An air-operated sound producing device includes a main housing including a downwardly curved reed-plate formed thereon with a plurality of variously sized sound channels formed therein, a reed assembly having at least two vibratable reeds formed thereon, and a means to secure the reed assembly over the downwardly curved reed-plate. The reed-plate provides a portion between the sound channels for center support and vibration of the reed. The reed assembly of the sound producing device is vibratable in whole, or in part, over multiple sound channels. The device is particularly suited for the use of thin, relatively wide reeds. Further, the device provides for the adaptation of a variety of interchangeable variously sized reeds produced from a single piece of material. The disclosed novel device can produce a wide variety of unusual and desirable sounds of considerable volume and has applications to hand-held musical instruments, toys, novelty items, and wildlife attraction devices.

Various sound producing devices have been invented in the past and used as the sound producing portion of wind musical instruments, toys, novelty items, and wildlife attraction devices.
As can be seen in the art, a great majority of such sound producers are designed from the basic concept of a vibratable reed and a reed-plate of some sort, against which the reed may vibrate. Air blown across the reed from the users' mouth, or an alternate air source, will result in vibration of the reed against a plate. The vibrating reed causes air to vibrate and the resulting sound production. Such sound producing devices have applications in musical instruments, toys, novelty items, wildlife attraction devices, and other similarly related sound producing devices.
In the past, the greatest majority of sound producing devices have relied upon a sound producing portion generally consisting of a single, relatively thin, long, and narrow reed which, with passing air, vibrates against a reed-plate. Furthermore, these devices typically have a single, narrow sound or air channel, which is centrally located on the reed-plate. The reed utilized in most prior art is generally slightly larger in width and length than the air channel and overlaps the sides and distal end of the channel.
Various materials have been utilized in the construction of these sound producing devices including wood, metal, various composite materials, rubber, and plastic. Typical examples of prior sound producing devices can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 2,590,743, to Wintriss, U.S. Pat. No. 3,802,120, to Erhart, U.S. Pat. No. 2,583,400, to Wade, U.S. Pat. No. 795,493 to Olt, and U.S. Pat. No. 1,721,465 to Myers.
Often, the sound producing portions of these devices are centrally located within the bore of a tubular, body structure. This type of sound producing device is commonly referred to as a "closed reed" device. Air originating from the users mouth, from a bellows, or some alternate source, is passed through a tube and over the reed. In these "closed reed" devices, the reed is not in contact with the mouth of the user during operation. The reed and sound producing portion of these devices are completely surrounded by, and enclosed within, a tube. These tubular structures typically have an air intake, or mouthpiece end, into which air is blown. Air and sound exit the device through the opposite end of the tube. Air passing through the tube and over the reed results in vibration of the reed. The reeds of these devices are most often pre-set to produce a specific sound, although various mechanical means to alter the reed vibration and sounds in closed reed devices have been taught in prior art. Examples of closed reed sound producing devices can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 3,803,755 to Thompson and to Sceery in U.S. Pat. No. 4,950,201.
An alternate type of sound producing device utilizing a vibrating reed, a reed-plate and an air channel, is often referred to as an "open reed" device. "Open-reed" sound producing devices do not require the addition of a tubular mouthpiece at the air intake end for operation. Control of the reed vibration and the specific sound produced by an "open receded" device is generally dependent upon, air blown over the reed by the user, and direct contact with the mouth, lips and/or the teeth of the user. A typical comparison of sound producers with a tubular mouthpiece, and one without a tubular mouthpiece can be seen by viewing U.S. Pat. Nos., 795,493, to Ditto, and U.S. Pat. No. 795,493, to Schults. Ditto discloses a duck call, of a "closed reed" type, which has its sound portions enclosed in a tubular portion of the device. Schults shows a relatively similar sound producing device in his invention, but it is lacking a tubular mouthpiece at the air intake end and therefore it would be referred to as an "open-reed" type of sound producer. Common examples of "open reed" musical instruments are the clarinet and saxophone. Various game calls, used to attract wildlife, have a similar basic configuration of a reed vibrating over a plate and utilize an open-reed configuration and a reed which vibrates over a reed plate. The reed plate usually contains a centrally located sound channel.
Another common type of sound producing device utilizes a reed positioned between two opposing reed-plates. Each plate on these devices generally contains a single, centrally located, sound channel. Air blown through these devices results in vibration of the reed against and between the two plates. This class of sound producing device is commonly referred to as a "semi-open reed" type. The "semi-open reed" sound producing device is somewhat of a hybrid between the "open" and "closed" reed devices. While the reed is not fully exposed as in the "open" reed type, most often neither is it fully enclosed and pre-set to a specific sound, as in a "closed-reed" type. Typically, but not in all cases, the reed vibration and the sounds produced by a "semi-open reed" type of sound device can be manipulated and controlled, to a degree, by pressure applied by the mouth, lips, or teeth of the operator. Examples of this type of sound producing device in which the sounds may be manipulated by pressure can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 102,799, to Fisher, U.S. Pat. No. 626,827 to Draughon, and U.S. Pat. No. 1,043,123 to McCluskey. A contrasting example of this type of sound producing device can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 2,825,180, to Dieckman. Dieckman, while using a similar sound producing mechanism as seen in the above cited art, enclose the sound producing portion of the device entirely within a cylindrical tube. The sounds produced by his device must be pre-set during assembly and cannot be altered by the user during operation.
Variations of the above three (3) types of sound producing devices are commonly seen in past art. Some inventors fix or attach a bellows to the air intake-end of their devices as a means to blow air into the tubes and over the reeds. One of the most common and inexpensive methods to introduce a "new" product to the marketplace has been simply to add variously shaped, ornamental tubular portions. These may include, but are not limited to, molded plastic tubes, turned wooden tubes, corrugated tubes, and megaphones. Sound resonating chambers within the tubes and mutes for the air exit end of the devices are also often added to the devices to alter the sounds produced. Often, the exit end of the tube may be modified by removal of various portions or by incorporating interchangeable tubes of various designs in efforts to obtain a wider variety of desirable sounds.
A problem common to all three types of sound producers, "open-reed", "closed-reed", and "semi-open-reed", is a relative limitation in sounds that can be produced, and the volume of sound that can be produced utilizing a single reed and a single air channel. A novel device which incorporates multiple sound channels, and a single reed that is vibratable over multiple sound channels, can produce a greater volume of sound, and it would be useful in all three types of sound producers, i.e., open-reed, semi-open reed, and closed reed.
Another problem encountered in the design of traditional sound producing devices utilizing a single-reed, and single air channel as their basic functioning unit, is in regards to the relative shape of the reed. Typically, and as previously mentioned, most sound producing devices have been designed to utilize, and their design is restricted to facilitate, only a single relatively long, thin vibrating reed over a single sound channel. A thin reed, but relatively wider, and a wider sound channel might be incorporated for greater air flow and volume of sound. However, such a configuration does not function well as a wide sound channel does not provide sufficient support for a relatively thin reed.
Recognizing the limitations of single-unit sound producers, and in efforts to address various problems with these devices, a number of past inventors have disclosed designs that incorporate multiple sound producing portions into a single sound producing device. Convenience to the user, the ability to produce a greater volume of sound, the production of a wider variety of sound, and the production of more desirable tones are among the numerous advantages.
Many quite novel and interesting arrangements of sound producing devices, incorporating multiple sound producing portions, can be seen in a review of art. To one skilled in the art, some of these designs appear quite rudimentary, while others certainly more complex; however, the basic functioning unit, or sound producing portion, and generally common to most of the designs, is the configuration of a single reed which vibrates against a reed-plate, and the reed-plate having a single, centrally located air channel which directs and carries vibrating air and sound from the device.
Early teachings by Testo, U.S. Pat. No. 3,054,216, and Kuhlemeier, in U.S. Pat. No. 742,680, taught that two, single sound producers could simply be aligned in a side-by-side arrangement. Hoeflich in U.S. Pat. No. 2,607,162 taught that a single sound producing device could be constructed with two, side-by-side single reeds, each operating independently of the other and each separate reed vibrating over their respective air channel. Jentzen, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,493,472, disclosed a sound producer which incorporated a single reed with a second backing strip located above the reed and over a single air channel. Burnham, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,612,001, disclosed a device with multiple sound producing portions aligned in a series. Back-to-back sound producing devices, located within a central bore, have been disclosed in the designs of: Wilson, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,385,752, Beadles in U.S. Pat. No. 3,928,935, and Wade, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,583,400. Gambino taught the arrangement of placing sound producing portions in the two opposing ends of a single, tubular body in U.S. Pat. No. 4,211,031. The Gambino device was operable from either end. Craft in U.S. Pat. No. 3,075,317 disclosed a single reed sound producing device enclosed within a tube. The reed was secured at its center, which allowed the two opposite ends to each vibrate over separate, in line, plates produced from a single piece of material. The device was also operable and would produce sound from air passing in either direction through the tube.
Increasing the number of sound producing portions to an even greater extent and placing a plurality of single-reed sound producers in a single tubular device, Tierce in U.S. Pat. No. 2,488,838, taught the use of a multi-faced mandrel and multiple reeds, and disclosed through his illustrations, an arrangement of four, single-piece, vibrating reed sound portions incorporated into his design. The above disclosed designs are certainly all capable of producing a greater variety of sounds and, to each individual inventor, a subjectively more desirable sound, as well as, other benefits to the user. A characteristic common to all of the above mentioned sound producing devices, irrespective of the configuration or number of reeds, is that each device includes, as the basic sound producing portion, a single reed vibrating over a single sound channel. Lacking in all of the above mentioned disclosures is a single reed that is vibratable over multiple sound channels.
A problem generally encountered when incorporating multiple sound producing portions in a single device is increased costs due to the additional number of parts required and additional labor requirements for assembling, tuning, cleaning, and general maintenance of the device. As examples, the Testo and Burnham designs require two complete, separate and functional sound producing portions, and the Tierce design requires a plurality of separate reeds, reed plates, and a plurality of portions for reed securement. In addition, the utilization of multiple, independently vibrating reeds often presents problems with alignment and securement of the individual reeds. In the Hoeflich design, a minimum of parts was noted as a benefit; however, the adaptation of different reeds in the Hoeflich design appears restricted to the manufacturing process and requires the construction of costly plastic injection molds. Furthermore, Hoeflich does not teach a device with a single reed vibrating over multiple sound channels.
It would a benefit to provide a novel sound producing device that had multiple sound producing portions and one which was capable of producing a wide variety of unique and desirable sounds with a minimum number of parts, and a minimum of time and labor for assembly, reed alignment, tuning, and maintenance. Furthermore, it would be a benefit if the novel sound producing device contained a relatively inexpensive reed, which in part, is vibratable over multiple air channels, and in part with variously shaped tongues, operated over separate air channels, and one that could be changed and adjusted with relative ease by the operator.
Disclosed in the present embodiment is a sound producing device which contains a downwardly curving, reed-plate surface incorporating multiple sound channels, and a single reed which is operable, in whole or in part, depending on the particular sound desired, over multiple sound channels. The single-piece reed can be modified in shape, by altering the size and shape of the reed and reed tongues, providing a novel device that has, without modifications to the reed plate, the ability to produce a wide range of unique and desirable sounds. Furthermore, and of considerable importance, the embodiment can be variously sized and fitted within a tubular air passage, in a "closed-reed" device, and may also be.
Another common problem encountered with an air operated sound producer utilizing a thin vibrating reed is a tendency of the reed to stick to the reed-plate. This sticking is typically a result of moisture from humid air or from saliva blown from the mouth of the user. Those individuals skilled in the art recognize that this problem is a result of both surface tension of water and to the various sugars and other compounds normally found in saliva. Furthermore, it has been recognized by some modification of the reed-plate or reed provides less contact of the reed with the reed-plate, or directs moisture or saliva away from the reed and/or the reed-plate, would most likely have a tendency to reduce this problem. For example, the incorporation of variously sized grooves, ridges or other modifications made to a reed plate which minimize contact between the vibrating reed and the reed plate will reduce the possibility of sticking. In addition, any modification to such sound producing devices, which prevents introduction of moisture into the device will also reduce the problem. Various "spit collectors" are commonly found on musical instruments to address the introduction of moisture and/or saliva into the devices. It is also commonly known that various alterations at the distal end, or other portions, of the reed-plate that results in air turbulence or a lifting effect on the reed will also tend to reduce this problem.
The specific material used in construction of the reed plate, and the thickness and material of the reed also plays a roll in this reed-sticking problem. A reed made of a material that repels moisture, such as a Teflon material, will have less of a tendency to stick. A relatively thick reed that is tapered and thinner at its vibrating, or distal, end will also reduce this problem. To maintain uniform contact of the reed against the reed-plate and desirable reed vibration, the taper is commonly located on the upper side of the reed. A long, thin, narrow reed, that bends easily, presents more of a problem with sticking than does a shorter, wider reed, or one of the same shape but of thicker or more rigid material. A relatively wider reed, with less of a tendency to bend, more easily overcomes the problem of sticking as a result of surface tension of water and the problems caused by saliva. Furthermore, it is known that providing a long narrow reed with some mechanical means of support at a point along it's free, vibratory portion will also reduce the possibility of reed sticking.
In accordance with feature of the embodiments, a sound producing device is capable of utilizing a wide, relatively thin reed, vibrating over multiple air channels or partially over multiple air channels, provides more strength and rigidity than does the typical narrow, long, and thin reed, and thereby improves the function and vibration of the reed by reducing the potential for reed sticking. In the present embodiment, the utilization of a single wide reed, which covers multiple sound channels towards its proximal end and incorporates multiple reed tongues at its distal, vibratory end, provides additional reed support at the vibratory ends of the reed and improves the reed function and also reduces the problem of reed sticking.


A method of operating an internal-combustion engine (1) which has at least one cylinder (10,20,30,40,50,60) with a combustion chamber (17,27,37,47,57,67) assigned to it, in the cylinder (10,20,30,40,50,60), a piston (11,21,31,41,51,61) carries out an oscillating movement between a lower dead center and an upper dead center. In the combustion chamber (17,27,37,47,57,67) a fuel-air mixture is ignited. Exhaust gas forming during the combustion of the fuel-air mixture in the combustion chamber (17,27,37,47,57,67) is fed to an exhaust pipe (5), and the exhaust gas is purified in an exhaust treatment device (6) arranged in the exhaust pipe (5). For the regeneration of the exhaust treatment device (6), the temperature in the exhaust pipe (5) is increased in that an outlet valve (16, 26, 36, 46, 56, 66) opening up the combustion chamber (17, 27, 37, 47, 57, 67) in the direction of the exhaust pipe (5) is opened in the range of the upper compression dead center of the piston (11, 21, 31, 41, 51, 61).

The invention relates to a method of operating an internal-combustion engine which has at least one cylinder with a combustion chamber assigned to it.
A method of the above-mentioned type is known, for example, from German Patent Document DE 102 50 121 A1 wherein the exhaust valve is opened during the compression stroke carried out by the piston, so that unburnt fuel and air is released from the cylinder. The fuel oxidizes in the exhaust treatment device with the air which leads to the release of heat thereby generating a desired temperature increase in the exhaust treatment device. This metered addition of fuel into the exhaust pipe is, however, not completely without problems and requires a very effective control in order to avoid any disadvantageous effects.
From International Patent Document WO 03/104622 A1, a control method is known for regenerating a particle filter in an exhaust system in the case of which the timing of the charge cycle valves is to be changed during the intake stroke in order to increase the temperature in the exhaust pipe to a temperature which is suitable for regenerating the particle filter. However, by means of the solution described therein, the achieved effects are insufficient.
International Patent Document WO 01/29383 A1 describes a method of influencing the exhaust gas temperature in an internal-combustion engine in which, in order to raise the exhaust gas temperature, the combustion chamber exhaust valve is opened earlier. For this purpose, conventional camshaft adjusting devices are used by means of which an adjustment of the camshaft by typically approximately 10 to 20° can be achieved. The described method is only suitable for internal-combustion engines with a variable compression ratio, which, however, generates very high expenditures and thus extremely high costs.
Japanese Patent Document JP 2002295215 A describes a system for increasing the exhaust gas temperature of an internal-combustion engine where the timing of the exhaust valve can be adjusted by a crankshaft angle of approximately 20 to 40° in the early direction. In this case, the exhaust valve is opened in the compression stroke.
In European Patent Document EP 1 389 674A1, a strategy is described according to which the exhaust valve is opened during the intake stroke in order to take in not only cold fresh air but also again take in already burnt hot gas.
However, all of the mentioned methods and systems are not capable of producing a temperature of the exhaust gas leaving the combustion chamber sufficient, for example, for the regeneration of a particle filter.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method for operating an internal-combustion engine by which, by means of simple devices, an increase of the temperature existing in the exhaust pipe can be achieved which is sufficient for the regeneration of an exhaust treatment device.
In the case of the method according to the invention, the exhaust valve is opened in the area of the upper compression dead center of the piston and thus at a considerably earlier point in time than normally, whereby the hot compressed air or the exhaust gases can escape from the combustion chamber into the exhaust pipe, raise the temperature and in this manner warm up the exhaust treatment device. This permits a regeneration of the exhaust treatment device.
The method according to the invention can advantageously be implemented by means of very simple, for example, hydraulic or mechanical devices, because a corresponding opening of the outlet valve can be carried out by known devices which may already exist on the internal-combustion engine.
It was found to be particularly advantageous with respect to the heat fed into the exhaust pipe for the exhaust valve to be opened at the earliest 40° before and at the latest 40° after the upper compression dead center of the piston.
A synchronization of the ignition of the fuel-air mixture with the opening of the exhaust valve can occur when the fuel-air mixture in the cylinder is ignited at the earliest 40° before the upper compression dead center of the piston and at the latest 40° after the upper compression dead center of the piston.
In the case of multi-cylinder internal-combustion engines, a particularly advantageous embodiment of the method can consist of the fact that at least one of the cylinders is operated in an unfired manner. In this case the temperature in the exhaust pipe is increased because the exhaust valve is opened in the area of the upper compression dead center of the piston, and at least one of the cylinders being operated in a fired manner. In the case of this cylinder, the exhaust valve is held during the compression stroke essentially in its closed position. The air in the unfired cylinders is compressed to a higher temperature and in the area of the upper dead center of the piston, is guided into the exhaust pipe.
By means of such a method, it becomes possible to simultaneously regenerate the exhaust treatment device and nevertheless operate the internal-combustion engine such that it provides sufficient useful power, for example, for operating a motor vehicle. This result in a temperature in the exhaust pipe which is the higher when more cylinders are unfired and are operated with the opening of the exhaust valve according to the invention in the range of the upper compression dead center of the piston. In this case, the fired cylinders have to yield a greater power than in an operating mode in which all cylinders are fired, which advantageously results in a further increase of the exhaust gas temperature.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Process for operating a combustion engine


Embodiments described herein generally relate to methods of forming sub-10 nm node FinFETs. Various processing steps may be performed on a substrate to provide a trench over which a dielectric layer is conformally deposited. The dielectric layer is subsequently etched within the trench to expose the underlying substrate and a semiconductive material is deposited in the trench to form a fin structure. The processes of forming the trench, depositing the dielectric layer, and forming the fin structure can achieve sub-10 nm node dimensions and provide increasingly smaller FinFETs.

Field
Embodiments described herein generally relate to a process for forming silicon fins in a FinFET structure. More specifically, embodiments described herein relate to trench formation with reduced critical dimensions (CD) for replacement fin growth.
Description of the Related Art
In response to an increased need for smaller electronic devices with denser circuits, devices with three dimensional (3D) structures have been developed. An example of such devices may include FinFETs having conductive fin-like structures that are raised vertically above a horizontally extending substrate. Conventional FinFETs may be formed on a substrate, such as a semiconducting substrate or silicon-on-insulator. The substrate may comprise a semiconducting substrate and an oxide layer disposed on the semiconducting substrate.
When manufacturing FinFETs, it is desirable to have a fin structure with a high aspect ratio. A higher aspect ratio for the fin structure allows a larger amount of current to be provided through the same amount of topographical area. Fabrication of high aspect ratio FinFETs is difficult as a result of the reduced critical dimensions required for sub-10 nm nodes. The reduced critical dimensions create challenges in forming trenches and other features which are required to form FinFETs.
Thus, there is a need in the art for methods of forming sub-10 nm node FinFETs.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Trench formation with CD less than 10nm for replacement fin growth


A three-dimensional resolution chart is used to adjust the position of a solid-state image detector 4 in a given image-forming optical system. A plurality of blocks 10a are provided on an upper surface of a resolution chart 10. Each block 10a has an adjusting pattern A-D depicted on a slant surface thereof. An image of each adjusting pattern A-D is formed on the solid-state image detector 4 through a master lens 2. The contrast integration value F is calculated based on the image of the adjusting pattern at each of a plurality of designated areas hj (j=1 - - - n) on the slant surface of each block 10a provided on the resolution chart 10, to find out a specific position on each block where the contrast integration value F becomes maximum, thereby identifying the specific position as focus point of the master lens 2. The back focus of the solid-state image detector 4 is calculated based on thus obtained focus point. An optimum gradient (.alpha., .beta.) of the solid-state image detector 4 is calculated based on a three-dimensional relationship between plural focus points of the master lens 2 detected on the plural blocks 10a. Finally, each positioning mechanism 11 adjusts each solid-state image detector 4 to the calculated optimum position or at the optimum gradient.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a method for adjusting the back focus and the gradient of a solid-state image detector, such as CCD (Charge Coupled Device), and more particularly to a novel position adjusting method for a solid-state image detector capable of speedily positioning the solid-state image detector at an optimum position in the image-forming optical system.
2. Prior Art
A conventional method for positioning a solid-state image detector at a desired position in the image-forming optical system will be explained with reference to FIGS. 29 through 32.
FIG. 29 is a schematic view showing a conventional system for positioning a solid-state image detector at a desired position in the image-forming optical system.
In FIG. 29, a two-dimensional resolution chart (hereinafter referred to as 2-D resolution chart) 1 is provided in front of a master lens 2. This 2-D resolution chart 1 is characterized in that an alternate black-and-white pattern, serving as an adjusting pattern 1a, is provided at each of four corners of the rectangular 2-D resolution chart 1, as shown in FIG. 30. Each adjusting pattern 1a is used for detecting the focus point of master lens 2.
More specifically, a light beam, emitted from a light source 15 placed at an obliquely outward position from 2-D resolution chart 1, reaches the surface of 2-D resolution chart 1 at a given incident angle, and then reflects from the surface of 2-D resolution chart 1 toward master lens 2. Thus, the reflection light image of 2-D resolution chart 1 reaches the master lens 2.
A color separation prism 3, which is used to separate an entered light into three color components, R, G and B, is disposed behind the master lens 2. For receiving each of these color components R, G and B, a total of three solid-state image detectors 4 are independently disposed around the color separation prism 3 in a close confronting relationship. Each solid-state image detector 4 is connected to a video signal processing circuit 5 which is further connected to a TV monitor 6.
Positioned behind each solid-state image detector 4 is a positioning mechanism 7 which moves or shifts the solid-state image detector 4 to the focus point of master lens 2. A correction drive circuit 8 is connected to each of positioning mechanisms 7 to control them. The correction drive circuit 8 is connected to a calculating circuit 9a, which is one of circuits in a VME system 9. In addition to this calculating circuit 9a, VME system 9 further comprises an image processing board 9b and a digital conversion circuit 9c.
The calculating circuit 9a has a function of calculating an integration (or accumulation) value with respect to the contrast. The image processing board 9b has a frame memory. The digital conversion circuit 9c has a function of converting a video signal received from the video signal processing circuit 5 into a digital signal.
An operation of the above-described conventional solid-state image detector positioning system will be explained hereinafter.
In FIG. 29, the image of 2-D resolution chart 1 is formed on the solid-state image detector 4 through master lens 2. The video signal of 2-D resolution chart 1, which is an electric signal generated from the solid-state image detector 4, is entered into the video signal processing circuit 5 and then displayed on the TV monitor 6. The output signal of video signal processing circuit 5 is also fed to the digital conversion circuit 9c in the VME system 9 where the entered video signal is converted into a digital signal.
The image processing board 9b receives the digital signal from the digital conversion circuit 9c and stores the digitized video data in the frame memory thereof. The calculating circuit 9a in the VME system 9 arithmetically obtains the "contrast integration value" based on the digital video data representing the alternate pattern of the 2-D resolution chart 1 which is stored in the frame memory of image processing board 9b.
The "contrast integration value" represents an integration or accumulation of all the luminance-differences between adjacent two pixels on the entire video image displayed on the TV monitor 6. Having a large contrast integration value is having a higher resolution in the output image. In other words, it is believed that the focus point of master lens 2 is accurately positioned on the solid-state image detector 4. Thus, by detecting the contrast integration value, it can be confirmed that the concerned solid-state image detector is surely positioned at a desirable position in the image-forming optical system.
Next, the positioning mechanism 7 slightly shifts the corresponding solid-state image detector 4 in the direction of the optical axis direction "Z". After finishing the slight shifting operation of the solid-state image detector 4, the above-described sequential operations are repeated again to arithmetically obtain a new contrast integration value at a resultant position of solid-state image detectors 4.
Furthermore, solid-state image detector 4 is slightly shifted in the direction of optical axis "Z". In response to each shift movement, VME system 9 receives the video signal of solid-state image detector 4 and calculates the contrast integration value, finally obtaining the characteristics of FIG. 32 showing contract integration value "F" in relation to solid-state image detector position "D" with respect to the optical axis "Z".
Referring to the characteristics of FIG. 32, it is known that the contrast integration value "F" becomes maximum at the position "P" where the master lens 2 focuses the image. Thus, the positioning mechanism 7 moves the solid-state image detector 4 to thus detected position "P".
In this manner, through the adjustment of the back focus each solid-state image detector 4 can be positioned at the predetermined position in the image-forming optical system.
Next, the conventional method for adjusting the gradient of each solid-state image detector 4 with respect to the image-forming optical system will be explained.
In the VME system 9, digital conversion circuit 9c receives the video signal of 2-D resolution chart 1 and converts it into a digital signal. The image processing board 9b stores the digitized video data in its frame memory. Thereafter, based on this digital video data, calculating circuit 9a arithmetically obtains the contrast integration value of each adjusting pattern 1a located at four corners of the rectangular 2-D resolution chart 1 shown in FIG. 30.
The arithmetically obtained value is then sent to correction drive circuit 8 which actuates the positioning mechanism 7 to slightly incline each solid-state image detector 4 with respect to the optical axis "Z" in the X-axis direction and Y-axis direction.
In response to each of such a slight inclination of solid-state image detector 4, VME system 9 arithmetically obtains a new contrast integration value of each adjusting pattern 1a located at four corners of the rectangular 2-D resolution chart 1. Obtained by repeating the above-described sequential operations is a specific gradient by which the contrast integration value is equalized at all four adjusting patterns 1 of the 2-D resolution chart 1. Then, the position or attitude of each solid-state image detector 4 is adjusted to meet the obtained specific gradient.
In this manner, through the adjustment of gradient each solid-state image detector 4 can be positioned at the predetermined position in the image-forming optical system.
As apparent from the foregoing description, the above-described conventional solid-state image detector positioning system adjusts the back focus of each solid-state image detector by shifting the solid-state image detector in the back-and-forth direction with respect to the optical axis so as to finally detect the focus point of the master lens. Furthermore, the above-described conventional solid-state image detector positioning system adjusts the gradient of each solid-state image detector based on the image displayed on the TV monitor in such a manner that the contrast integration values of all the adjusting patterns located at four corners of 2-D resolution chart can be equalized to the same value. Hence, the inclination of each solid-state image detector in the given image-forming optical system can be correctly adjusted.
However, according to the above-described conventional solid-state image detector positioning system, there was a problem that detection of the focus point of the master lens was troublesome. That is, this conventional method definitely requires to detect the specific position where the contrast integration value becomes maximum, using the image of the 2-D resolution chart obtained by each solid-state image detector. To detect the maximum value of the contrast integration value, it is necessary to shift the solid-state image detector in the back-and-forth direction of the optical axis and to arithmetically find out the maximum value of the contrast integration value by repetitively calculating the contrast integration value in response to each slight movement of the solid-state image detector. Accordingly, it took a long time to finish and was not possible to speed up the detection of the focus point of the master lens.
Furthermore, there was a problem that the detection of gradient of each solid-state image detector was complicated. To obtain an optimum gradient of each solid-state image detector in the image-forming optical system, it is definitely necessary to repetitively swing the solid-state image detector in the horizontal (i.e. X axis) and vertical (i.e. Y axis) directions until the contrast integration values of all the adjusting patterns located at four corners of the 2-D resolution chart are equalized. Hence, it was not possible to speed up the detection of the optimum gradient of each solid-state image detector.
Furthermore, there was a problem that at a certain time during the adjustment it was not possible to obtain the information regarding the present position of the concerned solid-state image detector with respect to the designated position, i.e. with respect to the focus point of the master lens.
Still further, there was a problem that relying on visual adjustment based on the camera image displayed on the monitor screen might fail to accurately detect the focus point of the master lens, although the camera image represents the adjusting pattern of 2-D resolution chart which is obtained from each solid-state image detector.
Furthermore, there was a problem in the image-forming optical system that the farther the incident light inclined from the optical axis the greater the image of light deviated or distorted from the position to be derived from the Newtonian formula of focusing of the lens. As a result, distortion aberration will be caused as shown in FIG. 33 wherein the shape of the substance does not completely coincide with the shape of the obtained image. Thus, providing the adjusting patterns at four corners of the resolution chart is subjected to the distortion aberration of the master lens, lowering the detecting accuracy in the detection of the focus point of the master lens.
Furthermore, there will be a problem in the detection of the focus point of the master lens that image magnification may be differentiated by the difference of distance from the master lens.
Yet further, there was the problem that illumination irregularity was caused due to difference of distance between each area on the resolution chart and the illumination light source when the illumination light was entered at a significant incident angle from the light source placed at an obliquely outward position.
The size of the resolution chart will be the problem to be solved when it is large.
Moreover, it will be necessary to adjust the back focus and the gradient if they are undesireably caused after the solid-state image detector is firmly fixed by adhesive material, because hardening of such adhesive material possibly causes thermal expansion and contraction stress.

Method for adjusting a position of a solid-state image detector in a given image-forming optical system

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


The present invention proposes a technical solution of codebook design which is suitable for antennas configured in a uniform circular array. Respective codewords in the designed codebooks have constant modulus, respective columns being orthogonal to each other and nested property. Based on the designed codebook, the invention further provides a method of determining a codeword in a base station of a MIMO communication system, the base station being configured with Nt antennas in a uniform circular array, wherein the method comprises the steps of receiving codeword index information from a user equipment; and determining a target codeword corresponding to the codeword index information from a set of codebooks according to the codeword index information,wherein the set of codebooks comprises Nt codebooks corresponding respectively to respective ranks and the Nt codebooks are determined based upon a codebook of rank 1 and a Nt×Nt Hadamard matrix, the first column of the Hadamard matrix is all 1 or all −1. As compared with the existing Rel-10 codebook, the codebooks designed according to the invention can reduce a feedback overhead and improve the average spectrum efficiency of a cell and spectrum efficiency of a user at the edge of the cell.

In a Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) system, quantization of Channel State Information (CSI) is a key issue. A Uniform Circular Array (UCA) is a typical antenna configuration of a base station. One way to quantize Channel State Information for UCA is to reuse a Rel-10 codebook. However the 8Tx Rel-10 codebook is designed for a linear antenna array but not well suitable for a uniform circular array.
A full codebook suitable for antennas configured in a uniform circular array has been absent so far.

Method of generating codebook of uniform circular array and acquiring codeword from the codebook


The present invention provides a method for functionally classifying a protein that is capable of unfolding due to a thermal change. The method comprises screening one or more of a multiplicity of different molecules for their ability to shift the thermal unfolding curve of the protein, wherein a shift in the thermal unfolding curve indicates that the molecule binds to the protein or affects the stability in a measurable way; generating an activity spectrum for the protein wherein the activity spectrum reflects a set of molecules, from the multiplicity of molecules, that shift the thermal unfolding curve, of the protein and therefore are ligands that bind to the protein, comparing the activity spectrum for the protein to one or more functional reference spectrum lists; and classifying the protein according to the set of molecules in the multiplicity of different molecules that shift the thermal unfolding curve of the protein.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a method of classifying a protein based on the ability of one or more ligands to modify the stability, and particularly the thermal stability, of the protein, such that the modification of the stability denotes an interaction between the ligand and the protein.
2. Related Art
The ˜3×109 nucleotide base pairs contained within the human genome code for approximately 60,000 to 100,000 essential proteins (Alberts, et al., In: "Molecular Biology of the Cell", 3rd Ed., Alberts, B. D. et al., Eds. (1994); Rowen, L. et al., Science 278:605 (1997)). Human Genome Project researchers are rapidly identifying all the genes in the 23 pairs of human chromosomes. The products of these genes are-widely recognized as the future pool of therapeutic targets for development of pharmaceuticals in the coming decades. While the sequencing of the human genome will be largely completed within a few years, elucidation of the function of these genes will lag far behind. Therefore, new technologies are required to understand the functional organization of the human genome and make the transition from "structural genomics," or sequence information, to "functional genomics," or gene function, and the association with normal and pathological phenotypes (Hieter & Boguski, Science 278:601 (1997)).
The difficulty of this task has been clearly illustrated by the recent discovery that of the 4288 genes in the elementary E. coli genome, the function of about 40% of the proteins encoded by these genes are completely unknown (Blattner et al., Science 277:1453 (1997)). Indeed, of the 12 simple organisms for which complete genomic information is available, with S. cerevisiae being the largest at 12.1 megabases (6034 genes), only 44% to 69% of the genes have been identified using current state-of-the-art computational sequence comparisons (Pennisi, E., Science 277:1433 (1997)). Moreover, the spirochete that causes syphilis has 1,014 genes, 45% of which have no known function (Fraser et al., Science 281:375–388 (1998)). As a result, there is a functional information gap that presents a challenge to traditional methodologies, and at the same time an opportunity for discovery of new targets for therapeutic intervention.
However, classification of proteins of unknown function based on nucleotide or amino acid homology with proteins of known function is inaccurate and unreliable. Proteins that have structural homology can have dissimilar functions. For example, lysozyme and α-lactalbumin have 40% sequence homology, but divergent functions. Lysozyme is a hydrolase and α-lactalbumin is a calcium binding protein involved in lactose synthesis for secretion into milk of lactating mammals (Qasba and Kumar, Crit. Rev. Biochem. Mol. Biol. 32: 255–306(1997)).
Some proteins have similar function, yet have no sequence homology. For example, the serine proteases trypsin and subtilisin exhibit similar function, but exhibit neither sequence homology nor structural homology (Tong et al., Nature Structural Biology 9: 819–826 (1998)). Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases from the kinase fold family, and D-Ala:D-Ala ligase, from the "ATP Grasp" fold family, have no sequence homology, yet share common structural elements for ATP recognition and are both ATP-dependent enzymes (Denessiouk et al., Protein Science 7: 1768–1771 (1998)). Some proteins exhibit no sequence homology, exhibit some structural homology, yet have dissimilar functions. Examples of such proteins are bleomycin resistance protein, biphenyl 1,2-dioxygenase, and human glyoxalase (Bergdoll et a., Protein Science 7: 1661–1670 (1998)).
Thus, there is a need for an accurate, reliable technology that facilitates the rapid, high-throughput classification of proteins of unknown function.

High throughput method for functionally classifying proteins identified using a genomics approach

Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C.


Described is a machine for manufacturing a continuous web, in particular a paper or cardboard web, the machine having a number of rolls that may include press rolls, drying cylinders, suction rolls, or the like. At least one transport belt is guided with the web around the rolls and is characterized by the fact that a metallic screen is guided between the web and the respective roll surface. The metallic screen may be formed of metal, formed as a metallized drying screen, or formed from metal and synthetic threads.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a machine for manufacturing a continuous web, in particular a paper or cardboard web.
2. Discussion of Background Information
Machines of this type typically include a plurality of rolls such as press rolls, drying cylinders, suction rolls or the like.
Machines of the type mentioned above are known. In the manufacturing of continuous webs, a number of rolls are used, for example: press rolls, drying cylinders, or suction rolls. The web is guided over the surface of the rolls with the aid of at least one transport belt, which is also denoted as a screen or felt. It is also known that at high speeds of operation, for example from over 1000 m/min to more than 2000 m/min, that the tendency of the web to adhere to the surface of the rolls of a manufacturing machine leads to web tears. At any rate, the quality of the finished web is negatively affected by the adhesion tendency.
According to the present invention, a machine has been developed for manufacturing a continuous web that does not exhibit the above-noted disadvantage.
This is accomplished by such a machine that includes a plurality of rolls, such as press rolls, drying cylinders, or suction rolls. The web is guided over the surface of the rolls by at least one transport belt. At least one screen, such as a metallic screen, is guided between the web and the respective roll surface. The metallic screen may be made either completely out of steel or other metal or formed as a metallized drying screen. Moreover, it is possible to form the screen of metal and synthetic threads. By guiding the screen between the web and the surface of the rolls, the adhesion tendency of the web is reduced. The embodiments that are referred to in the following generally use a metallic screen of the kind mentioned previously.
A preferred embodiment of the machine is characterized in that a separate metallic screen is assigned to one, several, or all the rolls. In such an embodiment, a relatively uncomplicated screen construction is possible, so that construction expenditures can be reduced or limited.
Furthermore, a preferred embodiment of the machine is characterized in that the metal screen is usable in a drying section, in which the web, with the aid of at least one transport belt, is guided around one or more rolls that are designed as drying cylinders. Since the metal screen is guided directly on the surface of the drying cylinder or cylinders, an adhesion of the web to this surface is safely avoided.
Another preferred embodiment of the machine is one in which the metal screen is usable within the press section, in which the web, with the aid of at least one transport belt that is designed as a press screen, is guided over one or more rolls that are designed as press rolls. Other aspects of the present invention include, e.g., that a separate metallic screen may be assigned to at least one of the rolls; that each metallic screen may be guided such that the web is guided as it runs off the surface of a roll in a defined manner; that the surface of the metallic screen may be very finely structured; that the metallic screen may be porous; that the metallic screen can be heated, preferably shortly before the contact of the web; that at least one cleaning device may be provided for the metallic screen; and, that the metallic screen may have a thickness of less than approximately 1 mm, preferably less than about 0.1 mm.
Furthermore, the machine with the metallic screen in accordance with the present invention may be usable in a drying group of the machine, in which the web, with the aid of at least one transport belt, is guided around the rolls, which are designed as drying cylinders, and also, in which the web is guided through rolls that are designed as press rolls, where at least two of the press rolls define a press opening therebetween. The web and the metallic screen may be guided through one press opening or through two press openings.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the machine for manufacturing the continuous web includes a plurality of rolls, and at least one screen guided between the web and surfaces of the plurality of rolls. The machine may include a separate screen assigned to at least one of the rolls, and each screen may be guided such that the web is guided as it runs off the surface of a roll in a defined manner.
In accordance with a further aspects of the invention, at least one of the screens has a very finely structured surface, and, at least one screen is porous.
Additionally, the machine in accordance with the present invention may further include a heater positioned adjacent the screen, and may be located before a web contact point of the screen. The machine may also include at least one cleaning device for the screen. Other aspects of the present invention may include, e.g., the screen having a thickness of less than approximately 1 mm, preferably being less than about 0.1 mm.
Furthermore, the machine with the screen in accordance with the present invention may be usable in a drying group of the machine, in which the web is guided around the rolls, which may be designed as drying cylinders, and also in which the web is guided through rolls that are designed as press rolls, where at least two of the rolls define a press opening, or nip, therebetween. The web and the screen are guided through one press opening or through two press openings.
As noted above, the screen may be made of metal, or formed as a metallized drying screen. Moreover, it is possible to form the screen of metal and synthetic threads.
Other exemplary embodiments and advantages of the present invention may be ascertained by reviewing the present disclosure and the accompanying drawings.

Paper machine using metal screen for press section and dryer cylinders


Disclosed is a user interface 52 including an operation screen on which prescribed information of an apparatus is displayed and which is used for predetermined operation, and an operation section which performs an operation of the operation screen. The operation screen includes a maintenance mode for performing maintenance for the apparatus. In the maintenance mode, a maintenance screen 101 corresponding to the predetermined maintenance item among a plurality of maintenance items of which maintenance operations are stored in the storage unit 53 is displayed on the operation screen. In the maintenance screen 101, the contents of maintenance of the relevant maintenance item is displayed as the screen 101 for each procedure based on the information of the storage unit 53. In each screen 101 for each procedure, an image 106 illustrating the description 105 of the procedure and the maintenance location is displayed.

In a manufacturing process of a semiconductor device, when all processes in a semiconductor wafer (hereinafter, simply referred to as a "wafer") are completed, electrical inspection of a plurality of semiconductor devices (hereinafter, simply referred to as "devices") formed on the wafer is performed. As an inspection apparatus that performs such inspection, there has been known an inspection apparatus in which a probe card having a probe needle to be brought into contact with a semiconductor device is disposed opposite to a stage (chuck top) that sucks and holds a wafer, and the probe card is pressed against the wafer on the stage, so that each contact probe of the probe card is brought into contact with an electrode of the device so as to inspect electrical characteristics (see, e.g., Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2004-140241).
On the other hand, recently, it has been demanded to perform inspection on a plurality of semiconductor wafers at a high speed, and an inspection apparatus including a plurality of inspection units, a storage container configured to store a plurality of wafers, and a transfer device configured to transfer wafers from the storage container to each inspection unit has been proposed (e.g., Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2013-254812).
Such an inspection apparatus includes, for example, a stage configured to suck a wafer, an aligner configured to perform positioning of the wafer, and a transfer device configured to transfer the wafer onto a stage. Since the structure of the inspection apparatus is complicated, regular maintenance is necessary.
Due to the complicated structure of the apparatus, the number of maintenance items in regular maintenance is enormous. When performing maintenance, maintenance operations are performed on an operation screen of the apparatus or by an operation of an actual worker while referring to procedures, photographs, and illustrations described in a huge manual covering hundreds of pages or thousands of pages.
In a case of executing one maintenance item, a plurality of operations are performed in order, among which operations performed on the operation screen and operations performed by the worker are mixed. Maintenance is not taken into account on the operation screen and necessary operation items are displayed for each component, such as the stage, the aligner, or the loader. Therefore, when performing the maintenance operations on the operation screen, it takes time to reach the screen and an operation button on which the operation is performed. Further, in the case of operations actually performed by the worker, it is necessary to look for an operation target from the inside of an apparatus in which, for example, a plurality of pipes, valves, cables, and other components are disposed complicatedly over a maintenance area with reference to an operation target location based on, for example, photographs illustrated in the manual, and to perform an operation. Therefore, it takes a lot of time. Also, in the case of the operation performed on the operation screen, it is necessary to perform the operation while seeing the real object, and it takes time to specify an operation target from the photographs in the manual, or to look for an actually desired operation target.
Technique for performing maintenance of an apparatus has been proposed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2015-097048. In this technique, an information code is arranged in a component to be maintained, during maintenance, the maintenance information is retrieved from the Internet by reading the information code of the maintenance target with an operation terminal and displayed on a display screen, so that effort to find maintenance information from a manual is eliminated.

User interface and maintenance guidance method


A rubber composition that can be used in applications such as automotive tires and can improve the fuel efficiency performance and driving stability of automobiles and the like, a method for producing a rubber composition, and a tire using the same are provided.

Conjugated diene rubbers (for example, styrene-butadiene copolymers) obtained by emulsion polymerization methods are known as rubbers for automotive tires. A variety of conjugated diene rubbers that can realize an excellent fuel efficiency performance have been introduced in recent years with the expectations for improved automotive fuel efficiency performance.
As an example, a conjugated diolefin (co)polymer rubber with the following characteristics (1) to (3) and a rubber composition containing the conjugated diolefin (co)polymer rubber have been proposed: (1) it is a (co)polymer rubber of a conjugated diolefin or a conjugated diolefin and an aromatic vinyl compound; (2) it has a primary amino group and an alkoxysilyl group bound to the (co)polymer chain; and (3) a monomer having two or more functionalities is copolymerized in the (co)polymer chain, and/or, at least a portion of the (co)polymer chain is coupled with a coupling agent having two or more functionalities. (Patent Document 1).
As another example, a modified diene polymer rubber and a rubber composition containing the modified diene polymer rubber have been proposed wherein the modified diene polymer rubber is obtained from a step 1 of obtaining an active polymer having an alkali metal terminal by polymerizing a conjugated diene monomer or polymerizing a conjugated diene monomer and an aromatic vinyl monomer in a hydrocarbon solvent in the presence of an alkali metal catalyst and a step 2 of obtaining a modified polymer rubber by reacting the active polymer with a compound represented by a specific formula (Patent Document 2).
Moreover, as a method for producing a modified polymer that has an increased interaction with a silica and carbon black and that can provide improved failure characteristics, abrasion resistance, and low heat build-up performance, a method of performing a primary modification reaction, in which a hydrocarbyloxysilane compound is reacted with the active site of a polymer that has an organometal active site in the molecule, and subsequently performing a secondary modification reaction, in which a hydrocarbyloxysilane compound is reacted via a condensation reaction between hydrocarbyloxysilyl groups each other (Patent Document 3).

Rubber composition and process for production thereof, and tire

Abstract: A rubber composition comprising: (A) a conjugated diene rubber which is obtained by polymerizing a conjugated diene compound or polymerizing a conjugated diene compound and an aromatic vinyl compound and has a group having an active hydrogen and a group capable of chemically binding to a silica, (B) a silica, (C) a silane coupling agent (I) capable of reacting with a carbon-carbon double bond of the conjugated diene in the conjugated diene rubber, and (D) a silane coupling agent (II) capable of reacting with the group having an active hydrogen; a method for producing a rubber composition, which comprises mixing the above-mentioned composition; and a tire which is obtained by crosslinking and molding the rubber composition obtained by the method for production.


A new cultivar of hybrid Clematis, ‘Center Star’, characterized by its free-flowering, sterile upward facing blue flowers with showy white centers produced on plants with an upright to decumbent, non-vining habit that exhibit cold hardiness to USDA Zone 3.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Clematis, botanically an interspecific hybrid, and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, 'Center Star'. 'Center Star' is grown as an herbaceous perennial for landscape use.
'Center Star' was derived from a formal breeding program conducted by the breeder in Mound, Minn. with a goal of developing non-vining forms of cold hardy Clematis with showy flowers. The present invention originated from a controlled cross made in the summer of 2000 between an unnamed selection of Clematis integrifolia (female parent) and an unnamed selection of Clematis hexapetala (male parent). 'Center Star' was selected in the summer of 2002 and recognized as unique for its upright facing blue colored flowers combined with the non-vining plant habit derived from both parents. The new cultivar differs primarily from the female parent, Clematis integrifolia, in having upright facing flowers as opposed to nodding flowers and is unique from the male parent, Clematis hexapetala, in having blue flowers rather than white flowers as typical for the species.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished by terminal stem cuttings at the University of Minnesota Horticultural Research Center in Chaska, Minn. in summer of 2002 by the inventor. The characteristics of this cultivar have been determined to be stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.


The invention relates to a propeller blade bearing, for the propeller blades of aircraft propellers that can be adjusted along their longitudinal axis, a plurality of propeller blades being individually fastened on a propeller hub in a corresponding number of blade seats. Every propeller blade, at its blade base, has a primary adjustable bearing and a secondary adjustable bearing and is received so as to be rotatable along its longitudinal axis inside a blade seat. The primary and the secondary adjustable bearing are configured as angular contact ball bearings that have respective upper bearing races and lower bearing races and rolling bodies interposed between said bearing races. A lubricating oil reservoir is arranged in the propeller hub and supplies the primary and the secondary adjustable bearing with lubricating oil when the propeller rotates. Every propeller blade is configured as a completely pre-assembled unit with the primary adjusting bearing and the secondary adjusting bearing. The upper bearing races of the primary and the secondary adjustable bearing are connected to respective lubricating oil overflow rings which axially enclose the lower bearing races on one side and which allow to store the lubricating oil from the lubricating oil reservoir in the propeller hub mainly in the adjustable bearings.

It is generally known to a person skilled in the art of propeller drives of aircraft that adjustable propeller blades of aircraft propellers serve to optimize the propeller efficiency in order to obtain an optimum propeller blade position for all propeller speeds. For this reason, it is necessary to individually fasten the propeller blades of the aircraft propeller to the propeller hub and, for facilitated adjustability, to mount said propeller blades in corresponding rolling bearings. A propeller blade bearing arrangement of said type is for example known from the British patent GB 2 244 525 A and is composed substantially of a propeller hub, to which a plurality of propeller blades are individually fastened in a corresponding number of blade receptacles of a blade carrier ring. Each propeller blade has, at its blade root, a primary adjustment bearing and a secondary adjustment bearing and is longitudinally axially mounted within a blade receptacle so as to be rotatable, with both the primary adjustment bearing and the secondary adjustment bearing being designed as angular rolling bearings which are arranged so as to be longitudinally axially spaced apart from one another and are braced against one another. Both adjustment bearings have one upper race and one lower race each and a row of rolling bodies which are arranged between said races, with the primary adjustment bearing being formed in a physical embodiment by an angular contact ball bearing, while the secondary adjustment bearing is designed as an angular roller bearing. In order to lubricate the entire adjustment mechanism for the propeller blades, a lubricating oil reservoir is arranged in the propeller hub, from which lubricating oil reservoir the primary and the secondary bearings are also supplied with lubricating oil by means of centrifugal force as the propeller rotates in order to avoid wear.
The assembly of the known propeller blade bearing arrangement takes place substantially in such a way that a bearing support sleeve, which surrounds the blade root of the propeller blade and forms in each case the seat of the upper races of the adjustment bearings, is initially assembled in two halves on the blade root, before the upper bearing rings, which are likewise composed of two halves, of the adjustment bearings are placed on said bearing support sleeve and can be connected in a suitable way to form continuous rings. A two-part cage is subsequently placed around the upper race of the secondary adjustment bearing and connected to form a ring, so that the rolling bodies of the secondary adjustment bearing can be inserted into the cage. A sleeve which partially has a thread at the outer side and, in the assembled state, forms, with a part of its inner side, the lower running track of the secondary adjustment bearing, is then pushed loosely, together with a cage for the rolling bodies of the primary adjustment bearing, over the blade root of the propeller blade, and the rolling bodies of the primary adjustment bearing are subsequently inserted into the cage. The loose sleeve on the blade root is thereafter pulled over the rolling bodies of the secondary adjustment bearing until said sleeve bears at the inside against said rolling bodies as a lower race, and subsequently, a two-part blade receptacle which, at the inside, contains the likewise two-part upper race of the primary adjustment bearing, is braced around the blade root in such a way that the upper race of the primary adjustment bearing rests on the rolling bodies of the latter. Finally, a threaded bracing ring which is supported against the assembled blade receptacle is screwed onto the thread of the sleeve, which is loose up until that time, on the blade root, so that on the one hand the outer race of the secondary adjustment bearing, which is formed by the inner side of the loose sleeve, is braced against the rolling bodies of the latter, and on the other hand, the two adjustment bearings of the propeller blade bearing arrangement are braced against one another. At the same time, the point at which the blade root emerges from the blade receptacle is sealed off in an oil-tight fashion by means of two seals which are arranged between the sleeve, which is designed at the inner side as a lower bearing ring of the secondary adjustment bearing, and the bearing support ring, and also between said sleeve and the blade receptacle.
A disadvantage of said known propeller blade bearing arrangement is, however, that the specific arrangement and design of the adjustment bearings for the propeller blade requires a largely two-part design of the entire propeller bearing arrangement, as a result of which a multiplicity of individual parts are required for each propeller bearing arrangement, which above all disadvantageously increases the risk of errors in their assembly. Since said individual parts must additionally be produced extremely precisely and with fitting accuracy with respect to one another, there is also a considerable time and cost expenditure for the assembly of the propeller blades to the propeller hub in addition to the high expenditure for production, so that a propeller blade bearing arrangement of said type entails very high overall production costs. Furthermore, from a safety-related point of view, a considerable disadvantage of said known propeller blade bearing arrangement is that the lubricating oil, which rises out of the lubricating oil reservoir in the propeller hub as a result of centrifugal force as the propeller rotates, can flow unhindered through the two adjustment bearings, and therefore at high propeller speeds, bears with a pressure which corresponds to the centrifugal acceleration against the two seals which are arranged at the point at which the blade root emerges from the blade receptacle. This can, in the case of a damaged seal at one of the propeller blade bearing arrangements of the aircraft propeller, lead to the loss of the entire quantity of lubricating oil in the propeller hub, which can result in failure of lubrication in the adjustment mechanism and the adjustment bearings of the propeller blade bearing arrangement as well as in function failures while the aircraft is in operation.

Propeller blade bearing, especially for propeller blades of aircraft propellers that can be adjusted along their longitudinal axis


A projector arrangement is provided wherein a spectral splitting and recombination unit (SSR) includes a first and a second polarization selective or polarizing beam splitting device and a wavelength selective optical element (WSOE) which are sufficient to realize the main and/or the entire functionality of said spectral splitting and recombination unit (SSR).

Today's three panel projection systems have the drawback of bulky beam splitter units. The white light is first split by many dichroic mirrors, folding mirrors or polarizing beam-splitters into the primary colors red, green and blue and after being reflected or transmitted by the panels, the light again is recombined by several prism cubes before it is projected by a common projection lens. In the case of reflective panels, this results in a long back-focal length BFL (=distance between the panels and the first surface of the projection lens). A long BFL complicates the design of the projection lens. FIGS. 1a and 1b show two commonly used architectures of optical engines with three reflective panels. In FIG. 1a, the so called "3PBS architecture", light is split by dichroic mirrors and folding mirrors and is recombined by an X-cube. In FIG. 1b, the so-called "ColorQuad" architecture, the light is split and recombined by four polarizing beam-splitters together with wavelength-selective retarders.
A FIG. 2A shows a basic architecture according to the present invention. It consists of two polarizing beam-splitters PBS1 and PBS2, one wavelength selective optical element WSOE, three display panels P1, P2, P3 and two projection lenses PL1 and PL2 building the optical projection unit OP. The WSOE is placed between the polarizing beam splitters PBS1 and PBS2. One panel is attached to PBS1 and two panels are attached to PBS2. Projection lens PL1 is attached to PBS1 and PL2 is attached to PBS2.
White and s-polarized primary illumination light L1, w is entering the polarizing beam-splitter PBS1 and is reflected by the polarizing beam-splitter coating in direction of the wavelength selective optical element WSOE. One spectral part SP1 of the white light beam L1, w is reflected back by the WSOE thereby changing its polarization state from s- to p-polarization. The p-polarized spectral part SP1 is now transmitting the PBS1 and is entering the display panel P1. The spectral parts SP2 and SP3, which are completely or partly distinct to each other and to SP1, are transmitting the WSOE, thereby changing the polarization state of the spectral part SP2 from s- to p-polarization. The transmitted and still s-polarized spectral part SP3 is reflected by the beam splitter coating of PBS2 and is entering the display panel P3. The p-polarized spectral part SP2 is passing the beam splitter coating of PBS2 and is entering the display panel P2.
In the ON state the polarization states of the spectral parts SP1 and SP2 are changed from p- to s-polarization and the polarization state of the spectral part SP3 is changed from s- to p-polarization after being reflected by the display panels P1, P2 and P3 respectively: see FIG. 2B. Now the s-polarized spectral part SP1 is reflected by the beam-splitter coating of PBS1 and is entering projection lens PL1. The s-polarized spectral part SP2 is reflected by the beam-splitter coating of PBS2 and is entering projection lens PL2. The p-polarized spectral part SP3 is passing PBS2 and is entering projection lens PL2.
In the OFF state the polarization state of the spectral parts SP1 and SP2 remains p-polarized and the polarization state of the spectral part SP3 remains s-polarized after being reflected by the display panels P1, P2 and P3 respectively. All spectral parts SP1, SP2 and SP3 are now redirected in direction of the illumination unit: see FIG. 2C.
B A common illumination optical unit may be attached to PBS1, as shown in FIG. 3. White light L1, w is emerging from this illumination unit and is entering PBS1. The illumination optical unit is adapted to focus the illuminating light beam to the panels P1, P2, P3. The wavelength selective optical element WSOE is placed between PBS1 and PBS2 in such a way that the optical distance of spectral part SP1 to panel P1 is same like the distance of spectral parts SP2 and SP3 to the panels P2 and P3 respective.
C The wavelength selective optical element WSOE comprises two quarter wave layers Q1 and Q2, a dichroic layer D on a transparent substrate S, e.g. glass and a wavelength dependent retarder R as shown in FIG. 4.
Linear s polarized white light entering the WSOE is passing the first quarter-wave layer, thereby turning the polarization state from linear to circular. Next the light beam hits the dichroic layer D, thereby reflecting spectral part SP1 and changing the chirality of the circular polarized light, e.g. from left circular to right circular. The reflected back spectral part SP1 next passes again the first quarter-wave layer, thereby turning the polarization state to linear p.
The transmitted spectral parts SP2 and SP3 are next passing the second quarter wave layer Q2, thereby turning the polarization state from circular to linear. By passing the wavelength selective retarder R the polarization state of spectral part SP2 is turned from s-polarized to p-polarized or—alternatively the polarization state of spectral part SP3 is turned from p-polarized to s-polarized.
D Light of spectral part SP2 is reflected in p-polarized mode from the display panel P2 when the panel is in the OFF state as shown in FIG. 5. Ideally, all of the p-polarized light is passing the PBS2 in direction to PBS1. But, as a general attribute of polarizing beam-splitters, about 10% of the p-polarized light is reflected at the polarizing beam-splitter coating. Therefore—even in the OFF (=black) state—about 10% of the light would enter the projection lens, resulting in a worse contrast.
To overcome this loss in contrast, an additional clean-up polarizer in front of the projection lens PL2 is required to block the leaking p-polarized light. This clean-up has to be a wavelength selective polarizer WSP, because only p-polarized light of spectral part SP2 must be blocked. The p-polarized light of spectral part SP3, which comes from display panel P3 in the ON state, must be transmitted by the WSP.
E The wavelength selective polarizer WSP mentioned in section D can be of following types:                Cholesteric polarizer (CF) with adapted quarter-wave layers. This CF reflects the leaking p-polarized light of spectral part SP2, but lets through spectral part SP3 and all s-polarized light of spectral part SP2.        Colour selective retarder, which turns the polarization state of spectral part SP2 from p polarized to s polarized and from s polarized to p polarized and leaves the polarization state of spectral part SP3 as it is. An additional absorbing polarizer then absorbs all s-polarized light.        An absorptive wavelength selective polarizer which is adapted in such way that p-polarized light of spectral part SP2 is absorbed, but p-polarized light of spectral part SP3 and s-polarized light from SP2 is transmitted.
F Light of spectral part SP1 is reflected in p-polarized mode from display panel P1 when the panel is in the OFF state as shown in FIG. 5. Ideally, all of the p-polarized light is passing the PBS1 in direction to PBS2. But, as a general attribute of polarizing beam splitters, about 10% of the p-polarized light is reflected at the polarizing beam splitter coating. Therefore—even in the OFF (=black) state—about 10% of the light would enter the projection lens, resulting in a worse contrast.
To overcome this loss in contrast, an additional clean-up polarizer or analyser A in front of the projection lens PL1 is required to block the leaking p-polarized light. In contrast to section D this clean-up polarizer A can be of standard type, as only light in the spectral part SP1 is influenced.
G In reality the diameter of the projection lenses PL1 and PL2 exceed the diameter of the polarizing beam-splitter cubes PBS1 and PBS2. As a result, the distance between PBS1 and PBS2 must be large enough to fit to both projection lenses PL1 and PL2. Especially rear projection lenses have front lenses with a large diameter.
To overcome this space requirement the projection lenses could be split in two separate first lens blocks LB1 and LB2 attached to PBS1 and PBS2, respectively, and a common second or front lens block FLB as shown in FIG. 6A. Folding mirrors FM1, FM2 combine the two separate light paths coming from the first lens blocks LB1 and LB2 into the common front lens block FLB. An X prism X combines the light coming from lens block LB1 with light coming from lens block LB2. The X prism X has two different dichroic coatings. One coating is to reflect the light of spectral part SP1 and the other to reflect the light of spectral parts SP2 and SP3 into the common front lens block FLB.
H Alternatively, the X prism X can be rotated by 90° in order to fold the common light path together with the front lens block FLB out of the plane as shown in FIG. 6B. This has the advantage of small footprint and adapts the engine to be used in rear projection cubes.
I Instead of using an X prism X to recombine the two light paths into one an arrangement according to FIG. 7 can be used. It comprises three folding mirrors FM1, FM2, FM3 and one dichroic mirror prism DM to recombine the two light paths.
Existing projection systems with three reflective display panels are using three to four beam splitter cubes and need a long back-focal length of the projection lens. The invention describes a projection system with outstanding compact illumination and beam splitter part using only two beam-splitter cubes. The projection lens or lenses has/have a short back focal length.


In a mechanism and method for bonding two paper sheets on an interfolding machine, pre-compressing mechanisms are provided on each of two folding rollers to produce compress-to-bond areas on overlapped portions of two thick or air-impermeable paper sheets transferred to the two folding rollers, so that all plies of the two paper sheets at the compress-to-bond areas are compressed to bond together. Thereby, when the interfolding machine operates at a high speed, a plurality of the locally compressed and bonded paper sheets may still be smoothly folded to form a stack of interfolded paper sheets, such as a tissue paper stack or a paper towel stack.

In the process of interfolding and stacking relatively thick or air-impermeable one-ply or multi-ply paper sheets on an interfolding machine, the paper sheets to be interfolded are not always securely bonded together but may displace relative to one another. As a result, wrinkles, folds, and looseness frequently occur between two interfolded paper sheets or between the plies thereof, giving the interfolded paper sheets an unsmooth appearance.
A conventional way of solving the above problem is to perforate the paper sheets and form air vents thereon in order to increase the air permeability thereof, so that an enhanced suction is produced between two paper sheets or between the plies of the paper sheets, making them bonded together. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,213,927B1 discloses an interfolding method of sheet material not or not enough permeable to air and machine used to carry out such method. The interfolding machine has two folding rollers, which are provided on respective outer peripheral surfaces with a plurality of sucking spots; and two rollers separately located above the two folding rollers, and having a plurality of needles provided on the outer peripheral surfaces thereof corresponding to the sucking spots on the folding rollers, so as to perforate the sheet material not or not enough permeable to air at predetermined positions.
However, the perforations or air vents are useful only when they are formed within a particular narrow area on each paper sheet at where the paper sheet is folded. Moreover, the forming of perforations on the paper sheets tends to cause breaking and accordingly, poor quality of the paper sheets.

Mechanism and method for bonding paper sheets on interfolding machine


A feeding mechanism for ball bullets from a bin to a holder. The mechanism contains a bin 1 and additional reservoir 2 which in a lower part communicate. A vibrator 3 is placed in the lower part of the bin 1 and the additional reservoir 2. The vibrator 3 is formed of two plates 4 and 5 of L-shape that oscillate on the axis 6 due to spring 7 and cam 8, which is rotated by the electric drive 9. A feeding screw mechanism is disposed in the lower part of the bin 1 and the additional reservoir 2, the mechanism comprising a screw 10 with a helical spring. The base 12 is connected to cam 8 through a friction coupling 13. The cam 8 gains rotation from the electric drive 9 through the gearing 14. The bin 1 with additional reservoir 2 communicates with the holder 16 through the channel 15.

An automatic gun, for shooting plastic balls is known according to the Japanese patent No. 4-18237, F41C 3/06. The gun comprises a holder magazine, a bin, a feeding mechanism, and a drive operated manually by the user. When the user manually pulls an actuator element, the feeding mechanism rotates, and balls placed between teeth of toothed feeding mechanism pass through a channel of the holder magazine to an output opening.
A drawback of the device is that manual feeding of the holder magazine reduces performance of the gun. The rigid walls of the bin contribute to formation of congestion of the bullets, which prevents feeding of the bullets to the barrel of the gun. The rigid feeding system can result in blocking the mechanism, that is also a drawback of the known device.
A ball feeding mechanism for toy guns is known according to Japanese patent No. 06074691, application 04227495, cl. F41B 11/02. The feeding mechanism comprises a bin and a screw feeder (worm) with an electric motor below the bin. The screw feeds balls from the bin through a lead-in section to a forcing section. The balls are then fed by means of compressed air to a flexible tube (holder) to the gun. Compressed air maintains balls in the flexible tube and escapes through openings in the tube.
The rigidity of the bin walls and absence of additional devices to eliminate congestion of ball bullets at the bin outlet can result in a shut-down of the gun operation and reduce its reliability. The gun has an air source (additional propellant) that feeds ball bullets to the gun and complicates the gun structure. This is a drawback.

Mechanism for feeding ball bullets from a bin to a holder

Federalnoe Gosudarstvennoe Unitarnoe Predpriyatie “Izhevsky Mekhanichesky Zavod”


Substituted fused bicyclic pyrimidine compounds having an amide-substituted pyridylamine group at C-4 of the pyrimidine ring are useful in the treatment of conditions associated with HCV.

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ) denotes a superfamily of proteins that includes, for example, TGFβ1, TGFβ2, and TGFβ3, which are pleiotropic modulators of cell growth and differentiation, embryonic and bone development, extracellular matrix formation, hematopoiesis, and immune and inflammatory responses (Roberts and Sporn Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology (1990) 95:419-58; Massague, et al., Ann. Rev. Cell. Biol. (1990) 6:597-646). Other members of this superfamily include activin, inhibin, bone morphogenic protein, and Mullerian inhibiting substance. The members of the TGFβ family initiate intracellular signaling pathways leading ultimately to the expression of genes that regulate the cell cycle, control proliferative responses, or relate to extracellular matrix proteins that mediate outside-in cell signaling, cell adhesion, migration and intercellular communication.
Therefore, inhibitors of the TGFβ intracellular signaling pathway are useful treatments for fibroproliferative diseases. Specifically, fibroproliferative diseases include kidney disorders associated with unregulated TGFβ activity and excessive fibrosis including glomerulonephritis (GN), such as mesangial proliferative GN, immune GN, and crescentic GN. Other renal conditions include diabetic nephropathy, renal interstitial fibrosis, renal fibrosis in transplant patients receiving cyclosporin, and HIV-associated nephropathy. Collagen vascular disorders include progressive systemic sclerosis, polymyositis, scleroderma, dermatomyositis, eosinophilic fascitis, morphea, or those associated with the occurrence of Raynaud's syndrome. Lung fibroses resulting from excessive TGFβ activity include adult respiratory distress syndrome, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and interstitial pulmonary fibrosis often associated with autoimmune disorders, such as systemic lupus erythematosus and scleroderma, chemical contact, or allergies. Another autoimmune disorder associated with fibroproliferative characteristics is rheumatoid arthritis. Fibroproliferative conditions can be associated with surgical eye procedures. Such procedures include retinal reattachment surgery accompanying proliferative vitreoretinopathy, cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation, and post glaucoma drainage surgery.
In addition, members of the TGFβ family are associated with the progression of various cancers. M. P. de Caestecker, E. Piek, and A. B. Roberts, J. National Cancer Inst., 92(17), 1388-1402 (2000). For example, it has been found that TGFβ1 inhibits the formation of tumors, probably by inhibition of the proliferation of nontransformed cells. However, once a tumor forms, TGFβ1 promotes the growth of the tumor. N. Dumont and C. L. Arteaga, Breast Cancer Res., Vol. 2, 125-132 (2000). Thus inhibitors of the TGFβ pathway are also useful for the treatment of many forms of cancer, such as lung cancer, skin cancer, and colorectal cancer. In particular, they are useful to treat cancers of the breast, pancreas, and brain, including glioma.
The compounds of the invention herein are derivatives of pyrimidine having an additional ring fused onto the pyrimidine. PCT publication WO01/47921 describes pyrimidine and triazine compounds that are inhibitors of kinase activities associated with various inflammatory conditions, as opposed to the treatment of fibroproliferative disorders described herein. The above mentioned PCT publication describes the use of the disclosed compounds only for treatment of the inflammatory aspects of certain autoimmune diseases. Further, the compounds described differ from those described herein by virtue of the substitutions required on the pyrimidine nucleus; among other distinctions, the compounds disclosed in the PCT publication do not include phenyl bound directly to the pyrimidine ring.
Related compounds, some of which have the 4-pyridylamine group at C-4 on the pyrimidine, are disclosed in two published U.S. patent applications, publications no. US 2004-0132159-A1 and US 2005/0004143-A1. Those applications, however, disclose a preference for certain electron-donating substituents on the pyridine ring of the 4-pyridylamine group, including alkyl, amine and alkoxy groups, and do not disclose a preferred position for substituents. The present invention provides compounds specifically including a 4-pyridylamine containing an essential carboxamide group attached at position 3 on the pyridine ring.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,476,031 also discloses compounds containing a quinazoline ring, which can be a fused bicyclic derivative of a pyrimidine; it includes compounds where the quinazoline ring is linked to an aryl group at C-4 of the quinazoline. The compounds are reported to act at the TGFβ site, and the compounds can include a 4-pyridylamine group as the aryl group linked to the quinazoline at C-4. However, that patent only discloses that a quinazoline compound linked to a pyridyl that is unsubstituted: it does not disclose any compounds with a 4-pyridyl that includes an amide substituent such as the ones at the 3-position of the 4-pyridyl group in the compounds of the present invention.


A medical image diagnosis apparatus, comprises an image generator, a display, and a mechanism. The image generator is configured to generate a medical image. The display comprises a plurality of monitors and is configured to display the medical image. The mechanism is configured to change an arrangement of the plurality of monitors with respect to each of the monitors.

Various kinds of medical diagnoses have been realized nowadays by interpreting medical images obtained from medical diagnosis apparatuses, such as, for example, an X-ray diagnosis apparatus, an X-ray CT (computed tomography) apparatus, an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) apparatus, a nuclear medical diagnosis apparatus, an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus, and an endoscopic image apparatus. In the event that medical images are obtained from such medical diagnosis apparatuses, the obtained images are usually displayed in one or more monitors provided in the vicinity of the medical diagnosis apparatuses. This is, for example, for the purpose of checking the obtained images and seeing whether the images are correctly obtained or it is necessary to acquire substitute image at the same position again. Further, the obtained images are sometimes used for the image interpretation immediately right at the place in case of emergency, for example.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an X-ray diagnosis apparatus with a display according to a prior art. The X-ray diagnosis apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is a so-called bi-plane apparatus which allows obtaining images from two directions at the same time. The X-ray diagnosis apparatus includes a first imaging system comprising a first X-ray tube 1a, a first detector 2a, and a first holder 3. The X-ray diagnosis apparatus also includes a second imaging system comprising a second X-ray tube 1b, a second detector 2b, and a second holder 4. Additionally, the apparatus includes a bed table 5, a bed 6, a display 7, a display holder 7a, a display panel 8, an operation unit 9, a first rail 10a, and a second rail 10b.
The first imaging system is for obtaining X-ray images from a first direction. The first X-ray tube 1a generates (or radiates) an X-ray which is exposed to a patient to be examined from the first direction. The X-ray exposed to the patient is transmitted through the patient. The detector 2a detects the transmitted X-ray. The first holder 3 holds the first X-ray tube 1a and the first detector 2a by means of an arm connecting the first X-ray tube 1a and the first detector 2a The first holder 3 further drives or moves a set of the first X-ray tube 1a and the first detector 2a in three-dimensional directions.
The second imaging system is for obtaining X-ray images from a second direction. The second X-ray tube 1b generates (or radiates) an X-ray which is exposed to the patient to be examined from the second direction.
The X-ray exposed to the patient is transmitted through the patient. The detector 2b detects the transmitted X-ray. The second holder 4 holds the second X-ray tube 1b and the second detector 2b by means of an arm connecting the second X-ray tube 1b and the second detector 2b. The second holder 4 further drives or moves a set of the second X-ray tube 1b aid the second detector 2b in three-dimensional directions.
The patient lies on the bed table 6 The bed 6 has a driving unit which drives and moves the bed table 5 vertically or horizontally. The display 7 comprises a plurality of monitors. In FIG. 1, the display 7 has four monitors. There are two monitors in the horizontal direction and also two monitors in the vertical direction. Each monitor can be used to display X-ray images obtained in the X-ray diagnosis apparatus. The display 7 is held by the display holder 7a. The display panel 8 displays several information related to imaging conditions of the X-ray diagnosis apparatus.
The operation unit 9 is used for determining a position of the bed table 5 by providing designation signals to operate the bed 6. The first rail 10a is used for running the second holder 4. The second rail 10b is used for running the display holder 7a.
Conventional monitors used for the display 7 are known to include CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors. Therefore, they occupy a wide space in the vicinity of the X-ray diagnosis apparatus. The display 7 can be moved along the second rail 10b. However, an examination room where the X-ray diagnosis apparatus is usually placed is not so spacious to move away the display 7. Keeping the display 7 around the bed table 5 limits an area where a radiological technologist moves around the patient. Further, it was also a big annoyance to a doctor when the doctor must examine the patient with, for example, a catheter.
Under such a circumstance, an image display monitor is being improved and newly developed with a LCD (crystal liquid display). An LCD monitor is much thinner and lighter than the CRT display monitor. Accordingly, the conventional CRT display monitors are challenged to be replaced with the LCD monitors. Such replacement can be very helpful to apply to the above-explained case. The replacement may be a solution to the prior art problem and may allow giving the radiological technologist and the doctor much more space.
As shown in FIG. 1, however, the display 7 has four monitors. Even if they are replaced with LCD monitors, it is a fact that this number of monitors still occupies a certain space. In practice, these monitors are moved around the bed table 5 in accordance with the manipulation of the doctor, for example. The doctor usually checks an ongoing manipulation status in the monitors. As he changes his position around the bed table 5 (i.e. around the patient) in accordance with his manipulation, the display 7 (or the monitors) must be changed its position so as to allow the doctor to observe images displayed in the display 7.
Such position changes are sometimes performed across and over the patient. The doctor or his aide must be very careful about moving the display 7 over the patient, but, as a matter of fact, it was not easy to do so due to a size of the display comprising four monitors. Particularly, when there are a plurality of monitors in the vertical direction, it is obviously more difficult. The plurality of monitors in the vertical direction may also be a problem when a person, such as the radiological technologist, the doctor, and the aides, are tall enough to bump his or her head against the display. It disturbs their concentration on their work.

Medical image diagnosis apparatus having a plurality of monitors