An emitter-coupled multivibrator includes two transistors, a base potential supplying circuit for maintaining the base potential of one transistor which is on at a high potential and the base potential of the other transistor which is off at a low potential, and a base potential control circuit for controlling the base potential of the transistor which is on in accordance with a frequency controlling voltage V.sub.C. A coupling capacitor is charged with a constant current which flows through the transistor which is on, and when the voltage between the base and the emitter of the transistor which is off reaches a predetermined value by charging, the transistor which is off is turned on, while the transistor which is on is turned off. The same operation is repeated so as to alternately turn on and off the transistors for the purpose of oscillating operation. At the same time, the base potential control circuit controls the base potential of the transistor which is on in accordance with the frequency controlling voltage V.sub.C, thereby alternately turning on and off the transistors at a frequency f.sub.0 which is proportional to the frequency controlling voltage V.sub.C.

The present invention relates to an emitter-coupled multivibrator and, more particularly, to an emitter-coupled multivibrator including two transistors which are alternately turned on and off and the emitters of which are connected with each other via a capacitor and are also connected to respective constant current sources.
In a field of directly modulating the frequency of a baseband signal such as a video signal which requires a wide frequency deviation, a frequency modulator is usually constituted by a circuit based on an emitter-coupled multivibrator, which is one of the relaxation oscillation system. FIG. 6 shows an example of the circuit of such an emitter-coupled multivibrator, and FIG. 7 shows the waveform of the operation of each element thereof.
In FIG. 6, the symbols Q.sub.1, Q.sub.2 represent NPN transistors which constitute a multivibrator and which are alternately turned on and off, C a capacitor for connecting the emitters of the transistors Q.sub.1, Q.sub.2, and CS.sub.1, CS.sub.2 constant current sources provided between the emitters of the respective transistors Q.sub.1, Q.sub.2 and the earth. A frequency controlling voltage V.sub.C is input to the each of the constant current sources CS.sub.1, CS.sub.2, which supply a constant current I.sub.C represented by the following equation: EQU I.sub.C =gm.multidot.V.sub.C
wherein gm represents a mutual conductance. The collectors of the transistors Q.sub.1 and Q.sub.2 are connected to a bias supply V.sub.CC via resistors R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and diodes D.sub.1, D.sub.2, respectively. The diode D.sub.1 (D.sub.2) has a function of clamping the terminal voltage of the resistor R.sub.1 (R.sub.2) to a constant voltage V.sub.D when the transistor Q.sub.1 (Q.sub.2) is turned on even if a collector current changes.
The symbols Q.sub.3, Q.sub.4 represent NPN transistors for supplying a base current to the transistors Q.sub.1 and Q.sub.2. The emitter terminals of the transistors Q.sub.3 and Q.sub.4 are connected to the base terminals of the transistors Q.sub.2 and Q.sub.1, respectively, the collector terminals are connected to the bias supply V.sub.CC, and the base terminals are connected to the collector terminal of the transistors Q.sub.1 and Q.sub.2, respectively.
If it is now assumed that the transistor Q.sub.1 is on and the transistor Q.sub.2 is off, as shown in FIG. 6(a), the emitter potential of the transistor Q.sub.1 is V.sub.CC -2V.sub.BE, wherein V.sub.BE is a voltage between the base and the emitter. Although the emitter potential of the transistor Q.sub.2 is inferred to be V.sub.CC -V.sub.D -2V.sub.BE, the inter-base emitter voltage of the transistor Q.sub.2, actually, cannot reach V.sub.BE which is necessary for turning on, because the emitter-coupled capacitor C is charged as shown in FIG. 6(a). Therefore, the transistor Q.sub.2 is still off. In this state, if the constant current I.sub.C flows in the direction indicated by the arrow via the transistor Q.sub.1 which is on, the charges stored in the coupling capacitor C are discharged, and the capacitor C is finally charged to the opposite polarity. If the charging state continues, the emitter potential of the transistor Q.sub.2 is lowered and the inter-base emitter voltage has a satisfactory V.sub.BE which is sufficient for turning on the transistor Q.sub.2, and a current begins to flow through the transistor Q.sub.2, which is turned on.
When the transistor Q.sub.2 is turned on, as shown in FIG. 6(b), a diode clipping voltage V.sub.D generates as a terminal voltage of the resistor R.sub.2 which is connected to the collector terminal of the transistor Q.sub.1 resulting in lowering the base potential of the transistor Q.sub.1. But, the emitter potential of the transistor Q.sub.1 cannot be lowered in accordance with the lowered base potential, because the capacitor C is charged in the polarity shown in FIG. 6(b), so that the transistor Q.sub.1 is turned off. This is the operation in a half cycle.
The peak-to-peak amplitude of the rectangular wave of the collector voltage of each of the transistors Q.sub.1 and Q.sub.2 is the clamping voltage V.sub.D(p-p) of the diodes D.sub.1 and D.sub.2 respectively, and the emitter potential has an intermittent saw-tooth waveform. The amplitude thereof is 2V.sub.D(p-p) with the charging voltage taken into consideration. Consequently, the time (T/2) elapsed before the emitter potential of the transistor Q.sub.1 or Q.sub.2 drops by 2V.sub.D is represented by the following equation: EQU (1/C).multidot..intg.I.sub.C dt=2V.sub.D EQU t=T/2=2V.sub.D C/I.sub.C =2V.sub.D C/gm.multidot.V.sub.C (1)
Therefore, the oscillation frequency f.sub.0 is represented by EQU f.sub.0 =1/T=(gm/4CV.sub.D).multidot.V.sub.C (2)
In an actual diode, however, as is clear from the voltage-current characteristic of a diode, the clamping voltage (V.sub.D) of the diode fluctuates slightly depending upon the current I.sub.C, i.e., the frequency controlling voltage V.sub.C. Consequently, the oscillation frequency f.sub.0 is sometimes not proportional to V.sub.C.
To solve this problem, a circuit has been proposed which is improved in that the amplitudes of the intermittent saw-tooth waves (amplitudes of the waveforms of the emitter potentials of the transistors Q.sub.1 and Q.sub.2) do not directly depend upon the clamping voltages VD of the diodes D.sub.1 and D.sub.2.
FIG. 8 shows the circuit of such an improved emitter-coupled multivibrator, and FIG. 9 shows the waveform of the operation of each element thereof. In FIG. 8, the same reference numerals are provided for the elements which are the same as those shown in FIG. 6. The emitter-coupled multivibrator shown in FIG. 8 is different from that shown in FIG. 6 in that a current switch CSW is provided. The current switch CSW is composed of a differential pair of amplifiers of the transistors Q.sub.3, Q.sub.4, a current source CS of a constant current I, and collector resistors R.sub.C, etc.
When the transistor Q.sub.1 is on, and the transistor Q.sub.2 is off, the transistor Q.sub.3 in the current switch SW is off and the transistor Q.sub.4 is on. In this case, a limit voltage V.sub.LMT (=I.multidot.R.sub.C) having a constant amplitude generates at the collector terminal of the transistor Q.sub.3, and the limit voltage V.sub.LMT is input to the base terminal of the transistor Q.sub.1 via the coupling capacitor. On the other hand, the voltage at the collector terminal of the transistor Q.sub.4 is 0, and this voltage is input to the base terminal of the transistor Q.sub.2.
In this state, a constant current I flows through the emitter coupling capacitor C in the direction indicated by the arrow so as to discharge the charges stored in the coupling capacitor C and then charge the capacitor C to the opposite polarity. If the charging state continues, the emitter potential of the transistor Q.sub.2 is lowered and the inter-base emitter voltage has a satisfactory V.sub.BE which is sufficient for turning on the transistor Q.sub.2, and a current begins to flow through the transistor Q.sub.2, which is turned on. Then the base potential of the transistor Q.sub.3 which constitutes the differential pair becomes higher than the base potential of the transistor Q.sub.4, and the transistor Q.sub.3 is turned on, while the transistor Q.sub.4 is turned off. When the transistor Q.sub.3 is turned on, the base potential of the transistor Q.sub.1 is lowered to approximately zero. However, the emitter potential of the transistor Q.sub.1 cannot be lowered in accordance with the lowered base potential, because the capacitor C is in the act of charging, so that the transistor Q.sub.1 is turned off. This is the operation in a half cycle.
As described above, the transistor Q.sub.1 is turned off and the transistor Q.sub.2 is turned on, and the transistor Q.sub.3 is turned on and the transistor Q.sub.4 is turned off in the current switch CSW in the first half cycle. In addition, the limit voltage V.sub.LMT having a constant amplitude (=I.multidot.R.sub.C) generates at the collector terminal of the transistor Q.sub.4, and the limit voltage V.sub.LMT is input to the base terminal of the transistor Q.sub.2 via the coupling capacitor. On the other hand, the voltage at the collector terminal of the transistor Q.sub.3 is 0, and this voltage is input to the base terminal of the transistor Q.sub.1. In this state, the same operation as that in the first half cycle is repeated in the second half cycle.
As is clear from the above explanation, the peak-to-peak amplitude of the rectangular wave of the collector voltage of each of the transistors Q.sub.1 and Q.sub.2 is the clamping voltage V.sub.D(p-p) of the diode D.sub.1 (D.sub.2), but the amplitude of the rectangular wave of the base of each of the transistors Q.sub.1 and Q.sub.2 is V.sub.LMT. That is, the V.sub.C dependence of the amplitude of the rectangular wave of the base is removed by the limiter characteristic of the current switch CSW, and the amplitude becomes V.sub.LMT. As a result, the emitter potential of each of the transistors Q.sub.1 and Q.sub.2 has an intermittent saw-tooth waveform and the amplitude thereof is 2V.sub.LMT with the charging voltage taken into consideration. Consequently, the time (T/2) elapsed before the emitter potential of the transistor Q.sub.1 or Q.sub.2 drops by 2V.sub.LMT is represented by the following equation: EQU T/2=2V.sub.LMT C/I.sub.C =2V.sub.LMT C/gm.multidot.V.sub.C (3)
Therefore, the oscillation frequency f.sub.0 is represented by EQU f.sub.0 =1/T=(gm/4CV.sub.LMT).multidot.V.sub.C (4)
In an emitter-coupled multivibrator improved in the above-described way, the V.sub.C dependence of the amplitude of the rectangular wave of the base is removed and, as a result, it is possible to make the oscillation frequency f.sub.0 proportional to the frequency controlling voltage V.sub.C. However, even in such an improved emitter-coupled multivibrator, the Vc-f.sub.0 characteristic becomes nonlinear with an increase in the oscillation frequency f.sub.0, as shown in FIG. 10. This is because the rising time in the intermittent saw-tooth waveform cannot be regarded as zero. More specifically, in a case where a high frequency oscillation generates, it is impossible to disregard the rising time in the intermittent saw-tooth waveform, as shown in FIG. 11. If it is assumed that the rising time is constantly .tau., the half period takes longer by the time corresponding to the rising time .tau.. The relational expression for obtaining the half period is therefore corrected as follows: EQU T'/2=2(V.sub.LMT C/gm.multidot.V.sub.C)+.tau. (5)
Therefore, the oscillation frequency f.sub.0 is represented by EQU f.sub.0 =(1/T')=gm.multidot.V.sub.C /(4CV.sub.LMT +2.tau..multidot.gm.multidot.V.sub.C) (6)
At this time, the V.sub.C dependence generates in the denominator, and the V.sub.C-f.sub.0 characteristic has a nonlinear characteristic as shown in FIG. 10.

Emitter-coupled multivibrator having frequency proportional to control voltage


A crane operated log lifting beam assembly for unloading a tier of logs from a truck. The beam assembly includes two cable operated longitudinally displaceable trolley systems for securing an attached pulp sling against the tier of logs and a displacement equalizing system for interconnecting the trolley systems and for controlling the relative displacement thereof.

Pulp logs are generally transported to a wood yard located at a paper mill, lumber mill or the like aboard a vertical stake logging truck. Typically, the truck arrives at the wood yard carrying a load of logs which have been precut to a predetermined length such as four or eight feet and which have been arranged in a plurality of tiers along the length of the truck, with each tier weighing several tons depending upon the dimensions of the logs and the type of wood. Prior to the loading of each tier of logs onto the truck, a cable pulp sling is typically centered transversely thereunder with each end of the pulp sling being manually secured to a fastening element located on the upper section of an appropriate truck stake, in a position which cannot be accessed by workmen standing on the ground. Consequently, at least one workman is required to climb up on top of the logs, which are commonly wet, frozen and/or covered with ice, in order to secure the ends of each cable pulp sling to the corresponding fastening elements, thereby increasing the probability of accidental injury or death due to falls, slips, shifting logs or other hazards associated with the log loading process.
After arriving at the wood yard, each of the log tiers on the truck is unloaded by manually securing the ends of the associated pulp sling to a slip-hook arrangement located at the end of a crane operated hoisting cable. As the hoisting cable is raised upwards by the crane, the slip-hook arrangement tightens the attached pulp sling around the tier of logs, thereby enabling the tier to be lifted out of the truck and transferred to the appropriate location in the wood yard. Again, because of the inaccessible location of the ends of the cable pulp slings, at least one workman must climb up on top of each tier of logs to attach the corresponding pulp sling to the slip-hook arrangement. Depending upon the number of log tiers carried by the truck, a workman may be required to climb on and off the truck several times, thereby exacerbating the probability of accidental injury or death.
Workmen on the ground may also be injured while the log tiers are being unloaded from a truck and during the transfer of the unloaded logs t the appropriate section of the wood yard because of the inherent instability afforded by currently available crane operated log unloading systems. In particular, if a pulp sling has not been correctly centered under a tier of logs during the loading process, the logs may not be correctly balanced within the slip-hook arrangement and may not remain in a substantially horizontal orientation relative to the ground during the unloading process. Consequently, one or more logs may shift out of position, slide out from within the slip-hook arrangement and fall to the ground crushing any workmen or equipment unfortunate enough to be located thereunder.


Provided is an image processing method for easily viewing images obtained by imaging multiple components at a time, the method including image capturing processing of capturing each component holding state relating to multiple suction nozzles mounted on a mounting head as one image, image dividing processing of dividing a region relating to a predetermined component holding state for image data of the multiple component holding states obtained by the image capturing processing, direction conversion processing of converting a direction of the component holding state for divided image data divided by the image dividing processing, and display processing of displaying an image based on the divided image data subjected to the direction conversion processing.

In a component mounting machine, a mounting head having a suction nozzle is configured to move inside the machine, components supplied from a component supply device are picked up and held so that the components are mounted on a board conveyed by a conveyance device. In the component mounting machine of Patent Literature 1 below, a rotary head for pivoting multiple nozzles disposed in a circumferential direction as a mounting head is used. The rotary head includes a side camera for imaging a tip portion of the suction nozzle and an optical system for forming images of multiple locations by multiple mirrors at an imaging element. Therefore, in the first conventional example, by simultaneously capturing images of the multiple locations, an operator can check multiple statuses from a monitor at a time.
Patent Literature 2 below relates to a mounting production system for mounting components on a printed circuit board, an inspection method using an image for processing of each step is described. In this inspection method, for example, when the board is sent in an order of a printing step, a mounting step, and a reflow step, the board is imaged by a camera of an inspection device every time the board passes through each step, and thus a state inspection after each step becomes possible. At this time, a magnification and direction of verification image data may be differed, and a size and direction of an inspection image displayed on the monitor may become different. Therefore, in the second conventional example, the inspection images are aligned by enlarging or reducing processing of the verification image data, or by direction conversion processing.


According to a production method for a structure of a contact point of a terminal piece, it is possible to heighten the durability of the terminal piece by thickening the contact point without raising material cost and processing costs. Materials for a copper plate (20) of a circumferential wall portion (18) of a contact point (16) are gathered and pressed toward substantially the center of a top portion (17). The materials are moved toward substantially the center of the top portion (17), so that the thickness of the top portion (17) becomes larger by a thickness of .alpha. than the thickness (T) of the copper plate (20). The top portion (17) is formed to be thicker than the circumferential wall portion (18).

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a structure of a contact point of a terminal piece which is used principally for a switch, such as an ignition switch for a vehicle, and to a production method for the structure thereof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There has been known a structure of a contact point of a terminal piece and a production method for the terminal piece, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 (see Japanese Laid-open Utility Model Publication No. Sho 62-98125).
In FIGS. 8 and 9, each of the terminal pieces 1 has a platelike leg portion 4 which is inserted into and connected to each of connector slits 3 of a corresponding connector 2.
The terminal piece 1 further has a base plate portion 5 extending from the leg portion 4. The base plate portion 5 has substantially the same thickness as that of the leg portion 4 and is formed integrally with the leg portion 4 by bending a single copper plate substantially perpendicularly.
The base plate portion 5 is brought into contact with or separated from a contact point plate 10 on a movable side which functions as another terminal contact point, so that an electric signal is passed or shut off electrically.
By pressing, the base plate portion 5 is provided with a contact point 6 shaped substantially into a hat in section which expands in a direction in which the leg portion 4 extends, in other words, expands toward the movable-side contact point plate 10.
The contact point 6 has a top portion 7, which can come into contact with the movable-side contact point plate 10, and a circumferential wall portion 8 formed around the top portion 7.
The thus formed terminal pieces 1 are buried and fixed in an insulating bass 9 by, for example, insert forming.
The movable-side contact point plate 10 is attached to a rotor 12 disposed rotatably in a cylindrical case 11.
The rotor 12 is rotated along with an ignition key (not shown), and thereby movable contact points 13, 13 attached to the movable-side contact point plate 10 are brought into contact with or separated from the top portions 7, 7 of the contact points 6, 6, respectively. Accordingly, various modes of positionings, such as turn-on, turn-off, starting, or electrical continuity in accessories, are performed.
However, in this conventional structure of the contact point of the terminal piece and the production method for it, the top portion 7 of the contact point 6 is spread out when being formed by pressing.
Therefore, there is a fear that the top portion 7 will be formed thinner than the base plate portion 5 therearound and accordingly abrasion caused by a repetition of the contact and separation of the top portion 7 with and from the movable contact point 13 will lower the durability of the top portion 7.
In order to solve this problem, it might be a possible solution to heighten the durability of the top portion 7 by increasing the thickness of the base plate 5 and the leg portion 4 approximately 2 to 2.5 times.
However, this method brings about a rise in material cost for increasing the thickness of a copper plate used as metallic materials and a rise in processing costs for bending the leg portion 4 and the base plate 5 or forming the leg portion 4 so as to be inserted into the connector slit 3 of the connector 2.

Structure of a contact point of a terminal piece and production method therefor


A programming device for programming a programmable state controller. The programming device translates a control task into an automation-unit control program to be executed by the programmable state controller. The programming device simplifies the programming of a programmable state controller by using a structured text with several sub-structures to formulate the control task.

German Published Patent Application No. 37 43 438 describes a device which effects, according to an instantaneous state and an input vector assignment of digital process input quantities, a transition to a subsequent state and a transfer of new control data to an output stage. Here, a control file is provided that is stored in the device and in which the input quantities or rather the combinations of these input quantities are specified that are relevant to the respective instantaneous state.
In German Published Patent Application No. 42 26 456, a programmable state controller is described that facilitates a state transition from an instantaneous state to a subsequent state for multiple processors.
With such a state controller or rather known device, reaction times to changes in the input data are significantly shortened in comparison to a customary programmable controller that, during control operation, reads out individual statements of the control program, corresponding to processing with a Von Neumann machine, from a memory step by step, interprets them and finally executes the corresponding operations.
From the printed publication "Automatisiern mit SIMATIC S5-155U" Automation with SIMATIC S5-155U!, Hans Berger, 1989, a programming device is known that is provided for translating a control task into a control program for an automation unit. All functions of the control task are programmed or described with a representation type "Statement list", "Function plan" or "Contact plan" "Ladder diagram"!. The programming device translates the programmed functions regardless of the representation types into a corresponding machine code. This code contains all control functions programmed by the user and is read and interpreted by the automation unit after the code was transferred into the automation unit. With this known programming device, it is only possible to produce a control program for a programmable state controller with considerable programming effort. In the older German patent application P 42 35 342.4, a programming device for a programmable state controller is described. The programming device has a memory in which a control task created with a software tool is stored in the form of an action timing diagram that can be displayed on a display apparatus, the action timing diagram describing input and output signals for a technical process to be controlled in the form of binary and/or analog signals. The action timing diagram is processed by the software tool to create a control program having control and status codes for solving the control task, starting from an instantaneous state, through suitable evaluation of level transitions of the signals, and corresponding input, control and state status! codes of the control program are created for the state controller. Knowledge of a programming language or the representation types customary in automation engineering for a control task is not necessary.

Programming device for programming state controllers


Disclosed are nucleic acid-based sensors for measuring the pH of a sample, including cells, regions thereof, and whole organisms. The sensor includes an I-switch that is triggered by protons, and which functions as a FRET-based pH sensor inside living cells and organisms. Also disclosed are compositions and methods for measuring the pH of a specific region of a cell, such as vesicles, the nucleus, mitochondrial matrix, or the Golgi lumen.

Cellular metabolism refers to the orchestration of the chemical and enzymatic reactions that constitute the life process of a cell. These reactions include a vast number of different chemical and enzymatic reactions, relating to the growth and maintenance of the cell. A cell carries out a variety of functions, such as DNA replication, DNA transcription, RNA translation, digestion of macromolecules, construction of macromolecules, and monitoring of the extracellular and intracellular conditions. These chemical and enzymatic reactions occur simultaneously within an active cell. Moreover, these reactions do not take place in isolation; rather the pace of each reaction is regulated, in turn, by the product of one or more other reactions. Overall, the organization of cellular metabolism is embedded in a vast network of inter-related cellular reactions. Given this interdependency, it is apparent that analytes that affect one or more aspects of cellular metabolism are likely to manifest their impact on characteristics of the cell, including pH of intracellular compartments. The pH within various cellular compartments is regulated to provide for the optimal activity of many cellular processes. For example, in the secretory pathway, post-translational processing of secretory proteins, the cleavage of prohormones, and the retrieval of escaped luminal endoplasmic reticulum proteins are all pH-dependent.

Intracellular pH sensor using nucleic acid assemblies


The present technology relates to an imaging apparatus, an imaging method, and a program that perform appropriate exposure control, to thereby enable a desired object to be appropriately imaged.

It has been known that photosynthesis of plants is not affected by light energy but is affected by the number of photons that are particles of light. There has been proposed to measure photon flux density effective in photosynthesis of a plant, to thereby sense the growth of the plant (for example, see PTL 1).

Imaging apparatus, imaging method, and program

Abstract: The present technology includes: an imaging unit including a plurality of pixels having different spectral characteristics; and an exposure control unit setting information associated with exposure control on the plurality of pixels depending on specification information for specifying a kind of a measurement target. Alternatively, the present technology includes: an imaging unit including a plurality of pixels having different spectral characteristics; and an exposure control unit setting information associated with exposure control on the plurality of pixels on the basis of a predicted output value of each of the plurality of pixels based on a spectral characteristic related to a measurement target. The present technology is applicable to an imaging apparatus which senses vegetation, for example.


A computer enclosure includes a cage (10), a side panel (20) and a latch device (30) for securing the side panel to the cage. The latch device includes a cap (50) attached to the side panel, an actuator (40), a resilient strip (60), and a coil spring (48). The cap includes an end plate (56) having an aperture (562) and a base (52) defining a pair of grooves (524). The actuator includes a shaft (462) fixing the coil spring therearound and extending through the aperture, and a pair of symmetric clamps (422). The resilient strip includes a free portion (64), with a projection (642) extending therefrom. The strip is attached to the base. The actuator is slidably received in the cap and the clamps slide in the grooves to engage with free portion of the strip. The projection moves upwardly and downwardly to engage with and disengage from the cage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a computer enclosure, and in particular to a computer enclosure having a latch device for readily securing a side panel to the computer enclosure and detaching the side panel therefrom. The invention relates to contemporarily filed copending applications titled "COMPUTER ENCLOSURE WITH FASTENING DEVICE" with a Ser. No. 10/898,064 and "COMPUTER ENCLOSURE INCORPORATING HOOD FASTENER" with a Ser. No. 10/899,605.
2. Related Art
Many different means are used to secure side panels to computer enclosures. One conventional means is to simply screw a side panel directly to a computer enclosure. However, this requires a screwdriver. Installation and removal of the side panel is unduly cumbersome and time-consuming.
As computers have proliferated and improved, various latch means have been developed to facilitate installation and removal of side panels. One means of latching is shown in Taiwan Patent Application No. 87213422. Locking means thereof comprises a plurality of hooks inwardly formed from a flange of one side of a side panel of a computer casing, for engaging in corresponding slots defined in a rear panel of the computer casing. An opposite side of the side panel forms an L-shaped flange. A plurality of apertures is defined in the L-shaped flange, for extension of screws thereinto. Because screws are needed to fix the side panel to the computer casing, installation and removal of the side panel is still unduly cumbersome and time-consuming.
An improved latch device for securing a side panel to a computer enclosure which overcomes the above-mentioned problems is desired.


A Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) optical monitor, based on concatenated fiber gratings, uses a single modulator and detector and has high dynamic range and good sensitivity through signal averaging. The WDM optical monitor may be implemented in a time-domain or frequency-domain embodiment and used for SNR measurement of WDM optical signals.

Progress in WDM networks is placing new requirements for optical monitoring of system performance and channel characteristics. Conventional grating spectrometers, wavemeters and scanning Fabry-Perot filters have been proposed for optical monitoring, but often are unsuitable because of cost, performance or reliability.
What is desired is a high performance, cost-effective optical signal monitor for use with WDM networks.

Concatenated fiber grating optical monitor


An object of the present invention is to provide a β-fructofuranosidase variant whose reaction specificity is improved to be suitable for the production of fructooligosaccharides. According to the present invention, there is provided a β-fructofuranosidase variant consisting of a mutated amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or a mutated homologue thereof, which has mutations at specific amino acid residues.

Generally, fructooligosaccharides are oligosaccharides in which one to three fructose molecules are bound via β-bonds at positions C1 and C2 to the fructose moiety of sucrose and are indigestible sugars known for their excellent physiological functions, such as stimulation of the growth of bifidobacteria in the intestines, improvement in metabolism of cholesterols and other lipids, low cariogenicity, and stimulation of mineral absorption. Fructooligosaccharides are known to be widely distributed in nature in plants, such as onion, asparagus, and Jerusalem artichoke. Since technology for the mass production from sucrose utilizing a transfer reaction with β-fructofuranosidases derived from microorganisms has recently been established, they have been industrially produced. Currently, intracellular β-fructofuranosidases derived from Aspergillus niger are used in the industrial production of fructooligosaccharides.
Genes encoding these β-fructofuranosidases have been disclosed in WO 97/34004. However, these β-fructofuranosidases produce fructooligosaccharides as a mixture of 1-kestose, nystose, and 1-fructosylnystose and as a result the fructooligosaccharides have been manufactured and provided as syrup or powder of the oligosaccharide mixtures. If β-fructofuranosidases which selectively and efficiently produce 1-kestose or nystose as a single component can be obtained, they would provide the following advantage. Namely, by purification of 1-kestose or nystose to a high degree, followed by crystallization, it is possible to manufacture a single-component crystal fructooligosaccharide product which has excellent characteristics in terms of properties and workability while maintaining the physiological functions of the fructooligosaccharide.
On the other hand, a method for the industrial production of crystal 1-kestose using sucrose as a raw material has been disclosed, for example, in WO 97/21718. Namely, 1-kestose is produced by reacting β-fructofuranosidase with sucrose and purified to a purity of 80% or higher by chromatographic separation, after which the resulting product is used as a crystallization material to obtain crystal 1-kestose having a purity of 95% or higher. In such a method for industrial production, characteristics of enzymes for the use required are a high conversion rate from sucrose to 1-kestose and low nystose production. Similarly, in a method for the industrial production of nystose as a single component, characteristics of the enzymes required are a high conversion rate to nystose and low 1-fructosylnystose production.


Aspects of the invention relate to a customer authentication system for authenticating a customer making a request related to a customer account. The customer authentication system may include multiple application level data receiving and processing mechanisms for receiving customer requests and collecting customer data. The customer authentication system may additionally include a central authentication system for receiving the customer requests and customer data from the multiple application level data receiving and processing mechanisms, the central authentication system determining, based on authentication policy, whether the collected customer data is sufficient to authenticate each customer in order to fulfill the customer request. The central authentication system may return its conclusions and instructions to the multiple application level data receiving and processing mechanisms. The customer authentication system may additionally include a fraud policy system for centrally managing authentication policy implemented by the central authentication system.

Customer authentication for credit and debit card users is a critical function that has yielded sub-optimal results. Customer authentication is generally initiated when a customer acquires an account or attempts to use or service the acquired account through one or more of a number of channels. Today, the process of customer authentication is inconsistently supported across channels such as Internet, phone, bank branches, and ATMs. Currently, financial institutions embed authentication policy within each internal application and the applications accessed may vary depending on the channel through which interaction occurs.
A customer view of the financial institution is through the channels set forth above. Thus, the customer experiences inconsistent authentication processes when attempting a variety of actions, such as new account screening, transaction authentication, and servicing authentication, through one of a number of channels. FIG. 1B illustrates a typical authentication environment that operates to authenticate customers accessing applications through multiple channels. Customers 102 interact over channels 100 with applications 150. The channels 100 may include for example telephone 100, face-to-face 120, and web 130. The applications may include a VRU application 152, a Branch application 162, and web applications 172 and 182. Each of the servicing applications 150 may include its own authentication rules 154, 164, 174, and 184 respectively. Thus, through each of the channels 110, 120, and 130, customers may be confronted with a different process in order to access services. Without a centrally managed authentication platform, customers are subjected to inconsistent treatment when entering the system through any given channel.
Additionally, because the various applications perform authentication procedures in isolation, no standard format or capability is provided to track, record, and monitor customer interactions. The failure to provide tracking, recording and monitoring results in an inability to detect risky transaction patterns. Individual lines of business within an organization may monitor their own channels, but are unaware of events occurring over other channels. Risky patterns necessitate changes to policy, which currently fail to occur because of the lack of detection of these patterns in the currently existing distributed environment. Even upon detection of risky patterns and subsequent policy changes in the existing systems, in order to effect these changes, each and every servicing application would require modification. Thus the system has an inability to quickly adapt to new threads and emerging technologies.
Furthermore, current systems typically apply authentication policies that fail to differentiate between types of transactions, accounts, or account holders. Thus, the current customer authentication model does not assess or leverage cross-channel transactions or behavioral risk. Currently existing systems fail to capture risky interactions across all channels and lines of businesses and therefore fail to execute risk-based authentication. As a result, authentication policy is typically uniformly applied regardless of the type of interaction or channel, even though some types of interactions are much riskier than others.
Another difficulty with the existing systems is that they fail to combat increasingly sophisticated fraud techniques. Perpetrators of fraud strive to find the point of least resistance and continue to access the system through that point. These are points at which personal information is more easily accessible, placing privacy and security at risk, and resulting in exploitation of customers identities. The technology landscape is advancing rapidly and threats are increasingly sophisticated.
Thus, a solution is needed that considers particulars of the customer, the account, the channel, the application, and the requested interaction. Cross channel risk policy should track, record, and assess cross-channel customer transaction to understand and appropriately apply risk based authentication. The solution should be capable of selecting an appropriate authentication level based on such factors as transaction risk and customer account history. The solution should be centrally managed and executed in order to support appropriate, specific, and consistent strategies.


Methods are described which comprise: providing a plasma etching apparatus having an etching chamber; disposing a substrate to be etched in the chamber; introducing N2 gas and one or more process gases into the chamber; and etching the substrate, wherein the introduction of the N2 gas is stopped prior to etching, and wherein etching comprises an initial plasma ignition wherein at least a portion of the N2 gas remains present in the chamber during initial plasma ignition. Additional methods are described which comprise: providing a plasma etching apparatus having an etching chamber; disposing a substrate to be etched in the chamber; introducing N2 gas and one or more process gases into the chamber; applying power to an electrode in the chamber such that an N2 memory species is formed; and etching the substrate, where the introduction of the N2 gas into the chamber can be stopped prior to etching. Other methods are also described which comprise: providing a plasma etching apparatus having an etching chamber; disposing a substrate to be etched in the chamber; introducing N2 gas into the chamber; applying power to an electrode in the chamber such that an N2 memory species is formed; removing the applied power from the electrode in the chamber; stopping the introduction of the N2 gas into the chamber and introducing one or more process gases into the chamber; and etching the substrate.

Dry etching is frequently employed during semiconductor manufacturing for forming structures with small feature sizes. In dry etching, gases are the primary etching medium and the substrate, such as a semiconductor silicon wafer, is etched without wet chemicals (i.e., without etching solutions). During dry etching processes, the material being etched is converted into gas phase materials which are removed from the etching chamber by a vacuum system.
One example of dry etching is plasma etching. Plasma etching utilizes a plasma as the etching medium. Etching plasmas contain many different gaseous species, including ions, free radicals, electrons, photons, neutrals and reaction byproducts.
In one known method of plasma etching referred to parallel plate reaction plasma etching, a process chamber (e.g., the plasma etching chamber) is evacuated and a gas mixture is fed into the chamber and energized to a plasma state using a radio frequency (RF) source. The RF source is capacitively coupled to a substrate to be etched and to an electrode, while another electrode or the inner wall of the chamber is grounded. Positive voltages applied to the one electrode are typically on the order of several hundred volts. The gas mixture forms a glow discharge. Glow discharges are non-equilibrium plasmas wherein the electron temperature is greater than the gas temperature and the ratio of electrons to neutral species is typically in the range of 10−6 to 10−4. Under these conditions wherein a glow discharge has been created and the voltage potential between the electrodes is large enough, the substrate is bombarded by energized particles which arrive at a normal incidence to the substrate and produce an anisotropic etch.
While plasma etching offers a valuable tool in performing precise etching of various substrates at the decreased dimensions required by current circuit integration standards, plasma etching suffers from a variety of problems. One problem in particular is that of maintaining the glow discharge during plasma ignition. Often, it is necessary to employ high pressures and/or greatly increased gas flow rates in order to maintain the glow discharge plasma within the etching chamber. Unfortunately, an associated drawback of using higher pressures and increased flow rates is damage to the patterned profiles. Inability to maintain the glow discharge, especially in multi-step etching processes, due to reductions in pressure or decreased flow rates leads to significantly decreased process efficiency and increased unit costs.
Thus, there is a need in the art for plasma etching methods which are able to maintain a glow discharge while also operating at lower pressures and without increased gas flow rates.

Plasma etching methods using nitrogen memory species for sustaining glow discharge


Disclosed herein is a process for the preparation of dimethylether from hydrocarbons, including tri-reforming a feedstock mixture comprised of hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide and water vapor in the presence of a tri-reforming catalyst, to prepare a syngas, which then undergoes gas-phase direct synthesis into dimethylether in one step in the presence of a hybrid catalyst. According to the process of this invention, three main processes among typical syngas preparation processes are simultaneously performed, and then, the syngas thus obtained is prepared into dimethylether through a direct reaction in one step, thereby decreasing the apparatus cost and operation cost. In addition, all of the carbon dioxide separated and recovered from the unreacted material and by-products may be reused as reaction material, thus decreasing the generation of carbon dioxide and reducing the material cost.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, generally, to a process for the preparation of dimethylether (DME) from hydrocarbons, and, more particularly, to a process for the preparation of DME from hydrocarbons through a tri-reforming reaction and a gas-phase DME direct synthesis reaction over special catalysts in one step.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, DME, which has LPG-like physical properties and other excellent properties, is receiving attention as an aerosol propellant, a substitute material for diesel fuel, LPG, LPG-mixed fuel and an intermediate of chemical reactions.
In general, a process for the preparation of DME from hydrocarbons includes reforming hydrocarbons, serving as a reaction material, through a plurality of reaction procedures to synthesize a syngas, and then subjecting the syngas, serving as a reaction material, to methanol synthesis and methanol dehydration to obtain DME.
As such, the synthesis of the syngas is realized through the following three processes.
In a first process, a hydrocarbon (e.g., methane) and water vapor are catalytically reacted at about 800–900° C., to be converted into hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The production of hydrogen and carbon monoxide is conducted at a high temperature in the presence of a nickel catalyst through Reaction 1 below, and thus, hydrogen and carbon monoxide are produced at a molar ratio of 3:1:CH4+H2O→CO+3H2  Reaction 1The process using the above reaction, which was first introduced by BASF GmbH, Germany, in 1926, has been internationally popularized, and therefore, industrial foundations for thermodynamic research, catalysts, and reaction conditions have been based thereon. In the reforming reaction, having the goals of prevention of back reactions and inhibition of coking of a catalyst, water vapor is supplied in an amount three times greater than the reaction material, and the reaction temperature is maintained at 600–900° C.
In a second process, methane gas and oxygen are reacted at a high temperature to induce the combustion reaction. At this time, the temperature required for the reaction is maintained using the combustion heat generated.
In a third process, carbon dioxide and methane gas are reacted to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide, which is referred to as CO2 dry reforming. Since this process is an endothermic reaction, it functions to decrease the temperature of the reactor. Hence, the reaction temperature has to be maintained using the combustion heat obtained in the second process.
The syngas thus obtained is synthesized into methanol using a methanol synthesis catalyst, after which methanol is transformed into DME as a final product using a methanol dehydration catalyst.
That is, the conventional DME production process is disadvantageous because at least two reaction procedures, including the conversion of syngas into methanol and the conversion of methanol into DME, should be conducted.
According to the conventional techniques, since the synthesis of the syngas from hydrocarbons and the synthesis of DME from the syngas each require at least two reaction procedures, a plurality of reactors must be operated. As such, a problem exists in that all of the reactions must be stopped if one reaction is stopped. In addition, expensive apparatus is required and high operating costs are incurred, due to the use of a plurality of reactors.
As well, carbon dioxide, generated in individual synthesis procedures, is released into the atmosphere, thus contributing to the greenhouse effect.

Process for the preparation of dimethylether from hydrocarbons


The present invention includes a waveguide for outputting radio frequency wave, a vacuum envelope provided with a slow-wave circuit, a coaxial connection part connecting the waveguide and the vacuum envelope, an insulating window member which is provided in the coaxial connection part and which hermetically seals a said of vacuum envelope and a said of waveguide, a coaxial center conductor of exterior portion with one end supported by the waveguide, and a coaxial center conductor of an interior portion with one end abutting on the slow-wave circuit and the other end connected to the coaxial center conductor of the exterior portion. The waveguide is provided with a screw part supporting the coaxial center conductor of the exterior portion movably in an axial direction of the coaxial center conductor of the exterior portion. An end portion of the coaxial center conductor of the exterior portion is connected to the end portion of the coaxial center conductor of the interior portion movably in the axial direction of the coaxial center conductor of the exterior portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a structure of a coaxial-to-waveguide transition for an input and/or output of radio frequency signals, and a traveling wave tube including the structure of the coaxial-to-waveguide transition.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a traveling wave tube is known as a microwave tube. Many traveling wave tubes include structures of coaxial-to-waveguides transition as input window in which a radio frequency wave is inputted, or output window from which a radio frequency wave is outputted.
The output window included in a traveling wave tube related to the present invention is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 5-23397 (see FIG. 1). As shown in FIG. 1, output transition section 101 included by the traveling wave tube related to the present invention is configured by including waveguide 106 for outputting radio frequency wave, vacuum envelope 107 provided with slow-wave circuit 108 in the interior of the vacuum, insulating window member 109 which hermetically seals a side of vacuum envelope 107 and a side of waveguide 106, a coaxial connection portion 110 which connects the waveguide 106 and the vacuum envelope 107, coaxial center conductor of exterior portion 111 with one end supported by waveguide 106, and coaxial center conductor of interior portion 112 with one end abutting on slow-wave circuit 108 and the other end connected to the coaxial center conductor of exterior portion 111.
In such a traveling wave tube, the matching property in the vicinity of insulating window member 109 is determined by the characteristic impedance set by the size of the component parts including the coaxial center conductor of exterior portion 111. In the output transition section, in order to reduce the return loss of an amplified radio frequency wave, impedance in the output transition section needs to be adjusted to be optimal.
Incidentally, each of the components configuring the output transition section inevitably causes variation in the outside dimensions, such as the length and the outside diameter due to machining accuracy, dimensional tolerance and the like. Therefore, in the configuration of the output transition section related to the present invention, in order to adjust the characteristic impedance to a desired optimal value, a plurality of components differing in outside dimensions are prepared when manufacturing the individual output transition sections, and the components from which the optimal impedance value is obtained are selected and assembled from a plurality of components. Therefore, there are disadvantages in that the operation of adjusting impedance is complicated, and manufacturing costs increase.

Structure of coaxial-to-waveguide transition and traveling wave tube


A device for controlling a single-phase power conditioner for a renewable energy system is disclosed. The device comprises: a power system, providing alternating current (AC) utility power; a renewable energy system, using a natural resource so as to generate direct current (DC) power; a DC-to-DC converter, accepting the DC power generated by the renewable energy system so as to convert an input DC voltage of the DC power to an output DC voltage at a voltage level different from the DC input voltage; a grid-tied power conditioner, transforming voltage levels of the AC power and DC power; a controller, issuing a control signal for controlling the grid-tied power conditioner; and a load, consuming electricity by way of the grid-tied power conditioner.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a device for controlling a single-phase power conditioner for a renewable energy system and, more particularly, to a control device for a single-phase power conditioner for a renewable energy system, thereby the renewable energy system is tied with the utility system to provide electricity when the utility system functions normally, otherwise the load consumes transferred power with negligible transfer time when one of the utility system and the renewable energy system does not provide electricity. In the present invention, the power conditioner provides better efficiency and output voltage waveform.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The distributed energy system and the renewable energy system are tied in parallel with the utility power system in practical uses. However, the load requires electricity even when the renewable energy system or the utility power system is mal-functional. Therefore, power transfer is required for the load. In order to reduce the influence of power transfer upon the load, the transfer time needs to be shortened and the swing and distortion of the output voltage of the utility power system need to be minimized.
In U.S. Patent Publication No. 20050006958 filed by Dubovsky, the transfer switch is switched to the power system, which is grid-tied with the renewable energy system, when the power system operates normally. In this grid-tied mode, the load consumes power from the power system. When the power system is mal-functional, the transfer switch is switched to the renewable energy system. In this standalone mode, the renewable energy system only provides power for some key loads such as emergency lights, life support systems and precision equipments. However, during power transfer from the grid-tied mode to the standalone mode, a surge current/voltage often occurs. Moreover, it often takes a considerable period of time for detection. And a power storage system is required for transient output power compensation.
Please also refer to U.S. Patent Publication No. 20030025397 filed by Douglas Gibbons, wherein a magnetic contactor is used for power transfer. Similar to U.S. Patent Publication No. 20050006958, it takes a considerable period of time for power transfer, wherein a surge current/voltage often occurs.
Furthermore, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,304,006 filed by M. Aaron, the load is supplied with electrical power using the standalone mode and the grid-tied mode. When the backup power system or the renewable energy system stops providing electricity, the load consumes electrical power either by way of a rectifier R1 (or a controllable rectifier system) with a filter circuit (F1), a bus and a standalone inverter or from a power storage device by way of a bus and a standalone inverter. In this patented invention, the complexity increases as the number of elements and interfaces increases. Similarly, a surge current/voltage often occurs during power transfer when the power system is mal-functional.

Device for controlling single-phase power conditioner for renewable energy system

Industrial technology Research Institute


Hemoglobin in a sample solution is quickly and reliably denatured; at the same time, quick and accurate measurement of hemoglobin and a hemoglobin derivative is realized. In a method for measuring hemoglobin and a hemoglobin derivative, and a reagent composition, a measurement kit, an analysis device, and an analysis system used in the method, a sample solution containing a blood component is treated with a nonionic surfactant, an oxidizing agent, and a metal salt to denature hemoglobin in the sample solution to measure the hemoglobin, and thereafter the amount of a hemoglobin derivative in the sample is measured by an immunological method using an antibody specifically binding to a denatured site of the denatured hemoglobin derivative.

A hemoglobin derivative, namely, hemoglobin A1c, can be detected in a normal blood glucose level, from which the effect on a blood sugar level (change) by meal is eliminated. Accordingly, hemoglobin A1c is an item frequently measured for early detection of a lifestyle-related disease. Hemoglobin A1c consists of hemoglobin (contained in a red blood cell) and glucose bound to the hemoglobin and is numerically expressed by a ratio (%) of hemoglobin A1c relative to hemoglobin. Therefore, to obtain the ratio of hemoglobin A1c, it is necessary to measure hemoglobin and hemoglobin A1c, separately. Hemoglobin is measured by a method of using light absorption intrinsic of hemoglobin and generally measured near at a wavelength of 415 nm or 540 nm. As a method for measuring hemoglobin near at a wavelength of 540 nm, a cyanmethemoglobin method and an SLS hemoglobin method are widely known. Furthermore, hemoglobin A1c is immunologically measured. For this, hemoglobin has to be taken out of a red blood cell by hemolysis of blood in a sample and the tertiary structure of hemoglobin is changed in order to determine whether the hemoglobin taken out is non-glycated hemoglobin or hemoglobin A1c, thereby exposing a glycated site of hemoglobin out of the tertiary structure. This is called denaturation.
Furthermore, the glycated site is allowed to react with an antibody specifically recognizing the glycated site. In this way, the amount of hemoglobin A1c can be immunologically determined.
Note that, as a prior-art document of the present invention, International Publication WO2006/112339 (WO2006/112339A1) is already published. In the publication, a denaturation method for measuring hemoglobin A1c is also disclosed. This method is directed to a method for measuring a hemoglobin derivative by treating a sample containing a blood component with a nonionic surfactant and an oxidizing agent to denature hemoglobin in the sample.
Furthermore, in clinical tests recently performed, various examination methods have been used in order to examine a stage of disease progression. A large scale automatic analyzer, which is capable of quantitatively determining various components in a biological sample, by reacting the biological sample such as blood with analysis reagents, has been used in practice and come to be an indispensable apparatus in the medical field. In the circumstances, lately, it has been commercially desired to develop a more accurate and more universal analyzer including an analysis method reduced in cost, amount of a sample solution, measurement time and size, and enabling simultaneous measurement of many items.
Of the analyzers and analysis methods more universally used, a measurement principle based on an antigen-antibody reaction is generally known, including immunoassays such as immunonephelometry, latex immunoagglutination method, immunoagglutination inhibition method, latex immunoagglutination inhibition method, fluoroimmunoassay, chemiluminescent immunoassay, electrochemical immunoassay, fluorescence polarization immunoassay, and immunochromatography.
In the immunoassay based on a particle agglutination reaction, a specific component in a biological sample is qualitatively and quantitatively measured and determined based on the presence or absence of agglutination of a free anti-analyte antibody or an anti-analyte antibody bound to a water suspensible particle and the degree of agglutination thereof. The water suspensible particle most generally used is a particle called a latex particle.
Of the immunoassays based on the particle agglutination reaction, a measuring method using an immunological particle agglutination inhibition reaction is known. When an anti-analyte antibody and an agglutinating reagent specific to the antibody are mixed, the agglutinating reagent recognizes the anti-analyte antibody to cause agglutination. However, if an analysis object is present in this system, the agglutination is inhibited. Therefore, the analysis-object can be quantitatively detected by optically measuring or counting the degree of agglutination. This measuring method is widely applicable to various types of analysis-objects. In the agglutination reaction, the concentration of an agglutinating reagent has a large effect upon the reaction.
Note that, as an agglutinating reagent used in immunoassay informed in prior-art documents, a ligand-polymer complex is known and generally frequently used (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-155272). More specifically, the document discloses a ligand-polymer complex, which is an agglutinating reagent for measuring a specific component, particularly, hemoglobin A1c, in a biological sample. The ligand-polymer complex described has a ligand, which is covalently bonded on a polymer material such as polyaspartic acid. FIG. 14 shows an image of a conventional agglutinating reagent formed of a ligand-polymer complex. The conventional agglutinating reagent 4 is composed of a polypeptide (carrier) 5, a linker 2 and a ligand 3 and produced by binding the polypeptide (carrier) 5 to the ligand 3 via the linker 2.    Patent Document 1: International Publication WO2006/112339    Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-155272

Method for producing agglutinating reagent, agglutinating reagent or product produced thereby, and method for measuring analysis object using the same, and test kit and analysis device


A method to predict equipment life is disclosed. The method includes making available a set of input parameters, and defining a model of a health of the equipment as a function of the set of input parameters. The method continues with receiving at least one signal representative of a respective one of an actual sensor output relating to an actual operation attribute margin of the equipment, predicting a remaining useful equipment life based upon a sequence of outputs of the model of the health of the equipment, and generating a signal corresponding to the remaining useful equipment life.

The present disclosure relates generally to life estimation, and particularly to equipment subsystem life estimation.
Estimating a remaining useful life, also herein referred to as a remaining life, of a subsystem is known in the art as prognostics. Remaining life estimates provide valuable information for operation of modern complex equipment. Remaining life estimates provide decision making aids that allow operators to change operational characteristics (such as load), which in turn may prolong a life of the subsystem. Remaining life estimates also allow planners to account for upcoming maintenance and set in motion a logistics process that supports a smooth transition from faulted to fully functioning equipment. Predicting remaining life is not straightforward because, ordinarily, remaining life is dependent upon future usage conditions, such as load and speed, for example. In addition, an understanding of the underlying physics that govern remaining life is hard to come by in particular for complex machinery where numerous fault modes can potentially be the driver for remaining life. Examples of equipment that may benefit from use of remaining life estimates are aircraft engines (both military and commercial), medical equipment, and power plants.
A common approach to prognostics is to employ a model of damage propagation contingent on future use. Such a model is often times based on detailed materials knowledge and makes use of finite element modeling. Because such models are extremely costly to develop, they are limited to a few important parts of a subsystem, but are rarely applied to a full subsystem.
Another approach is a data-driven approach to take advantage of time series data where equipment behavior has been tracked via sensor measurements during normal operation all the way to an end of equipment useful life. The end of equipment useful life can represent a totally non-functioning state of the equipment for example, equipment failure. The end of equipment useful life can also represent a state of the equipment wherein the equipment no longer provides expected results. When a reasonably-sized set of these observations exists, pattern recognition algorithms can be employed to recognize these trends and predict remaining life. These predictions are often made under an assumption of near-constant future load conditions. However, such run to end of equipment useful life data are often not available because, when an observed system is complex, expensive, and, safety is important, such as aircraft engines, for example, faults will be repaired before they lead to the end of equipment useful life. This deprives the data-driven approach from information necessary for its proper application.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a life estimation arrangement that overcomes these limitations.

System and method for equipment life estimation


Provided is a polyurethane aqueous dispersion characterized in having practical utility in terms of processing suitability when a formed film is produced by salt coagulation method, and characterized in that a formed film obtained from the same has practical utility in terms of resistance against ethanol water. A polyurethane aqueous dispersion for a formed film, the formed film being obtained by using the polyurethane aqueous dispersion and a coagulant liquid in combination, is obtained by: neutralizing an isocyanate group-terminated prepolymer obtained by reaction of a polyisocyanate (A) composed of diphenylmethane diisocyanate and alicyclic diisocyanate, a random copolymer (B) of ethylene oxide and tetrahydrofuran, a polyol (C) having a number average molecular weight of 1000 to 5000, a polyhydric alcohol-based chain extender (D) having a number average molecular weight of 400 or less, and a diol compound (E) having a carboxyl group; and dispersing the obtained neutralized substance in water, and thereafter causing a chain extension reaction using an amine-based chain extender (F).

A polyurethane aqueous dispersion is used in, for example, paints, adhesives, synthetic leather, artificial leather, formed films and the like. Among these, examples of the formed films include gloves, finger stalls, condoms and the like, which are typically produced by salt coagulation method (Patent Document 1). In the configuration of Patent Document 1, in order to obtain a formed film having a uniform film thickness, a polyurethane aqueous dispersion having specific viscometric properties is used. With regard to a formed film, however, demand characteristics other than the above-described properties, for example, durability in the case where it is exposed to ethanol water repeatedly, stuffiness resistance in the case where the formed film is worn for a long time, and the like are required in some cases, but the document 1 discloses almost nothing other than the film thickness uniformity.

Polyurethane aqueous dispersion, formed film obtained from same, and glove


An antenna suitable for use in the 5 GHz WLAN/Wi-Fi and DSRC frequency band is integrated with a vehicle window that is includes outer and inner transparent plies bonded together by an interlayer. The inner transparent ply and the interlayer serve as an antenna substrate. A first conductive layer is formed on the inner surface of the outer transparent ply and a second conductive layer that defines a coupling slot is formed on the outer surface of the inner transparent ply. The antenna may be excited by a coaxial cable or a microstrip line that crosses the coupling slot.

In automotive glazings such as windshields and back windows, antennas for the reception and/or transmission of radio frequency waves such as AM, FM, TV, DAB, RKE, etc. are often carried on or incorporated in the glazing. Such antennas have been formed by printing conductive lines such as silver or copper onto a glazing transparency or by laminating metal wires or strips between transparency layers of the vehicle glazing. Such antennas offer advantages of aerodynamic performance for the vehicle as well as provide an aesthetically pleasing, streamline appearance for the vehicle.
In recent years, the automotive industry has developed vehicles that are capable of communicating via radio frequency signals and other communication channels. Such vehicles are sometimes referred to as "the connected car." New vehicle models offer a growing list of optional features such as safety improvements and features that enable Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) radios for vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications. Currently, the automotive industry is moving from assisted driving toward autonomous driving. Each new car connection, whether by cellular, WLAN or DSRC, requires an antenna that supports the respective communication channel. In some cases, as many as six antennas may be required for cellular service and another six DSRC antennas for V2V and V2I communications. Designing antennas that can be accommodated by space that is available on the vehicle presents a significant challenge. Integrating antennas in the vehicle glazings offers advantages of improved aesthetics, simplified antenna packaging, reduced weight, discouraging theft and vandalism, and eliminating holes in the vehicle body that are prone to water invasion and other problems. Therefore, there has been a need for antennas that are capable of operating at high frequencies (e.g. above 2 GHz) and that can be mounted on a vehicle without protruding from the exterior of the vehicle or into the interior passenger compartment.
US patent application US 2018/0037007 A1 illustrates a patch antenna that is attached to the interior surface of the inner pane of a laminated glass for Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) application. U.S. Pat. No. 7,126,549 B2 describes a patch antenna that is attached to the interior surface of the inner pane of a laminated glass for Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service (SDARS). Both of those patch antennas are attached to the inner surface of the transparency and provide a narrow band that is characteristic of patch antennas. Additionally, those designs require a relatively expensive low loss substrate material and, due to curvature of the vehicle glazing, the substrate may not be appropriately secured to the glazing. In addition, the antenna patch is printed on one of the inner surfaces of a transparency that is covered with black paint for aesthetic reasons. That design makes alignment of the antenna substrate and the patch more problematic for production in commercial quantities.
The rapid growth in connected vehicle communications has given rise to a need to integrate more and more antennas on the vehicle. There is, therefore, a need for DSRC, Wi-Fi, WLAN and Bluetooth antennas that can be mounted to a surface of the vehicle, but that do not extend from the exterior of the vehicle or protrude into the interior passenger compartment. In addition, there is a practical need that such antennas can be accommodated by existing vehicle parts as standard equipment with minimum cost. Still further, it is also important that such antennas maintain the aesthetic or appearance of the vehicle and require only limited modification to existing glazing structure and manufacturing processes. Furthermore, there is also need for a single antenna having wide band characteristics which can receive and transmit over the entire Wi-Fi and DSRC frequency band.


A method and apparatus are disclosed for flushing a blood treatment apparatus. The blood treatment apparatus has a first compartment and second compartment separated by a semipermeable membrane substantially impermeable to gas. A flushing circuit is set up by connecting an inlet of the blood treatment apparatus to a flushing liquid source and an outlet of the blood treatment apparatus to a discharge pipe. Liquid is circulated through the flushing circuit in pressure waves. These pressure waves dislodge air bubbles adhering to an inner wall of the blood treatment apparatus and discharge the air bubbles in the flushing liquid.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and a device for the initial flushing of a blood treatment apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known that before commencing dialysis treatment, the dialyser has to be flushed and filled (procedure referred to as priming) by passing a flushing solution through the compartments of the dialyser. Various methods have been proposed for carrying out this flushing. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,548 describes a method which consists in connecting the outlet of the dialyser's blood compartment to the inlet of the dialysis liquid compartment, and in circulating in series, through the blood compartment and the dialysis liquid compartment, a sterile physiological saline solution issuing from a bag. The outlet of the dialysis liquid compartment is connected to a bag for collection and discharge of the flushing liquid.
In a known flushing method, the flushing liquid is not recovered in a collecting bag, but is eliminated via the dialysis apparatus' pipes for discharge of used liquid. For this purpose, the outlet connection piece of the dialysis liquid compartment is connected, by way of a conduit and an electromagnetic valve, to a discharge pipe provided in the dialysis apparatus in proximity to the outlet of an ultrafilter. At the same time, a dialysis liquid is circulated through the ultrafilter, so that the liquid for flushing the dialyser and the dialysis liquid in preparation are thus discharged together in the discharge pipe.
The advantage of this solution is that it permits considerable savings to be made, by omitting the collecting bag and avoiding the expenses involved in disposing of the latter, and it permits an improvement in the flushing of the dialyser. In addition, there is no risk of the dialyser or of the sterile parts of the apparatus being contaminated by the non-sterile liquid since there is complete separation of the sterile and non-sterile parts of the apparatus.
To ensure satisfactory flushing of the dialyser, any air bubbles present on the membrane of the dialyser have to be eliminated. To do this at the present time, the person charged with performing the dialysis gently taps the dialyser so that the bubbles dislodge from the membrane and are discharged with the flushing liquid.
An object of the invention is to perfect the flushing method indicated above, in such a way as to render it completely automatic, while at the same time retaining the advantages of the known flushing method described hereinabove.

Method and device for flushing a membrane apparatus


A integrated optical circuit comprises an interferometer having a first optical path and a second optical path configured for regenerating an input signal entering the first path by interference at a first coupler between continuous wave (CW) signals from the two optical paths, and a third optical path configured such that a canceling signal passing therethrough cancels, at a second coupler, a traveling signal from the first arm. When the device is operated in a counter-propagative mode, the traveling signal is the CW signal from the first arm. When the device is operated in a co-propagative mode, the traveling signal is the input signal from the first arm.

The present invention relates to all-optical signal regeneration and reshaping techniques, and more particularly, to a photonic integrated subcircuit having a honeycomb architecture for performing photonic signal regeneration and re-shaping (P2R) in the counter-propagative or co-propagative operation. The present invention further relates to an integrated optical circuit comprising multiple such subcircuits for performing multi-channel P2R.
P2R is an important function that lends itself to photonic integration. Photonic integrated circuits (PICs) realize several functions such as amplification, splitting, combining, filtering, and grooming on a single chip, and are key enablers of cheap and efficient network operation. All-optical regeneration and reshaping overcomes many limitations of electrical or optoelectronic counterparts, such as limitations on data rate, cost, flexibility, footprint, power consumption, etc. FIGS. 1a and 1b illustrate using a Mach-Zehnder (MZ) interferometer to perform P2R in counter-propagative and co-propagative operation modes, respectively.
FIG. 1a shows an co-propagative operation mode in which an input signal S from an arm 33 entering an arm 32 of a MZ interferometer at a coupler 23 is regenerated as an output at a coupler 21 by interference at coupler 21 between a continuous wave (CW) signal from arm 34 traveling through two optical paths or arms 31 and 32 of the interferometer. Each arm 31, 32 is coupled to a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) 12, 13 respectively, which works as a phase shifter as well as a signal amplifier. The input signal S interacts with the CW signal in arm 32 and causes it to change phase. Due to the well-known Cross-phase modulation (XPM) effect, the CW signal in arm 32 has a phase difference when the input signal S is in its high than when the input signal S is in its low. This phase difference induced by XPM is tuned to be 180 degrees, e.g., by tuning drive currents in the SOAs. The phase of the CW signal from arm 31 remains the same at the coupler 21, irrespective of whether the input signal S is in its high or low state.
In addition, the drive currents of SOAs 12, 13 in the arms 31, 32 are tuned such that, when the input signal is in its low, the CW signals from the two arms 31, 32 are 180 degrees out of phase at the coupler 21. Thus, when the input signal is low, the CW signals from the two arms 31, 32 destructively interfere with each other and generate a "0" output at the coupler 21, and when the input signal is in its high, the phase of the CW signal in the arm 32 is flipped by the input signal S, thus constructively interferes at the coupler 21 with the CW signal from the arm 31 and generates an high output. If the amplitude of the CW signals out of arms 31, 32 is "A", the amplitude of the overall output generated at the coupler 21 will be 4A2. Thus, the input signal S is regenerated as the overall output at the coupler 21 by interference between the CW signals from the arms 31, 32.
However, because the input signal S, which is modulated in the CW signal in arm 32, also reaches the output arm 35 through the arm 32, it represents a source of noise and would need to be filtered out. This would not be possible if the input signal S and the CW signal input are at the same wavelength. Therefore, a wavelength conversion has to be performed in co-propagation based devices.
FIG. 1b shows a circuit operates in a counter-propagative mode. As illustrated in FIG. 1b, a CW signal from arm 35 enters an MZ interferometer at the coupler 21, thus the CW signal in the arm 32 travels in a direction opposite to that of the input signal S traveling in arm 32. Similar to the co-propagative mode, the drive currents of SOAs 12, 13 in the arms 31, 32 are tuned such that, when the input signal is in its low, the CW signals from the two arms 31, 32 have 180 degree out of phase at the coupler 22. Thus, when the input signal S is in its low, the CW signals from the two arms 31, 32 destructively interfere with each other and generates a "0" output at the coupler 22, and when the input signal is in its high, the phase of the CW signal in the arm 32 is flipped by the input signal S, thus constructively interferes at the coupler 22 with the CW signal from the arm 31 and generates an high output. Therefore, the input signal S is regenerated as the overall output at the coupler 22 by interference between the CW signals from the arms 31, 32.
For the device to function effectively as an amplifier, it needs to support weak input signals. However, to flip the phase of the CW signal in the arm 32 when the input signal S is in its high, the input signal must be strong enough, i.e., approximately equal in intensity to the CW signal in arm 32. To this end, a preamplifier SOA 15 is provided to preamplify the input signal S before it enters the arm 31 at the coupler 23. Therefore, the SOA 15 in arm 33 needs to be effective in amplifying a weak input signal S. However, the CW signal in the arm 32 also reaches SOA 15 via arm 33 through the coupler 23. Since the CW signal in arm 32 is typically much stronger than the input signal S, it saturates the SOA 15. Therefore, SOA15 cannot pre-amplify the weak input signal.
Therefore, there is a need for an improved photonic integrated circuit that can overcome the above shortcomings in the prior art.


On a credit IC card, issuing by a credit card company, brought by a credit payer with him/her is stored at least personal information for identifying a credit card company, a card number and a credit payer. Based on input of a code number by the credit payer and the stored information read out from the credit IC card, a cellular telephone is used to automatically inquire of an information center of the credit card company whether the credit can be gained. This can therefore eliminates complication involved by payment using the credit IC card and ensures smooth use of the credit IC card, with the cost performance being increased to spread the expensive credit IC card.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for electronically transferring personal information for identifying: an organization issuing a credit gaining card, e.g., a credit card from a credit card company, a cash card from a financial organization such as a bank, a prepaid card or an electronic money card; a card number; and a card user. The invention more particularly relates to a method for electronically transferring personal information of a credit gaining card, a mini IC card, an adapter card, a terminal adapter, a slip issuing device and a portable terminal which are used in this method, by which complication for payment using a credit card can be eliminated, use of a credit card being smoothed, the utility value of a credit IC card being improved to enhance cost performance, spread of the expensive IC card compared with a regular credit card on which the personal information is magnetically written or reduction in the production cost of the IC card involved by increase in the mass production being achieved. It is to be noted that the slip issuing device is an apparatus for issuing a slip to be handed to a card user such as a credit payer for confirmation from a card acceptable store, e.g., a store accepting payment on credit, the apparatus being provided with a printer or the like.
For example, in the present invention, the credit gaining card can be used when inserted into or connected with a portable terminal such as a cellular telephone, and the credit gaining card can be used together with an adapter card as any of various conventional cards, i.e., credit cards, prepaid cards, cash cards or electronic money by a conventional magnetic card or IC card. In this case, the utility value therefore becomes high without a slip issuing device exclusively used for the credit gaining card and card issuing organizations such as credit card companies or card acceptable shops such as those dealing with payment on credit can put off their investment to the slip issuing device without causing any problem even though the spread of the slip issuing device is delayed. That is, the credit gaining card has an advantage in terms of convenience or investment effect. Further, various devices which will be described later in this specification can be applied to an integrated-circuit chip for use in the credit gaining card in a portable terminal, and compatibility with a regular magnetic card which has been commonly used can be considered, thereby stimulating the spread of the credit gaining card.
2. Prior Art
There has been widely used a magnetic card made of plastic issued from a card issuing organization (referred to as a card company hereinbelow) such as a credit card company, with which cash-less shopping or various services are enabled when brought with a user to a card acceptable store such as that accepting payment on credit. Personal information such as a name of card company or a card number is magnetically stored on the magnetic card. The card user is identified by a name of the card company and the card number. Note that the information for identifying the card company, the card number and the card user is referred to as personal information.
Electronic money made of plastic in which the integrated-circuit chip is embedded has been also experimentally used. A credit card incorporating the IC card having the integrated-circuit chip embedded therein can be also considered. A large amount of information can be stored in the IC card as compared with the magnetic card because the IC card is provided with the integrated-circuit chip. A credit IC card can also store information used for any purpose other than the credit card as well as the personal information.
A unit price of one IC card is, however, higher than that of the regular magnetic card. Further, since the regular magnetic card has been widely spread, there is a social problem such as that transition to the credit IC card must be smoothly carried out with taking into account the present situation. Furthermore, any associated device such as a novel slip issuing device must be commonly used in order to enhance the spread of the credit IC card, but investment to such an associated device is difficult unless the credit IC card is widely used.
Spread of the credit IC card is difficult although the IC card looks very promising. In regard of convenience as a credit card, the card must be largely spread in order that the card is utilized by a large number of card users and dealt in many card acceptable stores.

Method for electronically transferring personal information on credit gaining card, and mini IC card, adapter card, terminal adapter, slip issuing device, portable used therein


To avoid the use of propellants which are harmful to the environment, a spraying apparatus employs a supply chamber which contains a material to be sprayed and includes a pressure chamber of variable volume. This pressure chamber of variable volume is connected to actuating structure which is provided for increasing the volume of the pressure chamber and thus for sucking material from the supply chamber into the pressure chamber. Since the material within the pressure chamber is kept under pressure by pressurizing structure, a nonreturn valve is disposed in the suction conduit leading to the supply chamber. Material can be sprayed with the aid of the spraying apparatus without any harmful effects on the environment, the use of conventional spraying heads being here possible.

Spraying apparatus are known, especially apparatus for spraying liquid material disposed within a material container. The spraying apparatus includes a pressure chamber from which the material is taken. A spraying head with a dispensing valve is provided for spraying the material.
As is generally known, propellants, such as fluorocarbon propellants that are very harmful to the environment, are used for producing pressure within a pressure chamber.

Spraying apparatus having internal chamber selectively pressurized by a pressurizing device


The present invention relates to a Personal Rapid Transit system for transporting passengers along a pre-set guideway, and more particularly relates to a future Personal Rapid Transit vehicle braking system. A conventional braking system can not provide the large braking force required for very short headway operation under the effect of weather and environmental conditions due to variations in the available coefficients of friction at the running surfaces. In particular, the Personal Rapid Transit which is a public transportation system can not adopt the conventional braking system since the vehicles are powered by linear motors and are independent of traction. The PRT brake system comprises brake reaction rails (120) mounted on each inside of the guideway and brakes (300) acting on these brake reaction rails (120) as calipers. The brakes are automatically actuated when electric power supply is cut off, and thus can serve as parking brakes and emergency brakes. Since the braking system of the present invention is supplied with power via the strain energy stored in steel spring members, no external power source for its operation is required. Furthermore, the system comprises a redundant failure monitored brake releasing unit (380) which is driven by duplicate redundant electric motors. Accordingly, the PRT braking system of the present invention represents a highly efficient fail-safe parking or emergency brake.

Personal Rapid Transit (Hereinafter referred to as PRT) is a public transportation system which provides passengers a non-stop trip from origin to destination in a small personal vehicle. The vehicles are fully automated and run on a small light weight aerial guideway which can be located above streets, through buildings etc. The PRT system provides a high transportation capacity by operating the vehicles at very short headways of about 0.5 seconds. This provides a practical capacity of about 6000 vehicles per hour on a single guideway.
In order to operate safely at these headways, each vehicle is equipped with a sophisticated computer control system which varies the thrust of the linear induction motors to provide acceleration and braking. Under normal operating conditions braking of moving vehicles will be accomplished by reversing the thrust direction of the linear motors.
However, when the vehicle stops at a station to unload and load passengers and when the vehicle is parked in storage, the separate parking brake must be applied. When there is any malfunction in a vehicle or failure of the power supply of a moving vehicle which may lead to a dangerous situation, it will be necessary to apply the emergency brake.
Conventional braking system mechanisms for wheeled vehicles are well known, but are not applicable for PRT. These systems consist of a body mounted mechanism which applies a frictional device to the rotating parts of the wheel assembly. Deceleration is accomplished by reducing the speed of rotation of the wheel which thus transmits the braking force to the running surface.
Some vehicles achieve braking by applying a brake shoe to the guideway surface or track. These vehicles rely on an electromagnetic force to apply the brake shoe to the track rail, but the operation of the brake shoe necessarily requires an external electric power source.
Other types of guideway brakes apply a mechanically operated brake shoe to the rail or running surface, and the braking force in this case depends upon the weight of the vehicle and the coefficient of friction between the brake shoe and the running surface. This coefficient is generally in the range of 0.3 to 0.7 in dry weather conditions, but it can be reduced to a small fraction of that coefficient under adverse weather conditions such as snow, ice or rain.
The PRT vehicles are propelled by the thrust generated by a linear induction motor which acts against a reaction rail mounted on the guideway. Normally, there is no mechanical contact between the linear induction motor and the reaction rail. The PRT vehicles wheels simply provide support and guidance to the vehicles. The wheels are not required to transmit propulsion torque nor provide adequate braking because they are smooth tired and run on a smooth stainless steel guideway lubricated to reduce rolling resistance.
This means that a conventional braking system can not be used in this PRT system, thus a separate braking system which can serve as a parking brake as well as an emergency brake is required. This brake must be able to operate in the absence of electric power.


Methods and systems for determining the resonance frequency of a resonator, using the Doppler effect. An interrogating sonic beam including a carrier frequency and one or more resonator exciting frequencies is directed at a resonator disposed in a measurement environment. Resonator vibrations are excited by the resonator exciting frequencies. The carrier frequency is modulated by the vibrating part(s) of the resonator. The returning signal is received and analyzed to determine the amplitude of the Doppler shifted sideband frequencies. The resulting data is processed to determine the resonator's resonance frequency. Using calibrated resonating sensors having a resonance frequency that varies as a function of a physical parameter in a measurement environment, the method and systems allow determining the value of the physical variable from the sensor's resonance frequency. The methods and systems may be used, inter alia, to determine intraluminal blood pressure in various parts of a cardiovascular system, the pressure of intra-cranial fluids, the pressure of fluids in various bodily cavities by using implantable calibratable resonating pressure sensors. The methods and systems may also be used for determining the pressure in various industrial measurement environments and enclosures. Methods and systems are provided for detecting the sensor and for centering the interrogating beam on the sensor.

Methods, devices and systems, using ultrasonically activated passive sensors usable for sensing and measuring the values of different physical parameters within a human body or in other environments and scientific and industrial applications, have been described. U.S. Pat. No. 5,619,997 to Kaplan, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes, discloses a passive sensor system using ultrasonic energy. An ultrasonic activation and detection system ultrasonically activates passive sensors having vibratable parts (such as vibratable beams or vibratable membranes) by directing a beam of ultrasound at the passive sensor or sensors. The sensor(s) may be implanted in a body or disposed in other environments. The activated passive sensor(s), or vibratable parts thereof, vibrate or resonate at a frequency which is a function of the value of the physical variable to be measured. The passive sensors thus absorb ultrasonic energy from the exciting ultrasonic beam mostly at the frequency of vibration (resonance frequency) of the sensor. The frequency (or frequency range) at which the passive sensor absorbs energy may be detected by a suitable detector and used to determine the value of the physical parameter.
The physical parameters measurable with such passive ultrasonic sensors may include, but are not limited to, temperature, pressure, the concentration of a chemical species in the fluid in which the sensor is immersed, and the thickness of a layer of substance deposited on the vibratable part of the sensor.
If the exciting ultrasonic beam is pulsed (or is an abruptly terminated CW beam), the ultrasonic sensor may continue to vibrate after the pulse (or the CW beam) terminates. The ultrasonic radiation emitted by the activated passive sensor after turning the exciting ultrasonic beam off may be detected and used to determine the value of the physical parameter of interest.
Since more than one physical variable may influence the vibration frequency of passive sensors, a correction may be needed in order to compensate for the effects of other physical parameters unrelated to the physical parameter which needs to be determined on the measured sensor vibration frequency. For example, if pressure is the physical parameter to be determined, changes in temperature may affect the vibration frequency of the sensor. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,989,190 and 6,083,165 to Kaplan, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes, disclose compensated sensor pairs and methods for their use for compensating for the effects of unrelated different physical variables on the determined value of another physical variable which is being determined. For example, such compensated sensor pairs, may be used for compensating for inaccuracies in pressure measurements due to temperature changes.
Typically, the size of implantable passive ultrasonic sensors, such as but not limited to intraluminal passive ultrasonic pressure sensors represents a design compromise. Decreasing the sensor's size may allow implantation in smaller intraluminal spaces and other body spaces and may decrease interference with blood flow or flow of other bodily fluids in intraluminal and other intra-cavity spaces. Smaller sensor size may also be advantageous in cases in which a number of sensors need to be implanted at the same location.
However, decreasing the sensor dimensions may also decrease the dimensions of the vibratable membrane which may decrease the energy absorbable from the exciting ultrasonic beam and the total energy radiated by the sensor at or about the resonance frequency. This may decrease the returned signal's strength and (assuming a fixed noise level) decrease the signal to noise ratio (S/N).
Additional problems which may be encountered with passive ultrasonic sensors when a narrow interrogating ultrasound beam is used to excite the passive sensor relate to the need to center the interrogating beam on the sensor in order to increase the S/N and the need to distinguish between the signal emitted by the sensor at the resonance frequency and spurious echoes reflected from reflecting surfaces other than the vibratable membrane of the sensor (such as, for example, echoes reflected from non-vibratable sensor surfaces and echoes reflected from various reflecting interfaces).

Methods and devices for determining the resonance frequency of passive mechanical resonators