A bearer integration method for integrating a plurality of bearer services into a wireless channel by performing time-division multiplexing/demultiplexing is provided, in which bearer service data is input in synchronization with reference frame timing of a period T in a sending side, the bearer service data is delayed by one frame period by allocating delays A (0≦A≦T) and A′ (=T−A) between the sending side and a receiving side, the bearer service data is output in the receiving side, and the bearer service data is integrated into a wireless channel with another bearer service data in which delays B (A≦B≦T) and B′ (=T−B) are allocated between the sending side and the receiving side.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a bearer integration method and an apparatus for the method. More particularly, the present invention relates to a bearer integration method and apparatus for integrating a plurality of bearer services to a wireless channel by time-division multiplexing/demultiplexing with baseband processing.
In a wireless communication in a CDMA system, since a plurality of terminal (mobile) stations use the same radio frequency, the CDMA system is controlled such that each terminal communicates with smaller power by using several technologies such as soft handoff. In addition, interference is suppressed so as to increase the number of available wireless channels. Further, in the CDMA system, a plurality of bearer services can be used via a terminal station. In this case, if a wireless channel is used for each of the bearer services, wireless channels and the power can not be used effectively. Therefore, a plurality of bearer services are integrated to a wireless channel by time-division multiplexing/demultiplexing with baseband processing. Thus, it is required to perform such bearer integration effectively with no instantaneous interruption.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIGS. 1–5 are figures for explaining a conventional technique. FIG. 1 shows a part of a mobile communication system of CDMA according to the conventional technique. In the figure, the numeral 1 indicates a mobile station or a terminal station, the numerals 8, 9 indicate terminal apparatuses (TE-A, TE-B) which are connected to the mobile station 1 wherein each terminal apparatus terminates a bearer service, the numeral 2 indicates a base station (BTS) for performing wireless communication with the mobile station 1 by CDMA, the numeral 3 indicates a base station control apparatus which performs bearer integration control and the like, the numeral 4 indicates a mobile exchange (MSC), the numeral 100 indicates a public network (PSTN), and the numerals 6, 7 indicate terminal apparatuses (TE-C, TE-D) which is connected to the public network 100 and terminate a bearer service.
The terminal apparatus 8 (TE-A) communicates with the terminal apparatus 6 (TE-C) by a bearer service. The mobile station 1 and the base station 2 use a wireless channel (for example m1). In this state, when a new bearer service is required between the terminal apparatus 9 (TE-B) and the terminal apparatus 7 (TE-D), if a wireless channel (for example m2) which can accommodate bearer services for two channels is available, the base station control apparatus 3 releases the wireless channel m1 which is already used and instructs the mobile station 1 and the base station 2 to use the wireless channel m2. Thus, the base station control apparatus 3 time-division multiplexes (bearer integrates) each bearer service for downward transmission and the mobile station 1 time-multiplexes each bearer service for upward transmission. Then, communication is carried out by using the wireless channel m2. When the base station control apparatus 3 cannot keep the wireless channel m2, it keeps a wireless channel (for example m3) which is available at the time and instructs the mobile station 1 and the base station 2 to use the wireless channels m1 and m3 for providing the bearer service between the terminal apparatus 9 (TE-B) and the terminal apparatus 7 (TE-D). After that, when the wireless channel m2 becomes available, the wireless channels m1 and m3 are released and the base station control apparatus 3 instructs the mobile station 1 and the base station 2 to use the wireless channel 2 m2.
FIG. 2 shows a basic configuration of a send/receive processing part (which does not support bearer integration) in the mobile station 1. This configuration is the same as the send/receive processing configuration for a circuit between the mobile station 1, the base station 2 and the base station control apparatus 3.
As shown in FIG. 2, the send/receive processing configuration includes a send processing part 10 and a receive processing part 30. The send processing part 10 includes a bearer interface part 11, a frame processing part 12 for adding a frame header identifier and the like for a wireless frame, an error correction encoding part 13 using convolutional code and the like, a symbol repeating part 14 for converting a symbol speed to a speed suitable for the chip rate even when using different data transmission rate, an interleaving part 15 for distributing each symbol in a frame unit, a spreading modulator 16 for spreading the symbol by a spreading code, a baseband filter 17, a D/A converter 18, a send IF part 19, a send wireless part 20, a send filter+antenna part 21, and a send control part 22 for controlling above-mentioned each part.
The receive processing part 30 includes a receive filter+antenna part 31, a receive wireless part 32, a receive IF part 33, an A/D converter 34, a baseband filter 35, a RAKE receive part 36 for synthesizing despreading code by a plurality of fingers, a deinterleaving part 37, a symbol extracting part 38 for extracting data from an input symbol by data extracting clock corresponding to a specified transmission rate, an error correction decoding part 39 using Viterbi decoding and the like, a bearer interface part 41 and a receive control part 42 for controlling above-mentioned each part.
The RAKE receive part 36 includes a finger part 361, a delayed lock loop (DLL) part 362, a searcher part 363, and a synthesizing part 364.
In the relation between the base station 2 and the base station control apparatus 3, the bearer interface part 11 of the downward line, the frame processing part 12, the frame processing part 40 and the bearer interface part 41 of the upward line are included in the side of the base station control apparatus 3. Other configuration is included in the side of the base station 2.
In the send processing part 10, data transmission rate can be changed by changing spreading codes set in the spreading modulator 16 and data transmission rate set in the symbol repeating part 14. In the receive processing part 30, a receive wireless channel and the data transmission rate can be changed by changing spreading codes set in the finger part 361 of the RAKE receive part 36 and data transmission rate set in the symbol extracting part 38.
FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing communication switching to a wireless channel of a different data transmission rate. Generally, a wireless channel is distinguished by using a different spreading code, and data of different transmission rates are spread by the same chip rate in CDMA. In addition, all wireless channels sent from a base station and each terminal station are synchronized with a system clock and frame timing of the system. The terminal station 1 can extract the chip rate by receiving a pilot channel sent from the base station 2 so as to generate the system clock. In addition, the terminal station 1 extracts frame timing by receiving a sync channel sent from the base station 2. Therefore, switching between wireless channels is realized only by switching the spreading code according to the frame timing. Thus, it is not necessary to re-synchronize the clock or the frame. Further, even when each data transmission rate of wireless channels to be switched is different, since a receive signal which can be received in the same chip rate can be realized by switching a setting which defines the number of chips for one bit according to the frame timing. Thus, switching without an instantaneous interruption can be achieved.
An example of wireless channel (transmission rate) switching will be described with reference to FIG. 3. As for the wireless channel A, assuming that the data rate=Ad and the spreading code=Ap. As for the wireless channel B, assuming that the data rate=Bd (=2×Ad) and the spreading code=Bp. In the send processing part 10, the send control part 22 sets the data transmission rate=Ad in the symbol repeating part 14 and sets the spreading code=Ap in the spreading modulator 16 for sending the wireless channel A. When wireless channel switching is requested in this state, the send control part 22 sets the transmission rate=Bd in the symbol repeating part 14 and sets the spreading code=Bp in the spreading modulator 16 in synchronization with a send switch timing t which is determined between the send processing part 10 and the receive processing part 30 beforehand. The wireless channel B is sent from this time.
In the receive processing part 30, the receive control part 42 sets the spreading code=Ap in the finger part 361 in the RAKE receive part 36 and sets the data transmission rate=Ad in the symbol extracting part 38 for receiving the wireless channel A before the switch timing t. When wireless channel switching is requested, the receive control part 42 sets the transmission rate=Bd in the symbol extracting part 38 and sets the spreading code=Bp in the finger part 361 in synchronization with a receive switch timing t which is determined between the send processing part 10 and the receive processing part 30 beforehand. The wireless channel B is received from this time. Since the receive processing part 30 performs receive processing according to the system clock/frame timing which are extracted, switching between wireless channels of different data rates can be realized without instantaneous interruption by synchronizing the receive switching timing t with the frame timing.
FIG. 4 shows a basic configuration of send/receive processing parts (which support bearer integration) of the mobile station 1 according to a conventional technique. This configuration shown in FIG. 4 is equivalent to a send/receive processing configuration for one circuit realized between the mobile station 1, the base station 2 and the base station control apparatus 3. The send processing part 10 includes two systems ("a" system and "b" system) from a bearer interface part 11 to a baseband filter 17, a bearer multiplexing part 23 for multiplexing two bearer services in synchronization with the frame timing at the time of bearer integration and a wireless channel multiplexing part 24 for multiplexing two wireless channels into a wireless signal of the same frequency before bearer integration. The receive processing part 30 includes two systems ("a" system and "b" system) from a baseband filter part 35 to a bearer interface part 41, a wireless channel demultiplexing part 43 for demultiplexing the two wireless channels which were multiplexed before bearer integration and a bearer demultiplexing part 44 for demultiplexing the two bearer services which were multiplexed at the time of bearer integration in synchronization with the frame timing.
In FIG. 4, processing routes for bearer services before bearer integration are shown with solid line arrows. In the send processing part 10, input bearer services (1) and (2) are spread into wireless channels m1 and m2 of the same frame timing by spreading codes of spreading modulation parts 16a and 16b respectively. After that, the wireless channel multiplexing part 24 multiplexes the wireless channels into wireless signals of the same frequency. Then, the wireless signals are sent. In the receive processing part 30 which receives the wireless signals, the wireless channel demultiplexing part 43 demultiplexes the multiplexed wireless signals into the wireless channels m1 and m2 and inputs the channels to the wireless channel processing parts 30a and 30b respectively. Then, the wireless channels m1 and m2 are demodulated by spreading codes of the RAKE receive parts 36a and 36b respectively. Then, the bearer services (1) and (2) are output.
Processing routes for bearer services when bearer integration is performed are shown with dotted line arrows in FIG. 4. When bearer integration is requested in the above-mentioned state, the bearer multiplexing part 23 starts time-division multiplexing for the bearer services 91), (2) with frame timing which is predetermined between the bearer multiplexing part 23 and the receive processing part 30. At the same time, a wireless channel m3 is set in the symbol repeating part 14b and the spreading modulation part 16b. After that, multiplexed data which is multiplexed by the bearer multiplexing part 23 is sent by the wireless channel m3 which has the same frame timing. In the receive processing part 30 which receives the wireless channel m3, the RAKE receive part 36b and the symbol extracting part 38b are set for the wireless channel m3 in synchronization with the frame timing which is predetermined between the receive processing part 20 and the send processing part 10. At the same time, the bearer demultiplexing part 44 starts to demultiplex the bearer service. Accordingly, the bearer services (1) and (2) provided by the wireless channels m1 and m2 are integrated into the bearer services (1) and (2) provided by the wireless channel m3 without instantaneous interruption.
As mentioned above, according to the conventional bearer integration method, bearer integration can be performed without instantaneous interruption as long as the bearer integration is performed between the wireless channels m1, m2, m3 which have the same frame timing.
Generally, in order to increase the number of wireless channels in CDMA wireless communication, each terminal station performs communication with smaller amount of power. In addition, the system provides frame offsets which are different for each wireless channel such that the wireless power is not concentrated in a time period. Therefore, in such a communication system, there is a very low possibility that a wireless channel of the same frame offset is unoccupied when performing bearer integration. In most cases, a wireless channel of a different frame offset should be assigned.
FIG. 5 shows a timing chart for performing bearer integration between wireless channels of different frame offsets according to the conventional technique. For example, a period T of a reference frame is 20 ms in which the reference frame is divided into 16 frame offsets.
Before bearer integration, in the bearer service A, data communication is performed in synchronization with a timing which is shifted by the frame offset A from the reference frame timing. In the bearer service B, data communication is performed in synchronization with a timing which is shifted by the frame offset B from the reference frame timing.
When integration of the bearer services A and B is requested, the base station control apparatus 3 acquires, for example, the wireless channel C which is unoccupied, and starts bearer integration control in synchronization with bearer integration timing t (which is shifted by the frame offset C from the reference frame timing). At this time, since the timing for capturing the bearer services A and B in the wireless channel C is changed to the frame offset C from the frame offsets A and B in the sending side, a gap (no signal interval) is generated between the wireless channels A, B and the wireless channel C as shown in FIG. 5. As a result, in the receiving side, there occurs instantaneous interruption in the bearer service data A and B respectively. Thus, it is impossible to perform bearer integration between wireless channels which have different frame offsets without instantaneous interruption.
According to the above-mentioned conventional method, bearer integration is not available for the bearer service which does not permit the instantaneous interruption. In addition, the number of the wireless channels can not be increased due to such a restriction.

Bearer integration method and apparatus for the bearer integration method


A processing system is described for depositing materials on multiple workpieces (wafers, display panels, or any other workpieces) at a time in a vacuum chamber. Multiple targets, of the same or different materials, may concurrently deposit material on the wafers as the pallet is rotating. Multiple magnets (one for each target) in the magnetron assembly in the sputtering chamber oscillate back and forth across an arc over their respective targets for uniform target erosion and uniform deposition on the wafers.

A sputtering system is widely used in the semiconductor manufacturing industry for depositing materials on semiconductor wafers. Sputtering is sometimes referred to as physical vapor deposition, or PVD. In a sputtering operation, thin films comprising materials such as Al, Au, Cu, Ta are deposited in a vacuum on silicon wafers or other substrates. To make a stack of thin films of different materials, one common practice is to use multiple single-wafer process chambers wherein each chamber deposits only one material on one substrate at a time. For a tri-layer structure comprising Ti/Cu/Au, three separate single-wafer process chambers are required to sequentially deposit Ti, Cu and Au onto the substrate. The dedication of an individual process chamber to specific material deposition adds equipment costs and processing costs. The limitation of single-wafer transfer between chambers slows down the system throughput.
Various other drawbacks are found in typical sputtering systems. These drawbacks relate to inefficient magnetron operation, non-uniform coverage, poor temperature control of the wafers, contamination of the wafers and other components, and non-uniform target erosion, among other things.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An image reading device has a CIS unit. The CIS unit is held by a carriage. A compression coil spring that presses the CIS unit toward a contact glass plate is disposed between the bottom surface of the carriage and the bottom surface of the CIS unit. An extension coil spring that pulls the CIS unit toward the carriage is attached between the bottom surface of the carriage and the center portion of the CIS unit.

The present invention relates to the structure of an image reading device employed, for example, for a multi unction device (MFD).
Copying machines and multi function devices are typically provided with an image reading device for reading images on the original to get image data. The image reading device has an image sensor such as a charge coupled device (CCD) or a contact image sensor (CIS). And images on the original are read as image data by such an image sensor scanning the original.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of a conventional image reading device, and schematically shows the structure of the image reading device. As shown in FIG. 1, the image reading device 1 has a box-shaped body frame 2. A contact glass plate 3 is provided on the top surface of the body frame 2, and the contact glass plate 3 constitutes the original table where the original is placed. Inside the body frame 2, a contact image sensor 4 is disposed. The contact image sensor 4 is disposed inside the body frame 2 so that the top surface 5 thereof faces upward. That is, the contact image sensor 4 is disposed immediately below the contact glass plate 3, and the top surface 5 of the contact image sensor 4 and the rear surface of the contact glass plate 3 are opposed to each other with a constant gap. The contact image sensor 4 reads the image from the original placed on the contact glass plate 3 while being moved in a direction vertical to the plane of FIG. 1.
Contact image sensors generally have a characteristic that the depth of field is small, and it is therefore necessary that the contact image sensor 4 be situated close to the contact glass plate 3 in order to perform excellent image reading. Further, it is important that the gap between the top surface 5 of the contact image sensor 4 and the rear surface of the contact glass plate 3 be always the same. This is because if the gap changes, since the depth of field of the contact image sensor 4 is small, the image cannot be excellently read from the original. However, there are cases where the gap changes for various reasons such as an early deformation (mainly, a deformation in the direction of the arrow 6) of the contact image sensor 4 or a posture change of the contact image sensor 4 while the contact image sensor 4 is being moved. Therefore, various improvements have previously been made to suppress the deformation of the contact image sensor 4 (or example, see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Applications Nos. 2003-92661, H9-292580, H5-323230, 2000-138803 and 2004-54156).


An onboard combustion-gas-powered engine supplies power to a paintball marker or other projectile launcher by generating gas pressure pulses for propelling paintballs and other projectiles. The combustion gases produced by the engine can be allowed to rise in pressure within a confined volume of space before being released through a valve into a barrel for applying enhanced pressure pulses to the projectiles. A loading system is linked to a combustion accelerating system for automatically loading projectiles into the launcher.

1. Field of the Invention
Propulsion systems of paintball markers generally provide for discharging gas pressure pulses for propelling paintballs. Such pressure pulses in accordance with this invention are produced by gas-powered engines. Similar propulsion systems can be applied to other projectile launchers such as air guns, air soft guns, simmunitions, training guns, as well as other fuel cell powered launchers.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventional paintball markers include pneumatic launching systems powered by portable supplies of compressed gas, such as CO2, air, or nitrogen, mounted directly on the markers or connected to the markers through a short supply line. Metered amounts of the compressed gas are released from the portable supplies into the markers for propelling individual paintballs from the markers. The paintballs themselves are typically 0.68 caliber balls constructed with a gelatinous or gelatin-like outer skin and a liquid-filled center of paint or other marking material. Paintball markers are used for such purposes as marking trees and livestock, as well as for the sport of paintball. Paintball markers are also used in police and military training exercises.
A number of problems are associated with the practice of deriving gas pressure pulses from portable supplies of compressed gas as well as with the practice of transporting compressed gas supplies. For example, some markers are adapted to receive small 12-gram CO2 cartridges to limit the size and weight of the markers. However, the limited amount of compressed gas severely restricts the number of shots (pressure pulses) that can be fired from the markers to a level that is not acceptable to most users. Consequently, most users carry a large heavy-walled container resembling a fire extinguisher to have a sufficient supply of gas pressure to support the number of shots required for a typical exercise.
In addition to the difficulty and inconvenience of transporting large containers, the transport of high-pressure containers, particularly large high-pressure containers, poses significant safety concerns. Typical gas pressures range from 700 psi (pounds per square inch) to 4000 psi, and such high-pressure containers are potentially very dangerous and must be handled carefully to avoid accidents.
The reliability of gas pressure containers is also a concern. The propulsive force produced by these high-pressure containers can vary depending upon conditions of temperature, the remaining pressure in the gas container, and the rate of use.


There is provided a method and an apparatus for preparing graphite oxide. In accordance with the present disclosure, when an oxidizer is added by stages into a sequencing batch oxidizer mixer connected in multiple stages at a constantly low temperature, the oxidizer is mixed therein while suppressing an oxidation reaction. During an oxidation reaction of graphite, in a risky range of overheating and explosion, a tube type reactor equipped within a heat exchanger is used to accurately control a local temperature and the oxidizer can permeate between layers of the graphite with increased efficiency under ultrasonication. In an additional reaction range out of the risky range, a continuous stirred tank reactor is used to mature the oxidation reaction, so that a risk of explosion during manufacturing of graphite oxide can be reduced and a great amount of graphite oxide can be mass-produced economically.

In 2004, Professor Andre Geim et al. from the University of Manchester first mechanically exfoliated graphene from graphite by using "Scotch tape method" and found excellent electric conductivity of graphene through the study of a quantum hall effect by using the exfoliated graphene. In 2008, James Hone et al., researchers from Colombia University, confirmed superior strength of graphene. In the same year, Alexander Balandin et al., researchers from University of California, Riverside, measured thermal conductivity of graphene as 5300 pW/mpK, which is double that of carbon nanotubes.
For preparation of graphene, exfoliation of a graphite oxide with a thermal shock, mechanical exfoliation of graphite crystals as carried out by Professor Andre Geim et al., epitaxial growth on substrates, hydrazine reduction on graphite oxide sheet, chemical vapor deposition, and cutting nanotubes in a solution of potassium permanganate and a sulfuric acid have been known but all of them but the exfoliation of a graphite oxide with a thermal shock do not go beyond laboratory preparation levels.
On the other hand, a method of producing expanded graphite, a shape of which is worm-like or accordion-like, by intercalating graphite flakes between graphite crystal layers by adding acids to the graphite flakes and adding a thermal shock thereto has been known since long before. Such worm-like expanded graphite is used as a filler or compression-processed to be used as a sheet having anisotropic conductivity. Such expanded graphite resulting from loose bonding between layers of part of graphite is inferior to graphene in physical properties and its particulate size is much bigger than graphene.
As a method for preparing graphite oxide, there has been known a Staudenmaier method in which graphite powder reacts with a sulfuric acid, a fuming nitric acid, and potassium perchlorate for days to produce graphite oxide. Further, it is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,798,878 that Hummers shortened a reaction time by using a sulfuric acid, sodium nitrate, and potassium permanganate as oxidants.
A reaction of mixing a sulfuric acid, sodium nitrate, and potassium permanganate together is an exothermic reaction and during the mixing reaction, dimanganese heptoxide (Mn2O7) produced by a reaction between a sulfuric acid and potassium permanganate may cause an explosion at about 55° C. or more. Thus, in this method, graphite oxide in a very small amount can be prepared only by a batch process and there is a limit on mass production of graphite oxide. Therefore, it is required to develop a process for solving the problems and allowing mass production of graphite oxide.
In Korean Patent Application No. 2010-76871 which is pending, some of the present inventors have suggested a method for continuously preparing graphite oxide using a micro reactor in which multiple micro channels each having a diameter of several μm to several mm and with a residence time of several minutes to several days are connected to each other. However, such a reactor including long and narrow micro channels is useful to carry out a reaction or control a reaction temperature but needs multiple booster pumps throughout the reactor due to a great head loss and also needs an acid-resistant micro channel reactor with high voltage. Further, the reactor has low efficiency for its size.

Method and apparatus for manufacturing graphite oxide


A method for obtaining a high-resolution digital image from a plurality of starting images formed by pixel matrices acquired at a lower resolution includes combining the plurality of starting images to generate a provisional high-resolution image, and producing from the provisional high-resolution image a plurality of low-resolution images. Each low-resolution image corresponds to a respective starting image. At least a portion of the provisional high-resolution image is processed by modifying pixels thereof to reduce a difference between the plurality of starting images and the plurality of low-resolution images. The processing includes associating with the pixels of the provisional high-resolution image a respective uncertainty measure representing an uncertainty of the pixels, and leaving unmodified at least a subset of the pixels of the provisional high-resolution image having associated therewith a respective uncertainty measure smaller than a threshold.

Digital images are currently used in many different applications. These applications include new-generation acquisition devices, such as digital still cameras (DCS). The availability of sensors providing increased resolutions at lower costs, such as low consumption digital signal processors (DSP), have led to a considerable commercial diffusion of digital still cameras. For this reason, there is now a need for low-cost acquisition devices that will also make possible the acquisition of high-quality digital images.
The quality of an image substantially depends on the characteristics of the sensor that acquires the image, especially its resolution. The sensor, which in digital still cameras, will typically be either a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor). These sensors are integrated circuits comprising a matrix of photosensitive cells or elements, each associated with a corresponding pixel. When the image is acquired from a real scene, each cell produces an electrical signal proportional to the light that strikes it. More precisely, each cell responds to the radiance (emitted quantity of light) of a particular portion of the real scene. These particular portions of the real scene form the receptive field of the pixel.
The larger the number of photosensitive cells or the greater the spatial resolution of the sensor (which amounts to the same thing), the information relating to the real scene captured in the acquisition process will be denser. But the choice of obtaining a higher image resolution by stepping up the sensor resolution in terms of the number of pixels is not always feasible because of technology and cost.
When acquiring a digital photograph, a sensor, no matter how good its resolution, will always produce an approximation of the scene that is to be shot. The photosensitive cells of the sensor are always separated by a certain distance because not all of the sensor area can be uniformly covered with photosensitive elements. Technology makes it inevitable that there should be a certain minimum distance between adjacent cells. This spacing between adjacent cells is the cause of a first loss of information in the acquisition process.
Another reason why a digital image acquired with a sensor of the type that is commonly used in digital still cameras forms only an approximation of the real scene is due to the interpolation process of the data acquired by the sensor. As is well known, a digital image can be represented by a matrix of elements (pixels) corresponding to elementary portions of the image, and each of these elements has associated with it one or more digital values representative of the optical components. In a monochromatic image, for example, only a single digital value is associated with each pixel. In this case, it is usually said that the image is made up of only a single channel or plane.
In a color image, which may be in a RGB (Red, Green and Blue) format, each pixel has associated with it three digital values that correspond, respectively, to the three components (red, green, blue) of the additive chromatic synthesis. In this case, the image can be broken down into three distinct planes. Each plane contains the information relating to just one of the chromatic components.
A typical sensor will dedicate a single and substantially monochromatic photosensitive cell to each pixel of the image. Furthermore, the sensor is provided with an optical filter that includes a matrix of filtering elements, each of which covers one photosensitive cell. Subject to a minimal absorption, each filtering element transmits to the photosensitive cell with which it is associated the luminous radiation corresponding to the wavelength of only the red light, only the green light or only the blue light. For each pixel there is thus revealed just one of the three primary components (R, G, B) of the additive chromatic synthesis.
The type of filter employed varies from one manufacturer to another. The most common is the so-called Bayer filter. In this filter the arrangement of the filtering elements, the so-called Bayer pattern, is as shown in the element matrix 10 reproduced in FIG. 2.
The electrical signals produced by the photosensitive cells are converted into digital values in accordance with conventional methods. The digital image obtained in this manner is incomplete because it is made up of only a single component (R, G or B) for each pixel. The format of this image is conventionally referred to as a CFA (Color Filter Array) image.
The CFA image is then subjected to a complex reconstruction process to produce a "complete" image in the RGB format, for example, in which three digital values will be associated with each pixel. This reconstruction implies a passage from a representation of the image in a single plane (Bayer plane) to a representation in three planes (R, G, B). The reconstruction is obtained by well known interpolation algorithms.
It should be noted that the interpolation produces only an approximation of the image that would be obtained with a sensor capable of acquiring three optical components per pixel. Therefore, the interpolation process introduces yet another approximation into the acquired image. Given these limitations of the quality of the acquired image introduced by the sensor characteristics and the interpolation process, further processing operations are often required to obtain a high-resolution digital image.
The prior art proposes numerous methods that are generally based on the principle of reconstructing the original information of the real scene lost in the acquisition process for the reasons set out above, by combining the information contained in a plurality of initially acquired low-resolution digital images that all represent the same scene. To this end, it is essential that the initially acquired images, which will be referred to more briefly as the starting images, should together form some additional information that could not be obtained from identical images.
Some of the known methods comprise operate in the space domain (that is, in the pixel domain) and others in the frequency domain. The latter combines a certain number of low-resolution starting images after having transformed them in the spatial frequency domain. After the image in the frequency domain obtained from this combination has been brought back into the space domain, it has a better resolution than the starting images. However, the methods operating in the frequency domain call for a very considerable computational effort.
The methods that operate in the space domain, on the other hand, comprise a particular class that employs an approach known as "back projection", which is very similar to the one utilized, for example, in so-called computerized axial tomography (CAT), in which a two-dimensional object is reconstructed from a series of one-dimensional projections thereof.
The back-projection approach assumes that the low-resolution starting images of the same scene represent different projections of a high-resolution image that reproduces the real scene. The projection operator is the same acquisition process, which depends to a large extent on the acquisition device, is assumed to be known. The problem is thus reduced to reconstructing the high-resolution image from its various projections.
In particular, the method employed by M. Irani and S. Peleg, described among others in "Super Resolution From Image Sequences" (IEEE, 1990), obtains an iterative reconstruction of the high-resolution image by correcting/improving this image in several successive steps on the basis of the differences between the starting images and images obtained by simulation from the projections of the high-resolution image as from time to time corrected or improved by iteration.
This method is associated with a first drawback that derives from the fact that obtaining high-quality images calls for an accurate modeling of the acquisition process or device that obtains the low-resolution images. For this reason, the method in question is complicated and does not lend itself to being implemented in a commercial acquisition device, such as a digital still camera.
A second difficulty is based upon the fact that the method calls for a considerable number of processing operations at each iteration step and this, in its turn, implies numerous problems in devices in which the optimization of the energy, processing and memorization resources are a factor that has an important bearing on their commercial success.

Method for obtaining a high-resolution digital image


A gas turbine system (1A) includes a gas turbine unit (2) and a cooling fluid generator (5). The gas turbine unit (2) includes a first compressor (21) and a first expansion turbine (23) coupled to each other by a first shaft (22), a combustor (26), and a fuel tank (30). A fuel held in the fuel tank (30) circulates through a fuel circulation passage (31). A working fluid that has a pressure increased by the first compressor (1) is extracted from the gas turbine unit (2). The cooling fluid generator (5) includes a cooler (55) for cooling, with the fuel flowing through the fuel circulation passage (31), the working fluid that has been extracted from the gas turbine unit (2), and a second expansion turbine (53) for expanding the working fluid that has flowed out of the cooler (55).

Conventionally, as a gas turbine system including a gas turbine unit, there has been known a cogeneration system that produces hot water, etc. by utilizing the waste heat caused when the gas turbine unit generates electricity. In recent years, there also has been proposed a gas turbine system that directly produces hot water and cold air by using a gas turbine unit without generating electricity. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a gas turbine system 100 as shown in FIG. 6.
The gas turbine system 100 includes a first compressor 101 and a first expansion turbine 102 coupled to each other by a shaft, a combustor 103, a regenerative heat exchanger 104, and a heat exchanger 123 for hot water, as elements constituting a gas turbine unit. The first compressor 101 compresses air taken from the atmosphere. The air discharged from the first compressor 101 passes through the regenerative heat exchanger 104, and then flows in to the combustor 103. A fuel is injected into the combustor 103 and combusted therein. A combustion gas generated in the combustor 103 heats the air to flow into the combustor 103 in the regenerative heat exchanger 104, and then flows into the first expansion turbine 102 to be expanded therein. The first expansion turbine 102 creates power from the expanding combustion gas as a rotation torque to drive the first compressor 101. The combustion gas discharged from the first expansion turbine 102 is utilized, in the heat exchanger 123 for hot water, as a heat source for producing hot water, and then exhausted into the atmosphere.
The gas turbine system 100, the gas turbine unit has no power generator. Thus, in order to start the gas turbine unit, the gas turbine system 100 is provided with a reciprocating type compressor 105 for supplying compressed air to the combustor 103 at the time of starting.
Furthermore, the gas turbine system 100 has a configuration to extract, from the gas turbine unit, the air compressed in the first compressor 101 and lower the temperature of this extracted air (so-called bleed air) so as to produce cold air. Specifically, the gas turbine system 100 is provided with a first heat exchanger 121 for cooling the air extracted from the gas turbine unit with cold water, a second compressor 111 for compressing the air that has flowed out of the first heat exchanger 121, a second heat exchanger 122 for cooling the air discharged from the second compressor 111 with cold water, and a second expansion turbine 112 for expanding the air that has flowed out of the second heat exchanger 122. The second expansion turbine 112 is coupled to the second compressor 111 by a shaft, and creates power from the expanding air as a rotation torque to drive the second compressor 111. A moisture separator 113 for separating moisture from the air is provided between the second heat exchanger 122 and the second expansion turbines 112. The water heated by cooling the air in the first heat exchanger 121 and the second heat exchanger 122 is supplied to the heat exchanger 123 for hot water in the gas turbine unit.

Gas turbine system with cooling fluid generator

Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.


The present invention provides methods for the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of HCV-related disease. The method takes advantage of a novel reactive mechanism of the murine monoclonal antibody (mAb) 1F7 against human antibodies specific for different proteins of the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). 1F7 recognizes antibodies against HCV core protein in a majority of HCV-infected individuals and antibodies against HCV non-structural proteins 3 (NS3) and NS4 in some HCV-infected individuals. 1F7 also recognizes antibodies against the putative principle neutralizing determinant (hypervariable and conserved region 1 of the HCV E2 protein) of HCV. The antibody can be used in various methods to detect HCV related disease and formulated with physiologically acceptable carriers in various compositions to treat HCV infection.

The present invention provides methods and compositions for the diagnosis, monitoring, and modulation of the immune response to Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) related diseases. The methods take advantage of a novel reactive mechanism of the murine monoclonal antibody (mAb) 1F7 against human antibodies specific for different proteins of the Hepatitis C virus (HCV). In particular, the antibodies recognize HCV core protein in a majority of HCV-infected individuals and antibodies against HCV non-structural proteins 3 (NS3) and NS4 in some HCV-infected individuals. Also, the antiidiotypic antibody recognizes antibodies against the putative principle neutralizing determinant (hypervariable region 1 of the HCV E2 protein) of HCV. The idiotypic linking of antibodies against multiple epitopes of a chronic pathogen provides methods for improved diagnosis and monitoring of HCV as well as opportunities to increase the efficiency of immune regulation, including limiting "idiotypic "grid-lock", that can arise from chronic antigenic stimulation.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a plus sense RNA virus that establishes chronic infection in up to 80% of exposed individuals. Long-term infection can lead to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Currently, no effective vaccine or treatment for HCV infection is available. The ability of HCV to mutate key immunological determinants and to escape immune selection pressures exerted by antibodies and T cells in an infected individual is important for the establishment of chronic infection. Similar to HLV infection, the immune system can become locked into recognition of the original infecting strain of HCV and therefore is unable to adapt to, and recognize, subsequent mutations. Antibodies against a particular region of HCV E2 protein, hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) are believed to be important to preventing new infection of cells and promoting clearance of viral particles. An antibody response directed against a broad range of HCV epitopes in addition to HCV E2 HVR1 would be expected to provide better protection against HCV mutants and to be associated with a more favorable clinical outcome to infection.
Although HCV and HIV are genetically unrelated and the viruses have a different pattern of cellular tropism and induce distinct diseases, HCV and HIV share important features relevant to their interactions with the immune system of the infected host. In particular, both viruses commonly establish chronic infections, thought at least in part, to be due to RNA polymerases characterized as "mistake-prone" that generate a high mutation rate during viral replication (Bebenek et al., J. Biol. Chem. 264:16948-16956 (1989); Ogata et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA 88:3392-3396 (1991). These mutations produce viral variants which can undergo immune selective pressures in the infected host. The selective pressures favor the outgrowth of those viral variants poorly neutralized by the anti-viral antibodies concurrently present in the host. Therefore, the less diverse the neutralizing response to the infecting virus, the more easily viral escape occurs through random mutations within neutralization epitopes. Since random mutations cannot be anticipated by the immune system, adaptation of the immune response lags behind the virus resulting in chronic infection.
Mutating viruses also exploit a phenomenon known as "original antigenic sin", wherein the immune system commits itself to responding to the viral variant initially present and continues to make antibodies against the image of this virus variant even when the virus present has effectively shed that image (Webster, J. Immunol. 97:177-183 (1996)). although some level of cross-reactivity with emergent viruses may explain persistence of the seminal antibodies, the mechanism which stops the immune system of the infected host from producing high affinity neutralizing antibodies against emergent viral variants is not clear.
In the case of HIV infection, "original antigenic sin" manifests as B cell clonal dominance, where the original responding B cells are "locked in" through a process termed "deceptive imprinting" or a repertoire freeze" (Kohler et al., Immunol. Today 15:475-478 (1994). This clonal dominance involves restricted diversity in the set of antibodies produced against HIV and apparently can weaken the adaptation of the immune response to emerging mutants and favor viral persistence. In addition, clonal dominance has been associated with the expression of a common idiotype on anti-HIV antibodies with different specificities (Kohler et al., Immunol. Today 15:475-478 (1994); Kohler et al., Immunologist 3:32-34 (1995)). Expression of a common idiotype on antibodies against a particular antigen may therefore be associated with a narrow antibody response against that antigen.
Antibodies with common patterns of auto-reactivity have also been found to have emerged in other chronic inflammatory conditions including HIV, systemic lupus erytnematosus (SLE), graft-versus-host disease, and lepromatous leprosy (Grant et al., J. Immunol. 144:1241-1250 (1990)). this has suggested that the immune system is predisposed to respond along certain autoreactive axes when chronically stimulated by an antigen. There has been speculation that chronic pathogens can selectively activate responses along auto-reactive axes to divert the immune system from mounting a more effective anti-microbial response. If true, there can be therapeutic value in steering the immune response in an infected host away from producing antibodies specific for epitopes delineated by such fruitless axes.
An idiotope common to more than one type of HIV-1 antibody has been discovered (U.S. Pat. No. 5,849,583, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). The idiotope is common to antibodies produced by restricted B cell clones and has been found to be specifically reactive with at least three anti-HIV antibodies having separate specificities. One particular anti-idiotypic antibody reactive with this idiotope is the mureine monoclonal antibody 1F7. To date, the 1F7 idiotype has been found on antibodies against 2 chronic pathogens, HIV and SIV, suggesting that both selectively activate antibodies along a particular idiotype axis or that chronic stimulation itself drives selection of the 1F7 idiotype. Since uninfected volunteers receiving HIV gp120 vaccination express the 1F7 idiotype on their anti-HIV antibodies, the idiotype appears to be selected in the initial response to HIV and to persist throughout infection.
In the SIV model of HIV infection, administering 1F7 to SHIV-infected animals expressing the 1F7 idiotype on their anti-SHIV antibodies "thawed" the frozen B cell repertoire. Relief from clonal dominance was illustrated by a broadening of the HIV neutralizing antibody response to encompass viruses distinct from the inoculating strain together with an increase in neutralization titer against the inoculating strain.
Shared idiotypic determinants on antibodies reflect genetic relatedness between variable (V) gene segments, common antigenic specificities or overlapping idiotype-based immunoregulatory pathways. The anti-idiotypic antibody 1F7 has been identified to recognize antibodies against different HIV and SIV proteins in approximately 70% of HIV-infected humans and SIV-infected macaques. As the 1F7 idiotype is neither restricted to antibodies expressing the same heavy chain V gene family, nor to antibodies recognizing structurally homologous antigens, it was proposed that antibodies against distinct antigens of chronic pathogen(s), such as HIV, HCV and related disease causing agents, are selected for expression of a common regulatory idiotypic target. The idiotypic linking of antibodies against multiple epitopes of a chronic pathogen can increase the efficiency of immune regulation and limit idiotypic gridlock that might arise from chronic antigenic stimulation.
The presence of 1F7 idiotype on such a diverse set of antiviral antibodies illustrated that B cells expressing Ab2 recognizing the 1F7 idiotype had very high connectivity within the B cell repertoire. Such high connectivity would tend to suppress activation of the regulatory Ab2-bearing B cells and favor assumption of clonal dominance by the responding 1F7 idiotype+ B cells.
A somewhat analogous situation was previously reported with regard to the 16/6 idiotype, which unlike 1F7 is associated with a particular heavy chain V gene family. The 16/6 idiotype was first defined on a monoclonal anti-DNA antibody and later on other auto-antibodies and anti-microbial antibodies. Expression of this idiotype is associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in humans and injection of antibodies bearing this idiotype into mice induced SLE-like symptoms. Pathogenic immune complexes in both situations contain 16/6 idiotype+ antibodies, fueling speculation that 16/6 can act as a pathogenic idiotype to perturb the regulatory network in such a way as allows autoimmunity to develop.
However, the probability of chronic pathogens evolving determinants on so many individual proteins to take advantage of this structural feature of B cell networks seems remote. One alternative possibility is that the initial antibody response to HIV gp120 represents a special case, by virtue of gp120 acting as a B cell super-antigen. Investigators showed that gp120 binds a broad set of immunoglobulin molecules based on the heavy chain V gene family expressed. Such polyclonal activation would assure activation of clones expressing the 1F7 Idiotype and the high connectivity of the potential regulatory anti-idiotype would free the 1F7+ B cells to establish clonal dominance.
This proposed pattern of idiotypic focusing could have adaptive as well as negative implications for the immune system. While freezing potential neutralizing antibody responses against a mutating pathogen is clearly a disadvantage, localizing chronic B cell activation within a limited region of idiotypic space could protect against immunopathology and leave a more extensive B cell repertoire free to respond against unrelated pathogens. It remains to be determined how widespread 1F7 idiotype expression is on antibodies against other chronic pathogens and on autoantibodies.
What is needed in the art are additional methods for diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of Hepatitis C virus related disease which improve the immunologic response to the variations in the infectious variant and prevents chronic infection.

Anti-idiotypic antibody and its use in diagnosis and therapy of Hepatitis C Virus related diseases


The embodiments of the present invention provide a random selection method, server, client and distributed system. The random selection method includes: generating, by a server, a plurality of objects for an online game, and ordering randomly the plurality of objects; transmitting display information to a plurality of clients, so as to make the ordered plurality of objects displayed on a display screen of each client in a manner of content being unknown, so that each user randomly select from the ordered plurality of objects; and designating, by the server, a user-selected object for the user according to feedback from the client. In this invention, the user may participate in the process of random selection, and random ordering by the system and the random selection by the user are combined, thereby the fairness of the random dealing is ensured.

With the development of network technologies, online games are more and more popular. A user may play games with others by using a distributed system. Currently, there are various kinds of chess and card online games, such as Blackjack, and Texas HoldEm Poker, etc. A manner of simulating dealing cards in these games is as follows: ordering randomly all the cards by server software by using a set of random algorithms, and then dealing the cards to each player in turn.
However, the inventor found that in such a manner, a user has no right to select the cards of his own, and the random algorithms used by the server software cannot ensure the absolute randomness of the card dealing. Hence, current online games cannot ensure the fairness.

Random selection method, server, client and distributed system


Described here are devices, systems, and methods for treating a condition in an animal. Generally the systems include a stimulator that is implantable in the animal and a controller system configured to transmit one or more signals to the implanted stimulator. The controller system may have a controller configured to generate the one or more signals. The controller system may include one or more collars, bridles, horse hoods, cages, animal beds, and/or food bowls. The systems may be used to treat one or more conditions such as dry eye, and may treat the conditions in an animal such as a horse, dog, or cat.

Dry eye syndrome (also known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca or "KCS") affects several animals including dogs, cats, and horses. Generally, tear film in these animals includes three layers: an oily top layer, a middle aqueous layer, and a bottom mucin layer. Dry eye syndrome typically results from a decrease in aqueous tear production. A decrease in aqueous tear production may dry the cornea and surrounding tissue (such as the conjunctiva), which may cause irritation, pigmentation, and even scarring of the cornea. In extreme cases, dry eye syndrome may result in blindness of the animal. Additionally, reduced aqueous tear production may cause mixing of the oily and mucin layers, resulting in a yellow discharge. Current treatments include application of artificial tears and medication or surgical solutions such as parotid duct transposition (which redirects saliva to the eye). Artificial tears and medication may be difficult to administer to the animal and may require lifelong administration, while parotid duct transposition may result in the formation of mineral deposits on the eye. What is needed is a system for improving tear productions in animals having dry eye syndrome.

Devices and methods for treating dry eye in animals


A diesel fuel injector fixture is disclosed for torquing a solenoid valve within a diesel fuel injector body. The fixture includes a hydraulic ram for partially clamping the solenoid valve to the injector body and a nesting fixture for locating the fuel injector relative to the hydraulic ram. An adjustable stop assembly on the torquing fixture adjusts to the orientation of a torque wrench engaged with the solenoid valve and locks in place to provide stops for the torque wrench. The torque wrench rotates between the stops to apply a predetermined final torque to the solenoid valve, wherein the combination of the hydraulic clamp load and the predetermined final torque properly seat the solenoid valve in the injector body.

This invention relates generally to fixtures and more specifically to a fixture used for torquing a component of a fuel injector assembly.
Prior mechanical fuel delivery systems have provided improved power and efficiency for internal combustion engines. Recently, electronic technology has replaced the mechanical technology in fuel delivery systems to further improve the efficiency and operational characteristics of an internal combustion engine. However, as sophisticated electronic technology is increasingly incorporated in fuel delivery systems, field repair and maintainability of these systems have declined. As a result, fixtures for repairing fuel delivery system components have been required to match factory provided levels of efficiency and operational characteristics.
One example of such a component is the fuel injector for a diesel engine. Because diesel engines typically operate for more than five hundred thousand miles between major overhauls, field repair of diesel fuel injectors between overhauls is desirable to maintain factory provided levels of fuel metering. This is particularly true for diesel engines in the trucking industry which rely on high levels of fuel efficiency to keep operating costs at a minimum. Nozzle testers for diesel engines have been developed dating back to 1945. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,157,766 by Cole describes such a nozzle tester. Kiene, U.S. Pat. No. 2,857,759, discloses a diesel engine fuel injector testing device which mounts the fuel injector in a vertical position on a frame. In Kiene, the plunger, check valve, tip seal, or any test requiring oil pressure force through the injector, may be tested. Downs, U.S. Pat. No. 4,170,072, discloses a fuel injector adjustment fixture which permits the adjustment of a stop which limits the upward travel of a unit type fuel injector plunger.
While these devices address generally fixtures for fuel injectors of diesel engines, there is always a need for an improved fixture capable of repeating factory set assembly tolerances while being used in the field. Such a fixture should therefore be operable by the average diesel mechanic and provide assembly limits or checks to prevent damaging the fuel injector components. Such a fixture should also be self-contained and readily transportable to facilitate transport within the operating field. Such a fixture would further be adaptable for torquing components of the Cummins CELECT.TM. electronically controlled injectors for the full authority electronic fuel system of both the Cummins L10 and N14 model diesel engines.

Fixture for torquing components of an assembly


A foam level in a delayed coking drum is detected by utilizing the varying density of the boiling mass in the coke drum which has larger bubbles and is less dense at the top and smaller bubbles and a higher density at the bottom. A plurality of radiation detectors are disposed on the drum and calibrated such that zero radiation is equivalent to 100 percent level. The percentage reading for each detector is multiplied by the fraction of height each detector is in relation to the total height of all the detectors to give a product and the products summed to give a level.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to delayed coking processes and coke drums in particular. More particularly the invention related to a system for accurately determining the froth or foam level in a coke drum on a delayed coking unit.
2. Related Information
Delayed coking processes are used in petroleum refineries to convert residuum, vacuum tower bottoms or other asphaltic process streams—normally referred to as charge on a delayed coker—into more valuable refinery products such as gasoline, diesel and gas oils. Process equipment normally associated with a delayed coker are a main fractionating tower, furnaces, coke drums, fractionation equipment, pumps, a compressor, various heat exchangers, etc. One of the products produced on a delayed coker is petroleum coke which is formed in the coke drums.
In the delayed coking processes, the residuum or other asphaltic material is circulated through a furnace for heating to coking temperature and then delivered to the coke drum where a coke product as well as the more useful products form from the thermal cracking of the heated heavy hydrocarbons. The overhead of the coke drum is quenched and circulated to a combination or fractionating tower for separation of the overhead into gas, gas oil, fuel oil, naphtha and the like. When the coke drum is filled with coke, a mechanical process of removing the coke from the coke drum is begun. Generally during the process of removing the coke from the coke drum, the circulation of the heated heavy hydrocarbon is switched to a second coke drum which fills with coke as the first coke drum is being mechanically emptied. The time between switching coke drums is the coking cycle. Most delayed coking units are operated to maximize charge rate. The variable that generally controls or dictates the charge rate is the level in the coke drum. In the vernacular of the industry that level is referred to as the foam level.
Once the foam level has reached what is considered an optimum level the charge from the furnace is switched to a second drum. The filled drum is then steam stripped for removal of residual light hydrocarbons and then cooled with water. In the process of stripping, cooling, etc., the material in the coke drum solidifies into petroleum coke which is removed mechanically.
The coke drum is designed to contain the coke and any other phenomena associated with the formation of petroleum coke. An inherent part of that process is the formation of foam in the coke drum. Downstream equipment used to recover the higher valued products from the coking process are not designed to handle the foam hence the need to assure its containment within the coke drum.
Many theories abound as to the phenomena of what is taking place in an operating delayed coker coke drum. The common theory is that the coke forms from the bottom of the drum up as the heated charge passes from the furnace into the coke drum. This theory says that "rat holes" form in the coke which allows the subsequent material to pass up through the drum.
The inventor herein has noted that the material left in the coke drum which has not been properly cooled oozes out of a coke drum after the head is removed which contradicts the theory that solid coke has formed. Also large amounts of steam, which is a vapor at the process conditions (temperature and pressure) utilized in the coking process, are injected with the charge residuum at the furnaces. If the hot residuum formed solid coke with "rat holes" as soon as it entered the drum as previously describe, an inordinate amount of back pressure for the incoming charge would develop. Further, by design 45+% of the residuum vaporizes in the coking furnaces. Ultimately as much as 70% by weight of the charge is thermally cracked to hydrocarbon vapors in the coke drum which has to flow up through the material in the coke drum into downstream recovery equipment. This vapor flow would be impeded and aggravate the back-pressure problem if solid coke was forming from the bottom of the coke drum upward as the drum is fed.

Apparatus and method for determining the level in a coke drum


A gate driver circuit for a converter which requires an approximately 50% duty cycle to drive two power switching devices (e.g., in many interleaved, push-pull and bridge converters) includes a single transformer secondary winding coupled between the gates of the two devices. The transformer is reset every half-cycle by driving each device in the forward, or positive, direction only. Advantageously, the result is an approximately 50% reduction in gate drive power as compared with conventional schemes requiring a negative gate drive voltage for turn-off.

In many power converters employing field effect transistors (FET's), the power FET gate drive circuits need to be electrically isolated from the control circuitry. According to one scheme, an ac voltage is directly coupled through a pulse transformer such that the FET gates are driven with voltages of both polarities. That is, the device is turned on with a positive voltage (e.g., +10 volts) and turned off with a negative voltage (e.g., -10 volts). Hence, a shortcoming of this scheme is that energy is needed to drive the gates in the negative direction as well as the positive direction. As a result, twice the gate drive power is needed as compared with a non-isolated gate driver which drives the gate voltage positive to turn it on and reduces it to zero voltage to turn it off.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a gate driver circuit for power FET's which efficiently transformer-couples the gate driver circuit thereto without the need to charge each gate to a negative voltage in order to turn it off and also to reset the flux in the gate drive transformer.

Efficient transformer-coupled gate driver circuit for power FET's


In a cable television (CATV) data communication network, channel throughput and communications robustness are increased in a manner that improves speed of data transmission while maintaining compatibility with existing specifications and equipment. Enhanced throughput can be realized using the return channel of the CATV network. Alternatively, data retransmission and/or diversity techniques can be used to improve throughput.

Cable television (CATV) systems were originally intended to deliver analog television signals to homes in an essentially unidirectional manner. However, the coaxial cable used to carry these signals can support bidirectional transmission of signals, i.e., transmission both to and from the home. As a result, cable television companies have begun to provide data communications services to meet consumers' growing demand for high speed data transmission over computer networks, such as the Internet.
Devices known as cable modems have been developed to convert digital data to a modulated radio frequency (RF) signal, and vice versa, for transmission on a CATV system. This conversion is performed both by a cable modem at the subscriber's home and, on the other end, by headend equipment handling multiple subscribers. Thus, the subscriber receives data from a computer network using a downstream channel and transmits data to the network using an upstream channel.
As computer networks deliver increasing amounts of content to users, a need has arisen for increased throughput and communications robustness. It is also essential that communications equipment operate over a wide range of channel impairments, which can include, for example, ingress noise, burst noise, impulse noise, linear distortions, non-linear distortions, and adjacent channel interference. Moreover, the different types of services that use CATV systems give rise to additional needs. For example, for data services, such as Internet access, a high packet throughput and a low packet error rate are primary considerations. For such applications, low delay is not a key consideration. For multimedia services, such as speech, video, and telephony, however, low delay is the primary consideration. It is desirable to minimize the periods of a high bit error rate (BER) for these applications. Additionally, compatibility with existing standards and equipment is important for all applications.

Method and apparatus for capacity increase and enhanced communications performance in CATV networks


A trailer arranged for transport and for use as a dwelling is provided to include a framework having a housing mounted thereon, with the housing including a door assembly extending between the side walls of the housing pivotally mounted to the framework to permit loading of components within the trailer structure. The roof of the housing is arranged for extension relative to the housing for use as a dwelling.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to trailer apparatus, and more specifically pertains to a new and improved multi-purpose trailer apparatus wherein the same is arranged for use as a temporary dwelling and for transport of articles therewithin.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Enclosed trailer structure of various types have been available in the prior art, wherein trailer structure for specialized purposes such as towing of snowmobiles is exemplified in the U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,923,335; 4,222,698; 4,014,444; and 3,658,200.
The instant invention attempts to overcome deficiencies of the prior art by providing for a trailer structure arranged for the ease of transport of snowmobile structure, as well as for the use of the trailer structure as a temporary dwelling and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


Disposable syringe with needle cover including a slidable needle cover preventing contact of the user with the needle and preventing re-use of the assembly.

The instant invention relates to a disposable syringe with needle cover, of the type ready to be used; the needle and its corresponding protecting sheath as well as the remaining parts and forming elements being also ready to be used and being sterilized. The advantage of the syringe of the invention is that the user will have no contact with the needle or surrounding regions, before, during and after the injection; the assembly being completely disabled thereafter.
More particularly, the instant invention relates to a syringe of the above mentioned type comprised by a main cylindrical, hollow body, having a solid plunger displacing therein, which is located coaxially, the inner space of said cylindrical main body constituting the transient housing of the liquid or medicine to be injected, as well as of blood or other liquids to be withdrawn from the body, in accordance with the displacement direction of such plunger.


A containment berm comprising a containment material that is configured to provide at least a floor and four walls of the berm, a plurality of brackets positioned on the floor and adjacent to the inside surface of the four walls, and a top rail. Each bracket comprises a vertical member, connecting member, and horizontal member. A first end of the vertical member is pivotally connected to a first end of the horizontal member at a first pivot point. A first end of the connecting member is pivotally connected to the horizontal member at a second pivot point between the first and second ends of the horizontal member. The top rail extends around a top perimeter of the four walls of the berm. Each bracket comprises a clamp portion that is situated on a second end of the vertical member and that clamps onto the top rail.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of containment berms, and more specifically, to a containment berm with internal "L" braces that are removably coupled to a top rail extending around the upper perimeter of the berm and also to a flexible, durable and chemically resistant material that forms the body of the berm.
2. Description of the Related Art
Oil drilling rigs use large, portable secondary containment berms to contain tank farms consisting of multiple 400 BBL (16,800 gallon) upright tanks. These conventional containment berms are typically comprised of a heat-welded geomembrane liner that is configured to provide a three-foot sidewall supported by "A" braces on the exterior side of the berm. These "A" braces connect to segments of steel rod that run partially through the hem of the geomembrane liner and that are not connected to one another.
This type of system suffers from a number of disadvantages, however. With the braces on the outside of the berm, there is virtually no added weight on the geomembrane liner itself, allowing the walls of the berm to blow in and disfigure the berm. This leads to unnecessary man hours constantly pulling the "A" braces and berm walls back out and into place. Multiple sand/weight bags are required with these types of systems, which is yet another drawback. As noted above, the rods that run through the hem are not interconnected; therefore, there is no corner-to-corner support, resulting in weak spots in the event of a spill. Another problem with this type of system is the lengthy set-up and take-down times.
Yet another issue with the "A"/exterior brace-style berms arises in the winter months. With snowfall and freezing temperatures, the braces become frozen to the ground. If the braces are frozen hard enough, special equipment is required to remove them. Lastly, the outside edges of these containment berms are heavy human traffic areas. These exterior bracing systems create unwanted tripping hazards and the potential for injury to person or property.
The present invention overcomes all of the disadvantages of conventional secondary containment berms of the type described above. With the braces on the interior of the berm, all of the weight of the geomembrane wall structure and aluminum and steel framework that support the wall is on the berm itself. This prevents the berm walls/framework from blowing in and reduces the need for sand/weight bags. The present invention internal "L" berm has a framework system that consists of galvanized tubing that runs continuously through the hem and that connects to corner braces. This solid frame, which completely encompasses the wall perimeter, adds much needed strength and helps ensure a more solid and sound berm. Furthermore, set-up and take-down time are reduced considerably by having just one continuous tube for each wall length. Because the berm is braced on the inside, the potential for human/equipment damage is eliminated, and there is no possibility of the braces/framework freezing to the ground.
Prior art containment systems include: U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,775 (Kroger, 1988) entitled "Dike Assembly"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,116,300 (Pildysh, 1992) entitled "Containment System"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,316,175 (Van Romer, 1994) entitled "Foldable Spill Collector Container"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,762,233 (Van Romer, 1998) entitled "Foldable Spill Collector Container"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,800,091 (Van Romer, 1998) entitled "Configurable Containment System and Wall Strip"; U.S. Pat. No. RE39,971 (Van Romer, 2008) entitled "Portable Containment"; U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 2007/0278225 (Van Romer) entitled "All-Terrain Berm"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,920 (Hallsten, 1997) entitled "Modular Containment System for Hazardous Materials"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,461 (Shaw et al., 1999) entitled "Liquid Containment Apparatus With Flexible Side Wall"; U.S. Pat. No. 6,092,686 (Shaw et al., 2000) entitled "Collapsible Liquid Containment Device"; U.S. Pat. No. 6,315,495 (Starheim, 2001) entitled "Portable Environmental Containment System"; U.S. Pat. No. 7,014,391 (Starheim et al., 2006) entitled "Portable Environmental Containment System"; U.S. Pat. No. 6,880,721 (Barrett et al., 2005) entitled "Portable Containment Berm System"; U.S. Pat. No. 7,874,764 (Fossen et al., 2011) entitled "Secondary Containment System for an Above-Ground Petroleum Storage Tank"; U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 2012/0187119 (McAtarian et al.) entitled "Collapsible Containment Berm"; U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 2012/0193369 (Beak et al.) entitled "Liquid Containment Apparatus With Flexible Wall Supports"; U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 2013/0017018 (Allen et al.) entitled "Liquid Containment System"; U.S. Patent Application. Pub. No. 2013/0164082 (Stein) entitled "Modular, Dynamically Sized and Shaped, Industrial-Liquid-Containment System and Methods of Use"; and International Patent Application Pub. No. WO 02/092442 (Moffat et al.) entitled "Portable Berm Device With Snap-Foam Features." Examples of prior art bracing systems include U.S. Pat. No. 7,036,676 (Christensen, 2006 entitled "Foldable Water Tank"; U.S. Pat. No. 7,938,291 (Christensen, 2011) entitled "Foldable Water Tank With Shielded Hinges"; U.S. Pat. No. 7,506,777 (Ramp, et al., 2009) entitled "Closable Containment Wall Berm Support"; U.S. Pat. No. 8,418,414 (Nelson, 2013) entitled "Swimming Pool Brace Assembly"; and U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 2010/0028081 (Barrett et al.) entitled "Containment Berm Bracket." None of these inventions provides the structural and functional advantages of the present invention, as discussed more fully below.

Containment berm with internal “L” braces


A hanging material such as a curtain is provided with openings each having a slit therein for attachment to a fixed rod. Each opening is reinforced with rings having projecting flanges extending beyond the ring away from the curtain. The projecting flanges of the rings makes it easier to open up the ring thereby facilitating the placement of the curtain upon the fixed rod.

The present invention relates to an accessory for attaching and detaching materials from a rod without requiring removal of the rod or adding additional hardware, such as hooks or the like, to the fabric.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,232, issued on Feb. 16, 1993 (which is fully incorporated herein by reference), discloses and claims an accessory product for easily mounting and detaching a material from a rod without removing the rod. The accessory product is intended for use with hanging or otherwise suspended materials, such as window treatments (window curtains, drapes, etc.), shower curtains, windscreens, towels, and so forth. Such suspended materials (referred to herein as xe2x80x9changing materialsxe2x80x9d for brevity) are well known in the art, and are often mounted onto rods.
In one system of the prior art, separate devices, such as hooks or clips, are utilized to connect portions of the curtain to the rod. In an alternative system of the prior art, the curtain or drape is mounted by threading a rod through the reinforced holes in that curtain.
As an advance over the prior art products, the ""232 patent discloses an accessory invention, as shown in FIG. 5, which allows a curtain or so forth to be attached to a mounting rod without the need for hanging support hooks, clips, and so forth, while also avoiding the need to remove the rod from its supports. The accessory is useful in a large variety of applications, including shower curtains and other household and commercial products. It involves a series of reinforced openings with slits provided between alternating paired sets of holes, thereby allowing the hanging material to be attached over the rod without the need for threading or hooks. Further advances and improvements to the inventions disclosed in the ""232 patent are provided herein.

In accordance with the invention, a hanging material such as a curtain (e.g. a window curtain or a shower curtain) or other product is provided with a slit therein for attachment of the hanging material to a fixed rod without removing the rod. In a preferred embodiment, the material has a fastener therein, as well, the slit extending through the fastener. In a further preferred embodiment, the hanging material includes at least one external slit, i.e. a slit, at any angle, which intersects an edge of the hanging material. In a further preferred embodiment, the external slit is one (at any angle) which extends through the inside circumference or inner edge of a fastener at one end and the outer edge of the hanging material at the other end.
The invention can be used for window treatments, shower curtains, drapery, portieres, room dividers, blinds, accessory tapes, and windscreens, or other hanging items. The fastener, which can be made of a rigid, or semi-rigid material (i.e. a material with some flexibility), is preferably integrated into the hanging material and facilitates the attachment of the material to the rod without the need to remove the rod from its supports. The slit is of any shape or size desired. Further objects and features of the invention will be apparent in conjunction with the drawings and detailed disclosure provided herein.

Suspended materials having external slits


Provided is a medical material useful for wound dressings or a drug delivery system, which material is safe and has high healing effects, more specifically, which is free from cytotoxicity or other side effects caused by a drug and permits the selective healing of the diseased site in a small dosage without damaging the sites other than the diseased site.. The medical material so provided is a polymer gel having a sequence represented by the formula: A-Sp1-E-Sp2-G wherein A represents a water-swelling polymer gel, Sp1 represents the first spacer, E represents a cleavable group with the main chain to be cleaved via an enzymatic reaction, Sp2 represents the second spacer and G represents a drug. When the polymer gel is used, the cleavable group (E) is cleaved according to an amount of an enzyme existing at the diseased site to release the drug in accordance with the amount of the enzyme.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a polymer gel for medical use. More specifically, the present invention relates to a novel polymer gel for medical use having a drug releasing property. The polymer gel of the present invention is useful as the structural component for wound dressings, adhesives for biological tissues, adhesion preventing agents, bone reinforcing materials, and drug releasing base materials.
2. Description of the Related Art
Gauze and/or ointments have been used conventionally for treating wounds such as injury and burn, ulcer, and decubitus. These have effects of absorbing exudate and preventing the penetration of exogenous bacteria and the like. It has been indicated recently that a variety of growth factors (bFGF, TGF.beta., etc.) promoting wound healing are present in the exudate from the wounds [see Howell, J. M., Current and Future Trends in Wound Healing, Emerg. Med. Clin. North Amer., 10, 655-663 (1992), etc.] Therefore, attention has been focused on an occlusive dressing having the effect of promoting wound healing while holding the growth factor on the wound [Eaglstein, W. E., Experience with biosynthetic dressings, J. Am. Acad. Dermatol., 12, 434-440 (1985)].
In addition, polymer gels have been used conventionally in various applications in medical fields. It has been proposed recently a drug delivery system (DDS) or wound dressing containing a pharmaceutical agent in a polymer gel.
In recent years, occlusive wound dressings made of polyurethane film, hydrocolloid, alginate gel, polyvinyl alcohol sponge, or polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel have come to be known.
Occlusive wound dressings made of polyurethane film, hydrocolloid, alginate gel or the like are excellent in terms of the effect of facilitating healing. Once the dressings are infected with bacteria, however, the bacteria rapidly proliferate because the wet environment is a suitable medium for the bacteria, with a risk of triggering severe infection. For the prevention or treatment of the infection with bacteria, antibiotics are administered systemically or locally, but blood circulation is so poor at wounds with bacterial infection that an effective dose of antibiotics cannot be delivered to the wounds by the systemic administration, or side effects may occur by local administration due to the cytotoxicity of locally administered antibiotics and healing is prevented.
As wound dressings with pharmaceutical agents contained therein, proposed are a wound contact pad as a part of a wound treating device, comprising a mixture alginate salt of an insoluble alginate salt and a soluble alginate salt, and containing an antibiotics or a local anesthesia [see Japanese Language Laid-Open Publication (PCT) No. 501067/1992]; and a wound dressing containing hydrogel, as the structural component, in which a peptide promoting healing of wounds is covalently bound at least at the surface and/or containing a disinfectant (see Japanese Language Laid-Open Publication (PCT) No. 500028/1994).
In the wound dressings disclosed in the Japanese Language Laid-Open Publication (PCT) No. 501067/1992, drugs such as antibacterial agents and local anesthesia may be contained in a gel pad, but the drugs are consistently released because the drugs are not immobilized onto the gel, thus possibly inducing side effects.
In the wound dressing disclosed in Japanese Language Laid-Open Publication (PCT) No. 500028/1994, the surface thereof is chemically bound with a peptide for promoting wound healing and the bonding cannot be cleaved. Thus, the effect of the peptide can be exerted only at a site in contact to the wound dressing.
Specific examples of the drug delivery system are a crosslinked hyaluronate gel containing lipid microspheres with pharmaceutical agents encapsulated therein and being cleavable with OH radicals [see Yui, et al., Polymer Pre-prints, Japan, 42(8), 3186-3188 (1993)]; and cellulose powder bound, through an amino acid residue or peptide chain composed of -Phe-, -Tyr-, -Ile-Tyr- or -Gly-Ile-Tyr-, with pholcodine [see F. Lapicque & E. Dellacherie, J. Controlled Release, 4, 39-45 (1986)].
In the former case, the hyaluronate gel is decomposed at a site where OH radicals are generated, whereby a drug encapsulated in lipid microspheres is released. Because the generation of high levels of OH radicals is limited to a certain stage of inflammation or to a very limited area of inflammation, however, the number of diseases to which the system is applicable is relatively limited. Furthermore, the drug encapsulated into lipid microspheres is gradually released from the lipid microspheres into an external aqueous phase so that the drug may be released also at a site besides the diseased site, involving possible side effects.
In the latter case, pholcodine bound through an amino acid residue or peptide chain composed of -Phe-, -Tyr-, -Ile-Tyr- or -Gly-Ile-Tyr- to cellulose powder is tentatively released by the cleaving action of an enzyme, but the release of the drug is as less as 1/1000 to 1/20,000 fold compared with the unimmobilized drug. Thus, such system is not practical.


A catalyst for purifying exhaust gases of an automobile engine including a carrier coprecipitated with a material absorbing oxides of nitrogen (NO.sub.x) and an active noble metal wherein the material absorbing oxides of nitrogen is at least one of barium manganese oxide (BaMnO.sub.3) and calcium manganese oxide (CaMnO.sub.3). The carrier coprecipitated with BaMnO.sub.3 or CaMnO.sub.3 shows superior capacity for absorbing oxides of nitrogen. Consequently, a catalyst according to the present invention can effectively purify engine exhaust, even in a lean burn environment.

The present invention relates to a catalyst for purifying exhaust gases of an automobile engine and a method of manufacturing the catalyst, for more effectively removing harmful gases from the exhaust gases of an automobile engine, such as hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and oxides of nitrogen (NO.sub.x).
Currently, with the increase in the number of automobiles, air pollution due to exhaust gases is becoming more and more serious. Diesel engine automobiles generate the most exhaust, and the chief harmful components of the exhaust are hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and oxides of nitrogen (NO.sub.x).
The research into methods of removing these harmful gases has been divided largely into fuel improvement, engine improvement, and exhaust treatment. In exhaust treatment, the use of a catalyst has proven to be most effective.
At present, the most typical catalyst for purifying the exhaust gases of an automobile engine is a 3-way catalyst in which a carrier coats a substrate, typically a honeycomb structure. The carrier is impregnated with a noble metal, such as platinum (Pt) or rhodium (Rh), and an oxygen absorbing material.
Such a 3-way catalyst shows a high degree of purification efficiency with respect to harmful 3-way gases, i.e., hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and oxides of nitrogen, at the ideal air-to-fuel ratio of 14.7:1. Recently, however, a lean-burn automobile engine has been developed in which combustion occurs in a lean-burn environment (an air-to-fuel ratio of 18.about.25:1), that is, with more air than the ideal air-to-fuel ratio.
Compared to the conventional automobile engine, the lean-burn automobile engine is advantageous in that the quantity of exhaust is decreased and fuel efficiency is improved. Although the lean-burn automobile engine has less exhaust, however, it is difficult to remove oxides of nitrogen from the exhaust, since in a lean-burn environment where the air-to-fuel ratio is high, oxidation of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons readily occurs, but a reduction reaction is difficult. Thus, the lean-burn automobile engine has a particular problem in that oxides of nitrogen remain in the exhaust and act as a harmful pollutant.
Therefore, a catalyst capable of effectively removing oxides of nitrogen from the exhaust is required, especially for lean-burn automobile engines which operate in a lean-burn environment.
The catalysts for removing oxides of nitrogen can be largely divided into a selective contact reduction type and a storage reduction type. The selective contact reduction type catalyst wherein an active noble metal, such as Pt, Rh, or Pd, is impregnated into a Cu-ion exchange type zeolite, ZSM-5, is disadvantageous in that the removal efficiency for oxides of nitrogen is very low (about 35%) and heat-resistance and durability are poor.
Meanwhile, the storage reduction type catalyst in which a material absorbing oxides of nitrogen and an active noble metal, such as Pt, Rh, or Pd, are impregnated into alumina is advantageous in that heat-resistance and durability are good.
However, the conventional storage reduction type catalyst does not have a high purification efficiency for oxides of nitrogen because the absorbing material employed in the conventional catalyst does not have a high storage, i.e., absorbing, capacity for oxides of nitrogen.

Catalyst for purifying automobile exhausts and method of manufacturing the catalyst


Video recordings of meetings and scanned paper documents are natural digital documents that come out of a meeting. These can be placed on the Internet for easy access, with links generated between them by matching scanned documents to a segment of the video referencing the scanned document. Furthermore, annotations made on the paper documents during the meeting can be extracted and used as indexes to the video. An orthonormal transform, such as a Digital Cosine Transform (DCT) is used to compare scanned documents to video frames.

Events, such as meetings, may be recorded to save important information. Often, a video of the meeting may contain important information which may be retrieved by an individual who may not have been able to attend. During the meeting, a presenter or participant may have a paper handout in order to enhance their presentation. The discussion pertaining to a particular handout or slide may be a significant aspect of the meeting. A subsequent viewer of the video may wish to view only a segment of the video pertaining to a particular paper handout.
Paper handouts are widely used and individuals feel comfortable interacting with them during a meeting. Individuals can make notes and annotations on the handouts without consciously thinking about how to do it. This is not the case with most electronic documents and devices, especially for a gathering of meeting participants who may have not been trained in the technology. The reason is that during a meeting when people must pay attention and participate, only the simplest technologies having an unobtrusive form factor and an undemanding user interface are usable.
The Cornell Lecture Browser allows for a user to view a segment of a video pertaining to a digital document in a specified format. The Cornell Lecture Browser matches the specified digital document to a section of a videotaped event. However, in certain scenarios, a digital pre-formatted file of the paper handout may not be available in all events. A paper handout may be the only document available at the meeting. Further, creating a specified digital form of a paper handout may require special equipment or knowledge not available to a participant.
In contrast, a paper handout may be easily scanned to create a digital file. Scanning equipment is relatively inexpensive and easy to operate. Nevertheless, in scanning the paper handout and/or slide, a number of problems may be encountered which do not have to be overcome in using the Cornell Lecture Browser. First, the scanned document may have substantial margins which would hinder matching of the scanned paper handout to a segment of the video tape. Second, the scanned document may be slightly rotated during scanning resulting in a skewed scanned document which may hinder matching of the scanned document to a segment of the video. Third, the paper handout may be in monochrome while the video may be videotaped in color further hindering a match between the scanned document and a segment of the video. Fourth, the paper handout may be scanned with handwritten annotations further complicating the matching of the scanned document and a segment of the video.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a method, system and article of manufacture containing software which links a scanned document to a segment of a video. The method, system and article of manufacture should allow for linking a scanned document having substantial margins and rotated during scanning. The method, system and article of manufacture should be able to link a monochrome scanned document to a color video, or vice versa.

Method, system and article of manufacture for linking a video to a scanned document