A method for aligning plurality of imaging systems for capturing images of a receiver medium. An illumination system is used to illuminate the receiver medium with an illumination pattern. First and second imaging systems are used to capture images of the receiver medium, each including at least a portion of the illumination pattern. The first and second images are analyzed to determine a relative position of the illumination pattern in the first and second images. Imaging system alignment parameters for use in aligning images captured with the first and second imaging systems are determined responsive to the determined relative position.

Many printing systems are configured to print on both a front side and a back side of a receiver medium. Typically, a pattern (e.g., an image or text) is printed on the front side of the receiver medium using one portion of the printing system. After transportation of the receiver medium to another portion of the printing system, a second pattern (e.g., an image or text) is printed on the back side of the receiver medium.
As ink is applied to the receiver medium by the printheads of the printing system, it is absorbed by the receiver medium, and typically causes the receiver medium to expand. This expansion occurs in both in-track and cross-track directions, and often varies with position on the receiver medium. Expansion of the receiver medium often adversely affects the alignment of the receiver medium relative to the media transport of the printing system, which can lead to a reduction in print quality. Additionally, the absorption of ink by the receiver medium, often in combination with the environment in which the printing system is operated (e.g., temperature or humidity conditions), often causes the receiver medium to stretch during printing which can lead to a further reduction in print quality.
In order to achieve an acceptable level of print quality, patterns printed, for example, on the front side of a receiver medium should be properly registered with patterns printed on the back side of the receiver medium.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,295,223 to Jung, entitled "Method and apparatus for adjusting an image alignment for an image forming apparatus," describes a method for adjusting image alignment in a printer that uses thermal printed heads to print on both sides of a medium. A first printed pattern on the first side of the medium and a second printed pattern on the second side of the medium are detected by sensor. A position deviation is determined and used to adjust print zone positions.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,394,475 to Bradley et al., entitled "Apparatus, system, and method for image registration," describes a method of print registration which involves printing first and second registration marks. A sensor module detects registration by detecting the light transition as the first registration mark passes a first optical channel module and as the second registration mark passes a second optical channel module. In some configurations, the first and second registration marks are printed on opposite sides of the page.
U.S. Patent Application Publication 2010/0329756 to Mizes, entitled "Duplex web printer system registration technique," describes a method for registering images printed on opposite sides of a receiver. Registration marks are printed on both sides of the receiver. A sensor on one side of the receiver is used to detect both sets of marks by transmitting light through the receiver.
Commonly-assigned U.S. Patent Application Publication 2013/0050329 to Duke et al., entitled "Registering patterns on multiple media sides," and related U.S. Patent Application Publication 2013/0050763 to Duke et al., entitled "Multiple sided media pattern registration system," describe a method for aligning patterns printed on both sides of a receiver. A first camera is positioned to capture an image of a first side of the media including a first printed pattern, and a second camera is positioned to capture an image of a second side of the media including a second printed pattern. A two-sided fiducial is provided adjacent to an edge of the media within the field-of-view of both cameras. Locations of the fiducial are detected in the captured images and used to define a fiducial origin in each of the images. The locations of the printed patterns are determined in each image relative to the fiducial origins, and are used to adjust the registration of subsequently printed images. This approach has the disadvantage that it requires hardware to reposition the cameras, or it requires some of the fields-of-view of the cameras to be devoted to imaging regions outside of the printed media.
There remains an ongoing need to improve the registration of patterns printed by printing systems.


A method of using sodium or potassium borohydride to reduce dehydrated, aldehyde treated biological tissues is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: providing the tissue, such as porcine heart valves or bovine pericardium; treating the tissue with an aldehyde, such as glutaraldehyde; dehydrating the tissue, for example by treatment with an anhydrous polar organic solvent such as ethanol; and, treating the tissue with sodium or potassium borohydride. Following reduction, the sodium borohydride may be extracted from the tissue with an organic solvent, such as ethanol. The tissue may be rehydrated for use in bioprosthetic implants such as heart valves and pericardial patches.

Treatment of biological tissues with glutaraldehyde is a preferred method for manufacturing bioprosthetic implants. Glutaraldehyde forms cross-links and polymers with a variety of matrix components of biological tissues, rendering these tissues less immunogenic when implanted in a living host. Glutaraldehyde cross-linking also alters the mechanical properties of biological tissues.
Glutaraldehyde cross-linked porcine heart valves and bovine pericardial tissues have been used as material for bioprosthetic human heart valves. Glutaraldehyde treated blood vessels and pericardial patches have also been used in other applications.
Glutaraldehyde treated biological tissues, especially porcine heart valves and bovine pericardial tissues, have been used as materials for bioprosthetic heart valves for more than 20 years. It has become evident that calcification of the glutaraldehyde treated bioprosthetic heart valves has been a major cause of long term device failure.
The exact mechanism underlying the calcification of glutaraldehyde treated heart valves is not known. It has been suggested that the toxicity of the glutaraldehyde polymers or the breakdown products of the glutaraldehyde polymers cause the death of connective tissue cells arriving at the implant site. The remnants of these dead cells may then act as nidi for the nitiation of calcificaiton. The toxicity of the glutaraldehyde polymers which leach out to tissue surrounding a glutaraldehyde cross-linked bio-implant may, through a similar mechanism, further complicate the integration of the implant into the host tissue. The free aldehyde groups of the glutaraldehyde polymers may contribute to the toxicity of the polymers.
A variety of approaches have been taken to counteract calcification of glutaraldehyde treated implants. For example, aldehyde treated tissues have been reacted with polyols (U.S. Pat. No. 5,476,516, issued to Seitter et al., 19 Dec. 1995), treated with alipathic carboxylic acids (U.S. Pat. No. 4,976,733 issued to Girardot 11 Dec, 1990) treated with partially degraded heparin (U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,587 issued to Chanda et al. 8 Jul. 1997), treated with sodium dodecyl sulfate (U.S. Pat. No. 4,323,358 issued to Lentz et al. 6 Apr. 1982), treated with polysaccharides, disphsphonates or phosphoproteins (U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,405 to Nimni 14 Apr. 1992), impregnated with ferric or stannic salts (U.S. Pat. No. 5,002,566 to Carpentier et al. 26 Mar. 1991), and treated with trivalent aluminum cations (U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,661 to Levy et al. 10 Mar. 1992).
Sodium borohydride in aqueous solution is a known reducing agent. Sodium borohydride in solution has previously been used as a reducing agent to treat glutaraldehyde fixed tissues. U.S. Pat. No. 4, 553,974 issued to Dewanjee on 19 Nov. 1985 discloses a process for treatment of glutaraldehyde fixed tissue with a calcification inhibiting agent, and then reducing the tissue with sodium borohydride. The calcification inhibiting agent contains reactive amino groups that bond to free reactive groups in the fixed tissue. Dewanjee '974 discloses a variety of amino diphosphonate compounds as effective calcification inhibiting agents (as do U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,296,583 and 5,436,291 issued to Levy et al. on 22 Mar. 1994 and 25 Jul. 1995 respectively). Dewanjee '974 teaches that a solution of sodium borohydride may be used to stabilize the bonding of such amino diphosphonates and glutaraldehyde to protein molecules.
Chen et al. ("Effect of 2-amino oleic acid exposure conditions on the inhibition of calcification of glutaraldehyde cross-linked porcine aortic valves" Journal of Biomedical Materials Research, Vol. 28, 1485-1495 (1994)) teach that the use of a sodium borohydride solution alone to treat glutaraldehyde fixed aortic tissues is not effective to reduce calcification in the rat subdermal implant model. In fact, when used on aortic wall tissue, the sodium borohydride treatment resulted in increased calcification compared to controls with no treatment.

Borohydride reduction of biological tissues


The method and apparatus includes an uninterruptible power supply along with its rechargeable battery and a plurality of video protection circuits all within a common chassis. The video protection circuits are configured to protect the digital video recorder from surges introduced at the video cameras or cabling. The uninterruptible power supply is configured to provide power to the digital video recorder should a line voltage power failure occur and may also include a surge protector to further protect the digital video recorder from power line surges. Since all components are housed substantially within a common chassis, a method of isolating the video protection circuit and associated connectors from the radio frequency noise within the common chassis is described as well as a method and apparatus to allow removal and replacement of the video protection circuits should a power surge destroy them.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for protecting various components of a digital video recording system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Video monitoring systems often utilize a number of remotely located video cameras connected to one or more video recorders, perhaps such cameras are located in key locations to monitor various locations, grounds or entry ways to businesses and homes. These remotely located video cameras are most often connected to a video recorder or video switching system by, for example, coaxial cables that include a signal path and a ground/shield. Unfortunately, since video often operates at relatively low voltages, the video recorder is susceptible to unusual line conditions such as surges resulting in over-voltage or over-current conditions. If the camera or cabling is exposed to such a surge in electricity, that electricity may flow down the coaxial cable and may damage the video switching system and/or the video recorder. This may arise during an electrical storm, especially if lightning strikes near or at the video camera. Furthermore, voltage fluctuations, surges and other line variations may travel into a building over phone lines, data lines and/or power lines with the potential to damage the recorder and/or video switching system. In addition, it is possible to lose power to the recorder/switching system, which may impact the ability of the video recorder to monitor the remote video cameras.
In the past, several discrete products protected these recording/switching systems. Power to the recording/switching system may have been conditioned by a surge protector to reduce the risk of power surges emanating from building power. Additionally, to provide power to the recording/switching system in the event of a power outage or shortage, an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) may have been used, perhaps a UPS with an integrated surge protector. In addition, another system comprising one or more video surge protectors may have been added to help protect the video recorder from surges emanating from the video cameras or the cabling that connects the cameras to the video recorder. Additionally, if network connections or phone connections are made to the video recorder, discrete network surge protectors and phone line protectors may have been deployed.
What is needed is an integrated system to protect the video monitoring system from external power surges, electrostatic discharge, lightning and other hazardous forces, while providing back-up power to the monitoring system in the event of a power outage.

Method and apparatus for protecting a digital video recorder


Described herein is a system, methods, processes and nutrient-rich products-by-process, which are generated by the conversion of winery derivatives into nutrient-rich products in an ecological manner. Integration of this system into a winery assists the winery to manage its previously-considered waste nutrient-rich products in an ecological manner, which can also optionally provide them with a novel revenue stream. The system, methods, and processes are used to convert winemaking derivatives into bioactive nutrient-rich products comprising antioxidants and other bioactive molecules that reside within the marc and lees. These nutrient-rich products can be used as natural flavour, texture and color enhancers, in addition to nutritional ingredients to fortify processed foods and consumer recipes. They can also be used as health supplements and in the cosmetic industry.

The winemaking industry produces millions of tons of leftovers and residues, which represent an ecological and economical waste management issue for the wineries. The leftovers and residues include organic wastes, inorganic wastes, wastewater, and emission of greenhouse gases (CO2, volatile organic compounds, etc.) Due to growing issues around groundwater and soil contamination, wineries send most of it to the landfill, costing the winery fees for bin drop-off, removal, haulage and tipping fees in addition to winery management costs. Addressing these issues in an appropriate manner places a financial burden on most of the wineries, especially the smaller ones.
One resource often used by winemaking industry is the intermediate bulk container (IBC), which are also known as an IBC tote, IBC tank, IBC, or pallet tank. IBCs are ideal for storing and transporting nutrient-rich products such as liquids, semi-solids, pastes, solvents, or granulate substances (food, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, etc.) in large quantities. The concept of the IBC was patented in 1993, and is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,260,414, of which there are two main categories: flexible IBCs and rigid IBCs.
Rigid IBCs are stackable, reusable, versatile containers with an integrated pallet base mount that provides forklift and/or pallet jack maneuverability. Most IBCs are cube-shaped and this cube-shaped engineering contributes to the packaging, stacking, storing, shipping, and overall space efficiency of intermediate bulk containers. Almost all rigid IBCs are designed so they can be stacked vertically one atop the other using a forklift.
The support structure/containers can be made from metal (stainless steel), plastic (high-density polyethylene), or a composite construction (galvanized steel and plastic) of the two materials. The IBC tank can be made of plastic, stainless steel, and carbon steel tanks The IBC tank capacities generally used are often 1,040 and 1,250 litres (275 and 330 US gal).
The most widely utilized and known IBC is the limited re-use, caged IBC tote container. Caged IBC totes are composite intermediate bulk containers—a white/translucent plastic container (typically high-density polyethylene) contained and protected by a tubular galvanized steel grid, common. Most have a built-in tap (valve, spigot, or faucet) at the base of the container to which hoses can be attached, or through which the contents can be poured into smaller containers.
The winemaking process generates two major residues, which can be harvested. The major residues from the winemaking process after the de-stemming and crush steps are known as derivatives. Derivatives comprise grape marc (pomace) and lees. For every two bottles of wine made, typically the equivalent of one bottle of derivatives is produced. Winery derivatives comprise: [0009] a) marc (pomace) consisting of grape skin, grape pulp and grape seed derived from varietal grapes, which have been crushed and pressed as part of the winemaking process; and [0010] b) lees consisting of spent wine yeast, tartaric acid, grape skin pigment and grape pulp sediment, which have been extruded from the wine after fermentation and again after aging.
Grape marc provides substantial nutritional potential as supplements and to fortify food. For example, 15 grams (.about.1 tbsp.) of powdered derivative may contain up to 900 mg of phenols, 150 mg of tannins (catechin), 2000 mg of protein, 180 mg of potassium, 120 mg of magnesium, 4 mg of iron, 4% DV of riboflavin, 125% DV of vitamin E and 3% DV of vitamin K).
In general, wine lees is residue that forms at the bottom of wine containers consisting of: 1) first and second-fermentation lees, which are formed during the alcoholic and malolactic fermentations, respectively (herein, lees); 2) during storage or after treatments (herein, first-rack lees); and 3) aging wine lees formed during wine aging in wood barrels collected after the filtration or centrifugation of the wine (herein, second-rack lees), The main characteristics of wine lees are acidic pH (between 3 and 6), a chemical oxygen demand above 30,000 mg/L, potassium levels around 2500 mg/L, and phenolic compounds in amounts up to 1000 mg/L Approximately 30% of red wine lees are protein that is produced from yeast cell wall material, which contains 30-60% 3-b-D-glucan in dry weight.
Derivatives are used in livestock and poultry feed to extend the shelf-life of milk, dairy by-nutrient-rich products, and meat. There is extensive research on the anti-microbial benefits as a replacement for antibiotics for poultry and livestock. There is even research showing that it can cut bovine methane emissions by 30%
Although there is an identified market for these derivatives, the current processes used to transform it into shelf-stable nutrient-rich products creates a carbon footprint, is prohibitively expensive and causes significant loss in the quality in the derivatives.
The extraction of useful nutrient-rich products from wine derivatives is known in the art. However, most of these processes seek to isolate a specific compound, require multiple steps, and/or require drying the nutrient-rich product into a powder that can be easily sold in capsule, tablet, powder form, etc. Drying the nutrient-rich product and/or using chemical processes to isolate nutrient-rich products therefrom can diminish the bioavailability of the biomolecules desired in the final nutrient-rich products.
It is widely recognized that the nutrient value of foods has been diminishing since at least the 1950's, such that a need has developed for cost effective strategies to fortifying foods in the food supply, incorporating the resources of a winery to make adaptation easily accessible for the business.
There is tremendous value in monetizing these derivatives. The issue today is economics; finding a cost-effective way to process derivatives in an ecological manner, without losing flavour and nutrition.

System, method, process and nutrient-rich product derived from wine derivatives


A wedge plate inserter/impactor instrument is provided primarily for holding, inserting, repositioning, removing, impacting, extracting, and otherwise manipulating an artificial intervertebral disc having features suitable for being manipulated thereby. A spring-loaded holding pin of the instrument can be used to engage a corresponding hole on the disc and confront the angled surfaces of the disc to enable the holding and manipulation of the disc. A forward wedge extension of the inserter/impactor has upper and lower surfaces that engage inwardly facing surfaces of the disc to hold the baseplates of the disc at a preferred lordosis angle with respect to one another. The instrument can engage the disc from a variety of surgical approach angles.

The bones and connective tissue of an adult human spinal column consists of more than twenty discrete bones coupled sequentially to one another by a tri-joint complex that consists of an anterior disc and the two posterior facet joints, the anterior discs of adjacent bones being cushioned by cartilage spacers referred to as intervertebral discs. These more than twenty bones are anatomically categorized as being members of one of four classifications: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, or sacral. The cervical portion of the spine, which comprises the top of the spine, up to the base of the skull, includes the first seven vertebrae. The intermediate twelve bones are the thoracic vertebrae, and connect to the lower spine comprising the five lumbar vertebrae. The base of the spine is the sacral bones (including the coccyx). The component bones of the cervical spine are generally smaller than those of the thoracic spine, which are in turn smaller than those of the lumbar region. The sacral region connects laterally to the pelvis. While the sacral region is an integral part of the spine, for the purposes of fusion surgeries and for this disclosure, the word spine shall refer only to the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions.
The spinal column is highly complex in that it includes these more than twenty bones coupled to one another, housing and protecting critical elements of the nervous system having innumerable peripheral nerves and circulatory bodies in close proximity. In spite of these complications, the spine is a highly flexible structure, capable of a high degree of curvature and twist in nearly every direction.
Genetic or developmental irregularities, trauma, chronic stress, tumors, and degenerative wear are a few of the causes that can result in spinal pathologies for which surgical intervention may be necessary. With respect to the failure of the intervertebral disc, and the insertion of implants and/or height restorative devices, several methods and devices have been disclosed in the prior art that achieve immobilization and/or fusion of adjacent bones by implanting artificial assemblies in or on the spinal column. More recently, the development of non-fusion implant devices, which purport to permit continued natural movement in the tri-joint complex, have provided great promise as a preferably alternative to fusion devices. The region of the back that needs to be corrected, as well as the individual variations in anatomy, determine the appropriate surgical protocol and implantation assembly. Generally, the preparation of the intervertebral space for the receipt of fusion or non-fusion devices involves removing the damaged disc material and thereafter distracting the adjacent vertebral bones to their appropriate distance apart. Once the proper height of the intervertebral space is restored, the fusion or non-fusion device can be implanted.
It is an object of the invention to provide instrumentation and methods that enable surgeons to more accurately, easily, and efficiently implant fusion or non-fusion devices. Other objects of the invention not explicitly stated will be set forth and will be more clearly understood in conjunction with the descriptions of the preferred embodiments disclosed hereafter.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Wedge plate inserter/impactor and related methods for use in implanting an artificial intervertebral disc


A trailer and a method for loading a trailer onto a transport vehicle. The trailer is elevated, causing a rear axle assembly of the trailer to pivot from a forward position to a position that is generally normal to the trailer frame. A front wheel axle assembly is rotated upwardly, and the trailer is then subsequently slid/or pushed along a generally planar bed surface of the transport vehicle. The end of the bed surface contacts the rear axle assembly during the sliding process, and with continuing sliding the rear axle assembly moves from a normal position to a rearward position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a trailer and a method. More specifically, the present invention provides for a trailer and a method for loading and unloading a trailer from a transport vehicle. The trailer may be employed for any purpose, such as for supporting farm equipment (e.g. combines, etc.) or for any other purpose readily discernible to those skilled in the art.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Trailers with frames to haul headers have been produced and used for many years. In the past headers were towed on trailers behind trucks. However, now harvesters need to tow grain trailers with the header and trailer inside the grain trailer because of the change in the way harvesting equipment is transported. This eliminates the need for an extra truck to tow the header on a header trailer. What is needed and what has been invented is an improved trailer and improved method for loading the trailer onto a transport vehicle.


An indoor unit and an air conditioning system using the same include a first communication module to communicate with a wired remote controller, a power switch connected to a power terminal of one or the other side of the first communication module, a ground switch connected to a ground terminal of one or the other side of the first communication module to constitute a pair with the power switch, and an indoor unit controller to turn on the power switch and the ground switch when an indoor unit supplies power to the wired remote controller, and to turn off the power switch and the ground switch when another indoor unit supplies power to the wired remote controller.

1. Field
One or more embodiments relate to an indoor unit and an air conditioning system using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A general air conditioner is a device for heating or cooling an indoor space, which circulates a refrigerant between an indoor unit and an outdoor unit to perform a cooling or heating function based on characteristics whereby a refrigerant in a liquid state absorbs surrounding heat when vaporized and emits the heat when liquefied.
In general, with regard to a typical air conditioner, one indoor unit is installed with respect to one outdoor unit. Recently, consumer demand for a system air conditioner, in which various indoor units with various shapes and capacities are connected to one or more outdoor units to perform a cooling or heating function in a place containing a plurality of separate spaces, such as in a school, a company, or a hospital, has increased.
The system air conditioner includes, for example, one outdoor unit and a plurality of indoor units and is configured in such a way that a direct current (DC) power line, a communication line, etc. are connected between the outdoor unit and each indoor unit such that the outdoor unit and each indoor unit communicate with each other.

Indoor unit and air conditioning system using the same


A power semiconductor device comprises a first substrate that is highly doped with a first dopant type, the first substrate having a front face and a back face, the back face forming a backside of the device, a vertical p-type FET and a vertical n-type FET provided laterally adjacent to each other on the front face of the first substrate, wherein one of the FETs has a first drift zone with a complementary doping to the first dopant of the first substrate, and wherein the p-type FET and the n-type FET share the first substrate as a common backside, and wherein a region between the first drift zone and the first substrate comprises a highly conductive structure providing a low ohmic connection between the first drift zone and the first substrate. Further, a method for producing such a device is provided.

Field effect transistors (FETs) are included in semiconductor chips for a vast variety of semiconductor device applications. For example, in motor drivers, DC-converters and rectifiers, FETs are used as semiconductor switches in a half-bridge configuration that includes a low-side switch and a high-side switch. In view of further developments of these applications, there is a need for increasing the integration level while ensuring appropriate device characteristics.
These solutions are frequently construed with discrete chips having a low-side switch and a high-side switch with a charge pump, or with discrete components in a common housing. In the case of variants with discrete chips, the leakage inductance is frequently disadvantageously high due to the relatively long connections, which causes high switching losses. Integrated discrete chips in a common housing reduce this problem, however, there is still a need for a further reduction of the leakage inductance.
It is common to build a half bridge employing an n-channel MOSFET as a low-side switch and a p-channel MOSFET or n-channel MOSFET with a charge pump as the high-side switch. If the bridge is built into in a common housing, the power switches, in the case of two n-channel transistors in the BE, have to be bonded separately onto the leadframe. This leads to increased costs per package.
In the case of a half bridge with a p-MOSFET as the high-side switch, the separation of the leadframe is not necessary, however, two chips require significantly more space and also cause higher costs for the assembly.
For these and other reasons there is a need for the present invention.

Semiconductor device and method for producing the same


A liquid crystal display device includes an upper substrate including an upper polarizer having a first light absorption axis and an upper electrode, a lower substrate including a lower polarizer having a second light absorption axis substantially parallel to the first light absorption axis and a lower electrode, a ferroelectric liquid crystal layer formed on at least one of the upper substrate and the lower substrate, and a nematic system liquid crystal layer formed on the ferroelectric liquid crystal layer between the upper substrate and the lower substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display panel, and more particularly, to a liquid crystal display panel that is adapted for increasing the viewing angle and picture quality in a diagonal direction, and a fabricating method thereof.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display modulates light that is incident to a liquid crystal cell by controlling an electric field applied to the liquid crystal cell, thereby displaying a picture. The liquid crystal display (LCD) device is generally classified into a vertical electric field type LCD and a horizontal electric field type LCD in accordance with the direction of the electric field that drive the liquid crystal.
The vertical electric field type LCD has a pixel electrode and a common electrode that are vertically positioned opposite to each other formed in an upper substrate and a lower substrate, respectively. The opposing electrodes apply an electric field to a liquid crystal cell in a vertical direction by a voltage applied to the electrodes. A twisted nematic (TN) mode is typical of the vertical electric field type LCD and is currently most widely used. Although, the twisted nematic mode has a relatively high aperture ratio, the refractive index of the liquid crystal changes dramatically depending on the viewing angle of the user. Therefore, it is difficult to obtain a wide viewing angle using a vertical electric field type LCD.
An in-plane switching (IPS) mode typical of horizontal electric field type LCDs applies an electric field between electrodes that are formed on the same substrate to drive the liquid crystal molecules. In the IPS mode, as shown in FIG. 1A, there are pixel electrodes 16 and common electrodes 15 formed on a lower glass substrate 18. An electric field 20 is formed in the horizontal direction by a voltage difference applied between the electrodes 15, 16. The liquid crystal molecules 14 are forced to rotate within the surface direction of the substrate by the horizontal electric field 20 to modulate the polarizing component of the light passing through the liquid crystal layer.
In FIG. 1B, polarizers 11 and 19 are formed on the upper glass substrate 12 and the lower glass substrate 18. When looking from the front (i.e., front observation), polarized light absorption axes, or transmission axes 11A,19A in the polarizers 11,19 are perpendicular to each other. The alignment films 13 and 17 are formed on the upper glass substrate 12 and the lower glass substrate 18, respectively. Generally, the alignment films are formed of polyimide and treated to be aligned by rubbing, for example.
In the IPS mode, light transmitted through the liquid crystal layer passes through the upper polarizer 11 if the linear polarized light is changed by the liquid crystal layer. If the polarizing component of the light that passes through the liquid crystal layer is not changed, then the light does not pass through the upper polarizer 11.
In the IPS mode, the electric field generated between pixel electrode 16 and common electrode 15 to be applied to the liquid crystal molecules 14 is bent such that the light switching is not normal to the electrodes 15 and 16. The result is a low aperture ratio in the IPS mode. Further, when an IPS mode LCD device is viewed in a diagonal direction, as shown in FIG. 2 (i.e., oblique observation), the angle of the polarized light absorption axis 11A of the upper polarizer 11 and the polarized light absorption axis 19A of the lower polarizer 19 appears to be greater than 90°. As a result, light leaks out from a black screen because light is not fully polarized. Consequently, contrast is reduced in the diagonal direction. Deterioration of contrast in the diagonal direction can be seen in FIG. 3, which shows an experimental result of the viewing angle characteristics of the in-plane switching mode. As shown in FIG. 3, there is almost no light leakage during front observation, i.e., when the observer is at right angles with the screen (blue). However, light leakage occurs in the diagonal direction when the angle between the polarized light absorption axes 11A and 19A is greater than 90° (baby blue, green, yellow, red).

Fabricating method of a liquid crystal display device comprising rubbing direction of alignment film substantially the same as the light absorption axis


A novel organic material with fewer impurities, a light-emitting element including the organic material, and a light-emitting device, an electronic appliance, and a lighting device each of which includes the light-emitting element are provided. The organic material is obtained by coupling an aryl halide and an aryl boronic acid or an aryl boronic acid ester. The aryl boronic acid or the aryl boronic acid ester includes at least one of a first impurity in which a boryl group of the aryl boronic acid or the aryl boronic acid ester is substituted by hydrogen and a second impurity in which a molecular mass of 16 or 17 is added to the molecular mass of the first impurity. The concentration of an impurity other than the first impurity and the second impurity is 1% or lower.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an organic material and a light-emitting element using the organic material. The present invention also relates to a light-emitting device, an electronic appliance, and a lighting device each of which includes the light-emitting element.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, research and development have been actively conducted on light-emitting elements utilizing electroluminescence (EL). In a basic structure of such a light-emitting element, a layer including a substance having a light-emitting property is interposed between a pair of electrodes. By applying voltage to this element, light emission can be obtained from the substance having a light-emitting property.
An organic compound is mainly used as an EL material for an EL layer in a light-emitting element and greatly contributes to an improvement in the characteristics of the light-emitting element. For this reason, a variety of novel organic compounds have been developed (e.g., Patent Document 1).    [Patent Document 1] Japanese Published Patent Application No. 2011-201869

Organic material, light-emitting element, light-emitting device, electronic appliance, and lighting device

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


The testing device is mounted on a portable stand so that it is easily placed near the aircraft engine to be tested. A source of pressure air is further required for the testing device. A portable source or a shop source is sufficient. The testing device has an output hose connected to a selected port for testing a gear box, sump, etc. The air pressure is adjusted going into the selected port and then the flow of air is measured. The reading obtained therefrom is then compared to a predetermined standard for that particular section to determine if there is a problem therein. If the problem is detected then corrective action is taken to eliminated the problem. This procedure is applied to as many ports as necessary to find the oil pressure problem.

The present invention relates to aircraft jet engines, and, in particular, relates a testing device to determine the location of oil flow problems.
Presently, aircraft jet engines, like other engines using oil as a lubricant, only have one detector for sensing oil pressure problems whether low or high. As a result, it is not possible to locate the area where the problem is occurring. There may be multiple sumps and gear boxes, etc. Thus in the past, if a problem was detected, the whole engine is removed for repair and each particular area was inspected to determine the source of the problem. A filter screen may be blocked with material, a gear badly worn or a bearing badly worn. This process is very time consuming in that the whole engine had to be removed from the aircraft and then taken down section by section for inspection.
Thus, there exists a need for a testing device for locating oil flow problems in jet engines.

Testing device for oil flow problems in jet engines

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force


A propellant cross-feed system of the present invention for use with a two-stage rocket. The rocket (or reusable launch vehicle) includes a booster and an orbiter. The booster includes a booster propellant tank that is connected to a booster engine by a booster feed line. The orbiter includes an orbiter propellant tank that is connected to an orbiter engine by an orbiter feed line. Each propellant tank supplies propellant through its respective feed line to its respective engine. The cross-feed system includes a cross-feed line that connects the booster feed line to the orbiter feed line, thereby allowing propellant flow from the booster tank to the orbiter engine for parallel (simultaneous) engine burn. Cross-feed propellant flow is managed by a low pressure, cross-feed check valve that is responsive to propellant flow rate changes that occur as a result of the motorized operation of a switch-over valve.

The present invention relates to the use of propellant feed systems in the aerospace field, and more particularly to a system and method of controlling propellant cross-feed between a booster and an orbiter of a two-stage rocket.
Increasing the thrust to weight ratio (T/W) of a rocket (or other type of launch vehicle) can result in a concomitant increase in the payload capability, or performance, of the rocket. In general, the thrust to weight ratio of the rocket may be increased by decreasing the weight of the rocket and/or increasing the thrust of the rocket. Two-stage rockets typically have two-stage propellant burn, a booster stage and a continuing (orbiter) stage. The booster stage is generally provided by a booster that includes booster engines that are connected to a booster tank using a booster feed line. Similarly, the orbiter stage is typically provided by an orbiter that includes orbiter engines that are connected to an orbiter tank using an orbiter feed line. Each engine is fed propellant for combustion from its respective tank and through its prospective feed line. During launch, the booster bums during the first, booster stage until a disconnect sequence is initiated. Then, the orbiter ignites and separates from the booster to begin the continuing stage, burning until the orbiter reaches orbit.
For the typical two-stage rocket, much of the thrust of the booster is devoted to supporting the weight of the vehicle. As the early trajectory of the rocket is nearly vertical to the Earth""s surface, the weight of the vehicle results in significant gravity losses. Increasing the T/W well above 1.0 minimizes the effect of such gravity losses until the rocket is in a flight path more nearly horizontal to the Earth""s surface. Once in a more horizontal trajectory, the thrust of the orbiter may be more effectively used to increase velocity rather than fight gravity. Additional booster engines, or larger booster engines, could increase the amount of thrust available but are generally undesirable due to the cost and additional weight of the engines.
A cross-feed system used with the two-stage rocket can significantly increase payload capacity by xe2x80x9cborrowingxe2x80x9d the orbiter engine to increase the T/W during the boost phase using propellant supplied from the booster. Conventional propellant cross-feed systems include a cross-feed line connecting the booster and orbiter feed lines. The cross-feed system allows both the booster and orbiter engines to burn simultaneously during the booster stage so as to increase thrust. The additional thrust allows the orbiter to overcome gravity losses that are incurred during the early flight period. The borrowed orbiter engine is transferred back to the orbiter near the end of the boost phase. The still-firing orbiter engine propels the orbiter back into orbit using propellant from the orbiter tanks. Advantageously, the propellant cross-feed system promotes a more efficient overall use of propellant as the more efficient orbiter engines burn for the longest time. A more efficient use of propellant reduces the amount of propellant that must be carried by the rocket, thereby reducing the weight of the rocket.
Some cross-feed systems include several motorized valves that facilitate the transition from cross-feed to continuing stage operation. In one prior art system, the cross-feed system includes a cross-feed line having a motorized closing valve and an open-latched, swing pivot valve. Also, the orbiter feed line includes a second motorized valve for controlling propellant supply to the continuing engine. The latched open swing pivot valve is on the orbiter side and when unlatched will close off to seal the cross-feed line for separation. The two motorized valves of the cross-feed system allow the engines to consume propellant from only the booster tanks during the first part of the ascent mission. However, the motorized valves must be stringently timed and sequenced to avoid significant propellant flow back to the booster and to avoid starving the orbiter engine(s) during the transition phase. Such timing or sequencing requirements may pose reliability problems. In addition, the more complex, moving parts a system has, the greater the chance of reliability problems. Reliability is a highly sought-after feature in aerospace applications.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to have a propellant cross-feed system that increases the performance of a rocket by increasing the thrust-to-weight ratio. It would be further advantageous to have a propellant cross-feed system with fewer moving or complex parts and therefore a higher reliability. It would also be advantageous, if the propellant cross-feed system minimized timing and sequencing problems.
The present invention addresses the above needs and achieves other advantages by providing a propellant cross-feed system and method for supplying a propellant which is burned by a booster and orbiter engines of a rocket. The cross-feed system includes a cross-feed line connecting a booster supply line for supplying propellant to the booster engine and an orbiter supply line for supplying propellant to the orbiter engine. The cross-feed line allows propellant to flow from the booster supply line to the orbiter supply line. Propellant flow to the orbiter supply line allows the orbiter engines to burn in parallel with the booster stage engines. Backflow of propellant from the orbiter to the booster is limited by a low pressure drop check valve that closes when pressure in the orbiter line is higher than the booster line. The flow of propellant in the orbiter line is controlled by a motorized switch-over valve that opens slowly during the process of switching over from the booster stage to the continuing stage. As the flow in the orbiter line is increased, the pressure at the orbiter end of the cross-feed line also increases, causing the low pressure drop check valve to progressively close. Advantageously then, the low pressure drop check valve responds to control of the switch-over valve, obviating the need for complex valve control and sequencing schemes.
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a two-stage rocket having a booster and an orbiter, the two-stage rocket also having a propellant cross-feed system capable of supplying propellant simultaneously to both the booster and the orbiter. The rocket includes a booster and orbiter propellant tanks each capable of containing a reservoir of propellant. The booster and orbiter engines are each capable of burning the propellant and producing thrust. The rocket further includes a booster supply line connecting in fluid communication the booster propellant tank to the booster engine. The booster supply line supplies the propellant at a flow rate to the booster engine. An orbiter supply line connects in fluid communication the orbiter propellant tank to the orbiter engine. The orbiter supply line supplies the propellant at a flow rate to the orbiter engine. The rocket also includes a cross-feed system. The cross-feed system includes a switch-over valve connected to the orbiter supply line. The switch-over valve controls the flow rate of the propellant in the orbiter supply line. The cross-feed system also includes a cross-feed line connecting the booster supply line and the orbiter supply line in fluid communication. The cross-feed line has a first pressure at its booster end and a second pressure at its orbiter end. The cross-feed line includes a low pressure drop check valve configured to begin closing as the second pressure exceeds the first pressure. An increase in the flow rate of the propellant in the orbiter supply line by the switch-over valve results in an increase of the second pressure so as to begin closing the low pressure drop valve. Closing of the low pressure drop check valve inhibits the flow of the propellant from the orbiter supply line to the booster supply line.
In another embodiment, the low pressure drop check valve is a swing check valve. The swing check valve can be oriented so that gravity closes the valve during non-operating periods. In another aspect, the swing check valve is partially counterbalanced so as to be responsive to low pressure changes. A stop may be positioned near the swing check valve so as to prevent the swing check valve from fluttering when opened. Alternatively, the low pressure drop check valve may be a flapper check valve, or some type of check valve other than a swing check valve.
In another embodiment, the switch-over valve is a motorized valve that is closed during ground operations, and remains closed until near the end of the boost phase. The motorized valve operates slowly, with a traverse time on the order of about 5 seconds. Opening of the switch-over valve is initiated by a liquid level sensor in the booster propellant tank that signals propellant is nearing depletion.
In yet another embodiment, the cross-feed line includes a pair of separation disconnect valves and a pair of redundant shutoff valves. The swing check valve includes a closing switch positioned to be activated when the swing check valve is in the closed position. The closing switch activates closure of the redundant shutoff valves. A thrust termination signal from the booster causes closure of the separation disconnect valve and physical separation of the booster from the orbiter.
The present invention has several advantages. By maximizing propellant usage, the propellant cross-feed system can result in a rocket launch vehicle weight reduction on the order of 25% for a given payload weight. Alternatively, maximizing propellant usage allows an existing rocket launch vehicle to carry a heavier payload. The cross-feed system provides a steady flow of propellant to the orbiter engine through all phases of the flight from liftoff to orbiter shutdown. The operation of the propellant cross-feed system ensures that the orbiter propellant tank is nearly full after detachment from the booster, thereby enabling efficient use of the orbiter propellant. The cross-feed system and operation are relatively simple, which contributes to the high reliability required for rocket launch vehicles. Automatic closure of the of the low pressure drop check valve in response to increasing flow through the switch-over valve eliminates the need for the complex control of sequencing and timing typically required in systems with multiple motor-operated valves. The relatively slow opening speed of the. switch-over valve minimizes waterhammer effects as the orbiter engine flow is transitioned from the booster tank to the orbiter tank. Also, inasmuch as the flow through the cross-feed line is essentially zero when the switch in the check valve activates the redundant shutoff valves, rapid closure of the redundant shutoff valves will not generate any waterhammer effects.


A kickstand to be affixed to a back surface of a mobile device or cell phone has a base with an adhesive layer to adhere the base to the back surface of the mobile device. An elongated slot is disposed in the base and has a pair of bores in the slot. An arm is pivotally coupled to the base and disposable in the elongated slot and has an axel with a pair of distal ends each disposed in a different one of the pair of bores. The pair of distal ends of the axel is bifurcated to form a pair of fingers such that the pair of fingers press outwardly against a wall of the pair of bores.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a kickstand addable to a mobile device, such as a cellular phone.
2. Related Art
Mobile devices, such as cellular phones and tablet computers, are often utilized to view media. It can be tiring to hold the device for extended periods. In addition, it can be inconvenient to prop the device against another object for viewing.
In addition, some devices, such as cellular phones, are often carried by a user. It can be consider inconsiderate or otherwise socially unacceptable to view content on the device in certain situations, such as in a meeting. It can be distracting to reach for and view the device while talking to another person, or while listening to a presenter.

Attachable kickstand with multiple positions for cellular phone


A media distribution system includes a service provider and at least a mobile terminal. The service provider includes at least two district servers which communicate with each other through Internet. The mobile terminal is communicatively linked to at least one of the district servers for wirelessly communicating with a mobile phone of a registered user through a mobile telecommunication network, wherein the service provider forms a communication link for allowing the registered user to obtain a media information from the district server through Internet via the mobile phone of the registered user, wherein the mobile terminal obtains the media information from the district server and transmits the media information to the mobile phone of the registered user through the mobile telecommunication network so as to distribute the media information via the mobile phone of the registered user.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a media distribution system, and more particularly to a media distribution system and a method thereof for mobile communication device, wherein media information can be securely exchanged between a mobile phone and a service provider primarily through a telecommunication network.
2. Description of Related Arts
Sending short messages through telecommunication network has become a normal practice for cellular phone users. In some occasions, sending short messages is a convenient way of exchanging information between two parties in that they do not need to make an actual phone call, thus saving the hassles of dialing numbers, waiting for reply and leaving voice messages when the other party does not answer that phone call. Moreover, when one party wishes to transmit the same message to a plurality of recipients through a telecommunication network, it is perhaps not wise for him to make separate phone calls to each individual recipient. Sending short messages would be his best possible option. As a matter of conventional arts, however, sending messages through telecommunication networks are usually limited to short and simple text messages, presumably because no one has thought of receiving more complicated or confidential information through the telecommunication.
As a result, when people wish to acquire more sophisticated or confidential information when they are traveling (i.e. in outdoor environment), they usually utilize laptop computers rather than mobile phones. A reason for this particular social practice may be that it is more convenient and secure to handle sophisticated information by computers.
While this attitude is understandable, those skilled in the arts have largely ignored a big disadvantage in relation this social practice. In particular, while information technology employed in laptop computers are drastically advancing, no one notices a key issue in relation to outdoor receipt and transmission of information—that laptop computers, though small when compared with their desktop counterparts, are nevertheless bulky and heavy to carry.
There are several relatively minor disadvantages too. First, laptop computers are usually expensive (or at least more expensive than mobile phones) so that they are easy to become a target of thefts. Consequently, users who bring their laptop computers with them while traveling have to pay extra attention to their laptop computers. This can cause great inconvenience to the users of laptop computers. Imagine a familiar situation: when one is traveling alone on a train with his laptop computer, and if he needs to go to restroom, he will have to find a secure place to store his laptop computer or to ask a reliable person to keep it for him temporarily.
Second, laptop computers are usually sophisticated instruments designed for accomplishing complicated tasks which involve more than wirelessly transmitting or receiving information, even information of a sophisticated nature. As a result, when users carry with them wherever they go, their laptop computers have a higher risk of being damaged by other objects or accidentally strong vibration. Here, the bad thing about laptop computers is that they are generally expensive to repair when broken down.
Third, it is easily conceivable that those users who bring their laptop computer for acquiring or sending information while traveling may also wish to carry their mobile phones. This obviously imparts great inconvenience to such users. Moreover, the laptop computers and the mobile phone usually utilize two different kinds of communication networks respectively, the user have to spend a considerable amount of money for separately subscribing the use of these two communication networks.
Fourth, there exist certain occasions where launching a laptop computer is undesirable or physically infeasible. For example, a user may feel very troublesome to launch a laptop computer (which usually takes three to five minutes) when what he wants to do is just to receive and watch a short video clip. The same feeling may also emerge when the user is in a compact area, such as in a restroom.

Media distribution method for mobile communication device


A device for use in a pipeline including a fluid conduit section constructed of a flexible material. The fluid conduit section has a first end, which includes a first mounting arrangement, and a second end, which includes a second mounting arrangement. The fluid conduit section also has a length defined between the first and second ends, an internal diameter, and a fluid passage therethrough to allow fluid to flow from the first to the second end. The device also includes a plurality of longitudinally extending vanes positioned within the fluid conduit section, wherein radially inner edges of the vanes are in direct contact with the radially inner edges of adjacent vanes, and radially outer edges of the vanes contact one of the first and second ends, but are separated from the internal diameter of a remainder of the fluid conduit section, such that a space is defined therebetween.

A known characteristic of fluid flow, such as the flow of liquid in a pipe, is the turbulence of the flow. Turbulence in a pipeline can be created by bends in the pipe run, connections with other pipes, partially opened valves, constrictions in the pipe, as well as moving mechanical devices such as the moving elements of a pump such as a pump rotor, diaphragm, vanes, etc.
Frictional losses and other problems develop as a result of turbulent flow, which problems disappear or diminish as flow becomes more laminar. There are known devices used to reduce turbulence in a fluid flow such as the flow straightening devices shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. Re. 31,258; 3,946,650; 2,929,248; 3,113,593; 3,840,051; 5,307,830; 5,309,946; 5,495,872; 5,762,107; 6,065,498; and 6,145,544.
Devices such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,197,509 and 5,323,661 are known to eliminate or reduce elbow induced turbulence in pipe flows, being positioned upstream of the elbow. These devices actually change a straight flowing stream and impart a rotation to them about the flow axis and upstream of the elbow.
In certain pipe line configurations, fluid control devices such as valves are provided in the pipe line downstream from a pump or other turbulence causing structure such as a pipe elbow. For example, the valve may be a check valve to prevent the reverse flow of fluid when the pump is not operating, the valve may be used to completely pinch off the pipeline to stop the flow of fluid, without shutting off the pump, the valve may be used to throttle the fluid flow through the pipe downstream of the pump as a way of fine tuning or balancing the flow volume to meet different requirements, even though the pump might normally provide a greater flow volume than is desired. Some valves combine two or all three of these features.
When valves of these types are used downstream of a pump, it is standard and customary practice to space the valve 5 to 10 pipe diameters downstream of the pump. This is necessary to allow the turbulence created by the pump to subside, to allow the flow to become more laminar, so that operation of the pump is not hampered, such as excessive forces being applied to a partially closed valve. In situations where the pipe diameter is large, this requires a significant pipe run between the pump and the valve. For example, in the case of a 10 inch diameter pipe, the valve should be spaced 50 to 100 inches from the pump. Oftentimes the space for this length of pipe run is not available.
Therefore, it would be an improvement in the art if a device or arrangement were provided to allow for a shorter pipe length to extend between a pump or other source of turbulence in a fluid flow and a valve or other fluid control device that is negatively affected by turbulent flow.

Device, with vanes, for use within a pipeline, and pipeline arrangement including such device


The present invention relates to an aqueous coating composition containing prior to the reaction between components A) and B). A) 10 to 75 wt. %, based on the solids contents of components A) and C), of at least one dispersion or solution of a polyester polyol containing carboxylate and/or sulphonate groups, having a weight average molecular weight of 1,000 to 40,000, an OH number of 15 to 100 and an acid number of 2 to 40 based on all of the carboxylate, carboxyl and sulphonate groups, PA0 B) an ester-modified polyisocyanate having an average NCO functionality of 2 to 6 and containing 5 to 20 wt. % of ester groups (calculated as C.sub.3 O.sub.2, MW 68), 5 to 18 wt. % of isocyanate groups and 0 to 20 wt. % of chemically incorporated hydrophilic, nonionic groups, wherein the preceding percentages are based on the solids content of the ester modified polyisocyanate and PA0 C) 25 to 90 wt. %, based on the solids contents of components A) and C), of at least one physically drying, aqueous polyurethane dispersion containing carboxylate and/or sulphonate groups,. wherein components A) and B) are present at an NCO/OH equivalent ratio, based on the isocyanate groups of component B) and the hydroxyl groups of component A), of 0.3:1 to 5:1.. The present invention also relates to the coatings prepared from these coating compositions, which have improved resistance to suntan lotion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to aqueous compositions containing an ester-modified polyisocyanate, an aqueous polyester resin containing hydroxy groups and optionally urethane groups, and a physically drying, aqueous polyurethane resin, and to coatings prepared from these aqueous compositions which have improved resistance to suntan lotion.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Aqueous polyurethane coating compositions may be used for coating a wide variety of substrates, both rigid and flexible. One use for these compositions is for coating interior parts on automobiles. The coating compositions are based on a water dispersible polyisocyanate, an aqueous polyester urethane polyol and a physically drying aqueous polyurethane resin. The resulting coatings have what is known as a "soft feel," i.e., a leather-like feel.
When they are applied to interior surfaces, such as instrument panels, airbag covers, arm rests or interior door panels, they provide a soft, more desirable feel to these substrates. One of the disadvantages of these coatings is that they do not possess good suntan lotion resistance, which is one of the requirements of automotive manufacturers. Suntan lotion can penetrate through these coatings and cause delamination of the coating from the substrate.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide improved coating compositions, which have sufficiently improved resistance to suntan lotion to pass the requirements of automotive manufacturers.
This object can be achieved with the coating compositions according to the present invention that are described hereinafter. It has been found that by incorporating ester groups into the polyisocyanate component, the suntan resistance of the resulting coatings can be improved.
It is disclosed in copending application, U.S. Ser. No. 08/666,166, that blends of physically drying (fully reacted) polyurethanes can be added to blends of two-component aqueous polyurethane coating compositions (a mixture of a water dispersible polyisocyanate and an aqueous polyester urethane polyol) to provide long processing times as well as rapid drying at room temperature. These coatings are particularly useful as wood coatings, e.g., for furniture and parquet flooring. However, this application does not disclose that the resistance to suntan lotion could be improved by modifying the polyisocyanate component in accordance with the present invention.

Coatings with improved resistance to suntan lotion


A gas turbine engine rotor includes a hub having a slot. A blade includes a root received in the slot. An under-root area is provided between the root and the fan hub in the slot. A spacer includes first and second portions that cooperate with one another to provide an adjustment feature with discrete height settings. The adjustment feature provides different radial heights of the spacer. The spacer is arranged in the under-root area beneath the root.

This disclosure relates to a gas turbine engine. More particularly, the disclosure relates to an under-root spacer for a space within a fan hub slot and for applying a load to the root.
Gas turbine engines typically include a compressor section, a combustor section and a turbine section. During operation, air is pressurized in the compressor section and is mixed with fuel and burned in the combustor section to generate hot combustion gases. The hot combustion gases are communicated through the turbine section, which extracts energy from the hot combustion gases to power the compressor section and other gas turbine engine loads.
A fan section is driven by the turbine section and includes circumferentially arranged fan blades mounted on a fan hub. Roots of the fan blades are supported within correspondingly shaped slots in the fan hub. A space is provided beneath the root and the bottom of the slot, and the size of this space varies at each circumferential location due to manufacturing tolerances.
Fan blade roots tend to wear from friction during windmill conditions. One type of under-root spacer has been used which is inserted into the space by elastically compressing using a bolted connection. However, this technique may result in load variation between different fan blade circumferential locations, which is undesirable. Consistent loads at each circumferential location are desired to prevent movement within the slot and root wear.

Under-root spacer for gas turbine engine fan blade


A collapsible storage and transport container made of plastic, has a bottom, lengthwise and crosswise side walls that rise vertically from it, opposite one another in pairs, in the operating position, and a top end frame connected with the side walls in articulated manner, in the region of their top edge. The lengthwise side walls are mounted on the bottom and on the end frame, in articulated manner, about longitudinal axes that run parallel to one another and to the plane of the bottom, and can be folded about a center longitudinal axis. The crosswise side walls are structured in one piece, in each instance, and are arranged to pivot about a crosswise axis that is parallel to the plane of the bottom, after a lock has been released, from their upright position into a horizontal collapsed position. The crosswise side walls are mounted to pivot in the region of the bottom, and are provided, at their free top edge, with devices to secure them in place with a positive lock, on the top end frame.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a collapsible storage and transport container made of plastic.
2. The Prior Art
A collapsible storage and transport container is known, for example, from DE 295 00 992 U1. In the container described there, the crosswise side walls are connected with the top end frame in articulated manner, so that when the container is set up, they automatically fall into the upright position, but must then be fastened in place in the bottom region, using force.
Since valuable and/or sensitive goods must sometimes be transported in such containers, particularly in the industrial sector, these containers must also be provided with a security device that prevents the containers from being opened by unauthorized persons.
This is done, in the case of the known container, by means of latches that can be activated counter to a spring force, but these do not necessarily provide protection against manipulation.
Furthermore, the handling of such containers, particularly when collapsing them, is complicated.

Collapsible storage and transport container


A disk brake includes a carrier secured to a fixed part of a vehicle, a rotor fixed to a vehicle wheel, a caliper slidably mounted to the carrier, a pair of inboard and outboard pad assemblies for operative braking coaction with the rotor, and a pair of pad springs adapted to slidably support the inboard and outboard pad assemblies. The carrier includes an inboard member, an outboard member, and a pair of opposite side members each having a pair of opposite guide grooves. The pad springs each include a bridge portion, and a pair of legs depending from opposite ends of the bridge portion. The legs each include a pair of pad guides fit into the guide grooves.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a disk brake and more particularly, to a pad spring mounted to a carrier and adapted to slidably support a pair of inboard and outboard pad assemblies.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring first to FIG. 17, a conventional disk brake includes a carrier 110 secured to a fixed part of the vehicle and adapted to support a floating or sliding caliper (not shown). The carrier 110 has a pair of opposite guide grooves 112. An inboard pad assembly 114 is composed of a liner 116, and a backing plate 118 attached to the brake liner 116. The backing plate 118 has a pair of opposite lugs 120 which are received within the corresponding guide grooves 112 through a corresponding pair of pad springs 122. The pad springs 122 are adapted to axially guide the inboard pad assembly 114. Each of the pad springs 122 includes a bridge portion 124, and a pair of legs 126 extending downwardly from opposite ends of the bridge portion 124. The legs 126 generally include a pair of substantially C-shaped pad guides 128 fit within the corresponding guide grooves 112 and designed to reduce friction between the inboard pad assembly 114 and the carrier 110, torque bearing surfaces 130 extending vertically and downwardly from the pad guides 128 and engaged on bearing surfaces 132 of the carrier 110, and pad rests 134 extending outwardly and horizontally from the torque bearing surfaces 130 and adapted to support the inboard pad assembly 114. The carrier 110 has a pair of ramp surfaces 136 which span a rotor or disk (not shown). A pair of locking tabs 140 extend from the upper portion of the legs 126 and are engaged with the ramp surfaces 136 of the carrier 110 when the pad spring 122 is mounted to the carrier 110.
A problem associated with such a pad spring is that the torque bearing surfaces 130 of the pad spring 122 tend to be separated from the bearing surfaces 132 of the carrier 110 since the locking tabs 140 cause rearward inclination of the pad spring 122. This makes it difficult to subsequently mount the inboard pad assembly 114 to the carrier 110. Also, when the pad spring 122 is attached to the carrier 110, a force F1 is produced to cause the pad spring 122 to be rotated in a direction toward the inboard pad assembly 114. The resulting moment or force F2 causes the pad spring 122 to be moved away from the carrier 110. The direction of the force F2 is substantially identical to the ramp surfaces 136 of the carrier 110. The pad spring 122 thus tends to be inclined in a forward direction or moved in a direction away from the carrier 110. This deteriorates sliding of the inboard pad assembly 114 and increases friction between the inboard pad assembly 114 and the carrier 110. An increase in drag, which occurs when the pad assembly 114 is returned to its home position after braking action, results in a decrease in fuel economy of the vehicle.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a disk brake which insures close contact of a pair of pad springs to a carrier and facilitates mounting of a pair of friction pads to the carrier.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a pad spring which enhances sliding of the friction pads and reduces friction between the friction pads and the carrier.


A texture recognition method, a texture recognition device, and a display device. The texture recognition method includes: receiving a texture recognition signal by using a light blocking structure having a light transmission aperture; performing an amplification process on the texture recognition signal to obtain an amplified texture recognition signal; and detecting a valley line and a ridge line in a texture based on the amplified texture recognition signal.

In a process of optical texture recognition (e.g., optical fingerprint recognition), when the distance between the finger and the optical sensor is relatively large, the light may be scattered after being reflected by the finger or the like, thereby causing image blurring. Therefore, the texture information recognized based on light received by the optical sensor is not accurate.

Texture recognition method, texture recognition device and display device


A time-to-digital converter (TDC) comprises a first delay line including a plurality of first delay cells connected in series, wherein each of the first delay cells include a plurality of first delay units connected in series, wherein each of the first delay units includes a tunable PMOS transistor, a first poly on oxide definition (OD) edge (PODE) transistor, and a pull-up PMOS transistor. The TDC further comprises a second delay line including a plurality of second delay cells connected in series, wherein each of the second delay cells include a plurality of second delay units connected in series, wherein each of the second delay units includes a tunable NMOS transistor, a second PODE transistor, and a pull-down NMOS transistor.

A phase-locked loop (PLL) is an electronic circuit that generates an output signal whose phase is related to the phase of an input signal. The phase-locked loop comprises a variable frequency oscillator, filter, and a phase detector. The oscillator generates a periodic signal. The phase detector compares the phase of that signal with the phase of the input periodic signal and adjusts the oscillator to keep the phases matched. Transmitting the output signal back toward the input signal for comparison is called a feedback loop since the output is "fed back" toward the input forming a loop. An all-digital PLL (ADPLL) uses digital (instead of analog) phase detector, filter and oscillator devices. All digital phase-locked loops are widely employed in radio, telecommunications, computers and other electronic applications to demodulate a signal, recover a signal from a noisy communication channel, generate a stable frequency at multiples of an input frequency (frequency synthesis), or distribute precisely timed clock pulses in digital logic circuits such as microprocessors.
A time-to-digital converter (TDC) is a key building block in all-digital PLL. It is used to measure and quantize a time interval between two input signals to the time-to-digital converter and convert the time interval into a digital (binary) output. The time-to-digital converter may adopt one or more delay lines, each comprising a plurality of delay cells connected in series and used to define the delay time by an input signal propagating through the delay line in the time-to-digital converter. For a time-to-digital converter, the delay cells can be tunable, i.e., the control voltage of the delay cells are controllable so that the timing resolution of the delay lines can be adjusted. Such tunable delay cells are useful for fin field effect transistors (FinFET) used in various different types of semiconductor devices.

Tunable delay cells for time-to-digital converter

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


It is an object of the present invention to increase the game operability, and to increase the feeling of pressure and feeling of actual presence on the scene, by making it possible to display partial enlarged images of the scope displays or each of a plurality of players in a manner that allows mutual influence on the screen on which the game images are displayed. The apparatus of the present invention is a video game apparatus in which the game is caused to proceed by shooting with four imitation guns 30 from the front surface of a display part 11 on which game images are displayed; in this apparatus, respective enlarged images are created and displayed from an infrared camera 40 that can detect in a discriminating manner respective light spots on the screen from the laser light emitters 32 of the respective imitation guns 30, and positional data of the images displayed in regions that include the light spots corresponding to partial regions that include the respective light spots on the screen of the display part 11.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a video game apparatus, image processing method and program which display game images on a monitor screen, and allow play by a plurality of players.
2. Description of the Related Art
Numerous shooting game apparatuses in which virtual combat with enemy characters in game images is carried on using a plurality of model guns on a single monitor on which the game images are displayed have been known in the past. Among these, games are also known in which the orientations of a plurality of imitation guns are detected, the positions where the muzzles of the guns intersect with the monitor screen are respectively calculated, and the players are caused to guide the orientations of the muzzles of the guns so that pointers with a red color or the like (indicating the aim) are displayed in these positions by image processing. Furthermore, in shooting games of this type, a shooting game apparatus has been proposed in which the imitation guns are equipped with imitation scopes that contain a liquid crystal display device, and an enlarged image of the image on the monitor screen corresponding to the aiming position of the gun is displayed on this liquid crystal display device, in order to create a sense of actual presence and a sense of pressure (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H7-181934). Furthermore, in shooting games of this type, a game system has been proposed in which desired positions on the game image can be designated by operating input from a pad-form game controller, image frames imitating a scope are displayed in these designated positions, and enlarged images of the images in the vicinity of the designated positions within the displayed image frames are displayed, so that the player plays the shooting game while observing the enlarged images (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-286678).
In the case of a shooting game apparatus that displays pointers, the aim at enemy characters within the game image can be skillfully determined to the extent that the orientation of the gun muzzle is guided. However, the game image itself remains "as is", so that this is not a game in which shooting is performed while the player observes details of the enemy character images. Accordingly, there are fixed limits to this game as a game. Furthermore, in the case of a shooting game apparatus in which liquid crystal display devices are contained in the imitation scopes, enlarged images are displayed on the liquid crystal display devices of the respective imitation guns. Accordingly, although there is no particular problem even if the game is a game involving a plurality of players, the respective players cannot ascertain the aiming positions of the other players; consequently, the game does not differ greatly from a game played by a single player, so that there tends to be little feeling of pressure or (for example) feeling of cooperation. Furthermore, in the case of a game system that displays enlarged images within image frames that imitate scopes, since no measures are taken in order to display a plurality of image frames (scopes) within a single screen, play by more than one person is substantially impossible, so that the feeling of cooperation in a game that allows cooperative play by a plurality of players cannot be obtained.

Video game apparatus, image processing method and program


A system and method that includes a virtual human face generation technique which synthesizes images of a human face at a variety of poses. This is preferably accomplished using just a frontal and profile image of a specific subject. An automatic deformation technique is used to align the features of a generic 3-D graphic face model with the corresponding features of these pre-provided images of the subject. Specifically, a generic frontal face model is aligned with the frontal image and a generic profile face model is aligned with the profile image. The deformation procedure results in a single 3-D face model of the specific human face. It precisely reflects the geometric features of the specific subject. After that, subdivision spline surface construction and multi-direction texture mapping techniques are used to smooth the model and endow photometric detail to the specific 3-D geometric face model. This smoothed and texturized specific 3-D face model is then used to generate 2-D images of the subject at a variety of face poses. These synthesized face images can be used to build a set of training images that may be used to train a recognition classifier.

1. Technical Field
This invention is directed towards a system and method for face recognition. More particularly, this invention relates to a system and method for face recognition using synthesized training images.
2. Background Art
Face recognition systems essentially operate by comparing some type of model image of a person's face (or representation thereof to an image or representation of the person's face extracted from an input image. In the past these systems, especially those that attempt to recognize a person at various face poses, required a significant number of training images to train them to recognize a particular person's face. The general approach is to use a set of sample images of the subject's face at different poses to train a recognition classifier. Thus, numerous face images of varying poses of each person to be recognized must be captured and input for training such systems. This requirement for a significant set of sample images is often difficult, if not impossible, to obtain. Capturing sample images may be complicated by the lack of "controlled" capturing conditions, such as consistent lighting and the availability of the subject for generating the sample images. Capturing of numerous training images may be more practical in the cases of security applications or the like, where it is likely that the subject to be recognized is readily available to generate the training image set, but may prove impractical for various consumer applications.

System and method for face recognition using synthesized images


The present invention relates to a model animal spontaneously developing anemia. More specifically, the invention relates to a transgenic non-human mammal spontaneously developing anemia associated with a postnatal decrease in production of erythropoietin (Epo), Epo-producing cells prepared from the transgenic non-human mammal, and a screening method using the Epo-producing cells.

Epo is a cytokine that stimulates erythropoiesis and is also known as a therapeutic agent for renal anemia, having achieved satisfactory treatment for a long time. Epo is mainly produced in the liver (embryonic stage) and the kidney (after birth) of mammals. In chronic renal dysfunction, the Epo production in the kidney decreases to cause anemia (renal anemia) (Non Patent Literature 1). This anemia is cured by administration of Epo prepared by a genetic recombination technology, and thereby the prognosis and the quality of life of renal anemia patients have been dramatically improved.
It has been revealed that Epo in tissues, such as the central nervous system, the retina, the kidney, and the heart, shows cytoprotection against stress, and the clinical use of Epo intended to have an effect other than hematopoiesis has been started in some clinical fields. At the same time, it is also reported, for example, that administration of Epo also stimulates proliferation of cancer cells to cause a decrease in performance of treatment and that administration of Epo facilitates thrombus formation to shorten the lifetime. In the new guidelines of the USA, more strict standards apply to administration of Epo and similar drugs. However, data, such as those of animal experiments, supporting these effects of Epo are insufficient, except for clinical statistical data, and establishment of a useful experimental system has been therefore demanded.
Incidentally, a hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) has been identified by research on controlling expression of an Epo gene using a hepatocyte-derived cell line, and this factor is now recognized as an important factor in various biological activities such as inflammation, genesis, and carcinogenesis as well as energy metabolism. In the kidney, only a small number of specific cells produce Epo, and it is predicted that an unknown factor regulating tissue specificity and hypoxia reactivity works in the production, and elucidation thereof has high possibility of leading to elucidation of pathological conditions of various diseases and development of a method of treatment. However, the production of Epo is suppressed to be very low under a usual breeding environment. Therefore, Epo-producing cells cannot be identified or analyzed without anemia induction by blood removal or phenylhydrazine administration or stimulation of Epo production, such as breeding in a hypoxia chamber, and such a situation has continued for a long period of time.
Furthermore, there are many reports on control of proliferation and survival of cells by Epo, but research on the differentiation induction mechanism by Epo is few. In the time when Epo was found, it was believed that a receptor of Epo is specifically present in erythroid cells and that Epo mainly functions for supporting the survival of the cells. In the subsequent research, it was believed that Epo may also actively affect the program of erythroid differentiation. However, the detailed mechanism has not been elucidated. Incidentally, erythropoiesis associated with an increase in blood Epo concentration, such as under a high altitude or anemia, is called stress hematopoiesis, and, in mice, the spleen is the place for the hematopoiesis. In general, the Epo concentration in regular hematopoiesis is kept very low. Accordingly, it is predicted that the molecular mechanism of the stress hematopoiesis is different from that of the regular hematopoiesis, but the detail thereof is unclear. Furthermore, in chronic anemia associated with inflammation or cancer, the Epo production and Epo sensitivity decrease, but the mechanism thereof is also unclear.
In order to solve these problems, development of mice with adult-onset deficiency in Epo production has been demanded. Conventionally, in research on renal anemia and acquisition of experimental animals less producing Epo, methods in which the function of the kidney is reduced to reduce the Epo production have been used (Non Patent Literatures 2 to 4). In this method, the majority of the kidney of a rat is removed to induce a decrease in Epo production and anemia associated with deterioration of renal function, which requires skill in, for example, the operative procedure and is a procedure taking a long time. Thus, acquisition of sufficient populations of such animals required much labor.
Epo gene knockout mice develop severe anemia and die in the embryonic stage and, therefore, could not be used in analysis of such a purpose (Non Patent Literature 5). EpoGFP/+ mice were created by knockin of a green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene into the Epo gene to label the Epo-producing cells, and heterozygous mice were crossed to each other to investigate the phenotype of EpoGFP/GFP mice. The phenotype of the EpoGFP/GFP mice was almost the same as that of the Epo gene knockout mice first reported and the EpoGFP/GFP mice died by the 13th day of embryonic life (Non Patent Literature 6).
In order to investigate the functions of Epo in adult mice, conditional knockout mice were produced (Non Patent Literature 6). The mice were produced by rescuing EpoGFP/GFP mice from lethality with an Escherichia coli artificial chromosome (bacterial artificial chromosome: BAC) containing an Epo gene carrying a loxP sequence, and embryonic lethality was completely reproduced by crossing with mice broadly expressing Cre recombinase. In addition, expression of drug-induced CRE in the rescued mice caused a decrease in Epo expression in the adult mice. Another laboratory also reported conditional knockout mice produced by directly inserting a loxP sequence into an Epo gene to induce the action of a drug-induced Cre recombinase (Non Patent Literature 7). However, in both experiments, since recombination of the Epo gene in every Epo-producing cell in the body is difficult, the anemia of the mice bred under a usual environment was mild, Epo production induced by anemia induction was recognized, and an increase in reactive hematocrit similar to that of a wild-type was recognized. Furthermore, drug administration has been started after weaning, and analysis can be performed at the point of time when the influence of the drug has completely disappeared after completion of the drug administration. Therefore, in experiments requiring a large number of populations, a large amount of labor and time are necessary. Regarding a HIF2 gene, which is indispensable for hypoxia inducibility control of Epo production, conditional knockout mice were reported (Non Patent Literature 8), and the phenotype thereof was almost the same as that of the Epo gene conditional knockout mice.
In 1993, Maxwell, et al. reported a transgenic mouse produced by inserting the T antigen gene of SV40 virus into an Epo gene fragment of 16 kb, in which homologous recombination of a transgene unexpectedly occurred in the 5′ untranslated region of an erythropoietin gene locus (EPO-TAgh) (Non Patent Literature 9). In this mouse, the T antigen mRNA of SV40 is transcribed following a part of the 5′ UTR sequence of Epo mRNA. Though the detail of gene construction on the 3′ side is unclear, since Epo production detectable by ELISA is present, it is predicted that small amounts of mRNA and protein of the site where the Epo gene is translated are produced. The plasma Epo concentration of the mouse has been reported to be 55±18 pg/mL (wild type: 122±16 pg/mL) under a usual environment and is thus lower than that of the wild type. However, in breeding in a hypoxia chamber, the Epo concentration was 162±25 pg/mL (wild type: 460±39). The concentration significantly increased, although the increase was lower than that of the wild type, and it was judged that the hypoxia inducibility of the Epo gene expression was maintained (Non Patent Literature 10). In the first report, the homozygous mice had a hematocrit of 13.2±3.3% and had severe anemia (Non Patent Literature 9). In the subsequent report on Epo TAg, the hematocrit of homozygous mice was 19.2±0.2% (Non Patent Literature 11). Also in other reports, the values were similar levels (Non Patent Literatures 10, 12, and 13). The hematocrit of EPO-TAgh heterozygote was reported to be 34.4±3.5%, which suggests a possibility that in EpoTAg heterozygote, a material produced from the EPO-TAgh gene locus dominant-negatively acts on the wild-type Epo to cause anemia. EPO-TAgh homozygous mice are used in research on, for example, genetic treatment. In addition, immunological response to mouse Epo is also reported, and it is predicted that the immune system is activated for expressing SV40 TAg having strong immunogenicity (Non Patent Literature 11). It is concerned from these results that too many unclear points remain in the Epo-TAg mouse to use it as a standard of Epo production deficient mouse.
It was reported that Epo-producing cells (renal Epo producing cells: REPs) of the kidney, which is a main organ producing Epo in adults, fibroblast-like cells present so as to surround the proximal tubule and express a neuronal marker, by producing a transgenic mouse, Epo-BAC-GFP-Tg, having a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) containing an Epo gene and identifying the Epo-producing cells using both the Epo-BAC-GFP-Tg and Epo (GFP/+) mice (Non Patent Literatures 14 and 15).
Many of past papers regarding the mechanism of controlling Epo production are based on research using a liver cancer-derived cell line, and the characteristics of REPs and the surrounding environment thereof are completely different from those of hepatocytes. In the kidney, there is a possibility that an Epo production-controlling mechanism different from that in the liver is working. The Epo-BAC-GFP-Tg mouse is an excellent experimental animal for analyzing Epo production control in the kidney, but requires treatment, such as induction of anemia by successive blood-removing treatment or breeding in a hypoxia chamber, in actual research. In addition, the anemia induced by such treatment has the disadvantage of a large individual difference.