A switchable electrical connector for distribution equipment is provided, particularly in the form of a tap housing containing the F-port connector which when installed in a CATV system, is switchable to selectively supply RP with power to customers who subscribe to telephone service; and to provide only RF (5 MHz-1 GHz) to customers who subscribe only to cable television service. The connector includes a cylindrical outer conductor for attachment to a housing of the distribution equipment which contains a pcb, a conductor of a coaxial cable being connectable to said outer conductor; an inner resilient conductor member contained in the outer conductor and connectable to an electrical circuit when contacting the pcb, a conductor of a coaxial cable being connectable to the inner resilient conductor member; and a switching arrangement operatively associated with the resilient conductor member and the pcb whereby an electrical circuit may be selectively opened and closed to selectively provide the services when the inner resilient conductor member has contact with the pcb.

The conventional coaxial cable usually consists of an electrically conducting center conductor, a first layer comprising a dielectric, a second layer comprising an electrically conducting sheath, a third layer comprising a braid, and a fourth layer comprising a jacket, or multiple layer combinations of either or both.
Currently, cable TV network systems use outdoor and indoor taps which are constructed as in FIG. 1. At least one input 11 and in most cases one output 12 are connected with the cable wire to transmit the signal to the next device. Networks on the inside of the taps including the printed circuit board (pcb) of tap units distribute and transmit the signal through F-port connector 13, then through cable wire to the end user. One such tap is disclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,979, commonly assigned herewith.
The conventional F-port connector 13 is generally tubular in configuration and may have a front end carrying an appropriate fastener designed to mate with equipment ports or terminals. Additionally, the conventional F-type connector or port comprises a standard female interface and includes a first hollow annular member having a generally cylindrical inner surface, end openings and a generally cylindrical outer surface extending for a portion of the axial length of the first annular hollow member.
Such connectors are used in the television industry, for example, on equipment for distributing signals to customer's homes. Any signal not being used must be terminated without leakage. Normally, this is done with a separate external terminator connector.
Additionally, in the cable television industry, it is common to have many subscribers connected to the system via multiple connections. Electrical connecting devices are commonly used throughout the industry and it is not uncommon for any number of customers to be connected for differing and varying services delivered via a cable wire or wires. Problems arise when one or more customers opt for multiple service options such as cable television and/or telephone service through the same distribution system or when one or several customers wish to terminate service. These problems may be illustrated by considering, for example, the actions necessary in a neighborhood where via a tap housing as illustrated in FIG. 1, multiple customers are connected to the cable television system, when one customer wants to add telephone service through the cable system or another wishes to disconnect the system altogether, and/or another wishes to add the telephony and terminate the television service. With present technology, to accommodate these customers a field technician must go to the site to open the tap distribution unit and put an additional connection wire to add the telephony. It also requires a field technician to screw the unit apart and disconnect or remove the wire to discontinue telephony services; and to install a terminator connector for discontinued RF (TV) signals to the disconnected unit. If a terminator is not installed on all unused F-ports or connectors, the quality of the signal will be degraded and additional problems along with customer complaints will be generated. Additionally, in many cases the terminator is dropped or lost by the field technician and as a consequence is not installed and the unit is then left unterminated and the quality of the signal is degraded for the remaining customers.
Automatically terminating printed circuit board BNC connectors are known. Such pcbs are useful in input-output ports for network adapter cards, video matrix switches, video amplifiers, test equipment such as local oscillator and calibration outputs of signal analyzers, etc. One such known connector comprises a printed circuit board mounted BNC connector, terminating resistor, and moveable center conductor, and is advertised as containing a chip resistor which bridges the signal and ground paths when the connector is not mated to a BNC plug. This connector breaks the termination state by utilization of the center conductor of the mating. When the two connectors are attached to each other, the center pin from the mating part moves the center contact pin of the self-terminating connector opening the terminating circuitry. This arrangement is effective with BNC connectors because the center conductor of the mating part is a rigid pin. This arrangement is not effective with an "F" type connector because in "F" connectors, the center contact is the center conductor of the cable and it will bend or deflect or break during the contact necessary to move the pin to actuate the termination. There is thus a continued need in the art for self-terminating "F" -type connectors.

Switchable or automatically terminating connecting device and combination thereof

Philips Electronics North America Corporation


An emergency light assembly includes a flexible panel that has a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge. A first set of light emitters is mounted in the panel. The first set of light emitters is arranged in an arrow shape directed toward the first lateral edge. A second set of light emitters is mounted in the panel. The second set of light emitters is arranged in an arrow shape directed toward the second lateral edge. A control is operationally coupled to the first and second light emitters for selectively turning the first and second light emitters on or off. The control has an off setting turning each of the first and second sets of light emitters off, a first setting turning the first set of light emitters on, and a second setting turning the second set of light emitters on.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to emergency light devices and more particularly pertains to a new emergency light device for warning oncoming traffic of a stranded vehicle and that the traffic should move in a specific direction to avoid the vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of emergency light devices is known in the prior art. U.S. Patent Appl. No. 2004/0046678 shows a triangular shaped warning beacon containing light emitting diodes for warning oncoming traffic of an upcoming hazard. Another type of emergency light device is U.S. Patent Appl. No. 2003/0222791 which again includes a triangular shaped device having light emitters thereon and which also includes a plurality of suction cups for attaching the device to the top of a vehicle roof or trunk hood. Still yet another such device is found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,275,149 and again includes a triangular shaped warning sign which includes a plurality of light emitters for warning oncoming traffic of a hazard.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device that includes directional arrows directing on coming traffic to move to the left, right or outwardly from a middle section of a portion of road.


The present disclosure relates to a direct-type backlight module and a liquid crystal display. the direct-type backlight module includes a back frame, a backlight source, optical films and the elastic rope. The install pillars are arranged on the first edge and the second edge opposite to the first edge of the back frame. The backlight source is arranged within the back frame. The elastic rope and the install pillars cooperatively defines the supporting net opposite to the backlight source. The optical films are arranged on the supporting net, and thus may be supported by the supporting net. In this way, the optical films may be prevented from collapse, so as to exclude the diffusion plate. Not only the cost of the manufacturing process may be reduced, and the thin design of the backlight module may be realized.

With the development of display technology, flat display devices, such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs), have been widely used in mobile phones due to their advantages of high picture quality, power saving, thin body, and wide application range. Various consumer electronic products, such as, televisions, personal digital assistants, digital cameras, notebook computers, and desktop computers have become mainstream in display devices.
Most of the liquid crystal display on the current market are backlight type liquid crystal display, which include a liquid crystal panel and a backlight module. The operation principle of the liquid crystal panel is to arrange liquid crystal molecules in two parallel glass substrates. There are many vertical and horizontal small wires in the middle of the two glass substrates. The liquid crystal molecules are controlled to change direction by being electrified, and the light of the backlight module is refracted so as to display the picture.
Since the liquid crystal panel itself does not emit light, the light source provided by the backlight module needs to display the image normally. Therefore, the backlight module is one of the key components of the liquid crystal display. The backlight module may include edge-type backlight modules and direct-type backlight modules according to the position of the light source. The direct-type backlight module is a backlight source, such as a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) or a light emitting diode (LED) light source disposed behind the liquid crystal panel. After the light is homogenized by the diffusion plate, a surface light source is provided to the LCD panel.
The direct type backlight module has the advantages of high performance, good optical stability, and the like. The conventional direct-type backlight module generally includes a back frame, a backlight provided in the back frame, an optical film disposed at a distance from the backlight source, and a diffusion plate disposed below the optical film. The optical film includes a device for improving the propagation of light from a backlight source, such as a prism sheet and a diffusion sheet. The diffusion sheet is different from a diffusion plate, which does not have a supporting function in a film form. The diffusion plate is used for light emitted from a light source. Diffusion provides support for the optical film at the same time, but the diffusion plate material is thick and the cost is high. If the diffusion plate is omitted, the optical film will collapse downwards, which will cause the quality of the backlight film to decrease.

Direct-type backlight module and liquid crystal display

HUIZHOU CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


An automated kiosk and related apparatus provide check-in and boarding services to energy sector passengers, such as helicopter passengers. Preferably, the kiosk and related apparatus can take and store a picture of the passenger, calculate and/or measure the weight of the passenger and the passenger's luggage, print luggage tags and boarding printouts, check third parties' databases (such as a no-fly list (NFL)) for approval for the passenger's flight and can transmit data to another location (server, third party employer, pilot).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to kiosks for passenger and cargo processing in the energy sector. More particularly, the present invention relates to kiosks for oilfield helicopter, small airplane, and marine travel.
2. General Background of the Invention
There are self check-in kiosks at many airports. However, to the knowledge of the inventors, passenger and cargo processing kiosks are not being utilized in the heliports, marine ports, and other ports that service the energy sector.
The following patents and publications and websites are incorporated herein by reference: EP2369554; US2005/0258231; US2008/0024271; US2011/0173549; U.S. Pat. No. 6,119,096: System and method for aircraft passenger check-in and boarding using iris recognition; U.S. Pat. No. 7,628,324; U.S. Pat. No. 7,086,591: Airport check-in system and method; U.S. Pat. No. 6,695,203: Boarding pass processing unit, boarding gate reader, person collation unit, boarding system, boarding pass, boarding pass processing method, service kiosk for boarding pass; http://www.fixairlines.com/; http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelinfo/airport/expresscheckin/index.html; http://www.westjet.com/guest/en/travel/basics/check-in/self-bag-tagging.shtml; http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=Page&pagename=am%2FLayout&cid=124126 7362173; http://www.dataflyt.com/index.html (weighs a passenger and scans a drivers license).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A system and method of providing service for a Telematics communication device includes a first step of providing a vehicular radiotelephone communication system including a cellular radiotelephone network for connecting the communication device with a service operator. The communication device includes a controller pre-programmed with a hotlined analog telephone number and a cleared digital telephone number if so equipped. A next step includes placing a call by the communication device using the hotlined analog telephone number. A next step includes determining whether the communication device has a service contract in place with the service operator, wherein if the communication device does not have a service contract, switching the call to a voice recording, and wherein if the communication device does have a service contract, providing service for the communication device.

Telematics devices have been introduced into vehicles to provide a simple and transparent technique for users to place calls. At installation, such as with a new vehicle, Telematics devices must first be setup for service, even though the Telematics unit is already operable. Service operators have set up a 'hotlining' process to automatically route calls directed to an entered telephone number, from a non-setup Telematics network access device, to a different telephone number indicating to the user that service must be setup first.
Specifically, hotlining is a mechanism within the service operator network which restricts the destination telephone number that calls from a particular Telematics network access device can be routed to. It is set up within the service operator network for each specific Telematics network access device related to a particular Telematics product/business relationship. In other words, the service operator network always routes the call to a single destination telephone number regardless of the actual telephone number dialed, assuming the destination telephone number dialed is not 'cleared' (explained below). The telephone number that the hotlined call is routed to can be controlled by the cellular provider or the Telematics service operator. In practice, it is envisaged that the Telematics service operator will have sole responsibility to determine where the hotlined calls shall be routed. However, there are certain telephone numbers (e.g. 'cleared numbers') that the service operators must connect directly, even if the Telematics user does not have a service contract with the service operator.
Telematics products use 'cleared numbers' to ensure that calls placed from the Telematics unit reach the destination number 100% of the time. Cleared numbers are special telephone numbers that are set up with the cellular provider, often at an additional cost. Whenever the Telematics unit dials a cleared number, the call bypasses all authorization and authentication within the service operator network and is routed through to the destination. Cleared numbers override any hotlining mechanism within the network. This means that when calling a cleared number, the call will always be routed to that destination number regardless of any hotlining of the Telematics network access device in the vehicle. Telematics products already use multiple cleared numbers.
Despite the ability of cleared numbers to always ensure that the call is routed correctly, they do have several disadvantages. First, additional cost is charged by the cellular provider to the vehicle manufacturer for each cleared number. Second, the Telematics service operator has no control over calls to cleared numbers. A call will be sent through regardless of whether the Telematics user has a current business agreement (account) with the service operator or not. The service operator must absorb the cost to handle calls from Telematics units that do not generate revenue for them. Third, the Telematics service can not be turned off by the service operator. There is no way for the service operator to change the service for a single customer. For example, if a customer's service agreement and contract ends or expires, there is no way for the service operator to direct all future calls from that particular Telematics unit away from live help (to avoid cost) and to a voice recording, for example. Fourth, the Telematics module is not synchronized with the business arrangements between the service operator and the end user and therefore always attempts to dial the service operator on activation of a Telematics service, regardless of the state of these arrangements. This again leads to the service operator supporting calls and absorbing costs for an end user with which they have no business arrangement.
What is needed is a method and system that can overcome the above problems. In particular, it would be beneficial to minimizes or eliminate the use of cleared numbers and their associated disadvantages. It would also be of benefit to allow maximum control for the Telematics service operator to start and stop service based on the contract with the user, while satisfying cellular provider requirements. It would also be of benefit to allow the Telematics module to know the state of the business arrangements between the service operator and the end user and act accordingly, and thereby reduce or eliminate any opportunities for fraud (e.g. restrict the telephone numbers that the Telematics unit can actually dial and be routed to).


In an image processor, a memory device stores output inhibition conditions for inhibiting print of an image including a specified pattern. The input image data is converted to first image data for image forming. On the other hand, the input image data is also converted to second image data in correspondence to a state of a print obtained by the image output device, and a detector detects the specified pattern in the second image data based on the output inhibition conditions. Alternatively, a converter converts the output inhibition conditions to detection parameters according to output characteristics of the image output device, and a detector detects the specified pattern in the input image data based on the detection parameters. Then, a controller controls the output of the processed image data according to a result of the detection.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to image processing for preventing forgery of paper money, securities and the like.
2. Description of Prior Art
Recently, a peripheral of a computer such as a scanner or a color printer has improved functions and higher performance, and a possibility is increased that an average consumer can copy paper money, securities and the like easily. Then, effective countermeasures for preventing forgery have been developed. One of methods for preventing forgery is to include a specified pattern in a design of paper money or the like. The specified pattern is embedded in an image so as not to be noticed by a user in the standpoint of prevention of forgery. Image data is analyzed before printing, and when the specified pattern is detected in the image data, normal print operation is stopped.
However, in the prior art technique for preventing forgery in image forming, an input device is fixed as an input system, and the detection of a specified pattern is performed on data depending on the input device. Therefore, the technique cannot be applied to a print system or an image forming device to which a plurality of input devices can be connected. That is, even when correct detection is possible on image data received from a particular input device, it may not be so for image data received from another input device having different characteristics. Therefore it is desirable to detect a specified pattern in an output device independent of the input device.

Apparatus, system and method for image processing with inhibition control


A method for depicting a three-dimensional object in a real environment, depicted in a final video played back on a monitor, includes the steps of generating at least one object video by filming the object with a camera from different filming directions for generating an object video, wherein the angle of an optical axis of the camera in relation to a central axis of the object is in each case determined for the respective filming direction, so that an angle can be associated with each filming direction. The method also includes generating a live video with at least one live camera and simultaneously inserting the object video into the live video at a defined position in the environment for generating the final video, and changing the position of the live camera in the environment and simultaneously depicting the object in the final video in a desired perspective in the environment.

In television and internet video productions, virtual objects are increasingly embedded into a video that is broadcast live. The viewer is unable at first glance to distinguish between the real live video and the inserted virtual object. Virtual insertions are almost no longer recognizable as such particularly if the camera remains stationary during live production, or while the live video is being generated. However, problems arise when the position of the camera changes during recording, because the perspective of the inserted object must also change accordingly.
For example, images or videos of people are often prepared and placed by insertion in the room or studio as a two-dimensional image or video. For the viewer, this then results in an image depicted on his monitor or television set, which is largely formed from the live video into which, however, the two-dimensional person is also inserted.
However, if the camera recording the live image is moved so that it no longer looks frontally at the inserted person, the images always appear narrower. In the end, the inserted person would no longer be seen if the camera moves around them by 90° and is disposed to the side of them.
To avoid this effect, there is the option of optically co-rotating the image of the inserted computer graphics when the camera moves around it. This prevents the image from appearing narrower due to the new angle; however, it is then only seen straight from the front, i.e. two-dimensionally, from all perspectives.
It is also known to first capture objects, e.g. people, by means of a three-dimensional scan. In the process, the depth of the object is also measured at every camera shot in order to finally be able to prepare a three-dimensional model of the object. In a next process step, the different shots of the object from the respective perspectives are overlaid (mapped) so as to result in the three-dimensional body. Thus, in principle, the individual shots are in this case "spanned", piece by piece, onto the body. However, this is done portion by portion, wherein the transitions cannot always be displayed flawlessly. The three-dimensional shape of the object is also not perfect in this case, which can often be discerned in faces in such shots; so-called artifacts are produced. Notwithstanding the above, the generation of such three-dimensional scans is complex and requires a large data volume; manual post-processing is also necessary.
Another issue arises if the object is a person, for example, and is supposed to move in the future live video. In that case, the three-dimensional scan also has to be animated, for which purpose knowledge or information, e.g. about joints and possible directions of movement, have to be taken into account. Also, such an animation is rarely perfect; generally, it is clearly recognizable that this is an animated video; the movement often appear unnatural.

Virtual three-dimensional objects in a live video


First topics related to a content page, such as a web page, are identified. Thereafter, second topics related to a first content element, such as advertisements, and a second content element, such as media files, are identified based on the first topics. Common topics are identified that are common to the first and second topics. Based on the common topics, first and second content elements are identified and combined in a bundle that is transmitted to a user requesting the content page.

Content for a web page or other entity can include media files that are related to the content of the web page. The content can be included in a content page, such as the web page, that is delivered to a user through a browser. This content is typically manually selected by a publisher of a web page and embedded into the web page. The content that the publishers typically embed can have associated advertising. However, if advertisements are included, the advertisements targeted or sold may not relate to the content on the publisher's site, as manually selecting media to display on a publisher's web page does not ensure that the publisher's web page displays the media that is best targeted to the publisher's audience.


A high output power is obtained for an audio power amplifier using an amplifier circuit topology wherein channels or stages of a multi-channel class AB monolithic integrated circuit are paralleled in order to drive a low impedance dual voice coil speaker. The stages are paralleled by connecting their outputs through isolation resistors. These resistors prevent the differences in output bias voltages from resulting in a short circuit from power to ground. In addition, the resistors are sufficiently small to achieve the correct speaker damping factor, yet large enough to prevent excessive quiescent current. The separate amplifier channels or stages are paralleled through isolation resistors which increases current drive resulting in a higher output power to the loud speaker.

The present invention relates in general to an audio power amplifier, and more specifically to an amplifier comprising monolithic integrated circuits providing high output power using parallel class AB output stages.
Automotive audio systems typically receive electrical power from low voltage electrical systems. This results in various difficulties in attempting to provide high levels of amplification in the audio system for driving output loudspeakers. Various techniques have been employed to overcome the problem of inadequate voltage headroom being available for the output audio amplifiers. For example, output power to the speaker can be increased by using a specially designed low impedance speaker. In the prior art however, only class D amplifier configurations have been used to drive low impedance speakers because only such a high efficiency amplifier could provide the current levels necessary to drive a low impedance speaker when using a low voltage supply. However, class D amplifiers are relatively expensive for use in automotive audio systems.
It is also known in the prior art to employ a switching power supply in the audio system to raise the supply voltage for the output amplifier to thereby increase output power to the speaker. However, switching power supplies have the disadvantages of greatly increased costs and increased electromagnetic interference.
Especially in automotive audio systems, it is preferable to construct amplifiers using monolithic integrated circuits. IC's provide the lowest cost and require the least amount of space due to the reduced number of components in an amplifier. However, monolithic IC amplifiers have been limited in the amount of output power which can be provided at the voltages used in automotive electrical systems. The lack of sufficient power is especially a problem for subwoofer speakers for which a loud sound pressure level is desired.
Monolithic IC's are available with bridged outputs for increasing output power. In the bridged configuration, the opposite speaker voice coil inputs are each driven by separate amplifier stages which have their polarity inverted. More specifically, each amplifier stage is biased at about one-half of the supply voltage and each amplifier stage amplifies the input signal in relation to the bias voltage but in an opposite sense with respect to the other amplifier stage. Bridged outputs increase the power applied to the speaker without needing a negative or split voltage supply. However, bridged amplifiers have still failed to provide sufficient output power for many applications, including subwoofer applications.

Audio output amplifier with parallel class AB stages


Cancer is a disease for which there remains a great unmet medical need, and therefore the discovery and development of new antineoplastic agents is critically important. The present invention relates in part to new therapeutic compounds with antineoplastic activity. Provided herein are polyamine sulfonamides such as compounds of Formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, which may be used in the treatment and/or prevention of diseases such as cancer. Also provided herein are pharmaceutical compositions and kits comprising the inventive compounds. Furthermore, the present invention provides methods of treating and/or preventing diseases (e.g., cancer) using compounds of Formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof or pharmaceutical compositions thereof. Other methods provided include methods for inducing apoptosis of a cell, as well as methods for inhibiting alpha-enolase enzymatic activity in vivo and in vitro.

Cancer is a disease for which there remains a great unmet medical need. According to the World Health Organization, about 14.1 million new cases of cancer were diagnosed across the globe in 2012, resulting in approximately 15% of human deaths that year. See, e.g., World Cancer Report 2014, World Health Organization, Chapter 1.1. Hematological cancers are cancers that affect the blood, bone marrow, and lymphatic system, and account for approximately 10% of all cancers diagnosed in the United States. It has been estimated that one person in the United States is diagnosed with a hematological cancer every three minutes. See, e.g., Blood Cancer Facts 2014-2015, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society; Cancer Facts & Figures 2015, American Chemical Society, 2015. Examples of common hematological cancers include leukemias (e.g., acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), acute myeloid leukemia (AML)), lymphomas (e.g., Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas), and myelomas (e.g., multiple myeloma (MM)).
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common leukemia in adults. AML arises from a the neoplastic transformation of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. This disease occurs in approximately 0.5% of the population, usually in adults over the age of 45. Although 50-70% of AML patients respond to induction chemotherapy, nearly 80% of patients will die of refractory disease. Moreover, the current treatment for AML, which hasn't changed since the 1960s, is highly toxic, requires inpatient hospitalization for 4 weeks on average, causes life-threatening side effects in 80% of patients and kills 10-20% of patients. For most patients with AML, the only cure is allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant. However, only a small fraction of patients are eligible for transplant due to lack of suitable donor and significant co-morbidities that portend for transplant-related death. In terms of financial costs, the all-cause cost of treating AML in the United States is estimated to be in the billions of dollars each year. Given this large unmet need and high cost of treating complications of disease, new antineopastic agents are critically needed for AML and related diseases such as the myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and other proliferative diseases.

University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.

Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies


A copper-boron double oxide of the formula: CujMkBmOn in which M is a metal atom, and j, k, m and n are each a positive integer, a copper-molybdenum double oxide of the formula: CuxMoyOz in which x, y and z are each a positive integer, or a copper double oxide of the formula: CuMxe2x80x22O4 in which Mxe2x80x2 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of B, Al, Ga, Mn, Co, Ni and a rare earth element is useful as a positive electrode-active material of a lithium secondary cell.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an active material for a positive electrode (positive electrode-active material) and a lithium cell comprising the same. In particular, the present invention relates to a positive electrode-active material with a high voltage and a high capacity and a lithium cell comprising the same.
2. Prior Art
Hitherto, a lithium cell comprising copper oxide (CuO) as a positive electrode-active material (hereinafter referred to as a xe2x80x9cLi/CuOxe2x80x9d cell) has been proposed as a lithium cell having a high capacity density (see Brounssely M., Jumel Y. and Cabano J. P., 152nd Electrochemical Society Meeting, Atlanta (1977)).
However, the Li/CuO cell has a low closed circuit voltage of about 1.2 to 1.5 V, and thus it cannot be used in applications which require a high voltage.
One object of the present invention is to provide a positive electrode-active material which can achieve a high voltage without decreasing the capacity, and a lithium cell comprising such a positive electrode-active material.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a positive electrode-active material consisting of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a copper-boron double oxide of the formula:
CujMkBmOnxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(I)
wherein M is a metal atom, and j, k, m and n are each a positive integer, a copper-molybdenum double oxide of the formula:
CuxMoyOzxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(II)
wherein x, y and z are each a positive integer, and a copper double oxide of the formula:
CuMxe2x80x22O4xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(III)
wherein Mxe2x80x2 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of B, Al, Ga, Mn, Co, Ni and a rare earth element Ln (for example, Y, La, etc.)
Furthermore, the present invention provides a lithium cell comprising a positive electrode comprising the above active material of the present invention, a lithium negative electrode, and an electrolyte solution.
In the lithium cell of the present invention, for example, a Li/Cu2FeBO5 cell, unlike the conventional Li/CuO cell, the circumstance around the reducing copper atom of Cu2FeBO5 is different from that of CuO, and thus the distance of the Cu-O bond varies. In addition, the Cu atom is bonded with Fe and B. Therefore, the lattice energy is increased. It is known that the increase of a lattice energy and the variation of the distance between a reducing atom and the nearest atom increase a discharge voltage (Masayuki Yoshio and Akiya Ozawa Ed., xe2x80x9cLithium Ion Secondary Cellsxe2x80x9d, page 8 (published by Nikkan Kogyo Shinbunsha), 1996).
In the synthesis of the positive electrode-active material such as Cu2FeBO5, CuB2O4, Cu3Mo2O9, etc., since B2O3, H3BO3 or MoO3 having a low melting point is used, Cu2FeBO5, CuB2O4 or Cu3Mo2O9 of a single phase can be synthesized at a relatively low temperature, and the particles of Cu2FeBO5, CuB2O4 or Cu3Mo2O9 having a small particle size can be produced by the synthesis at such a low temperature. The use of such Cu2FeBO5, CuB2O4 or Cu3Mo2O9 having a small particle size as a positive electrode-active material can increase the conductivity of the positive electrode and, in turn, the discharge voltage. In the course of discharging, the Cu2FeBO5 or CuB2O4 particles may generate B2O3 or boron compounds and Fe2O3, and Cu3Mo2O9 may generate MoO3, and such generated materials discharge in the range between 1 V and 3 V. Thus, the capacity of the cell further increases. Therefore, in cooperation with the above-described increase of the discharge voltage, a lithium cell having a high voltage and a high capacity can be obtained.
FIGS. 3 and 4 show the discharge characteristics of the cell of Reference Example 1 comprising B2O3 as a positive electrode-active material, and that of the cell of Reference Example 2 comprising MoO3 as a positive electrode-active material, respectively. From FIGS. 3 and 4, it can be understood that the cells of Reference Examples 1 and 2 discharge at a higher voltage than a cell comprising CuO as a positive electrode-active material, the discharge characteristics of which are shown in FIG. 2.

Positive electrode-active material and lithium cell comprising the same


This invention relates to an assay device and a method for pretreating a specimen containing a biologically-relevant substance and then assaying the biologically-relevant substance. Biologically-relevant substances used in the assay method include microorganisms, cells, viruses, nucleic acids, polysaccharides, proteins (including antigens, antibodies, chromoproteins, and enzymes), peptides, nucleic acids, and small molecules. This pretreatment method removes contaminants from the biologically-relevant substances using supports such as magnetic particles, gels, resins, membranes, and solid-phased reagents. Therefore, in the assay method the following steps are generally carried out (i) a pretreatment step of treating a specimen using one or more first supports and then one or more second supports, and (ii) the assay step carried out after the pretreatment step. In particular, the pretreatment method reduces false positives and false negatives in the assay.

Since the method of preparing a monoclonal antibody was established, as a method for assaying a biologically-relevant substance of interest in a specimen, an immunoassay such as enzyme immunoassay has been employed as the main assay method. When using such an immunoassay, it is possible to perform direct assay because of its high specificity, and assay can be performed with high sensitivity. Further, recently, regarding these assay methods, steps from the step after setting a collected specimen to the step of obtaining assay results have been automated by the assay system. Further, in order to accelerate assay more, reagents in which concentrations of a solid-phased antibody and a conjugate are higher than ever before have been developed. However, when using reagents in more concentrated form, nonspecific reactions, which are conventionally unrelated at the time of assay, are often caused.
It is considered that causes of nonspecific reactions are the variety of target substances, the presence of immune analogs, the variety of antigens and the variety of antibodies. In the immunoassay system, as substances causing various nonspecific reactions, IgA-type, IgM-type and IgG-type heterophilic antibodies (antibodies that react between animals of different species: HAMA, anti-BSA antibody, etc.) and biological components (e.g., rheumatoid factor, cryoglobulin and M protein) are present, and there is a case where they show false positive in immunoassay as a result of a nonspecific reaction (see Non-patent documents 1, 2 and 3). Moreover, since cancer-associated antigens such as sugar chain exist on the surfaces of bacteria, in the case of infection caused by bacteria, false positive is often shown in cancer tests without cancer. Furthermore, there is a case where false positive is shown due to a nonspecific reaction caused, for example, by bacterial infection at the time of surgery for removing an organ from a cancer patient.
Further, a nonspecific reaction often occurs during pregnancy or when being affected with liver disease, kidney disease or the like. Moreover, recombinant antigens are used for many recently-developed reagents. It is known that due to the presence of bacterial components used at the time of preparation of these recombinant antigens, antibodies against these bacteria affect the assay system. In general, when performing immunoassay, inhibitors against these nonspecific reactive substances are added. However, since there is a limitation on the adding amounts for reagents, sufficient inhibitory effects are not necessarily obtained. Therefore, it is difficult for currently-used assay systems to remove nonspecific reaction factors and to sufficiently inhibit nonspecific reactions to perform assay.

Method for pretreating specimen and method for assaying biological substance