Imidazole-containing polymer membranes are described herein. Methods of their preparation and use are also described herein. The methods of using the membranes include capturing and reducing volatile compounds from gas streams.

Growing concerns over the contributions of billions of tons of annual CO2 emissions from coal-fired power plants and large point sources, as well as other greenhouse gases (GHG), to global climate change have prompted major efforts to curb emissions. A number of diverse technologies, including solvents, membranes, sorbents, and other concepts are currently at various stages of evaluation as potential solutions that can contribute to meeting the challenge of energy efficient carbon capture and storage (CCS). Energy-efficient capture of CO2 is an especially challenging process due to the low concentrations and partial pressures of CO2 typically encountered at power plants and other point sources of CO2 emissions. While membrane-based processes are not as mature as solvent-based technologies for this application, membranes are potentially the most energy efficient option. New membrane materials with unique transport mechanisms are needed to achieve a long-term, energy-efficient technology for capture of CO2 from industrial sources. The compositions and methods disclosed herein address these and other needs.

Imidazole-containing polymer membranes and methods of use

Board of Trustees of The University of Alabama


Disclosed is an apparatus and method for automatically configuring a sensor to configure a building energy management system (BEMS). The apparatus may include an information input unit to receive input of information on a building in which a BEMS is to be built, information on a sensor used to build the BEMS, and information on a budget allocated to build the BEMS, a sensor disposition unit to calculate a position for the sensor to be disposed in the building based on the input information on the building, the sensor and the allocated budget, and a user interface unit to display the disposed position for the sensor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for automatically configuring a sensor to configure a building energy management system, that are capable of automatically calculating a position for a sensor to be disposed in a building environment to build a building energy management system efficiently managing energy usage in a building.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, when energy and environmental sensors are disposed to build a building energy management system (BEMS) in order to efficiently manage energy used in a building, workers verify positions at which the sensors are to be disposed using the naked eye, and practical experience in the installation of the sensors. Similarly, disposition of sensors to configure a sensor network is carried out by a method in which only a network is considered as disposition conditions, in view of only characteristics of wireless network signals for configuring a sensor network.
A BEMS manages energy in consideration environments of spaces in a building, such as various environmental factors including temperature, humidity, residents, air quality, illumination intensity, carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration, and fine dust concentration of each space in order to provide detailed energy management functions. However, since installation of environmental sensors to configure an environment for building energy management is substantially connected with a budget for building a BEMS, instead of installing a large number of sensors without any plan, it is necessary to dispose a proper quantity of sensors in consideration of spaces in the building and a budget.
Thus, there is a demand for a method of disposing sensors in view of characteristics of a building and a sensor and a budget in disposing sensors to establish a BEMS.

Apparatus and method for automatically configuring sensor to configure building energy management system

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


Nitrogen compounds represented by formula (XXIa) or (XXIb); an epoxy resin hardening accelerator and a resin composition each containing any of the compounds; and an electronic part device containing an element encapsulated with the composition. In the formulae, R1 and R2 each represents hydrogen or a C1-20 monovalent organic group; R3 and R4 each represents a C1-20 divalnt organic group; R5 represents hydrogen or a C1-6 monovalent organic group; k is an integer of 0 to 2; and p is 0 or 1.

This invention relates to a novel compound, a resin composition suited as molding materials, insulating-layer materials and adhesive materials, a curing accelerator for the resin composition, and an electronic component device obtained by encapsulating device components with the resin composition.
Epoxy resin is conventionally used in a wide range as molding materials, insulating-layer materials and adhesive materials, and epoxy resin compositions are in wide use in the field of the encapsulation of device components in electronic component parts such as transistors and ICs (integrated circuits). This is because the epoxy resin has properties such as molding properties, electrical properties, moisture resistance, heat resistance, mechanical properties and adhesion to component inserts which are well balanced.
As curing accelerators for epoxy resin, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open KOKAI No. 55-5929, No. 56-94761, No. 56-131620, No. 58-57427, No. 57-210647, No. 59-136321, No. 61-151231, No. 63-12627, No. 63-20325, No. 63-210121, No. 1-105562, No. 1-236263, No. 1-236264, No. 2-34627, No. 5-9268, No. 5-198940, No. 6-228414, No. 7-228664, No. 7-188395, No. 8-3280, No. 7-330868, No. 8-92355, No. 8-92356, No. 8-157565 and No. 8-157564 disclose 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undecene-7, or its phenolic salt, phenolic resin salt, aromatic carboxylate, aromatic sulfonate, fatty acid salt or carbonate. Japanese Patent Application Laid-open KOKAI No. 3-116958 discloses silicon derivatives of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undecene-7. Use of these curing accelerators, however, has involved a problem that the epoxy resin is affected by humidity in service environment and may have a low curing performance depending on moisture absorption to cause various faulty molding such as faulty mold release, runner break and gate break.
Japanese Patent Applications Laid-open KOKAI No. 62-81416, No. 1-65116 and No. 3-9919 also disclose methods of use of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undecene-7 or a salt thereof in the form of its mixture with a triorganophosphine. Japanese Patent Applications Laid-open KOKAI No. 62-16484, No. 1-38416, No. 2-189331, No. 2-240131, No. 4-65420, No. 4-85321, No. 4-91121, No. 4-96922, No. 4-96930 and No. 8-109246 disclose methods of use of 6-dialkylamino-1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undecene-7 or salts thereof. Japanese Patent Applications Laid-open KOKAI No. 59-8721, No. 59-8722 and No. 3-16243 disclose methods of use of 1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]nonene-5, and also Japanese Patent Applications Laid-open KOKAI No. 63-146919, No. 2-189330 and No. 2-240130 disclose methods of use of a guanidine compound. These methods promise a superiority in rapid curability and curability under moisture absorption but, on the other hand, have involved a problem that a difficulty in molding as exemplified by faulty filling may occur because of a short pot life, an increase in melt viscosity and a decrease in flow properties or that the performance of molded products may lower, e.g., gold wires of IC chips break to cause faulty conduction. Accordingly, under existing circumstances, epoxy resin compositions which employ such a technique and molding materials for encapsulation which make use of such resin compositions must be stored and transported under refrigeration, and require a high cost.
Japanese Patent Applications Laid-open KOKAI No. 59-75923, No. 62-246925 and No. 3-26901 disclose that tetraphenyl borate of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undecene-7 is effective for the improvement of pot life. This tetraphenyl borate has so strong an ionic bond and so high a melting point as to have a low dispersibility, bringing about a good pot life. It, however, can not exhibit any good curability.
In addition, in recent years, as the greatest problem in molding materials for encapsulating semiconductors such as ICs and LSIs (large-scale integrated circuits), there is a problem of what is called solder reflow cracking, which is cracking caused when packages are assembled. In order to improve reflow cracking resistance, resin compositions are proposed which contain an inorganic filler in a large quantity. The inorganic filler, however, must be mixed in a quantity limited because its use in a large quantity causes a lowering of flow properties at the time of molding. Hence, this technique can not be expected to bring about any remarkable improvement in reflow cracking resistance. Accordingly, as a way of overcoming such a problem, it is proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open KOKAI No. 9-157497 that an addition product of triphenylphosphine with 1,4-benzoquinone is used as a curing accelerator, which, however, has involved the problem of a short pot life.
As discussed above in detail, any conventional curing accelerators can not satisfy all the rapid curability, curability after moisture absorption under moist condition, pot life and flow properties of epoxy resin compositions.
The present invention was made taking account of the problems discussed above. An object of the present invention is to provide an epoxy resin composition having all the rapid curability, curability after moisture absorption under moist condition, pot life and flow properties in a good state, a curing accelerator used therefor, an electronic component device having device components encapsulated with such a composition, and a novel compound suited as the curing accelerator.
The present inventors have discovered that the rapid curability, curability after moisture absorption under moist condition, pot life and flow properties of epoxy resin compositions can be improved by mixing a nitrogen-containing compound obtained by the addition of a specific amidine compound with a specific quinone compound, thus they have accomplished the present invention.
To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a nitrogen-containing compound which is an addition product of an amidine compound represented by the following Formula (XXa) or (XXb) with a quinone compound represented by the following Formula (II).
In Formula (XXa) or (XXb), R1 and R2 each represent a hydrogen atom, an amino group or a monovalent organic group having 1 to 20carbonatoms. The organic group may preferably have 2 to 15 carbon atoms, and more preferably 2 to 10 carbon atoms. R3 and R4 each represent a divalent organic group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, which may preferably have 2 to 15 carbon atoms, and more preferably 2 to 10 carbon atoms.
In Formula (II), R5 represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and k and p represent an integer of 0 to 2 and an integer of 0 or 1, respectively.
R1 and R2 may each preferably be selected from a hydrogen atom and substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkenyl and alkoxyl groups. R3 and R4 form part of the ring structure, and may preferably be selected from a substituted or unsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group, and a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group containing a carbonyl linkage, an imino linkage or an ether linkage. R5 may preferably be selected from a hydrogen atom and an alkyl group, an alkoxyl group, an aryl group and an aralkyl group which have 1 to 6 carbon atoms.
As stated above, the groups represented by R1 to R4 may be those in which a substituent is further bonded to the basic structure of alkyl group, aryl group, aralkyl group, alkenyl group or alkoxyl group. As examples of such a substituent, it may include alkyl groups such as a methyl group and an ethyl group, aryl groups such as a phenyl group and a naphthyl group, alkoxyl groups such as a methoxyl group, an ethoxyl group and butoxy group, a hydroxyl group, hydroxyaryl groups, an amino group, alkylamino groups, cyanoalkyl groups and alkylaryl groups.
The above amidine compound may preferably be a compound represented by the following Formula (I).
wherein R6 is selected from a hydrogen atom and an alkyl group, a dialkylamino group, an aryl group and an aralkyl group which have 1 to 12 carbon atoms; and m and n represent integers of 2 to 5 which are independent from each other.
Of the compounds represented by Formula (I), 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undecene-7 and 1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]no nene-5 are particularly preferred, and these may be used alone or in combination. As the quinone compound represented by the above Formula (II), 1,4-benzoquinone and 2,5-toluquinone are preferred, and these may be used alone or in combination.
The present invention also provides a nitrogen-containing compound represented by the following
In the above Formula (XXIa) or (XXIb), R1 and R2 each represent a hydrogen atom, an amino group or a monovalent organic group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms. The organic group may preferably have 1 to 15 carbon atoms, and more preferably 1 to 10 carbon atoms. R3 and R4 each represent a divalent organic group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, which may preferably have 2 to 15 carbon atoms, and more preferably 2 to 10 carbon atoms. R5 represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and k and p represent an integer of 0 to 2 and an integer of 0 or 1, respectively.
In Formulas (XXIa) and (XXIb), the double bonds and positive electric charges are depicted in localized forms for the sake of convenience, to which, however, the present invention is by no means limited. The double bonds and positive electric charges (and the hydrogen atoms in the case when R1 or R2 is hydrogen) may be delocalized between the two nitrogen atoms of the amidine group. Also, depending on the structure of R3 and R4, they may be delocalized inside the heterocyclic ring constituted of these organic groups and the amidine group.
The resin composition containing the nitrogen-containing compound of the present invention may also be used as a molding material for encapsulation and a in multilayer or adhesive material. For example, epoxy resin compositions prepared using the nitrogen-containing compound of the present invention as a curing accelerator for epoxy resin and phenolic resin have superior rapid curability, curability after moisture absorption under moist condition, pot life and flow properties, and hence are suited as molding materials for encapsulation, laminate sheet materials and adhesive materials. Besides, such compositions may also be used in a wide field as, e.g., anisotropic conductive film materials and insulating materials. Accordingly, the present invention provides a resin curing accelerator containing the nitrogen-containing compound of the present invention.
In particular, a molding material making use of the nitrogen-containing compound of the present invention as the curing accelerator for epoxy resin and phenolic resin and compounded with a filler is suited for its use as a material for encapsulating electronic component devices. Accordingly, the present invention provides the epoxy resin composition containing the nitrogen-containing compound of the present invention and an electronic component device having device components encapsulated with the composition.

Compounds, hardening accelerator, resin composition, and electronic part device


A telecommunications system and method is provided, having a network services processor (NSP) for handling telecommunications in conformance with a predefined signaling system and for distributing processing tasks including call handling and routing to a plurality of resources, comprising: a plurality of packet managers (PMs) for accessing, processing, and distributing packetized call data over a packet network; a plurality of media control platforms (MCPs) for accessing, processing, and distributing application tasks (MCTs) transmitted from the NSP; and a plurality of interconnect controllers (ICCs), each for interfacing the NSP with the plurality of resources including the PMs and the MCPs, wherein the processing tasks are handled by the plurality of resources by concurrent and decentralized processing, and the ICC includes a centralized maintenance platform (CMP) for monitoring the plurality of resources via centralized messaging and for determining resource failures by processing responses to the centralized messaging from each of the plurality of resources.

Digital switching systems are used in telecommunications systems for accessing, processing, and distributing telecommunications data including voice data and telephone calls. The digital switching systems are highly complex and for the most part are the result of many years of evolution and enhancements. A number of digital switching systems made by different manufacturers are used to handle telecommunications traffic throughout the world. Because the different manufacturers designed their systems with different hardware and software, many components and functions of one system are not compatible with another. Even if the same or similar components and functions were employed, as different systems are upgraded with new hardware, architectural modifications and continuous development of new or enhanced features, the systems diverge in similarity and compatibility.
As global and local call traffic continues to increase, telephone network operators demand increased call handling capacity from exchanges. A typical exchange in the United States handles about one million busy hour call attempts (BHCA). Most switching systems can be upgraded to handle more call capacity. However, many exchanges are already reaching their capacity in terms of processing capabilities and the quick-fix type upgrades cannot fulfill the call handling capability being specified, which calls for capability to handle six million BHCA in present and future systems. System architectural changes and redesigns may be the only long-term solution.
Network operators are therefore desirous of the development of switching and communication systems having architecture that provide increased processing capabilities but also fit within the existing framework with minimal impact on the required feature set, e.g., having a uniform view and single-entry point with respect to both an operations perspective and a signaling perspective. It is also desirous that the new architecture will be able to adapt to commercially available platforms so that significant improvements in throughput and capacity may be realized by upgrading the platforms as the improved technology becomes available.
With the increase in capabilities and functions, it is inevitable that the telecommunications systems continue to increase in size in terms of both hardware and software components. A bigger system requires a larger overhead in terms of maintenance and testing functions as more components need to be tested. If each existing and added component and their interconnects has to be individually tested, this overhead cost can increase exponentially, causing reduced throughput.
A need therefore exists for a telecommunications system which fulfills the distributed processing and multiservice demands described above but having a centralized maintenance system which reduces maintenance overhead.

Method and apparatus for centralized maintenance system within a distributed telecommunications architecture


An aircraft is provided and includes an airframe having main, pylon and tail sections, a rotor disposed at one of the pylon and tail sections and rotatable about a rotational axis to drive the airframe and a primary gearbox disposed within the main section of the airframe and a secondary gearbox disposed within one of the pylon and tail sections. The primary gearbox includes an outer housing rotationally fixed relative to the airframe and a driveshaft extending through the outer housing and coupled to the secondary gearbox to thereby drive rotation of the rotor relative to the airframe via the secondary gearbox. The aircraft further including a sensing system affixed to the outer housing and the driveshaft and configured to sense rotational characteristics of the driveshaft.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a rotor index (azimuth position) sensor system and, more particularly, to an integrated sensor system for real-time rotor indexing during flight.
Typically, rotor indexing for balance purposes requires that a piece of reflective tape be placed on an external rotating piece of hardware in the drive system so that an optical sensor can read its position. This presents multiple problems in that such optical systems are inherently sensitive to dirt and dust and, as such, signal integrity can be compromised during normal operations. Additional problems are that the reflector tape is generally held in place only by adhesive and failure of such adhesive is likely such that the tape often comes apart from the hardware during operation and no longer provides for signal generation. This potentially requires a reset of the system and increased cost and time expenditures. Still further problems are that the blade tracking systems may only be employed during ground runs and can require removal of several components required for flight (e.g., the engine air intake ducting) and the temporary attachment of the optical sensor.


An image taking apparatus according to an aspect of the invention comprises: an image pickup device which picks up an object image and outputs the picked-up image data; a face detection device which detects human faces in the image data; a face-distance calculating device which calculates the distance between the faces among a plurality of faces detected by the face detection device; and a controlling device which controls the image pickup device to start shooting, after a shooting instruction is issued, in the case where the distance between the faces calculated by the face-distance calculating device is not greater than a first predetermined threshold value. The image taking apparatus allows shooting the moment the distance between the faces is close enough not be greater than to a predetermined threshold value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image taking apparatus and an image taking method, and in particular, to an image taking apparatus and an image taking method capable of detecting a face area from image data.
2. Description of the Related Art
A digital still camera (DSC) which detects human faces and performs various controls based on information on the human faces has been disclosed in patent documents in recent years. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-92700 describes a digital camera (image taking apparatus) in which a face image is detected to automatically depress a release button so as to surely capture human faces. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-336265 describes an image taking apparatus which releases a shutter when it detects the eyes of the preset number of people at the time of self-timer photographing.

Image taking apparatus and image taking method


A thin border display for an electronic device may comprise an optical assembly that includes a support frame and an electrophoretic display (EPD) structure attached to the support frame in a manner that allows for the display of the electronic device to exhibit a “thin border” or “borderless” look at a periphery of the electronic device. A portion of the EPD structure may at least partly curve around a curved portion of the support frame, the curved portion of the support frame being near the periphery of the support frame. In some embodiments, an electrode may be disposed at a periphery of the display to drive the margin of the display for achieving a thin border/borderless appearance. The EPD structure may include a backplane substrate that is either rigid or flexible.

Electronic devices often include displays for presenting information to a user. In a given electronic device, the display is typically mounted within a housing that encloses various other components of the electronic device.
It can be challenging to design an electronic device that is thin, compact, and encloses all of the various components of the electronic device, including the display, within the housing. The existence of such design constraints causes the designs for many electronic devices to include a substantial border (or margin) on the front face of the device around the display such that the display area terminates at the border and does not extend any closer to, or around, the edges of the electronic device.


Various embodiments described herein relate to an intelligent warning system in a communication service. One embodiment of the present invention analyzes a user's biometric signals and image data of one of the users in a communication session to determine a distress level. In addition, location data indicating the user's velocity and direction can be used to determine a distress level. If the biometric signals or the image data indicate a distress level that meets or exceeds a threshold level, a notification is automatically sent to a remote user. This can allow a remote user to render assistance to a user in distress, even when the user is unable to communicate one or more conditions.

Modern electronic devices come with a plethora of sensors and can do amazing things, yet sometimes they cannot do the most useful and most important tasks. In some instances, during a communication session, for example, it is vital to communicate the user's condition. When users are faced with a possible sudden life-threatening condition, they may be unable to convey that condition to the other user(s), and as such, the other user would be none the wiser to appreciate the severity of the situation.
For example, the user may be experiencing shortness of breath, a heart attack, or stroke, thereby making it difficult, or render the user incapable to speak or deliver a message to the other user of the present condition and urgent need for immediate medical assistance. In other instances, the user may be unaware of his/her present condition, as the onset of a life-threatening condition may be sudden, and the user would not have time to deliver a message to the other user in a chatting session.
Despite having a fully capable device that could monitor the user's pulse, and "see" the user through cameras and environmental awareness, a user may have a dire medical condition, yet the device would not know and would take no action to help keep the person safe and/or notify the other user in the chat session so they could intervene. Therefore, there is a need for improved communication systems to address these issues. It is with respect to these and other considerations that the disclosure made herein is presented.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An air-conditioning register is buried in a decorative panel having a decorative surface, and includes a cylinder-shaped retainer having a ventilation passage, a fin assembly disposed swingably and adjacent to the outlet opening in the retainer, a connecting member for connecting the fin assembly, and an operating member for driving the connecting member. The air-conditioning register operates interchangeably between a blowing direction adjusting mode, in which the fin assembly adjusts a blowing direction of air-conditioning air, and a shut-off mode, in which the fin assembly shuts off the outlet opening. The ventilation passage extends in a lengthwise direction which intersects with the decorative surface at an acute angle. The fin assembly includes main fin members, and a sub fin member. In the blowing direction adjusting mode, the main fin members swing, but the sub fin member is held substantially parallel to the lengthwise direction of the ventilation passage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a register for supplying air-conditioning air into rooms, such as vehicle passenger rooms.
2. Description of the Related Art
For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 11-180,140 discloses an air-conditioning register which is operable interchangeably from the blowing direction adjusting mode to the shut-off mode or vice versa. In the blowing direction adjusting mode, the shut-off damper opens the ventilation passage. Note that the horizontal fin assembly or the vertical fin assembly can adjust the blowing direction of air-conditioning air in the blowing direction adjusting mode. On the other hand, in the shut-off mode, the shut-off damper shuts off the ventilation passage. Note that the horizontal fin assembly shuts off the outlet opening as well in the shut-off mode. When the horizontal fin assembly shuts off the outlet opening, an operator can recognize visually that no air-conditioning air is supplied from the outlet opening.
Note that, in the conventional air-conditioning register set forth in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 11-180,140, all of the six horizontal fin members making the horizontal fin assembly can swing when adjusting the blowing direction of air-conditioning air downward in the blowing direction adjusting mode. That is, when an operator tries to adjust the blowing direction of air-conditioning air downward, the lowermost horizontal fin member is also directed downward in the same manner as the other five horizontal fin members.
Meanwhile, the outlet opening of the air-conditioning register set forth in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 11-180,140 inclines so as to bulge into a room from small to large from upward to downward. Accordingly, when the lowermost horizontal fin member is directed downward, the lowermost horizontal fin member and the decorative panel with the outlet opening opened are disposed successively at an angle relatively approximate to the ventilation or blowing direction of air-conditioning air. Consequently, the airflow of air-conditioning air flowing along the lowermost horizontal fin member has flowed as it is along the decorative panel. Therefore, wake flows have occurred. Thus, when adjusting the blowing direction of air-conditioning air downward, the air-conditioning register set forth in the Japanese patent publication exhibits a low directivity of air-conditioning air.


An SCR system comprising a reductant tank, a return passageway, and a reductant distributor. The return passageway is coupled fluidly to the reductant tank via an outlet of the return passageway. A reductant distributor is positioned at the outlet. The reductant distributor is configured to distribute spatially an undispensed portion of a reductant into the reductant tank from the return passageway.

All engines—diesel, gasoline, propane, and natural gas—produce exhaust gas containing carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides. These emissions are the result of incomplete combustion. Diesel engines also produce particulate matter. As more government focus is being placed on health and environmental issues, agencies around the world are enacting more stringent emissions' laws.
Because so many diesel engines are used in trucks, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and its counterparts in Europe and Japan first focused on setting emissions regulations for the on-road market. While the worldwide regulation of nonroad diesel engines came later, the pace of cleanup and rate of improvement has been more aggressive for nonroad engines than for on-road engines.
Manufacturers of nonroad diesel engines are expected to meet set emissions regulations. For example, Tier 3/Stage III A emissions regulations required an approximate 65 percent reduction in particulate matter (PM) and a 60 percent reduction in NOx from 1996 levels. As a further example, Interim tier 4/Stage III B regulations required a 90 percent reduction in PM along with a 50 percent drop in NOx. Still further, Final Tier 4/Stage IV regulations, which will be fully implemented by 2015, will take PM and NOx emissions to near-zero levels.
In known SCR systems, an undispensed portion of a reductant is disseminated to the reductant tank. The undispensed portion of the reductant may flow in an undistributed, smooth stream into the reductant that is already being held in the reductant tank. If the reductant in the reductant tank is frozen, then the undispensed portion of the reductant, being in a relatively warmer, liquid form, initially creates a small hole in the frozen reductant. Eventually, the small hole enlarges such that the undispensed portion of the reductant flows right through the hole to the bottom of the reductant tank. During these conditions, the SCR system does not effectively leverage the warming capacity of the undispensed portion of the reductant.
Further, in known SCR systems, the undispensed portion of the reductant is not aimed towards any specific component in the reductant tank, such as a level sensor, thereby potentially leaving the level sensor frozen in place for longer than necessary.

SCR system comprising a reductant distributor


Fibrous insulation suitable for use in insulation cavities in buildings includes mineral fibers in an amount within the range of from about 90 to about 99 percent by weight, and organic material, in the form of organic fibers and organic particles, in an amount within the range of from about 1 to about 10 percent by weight. The mineral fibers and the organic material are integrated together so that the organic material is distributed generally uniformly among the mineral fibers. At least a majority, or about 50 percent by weight and, more preferably, a substantial amount, or about 75 percent by weight, of the organic material is in the form of organic fibers. The fibrous insulation is preferably binderless and encapsulated.

Mineral fiber products, particularly products made of glass fibers, are typically made as either continuous fibers or discontinuous fibers. Various organic coatings are applied to these fibers for protecting the fibers from abrasion, for connecting the mineral fibers to each other to form a structural product, and for providing compatibility of the mineral fibers with other materials, such as the compatibility between the reinforcement fiber and a plastic matrix. In the case of insulation products, the mineral fibers are bonded together by organic material, such as a phenol/formaldehyde binder, to form a spring-like matrix which can recover after compression during packaging. One mat product having both glass fibers and fibers of organic material, and manufactured by a textile non-woven process, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,751,134 to Chenoweth et al.
The application of organic material to the mineral fibers can take several forms. Continuous mineral fibers can be run through a bath or across a coater to apply a coating to the fibers, such as during the application of a size to continuous fibers. Also, the organic material can be sprayed onto the mineral fibers. This method is commonly used in the manufacture of insulation products where a cylindrical veil of mineral fibers is met with the sprays of the phenol/formaldehyde binder. Typically, the phenol/formaldehyde binder contains urea, and has a molecular weight of around 600 in the uncured state in the aqueous solution being applied to the glass fibers.
One of the problems with applying aqueous organic binders of the prior art to cylindrical veils of mineral fibers is that a portion of the binder tends to evaporate prior to contact between the liquid binder drop and a mineral fiber in the veil. The evaporated binder material becomes a contaminant in the exhaust air stream of the process and must be cleaned up in order to avoid pollution problems. Also, the binder material on the mineral fibers tends to be sticky, requiring extensive cleaning of the fiber collection apparatus to prevent the build-up of clumps of glass fiber insulation material which can drop into the product and cause a product defect.
Another problem associated with the application of binder to insulation products is that the low molecular weight phenol/formaldehyde binder material does not have some of the desirable characteristics of other, higher molecular weight polymeric material, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene or polyphenylene sulfide (PPS). A primary problem with the low molecular weight binder material is that a curing process is required, and this usually has operating penalties such as the capital and operating cost of a curing oven, the cost of handling pollution problems, degree of cure problems and product integrity problems. If higher molecular weight polymers could be applied to mineral fibers to produce insulation products, some improved features could be realized.
Heretofore, attempts to apply higher molecular weight binders to mineral fibers to produce an insulation product have not met with great success. One of the problems with the attempts to apply higher molecular weight polymers, as well as the lower molecular weight phenol/formaldehyde binders to veils of glass fibers, has been that the application of the material is very uneven, resulting in differences in the amount of the binder material applied to different portions of the insulation product. It would be advantageous to be able to apply these binder materials in a more uniform manner to produce a more uniformly distributed bindered product.
Attempts have been made in the past to integrate organic binder materials with mineral fibers from a rotary process without merely spraying the veil of fibers with an aqueous solution of the binder material. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,123,949 to Thiessen discloses a rotary fiberizing process where additive particles are supplied through the hollow quill or axle of the rotating spinner. The particles are directed toward the veil of mineral fibers from a locus within the veil. The additive particles can be fibrous in nature, such as cellulose fibers, and also can be resinous material in a particulate form.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,584 to Loftus et al. discloses an alternate commingling process where glass rotary fiberizers centrifuging glass fibers, and polymer rotary fiberizers centrifuging polymer fibers, are positioned alternately with each other arranged along a collection surface. The polymer fiberizer can be oriented at an angle to the vertical so that the flow of polymer fibers is directed at an angle into contact with the veil of glass fibers. While the purpose of the alternate commingling process was to decouple the polymer fiber forming environment from the glass fiber forming region, it was perceived to be quite difficult to uniformly integrate the rotary-formed polymer fibers into the veil of glass fibers. The nonuniformities of the rotary polymer process combined with the swirling, chaotic environment of the glass fiber forming would prohibit significant penetration of the polymer fibers into the glass fibers.
Conventional fibrous insulation products for such uses as insulating wall cavities and attic or ceiling spaces in buildings include batts that are compressible for shipping and storage. Such products typically have urea/phenol-formaldehyde binders applied during manufacturing, as explained above. These conventional insulation batts have a high degree of recovery upon opening of the package so that the product will expand to the designed thickness to fill the wall cavity or ceiling cavity and provide the desired insulation value. To achieve even greater economics, it would be advantageous to be able to increase the thermal insulation value of such building insulation products at little or no increase in manufacturing costs. Also, in view of the manufacturing and environmental costs, it would be particularly beneficial to be able to reduce or eliminate the use of organic binder materials. Also, it would be advantageous if there could be developed an improved insulation product integrating polymer or other organic fibers into mineral fibers, such as glass fibers. Such a product should have good thermal properties, good product integrity, low irritation, and good handleability for application in wall or ceiling or wall cavities.

Fibrous insulation having integrated mineral fibers and organic fibers, and building structures insulated with such fibrous insulation

Owens Corning Fiberglas Technology, Inc.


Braking systems and methods for an autonomous vehicle are provided. Braking devices are associated with respective wheels of the autonomous vehicle. A hydraulic circuit is connected between a primary braking module (PBM) and the braking devices and connected between a secondary braking module (SBM) and the braking devices. One of a PBM electronic control unit and a SBM electronic control unit is configured to: in response to detecting a communications failure of the other braking module, apply a predetermined hydraulic pressure operation in the hydraulic circuit. The other of the PBM electronic control unit and the SBM electronic control unit is configured to identify, based on output from the at least one sensor, the predetermined hydraulic pressure operation being applied by the one of the PBM electronic control unit and the SBM electronic control unit, and select and execute a braking profile based thereon.

An autonomous vehicle is a vehicle that is capable of sensing and navigating its environment with little or no user input. Vehicle automation has been categorized into numerical levels ranging from Level Zero, corresponding to no automation with full human control, to Level Five, corresponding to full automation with no human control. Various automated driver-assistance systems, such as cruise control, adaptive cruise control, and parking assistance systems correspond to lower automation levels, while true "driverless" vehicles correspond to higher automation levels. Even though autonomous vehicles have made great advances in recent years, designers continue to seek improvements, particularly with respect to navigation functionality such as trajectory planning.
Some designs of autonomous vehicles have primary and secondary braking modules to provide for redundant braking control. Such modules may communicate with each other and with an autonomous driving controller over a communications bus.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide systems and methods that perform improved braking operation selection when one of the braking modules has a communications failure, particularly systems and methods that do not require core hardware changes in existing communications buses and hydraulic circuitry. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the systems and methods will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background.

Systems and methods for braking in an autonomous vehicle


The invention relates to a small speaker. A speaker 1 comprises: a magnetic circuit 3 having a yoke 7, a magnet 15, and a pole piece 16; a vibration system 4 having a voice coil 18 and diaphragm 19 which are joined to each other through a voice coil bobbin 23; and a frame 2 which holds the magnetic circuit 3 and the vibration system. The voice coil is placed in a magnetic gap 17. In the speaker, dampers 26 which are extended respectively from a plurality of places of an opening side end portion of the voice coil bobbin are disposed, and tip end portions of said dampers are bonded and fixed to the frame. The voice coil bobbin is supported from the lower side. The resistance to input is improved without impairing the thinness of the speaker 1, and while suppressing the increase of the production cost.

Conventionally, a small speaker (dome type) is known in which a damper having a usual structure employed in a large speaker (cone type) to be used in a stereo unit or the like is employed to improve the resistance to input (for example, see Patent Literatures 1 to 3).
A damper is placed between an outer peripheral portion (edge portion) of a diaphragm, and a frame which is disposed below the outer peripheral portion, the outer peripheral edge portion is bonded and fixed to the frame, and the inner peripheral edge portion is bonded and fixed to the outer face of a voice coil bobbin between a voice coil and a middle portion (center portion) of the diaphragm which is above the voice coil, whereby the voice coil is held at a correct position so as to perform accurate piston motion.


A surgical instrument for aligning a surgical tool includes a tool guide in which is provided an opening for receiving and guiding a portion of the surgical tool and a bone engaging element which is adapted to engage a particular region of a bone.. The bone engaging element has a bone engaging surface which has a known orientation relative to the opening in the tool guide. Consequently, when the bone engaging element engages the bone, the opening in the tool guide is correctly aligned with the bone. In a preferred embodiment, the instrumentation is adapted for resecting the distal end of a humerus and the bone engaging element engages the posterior cortex of the distal end of the humerus.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to instrumentation for aligning a surgical tool, and primarily, although not exclusively relates to instrumentation for use in resecting the distal end of a humerus.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
When implanting a total joint prosthesis, it is necessary to resect the ends of the bones which meet at the joint. In the past, resecting has been carried out by eye and relied almost exclusively on the skill of the surgeon. More recently, instrumentation has been produced for resecting the femur or tibia for installation of a total knee prosthesis. Such instrumentation comprises a jig to which is fitted a rod. The rod is inserted into a bore drilled into the intramedullary canal and provides alignment of the jig with the longitudinal axis of the bone. One or more openings are provided in the jig for insertion of a drill bit or saw blade.
Although this conventional instrumentation provides reasonable alignment with the longitudinal axis of the bone, it does not provide rotational alignment of the jig about the longitudinal axis of the bone, so that the surgeon must have considerable skill and experience before he can carry out an accurate bone resection.
The problems of using the conventional instrumentation are accentuated if the distal end of the humerus is damaged by injury or disease, as it is not possible to use the distal end surface as an accurate reference to locate the normal axis of joint movement. The present invention seeks to address these problems.


A device and method for retrieving a tool string from downhole locations through the use of one or more engagement sensors. The one or more engagement sensors are activated by the tool string engaging an overshot device. The one or more engagement sensor may be mechanical, electric, or magnetic and may be located at various locations on the overshot device, the tool string, or both. Additionally, any number of engagement sensors may be used at the same time.

The present disclosure relates to the field of borehole drilling for the production of hydrocarbons from subsurface formations. In particular, the present disclosure relates to fishing operations to recover tool strings.
An example of a fishing operation is the retrieval of a logging tool string that is stuck in a well. Logging tools may become stuck due to encounters with bridges, cave-ins, swelling formations, debris and the like. Often, an overshot device is used to enage the stuck tool string. During fishing operations, it is common practice to circulate mud or other substances down onto the stuck tools to clean the top of the fish that protrudes from the cable head of the tool string, and to determine when the overshot assembly engages the tool string. Typically, when the pump pressure increases, it is assumed that the pressure increase is due to the logging string being swallowed up by the fishing equipment overshot device. Currently, reconnecting the wireline during the fishing operation allows the logging engineer to monitor the down hole tension in order to determine when the drill string is pushing against the tool string and limit the weight that the driller puts down upon the tool string. In this way, the operator can recover the tool in a working condition and continue with the logging operation. It is important that the logging operation continue because the logging operation cost is based largely on the rig operation which is charged on an hourly basis and is generally quite expensive. Recovery of the tool reduces but does not eliminate the possibility that the tool string is dropped when the drill pipe is retrieved to the surface. The problem with the current state of affairs is that the tension increase that is seen by the logging engineer is only an indication that the drill string is pushing on the tool string. The tension increase is not, however, a complete indication that the overshot has actually swallowed the instrument itself or that the tool string is being engaged by the grapple within the overshot device. Instead, the tension increase could be the result of debris or other matter within the borehole itself that is preventing the instrument from being completely grappled by the overshot device.
If the tool string is not properly engaged by the grapple, the tool string may be dropped while the drill pipe is being retrieved to the surface. Unfortunately, dropping the tool string is a familiar occurrence during fishing operations. The weight of the logging tool string is light by comparison to the drill string, and therefore the driller often does not sense the weight of the logging tool string on his weight indicator because it is so small in comparison to the rest of the equipment. Moreover, once the tool string is engaged, circulation is generally impossible or only possible when a pump out sub is run for the express purpose of providing circulation after the fish is engaged. In many cases it is not recommended to circulate because the possibility exists that the fishing neck of the tool string is not properly engaged and the circulation can push the tool string out of the fishing equipment and be lost once again downhole. There is, therefore, a need in the art for some mechanism to ensure proper engagement with the tool string with the overshot device.
While the present invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific exemplary embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Positive engagement indicator for wireline fishing operations


A multi-port microwave coupler has six input ports In 1, In 2, In 3, In 4, In 5 and In 6 and six output ports Out 1, Out 2, Out 3, Out 4, Out 5 and Out 6 and is synthesized from nine 2.times.2 90.degree. hybrid couplers which are arranged as three sets, that is a first set A, B and C, a second set D, E and F and a third set G, H and I. A first group of transmission lines interconnect the first and second sets of hybrid couplers, and a second group of transmission lines interconnect the second and third sets of hybrid couplers The first and third sets of couplers each give a 3 dB power reduction, but the second set give a 1:2 power split between their outputs. Three 90.degree. phase shift, devices X, Y and Z correct the phase of the signals in three of the transmission lines of the second group. When equal amplitude signals are applied to all of the input ports, the combined signal can be directed to any one of the output ports by appropriately selecting the respective phases of the input signals. The first and second groups of transmission lines can be arranged as respective transmission rings so that all cross-overs in the transmission lines are avoided thereby providing a planar realization of a 6.times.6 multi-port microwave coupler. The invention is of application to higher order n.times.n multi-port microwave couplers where n=2.sup.p .times.2.sup.q with both p and q as whole numbers.

This invention relates to a multi-port microwave coupler particularly, but not exclusively, to be used as a part of a beam-forming network for a multi-beam antenna carried by a satellite.
Such multi-port microwave couplers are well-known in the art of microwave frequency transmission and typically comprise a hybrid coupler having four ports, that is two input ports and two output ports. Such hybrid couplers are commonly referred to as 2.times.2 hybrid couplers and have the following characteristics:
1. When a microwave signal is applied to one of the input ports, the complex voltages appearing at both output ports are equal in amplitude, and no power appears at the other input port.
2. When equal-amplitude microwave signals are applied to both of the input ports, all of the power can be made to appear at only one of the output ports by appropriately selecting the relative phases of the two input signals.
However there is a requirement for higher-order couplers in certain applications, for example in beam-forming networks and multiple matrix amplifiers for multi-beam antennas. Such higher-order couplers have equal numbers of input ports and output ports, and a coupler with 2n ports is commonly referred to as a n.times.n coupler. In the case where the hybrid order n is a power of 2, such higher-order couplers can be synthesized from combinations of 2.times.2 hybrid couplers interconnected by transmission lines.
In synthesizing higher-order couplers from 2.times.2 hybrid couplers, the transmission lines interconnecting the 2.times.2 hybrid couplers essentially cross one another. With the simplest higher-order coupler, the hybrid order n is the second power of 2 and only four 2.times.2 hybrid couplers are necessary to provide a 4.times.4 coupler. This arrangement only incurs one "cross-over" between the transmission lines and it is known to rearrange the positions of the four 2.times.2 hybrid couplers to avoid this single "cross-over".
Multi-port couplers of even higher orders can be synthesized from 2.times.2 hybrid couplers to give an n.times.n coupler where n=2.sup.(2+p) and p is a whole number. Thus, when p=1 an 8.times.8 coupler can be achieved, when p=2 a 16.times.16 coupler, when p=3 a 32.times.32 coupler, and so on. Existing 8.times.8 couplers involve many cross-overs with the result that the transmission lines become a complex multi-layer strucrure.
Such cross-overs in the transmission lines may be implemented in various ways. For example, in stripline, microstrip and similar realizations, the 2.times.2 hybrid couplers can be fitted with connectors and external semi-rigid cables can be used for the transmission lines. In microstrip realizations, bridges of wire, foil or cable can be used. In "square-ax" realizations, bridging devices can be used. In waveguide realizations, combinations of waveguide bends can be used. Also multi-layer microstrip or stripline devices could be designed.
In all of the above realizations, the requirement for cross-overs incurs penalties in the mass, size and complexity of any synthesized multi-port coupler in which n=2.sup.(2+p), and such penalties are problematic in satellite applications where lightness, smallness and simplicity are important.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-port microwave coupler where n=2.sup.p .times.3.sup.q with p and q as whole numbers. The simplest hybrid coupler of this definition is a 6.times.6 coupler which is achieved when p=1 and q=1. It is an ancillary object of this invention to minimize the number of cross-overs in such multi-port microwave couplers.

Multi-port microwave coupler utilized in a beam forming network


In a conventional method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, there are problems that a concave part is formed in a formation region of an isolation region, no flat surface is formed in the isolation region, and a wiring layer is disconnected above the concave part. In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device of the present invention, when a silicon oxide film used for a STI method is removed, an HTO film covering an inner wall of a trench is partially removed to form a concave part in an isolation region. Thereafter, a TEOS film is deposited on an epitaxial layer including the concave part and is etched back. Accordingly, an insulating spacer is buried in the concave part. Thus, an upper surface of the isolation region becomes a substantially flat surface. Consequently, even if a wiring layer is formed above the concave part in the isolation region, disconnection thereof can be prevented. Moreover, in the isolation region, the substantially flat surface makes it possible to form a passive element such as a capacity element.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an element isolation technology in a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, there is a technology of realizing flatness and miniaturization of a surface of a semiconductor layer by use of a STI (shallow trench isolation) method instead of a LOCOS (local oxidation of silicon) method. A groove formed by the STI method is filled with an insulating film, and a thermal oxide film is formed on a sidewall of a trench formed from an upper surface of the insulating layer. Thereafter, by use of a CVD (chemical vapor deposition) method, the trench is filled with a CVD oxide film. Thus, an isolation region is formed. This technology is described for instance in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei 9-8119 (p. 7 to 9, FIGS. 2 to 10).
As described above, in the conventional method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, after a thermal oxide film and a silicon nitride film are selectively formed on a surface of an epitaxial layer, a first shallow groove is formed by use of the STI method. Thereafter, a CVD oxide film is formed on the epitaxial layer so as to fill up the first shallow groove. Subsequently, a first round of CMP method (chemical mechanical polishing) is performed to etch back the CVD oxide film and form a flat surface. Accordingly, a second deep groove is formed from an upper surface of the CVD oxide film, and an element isolation region is formed.
Next, after a thermal oxide film is formed first on a sidewall of the second deep groove, a CVD oxide film is formed on the epitaxial layer, and the second deep groove is filled with the CVD oxide film. Thereafter, by use of a silicon nitride film as a stopper film, a second round of CMP method is performed to etch back the CVD oxide film. Subsequently, after the silicon nitride film used for the STI method is removed by etching, the thermal oxide film below the silicon nitride film is removed.
In this event, by use of the conventional method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, a part of the CVD oxide film in the second deep groove is also removed when the thermal oxide film is removed due to an etching rate ratio between the thermal oxide film and the CVD oxide film. Particularly, in the isolation region, a concave part is formed with respect to the surface of the epitaxial layer in the other region. Thus, there is a problem that it is difficult to form a passive element on an upper surface of the isolation region in which the concave part is formed. Moreover, there is a problem that the concave part causes a wiring layer formed on the upper surface of the isolation region to be easily disconnected.

Method for manufacturing semiconductor device


The present invention relates to three novel genes and polypeptides derived therefrom encoding “α2δ-C” and/or “α2δ-D” proteins which exist as a subunit in many calcium channels. The invention also describes methods for using the novel gene and polypeptides in the detection of genetic deletions of the gene, subcellular localization of the polypeptide, binding assays in connection with chemical databases, gene therapy.

The voltage activated calcium channels ("VSCCs") of vertebrates have been shown to be involved in a variety of different physiological processes including muscle contraction, insulin release from the pancreas, and neurotransmitter release in the nervous system (Greenberg D. Annals of Neurology, 1997;42:275-82; Catterall W. A., Trends in Neurosciences, 1993;16:500-506; Catterall W., Epstein P. N., Diabetologia, 35(Suppl 2:S23-33) 1992; Birnbaumer L., et al., Neuron., 1994:13; Rorsman P., et al., Diabete. Metab., 1994;20:138-145).
VSCCs are most highly expressed in excitable tissues including brain, skeletal muscle, and heart. They are multiprotein complexes composed of a central α1 pore-forming subunit variably associated with beta, gamma, and/or an α2δ subunit. Nine different functional classes of VSCCs have been described, based on biophysical and pharmacological studies. These functional classes are mainly determined by the α1 subunit composition. The beta, gamma, and α2δ subunits modulate channel function, affecting the kinetics of activation and inactivation, voltage-dependence, peak amplitude, and ligand binding. Walker N., De Waard M., Trends in Neurosciences, 1998;21(4):148-154.
A number of compounds useful in treating various diseases in animals, including humans, are thought to exert their beneficial effects by modulating functions of voltage-dependent calcium channels. Many of these compounds bind to calcium channels and alter cellular calcium flux in response to a depolarizing signal. However, a lack of understanding of the structure of channel subunits and the genes that code for them has hampered scientists both in discerning the pharmacology of compounds that interact with calcium channels and in the ability to rationally design compounds that will interact with calcium channels to have desired therapeutic effects. The lack of understanding is due in part to the fact that it has not been possible to obtain the large amounts of highly purified channel subunits that are required to understand, at the molecular level, the nature of the subunits and their interactions with one another, with the cell membranes across which the channels allow calcium ions to pass, with calcium and other ions, and with low molecular weight compounds that affect channel function.
Further, the lack of information on genes that code for calcium channel subunits has prevented the understanding of the molecular properties of the mature calcium channel subunits and their precursor proteins (i.e., the mature subunits with signal peptides appended to the amino-terminus) and the regulation of expression of calcium channel subunits. An understanding of these properties, and of how expression of calcium channel subunits genes is regulated, may provide the basis for designing therapeutic agents which have beneficial effects through affecting calcium channel function or concentration. Furthermore, the availability of sequences of genes coding for calcium channel subunits would make possible the diagnosis of defects, which might underlie a number of diseases, in genes coding for such subunits.
Expression experiments in Xenopus oocytes have demonstrated that in order to produce fully functional calcium channels, the α1 and α2δ subunits must both be expressed. Absence of the α2δ subunit results in a nonfunctional channel, even though the α1 subunit, through which ions flow, is fully expressed. Indeed, not only the ion flux through these channels, but the pharmacological properties of the α1 are different in the absence of the α2δ subunit. The α2δ subunit, therefore, is a critical component of VSCCs and one that must be studied if one is to better characterize VSCC function.
A detailed understanding of VSCC operation is beginning to reveal some mechanisms for interceding in the progression of diseases associated with abnormal VSCC functions. U.S. Pat. No. 5,618,720, which issued Apr. 8, 1997, references α1 and α2δ subunits and the polynucleotide sequences that encode the subunits. The publication, however, does not disclose any additional α2δ subunits and in light of the importance of the α2δ subunit, it can be understood that the identification and characterization of new α2δ subunits and the genes encoding these subunits would advance molecular genetic and pharmacological studies to understand the relations between the structure and the function of VSCCs.
Also, a further understanding of the biochemical mechanisms behind these subunits and their effect on mammals may lead to new opportunities for treating and diagnosing diseases related to abnormal (high or low) VSCC operation. Stated another way, a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of VSCC operation will allow improved design of therapeutic drugs that treat diseases related to abnormal VSCC expression, and specifically abnormal α2δ expression.
The cDNAs, oligonucleotides, peptides, antibodies for the α2δ proteins, which are the subject of this invention, provide a plurality of tools for studying VSCC operations in various cells and tissues and for diagnosing and selecting inhibitors or drugs with the potential to intervene in various disorders or diseases in which altered α2δ expression is implicated. Such disease states affected include epilepsy and other seizure-related syndromes, migraine, ataxia and other vestibular defects (for review, Terwindt, G M et. Al., Eur J Hum Genet 1998 July-August; 6(4):297-307), chronic pain (Backonja M, JAMA 1998 Dec. 2;280(21):1831-6), mood, sleep interference (Rowbotham M, JAMA 1998 December 2;280(21):1837-42), anxiety (Singh et al., Psychopharmocology 1996 Sep. 127(1): 1-9), ALS (Mazzini L et. Al., J Neurol Sci 1998 October, 160 Suppl 1:S57-63), multiple sclerosis (Metz L, Semin Neurol 1998;18(3):389-95), mania (Erfurth A, et al., J Psychiatr Res 1998 September-October; 32(5):261-4), tremor (Evidente V G, et al., Mov Disord 1998 September; 13(5):829-31), parkinsonism (Olson W L, et al., Am J Med 1997 January; 102(1):60-6) substance abuse/addiction syndromes (Watson, W P et al., Neuropharmacology 1997 October; 36(10):1369-75), depression, and cancer, since at least one α2δ gene is located in a region of the genome which is thought to harbor an important tumor suppressor gene (Kok K., et al., Adv Cancer Res 1997;71:27-92).
The α2δ gene is also thought to play a part in proliferative diseases other than cancer, such as inflammation. Treatment with compounds which bind to α2δ lead to changes in the signal transduction mechanism of certain proteins. This includes altered levels of MEK (eg, MEK1 and MEK2) which activates the MAP kinase. Inhibitors of MEK appear to mimic the analgesic activities associated with the binding of gabapentin to α2δ. Activation of MAP kinase by mitogens appears to be essential for proliferation, and constitutive activation of this kinase is sufficient to induce cellular transformation.


A designated position of a topographic object provided in a virtual game space is detected from a position on a screen designated by an operation device. A shape of topography at the detected designated position of the topographic object and in a vicinity thereof, into a shape whose height is gradually changed, depending on a distance from the designated position. When the movable object contacts the topographic object, a physical calculation is performed with respect to a contact surface based on the changed shape, and based on a result of the calculation, movement of the movable object is controlled.

Conventionally, there is a technique of changing a background, such as topography or the like, in a game space so as to enhance the sense of realism of a game. For example, when a player character which is a giant robot hits a building, it is displayed that the building collapses, or when the giant robot lands from a high position to a road, it is displayed that the road at its feet becomes dented, thereby enhancing the sense of realism or the reality of a game (e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-224849). There is also a technique of displaying an image of topography having a shape which varies in units of several frames, so as to represent vertically undulating topography, in a horizontal scroll shooting game (e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 11-53572).
However, regarding a change in a background disclosed in the above-described patent documents, a background object, such as topography or the like, is changed by a player operating a player character. In other words, it is not that the player directly designates a background object, such as topography or the like, and changes a shape thereof.
Therefore, a feature of certain exemplary embodiments is to provide a recording medium recording a game program in which a player is caused to directly designate a topographic object, and change a shape thereof at the designated position so that the object is moved, and a game system and a game apparatus.
The certain exemplary embodiments described herein have the following features. Note that reference numerals, additional descriptions and the like inside parentheses in this section indicate correspondence to embodiments described below for the sake of easy understanding, and do not restrict the certain exemplary embodiments described herein.
A first exemplary embodiment relates to a recording medium recording a game program which is executed by a computer in a game apparatus to which a display device and an operation device are connected, wherein a game image in which a topographic object and a movable object are provided in a virtual game space is displayed on a screen of the display device. The game program comprises a designated position detecting step (S32), a shape changing step (S37, S39), and a movable object controlling step (S4, S6, S8). The designated position detecting step detects a designated position of the topographic object designated by the operation device. The shape changing step changes a shape of topography at the detected designated position of the topographic object and in a vicinity thereof, into a shape whose height is gradually changed, depending on a distance from the designated position. The movable object controlling step, when the movable object contacts the topographic object, performs a physical calculation with respect to a contact surface based on the shape changed by the shape changing step, and based on a result of the calculation, controls movement of the movable object.
In a second exemplary embodiment based on the first exemplary embodiment, the shape changing step includes determining a height of the designated position to be a predetermined height, and changing a surrounding shape into a shape whose vertical difference from a surface of the topographic object before deformation gradually decreases with an increase in a distance from the designated position.
In a third exemplary embodiment based on the first exemplary embodiment, the game program further comprises an operation data obtaining step (S30) of obtaining first operation data or second operation data from the operation device. The shape changing step changes the heights of the topographic object at the designated position and in the vicinity thereof toward a first direction when the first operation data is obtained in the operation data obtaining step, and changes the heights of the topographic object at the designated position and in the vicinity thereof toward a second direction different from the first direction when the second operation data is obtained in the operation data obtaining step.
In a fourth exemplary embodiment based on the first exemplary embodiment, the game program further comprises a restoring step of restoring the shape of the topographic object deformed by the shape changing step into a shape before the deformation.
In a fifth exemplary embodiment based on the first exemplary embodiment, the topographic object is composed of a plurality of polygons. The shape changing step includes a distance calculating step (S37, S39), a change amount calculating step (S37, S39), and a changing step (S37, S39). The distance calculating step calculates a distance between the designated position of the topographic object and vertices of the plurality of polygons. The change amount calculating step calculates a change amount of a height of each of the vertices of the plurality of polygons. The changing step changes a position of each of the vertices of the plurality of polygons based on the change amount.
In a sixth exemplary embodiment based on the first exemplary embodiment, the game program further comprises a restoring step (S1) of restoring the shape of the topographic object deformed by the shape changing step into a shape before the deformation. The restoring step calculates a change amount of a height of each of the vertices of the plurality of polygons so that the height approaches heights of vertices around the vertex.
In a seventh exemplary embodiment based on the fifth exemplary embodiment, the movable object controlling step includes a movement amount calculating step (S4, S8) of calculating a movement amount of the movable object by performing a physical calculation based on the change amount calculated by the change amount calculating step, and a moving step (S4, S8) of moving the movable object based on the movement amount.
In an eighth exemplary embodiment based on the fifth exemplary embodiment, the game program further comprises a normal vector calculating step (S8) and a gravity vector calculating step (S4). The normal vector calculating step calculates normal vectors of the plurality of polygons changed by the changing step. The gravity vector calculating step calculates a gravity vector pointing immediately downward in the virtual game space. The movable object controlling step includes a movement direction setting step of performing a physical calculation based on the normal vector and the gravity vector, thereby setting a movement direction of the movable object.
In a ninth exemplary embodiment based on the seventh or eighth exemplary embodiments, specific process information is set for a portion of the plurality of polygons. The game program further comprises a determining step and a movement information correcting step. The determining step determines whether or not the specific process information is set for a polygon which the movable object contacts. The movement information correcting step, when it is determined in the determining step that the specific process information is set, corrects at least one of the movement amount calculated by the movement amount calculating step and the movement direction calculated by the movement direction setting step. The moving step moves the movable object based on the at least one of the movement amount and the movement direction corrected by the movement information correcting step.
In a tenth exemplary embodiment based on the first exemplary embodiment, the game executed by the game program is a ball game in which the movable object is a ball, and the ball is moved toward a target enclosed by a target frame, and a point is gained by putting the ball into the target frame. An operation of moving the ball toward the target frame is an operation of causing an object to be operated to perform shooting.
An eleventh exemplary embodiment is directed to a game system comprising a display device (2), an operation device (7), a designated position detecting section (10), a shape changing section (10), and a movable object controlling section (10). The display device displays a game image in which a topographic object and a movable object are provided in a virtual game space. The designated position detecting section detects a designated position of the topographic object designated by the operation device. The shape changing section changes a shape of topography at the detected designated position of the topographic object and in a vicinity thereof, into a shape whose height is gradually changed, depending on a distance from the designated position. The movable object controlling section, when the movable object contacts the topographic object, performs a physical calculation with respect to a contact surface based on the shape changed by the shape changing step, and based on a result of the calculation, controls movement of the movable object.
A twelfth exemplary embodiment is directed to a game apparatus to which a display device (2) and an operation device (7) are connected, wherein a game image in which a topographic object and a movable object are provided in a virtual game space is displayed on a screen of the display device. The game apparatus comprises a designated position detecting section (10), a shape changing section (10), and a movable object controlling section (10). The designated position detecting section detects a designated position of the topographic object designated by the operation device. The shape changing section changes a shape of topography at the detected designated position of the topographic object and in a vicinity thereof, into a shape whose height is gradually changed, depending on a distance from the designated position. The movable object controlling section, when the movable object contacts the topographic object, performs a physical calculation with respect to a contact surface based on the shape changed by the shape changing step, and based on a result of the calculation, controls movement of the movable object.
According to the first exemplary embodiment, a movable object can be indirectly operated by deforming a topographic object according to a user's intention. Therefore, it is possible to provide a game having a novel sense of operation.
According to the second exemplary embodiment, a convex or concave can be formed around a designated position as a center on topography. Thereby, it is possible to provide a game having a novel sense of operation, i.e., movement of a movable object using the convex and concave.
According to the third exemplary embodiment, a player can select a deformation direction of topography. Thereby, the variety of strategies of a game can be increased, resulting in a more interesting game.
According to the fourth exemplary embodiment, it is possible to restore deformed topography. Thereby, it can be expressed that the deformed topography is gradually made flat.
According to the fifth exemplary embodiment, deformation of topography composed of polygons is processed by computation with respect to vertices of the polygon. Therefore, a change in the shape of topography can be expressed in a more realistic manner.
According to the sixth exemplary embodiment, it is possible to perform computation based on the heights of vertices of surrounding polygons. Therefore, it can be expressed that topography is gradually made fat.
According to the seventh exemplary embodiment, a physical calculation is performed based on a change amount of a polygon of a topographic object. Therefore, it can be more naturally expressed that a movable object is moved, by the shape of topography being changed.
According to the eighth exemplary embodiment, a movement direction of a movable object is determined based on a normal vector and a gravity vector of a polygon of deformed topography. Therefore, it can be more naturally expressed that a movable object is moved in various directions, depending on a change in topography.
According to the ninth exemplary embodiment, when a movable object is located at a predetermined position, it is possible to cause the movable object to perform a specific movement.
According to the tenth exemplary embodiment, a ball game can be made more exciting.
According to the eleventh and twelfth exemplary embodiments, an effect similar to that of the first exemplary embodiment can be obtained.
These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments will become more apparent from the following detailed description of these certain exemplary embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Recording medium recording game program, and game system


A water activation device efficiently activates water and maintains its activation performance over a long period of time. The water activation device includes a conductive body having an in-flow opening and an out-flow opening, a cover member that coats the outer perimeter of the body through insulation material and is insulated from water pipes, a plurality of holders overlapped with one another in an axial direction of the body, and a plurality of activation material units each being formed in a cylindrical block containing minerals as a main component. The activation material units are held in a retainer of the holder without contacting with one another. Each of the holders is formed of a retainer having a plurality of flow openings.

In the natural world, rain and snow accumulated in the mountains permeate the ground and become groundwater. After a while, the groundwater becomes spring water and forms the headstream of a river. During this process, the water becomes reduced either by the subdivision of the hydrogen bond group (cluster) of water molecules caused by infrared rays, negative ion actions, or magnetic actions of minerals and rocks, or by receiving the electrons generated by the friction between water molecules created from collision against the rocks or waterfall. The water in such condition is called activated water, and various effects of the activated condition are gradually lost since the activated condition cannot be maintained for a long period of time.
Therefore, a water activation device has been developed by applying the principle of this activation process, where the water losing its activation effect is reactivated by water flow friction which is caused by flowing and stirring the city water through ceramic baked particles placed in the internal space.
However, the limited length of the water passage in the conventional activation process gives rise to problems such as insufficiency in activation effect and fails in subdividing the water molecules and lowering a voltage of oxidation-reduction. Also, in the activation device having a structure that the ceramic baking particles are mixed together and collide against each other by the water flow, the water flow often becomes sluggish because the particles are unevenly distributed, which results in losing the water pressure. Moreover, the wearing-out of the ceramic baking particles over a long period of time reduces the amount of the ceramic baking particles and causes problems such as losing the activation effect and requiring maintenance works for replacing the ceramic baking particles.
As described in the foregoing, there is a need for a water activation device that can overcome the drawbacks of the conventional technology.


An electrostatic room air cleaner includes a housing having a given profile and a plurality of electrostatic precipitation collector units arrayed in the housing with a common fan to circulate room air through the plurality of electrostatic precipitation collector units simultaneously. A total clean air delivery rate is delivered that is determined as the arithmetic sum of the clean air delivery rates of the plurality of electrostatic precipitation collector units arrayed in the housing of given profile. The greater the number of units arrayed, the smaller may be their size, and the easier they are to handle, maintain and replace.

Electrostatic precipitator room air cleaners are desirable since they effectively and efficiently remove smoke, pollen, dust and other airborne particulates while they require no filter replacement. Generally speaking, the greater their total collector plate area is, the bigger the clean air delivery rate provided, and the larger is the room area that may be serviced thereby.
Commonly positioned in living rooms, offices and other living or working areas, electrostatic room air cleaners need to fit in, or at least not clash with, the general aesthetic or look and feel of the use environment. For a typically sized two hundred thirty (230) square-foot room, a clean air delivery rate of about one hundred fifty (150) is needed.
The heretofore known electrostatic precipitator room air cleaners typically traded performance against appearance. On the one hand, electrostatic precipitator room air cleaners with tower designs having small footprints (or other desirable profiles) tended to provide less than sufficient clean air delivery rates, requiring the use of several such units to service typically sized rooms. The use of multiple units undesirably adds to general room clutter and multiplies expense. On the other hand, single electrostatic room air cleaners having the larger collector plate areas needed to service rooms of typical size often involved aesthetically undesirable box or other bulky designs that may be too costly for the average consumer. Moreover, the larger collector plates needed to service rooms of typical size tended to be difficult to handle, clean and replace during routine maintenance.
There is thus a need for a readily serviceable electrostatic precipitator type room air cleaner affordable by the average consumer having a tower or other desirable profile servicing rooms of typical size.


A clamping mechanism is provided for mixing apparatuses and other apparatuses that utilize clamping mechanisms. The clamping mechanism incorporates a clutch mechanism which prevents overtightening of the clamp mechanism in the closed or clamping direction. Also, the clamping mechanism incorporates a plurality of pins that serve as a stop to prevent the traveling arm of the clamp mechanism from being tightened against the stationary arm and further serve as a bias for the clutch mechanism to bias the male and female clutch components into a mating engagement thereby enabling the clamping mechanism to be easily rotated out of the fully open position and prevent a jamming of the clamping mechanism in the fully open position.

The present invention is directed toward clutch mechanisms and, more specifically, to clutch mechanisms for clamping apparatuses that are movable between a clamping position and a fully open position. Still more specifically, the present invention is directed toward a clutch mechanism for a clamping apparatus that biases the male and female clutch elements together when the clamping apparatus is in a fully open position to prevent clutch slippage in the fully open position.
Clamping mechanisms are employed in a number of different apparatuses, one type of which includes mixing apparatuses. Specifically, apparatuses that mix materials in a container by shaking or vibrating require a clamping mechanism to hold the container in place during the mixing process. An example of such a mixing apparatus is shown and described in the commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,601, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein.
Clamping apparatuses that are used to hold containers and other objects in position on a support plate or between two clamping plates typically include a clutch mechanism to prevent overtightening of the clamp mechanism. Typically, the clutch mechanism includes a female clutch plate with a plurality of grooves for accommodating teeth of the opposing male clutch plate. The teeth of the male clutch plate are typically angled in one direction thereby enabling the teeth to slip out of the grooves if the clamping mechanism and clutch plates are rotated with a force sufficient to cause overtightening of the clamp mechanism. Thus, clutch slippage is intended to be allowed in only one rotational direction (i.e. clamp tightening) and locked in an opposite direction (i.e. clamp loosening).
In addition to having a fully clamped or clamping position, clamp mechanisms typically have a fully open or release position which is arrived at when the moving clamp member engages a stop or frame member that prevents any further rotation of the clamp mechanism in the open direction. A problem has arisen in connection with these types of clamp mechanisms because operators who are attempting to work at a fast pace have the tendency of rotating the clamp mechanism in the open direction to the extent where the clamp mechanism can become jammed in the fully open position. Specifically, the operator will rotate the clamp mechanism towards the fully open position at such a rate that the moving clamp member becomes tightened against the stop or frame member that prevents any further movement towards the open position. This inadvertent tightening must be overcome by rotating the handle or actuator of the clamp mechanism back towards the clamping direction. However, as discussed above, clamping systems include a clutch mechanism which is designed to slip in the event the operator attempts to overtighten the clamping system in the closed or clamped position. The force required to cause the male and female clutch elements to slip is often small enough so that the male and female clutch elements often slip when the operator is attempting to unjam the clamping apparatus from the fully open position.
In short, by overtightening the clamp apparatus into the fully open position, the clutch mechanism, which prevents overtightening of the clamping apparatus in the clamped or closed position, can also prevent the unjamming of the clamping apparatus from the jammed fully-open position. As a result, the apparatus must be disassembled in order to unjam the clamping apparatus. Of course, this causes great inconvenience and makes the mixing apparatus unusable until the clamping mechanism is unjammed.
As a result, there is a need for an improved clamping mechanism for mixing apparatuses and other apparatuses that employ a clamping mechanism which can prevent the clamping mechanism from being jammed in the fully open position while permitting the clamping mechanism to employ a clutch mechanism to prevent overtightening of the clamping mechanism in the clamped or fully closed position.

Anti-jamming clutch mechanism for a clamping apparatus


An information reading apparatus such as a handheld personal device comprises a memory having a plurality of cells arranged in a two-dimensional array of rows and columns. Each cell stores a symbol image to be displayed on a screen. When a matrix array of cells is displayed, a cursor key is used to select one of the displayed cells as a candidate by moving a selection point by one cell at a time in response to a user's operation and is used to enter a user's decision command when a desired candidate is displayed at the center of the screen. A matrix array of cells including the selected cell and its neighbor cells are read from the memory and displayed so that the selected cell is positioned at the center of the screen. The processes of reading and displaying are repeated in response to a user's operation until the user's decision command is entered.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information reading apparatus such as a handheld personal device with a screen for displaying stored images and more specifically to an information reading apparatus capable of wirelessly reading a printed code such as one-dimensional bar codes, two-dimensional codes, printed characters, or stored data from RFID tags and IC cards.
2. Description of the Related Art
Handheld personal devices such as mobile telephones and personal digital assistant (PDA) are provided with an LCD screen and a key arrangement for allowing the user to enter data, switch screens, point a menu item on the screen and select a desired operating function and mode of the device. To make the device easy to use, a pointing device is provided on the rear surface of the device as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication 2004-32548.
In prior art display systems, it is the usual practice to group and organize items to be displayed into a tree structure as shown in FIG. 14. If the user wants to select one of items B221 and B222, he has to select the item A2 on the root screen A0, which is initially displayed, to open the selected screen image and proceeds to select the item A22 on the screen of item A2 to open the image of the selected item A22, which shows symbols urging the user to choose one of the items B221 and B222. While this tree-structured approach allows the user to access a desired item with no knowledge of the whole structure, the number of successively key operations would become substantial and take a long time to reach the intended item. If the user desires to change screens from the item B222 to the adjacent item B311, for example, he must first return to the root image A0 and then proceed to successively select screen images of items A3, A31 and B311, with a total of six key operations. This problem can be solved only if a large screen is used. This solution is impractical for handheld personal devices.

Information reading apparatus with a screen for displaying stored symbol images


An external turning tool includes an elongated tool body with opposite clamping and cutting portions which define an axial direction therebetween. The cutting portion includes a damping mechanism with an elongated damping member which defines an elongation axis. The elongation axis forms a non-zero damping member angle with the axial direction.

In the current field it is known that the damping effect, or vibration suppression, created by a damping mechanism in a turning tool is influenced mainly by three parameters: A) Damping member weight; B) Distance between a damping member center of mass and the clamping portion which is secured in a CNC machine; and C) Turning tool stiffness. To maximize the damping effect, these parameters are optimized/chosen per the machining application and/or turning tool geometry. In most scenarios, all three parameters are preferably maximized.
Typical damped turning tools of the field have a relatively large length-to-width ratio, and have clamping and cutting portions and a tool body which extends therebetween. In a clamped position in the CNC machine, at least a portion of the clamping portion is rigidly clamped in the CNC machine, while the tool body and cutting portions are cantilevered therefrom. A typical damping mechanism includes a confined, elongated damping member which lies within a damping cavity, or damping recess, along the elongated tool body. The damping member interacts with the turning tool via a viscous and/or elastic material. To maximize the size/weight of the damping member, the required damping recess leaves the tool body with only a thin peripheral envelope. This type of damping mechanism considerably reduces tool stiffness compared to tools with a solid/full tool body which does not include a damping mechanism therein. In summary, the above described damped turning tools maximize the damping member weight, at the expense of tool, or tool body, stiffness and the distance between the damping member center of mass and the clamping portion.
Generally, an effective non-damped turning tool, among other features, must have an appropriately rigid structure and should be cost-efficient. Designing such a tool becomes even more complex, when a damping mechanism is to be implemented. Specifically—finding an appropriate location, orientation and/or enough space for a sufficiently heavy damping member while both preserving tool structure rigidity and proper tool clearance. The current invention provides a vibration damping solution for external turning tools which overcomes the aforementioned problems.

External turning tool having a cutting portion with a transverse elongated damping mechanism