A method and apparatus for decoding code words which are error protected by a non-binary BCH-code against at least one symbol error. Upon reception of an input code word a syndrome information thereof is generated under control of code defining information. From the syndrome information, a key equation is set up and solved for generating an error locator polynomial sig (z) and an error evaluator polynomial w(z). On the basis of the polynomial sig (z) and its formal derivative polynomial sig' (z), Euclid's algorithm is employed to calculate two accessory polynomials b(z), c(z), such that b(z)sig(z)+c(z)sig'(z)=1. From these, a Lagrangian polynomial L(z) is calculated which for any inversed error location value has the associated error symbol value. The error data is then calculated by evaluating the error locator polynomial and the Lagrangian polynomial.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a decoding method for decoding code words that are wordwise protected by a non-binary BCH code against at least one symbol error. In most practical codes, each symbol contains a string of at least two bits. More generally, however, the cardinality of the symbol set is at least three. The invention is applicable to non-primitive BCH-codes as well as to primitive BCH-codes. In a primitive code the code length is exactly (2.sup.n-1). In a non-primitive code the length can be any odd integer, the code being nevertheless still a well at to non-narrow-sense BCH-codes. The invention is applicable to full-length codes as well as to shortened or punctuated BCH-codes. All these exemplary sub-categories are considered well-known in the art and will not be explained in detail. The derivation hereinafter will only be given for one particular sub-category, to wit, a primitive, narrow-sense BCH-code. Extension to more general BCH-codes is straightforward. A further sub-category of BCH-codes are Reed-Solomon codes, wherein the finite field associated with the code symbols and the finite field for the decoding calculations are identical. In contradistinction thereto, the code symbols may also be defined as a sub-field of the field that is used for the calculations. The present invention applies to both categories. As far as the invention is concerned, the symbols have more than two possible values, which means that localizing an error also necessitates finding the error value. As used herein and in the ensuing claims, the term "error value" refers to the symbol value to be included in a decoding code word at a location therein ("error location") at which a symbol error is present in the received code word being decoded. The invention particularly suits codes that have a high distance, and thus could, in principle, correct many symbol errors in each code word.
2. The Generally Related Art
A particular method according to the above foregoing has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,642,808 assigned to the same assignee. The code therein is a distance 21 code using 8-bit symbols, and is a Reed-Solomon code. Such method, while improving on classical correction methods by in particular accelerating the decoding for a low number of symbol errors, still requires a rather long processing time and/or the use of complicated or special purpose hardware, when for example more than three errors occur.

Method and apparatus for decoding code words protected wordwise by a non-binary BCH code from one or more symbol errors

by Henricus J. Kunnen, legal representative


Embodiments of the invention restrain temperature rise in a light exiting-side polarizer included in a liquid crystal light valve without limiting the quantity of light incident on the liquid crystal light valve and a projector that has a liquid crystal light valve to modulate incident light in accordance with a provided image signal and that projects an image represented by modulated light exiting from the liquid crystal light valve. The projector has a black level adjusting unit to adjust black level of the image signal, a temperature-detecting unit to detect temperature of the light exiting-side polarizer, and a control unit to control operation of the black level-adjusting unit. The control unit is characterized by causing the black level-adjusting unit to adjust the black level of the image signal on the basis of the temperature detected by the temperature-detecting unit in order to restrain temperature rise in the light exiting-side polarizer.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to a technique for restraining temperature rise in a light exiting-side polarizer constituting a liquid crystal light valve in a projector.
The related art includes a liquid crystal light valve that is used as an electro-optical device of a projector that projects an image.
This liquid crystal light valve includes a transmission liquid crystal panel, a light incident-side polarizer provided on a light incident surface side of this liquid crystal panel, and a light exiting-side polarizer provided on a light exiting surface side. In the liquid crystal panel, the direction of polarization of polarized light exiting from the light incident-side polarizer is modulated in accordance with a driving voltage applied to each pixel according to an image signal. Of the light modulated in the liquid crystal panel, only the light having a direction of polarization coincident with the polarization axis of the light exiting-side polarizer is caused to exit from the light exiting-side polarizer. The other light is absorbed by the light exiting-side polarizer. Thus, the liquid crystal light valve modulates incident light in accordance with the image signal.
Therefore, in the liquid crystal panel, the light incident-side polarizer and the light exiting-side polarizer constituting the liquid crystal light valve, there is a loss in exiting light with respect to incident light and this loss causes heating and temperature rise. Particularly, in the light exiting-side polarizer, the temperature rises at a higher degree because it absorbs a large quantity of light. The temperature rise in the light incident-side polarizer is relatively low because the light incident on the light incident-side polarizer is usually light polarized in the direction of polarization that is the same as the polarization axis of the light incident-side polarizer in consideration of efficiency.
In a related art projector, a liquid crystal light valve is cooled by blowing from a cooling fan, and the number of rotations of the cooling fan is controlled so that the temperature near the liquid crystal light valve can be maintained within a predetermined range of temperature specification, or the quantity of light emission of a light source is controlled so that temperature rise in a light exiting-side polarizer and a liquid crystal panel is restrained. See, for example, related art document JP-A-2000-194072.
Alternatively, in another related art projector, a power supply to a light source that generates illuminating light is shut down when the temperature of a light exiting-side polarizer becomes abnormal. Accordingly, temperature rise in the light exiting-side polarizer and a liquid crystal panel is restrained. See, for example, related art document JP-A-2003-43440.

Restraining temperature rise in light exiting-side polarizer constituting liquid crystal light valve


A flexible organic light emitting display apparatus comprising a flexible encapsulation layer comprising at least one aluminum oxide layer configured to cover an area having a plurality of pixels, a flexible barrier film comprising a flexible barrier film body and a pressure sensitive adhesive layer on the flexible encapsulation layer and an adhesion supporter directly contacting the aluminum oxide layer and the pressure sensitive adhesive layer.

Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to a flexible organic light emitting display apparatus that can be used as a flexible display apparatus and a method of manufacturing the same.
Discussion of the Related Art
Recently, the field of display apparatuses, which visually express an electrical information signal, is rapidly advancing. Therefore, research is being continuously conducted for developing flat panel display (FPD) and other types of display apparatuses having excellent performance such as thinness, lightness, low power consumption, etc. Representative examples of such FPD apparatuses include liquid crystal display (LCD) apparatuses, plasma display panel (PDP) apparatuses, field emission display (FED) apparatuses, electro-wetting display (EWD) apparatuses, etc. The FPD apparatuses each include a flat display panel for realizing an image. The FPD apparatuses each have a structure where a pair of substrates are bonded facing each other with a unique emitting material or polarizing material therebetween, and includes a display which has a display area and a non-display area at a periphery of the display area. The display area is defined as an area having a plurality of pixels.
Recently, flexible display apparatuses which use a flexible substrate formed of a flexible material such as plastic, and can maintain a display performance despite being bent like paper, are being developed for replacing the FPD apparatuses. Such flexible display apparatuses may be widely applied to various fields compared to existing display apparatuses with no flexibility, and thus, research and development for commercializing the flexible display apparatuses are being done continuously. Also, OLED apparatuses display an image by using an organic light emitting device which is a self-emitting device. That is, the OLED apparatuses each include a plurality of pixels which each include an organic light emitting device.
The organic light emitting device includes first and second electrodes, which face each other, and an emission layer which is formed of an organic material between the first and second electrodes and emits electroluminescent light, based on a driving current between the first and second electrodes. However, the emission layer formed of an organic material is easily and quickly deteriorated due to water and oxygen. Water may be referred as moisture, water or vapor. Therefore, general organic light emitting display apparatuses include an encapsulation part that protects water and oxygen from permeating into an organic layer. Generally, the encapsulation part uses an inorganic substrate which has an excellent characteristic of delaying the permeation of water.
General organic light emitting display apparatuses each include an array substrate where a plurality of thin film transistors (TFTs) are formed, a pixel part which is provided on the array substrate and includes an organic light emitting device driven by a plurality of TFTs, and an encapsulation part that seals the array substrate with the pixel part therebetween.
When a water/oxygen permeation path occurs in the encapsulation part, lifetime and reliability of an organic light emitting display apparatus are reduced.
The encapsulation part of the related art has a multi-layer structure where a silicon-based organic insulation layer, a silicon-based inorganic insulation layer, a silicon-based organic insulation layer, and a silicon-based inorganic insulation layer are repeated in order multiple times. However, the encapsulation part is thick, and thus, when the encapsulation part is bent, a crack easily occurs. For this reason, it is difficult to apply the encapsulation part of the related art to a flexible display apparatus.

Organic light emitting display apparatus and method of manufacturing the same


A method, system, and apparatus are provided for separating molecules, such as biomolecules. The method, system, and apparatus utilize an electrochemical cell having at least to electrodes, one electrode comprising a photo-sensitive material capable of generating a photopotential. Molecules are moved through an electrolyte medium between the at least two electrodes based upon localized photopotentials.

Analysis of a sample of biological origin frequently requires the separation of mixtures of biomolecules, such as nucleic acids, proteins, and polypeptides, which often have limited sample size. Electrophoresis, in which charged molecules move in a liquid under the influence of an electric field, has long been the method of choice for separating many classes of biomolecules. This method takes of advantage of differing migration velocities, vep, of different molecules.
The migration velocity, vep, is the distance (L) a molecule or particle moves per unit time (t). The migration velocity is the product of the electrophoretic mobility, μep, multiplied by the electric field strength E (units of volts/cm):vep=μep×E μep=q/6πηRwhere q is the charge on the particle and η is the viscosity of the medium and R is the radius of the particle. The velocity is, thus, directly proportional to the charge on the particle and the field strength and inversely proportional to the size of the particle and the viscosity of the medium. For relatively large particles or biomolecules, the charge increases as the size of the molecule increases, and the charge to mass (or radius) ratio becomes nearly constant. Under these circumstances if the electrophoresis is carried out in the presence of a gel composed of agarose (agarose gel electrophoresis) or crosslinked polyacrylamide (polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis), the gel structure creates a molecular sieving effect that allows the molecules or particles to be separated on the basis of size.
Capillary gel electrophoresis is typically carried out in 50 μm diameter capillaries that are 10 cm to 1 m long with a field strength that is generally in the range of 100 V/cm to 500 V/cm, and requires a high-applied voltage greater, typically greater than 1 KV. Heat generation is directly proportional to the square of the applied voltage, and the voltages required to achieve separation in capillary electrophoresis may cause degradation of sensitive samples.
A subject of a considerable amount of research in recent years has been microscale fluid handling systems that perform fast, automated, high-resolution sample preparation, reaction, and separation. Currently, this is being accomplished through advances in microfluidics. The idea is that once the. manipulation of fluids can be mastered on the microscale, key experiments for biomolecule separation and analysis can be integrated and automated—all on a mass-produced chip. In microfluidic-based devices, nucleic acid molecules, proteins, polypeptides and other such molecules are transported, manipulated, and separated through miniature channels embedded into the chip. Detection systems can also be integrated into the chip or affixed externally as a separate component for seamless, automated and highly sensitive detection.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A new Hypericum plant particularly distinguished by red-pink berries and a compact pot plant, is disclosed.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Hypericum, botanically known as Hypericum×Inodorum, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name 'RUIHYG219A'. 'RUIHYG219A' originated from an open-pollination conducted in June 2006 in Hazerswoude, The Netherlands between the proprietary female Hypericum variety 'Hp-01-0115-012' (unpatented), and an unknown, un-named male Hypericum variety.
The seeds from the open-pollination were sown and plants were grown outdoors for evaluation. An individual plant designated 'RUIHYG219A' was selected in October 2010. 'RUIHYG219A' was first vegetatively propagated in May 2009 in Hazerswoude, The Netherlands by softwood cuttings. 'RUIHYG219A' was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via softwood cuttings.
'RUIHYG219A' has not been made publicly available or sold more than one year prior to the filing date of this application.


Systems and methods include providing a virtual reality (“VR”) flight emulator system that simulates control, operation, and response of a vehicle. The flight emulator includes a control interface and a head-mounted display worn by a user. Motion, orientation, and/or forces experienced by the simulated vehicle are imparted to a user through a motion-control seat. Multiple flight emulators can be connected to a communication network, and a master flight emulator may teleport into a slave flight emulator in order to observe, overtake, override, and/or assume control of the slave flight emulator. Inputs made via the control interface of the master flight emulator or during playback of a pre-recorded training exercise or flight mission are translated into the control interface, head-mounted display, and motion-control seat of the slave flight emulator to provide real-time feedback to the user of the slave flight emulator.

Military, commercial, and other operations generally involve a fleet of different vehicles. Operators of many of these vehicles often require extensive training in order to ensure safe and effective operation of their respective vehicles. However, training pilots of aircraft presents unique training challenges and safety concerns not traditionally present in training operators of ground vehicles, since physical flight of the aircraft requires the aircraft to be airborne.


An expansion device for a wellbore servicing tool, comprising a wedge comprising a frusto-conical wall having a tip end, the wedge being configured coaxially along a central axis, a plurality of slip segments, each slip segment comprising an inner surface having an incline surface, and at least one bridge joining each of the incline surfaces to the frusto conical wall. A method of operating a wellbore servicing tool, comprising longitudinally compressing an expansion device along a central axis, upon sufficient compression, separating plural slip segments from a wedge, moving the wedge relative to the slip segments, upon sufficient movement of the wedge relative to the slip segments, separating at least two slip segments from each other.

Packer tools and other wellbore isolation devices sometimes have elements that undesirably protrude radially and inadvertently contact a wellbore, a casing within a wellbore, or other object. Such contact sometimes results in damage to the packer tool and/or premature transitioning of the device from a run in configuration to a set configuration. For example, some conventional slip segments of wellbore isolation devices are held together somewhat tightly against a mandrel through the use of one or more bands. The bands may be intended to stretch or fracture when the tool is activated in order to allow deployment. However, the bands offer limited resistance to inadvertent deployment when the wellbore isolation devices undergoes inadvertent perturbation.


A pillow with improved air flow is provided. The pillow includes a including an upper face, a lower face, four peripheral sides, a first gusset section and a first vent. The first gusset section extends along at least a portion of one of the peripheral sides. Also, at least a portion of the first vent configured as part of the upper face. In another aspect of the present invention, the first vent is configured to be a part of the upper face, one of the peripheral sides adjacent the first gusset and the lower face.

The present invention generally relates generally to pillows. More particularly, the present invention relates to a pillow with improved air flow therethrough.
Conventional pillows provide a soft cushion on which to place the head of a user while resting or sleeping. However, conventional pillows, especially pillows that include memory foam as a filler, absorb heat while a user sleeps resulting in a warm and uncomfortable sleeping experience. Thus, a need exists for a pillow having improved air flow.


This invention provides a system and method for confirming the proper placement of a penetrating catheter into a vascular compartment without undesirable arterial cannulation using principles of oximetry in which blood from the penetrated region is subjected to light of a plurality of wavelengths and detected for absorption levels. The result is analyzed by a processor and the level of oxygen saturation of the blood is indicated. The characteristic level of saturation informs the practitioner whether oxygenated arterial blood is present due to an inadvertent puncture. The catheter is introduced using an introduction needle. Thereafter the needle is removed to allow blood to communicate with sensing elements that consist of a light-emitting LED array and opposed photodetector. Light in the infrared and visible red wavelengths can be provided by separate LED units. Aspiration of blood through the catheter by an attached syringe allows the processor to compute the level of oxygen saturation, based upon detected light absorption of passing blood, using the Beer-Lambert law. The sensing elements can be miniaturized so as to be located in the distal tip of the catheter, and can be operatively connected to an external connector via embedded leads that connects a base unit with the processor and a display of saturation level. The catheter allows subsequent insertion of a guidewire and, after catheter removal a CVC.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the accurate placement of central venous catheters within a central venous compartment of the body, and more particularly to novel techniques described herein employing venous oximetry to facilitate such accurate placement.
2. Background Information
Central venous catheters (CVCs) are placed in excess of ten million times annually in the United States. Access to the central venous compartment (e.g. Great veins interconnected to the cardiopulmonary system) by such CVCs is acquired to allow for the administration of fluids, nutritional support and medications that are not necessarily suitable for peripheral venous delivery. CVCs may also be employed to access the central venous compartment to enable measurement of certain hemodynamic variables that are otherwise unobtainable by accessing peripheral veins, or by non-invasive techniques.
There are certain risks associated with the insertion of CVCs, which include pneumothorax (the collection of gas in the space surrounding the lungs), hemothorax (the collection of blood/fluid in that space), failed insertion and inadvertent arterial puncture. Where a CVC is inserted via an internal jugular venous approach, the most commonly described, and very dangerous, complication is inadvertent carotid artery puncture. This is the second most commonly described complication in the subclavian venous approach.
There are several current approaches to percutaneous CVC placement. In Seldinger's Method, the skin is prepped, and under sterile conditions, the percutaneous vein is punctured with a thin needle (for example, 20-gauge, or approximately 1 mm in outer diameter). A flexible guide wire is then introduced through the needle lumen and the needle is removed. A larger diameter dilator is then guided over the wire to facilitate passage of a larger bore (for example, 8-9 French, or up to approximately 3-4 mm in outer diameter). An alternate insertion approach entails venipuncture by the thin needle followed by guidewire placement. The larger-diameter catheter is then inserted while the guide wire is removed. Other approaches may also be employed, depending upon the type of device being inserted. Each of these approaches requires perforation of the target vessel using a needle.
While inadvertent arterial puncture using the introducing needle is usually an obvious condition, because of the arterial bleeding that results from even a small puncture, it often is not. Subsequent placement of a large-bore catheter or introducer into the carotid artery or another arterial structure can have lethal consequences. There have been reports of thromboembolic sequelae (broken blood clots leading to stroke, embolism, etc.) as a result of such punctures. Once damage has occurred, the neck or other region may require surgical exploration to assess and repair the damage. This can lead to further risk, expense and delays in attending the initial surgical problem which necessitated the CVC insertion.
One approach to reducing the risk in placing a percutaneous CVC is to monitor the insertion using interoperative imaging with an ultrasound or another type of internal imaging device. In some situations, radiopaque markers on the catheter/needle can be employed to assist guidance under fluoroscopy or similar scanning techniques. However, the surrounding structures of the neck may obscure a clear view of the target vein. Thus, while the needle appears clearly, the walls of the vein may not. Hence, reports of inadvertent carotid artery puncture, subsequent arterial cannulation and morbidity persist, even when employing interoperative imaging.
Another possible approach to reducing the risk of arterial cannulation is to employ a scout needle, in which a short, 20-gauge catheter is operatively connected by a pressure line to a pressure transducer before insertion of a guidewire. A predetermined variation or differential in pressure may indicate arterial cannulation. However, this approach entails several additional steps to connect and disconnect the needle's pressure line to a bedside transducer/display. This approach also requires additional manipulation and increase the chance that the catheter will become "extra-vascular." Also, the requirement for specialized pressure monitoring equipment adds cost and complexity to the procedure, and such equipment is not always available to the practitioner.
A technique that more reliably ensures the needle is in communication with the vein, and not an artery is highly desirable.

System and method for venous oximetry using a catheter


A dual slot radiator is provided. The dual slot radiator comprises two slot radiating elements of different lengths having a single power feed. The power feed generally comprises a microstrip feed line connected at a first end to a power source and each of the slot radiators at a second end.

Printed circuit board antennas are generally known in the art. FIG. 1 shows a prior art style printed circuit board antenna 100. This antenna has a substrate 102, a ground plane 104, a microstrip line 106, a radiating slot 108, and a shorting strip 110. While antenna 100 functions well enough it has several drawbacks. Some of the drawbacks include single frequency operation and the microstrip line 106 for a power feed at the slot center.
Thus, it would be desirous to provide an improved printed circuit board antenna having dual frequency operation and improved power feed.

Dual slot radiator single feedpoint printed circuit board antenna


A hang harvesting system for deployment in a cargo container includes an anchor bar, a column bar, and a hanging bar. The anchor bar includes a first end portion and second end portion configured to engage sidewalls of the cargo container. The column bar includes a top end portion and a bottom end portion, wherein the top end portion is configured to couple to the anchor bar. The hanging bar is coupled to the column bar.

Recently there has been widespread growth of the use of cannabis and hemp ranging from medicine to recreational. In this widespread growth, the drying of cannabis and hemp has become an essential part of the processing of cannabis and hemp, but the process takes a significant amount of time and effort. Typically, the drying process, requires the hemp and/or cannabis to be hung with plastic netting in cargo containers, which is not only time-consuming but requires a lot of manual labor and leaves little room for error.
The process requires the hemp and/or cannabis to be hung one branch at a time and threaded through the netting to secure the hemp and/or cannabis. Removal of the hemp and/or cannabis requires careful unthreading of the hemp and/or cannabis from the plastic netting. Other methods have been contemplated, such as clothing hangers, bailing wires, string and/or ropes, screens, chains, fencing, and combinations thereof, all of which cause damage to hemp and/or cannabis. Additionally, from harvest to drying there is multiple contact with the hemp and/or cannabis that diminish the quality of the finished dried product. Therefore, there is a need to provide a system and method of hanging and drying vegetation, such as, for example, hemp, cannabis, and other plants harvested and subsequently dried, without damaging the vegetation.


Provided is a method for producing a butene polymer, comprising: a polymerization step of performing polymerization reaction by contacting a raw material component comprising 20% by mass or more of isobutene with a Lewis acid catalyst; and a distillation step of subjecting a solution to be treated containing a reaction product of the polymerization reaction and a butene oligomer added to the reaction product to distillation treatment to obtain the butene polymer, wherein an amount of the butene oligomer added is 25 parts by mass or larger with respect to 100 parts by mass of the reaction product.

Mixtures consisting of olefins composed mainly of isobutene, and saturated hydrocarbons (mixed C4 components) are obtained by removing dienes according to the need from hydrocarbons having 4 carbon atoms obtained from various processes of petrochemistry and petroleum refinery. Methods for producing various butene polymers by using this mixture as a raw material have heretofore been known (e.g., Patent Literatures 1 to 4).


A development system for developing enterprise software. The system consists of a data store maintaining information related to enterprise hardware components, including information on servers and applications operating on the servers. The system also includes an architectural component including a display operable for architecture of the enterprise software by selection via the display of one or more of the servers and applications operating on the servers. Also included in the development system is a development engine that can deploy a first integrated development environment for development of a first software component, and deploy a second integrated development environment for development of a second software component. The system also includes an interface component that allows information stored in a data store by the first integrated development environment to be accessible by the second integrated development environment.

Computer system architects typically create high-level designs for the configuration of and information flows among hardware and software components in computing systems. To produce such designs, the architects typically need to know the properties of the hardware to be used and of the software that will be deployed on that hardware. Software developers also typically need to be aware of the characteristics of the hardware on which their software will eventually be deployed.


An electromagnetic resonator comprises a waveguide body having a generally tubular side wall and a pair of end wall assemblies. The end wall assembly includes a bowed aluminum plate and an INVAR disk, attached to one another at the periphery thereof. The INVAR disk includes a relatively thick outer annular portion and a relatively thin inner circular portion. The bowed aluminum plate bows in response to increased temperature, thereby counteracting expansion of the waveguide body.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to thermal stabilization of a single cavity structure, or a multiple cavity structure (wherein cylindrical cavities are arranged coaxially in tandem, as in the construction of a microwave filter of plural resonant chambers, or cavities), and, more particularly, to an arrangement of one or more cavities employing at least one traverse bowed end well including materials with differing coefficients of thermal expansion to provide selected ratios of thermally induced deformation of the end wall to counteract changes in resonance induced by thermal expansion/contraction of an outer cylindrical wall of the cavity structure.
2. Description of Related Art
Cavity structures are employed for microwave filters. As is known in the art, a cavity resonator is, in effect, a tuned circuit which is utilized to filter electromagnetic signals of unwanted frequencies from input electromagnetic energy and to output signals having a preselected bandwidth centered about one or more resonant frequencies. A cavity which is frequently employed for a cavity resonator has the shape of a right circular cylinder wherein the diameter and the height (or the axial length) of the cavity together determine the value of a resonant frequency. For filters described mathematically as multiple pole filters, it is common practice to provide a cylindrical housing with transverse disc shaped partitions or walls defining the individual cavities. Irises in the partitions provide for coupling of desired modes of electromagnetic waves between the cavities to provide a desired filter function or response.
A problem arises in that changes in environmental temperature induce changes in the dimensions of the filter with a consequent shift in the resonant frequency of each filter section. Because the resonant frequency associated with each cavity is a function of the cavity's dimensions, an increase in temperature will cause dimensional changes in the cavity and, therefore, temperature-induced changes in the resonant frequency associated with the cavity. Specifically, an increasing temperature will cause thermal expansion of the waveguide body to enlarge the cavity both axially and transversely.
A filter fabricated of aluminum undergoes substantial dimensional changes as compared to a filter constructed of invar nickel-steel alloy (herein referred to as "INVAR") due to the much larger thermal coefficient of expansion for aluminum as compared to INVAR. However, it is often the case that aluminum is nevertheless a preferable material for constructing filters, especially for aerospace applications, due to its lower density, as well as its greater ability to dissipate heat, as compared to that of INVAR.
A solution to the foregoing problem, useful especially for a two-cavity filter, is presented in U.S. Pat. No. 4,677,403 of Kich (hereinafter, "the '403 patent"), the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Therein, an end wall of each cavity is formed of a bowed disc, while a central wall having an iris for coupling electromagnetic energy has a planar form. An increase of temperature enlarges the diameter of each cavity, and also increases the bowing of the end walls, with a consequent reduction in the axial length of each cavity. The resonant frequency shift associated with the increased diameter is counterbalanced by the shift associated with the decrease in length. Similar compensation occurs during a reduction in temperature wherein the diameter decreases and the length increases.
Another approach is presented in U.S. Pat. No. 5,374,911 of Kich et al. (hereinafter, "the '911 patent"), the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference, and which discloses a cylindrical filter structure of multiple cavities with a succession of transverse walls defining the cavities. Selected ones of the transverse walls provide for thermal compensation. Each of the selected transverse walls is fabricated of a bowed disc encircled by a ring formed of material of lower thermal expansion coefficient than the material of the transverse wall. Inner ones of the transverse walls are provided with irises for coupling electromagnetic power between successive ones of the cavities. By varying the composition of the rings to attain differing coefficients of thermal expansion within the rings, different amounts of bowing occur in the corresponding transverse discs with changes in temperature. Thus, the ring of an inner transverse wall has a relatively large coefficient of thermal expansion as compared to the ring of an outer one of the transverse walls, resulting in a lesser amount of bowing of the inner wall and a larger amount of bowing of the outer wall with increase in environmental temperature and temperature of the filter.
In a preferred embodiment disclosed in the '911 patent, the housing is constructed of aluminum, as is a central planar transverse wall having a coupling iris. The other transverse walls, both to the right and to the left of the central wall, are provided with a bowed structure, the bowed walls being encircled by metallic rings. The inboard rings nearest the central wall are fabricated of titanium, and the outboard rings are fabricated of INVAR. The INVAR has a lower coefficient of thermal expansion than does the titanium and, accordingly, the peripheral portions of the outboard walls, in the case of a four-cavity structure, experience a more pronounced bowing upon a increase in environmental temperature than do the inner walls which are bounded by the titanium rings having a larger coefficient of thermal expansion.
The reason for the use of the rings of differing coefficients of thermal expansion is as follows. Deflection of an inboard wall reduces the axial length of an inner cavity, on the inner side of the wall, while increasing the axial length of an outer cavity, on the opposite side of the wall, with increasing temperature. Thus, the inboard wall acts in the correct sense to stabilize the inner cavity but in the incorrect sense for stabilization of the outer cavity. Accordingly, in stabilizing the outer cavity by means of the outer wall, it is necessary to provide an additional bowing to overcome the movement of the inboard wall, to thereby stabilize thermally the outer cavity.
One disadvantage associated with a resonator structure constructed in accordance with either the '403 patent or the '911 patent is that the relatively thin aluminum disk used for the end wall, that is capable of bowing in response to increased temperature, has a tendency to exhibit undesirable thermal gradients across the surface of the end wall, resulting in a frequency shift when RF power is applied.
Accordingly, there is a need for an electromagnetic resonator end wall assembly configured so as to minimize or eliminate the aforementioned problems.


An optocoupler having optical lens layer is disclosed. The optocoupler may comprise an optical emitter, an optical receiver, an isolation layer, a lens layer and a substantially transparent encapsulant. The lens layer may be integrally formed within the optical receiver. Alternatively, the lens layer may be formed integrally with the isolation layer, or the lens layer may be an optical film attached on the optical receiver. The substantially transparent encapsulant may encapsulate at least partially the optical emitter, the optical receiver and the isolation layer. The isolation layer may be inserted to the substantially transparent encapsulant, making the substantially transparent encapsulant into two compartments. In another embodiment, an electronic system having optocoupler is disclosed.

A galvanic isolator provides a means for moving a signal from one electrical circuit to another electrical circuit in a control system when the two electrical circuits should otherwise be electrically isolated from one another. Usually the two electrical circuits operate at different voltages, and thus, should be electrically isolated. For example, consider an application in which a 5V battery powered controller board is configured to control a motor circuit operating at 240V. In this example, the 240V motor circuits should be electrically isolated from the 5V controller circuit, while permitting the 5V controller circuit to send or receive signals from the 240V motor circuit. In this type of application, an isolator may be used to provide voltage and noise isolation, while permitting the information exchange between the two circuit systems. Opto-isolator, also known as optocoupler, is one of the most commonly used galvanic isolators.
Generally, an optocoupler comprises an optical emitter and an optical receiver. The light emitted by the optical emitter may be transmitted to the optical receiver either via reflection, or directly from the optical emitter to the optical receiver. A portion, or more specifically a photo-detector portion of the optical receiver may be configured to receive the emitted light. In order to obtain the highest efficiency, it may be desirable to channel as much light as possible from the optical emitter to the photo-detector.

Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.


A wafer drying method to detect airborne molecular contaminants in a drying gas as a feedback parameter for a single wafer or multi-wafer drying process is provided. For example, the method includes dispensing in a wafer drying station a drying gas over one or more wafers; collecting the drying gas from an exhaust of the wafer drying station; determining the concentration of contaminants in the drying gas; re-dispensing the drying gas over the one or more wafers if the concentration of contaminants is higher than a baseline value; and transferring the one or more wafers out of the wafer drying station if the concentration is equal to or less than the baseline value.

Production equipment used in semiconductor manufacturing can be a source of particles for wafers in an integrated circuit (IC) fabrication facility. During the wafer fabrication process, semiconductor wafers undergo numerous processing operations. The number of particles on a wafer's surface can increase during IC fabrication as the wafer is exposed to additional processing.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


The invention provides anti-thiol reagents which inhibit enzyme activity of cell-associated protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) by oxidizing or blocking PDI active site vicinal thiol groups which normally participate in disulfide bond rearrangement of PDI substrates. Inhibition of this PDI function is particularly useful in blocking PDI-mediated entry of HIV or other virions into a host cell, as well as inhibiting lymphocyte traffic through the lymph nodes. The invention further provides an assay for the identification of such PDI inhibitors based on the discovery that inhibitors of the invention also induce shedding of the leucocyte L-selectin adhesion molecule. The invention additionally provides for suppression of inflammation and of lymph node entry by calmodulin antagonists that, like PDI inhibition, cause leukocyte L-selectin shedding.

The invention relates to anti-thiol reagents which inhibit enzyme activity of cell-associated protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) by oxidizing or blocking PDI active site vicinal thiol groups which normally participate in disulfide bond rearrangement of PDI substrates. Inhibition of this PDI function is particularly useful in blocking PDI-mediated entry of HIV or other virions into a host cell.
The present invention also relates to anti-inflammatory agents.
The invention further relates to an assay for the identification of such PDI inhibitors based on the discovery that inhibitors of the invention also induce shedding of the leukocyte L-selectin adhesion molecule.
The invention further relates to the use of calmodulin antagonist reagents to induce L-selectin shedding.
1. Field of Art
PDI (protein disulfide isomerase) is a constitutive intracellular protein that is also found to be expressed on the surface of many mammalian cell types, including immune system cells, hepatocytes, and platelets. Like other members of the thyredoxin superfamily of proteins, PDI is a multifunctional redox-sensitive protein that catalyzes oxidation-reduction reactions via a vicinal dithiol-dependent disulfide-sulfhydryl interchange between its internal vicinal dithiol (Cys-Gly-His-Cys) active sites and the disulfide bonds of its substrates to promote their reconfiguration. PDI recognizes the side chains of cysteine residues in its substrates, and it is its two vicinal dithiol groups, two on each of two identical PDI subunits, that are critical for its enzymatic isomerase function, in particular its broad specificity for correcting the configuration of a large spectrum of proteins as needed. For example, PDI is present in the endoplasmic reticulum of most cells, where it is believed to mediate co- and post-translational modifications of nascent proteins with incorrect sulfide bonds; it is also present in certain protein complexes such as triglyceride transfer protein complex (MTP) wherein it maintains the complex in a catalytically-active state and inhibits complex aggregation. Membrane PDI catalyzes the cleavage of disulfide bonds during the earliest stages of endocytosis, and activates diphtheria toxin by catalyzing cleavage of this disulfide-linked dimer. PDI also catalyzes the isomerization of thrombospondin (TSP) disulfide bonds, thereby profoundly modulating TSP-ligand binding activity. Both TSP and PDI are released by activated platelets; PDI is also released by degranulated neutrophils (J Cell Physiol. 144: 280, 1990).
Other known PDI functions include the recognized ability of PDI to modulate certain adhesive interactions. While PDI isomerase activity affects, for example, the adhesive properties of TSP, PDI is additionally a xe2x80x9cchaperonexe2x80x9d for some proteins by means independent of its catalytic activity. One of these chaperone functions has been attributed to PDI binding in a complex formation with proteins which have a tendency to aggregate in the denatured state. Association with PDI prevents this aggregation by promoting appropriate folding of the associated protein. PDI in MTP complexes inhibits MTP aggregation, and a PDI homolog (cognin) plays a role in the adhesion-dependent aggregation of retinal cells.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Of particular relevance to the present invention is the involvement of PDI in the shedding of the human thyrotropin (TSH) receptor ectodomain (Biochem, 35:14800, 1996). In a two-step process, a matrix metalloproteinase first cleaves the receptor into two subunits (an xcex1-extracellular subunit and a xcex2-transmembrane subunit) linked by a disulfide bridge. The (xcex1-extracellular subunit is then shed from the cell membrane as a result of PDI-mediated reduction of the disulfide bridge(s) connecting it to the xcex2-transmembrane subunit. However, in contrast to the PDI-mediated L-selectin shedding mechanism according to the present invention, the TSH shedding mechanism requires PDI isomerase activity, and inhibition of PDI activity with known PDI inhibitors such as DTNB (5,5xe2x80x2-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid), bacitracin, or anti-PDI antibodies to prevent the shedding (release) of the TSH xcex1-subunit.
Also of relevance is the known ability of PDI to mediate transmembrane carriage of proteins and virions into cells by rearrangement of their disulfide bonds. For example, the attachment of HIV to its host cell surface receptor CD4 via the viral glycoprotein gp 120 triggers a conformational change in gp 120/gp 41 resulting from a rearrangement of its critical disulfide bonds as catalyzed by PDI. Known PDI inhibitors (e.g., bacitracin, anti-PDI antibodies) block HIV entry into the cell cytoplasm to some extent, but they are very weak inhibitors of PDI isomerase activity in this clinical application (PNAS USA 91: 4559, 1994). The use of another known PDI inhibitor, DTNB (supra) to inhibit viral penetration into cells has been described (U.S. Pat. No. 5,532,154 to Brown); however, the recited activity of this compound in preventing HIV entry into cells is attributed by the patentee to inactivation of xe2x80x9cvirus-derived thiol reductase/protein disulfide isomerasexe2x80x9d, presumably encoded by and present on the virus itself.
The interaction of arsine oxide with certain proteins having active vicinal dithiol sites which undergo catalytic conversion to disulfides to form stable dithioarsenic derivatives is described in Anal. BioChem 212: 325-334 (1993). This reactivity was used by the authors to separate dithiols from monothiols and also from dithiol-containing proteins with low-affinity for arsine oxide.
In a first aspect, the present invention provides a compound having the formula:
wherein each of R1 and R2 is thioalkyl sulfonate, thioalkyl amine, alkyl sulfonate or R1 and R2 together are the same alkyl sulfonate; and each of R3, R4 and R5 is nothing, H, alkyl, alkyl sulfonate, or aromatic sulfonate.
In a second aspect, the present invention provides a compound having the formula:
wherein each of E1 and E2 , is thioalkyl sulfonate, thioalkyl amine, alkyl sulfonate or E1 and E2 together are the same alkyl sulfonate.
In a third aspect, the present invention provides a method for treating an inflammatory disease comprising: administering an anti-inflammatory agent to an individual in an amount sufficient to reduce an inflammation in the individual, wherein the anti-inflammatory agent comprises at least one PDI inhibitor.
In a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a method for treating an inflammatory disease comprising: administering an anti-inflammatory agent to an individual in an amount sufficient to reduce an inflammation in the individual, wherein the anti-inflammatory agent comprises at least one calmodulin antagonist.

Method for induction of L-selectin shedding


In accordance with techniques presented herein, a packet is received at a forwarding device operating in a multi-service Low-power and Lossy Network (LLN). The forwarding device is configured to retrieve service requirements associated with the packet and obtain forwarding information from a plurality of networking layers associated with forwarding of the packet. The forwarding device is further configured to evaluate the service requirements in view of the forwarding information to dynamically adjust one or more parameters within the LLN for use in forwarding packets within the LLN.

Low-power and Lossy Networks (LLNs) communicate using low data rate links, such as Radio-Frequency (RF) links defined by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.15.4 standard or Power Line Communication (PLC) links defined by the IEEE P1901.2 standard. LLNs experience a number of issues that may make communication between nodes challenging. For example, the radio or physical links within LLNs are strongly affected by environmental conditions that change over time. These changes may include temporal changes in interference (e.g., other wireless networks or electrical appliances), physical obstruction (e.g. doors opening/closing or seasonal changes in foliage density of trees), and propagation characteristics of the physical media (e.g. temperature or humidity changes). The time scales of such temporal changes can range between milliseconds (e.g. transmissions from other transceivers) to months (e.g. seasonal changes of outdoor environment).
Other issues result from the use of low-cost and low-power designs that the limit the capabilities of the LLN transceivers. In particular, LLN transceivers typically provide low throughput and typically support limited link margin, making the effects of interference and environmental changes visible to link and network protocols. Interference may be from external sources (non-network devices generating electromagnetic interference) or internal sources (other network devices communicating within the same frequency band).

Cross-layer forwarding in a Low-power and Lossy Network


An apparatus for assembling a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) coil array using separable imaging coil elements and a cable holder for connecting the imaging coil elements to the MRI scanner. Each imaging coil element has a plug shaped connector, which is used for separably connecting to a mating receptacle interface on the cable holder. Each cable holder is pre-formed for a particular anatomy and has receptacle interfaces that are located for optimal placement of imaging coil elements. Ultra-low input impedance preamplifiers are used for minimizing interaction between imaging coil elements. This gives users greater freedom in optimizing position of individual imaging coil elements, as overlapping of adjacent coil elements is not required. Imaging coil elements from one coil array can be easily removed and used in assembling a different coil array.

Not Applicable
Not applicable
This invention relates to magnetic resonance imaging coils, specifically to such coils that are arrays comprising of multiple smaller coils.
In a typical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination activity, an imaging coil is placed over the anatomy of interest and then the patient is placed inside a large magnet. The static field of the magnet aligns the protons in the patient""s body in the direction of its magnetic field. A large whole body coil is used to generate high-energy (peak power 5-15KW) radio frequency (RF) pulses that excite protons in the patient. These protons relax back to their original state after the excitation is switched off At this time the scanner automatically switches xe2x80x98ONxe2x80x99 the imaging coil and turns the body coil xe2x80x98OFFxe2x80x99. As the protons relax they induce minute RF signals in the imaging coils. These signals are picked up by the imaging coil and fed to a signal processing system from where the information is transferred to a computer for image reconstruction and display.
Signal to noise ratio (SNR) and field of view (FOV) are the two most important parameters for characterizing a MRI imaging coil. SNR is a measure of the sensitivity of the imaging coil and its intrinsic electric resistance. Higher the sensitivity of a coil greater is the signal voltage induced in the coil. A coil with higher intrinsic resistance generates more noise than the one with lower intrinsic resistance. FOV is a measure of the region over which the coil is sensitive enough to pick-up acceptable SNR signals. The ultimate MRI imaging coil can be defined as the one with the largest FOV and the highest SNR over that FOV.
Single loop imaging coil is the most basic MRI coil. For a single loop coil there is the diameter of the loop determines the SNR and the FOV of the coil. Larger the diameter of the coil larger is its FOV. However large diameter coils have higher intrinsic resistance because the induced currents have to travel over a longer conductor path along the circumference in comparison to a smaller diameter loop coil. Therefore, in the past, designers have had to optimize the diameter of such loop coils depending on the application and make a choice between SNR and FOV.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,825,162 describes a method for simultaneously receiving NMR signals from a plurality of closely-spaced imaging coils. This technique overcomes the tradeoff between SNR and FOV by using multiple small sized coils for simultaneous data acquisition. Such coils are commonly referred to as phased array coils or coil arrays. Depending on the anatomy several designs exist for these coil arrays. The most well known coil array is the four element spine array. As the name suggests this is made of four identical circular loops placed side by side in a line with adjacent loops slightly overlapping each other. Signals from each of these loops is acquired simultaneously and digitally recombined, such that a long FOV is generated. Such a FOV can be generated using a single loop coil with a much larger diameter. However the SNR would suffer as the large loop has lower sensitivity than each of the smaller loop coils. Thus, by recombining signals from an array of smaller coils it is possible to get high SNR as well as a large FOV.
When MRI coils that are tuned to the same radio frequency are brought together in close proximity as in phased array coils, they inductively couple to each other and detune each other. This results in image quality that is worse than what can be achieved when each coil is used by itself. Phase array coil technology overcomes this problem by slightly overlapping adjacent coils and by using specially designed preamplifiers that dampen the current flow in the individual coils.
In order to get the best image quality coil arrays are placed as close as possible to the anatomy under examination. The array housing is specially contoured to fit a particular part of the body such that the anatomy of interest lies well within the area of highest sensitivity of individual coil elements. Since the FOV needed for every application is different, the number and the type of elements used in a array coil vary from one array to the other. This leads to an MRI clinic investing in a unique array for every application, for example, a special spine array with a long FOV is used for spine imaging while a special knee array with much smaller FOV is used for knee imaging. A typical spine array has six imaging coil elements while a knee coil has only four elements.
During an MRI scan a patient can get burnt if the coaxial cable of the imaging coil loops over itself Large RF current can get induced in the loop from the RF energy transmitted by the body coil. Also, the cable it self can act like an antenna and have RF standing waves form on the outer shield of the coaxial line. All these can result in RF burns to the patient. These issues have been overcome by mechanically making cables less prone to looping, by using Baluns and RF traps to prevent any RF currents from flowing on the cable shield.
Cable burn issues are an even greater concern with phased arrays since there are as many cables as there are imaging coil elements. Care is taken to anchor the cable in special jackets to prevent them from looping. Additionally the coils them selves are anchored in preset location inside coil housing to minimize their interaction with each other and their cables. Individual coil overlap is preset during manufacture of the coil array and cannot be changed. Also, since all the elements of the array are together if one element or the cable assembly fails then the whole array is sent back to the factory for repair.
Phased array coils such as those described in U.S. Pat. No.: 6,084,411 and 5,905,378 restrict a user to coil arrangements in which adjacent coils elements have to be in a fixed predetermined overlap position in order to minimize inter-coil coupling locations and minimize the loss in SNR due to coupling. Coils that are not overlapped have to be physically separated at a minimal distance such that they do not couple to each other. This limits the configurations the device can be used in. For example, these coils cannot be used in a geometrically opposed manner in which two coils face each other without significantly degrading SNR. Further, the coils are isolated from the cables through tuned Baluns. Another drawback of using this approach is that the tuned Balun introduces an insertion loss that adds to the overall noise in the system. Also, this approach does not eliminate bums that can occur from a cable looping over it-self
All the phased array coil heretofore known suffer from a number of disadvantages:
(1) they are all application specific coils with dedicated coil elements,
(2) adjacent coil elements have to be overlapped in order to minimize interactions with each other,
(3) coil elements are not removable or exchangeable between array configurations,
(4) users have limited options for optimizing array configurations to match their needs and
(5) if an individual coil element fails then the whole array assembly has to be sent for repairs.
The forgoing illustrates limitations known to exist in present phased array coils. It is apparent that it would be advantageous to provide an improved phased array coil, such as an array coil with separable imaging coil elements, and which is directed to overcoming one or more of the limitations set forth above. Accordingly, a suitable alternative is provided including features more fully disclosed hereinafter.
The present invention creates a paradigm shift in the current art of MRI imaging coil arrays. In one aspect of the present invention, a user can assemble different array coils from a set of basic building blocksxe2x80x94imaging coil elements and cable holders. These imaging coil elements can be used over and over to form array coils of various shapes and sizes. Moreover, since these coil elements are not dependent on overlap for minimizing interaction with other coils, the users have considerable freedom in placing coil elements to better match each individual application. The ability to move the elements relative to each other allows the MRI technicians to determine an optimal position to get the best image quality. These coil elements can be configured in various planar as well as three-dimensional arrangements to form arrays that are optimized for SNR and FOV.
In one embodiment, individual coil elements can be directly connected via a quick disconnect connector to a pre-formed cable holder to form a coil array. The same coil elements can be reused over and again on a different cable holder to form a different array.
It is another purpose of this invention to improve patient safety and minimize the possibility of cable burns by restricting the movement of cables used for connecting individual coil elements to the MRI scanner.
It is another purpose of this invention to allow a user to make a cost effective investment in a few standard sized coil elements that can be reconfigured to form new coil arrays versus investing in several dedicated application specific arrays.
It is another objective of this invention to produce modular arrays that can be easily field serviced and maintained. Defective modules that are easy to identify and can be exchanged in the field instead of the entire array being sent back to the factory for repair.

Magnetic resonance imaging coil arrays with separable imaging coil elements


This invention relates to a new and distinct short-day variety of strawberry plant named ‘BG-1975’. This new strawberry variety ‘BG-1975’ is primarily adapted to the growing conditions of the southern coast of California, and is primarily characterized by foliage medium to small in size and light to medium green in color, production is early, beginning as early as late December, producing upwards of 50% to 60% of it production by the end of March, produced fruit is attractive and of excellent quality, produced fruit is orange red to red in color, medium to large in size, very firm, conical to cylindrical in shape with a smooth surface lacking creases and ridges, and seeds may be slightly sunken below the surface.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct short-day strawberry variety designated as 'BG-1975'. This new variety is a result of a controlled cross made by the Inventors, Steven D. Nelson, Michael D. Nelson and Lee W. Stoeckle, in 1999 between strawberry variety designated 'BG-269' (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,628) and strawberry variety designated 'BG-633' (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,320). The variety is botanically known as Fragaria ananassa.
The seedling resulting from the aforementioned cross was asexually propagated by stolons in a nursery located in Siskiyou County, Calif., and was subsequently selected by the Inventors from a controlled breeding plot near Oxnard, Calif., in 2001. After its selection, the new variety was further asexually propagated by stolons in both Siskiyou County, Calif., and San Joaquin County, Calif.. The new variety was extensively tested over the next several years in fruiting fields near Oxnard, Calif. This propagation has demonstrated that the combination of traits disclosed herein, as characterizing the new variety, are fixed and remain true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.


Methods and devices for cytometric analysis are provided. A cytometry apparatus is provided which may be used with a stationary sample cuvette for analysis of a stationary sample or with a flow sample cuvette for analysis of a flowing sample. The methods and devices provided herein may be used to perform cytometric analysis of samples under a wide range of experimental and environmental conditions.

Cytometric analysis of a sample can provide a wealth of information about the sample, such as the number and type of cells or other particles in the sample, specific molecules which may be present in the sample, and other information.
While a large number of systems and devices for the analysis of samples are known, there is a need for improved systems for cytometric analysis.


An intermediate connecting member according to one aspect of the present disclosure is provided between a first member including multiple first terminals and a second member including multiple second terminals. The intermediate connecting member includes multiple connection parts configured to electrically connect the first terminals to the second terminals, and a retainer holding the multiple connection parts. Each of the multiple connection parts is formed of an elastic member to which an electrically conductive property is given at least on a surface of the elastic member.

There is known an inspection apparatus for performing inspection of a substrate. The inspection apparatus includes multiple inspection units, a shared transport robot or a mobile stage. In the inspection apparatus, while the transport robot or the mobile stage is loading a substrate to one of the inspection units, the other inspection units can perform inspection (see Patent Document 1 for example).

Intermediate connecting member and inspection apparatus


A flexible plastic slider having sidewalls normally diverging outwardly and spaced apart a distance adequate for transverse installation of the slider over the profiled elements of a zipper with rigidizing structure on the slider to move the sidewalls into and retain them in an assembled position on the zipper to prevent the slider from being lifted off the zipper.

The present invention relates to improvement in plastic sliders for opening and closing plastic reclosable fasteners or zippers on plastic bags and the like and particularly to flexible plastic sliders for assembly with the zipper by transverse movement.
Plastic zippers with plastic sliders are well known in the art. The type of plastic zippers to which the present invention relates have profiles that include a pair of male and female fastener elements in the form of reclosable interlocking rib and groove elements with a slider for opening and closing the rib and groove elements. In the manufacture of plastic-film bags, a pair of these male and female fastener elements extend along the mouth of the bag and these male and female elements are adapted to be secured in any suitable manner to the flexible walls of the plastic-film bags.
Sliders for opening or closing the reclosable fasteners are essentially U-shaped and are adapted to be assembled with the zipper by threading them onto the end of the zipper or by a relative transverse maneuver. To facilitate the transverse maneuver, some of the sliders have been provided with folding sidewalls and others have been assembled on the zipper from multiple parts. In some instances, the multiple parts of the plastic slider have been ultrasonically welded together and in other instances the multiple parts of the slider have been constructed to be snapped together. In each of these prior art multi-part plastic sliders the various parts have been assembled together in a direction transverse to the axis of the zipper. Examples of patents showing multi-part plastic sliders are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,142 - Herrington, U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,143 Herrington and U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,194 - Herrington et al. Examples of patents showing plastic sliders with folding sidewalls are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,010,627 - Herrington et al, 5,063,644 - Herrington et al and U.S. Pat. No. 5,070,583 - Herrington.
It would be desirable to provide a flexible plastic slider having sidewalls normally diverging outwardly and spaced apart a distance adequate for transverse installation over the profile elements of a zipper with rigidizing structure on the slider to move the sidewalls into and retain them in an assembled position on the zipper to prevent the slider from being lifted off the zipper.

Flexible plastic zipper slider with rigidizing structure for assembly with profiled plastic zipper


A lens module includes a first circuit board, a second circuit board, an image sensor, a signal line, a mounting bracket, a filter, and a lens unit. The first circuit board defines a first through hole. The second circuit board is coupled to the first circuit board. The second circuit board defines a second through hole aligned with the first through hole. A width of the first through hole is larger than a width of the second through hole. The image sensor is received in the second through hole. The signal line couples the image sensor to the second circuit board. The mounting bracket is disposed on a side of the first circuit board facing away from the second circuit board. The filter is disposed on the mounting bracket. The lens unit is disposed on the mounting bracket.

Generally, lens modules include a lens, a lens base, a bracket, a filter, a sensor chip, and a circuit board. One method of reducing a size of the lens module is to open a hole in the middle of the circuit board, place a steel sheet on the bottom of the circuit board, and attach the sensor chip to the steel sheet. In this way, the thickness of the lens module is reduced. However, since a gold wire between the sensor chip and the circuit board has a certain height, a thickness of the lens module is difficult to further reduce.

TRIPLE WIN TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) CO. LTD.


Volume, weight and complexity difficulties in the fabrication of torque limiters are avoided in a construction including a housing (10), a shaft (20) journalled in the housing (10) and adapted to be connected to a source (22) of rotary power, and a rotary output (28) journalled in the housing (10). A ball ramp coupling (44) is disposed within the housing (10) and includes an axially movable drive element (46) coupled to the shaft (20), a driven element (42) coupled to the output (28), a spring (52) biasing the elements (42,46) towards each other, facing ramps (61,62) in the elements (42,46) at the interface of the elements and balls (64) in the ramps. A first set of teeth (72) is carried by the drive element (46) while a second set of teeth (82) is carried by the housing (10) and aligned with the first set of teeth (72). When resistance to rotation of the output ( 28) is encountered relative movement between the elements (42,46) will occur which in turn will cause the ball (64) to move the drive element (46) axially relative to the driven element (42) causing the teeth (72,82) to engage to halt further torque transmission between the input shaft (20) and the output (28).

It is often necessary to use torque limiting devices in association with other machinery or equipment to prohibit the transfer of torques above some predetermined value so that damage to associated machinery or equipment does not occur. One typical application is an aircraft. Prime movers known as power drive units (PDU's), typically hydraulically powered, are utilized to move control surfaces of the aircraft as, for example, slats or flaps, between various positions. If movement of such an element is resisted as for example, by a mechanical jam in the drive line or some exterior influence exerting a force against the control surface preventing its movement, the power drive unit will tend to stall. Such units have high stall torques and as a consequence, if no steps are taken to prevent it, the stall torques can cause damage to the control surfaces, to the drive line, to the aircraft frame or all of the above.
A typical torque limiting device is illustrated in U.S. letters patent 4,030,578 issued Jun. 21, 1977 to Cacciola et al. In devices of this sort, a brake disc pack is employed and is compressed against a non-rotatable object as, for example, part of a housing. The compression is against the bias of a spring and the excess torque is taken up in the brake disc pack and grounded to the housing. Clearly, the coefficient of friction is a controlling factor in the amount of torque being taken up or absorbed within the brake disc pack.
Furthermore, the compression of the brake disc pack is obtained as a result of a ball ramp coupling that is interposed between the input to the torque limiter and the output thereof. In constructions such as that shown in the above-identified Cacciola et al patent, it is necessary that the balls in the ball ramp coupling be constructed of sufficient size so as to be capable of transmitting all of the torque up to the stalled torque level of the PDU to the brake disc pack to be absorbed thereby.
As a consequence of this type of construction, torque limiters have been fairly large and relatively unwieldy. They are unnecessarily heavy and thus impose a weight penalty in the environment in which they are most often used, namely, aircraft.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the above problems.

Resettable pilot operated torque limiter


An interconnect board (ICB) assembly suitable for a battery module of horizontal stack structure including unidirectional battery cells stacked with cell leads facing each other includes an ICB frame in which cell leads of unidirectional battery cells are configured to be received such that the unidirectional battery cells having the cell leads at one end are configured to be placed facing each other with the cell leads facing each other, and busbars formed in the ICB frame and configured to be electrically connected to the cell leads, wherein the ICB frame is configured to be connected to another ICB frame with a hinge structure in a lengthwise direction of the ICB frame. A battery module including the ICB assembly and a method for fabricating the battery module are also provided.

Due to their high applicability to various products and electrical properties such as a high energy density, secondary batteries are not only commonly applied to portable devices, but universally applied to Electric Vehicles (EVs) or Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) that are driven by an electric driving source. Secondary batteries are gaining attention for their advantage of remarkably reducing the use of fossil fuels and not generating by-products from the use of energy, making them a new eco-friendly and energy efficient source of energy.
Currently, commonly used secondary batteries include lithium ion batteries, lithium polymer batteries, nickel cadmium batteries, nickel hydrogen batteries and nickel zinc batteries. In the secondary battery, a battery cell has the working voltage of about 2.5V˜4.5V. In case that higher output voltage is required, a plurality of battery cells may be connected in series to form a battery pack. The battery pack may be formed by connecting a plurality of battery cells in parallel according to the charge/discharge capacity required for the battery pack. The number of battery cells included in the battery pack may be variously set based on the output voltage or charge/discharge capacity required, and the battery cells may be stacked by various series/parallel connection combinations. Pouch-type battery cells are commonly used for battery packs of medium- and large-sized devices because they are easy to stack and lightweight. When forming the battery pack including battery cells, generally a battery module is formed by series/parallel connection of battery cells, and other components are added to the battery module.
FIGS. 1 and 2 are diagrams illustrating the conventional battery module of vertical stack structure.
The battery module of FIG. 1 includes plate-shaped bidirectional battery cells 10 having cell leads 12 on two ends. The battery cells 10 are vertically arranged with the cell leads 12 placed on one side and stacked side by side. For example, for series connection of the stacked battery cells 10, the battery cells 10 are stacked in an alternating manner such that the cell leads 12 of the neighboring battery cells 10 are opposite in polarity.
The battery module may use laser welding to electrically connect the battery cells 10. For example, the cell leads 12 are bent on one side of the stacked battery cells 10 and brought into contact with each other, and the bent parts of the cell leads 12 are welded by a laser LB outputted from a laser generator LG. Also on the other side of the stacked battery cells 10, the cell leads 12 are welded for electrical connection.
In this instance, an interconnect board (ICB) assembly 14 as shown in FIG. 2 may be used. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing part of the conventional battery module of vertical stack structure. For convenience of illustration and description, only part of the ICB assembly 14 is shown.
For example, the ICB assembly 14 is coupled to the cell leads 12 on one side of the battery cells 10 stacked as shown in FIG. 1, and a busbar 18 of the ICB assembly 14 and the cell lead 12 are welded to form a linear welded part P.
The ICB assembly 14 includes an ICB frame 16 and the busbar 18, and the cell lead 12 of the battery cell 10 goes through a connection hole formed in the ICB frame 16 and is disposed on the busbar 18 and welded. The ICB assembly 14 is used to connect the cell leads 12 for electrical connection of the battery cells 10, and transmit an electrical signal corresponding to the temperature of the battery cells 10 and an electrical signal corresponding to the current or voltage of the battery cells 10 to a battery management system (BMS) during repeated charging and discharging of the battery cells 10.
In the battery module of vertical stack structure as described above, when welding the cell lead 12-the busbar 18, welding may be performed on the side of the battery cell 10, and this is a welding direction suitable only for the battery module of vertical stack structure and its fabrication method and ICB assembly 14 are suitable only for the battery module of vertical stack structure. It cannot be used to fabricate, for example, a battery module of horizontal stack structure as shown in FIG. 5 using a unit cell as shown in FIG. 4 including unidirectional battery cells as shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the unidirectional battery cell that makes up the unit cell in the general battery module.
The battery cell 110 shown in FIG. 3 is a plate-shaped unidirectional battery cell having cell leads 112 at one end. In detail, the battery cell 110 has a structure in which an electrode assembly 105 is embedded in a pouch-type case 120 of a laminate sheet including a metal layer and a resin layer, and a sealing part SP is formed, for example, by thermal bonding. The cell lead 112 of the positive polarity (+) is connected to a positive electrode plate in the electrode assembly 105, and the cell lead 112 of the negative polarity (−) is connected to a negative electrode plate in the electrode assembly 105.
The unit cell of the battery module may include one battery cell 110, or two or more battery cells 110 connected in series or in parallel. FIG. 4 is a side view of, for example, a 3P bank unit cell including three battery cells 110 connected in parallel.
Referring to FIG. 4, the battery cells 110 lying in the horizontal direction are stacked in the heightwise direction from the ground such that the cell leads 112 of the same polarity are placed in upper and lower positions, and the cell leads 112 placed in upper and lower positions are incorporated. In one unit cell 200, the cell leads 112 are exposed to one side.
FIG. 5 shows an example of the battery module of horizontal stack structure using eight unit cells 200 of FIG. 3.
Referring to FIG. 5, shown is the battery module 250 in which four unit cells 200 are horizontally placed and stacked in the heightwise direction from the ground to form a battery cell assembly 230, and two battery cell assemblies 230 are connected such that the cell leads 112 face each other. There are the following problems when fabricating the module including the unidirectional the battery cells 110 horizontally stacked, facing each other as described above.
Due to the structure of the cell leads 112 facing each other between the two battery cell assemblies 230, it is difficult to weld on the side as shown in FIG. 1 or 2, and it is necessary to weld the unit cells 200 on the top side. For welding on the top side, since it is impossible to form the two battery cell assemblies 230 and then weld them, it is necessary to assemble the unit cells 200 in the heightwise direction from the ground, i.e., from bottom to top, by repeating the stacking and welding process in a sequential order, such as placing two unit cells 200 such that the unit cells 200 face each other, welding the cell leads 112 on the top side (first layer), stacking two unit cells 200 thereon such that the unit cells 200 face each other and welding the cell leads 112 on the top side (second layer), and stacking two unit cells 200 thereon such that the unit cells 200 face each other and welding the cell leads 112 on the top side (third layer). As described above, the battery module 250 of horizontal stack structure is fabricated by a very complex process.

ICB assembly, battery module comprising the same and method for fabricating the battery module


A data communication system employs a method (400) for transmitting packetized data (100) using a combination of well known transmission techniques, such as TCP/IP and a novel compression process. A message type identifier (300) for the packet to be transmitted is first identified, which identifier comprises a packet type identifier (113) and a protocol identifier (114). The packet type identifier (113) distinguishes between control information and user information in the data packet. The packet is then selectively encoded (407, 411) using either a first or a second header compression technique, depending on the packet type identifier (113) and the protocol identifier (114). In this manner, an improved packet transmission scheme is envisaged, which gives a reliable solution for data transmission in a noisy RF environment and/or a bandwidth-limited environment. The method (400) for transmitting packetized data (100) further anticipates a third header compression technique (417) for use when the packet to be transmitted includes a UDP message.

Wireless radio communication systems are known. Such systems can be designed for the radio frequency (RF) transmission of voice and/or data. While there are many transmission schemes available for the transmission of voice, there are only a small number of such techniques that can be reliably used for the transmission of data. Further, due to the length and nature of the informational content, the transmission of data is subject to a variety of limitations. Among these are available bandwidth and conflicting compression techniques.
RF data transmission schemes operate in a bandwidth-limited environment. Today, when forward error correction (FEC) is added to data transmissions, an effective throughput of approximately 14400 bits per second (14.4 kbps) per RF channel is feasible. This throughput must be shared between multiple users of the channel resource. Compare this situation with users of a wireline WAN (where each user may have upwards of 28.8 kbps capacity, no matter how many users), or a high speed WAN (where many users share an aggregate throughput between 10,000,000 bits per second, 10 Mbps, and 145 Mbps). To emphasize the disparity between a wireless and wireline system, consider a fully loaded RF data system supporting 100 users equally; here, single user throughput is 0.5% to 10.sup.-6 the throughput of available wireline data systems.
In a typical RF data transmission scheme, packet data messages contain headers, which are used to control the protocol functions. These headers can consume considerable bandwidth on an RF channel, hence it is desirable to compress these headers. There are two levels of header-specific compression techniques typically employed; a first level of compression is obtained by removing redundant, static (unchanging during a communication session) information. A second level of compression is obtained by encoding only the differences of infrequently or slowly changing fields as differences (commonly referred to as differential encoding). It is known that differential encoding substantially improves performance for many protocols, but requires state information to be maintained at the sending and receiving end. Detrimentally, if any packets are lost or damaged on the RF link, some means of re-establishing this state information must be provided. This is true of all types of headers, including those used in the transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) scheme, as described below.
A known method developed by Van Jacobson for compressing TCP/IP headers uses both removal of redundant static information and differential encoding of predictably changing information. This method achieves favorable compression results and uses the overlying TCP error correction procedures to reset the state after an error occurs. While this is a simple solution to the problems involving the state information, it creates significant problems in RF environments. In particular, these environments typically introduce frequent errors, many of which can be characterized as burst, or short duration, errors. When such an error occurs, data transmission stops until the protocol times out and retries sending. Not only is undesirable delay introduced, but TCP assumes all errors are due to network congestion and initiates congestion control procedures. Of course, this is not always a correct response, unnecessarily resulting in further degradation in performance. It should be noted that this scheme works well in an environment of limited errors (i.e., wireline), but not in a typical RF environment.
For an RF environment, system designers are urged to use a reliable link to minimize the possibility of data loss. While this approach is acceptable for packets containing user data, it typically is not acceptable for small control packets, such as acknowledgments. As is known, these acknowledgments are commonly sent by TCP in the reverse direction during a data transfer. Further, they include a great deal of redundancy--i.e., if a few acknowledgments get lost it will not affect TCP. While it would be beneficial to avoid the costly use of a reliable link for these shortened packets, the current art in header compression requires us to use them in order to maintain compressor state.
It is known that connectionless protocols such as UDP do not employ acknowledgments, so failed transmissions of differentially encoded header fields are treated no differently from failed transmissions of non-UDP packets in current packet radio systems. For this reason, current RF packet data applications are connectionless and transaction oriented. That is, each message is directed to its recipient without maintaining a connection context between the message endpoints, and each message contains the data for a single transaction. With the inclusion of IP and UDP headers, current legacy applications can remain otherwise unchanged, allowing application development cost savings, while graduating to the generality of IP solutions.
Thus, it is envisaged that, in an IP-based RF data system, TCP can be used to support commercial, generalized applications ("horizontal"), while UDP can support legacy, specialized, transaction applications ("vertical"). The desire to support both application types on a single mobile computing platform requires efficient use of available bandwidth. This efficiency might be gained by reducing message size for UDP datagrams via differential header compression, while simultaneously reducing retransmissions of TCP packets (resulting from lost acknowledgments) by providing delivery of ACK packets optimized for robust RF delivery.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a wireless data communication system that takes advantage of existing compression techniques while being adaptive to transmission protocols that are advantageous for the robust transmission of RF data. In particular, a packet transmission scheme that operates in a limited bandwidth environment and has improved error correction would be an improvement over the prior art.

Method for transmitting multiple-protocol packetized data


Described herein are methods for on the fly mixing of retarded acidizing fluids containing acid, a water-soluble acid retarding agent (RA), and optionally a viscoelastic surfactant (VES), and for on the fly mixing of diversion fluids containing VES and RA in the same equipment. Also described are methods of controlling the preparation of such fluids based on feedback composition analyses.

This section provides background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the disclosure. It should be understood that the statements in this section of this document are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
The maintenance and stimulation of oil and gas wells with specially designed fluids is critical to the efficient extraction of these resources. Well treatment fluids have many roles: hydraulic fracturing, gravel packing, water flooding and acidizing. Acid treatment is considered the oldest well stimulation technology, having first been applied in 1895. When injected at low rates into carbonate formations, hydrochloric acid (HCl) can form conductive wormholes that extend radially from the well bore. Acids can also be injected into subterranean formations at rates high enough to cause fracturing. In this case, the acid unevenly dissolves the walls of the fracture, so that when the injection is stopped and the fracture closes, conductive channels extending the length of the fracture remain.
HCl is very reactive, and at higher temperatures (>200° F.) and/or low injection rates favor facial dissolution over wormholing in matrix treatments. For this reason, less reactive acid formulations were pursued. One approach is to use organic acids such as formic and acetic acid. Organic acids have higher pKa's than HCl, and will not completely spend in the reservoir. A second approach is to suspend the acid as a water-in-oil emulsion, which restricts aqueous acid contact with the reservoir and thus slows the reaction rate.
During an acid treatment, the highest permeability parts of the formation will accept the largest volumes of acid, thus increasing the permeability of these high permeability zones even further. Continued treatment of these same zones does little to stimulate production in other parts of the reservoir. To redirect acid flow to less permeable parts of the reservoir, diversion fluids are often pumped between acid stages. The diversion fluids are designed to enter the most permeable sections of the formation and create a temporary plug. The following acid stage will be sent to another part of the formation, and these stages can iterate to achieve optimal fluid placement.
A variety of materials can serve as diversion agents. Simple compounds such as benzoic acid flakes are used to plug the formation very close to the wellbore, and then dissolve into the natural hydrocarbons as the well is put into production. Oil-soluble resins also work in this manner. Other fluids, often containing polymer or surfactants, are designed to viscosify in the formation, setting a thick plug that will break after the treatment is complete.
In recent work, we have developed a method whereby HCl reactivity is attenuated by certain water soluble compounds to create single-phase retarded acid systems. We have also extended the water-soluble retarding agents to diversion technologies. The fully aqueous systems enable on-the-fly mixing of the stimulation fluid components, which in turn allows for real-time tunable systems and more efficient wellsite operations. We will describe a system herein where acid and/or diversion fluid could be mixed with a water-soluble retarding agent immediately before entering the wellbore during a stimulation treatment.

On the fly mixing of acids and diversion fluids with water-soluble retarding agents


An actuator (10) includes sensors (12) which are used to detect variables representing the operating state of the actuator (10) and are connected to an evaluation unit (16) associated with the actuator (10). The evaluation unit (16) is connected to sensors (12) and/or control actuating elements (13) by means of a first data bus (15). The sensors (12) are used to detect measurable variables representing the operating state of the actuator (10), and to transmit the same to the evaluation unit (16).

Actuators, such as electric motors and hydraulic drives, are used in a very wide variety of sizes and designs in various application areas. It is customary, at least in the case of relatively large actuators, to detect specific operating parameters, for example the temperature of cooling liquid or the temperature of the windings of electric motors or electromagnets, via sensors. In this case, the sensors are mounted at measurement points and a connecting line which is associated with the respective sensor leads to an evaluation unit which processes the sensor data further and optionally also forwards it. On account of communication between the evaluation unit and an external controller via a data bus, the actuator can be operated as a function of the detected data. In this case, the data is transmitted from the evaluation unit to the controller by interrogations initiated by the controller.
Further sensors are required more and more frequently, specifically in electric motors and in particular relatively large electric motors. Therefore, separate sensors, for example, are used to additionally detect the temperatures of the rolling bearings or other bearing systems of the rotor of the motor, in addition to the cooling-water feed temperature and the cooling-water return temperature, winding temperatures, generated torque and the like. A separate data line to the evaluation unit is required for all of these further sensors. Furthermore, the evaluation unit has to be configured as a function of the connected sensors, and this means that each of these configurations requires its own control system in the evaluation unit, which is configured as a function of the connected sensor system and optionally further actuating means, in order to control and evaluate said control systems in an appropriate manner, particularly when an electric motor is used in a very wide variety of configurations.

Actuator and method for operating an actuator


A sewing machine capable of embroidery sewing is configured to specify a type of embroidery frame by shooting an embroidery frame placed on an upper surface of the bed by a CCD or a CMOS image sensor disposed in an underside of an arm from an obliquely upward direction and obtaining an X-directional size and a Y-directional size of the embroidery frame, an embroiderable area size, and further a height-directional size of the embroidery frame by calculation based on image data shot by the image sensor.

Conventionally, sewing machines executing embroidery sewing with attachable/detachable attachment of an embroidery frame drive unit thereto sews embroidery on a workpiece cloth based on sewing data for a pre-selected embroidery pattern by attaching an embroidery frame holding a workpiece cloth to be sewn on a carriage of the embroidery frame drive unit and moving the embroidery frame in the X-direction and the Y-direction. Thus, such sewing machines are provided with plurality types of embroidery frames such as rectangular, circular, and oval shapes varying in size and shape of the embroidery pattern for use in sewing embroidery.
Such being the case, sewing machines capable of embroidery sewing detect the type of embroidery frame attached to the carriage in order to check whether or not an embroidery frame having smaller embroidery area compared to the size of the intended embroidery pattern has been attached by mistake.
For example, the embroidery frame carrier unit disclosed in patent document 1 (JP 2002-52283 A page 5 to 7, FIGS. 10 and 14) is configured so that three detection switches are disposed in the carriage of the frame carrier unit in a single longitudinal row, while three switch activators corresponding to the three detection switches are provided in a connection portion of the embroidery frame so as to be associated with the three detection switches. When the connecting portion of the embroidery frame is slid into attachment with the carriage by sliding the embroidery frame from the front to the rear direction, the type of embroidery frame attached to the carriage is detected based on whether each of the three detection switches are activated or not depending upon the presence/absence of the switch activators.
Since the embroidery frame carrier unit described in patent document 1 is merely provided with three detection switches in the carriage, the combinations of ON signals and OFF signals delivered from the three detection switches only allow detection of maximum of eight types of embroidery frames. Moreover, dedicated switch activators for each type of embroidery frame must be disposed to each embroidery frame, thus disallowing the use of embroidery frames without switch activators. Furthermore, in addition to disposing plurality of detection switches to the carriage, and increased complexity in wiring interconnects for signal transmission that connect to each detection switches to the movable carriage, input ports for a CPU constituting a control unit need to be prepared as many as the number of detection switches, thereby leading to problems such as cost increase in the control unit.

Sewing machine capable of embroidery sewing