Flattening total current consumption of system having processing core and power supply input by current sensing within system at power supply input and controlling system current consumption such that system current is reduced if over reference current threshold, and increased if below reference current threshold. Inject additional current through digital injections cells working higher frequencies, by increasing switching activity, by increasing voltage supply to core, and by increasing operating frequency of processor core. Feedback signal indicates current consumption of system. Current consumption similarly decreased. Current sensed by mirroring input current inline with power supply input and compensating for voltage drop introduced by mirroring using opposing field effect transistors and maintaining outputs at same voltage through feedback control loop. Processor core may be general purpose processor core or cryptographic processor core. System may be system-on-chip or system-on-package. System includes processor core and current flattening device based on method. Also, current flattening device and current sensor. On chip current sensor sensing current draw of processor core.

Cryptography is a key technology in electronic security systems. If cryptosystems are not designed properly, they may leak information that is correlated to a secret key. Attackers who can access this leaked information may be able to recover the secret key and break the integrity of the cryptosystem. Attacks that use the power consumption of the cryptosystem as the leaked side-channel information are of significant concern, for example, in smart cards and other complex systems-on-chip or systems-on-package that use cryptographic hardware accelerator modules. Attacks based on power consumption analysis are called power analysis attacks (PAAs). PAAs base their success on the electromagnetic radiation effect of the power supply of the integrated circuit (IC) and exploit current consumption dependency on cryptographic data and algorithm.
Various software and hardware based countermeasures have been proposed for dealing with power analysis attacks. Software based countermeasures use techniques such as: code and key randomization, constant execution path algorithms, symmetric cryptographic algorithm, and blinding signature method. Hardware countermeasures are mainly based on current filtering techniques, current balancing in the system, desynchronization (generating current randomness within the current traces), or current injection (noise insertion).
Current randomization or masking methods need to generate enough current to cover the maximum current peaks of a microcontroller, microprocessor, or other CPU and memory. This is impractical and it can be damaging to the IC due to increased heat in the die. Also, the use of external or internal filtering capacitors does not eliminate data to current dependency.
Embedded systems that are subject to PAAs are widely used in applications that require support for security (e.g., smart-cards, PDAs, mobile phones, TV subscription boxes, VOIP phones, and so on). Security is becoming a new metric dimension in the design process of embedded systems, along with other metrics such as cost, performance, and power.
In general, an encryption algorithm and a decryption algorithm plus the description on the format of messages and keys form part of a cryptographic system (or a cryptosystem). A cryptosystem uses an encryption/decryption secret key to encrypt/decrypt plaintext/ciphertext messages and generate ciphertext/plaintext messages. Cryptosystems can be implemented in software, hardware, or a combination of both, and normally they are part of a larger embedded system. A cryptosystem must be able to protect the secret keys; otherwise, the security of the entire system is compromised.
As mentioned previously, the dependency of the power emanations to data and to arrival time of the encrypted data can be observed and linked to the input data and the secret key. Attacks that use this additional information and link it to the secret key of a cryptosystem are referred to as side-channel attacks. The main side-channel attacks include timing attacks, simple and differential power (SPA and DPA) attacks, and simple and differential electromagnetic attacks (SEMA and DEMA).
In these attacks, power consumption is monitored by using current sensors or by measuring the voltage drop across a small resistor placed in series with the power supply path of the cryptosystem. A DPA attack is one of the most efficient power analysis attacks. It relies on statistical analysis and error correction to extract information from power consumption that is correlated to the secret key. EM attacks exploit electromagnetic emanation resulting from data processing operations in CMOS devices. EM signals propagate via radiation and conduction (often by a complex combination of both) and can be captured by field probes and current probes. It is possible to combine power analysis attacks with EM emanation attacks and develop powerful multi-channel attacks.
On-chip power supply current sensors can be used for several purposes, including, for example, protecting confidentiality of cryptosystems, testing complex ICs, and improving battery lifetime in portable devices.
As discussed above, an increasing number of electronic systems deal with security issues. Not only are high-end systems (network routers, gateways, firewalls, and web servers) affected; so are low-end systems such as wireless handsets, portable storage devices, sensor networks, and smart cards. Using cryptanalytic techniques based on power analysis makes it possible to extract secret information and break the security by monitoring the power consumed by a cryptosystem. An on-chip current sensor can be used in shaping the power supply current to mask power dependent cryptographic information.
Many testing techniques for complex digital and mixed-signal circuits are based on current measurement. Typically, faulty circuits are detected by measuring the current drawn under certain input conditions. Similar methods can be applied also for testing or pre-screening analog circuits. In complex ICs on-chip current-measurement-based testing techniques can be used not only to detect malfunctions, but also to foresee possible failures during normal operation.
Furthermore, increasing battery lifetime is one of the main goals in designing portable systems. Battery discharge time does not exclusively depend on the average current (i.e., on the average power dissipation), but also on the current temporal profile. Qualitatively, a smooth profile will give a longer lifetime than a bumpy profile. On-chip current sensing can be used to improve the power supply current profile in complex mixed-signal ICs and increase battery lifetime.
Improvements and alternatives to methods and devices incorporating cryptographic countermeasures are desirable. Similarly, improvements and alternatives to IC current sensors are desirable.

Current flattening and current sensing methods and devices


A system for depositing cells on an analysis plate, the cells being contained in a cell suspension including a fixing agent and the cells, included, for receiving the suspension, a chamber (5) which is positioned above the analysis plate and whose base is open and extends opposite a cell depositing zone of the plate and a material for absorbing the fixing agent placed around the chamber and the depositing zone of the plate. The chamber is mounted so as to be able to be moved between a first position in abutment against the analysis plate in order to allow the cells to be deposited on the depositing zone of the plate via decantation and a second position remote from this analysis plate in order to place the chamber in a fluid relationship with the absorption material in order to allow this material to absorb the fixing agent.

The present invention relates to a system for depositing cells on an analysis plate.
In order to screen or diagnose lesions, cell samples are taken and are placed in suspension so that they can be analysed.
Generally, these samples can be taken using specific brushes, needles or any other appropriate means and are then introduced into a bottle containing a cell fixing agent so that the cells which have been removed are fixed by the fixing agent and form a suspension therewith.
The cells must then be deposited on an analysis plate.
Various deposition methods and systems for this type of application are already known from the prior art.
In this manner, for example, centrifuging means and filtering means have been used to obtain this cell deposit on the plate.
However, such means are relatively complex, bulky, costly and are not very easy to use.
The deposit of the cells can also be obtained by means of a simple decantation operation.
In this instance, the cell suspension comprising the cell fixing agent and the cells is poured into a receiving chamber which is positioned above the analysis plate and whose base is open and extends opposite a cell depositing zone of the analysis plate.
The cells are deposited progressively on the plate, then the fixing agent is withdrawn from the chamber.
However, it will be appreciated that this operation which involves removing the fixing agent without moving the cells is very long and complex.
In order to overcome these problems, document FR-A-2 792 333 proposes a system for depositing cells on an analysis plate, the cells being contained in a cell suspension which comprises a cell fixing agent and the cells, the suspension being poured into a receiving chamber which is positioned above the analysis plate and whose base is open and extends opposite a cell depositing zone of the analysis plate. According to this system, the base of the chamber is in fluid communication with a material for absorbing the fixing agent in order to progressively absorb it and to allow a homogeneous deposit of the cells on the cell depositing zone of the analysis plate.
When used, however, such a system also had a given number of disadvantages, in particular with respect to the time required for the absorption of the fixing agent and therefore the deposit of the cells on the analysis plate.
The object of the invention is therefore to overcome these problems.


For error-protected storing data, the data is encoded by an error protecting code to encoded data and stored in a medium. Next, the data is read out again and compared with the encoded data. If a particular discrepancy between stored data and encoded data is found, a discrepancy identifier is formed and stored with the stored data for raising the error protection by the error protecting code.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for error-protective encoding of data. The method includes:
encoding the data by an error protecting code to encoded data PA1 storing the encoded data in a medium as stored data PA1 reading the stored data from the medium and comparing with the encoded data. PA1 upon detecting a particular discrepancy between stored data and encoded data generating a discrepancy identifier PA1 storing the discrepancy identifier in association with the stored data as stored identifier, thereby raising error protection offered by said error protecting code. PA1 an error protecting encoder for encoding the data to encoded data PA1 memory apparatus for storing the data PA1 memory access apparatus for writing the encoded data in the memory as stored data and for reading the stored data from the medium PA1 comparing apparatus connected to said access apparatus for comparing the encoded data with the stored data. The device further includes PA1 secondary encoding apparatus fed by the comparing apparatus for generating a discrepancy identifier, under control of detection of a particular discrepancy between stored data and encoded data, for presentation to said memory access means. The memory access apparatus then stores the discrepancy identifier with the stored data a yielding stored identifier as additional error protection for said stored data. A device of this kind can be realized in a straightforward manner, starting from the idea of the present invention, and using elementary hardware.
2. Related Art
Various earlier encoding organizations have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,567,518 (PHN 10221), EP-A1 437 865, corresponding U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/419,483 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,360 (PHN 13213), EP A1 603 932, corresponding U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/167,266 (PHN 14311), EP Patent Application 698,269, corresponding U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/535,155 (PHN 15107), all assigned to the present assignee. Many recording schemes provide for a check read-out directly after writing. Upon detecting a discrepancy, the storing may be undertaken a second time, either at the same storage location, or at another storage location. The policy with respect to the latter choice is determined by various factors. A first one is the character of the interference, that may be hard or soft. A second one is the organization of the storage, that may be random accessible, quasi-random accessible, or serial. Still further considerations may play a part. The present invention has with respect to the above methodology taken into account the general requirement for saving space as well as time. In consequence, any required additional storage space should be limited. On the other hand, a full second storage run would often cost too much time. A different consideration is that many applications allow increasing the complexity of an encoder if thereby the complexity of the decoder can be lowered. In fact, encoders are often implemented in a professional environment, whereas decoders are rather more frequently used at consumer premises.

Method and device for error protection of programmable memories


A method for pre-processing a signal prior to classification, where the signal includes non-contiguous segments; the method includes applying a coarse carrier frequency offset correction, applying a phase correction, applying a residual course frequency offset correction, and outputting a simulated continuous signal consisting of recorded continuous signal segments and modeled non-contiguous segments. A system for implementing the method is also disclosed.

Automatic modulation recognition (AMR) is an integral function of electronic support (ES) systems in exploiting electromagnetic emissions, performing threat analysis, and managing electronic attack (EA) to construct effective jamming waveforms. The AMR also has applicability in civilian applications such as civilian spectrum monitoring and adaptive radio communication technologies.
Extensive prior art exists on automatic modulation recognition. An overview of existing techniques and their comparative analysis is given in Dobre, O. A.; Abdi, A.; Bar-Ness, Y.; Su, W., "Survey of automatic modulation classification techniques: classical approaches and new trends," IET Communications, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 137, 156, April 2007. More recent developments on extending AMR capabilities to newer signaling schemes such as multiple input multiple output (MIMO) systems such as in Miao Shi; Bar-Ness, Y.; Wei Su, "STC and BLAST MIMO Modulation Recognition," IEEE GLOBECOM '07. Vol., no., pp. 3034, 3039, 26-30 Nov. 2007; improving AMR performance in low signal to noise rations, increasing modulation recognition reliability using distributed sensors such as by Xu, J. L.; Wei Su; MengChu Zhou, "Distributed Automatic Modulation Classification With Multiple Sensors," IEEE Sensors Journal, vol. 10, no. 11, pp. 1779, 1785, November 2010; reducing the latency in making a decision as per Cardoso, C.; Castro, A. R.; Klautau, A., "An Efficient FPGA IP Core for Automatic Modulation Classification," IEEE Embedded Systems Letters, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 42-45, September 2013; and reducing computational complexity for efficient hardware implementations such as in Wei Su; Xu, J. L.; Meng Chu Zhou, "Real-time Modulation Classification Based on Maximum Likelihood," IEEE Communications Letters, vol. 12, no. 11, pp. 801, 803, November 2008.
In each of these prior art references, and indeed in the prior art generally, modulation recognition relies on signal samples captured from contiguous observations, requiring a signal record that is collected without interruption in the acquisition, or data recording, process.
There are certain applications where data cannot be captured continuously; therefore gaps occur in between signal acquisitions. One application where modulation recognition has to rely on non-contiguous observations is responsive (reactive) jammers.
Conventional active radio-controlled improvised explosive device (RCIED) jammers continuously emit energy in predefined frequency bands as a precaution against trigger signals regardless of actual signal activities. Responsive jammers, on the other hand, scan the radio spectrum during look through windows and the available transmit energy is focused on currently relevant spectral areas.
Performing other activities in between jamming cycles creates further opportunities for more effective jamming: for example, knowledge of signal type can assist in allocating the most effective jamming waveform to the currently detected threat. Similarly, identification of a network type can be used to exploit vulnerabilities in a particular network for more effective jamming. Modulation recognition is an essential tool in identifying signals and network types.
Non-contiguous data frames are inevitable in several other applications of time divisive nature. For example, there is an emerging need to develop algorithms that will support interoperability requirements of various applications such as tactical communications (TC), electronic attack (EA), intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) systems, and electronic support (ES) systems.
Signal samples captured over non-contiguous time frames contain abrupt amplitude and phase discontinuities at the frame transitions. Fourier transform generates distortions in the frequency spectrum when the transformed signals contain abrupt changes. These distortions in the spectrum affect the performance of preprocessing stages relying on frequency domain processing in an automatic modulation classifier such as frequency offset correction. Further, several modulation recognition features depend on spectral and phase characteristics of the signals and corrupted features degrade the performance of the classifier.

System and method for classifying signal modulations


The active connector for a chip card is made up of a component (1) for control of the reading-writing operations of the chip card (20) and a reading frame for the chip card comprising a support component (2) made of insulating material and receiving contact terminals of a first type (3) projecting from an upper plane (4) of the support made of insulating material in order to be in electrical contact with contact areas (5) of the chip card. The insulating support comprises a lower face (6) inscribing in a lower plane, from which, on the one hand, contact terminals of a second type (7) project so as to be in electrical contact with contact areas (8) of the component for control of the reading-writing operations of the chip card and, on the other hand, connection leg pieces (9) for connection onto a printed circuit, leg height (h) defining a space between the insulating support and printed circuit (15) such that the control component is housed between the lower plane of the insulating support and the printed circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns an active connector for a microcircuit card (or chip card), i.e., a connector for a chip card having a component for control of reading/writing operations of the card combined with a reading frame having a support and contact terminals with the chip card.
Reading frames for a chip card of the known type comprise contact terminals commonly called brush contacts designed to connect the contact areas of the card, for example, a memory card used in banking, public telephone, cellular telephone, and other applications, to an electronic device for processing the data contained in the chip.
In known systems, the application designer using chip cards must provide, on the one hand, electronic circuits for its application, as well as direct management devices for reading/writing the card, as a result of which there are increased constraints with regard to the size of this apparatus and there are additional costs relative to development time, testing and components used. Moreover, this design risks increasing connection lengths, which is unfavorable in terms of high frequency and susceptibility to electromagnetic disruptions and in terms of intrinsic radiation.
The increasing complexity of reading/writing management protocols of the card and the necessity of increasing the security of operations effected with the card, moreover, induce integrated-circuit manufacturers to produce components releasing the designer of electronic applications using chip cards from the management of reading/writing sequences or protocols of data on the card.
In patent application FR 95 01 271, the applicant describes the production of a connector for a chip card incorporating a control component whose input-output areas are interposed between certain connection terminals with the printed circuit of the electronic application and certain of the brush contacts by means of a connection network.


A camera includes a body having a front plate and a rear plate, a lens module mounted on the front plate, a slot defined in the rear plate, and an elongated deformable wire. The deformable wire is received in the slot, and the deformable wire is deformable between a first configuration where the deformable wire is received in the slot, and a second configuration where the deformable wire is released from the slot and reshaped to support the body on an object.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a camera integrated with a deformable supporting structure.
2. Description of Related Art
Most typical camera supporting structures are of the large detachable type resulting in poor portability. It is burdensome to have to attach and detach everytime you want to use the camera with the supporting structure. Moreover it is inconvenient for a person to carry both the camera and the supporting structure.
What is needed, therefore, is to provided a camera which is integrated with a deformable supporting structure.

Camera integrated with deformable supporting structure


A method of decreasing toner in solid area development to improve the latitude of a xerographic process in a machine having a projecting system for modulating a beam and projecting an image onto an imaging surface by specifying pixels defining solid image areas and selectively modulating the beam with regard to the specified pixels to change the state of the pixels from black to gray or partial white.

The invention relates to optimization of xerographic process latitude, and more particularly, to the reduction of toner mass in solid area development to improve developer and fuser latitude.
One benchmark in the suitable development by toner particles of a latent electrostatic image on a photoreceptor is the correct relationship of toner concentration in the developer to the tribo electric charge between the carrier and toner. An incorrect relationship, i.e. too much toner concentration, can result in too much background in the developed image. That is, the white background of an image becoming gray. On the other hand, too little toner concentration can result in deletions or lack of toner coverage of the image.
Another benchmark is heat transfer and toner offset (toner sticking to the fuser roll) in the fusing process. The fusing of the toner to a copy sheet takes place when the proper combination of heat, pressure and contact time are provided.
During operation of some fusing systems, the support member is moved through the nip formed by a roll pair. By controlling the heat transfer to the toner, virtually no offset of the toner particles from the copy sheet to the fuser member is experienced under normal conditions. This is because the heat applied to the surface of the fuser member is insufficient to raise the temperature of the surface of the member above the "hot offset" temperature of the toner at which temperature the toner particles in the image areas of the toner liquefy and cause a splitting in the molten toner resulting in "hot offset". Too little heat applied to the surface, however, to eliminate offset can result in insufficient fusing of toner to paper. The amount of heat transferred, therefore, can be neither too high (resulting in toner offset) or too low. Xerographic system latitude is defined by the degree to which the system can properly develop and fuse and image based upon the above variables.
One difficulty with prior art systems has been that to avoid deletions in the processed image, a relatively high toner concentration was required. However, operating at a relatively high toner concentration, the developed mass or toner mass per unit area was beyond the allowable latitude of the fuser resulting in toner offset and unacceptable fused images.
Digital Image manipulation is well known in the prior art. For example, Sharp U.S. Pat. No. 3,573,789 shows a resolution conversion technique by shifting each pixel with surrounding pixels into a resolution expander that automatically produces a multiple number of pixels corresponding to the center pixel. Image enhancement techniques to improve the quality of the image are also well known. For example, Coviello 4,450,483 statistically analyses a pixel with its surrounding pixels to make a determination whether or not the center pixel should remain as a black or white pixel or be changed to either a black or white pixel to improve the quality of the overall image. Walsh Patent 4,437,122 does image enhancement of a digital image by taking each pixel of the digital image and a neighborhood surrounding the pixel and comparing this pattern to a set of reference patterns. Depending upon the match between the pixel and its neighborhood with a particular pattern, the center pixel is expanded into a plurality of predetermined pixels enhancing the overall quality of the image. However, these systems do not consider the problem of potentially conflicting fuser and development latitudes in a xerographic system.
It would be desirable, therefore, to provide a technique to increase xerographic process latitude by the selective reduction of toner in solid area development. It would also be desirable to increase overlapping developer and fuser latitude in the xerographic process by the manipulation of pixels defining the solid area of an image.
It is an object of the present invention therefore to provide a new an improved technique for the selective reduction of toner in solid area development. It is another object of the present invention to selectively alter pixels defining the solid area of an image to improve the xerographic process latitude. It is still another object of the present invention to selectively modulate pixels defining a solid black area of an image to change black pixels to grey Other advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, and the features characterizing the invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

Solid area toner reduction to maximize process latitude


Peripherally restricted inhibitors of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) are provided. The compounds can suppress FAAH activity and increases anandamide levels outside the central nervous system (CNS). Despite their relative inability to access brain and spinal cord, the compounds attenuate behavioral responses indicative of persistent pain in rodent models of inflammation and peripheral nerve injury, and suppresses noxious stimulus-evoked neuronal activation in spinal cord regions implicated in nociceptive processing. CBi receptor blockade prevents these effects. Accordingly, the invention also provides methods, and pharmaceutical compositions for treating conditions in which the inhibition of peripheral FAAH would be of benefit. The compounds of the invention are according to the formula (I): in which R1 is a polar group. In some embodiments, R1 is selected from the group consisting of hydroxy and the physiologically hydro lysable esters thereof. R2 and R3 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl; each R4 is independently selected from the group consisting of halogen and substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl and n is an integer from 0 to 4; each R5 is independently selected from the group consisting of halo and substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl and m is an integer from 0 to 3; and R6 is substituted or unsubstituted cyclohexyl; and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

Peripheral cannabinoid receptors exert a powerful inhibitory control over pain initiation, but the endogenous cannabinoid signal that normally engages this intrinsic analgesic mechanism is unknown. To address this question, we developed a peripherally restricted inhibitor of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), the enzyme responsible for the degradation of the endocannabinoid anandamide. The compound, called URB937, suppresses FAAH activity and increases anandamide levels outside the central nervous system (CNS). Despite its inability to access brain and spinal cord, URB937 attenuates behavioral responses indicative of persistent pain in rodent models of inflammation and peripheral nerve injury, and suppresses noxious stimulus-evoked neuronal activation in spinal cord regions implicated in nociceptive processing. CB1 receptor blockade prevents these effects. The results suggest that anandamide-mediated signaling at peripheral CB1 receptors controls the transmission of pain information to the CNS. Brain-impermeant FAAH inhibitors, which strengthen this gating mechanism, offer a new approach to pain therapy.
Anandamide, the naturally occurring amide of arachidonic acid with ethanolamine, meets all key criteria of an endogenous cannabinoid substance (Devane, W. A. et al. Science, 258, 1946-1949 (1992)): it is released upon demand by stimulated neurons (Di Marzo, V. et al., Nature, 372, 686-691 (1994); Giuffrida, A. et al., Nat. Neurosci., 2, 358-363 (1999)); it activates cannabinoid receptors with high affinity (Devane, W. A. et al. Science, 258, 1946-1949 (1992)) and it is rapidly eliminated through a two-step process consisting of carrier-mediated transport followed by intracellular hydrolysis (Di Marzo, V. et al., Nature, 372, 686-691 (1994); Beltramo, M. et al., FEBS Lett., 403, 263-267 (1997)). Anandamide hydrolysis is catalyzed by the enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), a membrane-bound serine hydrolase (Cravatt, B. F. et al., Nature, 384, 83-87 (1996); Patricelli, M. P. et al., Biochemistry, 38, 9804-9812 (1999)) (WO 98/20119) (U.S. Pat. No. 6,271,015) that also cleaves other bioactive fatty ethanolamides, such as oleoylethanolamide(cis-9-octadecenamide)) (Rodriguez de Fonseca, F. et al. Nature, 414, 209-212 (2001)) and palmitoylethanolamide (Calignano, A. et al., Nature, 394, 277-281 (1998)). Mutant mice lacking the gene encoding for FAAH cannot metabolize anandamide (Cravatt, B. F. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 98, 9371-9376 (2001)) and, though fertile and generally normal, show signs of enhanced anandamide activity at cannabinoid receptors, such as reduced pain sensation (Cravatt, B. F. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 98, 9371-9376 (2001)). This suggests the possibility that drugs targeting FAAH may heighten the tonic actions of anandamide, while possibly avoiding the multiple, often unwanted effects produced by Δ9-THC and other direct-acting cannabinoid agonists (Hall, W., et al., Lancet, 352, 1611-1616 (1998); Chaperon, F., et al., Crit. Rev. Neurobiol., 13, 243-281 (1999)).
Pain perception can be effectively controlled by neurotransmitters that operate within the CNS. This modulation has been well characterized in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, where impulses carried by nociceptive (pain-sensing) fibers are processed before they are transmitted to the brain. In addition to these central mechanisms, intrinsic control of pain transmission can occur at terminals of afferent nerve fibers outside the CNS. One prominent example of peripheral regulation is provided by the endogenous opioids, which are released from activated immune cells during inflammation and inhibit pain initiation by interacting with opioid receptors localized on sensory nerve endings1,2.
It has been proposed that endocannabinoid mediators might serve an analogous function to that of the opioids, because pharmacological activation of peripheral CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors inhibits pain-related behaviors3-7 while genetic disruption of CB1 receptor expression in primary nociceptive neurons exacerbates such behaviors8. Moreover, there is evidence that clinical conditions associated with neuropathic pain or inflammation, such as complex regional pain syndrome and arthritis, may be accompanied by peripheral elevations in the levels of the endocannabinoid anandamide9,10. Another major endocannabinoid ligand, 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), has also been implicated in nociceptive signaling outside the CNS8,11.
Much attention has been directed toward the role of anandamide in pain. Methods of treating pain by administering anandamide and palmitoylethanolamide are disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20020173550. Methods of treating pain by administering inhibitors of FAAH are disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 20040127518 and 20030134894. Methods of treating pain by administering inhibitors of anandamide transport are disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20030149082.
Although these findings suggest that the endocannabinoid system serves an important function in the peripheral regulation of nociception, they offer no definitive insight on the identity of the endogenous ligand, or ligands, involved in this function. Filling this gap is essential, however, to gain a molecular understanding of the intrinsic mechanisms that control pain initiation and to discover new analgesic agents devoid of central side effects. In the present study we identified and characterized a brain-impermeant inhibitor of the anandamide-degrading enzyme, FAAH, with the aim of magnifying the actions of peripheral anandamide and unmasking their possible role in the control of emerging pain signals12. A particular concern in the development and therapeutic use of FAAH inhibitors is their ability to modulate endogenous cannabinoid systems within the CNS system to cause unwanted psychotropic or mood-altering effects.
The present invention addresses these and other needs by providing peripherally restricted FAAH inhibitors and method of their use in the treatment of a variety of conditions, including pain and/or inflammation.

The Regents of the University of California


The invention relates to a would care product that provides a biochemical environment around a wound to promote wound healing. The wound care product includes a keratin protein fraction material in which the protein fraction is intact, is from the intermediate filament protein family or the high sulfur protein family and in which the protein fraction is S-sulfonated. The invention also described a method of making a wound care product.

Wounds and lesions can be caused by a variety of events, including surgery, traumatic injury, burns, abrasions and skin grafts. Healing of wounds may be difficult and may result in problems such as ulcers and septicemia. Of particular concern are chronic wounds, such as pressure sores and diabetic ulcers. The treatment of these conditions is of increasing importance as the population ages. The conventional cascade of biochemical processes which occurs in wound healing, involving hemostasis and inflammation, granulation tissue formation and reepithelization and remodeling, is disrupted in the case of chronic wounds due in part to the prolonged inflammatory response which occurs, and the release of destructive enzymes by inflammatory cells.
It has been recognized for some time that maintaining a moist environment can improve the rate of wound healing. Many products have been developed which provide this environment in order to increase the rate of repair of chronic wounds. The materials used in these dressings are biocompatible to some extent, and include polylactic acid, chitin, alginate derivatives and collagen. The response of these materials to wound exudates, and the biochemical environment that these materials provide are fundamental to their performance in the wound.
Commercially available dressings include various synthetic materials such as silicone compounds, nylon fabrics, or petrolatum gauzes and the like [A. J. Platt, A. Phipps and K. Judkins, A comparative study of silicone net dressing and paraffin gauze dressing in skin-grafted sites, Burns, 22(7), 1996, p. 543-545; Claudia Valenta and Barbara G. Auner, The use of polymers for dermal and transdermal delivery, European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 58(2), 2004, p. 279-289]. Whilst these conventional wound dressing materials are inexpensive and easily available, they generally have poor affinity with the wounded area, insufficient vapour permeability are ultimately unsatisfactory with regards to long term healing of chronic wounds [Marcel F. Jonkman, Izaäk Molenaar, Paul Nieuwenhuis, Peter Bruin and Albert J. Pennings, New method to assess the water vapour permeance of wound coverings, Biomaterials, 9(3), 1988, p. 263-267]. High-performance wound dressing materials are often derived from natural materials having properties similar to those of the patients' skin.
Wound dressing can be created using natural materials or through combination of synthetic materials and natural materials (JP# 47470/1988; Jen Ming Yang and Hao Tzu Lin, Properties of chitosan containing PP-g-AA-g-NIPAAm bigraft nonwoven fabric for wound dressing, Journal of Membrane Science, 243(1-2), 2004, p. 1-7). The use of wound dressings is an extremely important part of wound management and vital to achieve successful healing outcomes [Gordon Freedman, Hyacinth Entero and Harold Brem, Practical treatment of pain in patients with chronic wounds: pathogenesis-guided management, The American Journal of Surgery, 188(1), 2004, p. 31-35]. An optimum wound dressing protects the injured tissue, maintains a moist environment, is water permeable, maintains microbial control, delivers healing agents to the wound site, is easy to apply, does not require frequent changes and is non-toxic and non-antigenic.
Currently several forms of wound dressings materials are available commercially, including occlusive dressings, non-adherent dressings, absorbent dressings, and dressings in the form of sheets, foams, powders and gels. Attempts have been made to provide improved dressings, particularly for chronic wounds, that assist in the wound healing process by using biological materials such as cells and growth factors. To date, these biologicals have proven very costly due to factors such as manufacturing processes and storage and stability issues, and in addition they have shown minimal clinical relevance in accelerating the chronic wound healing process. Above all effective, wound management requires an understanding of the process of tissue repair and knowledge of the properties of the wound dressing materials. Only when these two factors are considered together can the process of dressing selection be undertaken in a rational and informed fashion.
Keratin proteins are present in a wide range of biological tissue, performing a structural role in skin, hair and other materials. Keratins extracted from hair have been shown to be a valuable component in wound dressings. U.S. Pat. No. 5,932,552 provides a biocompatible keratin material prepared by either reduction or oxidation for use as a component in wound care products. Those methods included in the art for the oxidation of keratins to create a polar group are harsh and degrading to the keratin, causing protein damage and loss of core physical characteristics arising from the protein amino acid composition and tertiary structure. In addition the oxidation processes used in the preparation of these materials are irreversible and the cysteic acid groups formed cannot be reconverted to cystine to perform a useful structural function. Those methods included in the art for reduction to create soluble proteins are conducted under harsh alkaline conditions that also cause damage to the protein and loss of the core physical characteristics of the keratin proteins.
The core components of keratin fibres, specifically the intermediate filament proteins and the matrix proteins present in wool and hair, play particular roles within the fibre which is reflected in their tertiary structure and amino acid composition. These same features can be capitalized upon to create materials with good physical properties and highly absorbing capacities when using purified forms of these proteins. In order to do this, methods used for isolating keratins need to be mild, to prevent protein damage, create cystine modifications that are reversible, to allow for reconstitution of tough materials through the creation of cystine bonds, and facilitate the isolation of specific keratin protein fractions from the keratin source. The present invention provides new materials for use in wound care products that are prepared according to these principles.


A fuel cell stack system comprises a plurality of fuel cell sub-stacks, each of which comprises a plurality of individual fuel cell units. A separator plate separates the fuel cell units between an anode of one fuel cell unit and a cathode of an adjacent fuel cell unit. A single separator plate separates corresponding fuel cell units in each fuel cell sub-stack. The edges of the separator plate extend substantially beyond the periphery of each fuel cell sub-stack forming oxidant flow paths between adjacent separator plates extending from the separator plate edges to the center of the separator plate from which oxidant is then distributed to each of the fuel cell units. By virtue of heat transfer from the extended edges of the separator plate to the oxidant, the heat generated by the fuel cell can be controlled.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an internal manifolded oxidant cooled fuel cell stack system in which the edges of the separator plates separating the fuel cell units of each of a plurality of fuel cell sub-stacks are extended to form fins. Pathways are provided for the oxidant gas to flow over the finned portions of the separator plates and into the fuel cell sub-stacks, thereby providing cooling of the fuel cell stack assembly and improved thermal management of the fuel cell stack system.
2. Description of Prior Art
In large fuel cell stack systems, internal stack cooling is a significant problem because of the impact that stack cooling has on the complexity of the stack design and balance of plant requirements. Previous attempts to provide the necessary cooling function in a large fuel cell stack system have included large high temperature oxidant flow, internal fuel reforming, or dedicated cooling plates installed throughout the stack assembly. Each of these approaches has significant technical and economic issues that must be overcome to produce a commercially viable fuel cell stack.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,230,966 to Voss et al. teaches a coolant flow field plate for electrochemical fuel cells comprising, in a major surface, a coolant inlet, a coolant outlet, at least one coolant distribution channel in fluid communication with the coolant inlet and disposed near the perimeter of the plate, and at least one central exhaust channel extending along a diagonal of the coolant flow field plate. The central exhaust channel is proximate to the center of the plate and in fluid communication with the coolant outlet. A plurality of coolant flow channels extend from the coolant distribution channels to the central exhaust channel. The coolant flow field plate is designed to increase the lifetime of solid polymer fuel cells by imposing lower temperatures near the periphery of the cell plates, thereby protecting the integrity of the seals where reactant gases are sealed against external leakage.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,514,487 to Washington et al. teaches an edge manifold assembly comprising a plurality of manifold plates which conduct, introduce and receive reactant and coolant streams to and from an electrochemical fuel cell stack. Each of the fuel cells is provided with a pair of manifold plates, each of which has at least one manifold opening formed therein for containing a fluid and at least one channel formed therein for effecting fluid communication between the manifold opening and the fuel cell to which the manifold plate is attached. The complexity of this approach in terms, for example, of the number of individual components required to make up this system will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
An example of the use of a cooling plate for internally cooling the fuel cell is taught by U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,721 to Sonai et al. This patent teaches a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell apparatus comprising a fuel cell formed by superposing a plurality of unit cells having a solid polymer electrolyte membrane held between an anode and a cathode and cooling plate adapted to circulate a coolant throughout the interior of the fuel cell and remove the heat produced during regeneration of power. However, in order to be effective, the fuel cell apparatus requires a coolant which is a liquid having a boiling point closely approximating the working temperature of the fuel cell.
Fuel cell batteries having air conduits from a peripheral intake location to a center of the battery are taught by U.S. Pat. No. 5,264,300 to Barp et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,418,079 to Diethelm. U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,913 to Yamada teaches a solid electrolyte type fuel cell having gas from gas supply ducts impinging perpendicularly on electrodes.
None of these prior art references provides a solution to the problem of cooling the fuel cell while preheating the oxidant reactant gas in a manner which results in a commercially viable fuel cell stack.

Finned internal manifold oxidant cooled fuel cell stack system


A technique capable of obtaining an ultrasonic transducer at high sensitivity in which a plurality of ultrasonic oscillators M1 each comprising a lower electrode fixed above a substrate, a diaphragm opposed to the substrate with a cavity being put therebetween, and an upper electrode disposed to the diaphragm are arranged above one identical substrate to constitute an ultrasonic transducer and a concentric convex corrugated region having a center identical with the center for the diaphragm is disposed to the diaphragm in an outer side of the cavity exceeding 70% for the radius thereof.

The MEMS technology of forming micro-mechanical parts or mechanical systems by using fine fabrication technique which has realized high performance and high degree of integration in semiconductor integrated circuits has attracted attention. While mechanical sensors for measuring physical quantity such as pressure and acceleration or mechanical actuators such as micro switches or oscillators by using the MEMS technique have already been put to practical use, it has further been discussed around the presentation of subjects to be solved and specific measures for proceeding research and development as the technique of adding values to products in various fields.
The MEMS technique is generally classified into a bulk MEMS technique of fabricating a silicon substrate per se and a surface MEMS technique of forming products by repeating thin film deposition and patterning above the surface of silicon substrates. The surface MEMS technique is more similar to the production process of semiconductor integrated circuits and applied, for example, to ultrasonic transducers (refer, for example, to the specification of U.S. Pat. No. 6,426,582B1).

Ultrasonic transducer and manufacturing method thereof


The present invention relates to methods to regulate actin polymerization in T lymphocytes involved in tumorigenesis, inflammatory responses, immune responses, allergic responses and graft rejection responses, kits to perform such assays and methods to identify regulatory reagents that specifically control actin polymerization in T lymphocytes.

The present invention relates to a process for regulating actin polymerization in T lymphocytes. The present invention also relates to assays and methods useful for identifying compounds that regulate actin polymerization in a T lymphocyte.
Mammalian cells have cytoskeletal networks that are associated with their plasma membrane. The cytoskeleton is comprised of a dense network of actin filaments and associated actin-binding proteins. Components of both the cytoskeletal network and the plasma membrane are important for cellular signalling by, for example, localizing and focusing critical signalling molecules.
Certain mammalian cells comprise multichain surface receptors that enable a cell to respond to changes in the environment outside of the cell. One such multichain receptor is a T cell receptor (TCR) located on the surface of T lymphocytes. A TCR is a multichain, heteromeric structure composed of an antigen binding domain comprising xcex1 and xcex2 chains, and non-covalently associated signal transducing complexes, including CD3-xcex3, xcex4 and xcex5 chains, and the xcex6 chains. Signal transduction events produced by TCR ligation with major histocompatibility complexes (MHC) induce a variety of cytoplasmic metabolic changes. For example, gene transcription and production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) are promoted by TCR ligation with MHC molecules.
Abnormalities in T lymphocyte function can arise through deregulation of signalling in T cells. Such diseases include, for example, autoimmune diseases, immunodeficiency diseases and immunoproliferative diseases. T lymphocyte function also contributes to graft rejection. To develop compounds that regulate the activity of molecules involved in T cell function, there must be an understanding of the molecules and interactions involved in such T cell related diseases.
Prior investigators have suggested that ligand binding converts surface immunoglobulin (Ig) to a detergent insoluble form, and that Ig receptors subsequently undergo extensive degradation accompanied by the appearance of a detergent soluble membrane product (Braun et al., J. Immunol. 128:1198-1204, 1982). Parsey et al. (J. Immunol. 151:1881-1893, 1993) hypothesize about a connection between actin polymerization and the ability of immobilized anti-CD3 antibodies to stimulate changes in cell shape and F-actin morphology. Furthermore, the expression of four src-family genes associated with T cell activation was shown to be specifically blocked by cyclosporine (Furue et al., J. Immunol. 144(2): 736-739, 1990). Prior investigators, however, have failed to teach or appreciate that actin polymerization in T lymphocytes is specifically regulated by the presence of a particular motif (i.e., an immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif; ITAM) of a xcex6 chain or xcex5 chain of a TCR.
Although therapeutics exist that regulate immune activity in an animal, problems have arisen due to the non-specific nature and harmful side effects of such drugs. Despite a long-felt need to discover compounds that specifically regulate T cell activity with minimal side-effects, the complexity and lack of understanding of signal transduction networks in a T cell has hindered the development of such compounds. The present invention offers a method and product that permits regulation of specific steps of a signal transduction pathway in cells having ITAM-containing receptors.
Despite the complexity of signal transduction networks in cells, the present invention provides for a method to regulate actin polymerization in T lymphocytes by controlling the step in the signalling pathway in which an ITAM of the xcex6 or xcex5 chain of a TCR interacts with a tyrosine kinase and/or an adaptor molecule. The advantages arising from this invention include the specific regulation of a step in a T lymphocyte signalling pathway that can regulate T lymphocyte growth, differentiation, homing, proliferation and death. The present inventors are the first to appreciate the specific molecular interactions involved in the actin polymerization steps within a T lymphocyte, and thus, are the first to propose a method and product that targets this particularly important event within a T lymphocyte.
One aspect of the present invention includes a method to identify compounds capable of regulating actin polymerization in a T lymphocyte, comprising: (a) contacting a putative regulatory compound with a T lymphocyte having a T cell receptor chain selected from the group consisting of a zeta chain and an epsilon chain, to form a contacted lymphocyte; (b) combining the contacted lymphocyte with a molecule capable of inducing the phosphorylation of the zeta chain or the epsilon chain; and (c) assessing the ability of the putative regulatory compound to regulate actin polymerization in the lymphocyte. In particular, the method further comprising assessing the amount of interleukin-2 produced by the lymphocyte.
Another aspect of the present invention includes a method to regulate actin polymerization in a T lymphocyte, comprising contacting a T lymphocyte with an effective amount of a regulatory reagent that is capable of altering the activity of an immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM) of a xcex6 chain of a T cell receptor. A preferred ITAM to regulate using the present method comprises the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:1. Regulation of actin polymerization by the present method preferably alters a T lymphocyte function including growth, differentiation, homing, proliferation, apoptosis and anergy.
The present invention also includes a method to regulate actin polymerization in a T lymphocyte, comprising contacting a T lymphocyte with an effective amount of a regulatory reagent that alters the activity of an immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif of an xcex5 chain of a T cell receptor. A preferred ITAM to regulate using the present method comprises the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:2.
One embodiment of the present invention includes a cellular system where a src-family tyrosine kinase is contacted with a T cell receptor chain selected from the group consisting of a xcex6 chain and an xcex5 chain that is regulated by said src-family tyrosine kinase, the improvement comprising regulating actin polymerization by contacting a T lymphocyte with a reagent capable of binding to a protein including a third ITAM of a xcex6 chain, an ITAM of an xcex5 chain and an SH2 domain.
Another embodiment of the present invention includes a formulation capable of regulating actin polymerization in a T lymphocyte, the formulation comprising: (a) a regulatory reagent that alters the activity of a molecule including an immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif of a xcex6 chain of a T cell receptor and an immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif of a xcex5 chain of a T cell receptor in a cell; and (b) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
The present invention also includes a kit to identify compounds capable of regulating actin polymerization in a T lymphocyte, the kit comprising: (a) a cell comprising a T cell receptor chain selected from the group consisting of a xcex6 chain, an xcex5 chain, and actin monomers; and (b) a means for detecting the polymerization of the actin monomers.

Product and process to regulate actin polymerization in T lymphocytes

National Jewish Medical and Research Center


Systems and methods are described here to provide a degree or level of certification to a resident application such as an operating system, e.g., Linux®. In a Linux® implementation, the operating system provides a robust environment including many seasoned communication stacks, e.g., TCP/IP, USB, and the like. However, Linux® is not certified to the level necessary to be a part of many avionics applications. To eliminate the need to certify all of such an operating system, such certification being highly costly, the avionics application itself may be protected so that the operating system cannot alter the application's operating environment, e.g., application code and data, once the application is loaded and running. In this case, only the application requires certification at the highest level, and not the operating system such as Linux®.

Prior to the introduction of software to the cockpit suite, mechanical flight indicators were designed to fail in an obvious fashion. In this way, pilots would immediately notice their faulty character, and could take appropriate action. Current instruments, however, often include significant amounts of embedded software.
The Federal Aviation Administration has established strict guidelines regarding the allowance of embedded software in avionics instrumentation in aircraft, e.g., the standard DO-178B was established by the FAA's Advisory Circular AC20-115B. DO-178B established categories A-E into which instrumentation is classified. Category "A" corresponds to the most vital instrumentation, that whose failure is often catastrophic, e.g., altitude indicators, airspeed indicators, and attitude indicators. Category "B" corresponds to instrumentation whose failure is hazardous, and so on. Category "E" corresponds to instrumentation whose failure has virtually no effect.
The time and expense of certifying an instrument to a given level is proportional to the category: category "A" instruments require an elaborate and inordinate amount of time and expense to certify, while category "E" instruments require much less so, with the intermediate products in between. This is in many cases converse to the consideration of the level of complexity of the instrument: i.e., category "A" instruments typically deliver simple types of information, e.g., airspeed, attitude, etc., while lower category instruments deliver much more complex information, e.g., navigational displays.
There is currently a trend in avionics instrumentation to provide a cluster of instruments on a single large display. However, if the cluster includes instruments of more than one category, all instruments must be certified to the highest category. For complex, lower-category instruments, this may translate to an extraordinary amount of testing to certify a complex instrument to a category "A".


A system and method for generating a frame of reference for a plurality of information, the plurality of information containing text data and obtained by a user through interaction with one or more information sources. The method and system include receiving selected information for analysis, the information including a plurality of text data and identifying a plurality of logical units of the text data. Also included are identifying a plurality of individual textual portions in each of the logical units and calculating the number of logical units associated with each of the individual textual portions of the plurality of textual portions for use in identifying a plurality of patterns including a respective pattern for each of the individual textual portions. Based on the identified patterns, a measure of importance for each of the plurality of patterns is calculated and respective patterns from the plurality of patterns are selected based on their corresponding measure of importance satisfying a predefined pattern importance threshold for retaining the respective patterns in the plurality of patterns. Further, a plurality of information context definitions is generated based on the selected respective patterns and the generated information context definitions are assigned as context definitions of a semantic context associated with the frame of reference. The plurality of information is related to each other and such relation is represented by the generated context definitions of the semantic context.

Use of the Internet is growing in popularity due to the ever-expanding availability of information that is accessible on-line through various search tools, such as search engines. Across a local enterprise and remotely over the Internet, computer users are faced by having to sort through an overwhelming amount of information. The Internet is fast becoming the primary information search tool for obtaining information about products, places, people, etc. Unfortunately, the Internet is also quickly becoming a casualty of its own success due to unmanageable amounts of available data and the inability of users to receive desirable search results that are of efficient use to the users.
One problem associated with Internet search methodologies is the undesirable volume of search results obtained through a seemingly directed search. The amount of information available on any particular topic can be overwhelming to even the most seasoned Internet searcher. Typically, search results are filled with voluminous information that may not be appropriate for the search context desired by the searcher. Further, the searcher may desire certain information types over others. Certainly, it is a disadvantage to the searcher to have to sift through volumes of search results that seemingly do not pertain to the interests/desires of the searcher. Accordingly, tools such as search engines and document management systems can exacerbate the problem by pushing greater and greater amounts of information to users' desktops, creating the sense of being overwhelmed by data. Further, it is recognised that current search technologies are reactive and as such require a user to stop their current task and interrogate a data source to access information.
Further, adding to the "information chaos" is the fact that many of today's computer users are working on multiple, often dissimilar projects, and the ordered and optimized access of the user to relevant information stored in their computers (in relation to their current project), can be problematic. This lack of organizational capability can significantly detract from a user's (e.g. lawyer, accountant, consultant, educator, doctor . . . ) ability to efficiently work via their computer with information that is related to their current project. Common questions related to information disorganisation on a user's computer are: "Which relevant documents were on the desktop?"; "Which email threads are part of the project?"; "What web searches and results were within the project?"; "What documents, presentation, data, emails, pictures, videos were part of the project?"; and "Which files were on the desktop system, a server or in a document management system?". One solution to this organizational problem is for the user to manually create and manage a number of directories and folders for related information. However, the nature of this type of organization is that any desired changes require much manual effort on the part of the user.
A further disadvantage of current search technologies is that multiple searchers search in isolation, even though there may be many searchers currently searching for similar subject matter (e.g. cheap trip to Florida) online. Accordingly, the multiple searchers are unable to leverage each other's time spent on the task of finding the similar subject matter.

Information processing with integrated semantic contexts


Techniques for predicting failure mode specific reliability characteristics of tangible equipment using parametric probability models are disclosed. In some example embodiments, a computer system receives a model training configuration entered via a user interface, trains a failure curve model for a selected failure mode of a selected equipment model based on the model training configuration at a time indicated by training schedule data, generating, and generates analytical data for the selected failure mode of the selected equipment model using the trained failure curve model. The failure mode corresponds to a specific way in which the equipment model is capable of failing. In some example embodiments, the training of the failure curve model comprises determining a shape parameter and a scale parameter for the failure curve model based on a fitting of failure event data to a continuous probability distribution, and storing the parameters for use in generating the analytical data.

Current solutions for predicting failures in equipment are dependent on sensor data. However, a significant amount of equipment is not instrumented with sensors for providing such data. Data such as mean time between failures (MTBF) metrics are not actionable measures of equipment life span or remaining useful life. As a result, computer systems lack the ability to accurately estimate important analytical data used in maintaining the equipment, such as the probability of failure and the remaining useful life for a particular equipment model. Furthermore, current solutions do not provide user interface with interactive visualizations of such analytical data or the ability for users to interactively adjust the granularity of such analytical data to focus the analytical data on a particular mode of failure of a particular equipment model rather than just a general failure of the particular equipment model.

Failure mode specific analytics using parametric models


The TIC environmental event sensor is a nickel-sized, ultra-thin circuit assembly, containing an extremely compact array of both environmental sensors and physical sensors, along with local and wireless access to all the sensor data, including BTLE & LoRa, as well as an electronic ink display for limited field access to sensor events in real time. The TIC is designed to capture changes in the sensor data in real time, and then log it for future examination. The most recent change will remain on the device's display. The changes can then be transmitted to a smart phone or tablet via BTLE, networked as an asset via LoRa, or locally scrolled at the device. The TIC is Ideal for tracking any variations in the surrounding conditions of an asset's travel, storage or use.

It is a problem in the art to provide a sensor for recording events that occur over a period of time. Such sensors have use in areas in many fields. For example, it is needed where it may be important to know the number of duty cycles that have occurred, such as for warranty purposes in a mechanical or electrical device, so that a manufacturer can set a limit for warranty purposes. Other events can be sensed, which likewise can apply for warranty purposes, such as high or low temperature, high or low pressure, exposure to certain gasses, and so on.
Such sensors are also useful for preventive maintenance purposes, so that during maintenance it can determined whether a particular device, object, or circuit needs to be replaced.
Further uses include the transportation and storage industries. And, manufacturing and processing industries have equipment, sensors, machinery and circuits which can be monitored with an event sensor.
The size and life of an event sensor matter, and in many cases the smaller the sensor the better, and the longer-lived the sensor, the better.
There is a need for a long-lived sensor which is high in efficiency, which is small in size with miniaturized components, and which can record events that are sensed. There is also a need for a long-lived sensor in which event parameters can be set, so that it will record events above and/or below such parameters. There is also a need for a sensor that can display the events, and wherein the events are selectable during display.


A method of increasing usable bandwidth on a long-haul cable system having at least one optical fiber, the method comprising the steps of: (a) effecting counter-propagating first and second signals of different bands on a common long-haul optical fiber having cascaded optical amplifiers; and (b) band amplifying the first and second signals while reducing BRS in the bands.

The present invention relates generally to long-haul, fiber optic transmission systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to increasing the capacity of undersea cable systems.
An undersea network of fiber-optic telecommunication cables links continents, nations and lands together. Communication traffic on these submarine cables has increased dramatically in recent years and is expected to continue to grow as a result of many factors, including, for example, the globalization of world economies and businesses, the increased demand for international communications capabilities, and the development of multimedia applications and revolutionary resources such as the Internet. These factors necessitate increasing capacity not only by adding cables, but also by optimizing the operation of existing submarine cables. The term xe2x80x9ccapacityxe2x80x9d as used herein refers to the total bit rate of the cable system which represents the sum of the bit rates of each channel on all the fibers within a cable.
Approaches for increasing capacity on existing cables have traditionally been aimed at optimizing bandwidth utilization. Long-haul optical fiber transmission paths, such as those employed by undersea cables, typically extend over 5000 km and operate in the C-band. The C-band spans from about 1525 to about 1565 nm and is optimal for low-absorption losses. Within the C-band, capacity may be increased by increasing the number of channels and the bit rate of the channels. Most long-haul cable systems increase the number of channels through wavelength division multiplexing (WDM). The ultimate capacity of a WDM cable system depends on how closely channels can be packed. Minimum channel spacing is limited, however, by interchannel crosstalk and the degradation of the signal to noise ratio (SNR). It has been found that, to maintain sufficient signal integrity, channel spacing in GHz should exceed, e.g., four times the bit rate in Gb/s. Therefore, for a given bandwidth, the number of channels and bit rate are interrelated and limit the capacity of a cable.
Furthermore, in practice, other factors restrict the use of the entire low-loss bandwidth window of 120 nm near 1550 nm. For example, the number of channels is limited to the bandwidth over which the amplifiers can provide nearly-uniform gain. Other factors that limit the number of channels include nonlinear effects and the tunability of laser transmitters. Therefore, increasing channel bit rate and the number of multiplexed channels is limited by SNR minimums and the current state of the technology.
One approach to increase useable bandwidth involves using the L-band in addition to the C-band. The L-band refers to a bandwidth of about 1570 to about 1610 nm. Combining the L-band with the C-band expands the useable bandwidth from about 1525-1565 (40 nm) to about 1525-1610 nm (80 nm). Use of the L-band has been limited in the past, however, due to several factors, one of the more significant being Raman effects.
In multiple channels systems, the fiber acts as a Raman amplifier such that longer wavelength channels are amplified by shorter wavelength channels when the wavelength difference is within the bandwidth of the Raman gain. The Raman gain of silica fibers is so broad that the amplification can occur for channels spaced as far apart as 200 nm, although the peak amplification occurs between about 110 and about 120 nm from the pump wavelength. The shortest wavelength becomes the most depleted as it can pump many long-wavelength channels simultaneously. It is interesting to note that amplification only occurs when 1 bits are present in both channels simultaneously. This signal-dependent amplification leads to enhanced power fluctuations which add to receiver noise and degrade receiver performance.
The Raman effects between the C- and L-bands are particular problematic compared to the effects within just the C-band, especially in long-haul systems. Given the conventional operating bandwidth within the C-band of less than 40 nm, the Raman effects between channels tend to be insignificant since the peak Raman Stokes shift is about 110 to about 120 nm from the pump wavelength. However, when the C- and L-bands are combined and form a bandwidth of close to 80 nm, the wavelength difference between the shortest and longest channels is quite near the peak Raman Stokes shift.
Aside from Raman effects, combining the C and L-band also is problematic from the standpoint of isolation. More specifically, to isolate bands based on wavelength, a minimum bandgap between them is necessary to maintain the integrity of the channels at the interface of the C- and L-bands. This bandgap tends to be relatively large compared to the spacing between channels and consumes valuable bandwidth thereby reducing capacity.
Therefore, a need exists for increasing capacity on new and existing lines using known technologies while maintaining the integrity of the signals. The present invention fulfills this need among others.
The present invention provides an approach for increasing capacity on long-haul cable systems that overcomes the aforementioned problems by employing counter-propagating band signals, preferably, counter-propagating C-band and L-band signals. By using counter-propagating band signals, the Raman effects associated with co-propagating bands are significantly reduced. Applicants suspect that the Raman effects are greatly reduced for counter-propagating signals due to xe2x80x9cwalk offxe2x80x9d and/or xe2x80x9cpower distributionxe2x80x9d effects (described in detail below), although the scope of the present invention is not, in any way, tied to a particular theory. In addition to the benefits of reducing Raman effects, counter-propagating band signals also are more readily isolated. It is more efficient to isolate bands based on their direction of propagation, rather than on their wavelength differences, since a relatively-large bandgap between the bands is not needed to improve the isolation.
In effecting counter-propagating C- and L-band signals on long-haul cable systems, such as undersea cable systems, it has been found that a reduction in backward Rayleigh scattering (BRS) is required. BRS results from random localized variations of the molecular positions in glass that create random inhomogeneities of the reflective index that act as tiny scatters centers. Although BRS is not a problem with counter-propagating band signals over relatively-short transmission paths, such as terrestrial lines of 100-300 km (see, for example, Suzuki et al. Bidirectional Ten-Channel 2.5Gbitls WDM Transmission over 250 km Utilizing 76 nm (1531-1607 nm) Gain-band Bidirectional Erbium-doped Fiber Amplifiers, Optical Amplifiers and Their Applications (IEEE/Lasers and Electro-Optics Society, July 1997)), BRS tends to accumulate on long-hauls systems having many cascaded amplifiers. The BRS causes problems in amplification, especially for the L-band which is particularly susceptible to C-band power induced from the BRS of the C-band signals (see, for example, Massicott et al. Low Noise Operation of EY+Doped Silica Fibre Amplifier Around 1-6 xcexcm (August 1992)). More specifically, as the BRS level rises through accumulation over many amplifiers, it can induce gain and output power fluctuations.
The applicants not only have identified the problems with BRS associated with counter-propagating band signals on long-haul optical fibers, but also have developed a solution. More specifically, it has been found that the cascading effects of BRS can be reduced significantly by isolating and filtering each bandwidth during optical amplification.
The applicants also have developed an approach for isolating and filtering the band signals without incurring high insertion losses and noise figure (NF). More specifically, a novel configuration of bandsplitters is set forth which exploits certain characteristics of bandsplitters. Specifically, a bandsplitter""s reflective port has lower insertion loss and NF than its transmission port, while its transmission port has better isolation than its reflective port. Accordingly, in a preferred embodiment, the reflective ports of two or more bandsplitters are used as the xe2x80x9cinputxe2x80x9d into an amplifier system such that each bandsplitter reflects signals of a particular band onto a particular transmission path for amplification. Because the reflective ports are used as the input, the insertion loss and NF are minimized. The transmission ports of the bandsplitters are used as the xe2x80x9coutputxe2x80x9d from the amplifier system such that each bandsplitter transmits the amplified signals of a particular band onto the optical fiber having counter-propagating band signals. Because the transmission port is used as the output, a high level of isolation is achieved before the band signals are transmitted onto the optical fiber. Therefore, the bandsplitter configuration splits and filters band signals while introducing minimal insertion losses and NF and achieving high isolation.
Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention is a method of operating a cable by using counter-propagating bandwidths. In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises the steps of: (a) effecting counter-propagating first and second signals of different bands on a common long-haul optical fiber having cascaded optical amplifiers; and (b) band amplifying the first and second signals while reducing BRS on the optical fiber . As used herein, the term xe2x80x9ceffecting counter-propagating signalsxe2x80x9d refers broadly to taking any action or participating in any way that results in signals counter-propagating on a long-haul optical fiber and includes, for example, operating a cable system or any portion thereof to transmit and/or receive signals in opposite directions on the same optical fiber, and operating a cable system to transmit signals on an optical fiber in one direction during one time period (e.g. daytime) and in a reverse direction during another time period (e.g., nighttime).
Another aspect of the present invention is a method for amplifying counter-propagating band signals over a long distance between cable stations. In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises the steps of (a) splitting counter-propagating signals into two or more bands; (b) reducing BRS within each band; (c) amplifying each band; and (d) combining the bands after steps (b) and (c) on an optical fiber to effect counter-propagating signals on the optical fiber. Preferably, a configuration of bandsplitters is used to split and combine the bands.
Yet anther aspect of the invention is an amplification system for amplifying counter-propagating signals on a long-haul cable system. In a preferred embodiment, the amplifier system comprises: (a) band splitting/combining optics configured for splitting counter-propagating signals into two or more bands onto separate transmission paths, and for combining the bands on a common optical fiber; (b) BRS-reduction optics for reducing BRS on each separate transmission path; and (c) at least one gain-band amplifier disposed on each separate transmission path for band amplifying the particular band thereon. Preferably, the band splitting/combining optics comprises a configuration of bandsplitters.
Still another aspect of the present invention is a long-haul cable system that supports counter-propagating signals. In a preferred embodiment, the system comprises: (a) a long-haul optical fiber comprising at least one optical fiber; (b) two or more cable stations connected to the optical fiber; and (c) a plurality of amplifier systems as described above disposed along the optical fiber.

System and method for increasing capacity of undersea cables


A bird cage which comprises a base, four sides having a lower inverted U-shaped edge member, a top, and a seed catcher which outwardly extends from the sides to catch and direct debris, such as discarded bird seeds, shells, etc., which fall out from the sides. A rectangular-shaped side retainer comprising four horizontal elongated bars connected by four corner mounts is mounted above the seed catcher and releasably attachable to the base to securely support the U-shaped edge members of the sides in a spaced-apart relation to the seed catcher. The attachment of the sides to side retainer provides an unobstructed opening or passageway under the length of the securely supported side for directing discarded bird seed into base.

The present invention relates generally to bird cages. More particularly, the present invention relates to readily assembled bird cages having securely supported sides, and preferably, a seed guard or catcher for catching bird seeds, shells, feathers, or other debris which may fall out of the cage.
Bird cages generally include a wire framework having a top, vertical sides, and a bottom for confining one or more birds therein. While discarded bird seeds, shells, feathers, and other debris are typically caught in a bottom tray, some of the debris ultimately falls out of the cage and onto the floor.
FIG. 6 illustrates a prior art bird cage 10 and a seed catcher 20, and particularly, the connection between the sides 12 and a generally rectangular base 14. A lower edge 16 of sides 12 fits into in an upwardly extending U-shaped member 18 of base 14 so that sides 12 are securely supported by base 14 along their entire length. Seed catcher 20 includes an outwardly extending and angled wall 22 and a vertical downwardly depending wall or leg 24. Leg 24 fits into U-shaped member 18 along with lower edge 16 of sides 12. While this configuration provides a sturdy assembled bird cage due to sides 12 being supported and restrained from outwardly directed movement along their length, a portion of discarded bird seeds 30 which fall out of bird cage 10 is trapped between seed catcher 20 and sides 12, i.e., bird seeds 30 are prevented from being deposited into base 14, e.g., into a bottom tray (not shown). In particular, bird seeds 30 tend to become wedged into the lowermost portion of angled wall 22 of seed catcher 20 and sides 12, and which once accumulated therebetween, become unsightly and dirty as well as difficult to remove and clean.
Thus, there is a need for a sturdy assembled bird cage desirably having a seed catcher wherein bird seeds, shells, and other debris which fall out of the cage are readily directed into the base or bottom tray.


A belt assembly, particularly for driving camshafts of an internal combustion engine, includes a driving gear, at least one driven gear, a belt, and a first and a second tensioner blade that are joined to one another for transmitting a defined force and motion. One tensioner blade can be subjected to the action of tension force by use of a first tensioning device supported on the tensioner blade on one side and externally on the other, and the tensioner blades can be subjected to the action of tension force by use of a second tensioning device both with regard to one another as well as with regard to a case of the internal combustion engine.

The invention relates to a belt assembly, in particular for driving camshafts of an internal combustion engine, including a driving gear, at least one driven gear, a belt, as well as a first and a second tensioner blade. Both tensioner blades are connected together in a manner that transmits a defined force and/or motion.
The camshafts of internal combustion engines are typically driven, starting from the crankshaft, by means of a traction mechanism, such as a control chain or a control belt. In order to prevent vibrations, and in particular transverse vibrations, tensioners are used to tension the belt. Such an arrangement with a chain tensioner, which includes a shoe subjected to the action of mechanical force by way of a leaf spring is described in DE 4114948 A1.
In an arrangement described in DE 4114948 A1, as the tension increases in the strand assigned to the tensioner—for example, due to vibrations of the camshafts—, the other strand becomes slack at least for a short period of time, so that undesired transverse vibrations are excited in the belt. A remedy could be provided with a drive system as shown in DE 201 02 748U1. In this drive system, two tensioner blades are hinged swivellably on one side to a housing of a tensioning device; and hydraulic pistons, acting from inside against the tensioner blades, are mounted in the opposite direction of tension in the housing between the tensioner blades. Therefore, the pistons are supplied over a common hydraulic connection, so that the conditions for adjusting the tension characteristics are met. The drive system described in DE 201 02 748 U1 includes two tensioning devices, which, including the housing, the tensioning pistons and the tensioner blades, are constructed symmetrically in relation to a center line.
As a result of DE 201 02 748U1, the two swivellable tensioner blades are connected together in a manner that transmits a force and motion by way of the two coupled hydraulic pistons. However, there is neither a reference in relation to the stationary housing of the internal combustion engine nor is the transfer of vibrations of one tensioner blade, excited, for example, by oscillating camshafts, to the other tensioner blade, controllable. In addition, the symmetrical design of the tensioning device, which necessitates a linear vibration system, favors the build up of vibrations and, thus, the risk of damage or even the destruction of the belt assembly. Another problem may stem from the air bubbles in the hydraulic system of the pistons. These air bubbles lead to an unknown spring system between the tensioner blades.
There is therefore needed an aforementioned belt assembly, which enables a defined and controlled application of the tension force to the tensioner blades for the active prevention of undesired transverse vibrations. In addition, the belt assembly should be designed simply and optimally and, at the same time, be easy and advantageous to produce, maintain and repair.
These needs are met according to the invention by a belt assembly, in particular for driving camshafts of an internal combustion engine, including a driving gear, at least one driven gear, a belt as well as a first and a second tensioner blade, both tensioner blades being connected together in a manner that transmits a defined force and/or motion by way of a two-part hinge mechanism. One tensioner blade can be subjected to the action of tension force by a first tensioning device, supported on the tensioner blade on one side and externally on the other side. The two parts of the hinge mechanism are connected together in a hinge point. The hinge point can be subjected to the action of tension force by a second tensioning device, and the second tensioning device is supported at the hinge point on the one side and at least indirectly on the internal combustion engine side on the other side.
Thus, according to the underlying idea, one tensioner blade can be subjected to the action of tension force by use of a first tensioning device, supported on the tensioner blade on one side and externally on the other side; and the two parts of the hinge mechanism are connected together in a hinge point. The hinge point can be subjected to the action of tension force by use of a second tensioning device; and the second tensioning device is supported at the hinge point on the one side and at least indirectly on the internal combustion engine side on the other side.
As an alternative, the problem, underlying the invention, may be solved with a belt assembly wherein a tensioner blade can be subjected to the action of tension force by use of a first tensioning device, which is supported on the tensioner blade on one side and externally on the other side. The second tensioner blade includes a second tensioning device with a piston, guided in a cylinder, which is constructed integrally in the tensioner blade; and the connecting link is connected in an articulated manner to the first tensioner blade on one side and to the second tensioning device on the other side.
Another alternative solution of the problem, underlying the invention, may be carried out with a belt assembly wherein a tensioner blade can be subjected to the action of tension force by use of a first tensioning device, which is supported on the tensioner blade on one side and externally on the other side. The second tensioner blade includes a second tensioning device with a piston, guided in a cylinder, constructed integrally in the tensioner blade. The two-part connecting link includes an eccentric cam; and the cam can be subjected to the action of tension force by use of the second tensioning device.
Advantageous embodiments and further developments are described and claimed herein.
It is very advantageous if, in a belt assembly according to the invention, the first part of the two-part hinge mechanism is connected to the first tensioner blade; and the second part of the two-part hinge mechanism is connected to the second tensioner blade. The first part of the two-part hinge mechanism exhibits a longer length than the second part; and the hinge point lies outside the area, enclosed by the belt, so that the second tensioning device, required for applying tension force to the hinge point, can lie outside the area, enclosed by the belt. Furthermore, it is deemed to be advantageous, if in a belt assembly with a second tensioner blade, which can be swivelled about a pivotal point, which is stationary on the internal combustion engine, the second tensioning device includes a piston, which is guided in a cylinder, constructed integrally in the second tensioner blade. The axis of the piston goes at least approximately through the pivotal point of the second tensioner blade. In this way, the second tensioning device can support itself in essence on the internal combustion engine side in that the force flows through the pivotal point to the internal combustion engine. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the hinge point of the two-part hinge mechanism includes a roll or ball in the contact area to the piston in order to minimize the friction between the hinge point and the piston of the second tensioning device and to avoid forces transversely to the axis of the piston.
As a result of an especially advantageous embodiment of a belt assembly according to the invention, both ends of the piston are guided in the tensioner blade; and the connecting link is connected to the free central area of the piston. Since the piston is subjected to a load transversely to the axis of the piston, the result is a guide that is especially reliable and stressable. In a belt assembly with a second tensioner blade, which can be swivelled about a pivotal point that is stationary on the internal combustion engine, the axis of the piston of the second tensioning device goes advantageously at least approximately through the pivotal point of the second tensioner blade and encloses with the axis of the connecting link an angle α>90 deg.
Especially preferred is a design of a belt assembly according to the invention, in which the cam exhibits a first curved surface and rests with its curved surface against a corresponding surface of the second tensioner blade. The cam exhibits expediently a second curved surface, which forms the contact area in relation to the second tensioning device. In a belt assembly with a second tensioner blade, which can be swivelled about a pivotal point, which is stationary on the internal combustion engine, it is advantageous if the axis of the piston of the second tensioning device goes at least approximately through the pivotal point of the second tensioner blade.
Embodiments of the invention that are to be especially preferred are explained in detail below with reference to the figures. In this respect the figures are shown in the form of a schematic and as examples of the embodiments.

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft