An ESD protection circuit for hybrid voltage sources includes a first bipolar transistor set and a second bipolar transistor set, a first detection circuit, and a second detection circuit. The ON/OFF states of the first bipolar transistor set and the second bipolar transistor set are determined by the first and the second detection circuit, and the ON/OFF states function to isolate terminals of the different voltage sources and discharge electrostatic charges injected into one of the terminals.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) protection circuit, and more particularly to an ESD protection circuit for internal circuits using different voltage sources.
2. Description of the Related Art
An ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) protection circuit often applied in an integrated circuit. Owing to the large voltage of electrostatic charge, the integrated circuit must utilize the ESD protection circuit to prevent the electrostatic charge from damaging internal circuits of the integrated circuit.
However, with the evolution of the technology, different voltage sources are used for the different internal circuits of the integrated circuit. Therefore, the ESD protection circuit is not only disposed between signal input and output bonding pads of the internal circuits, but also disposed between different voltage sources in the integrated circuit. The invention is disclosed with respect to this condition.
FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration showing a conventional ESD protection circuit for internal circuits with different voltage sources. Referring to FIG. 1, the integrated circuit 100 includes an internal circuit 110 using a voltage source with two voltage terminals VDD1 and VSS1, and an internal circuit 120 using another voltage source with two voltage terminals VDD2 and VSS2. Besides, the output signal 121 of the internal circuit 110 can be inputted to the internal circuit 120 through inverters 123 and 125 which are used as the interface circuits for the internal circuits 110 and 120.
The ESD protection mechanism for the integrated circuit 100 is implemented by using ESD clamp circuits 130 and 140 and ESD protection circuits 150 and 160 as shown in the FIG. 1.
For example, when the ESD occurs between the VDD1 and the VSS2, the large ESD current may flow from the VDD1 to the VSS2, or from the VSS2 to the VDD1. In order to prevent the large ESD current from damaging the internal circuits 110 and 120 or the inverters 123 and 125, the clamp circuits 130 and 140 are turned on to discharge the ESD current. Therefore, the large current I1 may be discharged along the path P1 and path P2. That is, the ESD current may be discharged to VSS2 through diodes 151 and 153 of the ESD protection circuit 150 and the clamp circuit 130, and may be discharged to VSS2 through the clamp circuit 140 and the substrate resistor Rs of the ESD protection circuit 160.
Similarly, when the ESD occurs between the VDD2 and the VSS1, the large ESD current may be discharged from the VDD2 to the VSS1 through the ESD protection circuit 150 and ESD claim circuit 140, or through the ESD protection circuit 160 and the ESD clamp circuits 130. So, the large ESD currents may be discharged without damaging the internal circuits 110 and 120 or the inverter 123 and 125.
In addition, the ESD protection circuit 150 is not only for providing discharging path, but also for isolating the two voltage terminals VDD1 and VDD2 from each other. Thus, the two internal circuits 110 and 120 can independently use their own voltage sources during the absence of the electrostatic charge. Therefore, the ESD protection circuit 150 must have a predetermined threshold voltage to effectively isolate the two voltage terminals VDD1 and VDD2 from each other.
Hence, the voltage drop of the two serially connected diodes 151 and 153 being forward conducted has to be larger than the voltage difference between the VDD1 and the VDD2. For instance, if the voltage of the VDD1 is 1.8V and the voltage of the VDD2 is 3.3V, the voltage drop of the serially connected diodes 151 and 153 being forward conducted has to be larger than 1.5V.
In addition, when the voltage difference between the VDD1 and the VDD2 becomes larger, the number of the serially connected diodes of the ESD protection circuit 150 also has to be correspondingly increased in order to effectively isolate the VDD1 and the VDD2 from each other.
FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration showing another conventional ESD protection circuit for an integrated circuit using hybrid voltage sources. As shown in FIG. 2, when the voltage difference between the voltage sources VDD3 and VDD4 is increased, the number of serially connected diodes in the ESD protection circuit 230 should be correspondingly increased. The diodes in the ESD protection circuit are formed based on PMOS or NMOS transistors (not shown). However, the diode of the conventional ESD protection circuit causes the following drawbacks.
1. The diode has a higher leakage current and a lower breakdown voltage, and cannot effective isolate two independent voltage sources from each other.
2. The capability of the diode for driving current is not very good, and thus the current caused by the ESD cannot be discharged quickly.
3. The parasitic capacitance of the diode coupled between two independent powers is larger, and tends to affect the signal between the two internal circuits.
In view of this, the invention proposes an ESD protection circuit to solve the above-mentioned problems.

ESD protection circuit between different voltage sources


A system for enabling an aircraft to accomplish extremely short takeoffs and landings, which includes an integrated flight control system; a takeoff system; a landing system and a high thrust-to-weight propulsion system. The integrated flight propulsion control system includes a multi-axis thrust vectoring system. The takeoff system is operably engageable with the multi-axis thrust vectoring system. The takeoff system includes means for rotating the aircraft nose upwardly below stall speed without substantial use of thrust vectoring from the multi-axis thrust vectoring system. The landing system is operably engageable with the multi-axis thrust vectoring system. It includes means for de-rotating the aircraft from a high angle of attack to a main gear touchdown angle of attack sufficiently low to avoid scraping the tail of the aircraft. The high thrust-to-weight propulsion system is connected to the integrated flight propulsion control system for providing sufficient lift to support the aircraft at speeds below stall speed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to aircraft, and more particularly to a system for enabling an aircraft to accomplish extremely short takeoffs and landings.
2. Description of the Related Art
Navy and Marine aircraft design for carrier operations have significant structural weight and cost penalties to withstand the loads associated with catapult launch and arrested landings. The speeds at which carrier aircraft land lead to high pilot workload and safety problems. Current vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) aircraft (e.g. AV-8B Harrier) have weight, cost and useful load penalties associated with the "vertical" capable engine. Current Air Force aircraft have no real capability to operate from bomb damaged runways. Civil aircraft often resort to exotic high lift systems to operate from short runways, which adds both weight and cost to such aircraft. Certain new concepts such as those applied to the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) attempt to provide all these capabilities but at significant added weight and cost.
Initial purchase and ownership costs for both military and civil aircraft have become a deciding factor in successive new and upgraded/modified aircraft. Weight is a paramount consideration in determining cost, as well as operational capability/flexibility. A concept is required that will allow very short takeoffs and landings without the traditional weight and cost penalties.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,761,634, issued to J. L. Velazquez, discloses an aircraft that sits statically with a pronounced nose-up attitude. It also uses propellers (and depends on slipstream effects of these propellers) and a very large flap on the wing to prevent stalling.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,971,725, issued to V. J. Jakimiuk, discloses the use of multiple jet engines, two of which rotate to provide thrust vectoring.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,995,794, issued to E. M. Lanier, discloses an aircraft provided with two wings and a top wing having engines attached thereto. The wing and engines are capable of rotating to provide a thrust vectoring effect.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,098,034, issued to W. C. Lendriet, discloses an aircraft having rotating wings with a very complicated flap system and propellers (taking advantage of propeller slipstream effects) in front of the wing blowing over it to prevent stall.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,687,158, issued to C. W. Kettering, discloses a jump strut landing gear apparatus for providing an aircraft with a short takeoff and landing capability. The apparatus utilizes incrementally fired, pyrotechnic charges to explosively generate the required compressed fluid to drive the apparatus.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,888 issued to J. D. Taylor, discloses a multi-axis vectorable exhaust nozzle. A convergent-divergent exhaust nozzle is mounted to an exhaust duct of a jet aircraft engine by a circumferentially-spaced set of hydraulic cylinders. The cylinders are interconnected in captured flow via hydraulic circuits, which allow the cylinders to function as a gimbal mounting.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,261,533, issued to Lawrence T. Roberts et al., disclose a technique for control of an aircraft in ultra-deep stall. Tilting the stabilizer at an extreme angle to the fuselage, with leading edge down, and controlling an varying engine thrust comprise a method for all-axis control of a generally conventional aircraft in ultra-deep stall.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,896,846, and its Pat. No. Re. 35,387, both issued to T. H. Strom, disclose a technique to perform a post-stall maneuver for aircraft combat. The aircraft utilizes a highly deflective canard and engine thrust vectoring.
None of the aforementioned patents provide a means of using conventionally mounted jet engines with thrust vectoring, fixed wings, and simple flap systems to affect short takeoffs and landings.

Extremely short takeoff and landing of aircraft using multi-axis thrust vectoring


Compositions and methods for producing monoclonal antibodies and their derivatives reactive against bioactive lipid targets are described. These compositions include derivatized lipids, each of which comprises a bioactive lipid that having a polar head group and at least one hydrocarbon chain (e.g., a lysolipid such as lysophosphatidic acid or sphingosine-1-phosphate) in which a carbon atom has been derivatized with a pendant reactive group; immunogens made by linking a derivatized lipid to a carrier moiety (e.g., a carrier protein, polyethylene glycol, colloidal gold, alginate, or a silicone bead); monoclonal antibodies and derivatives produced by immunizing an animal with such an immunogen; and therapeutic and diagnostic compositions containing such antibodies and antibody derivatives. Methods for making such derivatized lipids, immunogens, and monoclonal antibodies and derivatives, methods for detecting such antibodies once generated, and therapeutic and diagnostic methods for using such antibodies and derivatives, are also described.

1. Introduction
The following description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any such information is prior art, or relevant, to the presently claimed inventions, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art or even particularly relevant to the presently claimed invention.
2. Background
A. Bioactive Signaling Lipids
Lipids and their derivatives are now recognized as important targets for medical research, not as just simple structural elements in cell membranes, solubilizing agents, feedstock for vitamins or hormones or as a source of energy for β-oxidation, glycolysis or other metabolic processes. In particular, certain bioactive lipids function as signaling mediators important in animal and human disease. Although most of the lipids of the plasma membrane play an exclusively structural role, a small proportion of them are involved in relaying extracellular stimuli into cells. "Lipid signaling" refers to any of a number of cellular signal transduction pathways that use bioactive lipids as first or second messengers, including direct interaction of a lipid signaling molecule with its own specific receptor. Lipid signaling pathways are activated by a variety of extracellular stimuli, ranging from growth factors to inflammatory cytokines, and regulate cell fate decisions such as apoptosis, differentiation and proliferation. Research into bioactive lipid signaling is an area of intense scientific investigation as more and more bioactive lipids are identified and their actions characterized.
Examples of bioactive lipids include the eicosanoids derived from arachidonic acid (including the eicosanoid metabolites such as the HETEs, cannabinoids, leukotrienes, prostaglandins, lipoxins, epoxyeicosatrienoic acids, and isoeicosanoids), non-eicosanoid cannabinoid mediators, phospholipids and their derivatives such as phosphatidic acid (PA) and phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and cardiolipins as well as lysophospholipids such as lysophosphatidyl choline (LPC) and various lysophosphatidic acids (LPA). Bioactive signaling lipid mediators also include the sphingolipids such as ceramide, ceramide-1-phosphate, sphingosine, sphinganine, sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). Sphingolipids and their derivatives represent a group of extracellular and intracellular signaling molecules with pleiotropic effects on important cellular processes. Other examples of bioactive signaling lipids include phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylethanolamine (PEA), diacylglyceride (DG), sulfatides, gangliosides, and cerebrosides.
As expected, biological lipids (i.e., lipids that occur in nature, particularly in living organisms) are typically non-immunogenic or very weakly immunogenic. As such, lipids have traditionally been considered to be poor targets for antibody-based therapeutic and diagnostic/prognostic approaches. The literature contains a report of a monoclonal antibody that targets a derivatized form of phosphatidylserine (PS) conjugated to a carrier protein. Phosphatidylserine is a plasma membrane aminophospholipid. Loss of membrane lipid sidedness, in particular the emergence of phosphatidylserine at the cell surface, results in the expression of altered surface properties that modulates cell function and influences the cells interaction with its environment [Zwaal and Schroit, (1997) Blood, 89:1121-1132]. For example, PS redistributes from the cell membrane's inner leaflet (its normal location) to the outer leaflet during apoptosis.
Diaz, Balasubramanian and Schroit [Bioconj. Chem. (1998) 9:250-254] disclose production of lipid antigens that elicit specific immune responses against PS. The covalent coupling of PS to a protein carrier (BSA) via the lipid's fatty acyl side chain preserves the PS head group intact as an epitope. Schroit (U.S. Pat. No. 6,300,308, U.S. Pat. No. 6,806,354) discloses antibodies that specifically bind to phosphatidylserine (PS) or a phosphatidylcholine (PC)/polypeptide or a PS/polypeptide conjugate, that are made by administering a PS/polypeptide conjugate or a PC/polypeptide conjugate to an animal. Methods for detecting PS, a PC/polypeptide or a PS/polypeptide conjugate are also disclosed. Methods for making an antibody that specifically binds to PS by administering to an animal a pharmaceutical composition comprising a PS/polypeptide conjugate composition are also disclosed, as are methods for treating cancer in the animal to which the conjugate is administered, i.e., as a cancer vaccine. Also disclosed is induction of autoimmunity for the therapy of cancer by immunization of animals with β2-glycoprotein I/lipid complexes (i.e., non-covalently associated lipid and glycoprotein). The authors assert that several autoimmune responses are directed against β2-glycoprotein I/lipid complexes (citing Schousboe, (1979) Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 579:396-408), and thus the generation of an anti-complex response may represent substantial breakthroughs in the treatment of cancers.
Thorpe, Schroit et al. describe a monoclonal antibody (3G4) that binds anionic phospholipids in the presence of serum or the serum protein β 2-glycoprotein I (β2-GPI). Luster et al., J. Biol. Chem. 281: 29863-29871. Originally described as specifically targeting anionic phospholipids, this antibody localizes to vascular endothelial cells in tumors in mice. Ran et al. (2005) Clin. Cancer Res. 11:1551-1562. Subsequently, the antibody was shown to bind to complexes of anionic phospholipids and β2-GPI on tumor vessels, so that antibody binding to PS is dependent on β2-GPI. Huang et al (2005) Cancer Res. 65:4408-4416. The antibody enhances binding of β2-GPI to endothelial cells via dimerization of β2GPI. In fact, artificial β2-GPI dimers can bind to endothelial cell membranes even in the absence of antibody. Luster et al., J. Biol. Chem. 281: 29863-29871. A humanized version of 3G4 (Tarvacin, Bavituximab) is in clinical trials for treatment of cancer and viral diseases.
Thorpe et al. (WO 2004/006847) disclose antibodies, fragments or immunoconjugates thereof that bind to PS and compete with antibody 3G4 for binding to PS. Thorpe et al (U.S. Pat. No. 6,818,213, U.S. Pat. No. 6,312,294 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,783,760) disclose therapeutic conjugates that bind to aminophospholipids and have an attached therapeutic agent.
Baldo et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,061,626) disclose antibodies to platelet activating factor (PAF), PAF analogues used to generate antibodies and immunoassays using PAF or PAF analogues. PAF is a choline plasmalogen in which the C-2 (sn2) position of glycerol is esterified with an acetyl group instead of a long chain fatty acid.
Vielhaber et al. report characterization of two antibody reagents supposedly specific for ceramide, one an IgM-enriched polyclonal mouse serum and the other an IgM monoclonal antibody. The monoclonal was found to be specific for sphingomyelin and the antiserum was found to react with various ceramide species in the nanomolar range. Vielhaber, G. et al., (2001) Glycobiology 11:451-457. Also citing the deficiencies of commercially available antibody reagents against ceramide, Krishnamurthy et al. recently reported generation of rabbit IgG against ceramide. J. Lipid Res. (2007) 48:968-975.
B. Lysolipids
Lysolipids are low molecular weight lipids that contain a polar head group and a single hydrocarbon backbone, due to the absence of an acyl group at one or both possible positions of acylation. Relative to the polar head group at sn-3, the hydrocarbon chain can be at the sn-2 and/or sn-1 position(s) (the term "lyso," which originally related to hemolysis, has been redefined by IUPAC to refer to deacylation). See "Nomenclature of Lipids, www.chem.qmul.ac.uk/iupac/lipid/lip1n2.html. These lipids are representative of signaling, bioactive lipids, and their biologic and medical importance highlight what can be achieved by targeting lipid signaling molecules for therapeutic, diagnostic/prognostic, or research purposes (Gardell, et al. (2006), Trends in Molecular Medicine, vol 12: 65-75). Two particular examples of medically important lysolipids are LPA (glycerol backbone) and S1P (sphingoid backbone). Other lysolipids include sphingosine, lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), sphingosylphosphorylcholine (lysosphingomyelin), ceramide, ceramide-1-phosphate, sphinganine (dihydrosphingosine), dihydrosphingosine-1-phosphate and N-acetyl-ceramide-1-phosphate. In contrast, the plasmalogens, which contain an O-alkyl (—O—CH2—) or O-alkenyl ether at the C-1 (sn1) and an acyl at C-2, are excluded from the lysolipid genus.
The structures of selected LPAs, S1P, and dihydro S1P are presented below.

LPA is not a single molecular entity but a collection of endogenous structural variants with fatty acids of varied lengths and degrees of saturation (Fujiwara, et al. (2005), J Biol Chem, vol. 280: 35038-35050). The structural backbone of the LPAs is derived from glycerol-based phospholipids such as phosphatidylcholine (PC) or phosphatidic acid (PA). In the case of lysosphingolipids such as S1P, the fatty acid of the ceramide backbone at sn-2 is missing. The structural backbone of S1P, dihydro S1P (DHS1P) and sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) is based on sphingosine, which is derived from sphingomyelin.
LPA and S1P regulate various cellular signaling pathways by binding to the same class of multiple transmembrane domain G protein-coupled (GPCR) receptors (Chun J, Rosen H (2006), Current Pharm Des, vol. 12: 161-171, and Moolenaar, W H (1999), Experimental Cell Research, vol. 253: 230-238). The S1P receptors are designated as S1P1, S1P2, S1P3, S1P4 and S1P5 (formerly EDG-1, EDG-5/AGR16, EDG-3, EDG-6 and EDG-8) and the LPA receptors designated as LPA1, LPA2, LPA3 (formerly, EDG-2, EDG-4, and EDG-7). A fourth LPA receptor of this family has been identified for LPA (LPA4), and other putative receptors for these lysophospholipids have also been reported.
C. Lysophosphatic Acids (LPA)
LPA have long been known as precursors of phospholipid biosynthesis in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, but LPA have emerged only recently as signaling molecules that are rapidly produced and released by activated cells, notably platelets, to influence target cells by acting on specific cell-surface receptor (see, e.g., Moolenaar, et al. (2004), BioEssays, vol. 26: 870-881, and van Leewen et al. (2003), Biochem Soc Trans, vol 31: 1209-1212). Besides being synthesized and processed to more complex phospholipids in the endoplasmic reticulum, LPA can be generated through the hydrolysis of pre-existing phospholipids following cell activation; for example, the sn-2 position is commonly missing a fatty acid residue due to deacylation, leaving only the sn-1 hydroxyl esterified to a fatty acid. Moreover, a key enzyme in the production of LPA, autotoxin (lysoPLD/NPP2), may be the product of an oncogene, as many tumor types up-regulate autotoxin (Brindley, D. (2004), J Cell Biochem, vol. 92: 900-12). The concentrations of LPA in human plasma and serum have been reported, including determinations made using a sensitive and specific LC/MS procedure (Baker, et al. (2001), Anal Biochem, vol 292: 287-295). For example, in freshly prepared human serum allowed to sit at 25° C. for one hour, LPA concentrations have been estimated to be approximately 1.2 μM, with the LPA analogs 16:0, 18:1, 18:2, and 20:4 being the predominant species. Similarly, in freshly prepared human plasma allowed to sit at 25° C. for one hour, LPA concentrations have been estimated to be approximately 0.7 μM, with 18:1 and 18:2 LPA being the predominant species.
LPA influences a wide range of biological responses, ranging from induction of cell proliferation, stimulation of cell migration and neurite retraction, gap junction closure, and even slime mold chemotaxis (Goetzl, et al (2002), Scientific World Journal, vol. 2: 324-338). The body of knowledge about the biology of LPA continues to grow as more and more cellular systems are tested for LPA responsiveness. For instance, it is now known that, in addition to stimulating cell growth and proliferation, LPA promote cellular tension and cell-surface fibronectin binding, which are important events in wound repair and regeneration (Moolenaar, et al. (2004), BioEssays, vol. 26: 870-881). Recently, anti-apoptotic activity has also been ascribed to LPA, and it has recently been reported that peroxisome proliferation receptor gamma is a receptor/target for LPA (Simon, et al. (2005), J Biol Chem, vol. 280: 14656-14662).
LPA has proven to be difficult targets for antibody production, although there has been a report in the scientific literature of the production of polyclonal murine antibodies against LPA (Chen et al. (2000) Med Chem Lett, vol 10: 1691-3).
D. Sphingosine-1-phosphate
S1P is a mediator of cell proliferation and protects from apoptosis through the activation of survival pathways (Maceyka, et al. (2002), BBA, vol. 1585: 192-201, and Spiegel, et al. (2003), Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, vol. 4: 397-407). It has been proposed that the balance between CER/SPH levels and S1P provides a rheostat mechanism that decides whether a cell is directed into the death pathway or is protected from apoptosis. The key regulatory enzyme of the rheostat mechanism is sphingosine kinase (SPHK) whose role is to convert the death-promoting bioactive signaling lipids (CER/SPH) into the growth-promoting S1P. S1P has two fates: S1P can be degraded by S1P lyase, an enzyme that cleaves S1P to phosphoethanolamine and hexadecanal, or, less common, hydrolyzed by S1P phosphatase to SPH.
S1P is abundantly generated and stored in platelets, which contain high levels of SPHK and lacks the enzymes for S1P degradation. When platelets are activated, S1P is secreted. In addition, other cell types, for example, mast cells, are also believed to be capable of secreting S1P. Once secreted, S1P is thought to be bound at high concentrations on carrier proteins such as serum albumin and lipoproteins. S1P is found in high concentrations in plasma, with concentrations in the range of 0.5-5 uM having been reported. Intracellular actions of S1P have also been suggested (see, e.g., Spiegel S, Kolesnick R (2002), Leukemia, vol. 16: 1596-602; Suomalainen, et al (2005), Am J Pathol, vol. 166: 773-81).
Widespread expression of the cell surface S1P receptors allows S1P to influence a diverse spectrum of cellular responses, including proliferation, adhesion, contraction, motility, morphogenesis, differentiation, and survival. This spectrum of response appears to depend upon the overlapping or distinct expression patterns of the S1P receptors within the cell and tissue systems. In addition, crosstalk between S1P and growth factor signaling pathways, including platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and basic fibroblastic growth factor (bFGF), have recently been demonstrated (see, e.g., Baudhuin, et al. (2004), FASEB J, vol. 18: 341-3). The regulation of various cellular processes involving S1P has particular impact on neuronal signaling, vascular tone, wound healing, immune cell trafficking, reproduction, and cardiovascular function, among others. Alterations of endogenous levels of S1P within these systems can have detrimental effects, eliciting several pathophysiologic conditions, including cancer, heart failure, and infectious and autoimmune diseases.
A recent novel approach to treating cancer invented by Dr. Sabbadini involves reducing the biologically available extracellular levels of S1P, either alone or in combination with conventional anti-cancer treatments, including the administration of chemotherapeutic agents, such as an anthracycline. To this end, the generation of antibodies specific for S1P has been described. See, e.g., commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/820,582. Such antibodies, which can selectively adsorb S1P from serum, act as molecular sponges to neutralize extracellular S1P. See also commonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,881,546 and 6,858,383 and U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 10/028,520, 10/029,372, and 11/101,976. Since S1P has also been shown to be pro-angiogenic, an added benefit to the antibody's effectiveness is its ability to starve growing tumors of nutrients and oxygen by limiting blood supply.
What is particularly unique about the anti-S1P approach is that while sphingolipid-based anti-cancer strategies that target key enzymes of the sphingolipid metabolic pathway, such as SPHK, have been proposed, the lipid mediator S1P itself was not previously emphasized, largely because of difficulties in directly mitigating this lipid target, in particular because of the difficulty first in raising antibodies against a lipid target such as S1P, and second, in detecting antibodies in fact produced against the S1P target. As already noted, similar difficulties exist with respect to treatments and diagnostic approaches directed at other lipid targets. This invention provides an effective solution to both of these dilemmas by providing patentable methods, in particular, the generation of monoclonal antibodies against bioactive lipids.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods and reagents for detecting bioactive lipids


A drive, particularly a planetary drive, comprising a drive shaft and at least one driven shaft which are connected by at least one element. The drive shaft and the driven shaft are mounted opposite the housing parts by bearings. The drive is characterized in that the annular space for receiving at least two sealing elements which are disposed consecutively is formed between the housing parts and the drive shaft and/or driven shaft.

The present invention relates to a transmission or an epicyclic transmission, with a drive shaft and with at least one output shaft and with at least one output shaft which are connected via at least one element, the drive shaft and output shaft being mounted with respect to at least one housing part via bearings.
Epicyclic transmissions of this type are known and customary on the market in many different forms and versions. In this context, the elements may be positive gearwheels, nonpositive belts, ropes, chains or crank-type or slider-type mechanism elements. The present invention will not be restricted to these.
According to the prior art, most epicyclic transmissions are sealed off by means of an end-face sealing element, in order to prevent lubricants, in particular transmission oil, from running out in the event of wear of the sealing ring, in particular of a shaft sealing ring.
Furthermore, one disadvantage of conventional epicyclic transmissions is that these are subject, in particular, to high wear, and, as a result, abrasion is distributed in the transmission and damages the surfaces of the elements.
Another disadvantage is that conventional epicyclic transmissions are complicated to produce and assemble.
FR 2 622 946 describes a differential, in which a flange is provided on the output shaft, in particular its housing, a sleeve being seated on the output shaft, two sealing elements being provided in an annular space between the end-face flange and the sleeve.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,817,846 discloses a seal arrangement between a housing part and a shaft, a sleeve being seated on the shaft. A lamella-like sealing flange, which contains a plurality of seals, is screwed to the housing part on the end face.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,476,582 discloses a differential housing, in which magnetically acting filter elements are arranged.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,464 discloses a transmission in the housing of which is provided a magnet.
The object on which the present invention is based is to provide a transmission, in particular an epicyclic transmission of the type initially mentioned, which eliminates the disadvantages mentioned and by means of which the useful life is to be increased in a highly cost-effective and efficient way. Furthermore, the manufacturing times and assembly costs of a transmission of this type are to be reduced. Moreover, a maintenance interval of the components, also, in particular, of the seals, is to be capable of being influenced.

Transmission, in particular epicyclic transmission


A conductor assembly structure for a rail-type terminal device includes a conductor assembly and an insulating housing. The conductor assembly structure can reduce manufacturing waste and has a larger contact surface and a better electric conduction effect. The conductor assembly has a base portion that can be pivotally connected with a conductive connector, and a first area and a second area connected to the base portion. The first area and the second area are respectively formed with a bowed portion and a first section and a second section connected to the bowed portion to be snapped onto a grounding mounting rail. At least one of the first area and the second area is provided with a load arm and an elastic member connected to the load arm for increasing the elastic fixing effect (force) of the first section and/or the second section on the grounding mounting rail.

A terminal device or crimp terminal uses a metal assembly (or conductive member) and an elastic conductor (or metal elastic plate) wrapped in an insulating housing (usually made of plastic materials) to press or connect the wire inserting into the terminal device to form an electrical connection or release the wire, which is a well-known art.
This type of electrical connection terminal includes a type that is inserted into a circuit board (such as, a PC circuit board), and a type of snap-fit grounding mounting rail (or conductive rail) with electrical connection terminals arranged side by side, so as to establish a common grounding device for electrical or mechanical equipment to drain the residual voltage or static electricity of the equipment.
This type of electrical connection terminal (or rail-type electrical connection terminal) usually includes an insulating housing. The housing has a wire inlet for a wire to be inserted into the housing. The housing also defines a cavity to be equipped with a platy conductive support (or conductor assembly) for pivotally connecting the grounding wires from the equipment. The conductor assembly has a metal grounding member, which is welded, riveted or connected to the conductive support. The metal grounding member has two ends to be respectively snapped onto a grounding mounting rail (or conductive rail). The operator may use a tool (such as a screwdriver) to pull a hooked foot area at the lower end of the insulating housing, so that the foot area drives one end of the grounding member to deform and offset outwardly, so as to disengage the grounding member from the mounting rail.
A topic related to the structure and operation of the conventional electrical connection terminal structure is that both ends of the grounding member is easily deformed due to the outward pulling operation by the operator. Because of improper operation by the operator and/or long-term (or high-frequency) use, it is easy to reduce the subsequent fastening and fixing effect with the mounting rail and affect the electric conduction effect of the conductor assembly.
In order to improve the foregoing situation, the prior art also discloses a structure in which multiple grounding members are connected side by side. However, those who are familiar with this technique know that the structure having multiple grounding members connected side by side not only increases the material cost but also relatively requires a lot of operating force exerted by the operator to pull the grounding members outwardly. Therefore, the operation is laborious. This is not what we expect.
Typically, these references show the structural combination design and application of the electrical connection terminal device. If the structure of the conductor assembly or the grounding member can be redesigned to make its structure different from the prior art, it will change its use and be different from the prior art. In fact, it will also increase its application effect.
A more ideal terminal device or conductor assembly needs to be able to overcome or improve the issues discussed above. It should also include the following design considerations.
1. Their matching structure needs to be able to establish a stable elastic fixing mechanism, so that the grounding member or conductor assembly can respond to improper operation by the operator and/or long-term (or high frequency) use, without reducing their subsequent buckling and fixing with the mounting rail to affect the electric conduction effect of the conductor assembly.
2. It is necessary to remove the structure that in the prior art multiple grounding members or conductor assemblies are connected side-by-side, so as to improve its material cost and labor-intensive operation.
3. Under the condition of reducing (or not increasing) manufacturing waste, the grounding members or conductor assemblies are formed into an integral structure to improve the efficiency of its manufacturing, processing and assembly. In addition, it is necessary to provide a larger or wider contact surface or conductive contact surface, which can relatively improve the electric conduction efficiency and is suitable for different wires with large and small diameters.

Conductor assembly structure for rail-type terminal device


Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for performing incremental software installations. The system identifies a set of files associated with one or more software programs. Each file can be a component of a software program, or any file accessed by the software program or system when the software program is executed. The system receives a list of files associated with a software version that is not installed on the system. The system determines the differences between the set of files and the list of files, and receives a missing file from the list of files based on the differences. Finally, the system builds the software version on the system using the set of files and the missing file. In building the software version, the system does not assume a linear progression of updates and is able to reuse existing files to create nonlinear variations of software.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to software versioning and more specifically to efficiently and adaptively performing incremental software installations.
2. Introduction
Software developers are distributing their software in many rapidly evolving ways. Originally, software developers distributed software in physical media. For example, CDs and DVDs containing a particular software program were mailed or distributed via retail outlets. The expenses and inefficiencies of this approach have prompted new strategies for software distribution.
More recently, network distribution of software has partially replaced physical media as the favored distribution method. With network distribution of software, developers provide a software installation package which users can download from a web browser or other network connection. The installation package is typically pre-configured to install the software application or download and execute the main installation package. The software application or installation package may include a process that checks for a more current version and downloads the most current version or updates to that version.
To update a specific version of software on a device, the installation package is typically pre-configured to perform a complete installation of the latest version of the software. However, a complete installation can be time-consuming and may result in multiple versions of software on the device. Thus, as an alternative, the installation package is often pre-configured to update the software on the device by installing a linear progression of updates, from lower release numbers to higher. Each update is developed beforehand and pre-configured to update a specific version of software. Both solutions assume that only the latest version of software is required, which limits the range of deployments and customizations possible. Each installation and update application requires large amounts of manual effort to construct, and each requires a large amount of time to test—a potentially slow and expensive proposition.
The current software installation methods can be difficult and expensive, particularly at scale. Users generally need to be informed that an installation is required. Sufficient permissions must be acquired on the target system for software deployment. Update installations can result in multiple versions of the software on the device. Older versions of software may occupy large amounts of disk space and can be difficult to remove. The process of updating the software is inflexible and time-consuming. A large amount of manual effort is required to construct, test, and implement installation and update applications. The static nature of current installation systems result in limited scalability and customization.

System and method for incremental software installation


Provided is a light emitting device package. It is a substrate comprising a top and a bottom surfaces being substantially parallel to each other; a light emitting diode chip on the substrate; a frame disposed around the light emitting diode chip and configured to reflect light emitted from the light emitting diode chip, the frame having an opening; a first metal layer disposed on the top surface of the substrate; a second metal layer disposed on the top surface of the substrate; a third metal layer disposed on the bottom surface of the substrate; a through hole connected between the first metal layer and the third metal layer; a material being filled in the opening of the frame; and a lens disposed on the material, wherein the substrate and the frame are separate from each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light emitting diode and a package of a light emitting diode.
2. Description of the Related Art
A light emitting diode (LED) is a light emitting device constituting a light source by using compound semiconductor materials such as GaAs, AlGaAs, GaN, InGaN, and AlGaInP. The LED has the advantage of emitting various colors on materials of the semiconductor.
Generally, the characteristics of the LED are determined according to high-luminance light-emitting, luminance, color range of the emitted light, and the like. The characteristics of the LED device are primary determined by the compound semiconductor materials used in the LED device. Also, the characteristics are secondly determined by package construction for mounting a chip. Especially, in order to obtain distribution of a luminance angle according to high luminance and user requirements, the primary element of the materials is limited. So, recently, many people are interested in the package construction.
The second element of the LED package construction largely affects the luminance and the high-luminance light-emitting. Referring to a conventional package illustrated in FIGS. 1A through 1C, a lamp type LED and a surface mounted type LED will be described, separately.
For a lamp type LED package 10 illustrated in FIG. 1A, a metal electrode face of a cup shape with a predetermined angle is provided on the upper side of a lead frame 3B among two lead frames 3A, 3B. An LED device 5 is mounted on the upper side of the metal electrode face. Also, the lamp type LED 10 is packaged by a domed case 7 which is made of transparent molding resin.
On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 1B, a surface mounted type LED package 20 has a package 11 which is made of molding epoxy resin. Also, an LED device 15 is arranged on a mounting region where an inclined angle is small, and an electrode (not shown) is connected by a wire 13.
By such package construction, in the lamp type LED package 10, the domed case 7 working as a lens, can control the luminance. Especially, by making the distribution of the luminance angle narrow, the luminance at a predetermined luminance angle can be raised. Also, light which is emitted from a source is reflected on the metal electrode face of the cup shape to raise the luminance. When comparing with the lamp type LED package 10, in the surface mounted type LED package 20, distribution of the luminance angle is made wide by the package 11, and the luminance itself is low. In this manner, the luminance and the distribution of the luminance are largely affected by the package construction. Therefore, in the case of the surface mounted type LED package 20 using molding resin, a development to add a reflecting member is being processed. The reflecting member is a metalized construction having a predetermined reflecting angle and formed at one side of the mounting region.
However, since the construction of the LED package using the molding resin does not have high enough thermal resistance for heat generated by high luminance light, the LED package is not appropriate for the high-luminance emitting-light.
FIG. 1C is a sectional view illustrating a ceramic LED package which is made of a conventional ceramic substrate.
Referring to FIG. 1C, a construction 30 of the ceramic LED package has two ceramic substrates 21 and 22. Each the ceramic substrate has a plurality of ceramic sheets which are laminated. Mounting region for an LED device 25 is located on a lower ceramic substrate 21. An electrode 23 which is connected to the LED device 25 by a wire 27 is extended, through both sides of the ceramic substrates, from the mounting region to the bottom of the substrate. An upper ceramic substrate 22 having a predetermined cavity surrounds the mounting region for the LED device 25.
Here, since the cavity for the mounting region receiving the LED device 25 is formed by punching or cutting, a cutting face is vertically formed at all times as illustrated in FIG. 1C. Therefore, it is difficult to form a reflecting face which can control the luminance angle by making a predetermined inclined plane inside of the cavity. In addition, it makes a manufacturing process complicated and increases the cost that the ceramic substrate 22 supplying the cavity made of the plurality of substrates which are laminated.
Also, since the heat which is generated by the high luminance light is emitted through only the electrode 23, emitting heat is not rapid, which has a bad influence on characteristics of operation of the LED device 25. Therefore, an LED package which can efficiently emit heat in a ceramic package has been strongly required.
In addition, it takes manufacturing time longer and increase the cost, because the ceramic substrate 22 is made of the plurality of substrates which are laminated.

Light emitting diode package having frame with bottom surface having two surfaces different in height


A coaxial connector includes a body, a post, a coupling nut, and a sealing member. The sealing member is axially compressed between a rear end facing surface of the coupling nut and a front end facing surface of the hollow body in order to facilitate improved grounding and RF shielding characteristics.

1. Field
The disclosure relates generally to coaxial cable connectors, and particularly to coaxial cable connectors capable of connecting a coaxial cable to a terminal.
2. Technical Background
With the advent of digital signal in CATV systems, a rise in customer complaints due to poor picture quality in the form of signal interference resulting in what is known as "tiling" and the like has occurred. Complaints of this nature result in CATV system operators having to send a technician to address the issue. Frequently, it is reported by the technician that the cause of the problem is a loose F connector fitting. Type F connector fittings may be loose for many reasons, sometimes they are not properly tightened due to installation rules of system operators that prohibit the use of wrenches in-doors on customer equipment. Other times, a homeowner may relocate equipment after the technician departs and may not adequately secure the F connectors. Additionally, some claim that F connector couplers loosen due to vibration and/or heat and cold cycles.
In any event, an improperly installed connector may result in poor signal transfer because there are discontinuities along the electrical path between the devices, resulting in a leak of radio frequency ("RF") signal. That leak may be in the form of signal egress where the RF energy radiates out of the connector/cable arrangement. Alternately, an RF leak may be in the form of signal ingress where RF energy from an external source or sources may enter the connector/cable arrangement causing a signal to noise ratio problem resulting in an unacceptable picture.
F connectors typically rely on intimate contact between the F male connector interface and the F female connector interface. If for some reason, the connector interfaces are allowed to pull apart from each other, such as in the case of a loose F male coupler, an interface "gap" may result. This gap can be a point of an RF leak as previously described. Typically, in such situations where the F male coupler is loose, the configuration allows for two distinct signal ingress paths. One path is found from the "back" of the F male coupler between the coupler bore and connector body. When the coupler is loosened, the connector body is permitted to move about, creating gaps that were previously secured when the connection was tight. Typically, these gaps allow a signal path along a relatively straightforward line. The other path is found at the "front" of the F male coupler along the spiral path of the interconnecting thread system. In the loose condition, tolerances in the thread system allow signal ingress because the flanks of the treads are not intimately engaged enough to provide adequate shielding.
To at least partially address the signal ingress and grounding issues, a number of approaches have been introduced, including U.S. Pat. No. 7,114,990 (Bence, et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 7,479,035 (Bence, et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 6,716,062 (Palinkas, et al.) and US Patent application 2008/0102696 (Montena). In addition, other approaches have been introduced to at least partially address the issue of loosening Type F couplers, including a lock-washer design produced by Phoenix Communications Technologies International (PCT) known at the DRS and TRS connectors. However, there is a continuing need for improved connector designs that address theses issues simultaneously.

Coaxial connector with inhibited ingress and improved grounding


A sensor system includes a sensing element that includes a sensing material and electrodes configured to apply a first electrical stimuli to the sensing material at an electrical excitation frequency, a modifier assembly including one or more circuits configured to change an electrical impedance of the sensing element, and one or more processors configured to control the modifier assembly. Responsive to exposure of gas to the sensing element, the one or more processors change a linearity of a first electrical signal received from the sensing element by changing the electrical impedance of the sensing element and applying a second electrical stimuli to the sensing material at the electrical excitation frequency.

Gas sensors are based on sensing materials that include metal oxide semiconductors (MOS) materials, dielectric polymers, conducting polymers, nanotubes, metal organic frameworks, graphene, supramolecular compounds, and some others. Often, sensors demonstrate saturation of their response at high concentrations leading to false readings.
Conventional sensors have relatively narrow dynamic range of measurements due to the nature of the interaction mechanisms of sensing materials with the ambient environment. For example, while MOS materials have the biggest commercial success because of their broad applications for gas alarms in residential and industrial facilities, the readout of MOS materials is conventionally performed by measuring resistance change of the material as a function of gas concentration. Such relation follows a well-known power law with a saturation of sensor response at high concentrations.


For the reconfiguration of a radiotelephone unit including components programmable in configuration modes, the invention provides a removable electronic device having stored data defining a plurality of configuration modes which is connected to the apparatus. A configuration mode is selected from the apparatus in the device. The programmable components are programmed by the device and reconfigured in accordance with the selected configuration mode data under the control of the device. The data of the configuration modes can be downloaded from a server into the device through a downloader terminal.

1 Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to reconfiguring reprogrammable components in an electronic unit such as a telecommunication terminal, including a mobile telephone terminal.
For example, the configuration modes relate to telecommunication interfaces that adapt the unit to the telecommunication network to which it is liable to be connected temporarily as a function of the location of the unit.
2 Description of the Prior Art
One prior art solution for adapting the unit to diverse telecommunication interfaces is to provide different and independent hardware and software modules for implementing the diverse interfaces required and included in the terminal. If the unit must be connected to the telecommunication network corresponding to one of the interfaces incorporated in this way, the latter interface is selected and the other interfaces remain inactive.
Another and less bulky solution consists in interchanging one telecommunication interface module with another in the unit.
In these two prior art solutions, it is necessary to provide an interface module each time that a new telecommunication network or modifications to an existing network are defined and generally standardized.

Reconfiguration of programmable components in an electronic apparatus


A lens cover for a lens equipment includes a tubular cover body for detachably coupling at a lens housing of the lens equipment in front of a lens thereof, a cover module, and a locking mechanism. The cover module includes a cover panel and a joint unit coupled between a sidewall of the cover body and a peripheral edge of the cover panel to enable the cover panel to be moved between a covered position and an uncovered position, wherein in the covered position, the cover panel is supported at a front portion of the cover body for covering the lens, and in the uncovered position, the cover panel is rotated sidewardly about the joint unit for uncovering the lens. The locking mechanism is provided at the sidewall of the cover body for releasably locking the cover panel in the covered position.

Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an accessory for a lens equipment, and more particular to a lens cover for a lens equipment, such as a scope, which can be easily mounted to the lens equipment to protect the lens thereof and can be quickly folded sideward at its opened position.
Description of Related Arts
Lens equipment, such as a scope, telescope, camera lens module, or binoculars, generally comprises a tubular lens housing and a lens supported in the lens housing. For example, scopes are sighting device and are commonly used on firearms, such as rifles, to give an accurate aiming point during shooting. The scope generally comprises a tubular lens housing and two lenses provided at two ends of the lens housing to define an objective end and a sight (ocular) end. Accordingly, the quality of each of the lens will be reduced when the lens is scratched or covered by dust. Therefore, a lens cover is usually utilized to cover the lens when it is not in used.
The conventional lens cover comprises a tubular body detachably coupled at the end of either the objective lens housing or ocular lens housing and a cover panel movably attached to the tubular body via a hinge, wherein the cover is held at a front opening of the tubular body to cover the lens and is flipped upwardly from the tubular body to uncover the lens. However, such lens cover has several drawbacks. Since the cover panel is flipped upwardly from the front opening of the tubular body, the flipping movement of the cover panel requires a relative space in front of the tubular body. In other words, after the scope is coupled at the firearm, no additional accessory can be coupled in front of the scope that will block the flipping movement of the cover panel. Furthermore, when the cover panel is flipped upwardly, the cover panel will block the sight of the shooter. The hinge must incorporate a coil to force the upward flipping movement of the cover panel. Since the hinge must be located at the exterior of the tubular body, the hinge is not protected. Once the hinge is broken by any external force, the lens cover will not be flip-opened or closed at all.
Another type of lens cover is a shutter type lens cover, wherein a plurality of shutter blades that side in and out from the center of the front opening of the tubular body. In particular, one end of the shutter blade is affixed in position while the other end of the shutter blade is moved back and forth. Therefore, the shutter blades are moved away from the center of the tubular body for opening up the front opening thereof and are moved toward the center of the tubular body for opening up the front opening thereof. As a result, in the opened position of the shutter type lens cover, the shutter blades will not block the sight of the shooter. Generally, the more shutter blades there are in the tubular body, the more rounded the opening will be. The opening diameter of the shutter blades should be larger than a diameter of the lens. In other words, the shutter type lens cover will involve a relatively complicated structure comparing with the flip type lens cover. More importantly, the shutter blades will be jammed or stuck by dirt, sand, or dust. Once the shutter blades are stuck, the shutter type lens cover will malfunction. It is worth mentioning that the shutter blades cannot be fully closed that there is always an aperture at the center of the tubular body.
Moreover, the common drawback of the flip type lens cover and the shutter type lens cover is that a diameter of the tubular body must match with a diameter of the lens housing in order to couple the tubular body with the lens housing. In other words, there is no universal lens cover that fits different sizes of scopes.


The present disclosure provides a method for scalable anti-replay windowing. According to one exemplary embodiment, the method may include receiving at least one data packet having at least one new sequence number. The method may also include comparing the at least one new sequence number to an anti-replay window configured to prevent packet replay, the anti-replay window having at least one existing sequence number. The method may further include shifting the contents of the anti-replay window by varying the location of a starting index and an ending index. Of course, additional embodiments, variations and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.

Internet security protocols, such as IP security (IPsec) and Secure Real-time Transport Protocol (SRTP), provide an anti-replay service to help counter the denial of service (DoS) attack known as packet replay. An anti-replay window may be maintained to determine which packets have already been received (e.g., based on sequence number), and any replayed packets are rejected. Anti-replay windows for today's internet security protocols are typically implemented using a bitmap. This may be an efficient and effective way to represent the anti-replay window. As packets are received, the receiver may check the bitmap to see if this sequence number has already been received. In this way, replayed packets may be detected and rejected. Only a fixed amount of sequence numbers may be tracked by the anti-replay window (governed by the anti-replay window's size). The anti-replay window contents may be shifted as higher sequence numbers are received.
As traffic rates increase to meet the growing demands of today's networks, anti-replay windows must also scale to accommodate them. Higher traffic rates imply a wider divergence of packet ordering as packets take different paths through the network. Also, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), which may prioritize voice traffic over data traffic, may lead to further divergence in packet ordering, such that data packets may fall outside the replay window. A larger anti-replay window may be needed to accommodate this wider spread of packet sequence numbers, in order to avoid rejecting many packets because they have old sequence numbers.
In some cases, a bit shift operation may be used in order to shift the contents of the anti-replay window. Unfortunately, this may not scale very well to large window sizes such as 512-bit or 1024-bit bitmaps. In order to effectively shift the bits of a large bitmap, many bit shift operations may be required. This may be difficult to implement, as the bits may require shifting from one word to the next, not merely within each word alone.
Although the following Detailed Description will proceed with reference being made to illustrative embodiments, many alternatives, modifications, and variations thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art.


A hinge assembly is provided for an orthopedic knee brace. The knee brace includes upper and lower support arms. The hinge assembly includes a hinge plate and first and second gear members pivotally connected to the hinge plate. The first gear member is coupled for rotation with the upper support arm and has an articulation surface adjacent a surface of the upper support arm. The second gear member is coupled for rotation with the lower support arm and has an articulation surface adjacent a surface of the lower support arm. The hinge assembly allows medial/lateral articulation of the upper and lower support arms in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane of rotation of the first and second gear members.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to orthopedic braces and, in particular, to orthopedic knee braces.
2. Description of the Related Art
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that results in chronic pain in an affected joint when the joint is statically or dynamically loaded. In an affected knee joint, osteoarthritis pain is often caused by an unbalanced loading on the medial or lateral compartment of the knee, which can reduce the clearance space between the condyles of the femur and tibial plateau. When there is increased pressure between the femoral and tibial surfaces in an affected compartment of the knee joint, and particularly dynamic pressure, cartilage degeneration can occur at the contact surface producing pain in the joint.
Orthopedic knee braces are commonly applied to the leg to treat osteoarthritis in the knee. Such braces typically include an upper support portion for securing to the upper leg of the wearer, a lower support portion for securing to the lower leg, and one or more hinge assemblies pivotally interconnecting the upper and lower support portions. In a two-sided knee brace, a hinge assembly is located at each side of the knee when the brace is worn. A condyle pad is typically located between each hinge assembly and side of the knee.
Knee braces of the type described serve to reduce osteoarthritis pain in the knee joint by applying a three-point load to the leg. A force is applied to the side of the knee opposite the affected compartment by causing the adjacent condyle pad to forcibly contact the side of the knee. This is typically accomplished by increasing the thickness of the adjacent condyle pad or by moving the pad closer to the knee using a jackscrew or other means. Alternatively, a force is sometimes applied opposite the affected compartment of the knee by means of an adjustable force strap which extends around the leg in a helical fashion from the upper support portion to the lower support portion. In either case, counteracting forces are applied to the leg in the medial/lateral plane above and below the knee on the side of the affected compartment by the upper and lower support portions. The resulting three-point load on the leg serves to reduce osteoarthritis pain in the knee joint by reducing the load in the affected compartment of the knee.
While such knee braces have proven effective in relieving osteoarthritis pain in the knee joint, the upper and lower support portions of such braces lack sufficient adjustability for optimal fit on various leg shapes and for various loads to relieve osteoarthritis pain. The upper and lower support portions are typically relatively rigid and are not adapted to conform to the leg shape of the wearer. As a result, such braces are often bulky, uncomfortable, and ill-fitting. In addition, when such braces are adjusted to apply a force to the knee or to fit the leg of a patient, stress is generated in the hinge assemblies of the knee braces. This stress causes wear on the components of the hinge assemblies and, in extreme cases, can result in binding of the hinge assemblies.

Hinge assembly for an orthopedic knee brace and knee brace incorporating the hinge assembly


Controlling content in a video media stream is presented. The controlling comprises: imaging a scene with a camera (42) of an electronic device (10); detecting, using a face detection function (22, 113), one or more faces present in the imaged scene; identifying, using an identity recognition function (23, 114), an individual having a face from among the one or more detected faces by determining that the face is a face of an individual having a social relationship on social media with a user of the electronic device (10); seeking approval, using an approval function (24, 115), from the identified individual to participate in the video media stream; and upon an approval from the identified individual to participate in the video media stream, generating the video media stream, using the camera (42) of the electronic device (10), with the face of the identified individual being visible.

Video media streams may pose a threat to the privacy of participants in the video media stream. For example, video media streams may be misused by digital media generators. Sometimes content of a video media stream may have depressing consequences leading to a threatening impact on an individual participating in a video media stream. Hence, there is a need for controlling content in a video media stream.

Method, electronic device and social media server for controlling content in a video media stream using face detection


A display device having a substrate including a first display area, a second display area, a non-display area disposed adjacent to the first and second display areas, a plurality of first pixels disposed in the first display area, a plurality of second pixels disposed in the second display area, a first groove disposed in the non-display area and recessed downward from an upper surface of the substrate, a first flexible film disposed in the first groove, and a plurality of pad electrodes disposed on the first flexible film in the non-display area between the first and second display areas and connecting the first pixels are connected to the second pixels in a row.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to a display device and a method of manufacturing the display device. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a display device capable of reducing a non-display area and a method of manufacturing the display device.
2. Description of the Related Art
A display device includes a display panel to display an image and gate and data drivers to drive the display panel. The display panel includes gate lines, data lines, and pixels connected to the gate lines and the data lines. The gate lines receive gate signals from a gate driver and the data lines receive data voltages from a data driver. The pixels receive the data voltages through the data lines in response to the gate signals provided through the gate lines. The pixels display gray scales corresponding to the data voltages, and thus the desired images are displayed.
The display device may be a flat panel display device, e.g., a liquid crystal display device, a plasma display panel device, a field emission display device, an organic light emitting diode display device, an electrophoretic display device, or others.
The display device includes a display area in which the images area displayed and a non-display area disposed adjacent to the display area. The drivers used to drive the display panel are disposed in the non-display area in which the images are not displayed. In recent years, however, demand for the display device with wide display area keeps on increasing in the market, and thus a display device having a reduced non-display area is required.

Display device with groove in a non-display area and method of manufacturing the same


This invention relates to methods of producing oligodendrocytes from multipotent neural stem cells by using at least one oligodendrocyte promoting factor, particularly granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, granulocyte colony stimulating factor, interleukin 3 or interleukin 5. The neural stem cells may optionally be expanded prior to being subjected to the oligodendrocyte promoting factor.

The axons of manly vertebrate neurons are insulated by a myelin sheath, which greatly increases the rate at which axons can conduct an action potential. Myelin is a cellular sheath formed by special glial cells, namely Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system and oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system. These glial cells wrap layer upon layer around the axon in a tight spiral, thereby insulating the axonal membrane. However, the sheath is interrupted at regularly spaced nodes of Ranvier, where membrane depolarization can occur. As a result, depolarization of the membrane at one node immediately spreads to the next node. Thus, an action potential propagates along a myelinated axon by jumping from node to node, thereby accelerating transmission of the signal as well as conserving metabolic energy, since the active excitation is confined to the small regions of axonal plasma membrane at the nodes.
The importance of myelination is evidenced by demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis, in which myelin sheaths in some regions of the central nervous system are destroyed by an unknown mechanism. When demyelination occurs, the propagation of nerve impulses is significantly slowed, leading to devastating neurological consequences. For example, common symptoms of multiple sclerosis include muscular weakness, slow movements, spasticity, severe fatigue or even disabling exhaustion, visual disturbances, pain, numbness, tingling, urinary dysfunction, sexual dysfunction and mental disturbances.
Current treatments of multiple sclerosis involve slowing down the disease course as well as alleviation of the symptoms or medical complications, rather than addressing the underlying cause of the disease, demyelination. Howsoever, ample evidence indicates that demyelinated neurons are capable of remyelination in siru. In multiple sclerosis, it appears that cycles of demyelination and remyelination take place, and glial cell transplantation has been investigated as a potential therapy (see, e.g., Smith et al., 2001; Brierley et al., 2001: Kohama et al., 2001). Nevertheless, obtaining large numbers of myelinating cells for transplantation remains a major stumbling block. Glial progenitor cells are available for transplantation; for example, O-2A cells give rise in vitro to oligodendrocytes and type II astrocytes. Although O-2A cells can be grown in culture, only a limited number of divisions are possible (Raff, 1989). Moreover, it appears that the O-2A cells that have been injected into animals do not continue to divide, and a large number of cells have to be transplanted. Therefore, an improved source of transplant for remyelination is desirable.

Oligodendrocyte production from multipotent neural stem cells


A method for testing a device-under-test includes receiving, from at least one test channel circuit dedicated to communicate with an input/output pin of the device-under-test by means of at least one hardware resource, at least one logical control command describing a desired operation of the at least one hardware resource, and converting, by means of a resource controller, the at least one logical control command into at least one dedicated control command for the at least one hardware resource, wherein the at least one dedicated control command is adapted to be received by a physical implementation of the at least one hardware resource.

During typical semiconductor manufacturing processes, integrated circuits (ICs) may be tested to ensure their proper operation. Automated test equipment (ATE) may perform tests to ensure functionality and quality, with the ICs being devices-under-test (DUTs). In general, a test to be performed on a DUT consists of a set of digital pattern vectors that translate to stimulus voltage levels to be applied to input signal pins of the DUT according to a pre-specified timing. Signals captured from output signal pins of the DUT are translated into corresponding response vectors that may be analyzed to determine whether the DUT is operating according to its specification. An ATE generally provides a number of signal generating resources that may generate configurable signal levels with configurable timing(s). The tester may also provide signal processing resources capable of converting signals generated by the DUT (e.g. in analog form) into a format (e.g. in digital form) readable by the tester. The signal processing resources may also be configurable. The ATE may be configured, for example, by way of a set of relays, to electrically connect any tester resource to any tester interface pin.
A typical automated tester for integrated circuits includes a set of so-called test channels, each connected to a separate pin of an IC or DUT 130. This is schematically illustrated in FIG. 1A. FIG. 1A illustrates an ATE 100 for testing a DUT 130. The ATE 100 comprises a plurality of test channels 110-1, 110-2 to 110-n. Each of the test channels 110 is coupled to a central test control unit 120, such as, a computer or microcontroller. On the DUT-end, each of the test channels 110-1, 110-2 to 110-n is dedicated to a different input and/or output (I/O) pin of the DUT 130. Each test channel 110-1, 110-2 to 110-n may be divided into a digital and an analog signal processing part. Within the digital processing part, each test channel 110-1, 110-2 to 110-n comprises a channel-specific channel control block 111 coupled to the central test control unit 120, wherein the channel control block 111 again controls further digital test channel blocks, such as a digital test pattern generator 112 for generating digital pattern vectors, a test pattern comparator 113 for analyzing response vectors and a time formatting block 114 to generate pre-specified timings. Together, the blocks 111, 112, 113 and 114 make up a so-called digital test channel. The channel control block 111 conventionally also controls analog signal processing blocks or hardware resources 115, 116 coupled in between an I/O pin of the DUT 130 and the digital test channel. The hardware resources 115, 116 are adapted to connect the digital test channel to the DUT 130. The hardware resources 115, 116 are also adapted to convert a signal or a test pattern to/from the DUT 130 into a signal suited for the DUT-pin or the digital test channel. Hence, the hardware resources 115, 116 may comprise switches, relays, signal level drivers, threshold comparators, analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) and/or digital-to-analog converters (DACs), etc.
Conventionally, the digital test channels may be arranged in a separate digital test channel IC, while the hardware resources 115, 116 may be kept external to the digital test channel IC in order to ease their substitution, respectively. As illustrated in FIG. 1B, each of the test channels 110-1, 110-2 to 110-n may be divided into a digital test channel part 140-1, 140-2, . . . , 140-n and an analog test channel part 150-1, 150-2, . . . , 150-n, respectively. The digital test channel parts 140-1, 140-2, . . . , 140-n of the test channels 110-1, 110-2, . . . , 110-n (e.g., blocks 111, 112, 113 and 114, respectively), may be placed into a dedicated test pattern processing IC 140. The analog test channel parts 150-1, 150-2, . . . , 150-n (e.g., hardware resources 115, 116, respectively), may be located externally from the test pattern processing IC 140, in between the DUT 130 and the pattern processing IC 140.
As discussed above, the dedicated pattern processing IC 140 may be responsible for generating digital patterns that translate, via the hardware resources 150, to stimulus voltage levels to be applied to a plurality of input signal pins of the DUT 130 according to a pre-specified timing. Signals captured from a plurality of output signal pins of the DUT 130 via the hardware resources 150 may be translated into corresponding response vectors that may again be analyzed by the dedicated pattern processing IC 140. For this reason, such a chip 140 typically has a plurality of digital test channels 140-1, 140-2, . . . , 140-n. In addition, external hardware components or resources 150-1, 150-2, . . . , 150-n are needed, e.g., relays 116, or signal drivers 115, that can drive various voltages. Also, ADCs, DACs and many other hardware resources may be applied.
Traditionally, each digital test channel part 140-1, 140-2, . . . , 140-n in the pattern processing or test channel IC 140 controls its associated analog hardware resources 150-1, 150-2, . . . , 150-n, respectively. Such a setup may create great difficulties when the external resources 150-1, 150-2, . . . , 150-n are replaced for any reason with other components or resources that behave differently. Normally, the test channel IC 140 would have to be adapted in this case. However, modifying the test channel IC 140 may be an expensive and time consuming process. Also, the test software running on the central test control unit 120 may have to be adapted in case of such modifications.

Method and apparatus for testing a device-under-test


A modular safe system that can include a door unit and a pair of modular cap extension units that can be coupled on opposing sides of the door unit. The modular safe system can further include a corner-extension unit and a straight extension unit.

One aspect of a safe is to secure valuable objects against theft or other unauthorized access. Safes are commonly manufactured from cast or formed steel, and with a door secured by locking pins, and with a key-operated or combination lock. The walls of the safe are normally made of carbon steel of thicknesses between 0.10 inch and 0.12 inch. Additionally, multiple layers of fire resistant gypsum boards within the steel envelope and a layer of interior material serve to further safeguard valuables.
The steel outer shell of the safe is normally constructed by fitting parts together which are then joined by welding to make a box into which is fitted a door or lid and snugly against a seal around the door frame to prevent access to the interior.
Such a single-unit safe has a drawback of needing to be of a size small enough to be moved into place and is therefore susceptible to attack by an unauthorized person simply removing the entire safe from its premises for subsequent cracking elsewhere where the thief is unconstrained by time, noise, access to cutting tools, or the like. Another drawback is that in place, conventional un-armored safes are susceptible to attack using rotating or reciprocating saw blades against the flat surfaces.
In view of the foregoing, a need exists for an improved safe system in an effort to overcome the aforementioned obstacles and deficiencies of conventional safes.


The embodiment of the disclosure provides a display substrate and a display device. The display substrate includes data signal lines located in a display area of the display substrate, and fanout lines in a fanout area adjacent the display area of the display substrate and respectively connected in one-to-one correspondence with the data signal lines, wherein the data signal fanout lines include first fanout lines disposed in the same layer with a touch electrode of the display substrate.

The present disclosure relates to a field of display technologies, and in particular, to a display substrate and a display device.
At present, in a high definition Full In Cell (HD FIC) touch screen, a fanout area is needed where signal lines of a display area is led out by lead-out wires. Since the fanout area is smaller than the display area and a number of signal lines to be lead out is large, the lines is required to be inclined when led out from the display area.

BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A magnetic tape cassette that includes a substantially rectangular housing and a pair of tape reels carried for rotation within the housing with a length of magnetic tape extending between the reels for recording and/or playback of information. An aperture in a sidewall of the housing affords external access to the tape by recording/playback apparatus, and posts within the housing guide the magnetic tape between the reels adjacent to the sidewall aperture. The guideposts are mounted with the housing so as to be disposed entirely internally of the tape between the reels such that the information surface of the tape is free of contact with the guideposts or any other portion of the cassette as the tape is wound between the reels past the sidewall aperture. A circular array of circumferentially spaced fingers are integral with the housing surrounding each of the reels radially spaced from the reels so as to limit lateral motion of the reels while maintaining alignment of the reels with apertures in the bottom wall of the housing for engagement with the tape drive mechanisms of recording/playback apparatus.

Magnetic tape cassettes are widely employed for recording and playback of video and audio information both for consumer and commercial applications. A typical cassette for recording and/or playback of audio/video information in the so-called VHS format includes a generally rectangular housing formed by molded plastic upper and lower housing sections. A pair of reels are rotatably carried within the housing in general alignment with a pair of apertures in a bottom wall of the housing for engagement with external recording/playback apparatus for driving tape back and forth between the reels. An aperture in a sidewall of the housing is normally closed by a cover, which is automatically opened upon insertion of the cassette into recording/playback apparatus for affording access to a reach of the tape that extends between the reels across the sidewall aperture. Guideposts are carried by the housing for guiding the tape across the sidewall aperture between the reels.
Although magnetic tape cassettes of the described character have enjoyed substantial commercial acceptance and success, improvements remain desirable. In particular, details of construction of the cassette described above makes it very expensive for use in applications where the cassette is intended to be used a limited number of times and then discarded, such as in direct mail video advertisements. It is essential in applications of this character that the tape cassette be as inexpensive as possible.
One major cost in conventional magnetic tape cassette constructions is associated with guideposts that contact the outer or recording face of the magnetic tape as the tape traverses the sidewall aperture between the reels. Since these guideposts contact the recording surface, it is critical that the posts be precisely manufactured so as to avoid damage to information magnetically recorded on the tape or to the tape itself. Other major costs with standard magnetic tape cassettes are associated with a locking mechanism for holding the front cover closed until the tape is inserted into a recording/playback machine, with leaf springs for holding the tape against the guideposts and/or holding the reels against the bottom wall of the housing, and brake mechanisms for restraining rotation of the tape reels when the cassette is not inserted into a recording/playback machine.
It is a general object of the present invention to provide a magnetic tape cassette in which the costs of production are greatly reduced as compared with conventional cassette constructions. Another and more specific object of the present invention is to provide a video tape cassette that is particularly well adapted for limited-use and disposable applications such as direct mail advertisement. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic tape cassette, particularly a video tape cassette, that exhibits improved performance in operation in terms of reducing video dropouts during recording and/or playback.

Magnetic tape cassette with motion limiting fingers


A method of determining a telephony network node for routing a call is disclosed. The method includes receiving a call request at a service provider node, the call request including a called number to reach a called party. The method further includes sending a combined telephone number mapping (ENUM) and local number portability (LNP) query from the service provider node to a remote ENUM database, the combined ENUM/LNP query including the called number. The method further includes receiving a response to the combined ENUM/LNP query at the service provider node. The response includes one of an internet protocol address that identifies a node of an internet protocol network, a local routing number (LRN) to be used to route the call to a uniquely identified switching node of a circuit-switched network, or a return of the called number to indicate that the called number can be used to route the call to the called party.

With certain conventional communication systems, the detection of Internet protocol (IP) terminating end points and ported public switch telephone network (PSTN) endpoints involves two separate process steps and two separate transactions within a telephony system. The detection of IP addresses involves a telephone number mapping (ENUM) query and ported number detection involves a local number portability (LNP) query. The two separate transactions and separate queries increases the cost and adds to latency of the call setup process. The increased cost and call latency may also impact call processing performance.
Thus, there is a need for an improved method and system of routing calls with respect to terminating end points.

Communication system and method of routing calls to a terminating end point


A chair, which has a cylinder for controlling the configuration of a chair or the seat height of a chair, is operated by a flexible cable. The flexible cable is attached to an adjustment member that is not fixedly attached to the cylinder, thereby permitting the cylinder to be replaced without replacing the adjustment member.

Many chairs that are used in commercial environments, such as office chairs, have a height adjustment mechanism for permitting the height of the chair to be raised or lowered to accommodate a user. Typically, the height adjustment mechanism includes a cylinder, such as a pneumatic cylinder (also known in the industry as a gas damper). By opening a valve in the cylinder, the height of the seat, with respect to the floor engaging portion of the chair, may be adjusted.
Many such chairs also have a seat tilt and/or a back tilt mechanism. Accordingly, the inclination of the seat and/or the inclination of the back rest may be adjusted. In some cases, synchronous tilt mechanisms are used, whereby the adjustment of the angle of the backrest occurs concurrently with the adjustment of the inclination of the seat. These adjustment mechanisms may also utilize a telescoping cylinder.
Mechanisms to adjust the height of a seat, the angle of inclination of a seat and the angle of the inclination of a backrest using a Bowden cable that is actuated by a push button are known. See for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,577,804 and 6,019,429 by the applicant.
From time to time, a cylinder may be damaged during use, or a seal may fail. In such cases, the cylinder must be replaced if the chair is to maintain its functionality.

Method for replacing a telescoping cylinder in a reconfigurable chair

Global Total Office an Ontario Limited Partnership having Global Upholstery Co.Inc. as its General Partner