a third coating on the exterior surface of the envelope underlying the yoke and connected to the second conductive coating. The third coating provides a resistive, adhesive-primer coating that acts as a barrier between the yoke adhesive and the envelope and has a composition consisting essentially of a polychloroprene latex, a conductive filler material selected from the group consisting of carbon black and graphite, and water.

The display apparatus, such as a television picture tube or a display tube, comprises an evacuated envelope which includes a faceplate and a rectangular funnel. A tri-color luminescent screen is disposed on the interior surface of the faceplate. An electron gun for generating and directing at least one, and preferably three electron beams toward the screen is disposed within and closes the neck of the funnel. The panel, bearing the screen, is sealed to and closes the opposite end of the funnel. The interior surface of the funnel is coated with a first conductive layer and the exterior surface is partly covered with a second conductive layer. The conductive layer on the interior surface of the funnel forms the connection between the last electrode of the electron gun and the screen on which the electron beams impinge. The conductive layer on the interior surface of the funnel thus acts as a second anode and also creates a field-free space in the region of the tube in which the electron beams are not deflected. The conductive layer on the exterior of the funnel is grounded and, together with the interior conductive layer, forms a capacitor which serves to smooth the applied high voltage. The apparatus further includes a system of deflection coils, called a deflection yoke, disposed around the neck-funnel transition region of the envelope.
It is known in the art to provide a high resistance coating or layer on the exterior portion of the tube envelope underneath the deflection yoke, in order to reduce interference generated by the deflection system. Typically, the high resistance layer has a resistance of between 10.sup.6 and 10.sup.10 ohms per square. The high resistance layer is electrically connected to the second conductive layer disposed on the exterior surface of the funnel. Apparatuses made with a low resistance layer, or having no coating at all underneath the yoke, develop an inductive charge which "flashes-over", or electrically discharges, to the deflection yoke or to the second conductive layer on the exterior surface of the funnel. The discharge is accompanied with an annoying crackling or sputtering sound.
The problem is exacerbated in the current generation of high resolution display apparatuses in which the horizontal scan rate is twice that of prior tubes, thus requiring the deflection yoke to operate at a higher current, thereby generating additional heat underneath the yoke and increasing the magnitude of the induced charge. The high resistance coating underneath the deflection yoke also must be compatible with other steps in the manufacturing process, such as alignment and attachment of the deflection yoke. In the present manufacturing process, the yoke, after alignment, is rapidly secured by an adhesive to the tube. Conventional high resistance coatings, such as those known in the art and containing polyvinyl acetate and suitable quantities of metal oxides and soots, or water-based urethane resins and conductive materials, are unsatisfactory, because they are either incompatible with, or slow, the curing process of the adhesive. Thus, a need exists for a high resistance coating which is compatible with the above-described yoke attachment process, and which provides the protection needed to reduce electrical interference from the yoke and to prevent the build-up and flash-over of induced charge.

Resistive, adhesive-primer coating for a display apparatus and method of making same


In a wireless LAN system chiefly using a millimeter wave, a satellite station is provided with an active phased planar-array antenna, the radiating directivity characteristic of which can be freely changed. When a master station receives a control frame transmitted from the satellite station prior to the commencement of normal communication, the master station transmits a carrier wave. The satellite station determines such a directivity characteristic of an antenna as to receive this carrier wave with the strongest intensity, and fixes the characteristic. Thus, an optimal communication environment can be secured. When the number of errors in a received data frame or the receiving electric field intensity received by the satellite station in normal communication is inferior to a respective predetermined threshold, the deterioration of the communication environment can be coped with by determining again. The power consumption of the master station can be reduced by making the transmitting power of a carrier wave for determining less than the transmitting power at the time of normal communication.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a local area network (LAN), more specifically to the optimization of communication quality for realizing an optimal communication environment between a wireless LAN satellite station and a master station in a wireless LAN system mainly using an electromagnetic wave in a millimeter wave range.
2. Description of the Related Art
These days a LAN has become popular and the amount of data handled on a LAN has been also increasing. On the other hand, data terminals including a personal computer have been improved in communicating functions, and have been miniaturized. Under these circumstances, the need for data communication in a mobile environment is advocated, and attention is being paid to a wireless LAN system.
So far an electromagnetic wave in an ISM range, that is, approximately the 1 to 3 GHz range, has been used for a wireless LAN system. However, since this bandwidth is also used for industrial purposes or electronic ovens, a large amount of noise is generated. To suppress this large amount of noise it is necessary to employ a spread spectrum communication method, which has made a system complicated. The system also has a drawback that in this wave range a bandwidth required for a high speed transmission cannot be secured.
For this reason, attention is currently being paid to a millimeter wave range of 50 to 70 GHz which is still an unused wave range for data communication.
An electromagnetic wave in this wave range is characterized in that it is strong to keep straight on, and it is easily absorbed by oxygen and glass. For example, since there is little possibility that an electromagnetic wave leaks outside when it is used in an office environment, it is effective in security. Furthermore, since it is an unused band width, and thereby there is no need to employ a spread spectrum communication method, the system can be simplified, compared with the case when an ISM range is used. Since in a millimeter wave range a band with required for a high speed transmission can be secured, it is a very promising wave range at present when a high speed transmission of over 100 Mbps is becoming popular in a wired LAN system.
However, the wireless LAN system using an electromagnetic wave in a millimeter range has the following problems.
The first problem is that a communication environment rapidly deteriorates due to a subtle change of the position and direction of an antenna of a satellite station. In order to expand a communication-available area in a millimeter wave wireless LAN system an antenna with a rather broad radiating directivity is usually used for the master station. However, a millimeter wave is strong to keep straight on and is easily absorbed by oxygen. There is also influence from interference among satellite stations and multipath interference which is caused by being a plurality of routes for an electromagnetic wave transmitted from a satellite station. For this reason, to secure a favorable communication environment, it is necessary to sharpen the radiation characteristic of the antennae of satellite stations and to always direct the radiation characteristic of the satellite stations exactly to the antenna of the master station.
To avoid the influence from interference among satellite stations and multipath, the use of diversity antennae and the introduction of a spread spectrum communication method can be considered. However, it is technically difficult to implement these methods in a millimeter wave range, and even if it can be implemented, the system becomes complicated. This is the second problem.

Wireless LAN system and a transmitter-receiver in a wireless LAN system


An apparatus for restraining a vehicle occupant includes an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint, an inflator for inflating the restraint, and a support plate for supporting the restraint and the inflator in the vehicle. The apparatus also includes a retainer member having a wall with an annular wall surface encircling the inflator. The retainer member also has first means connectable with the support plate and second means clamping the inflator to the retainer member. The second means includes a crimped portion of the annular wall surface.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,988,119 discloses an apparatus which includes an inflatable air bag. The apparatus disclosed in the '119 patent also includes an inflator for inflating the air bag, and a support plate for supporting the inflator and the air bag in the vehicle. The inflator and the air bag are attached to the support plate by a retainer ring and a plurality of rivets. The retainer ring has a plurality of axially extending studs through which the rivets extend. When the apparatus is assembled, the studs on the retainer ring are inserted through apertures in the inflator, the air bag, and the support plate. The rivets are inserted through the studs on the retainer ring to attach the retainer ring, the air bag and the inflator to the support plate.


A system to position at least one vessel or object in an aquatic environment including: each vessel or object having a receiver connected thereto; and at least two transmitters; wherein each transmitter transmits a unique signal and the receiver on each vessel or object receives each unique signal and a calculation means determines the position of the vessel or object based on the received signals.

The positioning and location of vessels or objects in an aquatic environment is a necessary requirement in many industries. However, existing underwater and surface acoustic positioning and navigation systems do have a number of problems, including:    1. Only single vessel/user-positioning systems. That is, existing acoustic tracking systems are single user, and accordingly each user has their own set of underwater beacons.    2. Underwater acoustic pollution, causing interference with ocean based animals (e.g. whales) and other acoustic systems. Existing acoustic tracking systems use ping or chirp signalling similar to the acoustic signals used by ocean based animals. Thus from a system view, biological noise can interfere with tracking systems, and further multiple acoustic tracking systems can interfere with each other.    3. Limited range of coverage—due to the physical properties of deepwater on acoustic signals interfering with the transmitted signal (e.g. ray-bending, signal dispersion, vessel noise, etc.).    4. The need, time and cost to re-deploy the sea-floor components (beacons) for each drilling or construction site. As noted above, existing acoustic tracking systems are single user and cover a relatively small area of approximately one square kilometre. Users are required to demobilise their own underwater infrastructure when operations move outside the tracking boundaries, which is an expensive process.
Currently available systems being used in the oil and gas and underwater construction industry do not address the problems listed above and in fact most likely contribute to the underwater acoustic pollution.
An example system currently used in the positioning of vessels is the long base line system. Existing Long Base Line (LBL) systems use multiple beacons to form up to a 1 km base line. The user positions itself relative to the base line. The position of the beacons must be determined and the position calibration is performed by sailing around a beacon, and range tracking the beacon relative to the differential global positioning system (DGPS) position. The data is then post-processed to determine the beacon position.
This system has been the best-known attempt to date to tackle part of the identified problem. However, deploying numerous sea-floor components (say 80) along the path of an area of operation has still been for single vessel use, has significant deployment overhead and has added to the acoustic pollution problem.
Communication using digital spread spectrum (DSS) signalling has also been used in this industry for various applications, however the range and reliability of these systems have so far been unable to satisfy the overall problem.
This combination of problems has been difficult to solve due to the known signalling techniques (means for transmitting acoustics) being unable to provide a means for communicating over long distances underwater (>2 km) with the required level of reliability and power consumption.


The invention relates to a device for generating a regulating signal for a direct voltage converter. The device has a voltage regulator and a current regulator at whose output the regulating signal can be tapped. Between the voltage regulator and the current regulator, a limiter is provided, which serves to limit the output signal of the voltage regulator. The limiter has an input connection which can be used to supply it with a predeterminable limit value signal for the current reference value.

The invention relates to a device for generating a regulating signal for a direct voltage converter, with the features disclosed in the preamble to claim 1.
Direct voltage converters are used to convert electrical energy between different voltage levels. An exemplary embodiment for a direct voltage converter of this kind is shown in FIG. 1. The input voltage Uin that is present at an input capacitor Cin is converted by means of a step-down transformer into an output voltage U that can be tapped at an output capacitor Cout. This conversion takes place through the use of a series circuit comprised of a power switch S and a choke L, with the cathode of a diode D being connected between the power switch and the choke and the anode of this cathode being connected to a reference potential. The keying ratio of the power switch, which has a field effect transistor, is predetermined by means of a regulating signal R, which is determined through the use of the fed-back output voltage.
This is shown in FIG. 2, which depicts the associated regulating structure. The output voltage U that can be tapped at the output of the regulating segment 1 is fed back to the input side and in a subtracter 2, is subtracted from a voltage reference value that is present at an input E1. A voltage regulator 3 is connected to the output of the subtracter 2 and on the output side, produces the regulating signal. This indicates the keying ratio for the power switch associated with the regulating segment. This keying ratio can be used to adjust or regulate the average voltage present at the choke.
There is another known methodology for producing the above-mentioned regulating signal R by using a current control loop which is preceded by a voltage regulator. This is shown in FIG. 3, which depicts the associated regulating structure. The output voltage U that can be tapped at the output of the regulating segment 1 is fed back to the input side and in a subtracter 2, is subtracted from a voltage reference value that is present at an input E1. A voltage regulator 3 is connected to the output of the subtracter 2 and on the output side, produces a current reference value for a current control loop. A current actual value that corresponds to the choke current is fed back from the regulating segment 1 and is subtracted from the current reference value in a subtracter 4. The output signal of the subtracter 4 is supplied to a current regulator 5 which at its output, produces the regulating signal R for the regulating segment 1.
The device according to the invention for generating a regulating signal for a direct voltage converter, with all of the features disclosed in the preamble to claim 1, has the advantage that it alternatively permits a regulation of the output voltage or a regulation of the current. In addition, operation with output voltage regulation achieves an overload protection by means of limiting the output current.
These advantages are achieved by using a limiter for the current reference value, which is connected between the voltage regulator and the current regulator. This limiter advantageously operates in a variable manner and has an input connection which can be used to supply it with a limit value signal for the current reference value.
Advantageous embodiments and modifications of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

Device for generating an adjustment signal for a D.C. converter


A power supply system generates drive power and supplies the drive power to a load. The system includes an electric power generating part having at least a power generation section which has a fuel cell that generates electricity generation power by use of a power generation fuel. An external power supply connection section connects an external power supply supplying externally supplied power. An operation control section includes a section for setting the power generation section in a standby state on the basis of the externally supplied power supplied from the external power supply when at least the external power supply is connected to the external power supply connection section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power supply system and an electronic device comprising the power supply system, and more particularly relates to a power supply system which comprises a power generation section capable of generating power by use of a power generation fuel, which can be connected with an external power supply, and which can drive a load with electric power generated by the power generation section or electric power supplied from the external, and to an electronic device which comprises the power supply system and is driven by the power supply system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, research and development have been keenly conducted for practical application and prevalence of fuel cells as a next-generation mainstream power supply system which have a significantly small impact on the environment (environmental burden) and a relatively high power generation efficiency (energy conversion efficiency) of about 30 to 40%, with a growing concern for environmental issues and energy problems.
Such a power generation system using the fuel cell is being put into practical use and commercialized, for example, in an automobile field, as a power supply unit for an electric automobile which applies an electric motor as a driving device instead of a gasoline engine or diesel engine with a heavy environmental burden due to emission of an exhaust gas and the like. As a technique for the fuel cell in a vehicle, such a configuration is known that comprises, for example, an energy battery constituted of a fuel cell which regularly generates constant electric power and a relatively large-sized power battery constituted of a secondary battery such as a lead battery, wherein switch control is carried out: motor driving electric power is supplied from the energy battery in an operating state with a light vehicle-driving load, while motor driving electric power is supplied from the power battery when the driving load is increased.
As described above, the power supply system using the fuel cell has conventionally been developed for application in the electric automobiles and the like which are relatively large-sized, operated continuously for relatively a long time, and are not frequently controlled to start and stop, and such a power supply system has a configuration provided with a relatively large battery for power holding. In such a configuration, the battery is fully charged, for example, through an external power supply such as a commercial alternating current power supply in an initial state of the power supply system (fuel cell) before started, and then the fuel cell is once started with the charged power, thus relatively easily enabling a constantly stable operating state under a usage condition where start/stop controls are not made frequently.
On the other hand, portable devices driven by batteries such as notebook-sized personal computers, digital cameras, personal digital assistances (PDA) and mobile telephones that have been significantly popular in recent years are required to cope with increasing power consumption due to more sophisticated functions, much longer operation time, and the like. One way considered to deal with these requirements is to make the power generation system using the fuel cell as described above smaller and lighter to install it as the power generation unit for those portable devices, and thus research and development for such a purpose are actively conducted. If the power generation system using the fuel cell is to be applied as the power generation unit for such portable devices, problems as indicated below are posed.
When the power generation system using the fuel cell is used for the portable devices and the like, it is difficult to mount a high-capacity large secondary battery and capacitor as batteries for power holding in terms of space and weight, so that a relatively small secondary battery and capacitor have to be used. Therefore, charging capacity of the secondary battery and capacitor becomes small in proportion to their volumes, areas and the like, which makes it difficult to ensure sufficient capacity. Moreover, for example, the portable devices such as the digital cameras and PDA are characterized by their usage in which start and stop operations are relatively frequently performed. Therefore, in a configuration in which charged power is utilized for starting the fuel cell, even if the battery is charged with sufficient electric power in the initial state, the electric power consumed to start the fuel cell might surpass the electric power generated by the fuel cell to supply and charge the battery because of the start and stop operations of the fuel cell that are frequently repeated, and in which case the charging power of the battery is gradually decreased. If the charging power of the battery has decreased below the minimum power required for starting, the fuel cell can not be started, which might cause inconvenience in using the portable devices. Further, if the start and stop operations of the fuel cell are frequently repeated as described above, fuel consumption efficiency of the fuel cell is also lowered because of the relatively large electric power consumed to start the fuel cell.

Power supply system and electronic device comprising the same


A microprocessor or microcontroller architecture which utilizes a 64 byte-register file in a unique manner. The lowest 16 bytes of the register file can be accessed as 16 8-bit registers (R0-R15), the lowest 32 bytes can also be accessed as 16 32-bit (word) registers (WR0-WR30), and the entire register file can be accessed as 16 64-bit (double word or Dword) registers (DR0-DR60). In this manner, various combinations of 8/16/32-bit registers are provided without wasting the register file. While providing at least 16 8/16/32-bit registers, only four bits are necessary to encode a register, thereby allowing two byte register-to-register instructions. The register file and an instruction sequencer operate to provide the 64 byte-register file which can be accessed so that the lowest 16 bytes of the register file are accessed as 16 8-bit registers (R0-R15), the lowest 32 are accessed as 16 word registers (WR0-WR30), and the entire register file is accessed as 16 double word registers (DR0-DR60).

There are currently two approaches to register files used in microcontrollers and microprocessors. One of the approaches allows aligned accesses to bytes, words and double words (Dwords) for the entire register file. This approach requires more bits to encode register addresses, resulting in longer instructions and larger code. For example a register file of 64 bytes requires 6 bits to encode each of the 64 8-bit register references. Therefore, an instruction with two register references take 12 bits to encode the two register addresses. With an instruction length of two bytes, only four bits remain for opcode encoding which cuts down the number of possible instructions substantially. Using an instruction length of three bytes increases the code size and requires higher bus bandwidth.
The other approach is taken by many RISC architectures. These architectures have multiple (typically 32) 32-bit registers (128 bytes in total), each of which can also be used as 16 and 8-bit registers. This approach reduces the utilization of the register file. If, for example, a register is used as an 8-bit register, the remaining three bytes of the 32-bit register cannot be utilized. This results in requiring more registers for efficient compiler implementation, which in turn results in longer instructions to encode register addresses (commonly 32-bit) and lower code density. This approach is suited for architectures where performance is of highest importance and cost is of secondary importance.

Register addressing for register-register architectures used for microprocessors and microcontrollers


An apparatus for recording a video signal onto tracks of a recording tape includes circuitry for producing a first time-base reference signal which is a color burst signal composed of a first predetermined number of sinewave cycles and a second time-base reference signal which is a burst signal composed of a second predetermined number of sinewave signals. The second predetermined number of cycles is larger than the first predetermined number of cycles. The apparatus further includes superimposing circuitry for superimposing the first time base reference signal on an input video signal at intervals of a horizontal scanning period of the video signal and for superimposing the second time base reference signal on the input video signal at intervals of a predetermined number of horizontal scanning periods of the video signal. The apparatus further includes a modulator for modulating an output signal of the superimposing circuitry to obtain a modulated signal and a recording arrangement for recording the modulated signal onto the tracks of the recording tape.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a video tape recorder (VCR) of the helical scanning rotary head type for recording and reproducing video signals.
2. Description of Prior Art
A known component type VCR for recording and reproduction of video signals employs a method in which a timebase reference for the video signal is produced by inserting several sinewaves of color burst (referred to as a burst wave) after a negative synchronizing (sync) pulse for one horizontal scanning period, prior to frequency modulation of the video signal for recording.
In reproduction of the video signal with this method, a zero-cross point of the burst wave in a demodulated video signal is detected for producing a playback pulse following a timebase variation. The playback pulse then actuates a PLL circuit to produce a playback clock signal.
The demodulated video signal containing a timebase variation is converted to a digital signal by an A/D converter controlled by the playback clock and stored in a memory. It is then read out from the memory by a reference clock which carries no timebase variation so that a resultant reproduced video signal is free from timebase variation.
However, the burst wave which is used for timebase correction is inserted in each horizontal scanning period and the timebase frequency of the NTSC system becomes as low as about 15 KHz. If the video signal is timebase extended for each horizontal scanning period and is recorded on a plurality of channels, the timebase frequency will further be decreased to about 7.5 KHz.
When the timebase correction is carried out at such a low frequency, its response speed will remain low. Accordingly, an abrupt timebase change caused by the switching of heads affects video data recorded in the beginning of each recording track. This develops a duration, equal to a multiple of H (H: horizontal scanning period), where no timebase variation can be corrected throughout several horizontal scanning periods. As the result, a visual failure known as skew distortion will appear in the upper portion of a reproduced image.
For eliminating the above failure, a modified method has been proposed as disclosed in laid-open Japanese Patent Application No. S63-61577, in which a negative signal which is longer in duration than a negative sync pulse provided in each horizontal scanning period is inserted in the beginning of each track prior to recording, and this negative signal is detected for timebase correction during reproduction.
However, even if the duration of the negative signal is adequately long, only one edge is used as a timebase reference. This provides a precision of timing almost equal to that given by the negative sync pulse in each horizontal scanning period and the effect of skew distortion will hardly be eliminated.

Video tape recorder for recording a video signal with an additional time-base reference signal

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


The present invention relates to a peptide vector comprising a leader peptide, a linker DNA, and a desired gene. This peptide vector can achieve gene transfer without cell specificity and does not induce host immune responses.

The invention relates to a peptide vector which can achieve gene transfer without cell specificity and does not induce host immune responses.
It is known that viral vectors have been mainly used for introducing genes into a living body, by using their cell endosmosis ability. These viral vectors include, for example, adenovirus, herpes virus, retrovirus, and the like.
Adenovirus is a non-enveloped double-stranded DNA virus, and causes insignificant upper respiratory tract infections, keratoconjunctivitis, enterogastritis, and the like in human. The adenovirus genomes are approximately 36 kb, and easy to handle by using conventional recombinant DNA technology. Cell endosmosis of virus is initialized by binding of a fiber knob protein of adenovirus to Coxsackie & Adenovirus receptor (CAR) on the cell surface. Subsequently, via the interactions between integrins (α vβ 3, α vβ 5) on the cell surface and the capsid penton base, the virion is introduced into the cell by the clathrin coated endocytosis. Then, the conforrnational changes of virion capsid proteins are derived, as the low pH condition of the endosome, allowing the release of the virion capsid proteins to the cytoplasm. Following the protein release, the capsid proteins translocate to the nucleus, where its replication and transcription are carried out. Transcription of genes can be divided into two different types, for early genes (E) which are expressed before the replication, and late genes (L) which are expressed after the replication. Adenovirus used for gene therapy lacks the E1 gene area, resulting incomplete replication, thereby being used in a form containing other DNAs inserted thereto. Therefore, the recombinant adenovirus vectors can be cultured to increase, in cell lines such as HEK293 which can express E1 genes continuously.
Retrovirus with envelope is a single stranded RNA virus having a diploid genome of about 7˜10 kb, and comprises the four gene groups called gag, pro, pol, and env, respectively. Each of the gene group encodes the structural capsid protein, viral protease, integrase, reverse transcriptase, envelope and glycoprotein, etc. The retrovirus has a packing signal (ψ) referred as long-terminal repeat (LTR), and a cis-acting sequence. Retrovirus infection of a cell can be achieved by primarily, binding of the envelope glycoprotein to its cell surface receptor, and subsequent fusing of the virus envelope with the cell membrane, thereby internalizing the capsid nucleus into the cell. Once the capsid has entered into the cytoplasm, the reverse transcriptase inside the capsid produces double stranded proviral genome, which forms a complex with an integrase and moves to the nuclear membrane. When the nuclear membrane disappears during mitosis, the complex enters into the nucleus. The proviral genome introduced into the nucleus inserts into chromosome of the host by means of an integrase, to express the viral genome by using the transcription apparatus of the host. The recombinant retrovirus vector does not express any viral gene, that makes this distinguished from the above-mentioned adenovirus vectors, as all of its genes are replaced to marker or therapeutic genes except LTRs and ψ sequence. To cultivate such recombinant retrovirus, the viral genes of gag, pol, and env should be expressed in a trans form, which can be achieved by using cell lines that express these genes in stable manner.
Adeno-binding virus belongs to a parvoviridae family, and is a simple virus having short single stranded DNA genome. The adeno-binding virus is comprised of two open reading frames (ORF) which are rep (control) and cap (structure), and two inverted terminal repeats (ITRs). The inverted terminal repeats are the only part needed for encapsidation and integration into the host genome, being stably integrated into the 19th human chromosome. However, the virus does not have self-growth ability, so it can be only grown under the presence of helper virus such as adenovirus or herpesvirus, etc. The recombinant adeno-binding virus is formed by the co-transfection with a plasmid having a transcription unit inserted between the inverted terminal repeats, and a plasmid containing a rep and cap open reading frames, and in this time, a sub-infection with a helper virus such as adenovirus is needed. After purifying process of recombinant adeno-binding virus, it can be used for gene therapy applications.
Herpes simplex virus-1 is a double stranded DNA virus having envelope. It encodes 80 or more genes from its 152 kb genomes, and has a significantly wide range of hosts as its envelope glycoproteins (gB, gC) bind to the extracellular heparan sulphate, that is discovered from the all kinds of cell membrane. When the virus is being entered into the host cell, the virus envelope glycoprotein gD and the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor of the host are necessary. Herpes simplex virus vector can be divided into two types, a recombinant herpes simplex virus vector and an amplicon vector, wherein the recombinant herpes simplex virus vector has a transcription unit directly inserted in its genome, and the amplicon vector is a plasmid infected with a helper virus, wherein the said plasmid contains the transcription unit, replication origin, and packing signal. The amplicon vector is subjected to the rolling circle replication, producing a herpes simplex virus having an insertion of multiple copy genes during packing procedure.
Those above-mentioned virus vectors have their own advantages and disadvantages. Common problems to these above virus vectors include the limitation of the cell ranges, which could be infected by them, i.e. the limitation in cells which could receive them, and the inactivation by immune responses of host. As these types of vectors have such limitations, they are not applicable to all kinds of cells.
Therefore, there have been many efforts to overcome these problems, and most of them are directed to modify the native tropism of a virus to infect a specific cell or to express transgenes in only specific cell, using a cell type specific promoter. However, there have been no satisfying results in any of those efforts.


A load is commonly driven by means of operational amplification means which buffers an input voltage and produces an output voltage; and by means of output acceleration means which outputs a large electric current greater than the electric current output from the operational amplification means when a voltage difference of a predetermined offset voltage or more exists between the input and output voltages. As a result, when a change has arisen in the input voltage, the electric current is supplied to the load primarily from the output acceleration circuit until the difference between the input and output voltages becomes the predetermined offset voltage or less. Subsequently, the electric current is caused to flow to the load from the operational amplification means until the input and output voltages become equal to each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a buffer circuit using a low electric-current-consumption-type operational amplifier and to a driver IC having many buffer circuits.
2. Description of the Related Art
In many cases, a buffer circuit using an operational amplifier is used for a driver IC for use with a source drive provided in a liquid-crystal display device (LCD) or an organic EL display device. In accordance with an increase in the size of a display panel, demand exists for a driver IC with a buffer circuit which achieves large-capacity drive capability, a decrease in power consumption, and a high-speed output response. An output voltage of the driver IC must be controlled over a wide range from a ground potential to levels in the vicinity of a source potential.
FIG. 6 is a view showing the configuration of a related-art operational amplifier 500 of rail-to-rail type such as disclosed in IEICE transactions, 2001/5 Vol. J84-C No. 5 pg. 364 FIG. 15. FIG. 7 shows a buffer circuit formed by connecting an output voltage Vout of the operational amplifier 500 directly to an inverted input terminal (−) thereof, thus constituting a buffer circuit and driving a load capacitor Co. FIGS. 8A and 8B show time characteristics of input and output voltages in the buffer circuit shown in FIG. 7.
In FIG. 6, reference numerals 501 to 510 designate MOSFETs, and MOSFETs whose gates are given circles are p-type MOSFETs (hereinafter abbreviated as "PMOS transistors"). The remaining MOSFETs are n-type MOSFETs (hereinafter abbreviated as "NMOS transistors"). Reference numerals 511 to 514 designate constant current sources for causing electric currents Iss1 to Iss4 to flow. Reference numerals Vb51 to Vb53 denote bias voltages.
The related-art buffer circuit employs a PMOS transistor and an NMOS transistor as input terminals. When the input voltage Vinp is considerably low, the NMOS transistors 501, 502 are brought into a cut-off state, whereby the electric current Iss2 assumes a value of zero. Hence, the input transistor is actuated by means of only the PMOS transistors 509, 510. In contrast, when the input voltage Vinp is considerably high, the PMOS transistors 509, 510 enter a cut-off state, and the electric current Iss1 assumes a value of 0. Therefore, the input transistors are actuated by means of only the NMOS transistors 501, 502. When the input voltage Vinp falls within the remaining range outside these ranges, both input transistors; that is, the PMOS transistors 509, 510 and the NMOS transistors 501, 502, operate. In this way, the input transistors can operate at the input voltage Vinp in the full range (i.e., a rail-to-rail range) from the ground potential Vss to the source potential Vdd, by means of the related-art buffer circuit.
In order to achieve a reduction in power consumption, the related-art buffer circuit must reduce current values Iss1 to Iss4 of constant current sources 511 to 514. Particularly, when battery cells are used as the power source as in the case of a portable device, a reduction in power consumption is an important consideration.
In a case where the load capacitor Co is activated by means of a related-art buffer circuit, when the input voltage Vinp has changed in a rectangular pattern between a voltage V1 and a voltage V2, as can be seen from a time characteristic chart of the input voltage shown in FIG. 8A and a time characteristic chart of the output voltage shown in FIG. 8B, the output voltage Vout requires consumption of a rise time T1 from the voltage V1 to the voltage V2 and consumption of a fall time T2 from the voltage V2 to the voltage V1. The times T1, T2 are dependent on a decline α determined by a ratio of the electrostatic capacity of the load capacitor Co to the current value Iss4 of the constant current source 514.
The electrostatic capacitance of the load capacitor Co is determined by a display panel to be driven by the buffer circuit. When the current value of the constant current source is reduced for reducing power consumption, a limitation is imposed on the driving capability of the buffer circuit, and hence the rise and fall of the output voltage involve consumption of a time, thereby posing difficulty in realization of a high-speed output response. An attempt to realize high-speed output response can be made by increasing the current value of the constant current source. However, in this case a large current is caused to flow at all times, which in turn results in an increase in power consumption. A reduction in power consumption and large-capacity driving capability and the high-speed output response are competing objectives, and difficulty is encountered in attaining both improvements.


A radio system is provided which comprises a radio receiver and a processing system, wherein the radio receiver is configured to detect radio signals transmitted from a radio transmitter on a plurality of frequency channels, and to measure respective signal strengths of the radio signals for each of the plurality of frequency channels. The processing system is configured to evaluate a measure of statistical dispersion of the respective signal strengths over the plurality of frequency channels, and to use the measure of statistical dispersion to determine information relating to a proximity of the radio transmitter to the radio receiver.

This invention relates to methods of proximity determination using radio devices, particularly those suitable for use within payment systems.
It is often desirable to detect when one device is in proximity of another device, without requiring physical contact. This may be used to trigger an action, such as sounding an alarm, or processing a payment transaction. What constitutes proximity will depend on the context: in some cases, it may be being within a few millimetres, while in other situations it could be being within a few kilometres.
One approach to detecting proximity uses radio signals. Known methods include measuring the time-of-flight of a radio signal between a transmitter and a receiver, and measuring the signal strength of a radio signal at a receiver. Time-of-flight systems, such as the RADAR systems installed in some self-driving cars, are complex and difficult to implement. Signal strength can be used instead to determine proximity—for example, proximity to a Bluetooth™ beacon—but this is typically unreliable because materials in the environment can absorb or reflect radio energy, leading to misleading measurements. Existing methods particularly struggle when only a single transmitter and a single receiver are communicating, because trilateration or triangulation from multiple reference points is not then possible.

Proximity determination using radio devices


Embodiments of this application are related to an interactive object control method and performed at a terminal. The method includes: obtaining a quantity of logical pixels corresponding to a touch operation performed on an interactive object on a touchscreen of the terminal; obtaining a logical pixel density of the touchscreen; correcting the quantity of logical pixels corresponding to the touch operation based on the logical pixel density and a reference pixel density; and controlling the interactive object based on the corrected quantity of logical pixels. After the quantity of logical pixels corresponding to the touch operation performed on the interactive object is obtained, the quantity of logical pixels corresponding to the touch operation is corrected based on the logical pixel density and a reference pixel density of the touchscreen and then the interactive object is controlled based on the corrected quantity of logical pixels.

With constant development of touchscreen technology, touch precision and usability of touchscreens are also greater. Correspondingly, there is an increasing number of applications for implementing human-computer interactions by using touch operations in the market. In a typical human-computer interaction application, an interactive object displayed in an application interface may be controlled by using a touch operation on the touchscreen.
In the related art, for an application which has a relatively high requirement on control precision, an action of the interactive object is usually controlled based on a quantity of logical pixels corresponding to a touch operation of a user. For example, by an example in which an interactive object is controlled by using a sliding operation of a user on a touchscreen, after detecting the sliding operation of the user, the terminal obtains a quantity of logical pixels corresponding to the sliding operation, calculates an action amplitude of the interactive object based on a relationship between the quantity of logical pixels and the action amplitude, and controls, based on the calculated action amplitude, the interactive object to make a corresponding action.
In a practical application, for terminals of different models, logical pixel densities on the touchscreens of the terminals are usually different, that is, on different touchscreens, the quantities of logical pixels corresponding to sliding operations of the same physical distance are usually different. Therefore, for the same interactive object, when the user performs the same operation on the touchscreens of terminals of different models, control effects for the interactive object are usually different.

Interactive object control method and apparatus, terminal, and computer-readable storage medium

TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED


A molybdated succinimide complex is disclosed which is prepared by a process comprising (a) reacting a succinimide of a polyamine of formula I:

1. Technical Field
The present invention generally relates to a lubricating oil additive and lubricating oil composition containing same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, organic molybdenum compounds are known to improve the lubricating properties of engine oils. For example, molybdenum dithiocarbamates are typically employed for the reduction of friction. The molybdenum dithiocarbamates, however, contain sulfur and slowly lose the ability to reduce friction unless an alternate sulfur source is present in the lubricating oil. Another example of organic molybdenum compounds are sulfurized molybdenum polyisobutenyl succinimide complexes which are used to mediate wear, reduce friction, and/or control oxidation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,259,194; 4,265,773; 4,283,295; 4,285,822; and 6,962,896 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0209111. Problems associated with the use of sulfur in a lubricating oil are that sulfur can be incompatible with emission control devices and can result in corrosion problems.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,357,149 and 4,500,439 disclose molybdated C15-C20 alkenyl succinimides. In Example XI of both of these patents, a molybdated succinimide is prepared by reacting a C15-C20 alkenyl succinic anhydride with triethylene tetramine followed by treatment with a molybdic acid solution.
Russian Patent No. 2201433 discloses a molybdated succinimide post-treated with maleic anhydride as an additive for motor oils used in internal combustion engines. Russian Patent No. 2201433 further discloses that the additives are prepared by reacting an alkenyl succinimide of polyethylene polyamine with ammonium molybdate in the presence of water as a promoter and then reacting the resulting product with maleic anhydride taken in amounts of 0.2 to 1.0 mole per 1 mole of alkenyl succinimide of polyethylene polyamine. All of the examples disclosed in Russian Patent No. 2201433 employ a high molecular weight polyisobutenyl (950 M.W.) succinic anhydride (PIBSA) in preparing the alkenyl succinimide of polyethylene polyamine.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to develop improved molybdenum-containing lubricating oil compositions which exhibit improved friction reduction, and wear and oxidation inhibition.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Lubricating oil additive and lubricating oil composition containing same

Abstract: wherein R is a hydrocarbon radical having a number average molecular weight of about 500 to about 5,000, a and b are independently 2 or 3, and x is 0 to 10, with an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid or anhydride thereof, in a charge mole ratio of the ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid or anhydride thereof to the succinimide of formula I of about 0.9:1 to about 1.05:1; and (b) reacting the succinimide product of step (a) with an acidic molybdenum compound. Also disclosed is a lubricating oil composition containing at least (a) a major amount of a base oil of lubricating viscosity and (b) a minor amount of the molybdated succinimide complex.


Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for clustering videos and using video clusters to present content. One method includes generating target video-specific clusters of co-watched videos for target videos, according to keywords for each target video, and storing data associating the target video with its clusters. The clusters can then be used in various applications, including identifying related videos, augmenting video search results, re-ordering video search results, and identifying content for a target video.

This specification relates to presenting content.
Users can access videos through video hosting websites. These video hosting websites allow users to search for videos, for example, by submitting a query containing one or more keywords. Once a user identifies a video of interest, these video hosting websites display the video, for example, on a video watch page. The watch page includes the video itself, and may also include other information. For example, the watch page can include links to related videos for the video being displayed or advertisements relevant to the video being displayed.

Target-video specific co-watched video clusters


A semiconductor device, which may be changed to a mirror package after the assembly without having to reinstall bonding wires, comprises: a plurality of fixed external terminals which include a power supply external terminal and a ground potential external terminal and which are arranged symmetrically in fixed positions; a plurality of variable external terminals of different types which are arranged symmetrically; a plurality of reverse-polarity selection external terminals which are symmetrically arranged in fixed positions, and a signal switching circuit which switches the arrangement of the symmetrically arranged variable external terminal according to the setting of the selection terminal.

Computer storage devices contain semiconductor devices such as DRAM. Recently, the capacity of a storage device becomes larger and larger and much effort has been made to develop the technology for increasing the capacity.
The technology for mounting semiconductor devices on both sides of a board is effective for increasing the capacity of a storage device. In addition, mounting a semiconductor device with a normal external terminal arrangement (hereinafter termed a normal package) on one side of a board and mounting a semiconductor device with an arrangement where the external terminals are arranged laterally or vertically symmetrical to those of a normal package (hereinafter termed a mirror package) in the corresponding position of the other side of the board increase the wiring efficiency of the board. This is because mounting a normal package and a mirror package in the corresponding positions on the both sides of a board allows their pins to be directly connected through via holes. This eliminates the need for creating patterns on the board. Similarly, in a semiconductor module including a plurality of semiconductor devices, mounting a normal package mounted on one side of a board with a mirror package on the other would increase wiring efficiency. In the present specification, external pins are laterally symmetrical, if they are arranged symmetrically or bilaterally in left and light sides of a package and external pins are vertically symmetrical, if they are arranged symmetrically in upper and lower sides of the package.
Conventionally, a mirror package is generally manufactured during the assembly process by replacing a wire between an external terminal (hereinafter termed a package pin or simply pin) and a semiconductor chip pad (hereinafter termed chip pads or simply pads) or by replacing a bonding wire connected to the chip pad. Recently, however, it is required that a normal package be changed to a mirror package after the assembly process.
Japanese Patent Kokai Publication JP-A-7-288282 discloses a semiconductor device with a pad switching circuit that selectively changes the pad functions to allow the pins to be switched after the assembly process. According to the semiconductor device disclosed in Japanese Patent Kokai Publication JP-A-7-288282, the signal pins are switched by the pad switching circuit, and the power supply voltage pin and ground pin are switched by reinstalling the bonding wires, to build a mirror package. This increases the wiring efficiency of the board.

Semiconductor device with external terminals arranged symmetrically with respect to a normal external terminal arrangement


An underreamer for connection with a rotary pipe string includes inner and outer body sections which form a body structure to provide a fluid flow path therethrough for communicating with piston and cylinder means formed between the body sections for receiving drilling fluid to effect telescopic movement between the body sections permitting engagement of cutter arms and support of said cutter arms on the outer body of the underreamer utilizing a slideable, non-pivoting stop block. Cutter arms are pivotally mounted on the inner body section and, upon engagement of the cutter arms to effect underreaming are fully supported on the outer body section thereby minimizing damage from vibration and repeated use on the threaded inner body sections.

(1) Field of Invention
This invention relates to a hole enlargement arrangement and method of use; more specifically to an underreamer that provides a cutter arm assembly supported, upon extension, by a slideable, non-pivoting stop block which passes all shocks absorbed by the cutter arm to the outer body of the tool.
(2) Description of Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
Various types of hole enlargement arrangements have been heretofore employed and are currently in use. In the devices with which applicant is familiar, a body structure formed of inner and outer body sections has cutter arms pivotally secured on the outer body section and a piston and cylinder means defined between the inner and outer body sections receives hydraulic fluid to effect telescopic movement of the body sections in one relative direction whereupon a cam surface mechanically engages and forces cutter arms out to an underreaming or bore hole enlarging position. This arrangement is more clearly shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,614,242, which is incorporated herein by reference as background information for this application.
After the underreaming operation is completed, the cutter arms of the prior art devices are generally then retracted by reducing the pump pressure and raising the operating string on which the body structure is supported so that the expanded or projecting arms engage the shoulder formed at the point of commencement of the underreaming. Continued raising of the operating string exerts a force on the extended cutter arms to move the arms inwardly to a retracted position relative to the body structure.
When the arms of the underreamer are extended during hole enlarging operations to underream or drill an enlarged portion in a bore hole, there are various forces that act upon the cutter arms, such as an upwardly directed force on the outer projecting end of the arm due to the weight of the operating string during underreaming reacting with the well bore.
In the prior art devices, these forces are transmitted from the cutter arms to the pivot arrangement of the cutter arms on the body structure and to the cam surface which is relied upon to move and maintain the cutter arms in an extended cutting position, then to the yoke and threads connecting the inner tube elements. These forces may be substantial and, in some instances, repeated use will damage or break components of the underreamer where the inner body was threaded to the yoke assembly. Wear from continued use of the device causes vibration of the arm and underreamer in extension, causing or accelerating further wear, damage or failure of these types of tools.
The present invention provides an arrangement that assists in overcoming the above problems by transferring all mechanical forces acting on the cutter arm to the slideable, non-pivoting stop block and the outer body. The solidity of the stop block seated against the outer body of the underreamer also provides additional strength to deformation from the lateral forces acting upon the underreamer in contact with the well bore. As an additional benefit, the improved underreamer arm assembly can retrofit an existing underreamer body with these new components.
The inner body structure and a cooperative support arrangement move the stop block and arms into position on the outer body section. This cooperative support to yoke arrangement moves the cutter arms to the extended cutter position. The cooperating support arrangement is relieved of supporting the extended arms. Because the stop block and outer body fully support and assist in distributing the loads and forces employed during the bore hole enlarging operation, the support provided by the stop block and outer body also increase the mechanical advantage tending to maintain the cutter arms in an expanded position during underreaming. The shape of the stop block accommodates a full metal-to-metal contact between the base of the cutter arm and outer body and thereby avoids passing these large shock loads on to the threaded or weaker internal components of the underreamer device.

Adjustable body supported cutter arms for underreamer


In one embodiment, a processor includes a performance monitor including a last branch record (LBR) stack to store a call stack to an event of interest, where the call stack is collected responsive to a trigger for the event. The processor further includes logic to control the LBR stack to operate in a call stack mode such that an entry to a call instruction for a leaf function is cleared on return from the leaf function. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

As technology advances, computer systems include greater numbers of processors in the form of multiprocessor systems, e.g., via one or more multi-core processors, that can execute multiple threads concurrently. The ever increasing number of cores and logical processors in a system enables more software threads to be executed. While this trend benefits users in the form of increased processing power and computation ability, difficulties can arise. For example, the increase in the number of software threads that may be executed simultaneously can create problems with synchronizing data shared among the software threads. One common solution to accessing shared data in multiple core or multiple logical processor systems uses locks to guarantee mutual exclusion across simultaneous accesses to shared data. Such locking mechanisms can be detrimental to system performance however and may cause program failures, e.g., due to lock contention or other unwanted behavior. Other adverse effects of multiple threads exist, and in addition imprecise software can lead to performance impacts or errors in execution.
Accordingly, software performance investigations can occur to determine a cause of a problem or to improve software performance. Some analysis and debugging can be aided by a performance monitoring unit of a processor. However, such analysis often requires that a developer understands how the software arrived at a software performance bottleneck or a point of interest. For example, it is usually not sufficient to provide data that a given function is causing eviction of large amounts of the contents of a cache memory, known as cache trashing. Investigating a software bottleneck often requires a call stack to the function that resulted in a large number of cache line replacements. The most typical solution to this problem is for a software performance analysis tool to output the most frequent call stacks to a function of interest utilizing instrumentation or other intrusive methodologies. But such methodologies suffer from various drawbacks, including complexity, intrusiveness, and obtaining more information than needed for debug or other purposes.

Method and apparatus for obtaining a call stack to an event of interest and analyzing the same