An infrared data transmission and reception system capable of avoiding adverse effects due to infrared external noises includes a data transmitting circuit and a data receiving circuit of which the former is so constructed as to add a signal-free region of a predetermined length or a trailer to the terminating end of each of the frames of a data bit pulse train and the latter is so constructed as to discriminate between transmitted data and external noise by detecting whether or not the region corresponding to the trailer is signal-free with respect to a detected output, whereby a proper encoding output is generated on the basis of the discrimination.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an infrared data transmission-reception system capable of transmitting and receiving various kinds of data such as command data for remote-controlling electronic equipment.
2. Description of Prior Art
The conventional infrared data transmission-reception system comprising data transmitting means and data receiving means has widely been put to practical use as, for example, a remote operating means for controlling electronic equipment through an infrared remote controller. The data transmitting means is capable of generating various kinds of data in the form of infrared signals obtained as a result of modulating data bit pulses and the data receiving means is capable of obtaining predetermined data from the data bit pulses obtained by demodulating the infrared signals generated from the data transmitting means.
There are various types of electronic equipment such as a television receiver, disk player, VCR, air conditioner and etc., which can be operated by a distant user in various kinds of modes through a remote controller for generating infrared signals.
The remote controller exclusively used for the above-mentioned electronic equipment generates a command signal coded in a specific format in correspondence to the operation designated by the user and the command signal is then converted into an infrared signal by a light-emitting diode so as to be transmitted as an output to the electronic equipment. The electronic equipment is provided with an infrared receiving unit and a demodulating unit of which the former detects the outputted infrared signal and the latter demodulates the signal into an electrical command signal to be inputted to a system control unit which performs a control operation based on the command signal.
In FIG. 6, there is conceptually shown the structure of an infrared remote control system mounted in a monitor television receiver, stereo system amplifier and etc., wherein reference numeral 1 designates a remote controller as a data transmitting means which is provided with an operating key 1a and a rotary operating section 1b so as to allow the user to perform a predetermined operation by pressing the key or rotating the rotary section whereby predetermined control data (data bit pulses) is generated and outputted from an infrared output section 1c after the data is modulated.
On the other hand, designated by reference numeral 2 is an infrared receiving unit arranged within the body of the electronic equipment so as to act as a data receiving means. This unit 2 receives infrared control data generated from the remote controller 1 and demodulates it into an electrical signal. The demodulated control data (command signal) is then supplied to a microcomputer 3 as an equipment control means which latter supplies control signals to predetermined processing circuits (4a, 4b, 4c) such as an video signal processing unit, audio signal processing unit, tuning unit, power source circuit and etc. mounted in the electronic equipment, in accordance with the control data it receives, thereby performing predetermined processings.
The above-mentioned remote controller 1 as the data transmitting means and the infrared receiving unit 2 as the data receiving means are constructed as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, for example.
Regarding the remote controller 1, when operation information is supplied to an encoder 11 from the operating key 1a or rotary operating section 1b, a train of data bit pulses as a command signal is outputted in correspondence to the operation and supplied to a modulation unit 12 which has a carrier of e.g., 40 kHz supplied from a carrier generating unit 13. In the modulation unit 12, the 40 kHz carrier is modulated by the train of data bit pulses from the encoder 11 and the modulated signal is supplied to an infrared output unit 14. Thus, when the modulating signal performs ON/OFF drive on a transistor T.sub.R, an infrared output corresponding to the modulating signal is obtained from a light-emitting diode D.
Meanwhile, the infrared receiving unit 2 receives the infrared output through its light-receiving section 21, and after converting the output into an electrical signal, supplies the converted signal to a detection circuit 23 through an amplification circuit 22 to thereby obtain a train of data bit pulses. The train of data bit pulses thus obtained is then decoded by a decoder 24 so that, for example, control data (a command signal) to be supplied to the microcomputer 3 may be obtained.
Recently, an inverter-based high-frequency fluorescent lamp has become widespread as an indoor illumination device. However, since such type of illumination device performs a lighting operation by using pulses of around 40 kHz, the infrared output from the illumination device has had a signal waveform quite similar to that of the infrared output (40 kHz carrier) from the remote controller 1 and accordingly, there has arisen a problem of the electronic equipment operating erroneously when the illumination device is lighted.
To meet this problem, it has been practiced that for example, the frequency band of the remote controller is shifted from that of the illumination device such that the carrier of the remote controller 1 is made to fall in the range of 33.about.40 kHz while the pulses from the illumination device fall within the range of 40.about.50 kHz, thereby avoiding the occurrence of mutual interference.
However, where the incident light is intense, the amplification circuit 22 of the infrared receiving unit 2 is saturated to become inoperative and when the inverter-based high-frequency fluorescent lamp has become further popularized and become versatile in type as having a plurality of unit lamps with a plurality of inverters, there arise beats among infrared pulses with, the wave form of the beats becoming quite similar to that of the infrared output of the remote controller 1 which results in that the command signal can not be distinguished from external noises causing the electronic equipment to operate erroneously and the accuracy of the remote-controlling operation can not be sufficiently maintained by mere division of the frequency band.
The data bit pulse modulating signal from the remote controller 1 comprises a train of bits as shown in FIG. 9(a) which is formed of a gathering of bursts of 33.about.40 kHz with a predetermined bit train forming one frame and the signal is outputted repeatedly per frame. The modulating signal comprising such frame unit bit train comes to be present at the output of the light-receiving section 21 of the infrared receiving unit 2 and is detected at a detection circuit 23 to thereby obtain the data bit pulses as shown in FIG. 9(b).
Next, where the infrared receiving unit 2 has received the infrared output from an inverter-based signal fluorescent lamp, a continuous 40 kHz level signal shown in FIG. 9(c) appears at the output of the light-receiving section 21 but when there is no alternating change, it is easy to make any detected output unobtainable. Further, although there is sometimes a case in which a detected output as shown in FIG. 9(d) appears due to a weak input of a level close to the operation-start level of the detection circuit 23 or due to an alternating fluctuation caused by a ripple on the fluorescent lamp power source, such output can be discriminated sufficiently at a decoder 24 because it is in the form of random pulses and it is therefore possible to avoid generation of any erroneous operation on the electronic equipment.
Now, where two fluorescent lamps are lighted with two inverters, respectively, both of the inverters generate stabilized sine waves (e.g., 45.000 kHz and 45.660 kHz) so that beats generate due to a frequency difference between infrared pulses and a ripple output having a beat frequency envelope formed therein as shown in FIG. 9(e) is outputted from the light-receiving section 21. This ripple output is generated as an accurate pulse train as shown in FIG. 9(f) at the detection circuit 23 and is sometimes decoded erroneously by the decoder 24. That is, it sometimes happens that an erroneous operation takes place on the electronic equipment.
Further, where an additional fluorescent lamp with an inverter of 45.010 kHz is lighted simultaneously with the above-mentioned two fluorescent lamps, the output of the light-receiving section 21 which has received the infrared outputs from these fluorescent lamps will be as shown in FIG. 9(g) so that the detected output will be as shown in FIG. 9(h). In other words, a predetermined frame period generates on the detected output so that the output becomes more similar to the infrared output from the remote controller 1 resulting in a great increase in the probability of generation of an erroneous operation.
Moreover, with an increase in the number of inverter-based fluorescent lamps lighted simultaneously, it becomes difficult for the infrared receiving unit 2 to distinguish between the infrared output from the remote controller and the noises from the fluorescent lamps.

Infrared data transmission-reception system


A speech synthesis system for receiving input information from navigational equipment and for producing selected audio output signals associated with the input information. The system includes a receiver for receiving input information from the navigational equipment, a temporary storage unit for storing at least a portion of the input information, a permanent storage unit for storing predetermined audio output information associated with portions of the input information, a control unit and an output signal generating unit. The control unit is in communication with the receiver and the temporary and permanent storage units. The control unit selects the predetermined audio output information within the permanent storage unit associated with portions of the input information. The output signal generating unit is in communication with the control unit for producing an output signal responsive to the predetermined audio output information.

The invention relates to speech processing systems for use with marine navigational equipment.
Present marine navigational equipment, such as LORANs, global positioning systems (GPS), satellite navigational systems (SATNAV), depth sounders, temperature gauges, and digital compasses etc., provide output information via displays and/or serial digital output signals.
Display outputs on navigational equipment require that a viewer be positioned to view the display when the navigational information is desired. This is not always possible, particularly when the one or more persons on the boat are each busy with other activities, such as pulling nets or lobster traps, or controlling the movement of the boat in adverse weather conditions.
Although attempts have been made to provide speech output from navigational equipment, such devices have been unsatisfactory either because the devices are slow and expensive, or because they are too limited and inflexible. Devices that speak or spell words or characters as they are received from an input string such as an allophone speech synthesis system, are not sufficiently fast and typically produce low quality speech. Devices that only repeat the same (or slightly varying) information, such as a depth detecting device that periodically outputs the sensed depth through an allophone speech synthesizer, are not sufficiently versatile. Devices that employ prerecordings of entire sentences (including all possible combinations of numbers) require a great deal of memory and are consequently either very slow or prohibitively expensive.
It is an object of the invention to provide a flexible yet inexpensive high quality speech synthesis system for providing speech synthesized output of navigational information from a variety of equipment.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a speech synthesis system that utilizes a limited but large number of predefined words or phrases, and provides realistic human speech at a natural speed.

Speech synthesizer system for use with navigational equipment


The present invention relates to a process for preparing an alkoxy silyl-terminated material, which has at least one alkoxy group on at least one terminal end, said process comprising reacting in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of an organo-lithium reagent an alkoxysilyl-terminated first reactant with a second reactant having at least one end of its chain terminating in silanol groups. The alkoxy silyl-terminated material may have a variety of polymer backbone types such as silicone, polyurethane, polyamide and the like. These materials are intended to cure by either moisture cure or by dual moisture and photo cure mechanisms. The alkoxy silyl-terminated material is preferably an organopoly-siloxane having alkoxy groups at its terminal ends. The resultant alkoxy-terminated organopolysiloxanes are substantially stable materials as measured by preservation and maintenance of viscosity values (cps) over time.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the preparation of silyl-containing materials having alkoxy end groups. More specifically, this invention relates to the use of organolithium reagents in the preparation of organopolysiloxane materials having alkoxy terminal groups. These materials can also have olefin functionality, thereby allowing for dual cure by means of moisture and photo curable mechanisms.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known that alkoxy terminated polymers can be prepared by reacting di-, tri or tetralkoxysilanes with diorganosiloxanes having silanol terminal groups at each end of the polymer chain. This reaction requires the use of specific catalysts such as amines, inorganic oxides, potassium acetate, organic titanium derivatives, titanium/amine combinations, carboxylic acid/amine combinations as well as carbamates and oxime-containing organic compounds. All of these catalyst systems have significant drawbacks, however. For example, amine catalyst systems are particularly slow and this lack of speed is often further exaggerated, depending upon the reactivity of the particular alkoxysilane. In addition, amines and carboxylic acid catalysts are corrosive and require special handling and removal processes once the reaction has proceeded to the desired state of completion. Catalyst reaction residue is particularly detrimental on the storage stability of the organosiloxane fluids and the properties of the resulting crosslinkable product. Removal of these catalysts is often difficult, requiring extra steps which are laborious and costly. Furthermore, many of these catalysts are particularly offensive to the body, giving off unpleasant odors and being dangerous to eyes and skin.
Organic titanium catalysts such as titanium tetra isoproprionate have also been commonly used for these type of reactions but suffer from the deleterious effect of "thick-phasing", a result of titanium-silicon complexing. Before the intended reaction between the silanol-terminated organopolysiloxane and the alkoxy silane is complete, a thick gel-like phase forms, requiring additional shear forces and energy from the mixing blades to overcome this phase and allow the reaction to proceed. Thick-phasing is a particularly difficult problem when industrial-sized batches of the polymer are being prepared and the shear forces necessary to overcome thick-phasing are high.
More recently, U.S. Pat. No. 5,079,324 to Cocco et al. discloses the use of lithium hydroxide as a catalyst for the reaction of diorganosiloxanes having terminal silanol groups, with a polyalkoxysilane of the formula: EQU (R").sub.c (R').sub.b Si(OR"').sub.4-(a+c)
wherein R' and R" may be, for example, a monovalent hydrocarbon radical that may contain functional groups C.sub.1-13 ; and R"' is an aliphatic radical C.sub.1-8.
However, lithium hydroxide is an inorganic solid which requires use of a polar solvent such as methanol to introduce it as a solution into the reaction. Due to the presence of methanol, this catalyst system has the distinct disadvantage of being continually regenerated in the form of lithium methoxide. The resultant polymer product exhibits a rapid lowering of viscosity due to attack of the regenerated lithium catalyst upon the siloxane. The viscosity drop, although generally rather immediate, becomes more pronounced over time and shelf life is therefore greatly affected. Furthermore, subsequent curing of this functionalized polymer is also deleteriously affected. It is believed that the viscosity drop is directly related to cleavage of the siloxane bond by the regenerated lithium, resulting in a significantly lower molecular weight and product instability.
The use of butyl lithium in combination with hexamethylphosphoroamide as initiators for the oligomerization of hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane with methylmethoxysilanes is disclosed in Eur. Plym J., Vol. 21, No. 2, pp. 135-140, 1985 entitled "The Anionic Oligomerization of Hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane with Methylmethoxysilanes". This reference discloses the use of butyl lithium as well as inorganic bases as a means to ring-open hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane in the presence of methylmethoxysilane.
EPA 362710 to Toray Silicone Company discloses a method of synthesizing a diorganopolysiloxane in which a polymerizable functional group is present at one or both molecule chain ends. The synthesis involves the opening of a cyclotrisiloxane using an alkali metal silanolate, which bears the polymerizable functional group, as a polymerization initiator in the presence of an organosilane or organopolysiloxane. This reference states that if the reaction is run at equilibrium, a mixture of products is produced, i.e. polymer with functional groups at both ends and polymer without functional groups at either end. This reference does not teach a method of endcapping with alkoxy groups on both ends of the polymer but rather a polymerization reaction using cyclic trisiloxane as the living polymerization monomer.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,878,263 to Martin discloses a polymerization reaction which uses organo-lithium catalysts in aprotic solvent as well as inorganic lithium catalysts to polymerize a cyclic organopolysiloxane with an acrylate functional silane or siloxane. This reference begins with different starting materials from the present invention to perform a ring-opening reaction, i.e. siloxane cleavage. The resultant polymers have only one end terminating in an alkoxy group, the other end terminated with the acrylate group. The polymerization reaction is controlled by the terminating methacryloxy group. Those catalysts disclosed include lithium alkoxide compounds such as lithium methoxide; lithium alkyls such as ethyl lithium, isopropyl lithium, n-butyl lithium, vinyl lithium; lithium aryls such as phenyl lithium; lithium hydride, lithium aluminum hydride, lithium silanolate and lithium hydroxide.
There is a definite need for a process for making viscosity stable alkoxy silyl-containing materials, such as alkoxy terminated organopolysiloxanes, which is noncorrosive, fast and does not suffer from the unpleasant odors and other disadvantages of the prior art catalyst systems. Additionally, there is a need for such compositions which exhibit stable shelf life and can be useful for making such products as sealants, adhesives, coatings and the like.

Process for preparing alkoxy-terminated organosiloxane fluids using organo-lithium reagents


An apparatus and method for controlling pumping characteristics within a semiconductor processing chamber are provided. The apparatus includes levitation of a hollow shaft turbo pump or pump elements, and is configured to control pumping by including adjustments for orientation, position, geometries, and other aspects of the turbo pump. The method includes adjusting design and operational parameters, to control pumping characteristics within the processing chamber.

Typically, during semiconductor processing, a carefully controlled processing environment is established within a processing chamber. Temperature, pressure, gas content, and other aspects of the processing chamber are regulated and adjusted to optimize conditions for a given operation. Many substrate processing recipes necessitate an extremely low pressure environment within the processing chamber. This has traditionally been accomplished by externally mounting a turbine-type pump mechanism, known as a "turbo pump."
In existing systems, chamber pressure may be manipulated by adjusting the rotational speed of the turbo pump. However, such configurations do not allow substantial flexibility in pressure profiles, since the only adjustable variable is the operating speed of the pump. Additionally, adjustment options are further limited because the location of the vacuum port is usually confined to a fixed location which penetrates the wall of the processing chamber.
Therefore, a processing chamber with improved vacuum pumping control features is needed.

Processing chamber integrated pressure control


A hidden handle module is adapted to a tray accommodated in a chassis. The hidden handle module includes a shaft, a handle, and first and second elastic components. The shaft is pivoted on the tray and interfered with the chassis to stop the tray moving out of the chassis. The handle is pivoted on the shaft and stopped in the tray by a stopping portion of the tray to limit the position of the shaft. The first elastic component is disposed in the tray and stops the handle moving away from the stopping portion. The second elastic portion is connected between the shaft and the tray. When the handle resists elastic force of the first elastic component and moves away from the stopping portion, the handle protrudes out of the tray by elastic force of the second elastic component, and the shaft rotates to be released by the chassis.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a handle module, and more particularly, to a hidden handle module
2. Description of Related Art
A server is a core computer which serves all the computers or portable electronic apparatuses in a network system and provides network users with discs and functions such as printing, etc. Also, the server allows the users to share resources in the network. The basic frame of the server is approximately the same as that of an ordinary personal computer, consisting of members such as a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, input/output (I/O) equipment, etc.
To take rack servers as an example, a plurality of server modules thereof are disposed on a plurality of sliding trays respectively, wherein each tray is accommodated in a chassis. When components in the server modules need to be replaced or repaired, it is required to pull the tray out of the chassis and place the tray into the chassis after the components are replaced or repaired. In some rack serves, a handle is set on the tray such that a user may force thereon to pull the tray out of the chassis. However, the handle exposed out of the tray is easy to be mistakenly pulled by the user, which causes the server modules to be moved away from the chassis unexpectedly. Moreover, if a handle module of which the unlock procedure is more cumbersome is set on the tray in order to prevent the tray from being mistakenly pulled, then it may result in inconvenience to the user when repairing or replacing the server modules.


A trigger-type liquid dispenser comprises a mounting sleeve (2) to be fitted onto a neck portion of a container body, a vertical sleeve (2a) erected from the mounting sleeve (2), an ejecting sleeve (3) projected forwardly from an upper end portion of the vertical sleeve (2a), a cylinder (4) projected forwardly from a middle portion of the vertical sleeve (2a), a plunger (6) slidably engaged in the cylinder (4) and being urged forwardly, a trigger (5) swingably attached to a front portion of the ejecting sleeve (3), a rear surface of an upper portion of the trigger (5) being engaged with an front end portion of the plunger (6), a nozzle fitting sleeve (7) fitted to a front end portion of the ejecting sleeve (3), and a nozzle head (8) rotatably fitted to an outer surface of the nozzle fitting sleeve (7), said nozzle head (8) being formed with a nozzle hole (10). Liquid stored in the container body is sucked up and ejected through the nozzle hole (10) by pulling the trigger (5) rearwardly. An arm (21) is projected rearwardly from an outer surface of the nozzle head (8). A first engaging portion (23) is provided at an upper portion of the trigger (5). A second engaging portion (26) is provided at a front surface of a lower portion of the cylinder (4). When the trigger (5) is positioned at its front-most position and the nozzle head (8) is rotated, a part of the arm (21) is detachably engaged with the first engaging portion (23), another part of the arm (21) is detachably engaged with the second engaging portion (26), so that the plunger (6) can not move rearwardly even if a user attempts to pull the trigger (5).

The present invention relates to a trigger-type liquid dispenser.
A conventional trigger-type liquid dispenser 1 shown in FIG. 12 comprises a mounting sleeve 2, a vertical sleeve 2a, an ejecting sleeve 3, a cylinder 4, a trigger 5, a plunger 6, a nozzle fitting sleeve 7 and a nozzle head 8. The vertical sleeve 2a is erected from an upper portion of the mounting sleeve 2 to be fitted onto an outer surface of a neck portion of a container body (not shown in FIG. 12). The ejecting sleeve 3 is projected forwardly from an upper end of said vertical sleeve 2a. The trigger 5 is swingably attached to a front portion 30 of said ejecting sleeve 3. The cylinder 4 is projected forwardly from said vertical sleeve 2a. The plunger 6 is arranged in a cylinder 4 and urged forwardly. A front end of the plunger 6 is engaged with a rear surface of an upper portion of said trigger 5. The nozzle head 8 is fitted into a front end of the ejecting sleeve 3 via the nozzle fitting sleeve 7. The nozzle head 8 has a nozzle hole 10. Liquid stored in the cylinder 4 is ejected through the nozzle hole 10 of the nozzle head 8 by pulling the trigger 5. When the trigger 5 is released, the plunger 6 is moved or returned forwardly, thereby returning the trigger 5 to its initial position, so as to suck up the liquid within the container body into the cylinder 4. Numeral 27 designates a cover plate which blocks the front surface of the nozzle head 8 openably.
In said trigger-type liquid dispenser, since liquid is ejected even if the trigger 5 is pulled inadvertently, a liquid discharge passage 11 in the nozzle head 8 and the nozzle fitting sleeve 7 fitted into the front end of the ejecting sleeve 3 is divided into a front portion 11b and a rear portion 11a. When the nozzle head 8 is rotated relative to the nozzle fitting sleeve 7, the nozzle head, the communication of said liquid discharge passage 11 is shut off. Liquid can be ejected only when the nozzle head is returned to its initial position.
Even if the liquid discharge passage is closed or shut by rotating the nozzle head 8 relative to the nozzle fitting sleeve 7, when the trigger 5 is pulled many times, the plunger 6 moves forwardly or backwardly a little due to the deflection or elastic restoration. Thus, high pressure liquid may accumulate in the front portion of the ejecting sleeve 3 between said discharge nozzle and the liquid discharge passage formed by said nozzle fitting sleeve 7 due to the abnormal high pressure in the cylinder. In this condition, when said nozzle head 8 is rotated to open the liquid discharge passage, high pressure liquid accumulated in the front portion of the ejecting sleeve 3 may happen to be discharged through the nozzle hole without operating the trigger 5. There is also the danger that the nozzle head 8 may be disconnected due to high pressure in the ejecting sleeve 3 when the trigger 5 is pulled strongly.

Pump dispenser with rotatable nozzle trigger lock


A method sculpturing from sheet material a vacuum formed glass mold. The sheet material is cut into a plurality of sections that are combined into laminated structure is that is welded together and mounted on a mold base. The top surfaces of the individual sections are machined to form a glass forming surface that can be used to vacuum form glass that conforms to the shape of the forming surface.

The applicants are unaware of any prior vacuum form glass mold that is laminated from sections cut from sheet metal. The closest known prior work is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,782 (Namba et al., filed Jul. 6, 1989). The Namba et al. patent describes a die for metal forming that is fabricated from various metal pieces.
In the past, the applicants have used sand casting in order to make a vacuum form glass mold. The present invention saves time and expense compared to a glass mold prepared by sand casting.

Method of sculpturing a laminated vacuum form glass mold


The neutralizing antibody against HGF binding to the inventive neutralizable epitope of HGF is capable of neutralizing HGF as a single agent, and can be effectively used for preventing and treating intractable diseases and cancers that are caused by binding of HGF to its receptor Met.

HGF (hepatocyte growth factor) is a multifunctional heterodimeric polypeptide produced by mesenchymal cells. HGF is composed of an alpha-chain containing an N-terminal domain and four kringle domains (NK4) covalently linked to a serine protease-like beta-chain C-terminal domain (see FIG. 1). Human HGF is synthesized as a biologically inactive single chain precursor consisting of 728 amino acids with a 29 amino acid signal peptide which is not present in the mature protein. Biologically active HGF is achieved through cleavage at the R494 residue by a specific, extracellular serum serine protease. The active HGF thus achieved is a fully active heterodimer which is composed of disulfide linked 69 kDa alpha-chain and 34 kDa beta-chain. However, the overall tertiary structure of HGF is still unknown and it has not yet been clarified which of these domains is responsible for the specific functions of HGF (Maulik et al., Cytokine & Growth Factor Reviews 13(1): 1-59, 2002).
The binding of HGF to its receptor, Met, induces the growth and scattering of various cell types, mediates the epithelial mesenchymal transitions and the formation of tubules and lumens, and promotes angiogenesis. Both Met and HGF knockout mice are embryonic lethal and show developmental defects in placenta, fetal liver and limb/muscle formation (Cao et al., PNAS 98(13): 7443-7448, 2001; Gmyrek et al., American Journal of Pathology 159(2): 579-590, 2001).
Met was originally isolated as a product of a human oncogene, trp-met, which encodes a constitutively active altered protein kinase with transforming activity. Met activation has also been shown to remarkably enhance the metastastic spread of cancer stemming from its stimulatory influence of processes such as angiogenesis, cell motility, and cell surface protease regulation (Wielenga et al., American Journal of Pathology 157(5): 1563-1573, 2000). Since Met was reported to be over-expressed in various human cancers of liver, prostate, colon, breast, brain and skin (Maulik et al, supra), it has been regarded as an important target factor for the prevention and treatment of cancer. Further, it has been reported that malaria infection depends on activation of the HGF receptor by secreted HGF, and accordingly, HGF and its receptor are identified as potential targets for new approaches to malaria prevention (Carrolo M, et al., Nat. Med. 9(11): 1363-1369, 2003). It has been also discovered the possibility that HGF may be found in association with the pathologic changes which occur in Alzheimer's disease (Fenton H, et al., Brain Res. 779(1-2): 262-270, 1998). Furthermore, it has been found that HGF is definitely involved in enhancing cutaneous wound healing processes, including re-epithelialization, neovascularization and granulation tissue formation (Yoshida S, et al., J. Invest. Dermatol. 120(2): 335-343, 2003).
Meanwhile, selective neutralization of tumor-associated growth factors or cytokines and their receptors, which play crucial roles in the development and spread of cancer, has always been an attractive strategy for the development of anti-cancer drugs. Recently, numerous therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for these targets, e.g., herceptin, and anti-angiopoietin human mAbs have been developed using recombinant antibody technologies such as phage display of combinational antibody library.
It is well known that polyclonal antibodies against HGF block many of HGF biological functions. In addition, it has been recently reported that mixtures of neutralizing mAbs against HGF display anti-tumor activity in animal models (Cao et al., PNAS 198(13): 7443-7448, 2001). In particular, Cao et al. disclosed that three or more of the epitopes, possibly two for the Met receptor and one for heparin, need to be blocked in order to inhibit HGF activity in vivo and in vitro, and a mixture of at least 3 mAbs is capable of neutralizing HGF in an in vitro experiment.
However, there has been reported no monoclonal antibody that can neutralize HGF as a single agent and inhibit cell scattering activity in vitro.


For stably and efficiently producing cloned livestock, used is a uniform cultured cell strain as a donor cell for nuclear transplantation.

The present invention relates to a method for producing livestock individuals from cells of an established cell line, precisely to a method for producing cloned livestock from cells of a uniform cultured cell strain (i.e. an established cell line) that serve as donor cells for nuclear transplantation. More precisely, the invention relates to a method for producing cloned cattle from cells of an established bovine intramuscular preadipocyte (hereinafter referred to BIP), a type of the uniform cultured cell strain for donor cells for nuclear transplantation.
Heretofore, cloned livestock have been produced through nuclear transplantation of non-uniform somatic cells serving as donor cells. Concretely, cells, of which the origin is not clear, are sampled at random from ears or proligerous membranes (cumulus oophorus), and these are used for nuclear transplantation.
In thus method, however, it is extremely difficult to all the time efficiently produce cloned livestock even though the same experimental condition is repeated and continued.
In addition, even when the nucleus of a somatic cell is transplanted into an egg cell, it is impossible to accurately analyze the mechanism of its cleavage like that of fertilized eggs.
Heretofore, it has been recognized that fresh living cells are necessary for producing cloned livestock. For this, therefore, the general method is nuclear transplantation of somatic cells of specific livestock, as so mentioned hereinabove.
However, for all the time efficiently producing cloned livestock, it is necessary to culture cells of the same types applicable to cloned livestock production and to establish the cell line.
To solve the problems as above, we, the present inventors have assiduously studied a technique of culturing intramuscular fat cells of livestock, especially those of cattle, and a method of establishing the cell line, and, as a result, have succeeded in establishing a bovine intramuscular preadipocyte (BIP) usable for donor cells for nuclear transplantation. We have analyzed the established cell line as to whether or not it is suitable for donor cells for nuclear transplantation, and, as a result, have found that the BIP is useful for producing cloned cattle. On the basis of these findings, we have completed the present invention.
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail.
The present invention relates to a method for producing cloned livestock comprises using a cell of uniform cultured cell strain as a donor cell for nuclear transplantation. That is to say, in a method for producing cloned livestock, the improvement comprises using a cell of uniform cultured cell strain as a donor cell for nuclear transplantation.
More specifically, the present invention is shown as follows.
A method for producing cloned livestock, comprising;
a. preparing of recipient egg by taking cumulus oophorus-ovum complex out of ovaries; then maturing in vitro by cultivating it in a culture medium; separating and removing cumulus oophorus cells to obtain ovum; cutting a zona pellucida of the ovum; expelling a nucleus-containing cytoplasm to obtain enucleated cell
b. transplanting a uniform cultured cell strain as a donor cell into a perivitelline space of the enucleated matured ovum
c. transferring said ovum with the donor cell into a cell fusion medium, and then giving an electric shock whereby the donor cell is fused with the ovum to obtain nucleus-transplanted ovum
d. culturing said nucleus-transplanted ovum to make it have a germinated blastocyst, and then selecting a good embryo
e. transplanting the good embryo into a surrogate livestock, and
f. checking whether said embryo get pregnant, and further monitoring the condition of fetus.
Following are embodiments of the present invention.
The method as claimed above, wherein the livestock is a livestock selected from the group consisting of cattle, sheep, goats and pigs.
The method as claimed above, wherein the cell of uniform cultured cell strain is a BIP.
The method as claimed above, wherein a cryopreserved cell is utilized as the bovine intramuscular preadipocyte.
In the method of the invention, BIP can be preferably used as the uniform cultured cell strain. The livestock to which the method of the invention is applicable include, for example, cattle, sheep, goats and pigs. Of those, especially preferred are cattle.
BIP can be established as follows: Fat cells and preadipocytes (fat precursor cells) are separated from bovine musculi longissimus thoracis with marbling (fat tissue) therein, and these are cultured for primary culture. Concretely, the marbling part is collected from the musculi longissimus thoracis of a slaughtered cow, and the fat tissue is separated from it. The fat tissue is analyzed for the presence or absence of cell growth therein, and the growth is only observed in the preadipocytes. The fat tissue is treated with enzyme to collect the preadipocyte.
Next, the preadipocytes are sub-cultured and cloned according to an ordinary method, and a single BIP cell line having the ability to grow is thereby established.
The cells of the BIP cell line are analyzed, and it is found that they are particular cells of pericytes existing around blood vessels. Up to the present, no one has succeeded in establishing the cell line of the pericytes.
One embodiment of the invention is described below, which is for producing cloned livestock from BIP serving as donor cell for nuclear transplantation.
The method of producing cloned livestock may be basically the same as the conventional method of producing them from somatic cell serving as donor cell. Concretely, a cumulus oophorus-ovum complex (COCs) is taken out of the ovary of a slaughtered cow, and this is matured in vitro. The cumulus oophorus cells are separated and removed from the COCs, and the nucleus is removed from the resulting ovum. BIP cell is transplanted into enucleated ovum, and these are fused with an electric pulse imparted thereto to make a nucleus-transplanted ovum.
Next, the nucleus-transplanted ovum is cultured to generate a blastocyst. From those, good embryos are selected, and each is transplanted in a surrogate cow. The surrogate cows with the embryos transplanted are checked as to they get pregnant or not. While the condition of the fetus therein is monitored, each surrogate cow is raised, and the birth of a cloned calf from it is waited for.
Since the BIP cells are of a cloned uniform cell line, their properties are stable, and all generations of the cells can be used for nuclear transplantation. Concretely, the present inventors"" experiments have shown that the cells can be sub-cultured up to at least 60 generations with no chromosomal aberrations in at least these 60 generations of the sub-cultured cells, and that there is no change of the rate of blastocyst generation in the nuclear transplantation of the sub-cultured cells.
The BIP cells can be cryopreserved for storage in any known manner. The cryopreserved cells can be thawed anytime before use. In addition, the BIP cells can easily undergo any desired gene introduction or deletion. Therefore, for example, it is possible to produce cattle that are not infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).
According to the invention, cloned livestock can be stably and efficiently produced. In addition, since the donor cells used in the invention are of a uniform cultured cell strain, they can be cryopreserved, and can be thawed before use. Therefore, the same donor cells can be cultured anytime when necessary. Moreover, specific genes can be easily introduced into or deleted from the donor cells through a technique of genetic engineering, and, in addition, it is possible to confirm the gene introduction or deletion after the genetic modification.

Method for producing cloned bovines from cells of a bovine intramuscular preadipocyte cell line

Director General of National Agricultural Research Organization

President, National Livestock Breeding Center (NLBC) Independent Administrative Institution


An air bag (30) has a base portion (40) and has a body portion (42) connected with the base portion and inflatable in a direction away from the base portion into an inflated condition. The air bag (30) includes first and second tethers (60, 70) which are sewn between the base portion (40) of the air bag and the body portion (42) of the air bag. The first tether (60) has a predetermined weakened portion (100 or 102). The second tether (70) has substantially higher elongation than the first tether (60). The second tether (70) has an effective length which is at least about the same as the effective length of the first tether (60). The air bag (30) has a partially inflated condition in which the first tether (60) is extended to its effective length and resist movements of the body portion (42) of the air bag away from the base portion (40). The first tether (60) is rupturable at the predetermined weakened portion (100 or 102) under the force of the inflating air bag (30) to enable movement of the air bag from the partially inflated condition to a fully inflated condition. The second tether (70) stretches during movement of the air bag (30) from the partially inflated condition to the fully inflated condition.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a vehicle safety apparatus and, in particular, relates to an apparatus including an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, such as an air bag, for helping to protect a vehicle occupant.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known to inflate an air bag to help protect a vehicle occupant in the event of an impact to a vehicle of a magnitude above a predetermined threshold. The air bag is stored in a deflated condition, together with an inflator, in a portion of the vehicle such as the instrument panel or a vehicle seat, for example. In the event of an impact to the vehicle of a magnitude above the predetermined threshold, the inflator is actuated, and the air bag is inflated into a position between the vehicle occupant and the adjacent structure of the vehicle.
It is known to use one or more tethers in an air bag to control the inflation of the air bag. A tether typically is sewn between and extends between two spaced apart portions of the air bag to control the shape of the air bag when inflated.


A cutting tip for automatic milling has the basic form of a parallelogram along whose longitudinal sides (1) straight cutting edges are constructed. Radius cutting edges which are located on the parallelogram transverse edges with the smaller corner angles are attached to it and run into edges which end in the area of the parallelogram transverse sides. In order to also use the transverse sides of the parallelogram type basic form for milling processes, cutting edges are arranged on the parallelogram transverse sides whereby at least one curvature radius (3) is substantially larger then the curvature radius of the radius cutting edges (2). Between these lesser curved cutting edges (3) and the radius cutting edges (2) there is an edge area (4) with a concave curvature.

Cutting tips of the aforementioned type are well known from, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,413,023 B1. Such cutting tips are detachably affixed to the tool holder of the milling cutter. Thus they are replaceable and also turnable in order to selectively use one of the straight cutting edges which are provided for different milling work.
The application of one of the straight long sided cutting edges requires an alignment of the cutting edge on the cutting mill in which the cutting edges which are parallel to each other lie parallel to the rotation axle. This corresponds to the so called vertical position of the cutting tip with which it is possible to work on a work piece wall which has been aligned parallel to the straight cutting edges. In order to process a work piece with one of the curved cutting edges, the cutting edge will be transferred from the vertical position into a sloping position in order to either let the radius cutting edge or the weaker curved cutting edge on the respective parallelogram transverse side of the cutting edge enter the work piece gear.
Because of the relative small geometry of the radius cutting edges, they alone are used to implement an easier chip removal in the respective inclined operating position of the cutting edges, whereby usually a finishing process is applied with the radius cutting edges. By a respective stronger inclined position of the cutting tip, the additional cutting edge with the weaker curve positioned on the transverse side will be transferred to the work piece gear so that it can process a work piece surface which extends vertically to the cutting mill through rough machining. The weaker curved cutting tips on the transverse sides of the cutting tip have not only a larger radius of curvature in contrast to the angular sided radius cutting tips but they can also be arranged considerably longer then the radius cutting edges. Thereby, when the weaker curved cutting tips are used a much higher chip removal is achieved then by using the strongly curved radius cutting edges.
With known cutting tips the stronger convex curve gradually merges into the weaker convex curve of the cutting edges by the cutting side's transverse sides and becomes larger extending from the respective radius cutting edges while the curved radius remains constant. Therefore, a defined borderline of the radius cutting edges in contrast to the weaker curved cutting edges on the weaker curved cutting edges on the cutting edges transverse sides does not exist.


A method for performing capillary electrophoresis with improved regularity of migration time of the analytes is disclosed. A capillary electrophoresis system includes a fused silica capillary, a high voltage power supply, electrolyte reservoirs at both ends of the capillary, means for injecting a sample, and a detector. After separation, analytes within the sample are identified by comparing their migration time with the migration time of internal or external standards. Since migration times are dependent on the concentration of the injected sample, identification of unknown analytes can often be difficult or subject to error without the use of such standards. These problems associated with concentration dependent migration time are substantially eliminated by using a combination of high voltage power supply running modes (i.e. constant current, constant voltage or constant power) during the course of the analysis. The control of the high voltage power supply can either be set before a run begins, or controlled directly using feedback from the separation in real time.

Capillary electrophoresis (CF) has become a technique of great interest for the separation and analysis of many kinds of ionic species, including inorganic ions, biological mixtures such as proteins, peptides and nucleic acids, detergents, organic acids and many compounds of pharmaceutical nature. Capillary electrophoresis offers the benefits of high resolving power, rapid separations, ability to analyze very small volumes of sample and a desirable simplicity from the point of view of the apparatus required when compared to competing analytical techniques such as liquid chromatography.
The benefits of capillary electrophoresis mentioned above derive to a large extent from the use of narrow diameter capillary tubes in the practice of capillary electrophoresis. The narrow diameter tubes permit efficient removal of the heat generated in the separation process and prevent convective mixing which would degrade the separating power. The narrow diameter tubes also allow high voltages to be used to generate the electric field in the capillary while limiting current flow and hence heat generation. The electric field in the capillary tube which provides the driving force for the separation is produced by the application of high voltage power to the ends of the capillary. The high voltage power is generally applied from a high voltage power supply operating at an operator selected constant voltage during the separation.
Variations on the application of constant voltage operation have been proposed in the past. For example, in order to overcome drift in certain detectors used in CE, Morris et al applied an AC voltage superimposed on a constant DC voltage to drive a CE separation, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,919. The AC voltage modulates the velocity of the migrating sample components and the detector signal is synchronously demodulated to cancel out drift due for example to temperature fluctuations in the capillary. Likewise, in applications involving the separation of DNA fragments in gel containing capillaries, the high voltage can be applied in a pulsed manner as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,122,248. The pulsing of the applied voltage results in a greater degree of resolution of the closely related fragments, due to reorientation of analyte molecules in the separating medium during different phases of each pulse. However, in each of these illustrated examples, the average DC level of the output voltage from the power supply remains constant throughout the analysis.
In other cases, it may be preferable to operate the high voltage power supply at a selected level of current through the capillary tube during the entire separation. This is referred to as constant current operation. Takao Tsuda describes certain advantages of operating at a constant current in an article in the Journal of Liquid Chromatography, volume 12 (1989) page 2501, primarily related to the fact that the separation is less dependent on the temperature of the capillary in constant current operation. Similarly, constant power operation is also possible where the level of power dissipated in the capillary is held constant at a selected level.
The separation that occurs in capillary electrophoresis is generally monitored somewhere along the length of the capillary tube by a detector that responds with a signal that is proportional to the concentration at the monitoring point of the analyte(s) within the sample to be measured. Absorbance detectors are commonly used but other kinds of detectors are also possible, such as fluorescence, conductivity, electrochemical and the like. In some cases, the separating medium is modified prior to detection by the addition of reagents to label the analyte or by modifying the conductivity of the medium through ion exchange.
The detectors employed are to a greater or lesser extent non-specific. That is, they respond with an indication of the concentration of many different analytes thus not directly determining the identity of the analyte. In some cases, additional information is available to aid in identifying the sample components, such as when the detector is capable of measuring absorbance at multiple wavelengths so as to obtain an absorbance spectrum or ratios of absorbances at several wavelengths. Alternatively, the separated analytes can be collected as they emerge from the capillary and subjected to further analysis by other techniques. However, multiwavelength detection adds cost and complexity and spectral information may not be available if the analyte is transparent over the spectral range being measured and is being determined instead by an indirect absorbance measurement where the response is due to the displacement of an absorbing species in the separating medium. Post separation analysis by other techniques requires additional time and effort and is not always possible due to the small amount of sample analyzed by capillary electrophoresis.
The detector also permits the measurement of the migration time for each analyte and the migration time can be used to characterize each component of the sample mixture. For purposes herein, the migration time for each analyte is defined as the time period from the start of the analysis to the appearance at the detector of the concentration peak of that analyte. The migration time of each sample component can be compared to the migration times of known standards, and when combined with other knowledge about the origin and character of the sample, allow the identity of the sample components to be inferred. In order for the migration time to be useful, each analyte must appear in the separation at its characteristic migration time over the range of experimental conditions that the analysis is to be used for. In particular, the migration time of each analyte must remain essentially constant over the range of sample compositions that are likely to be encountered.
It is known that the migration time of each analyte tends to fluctuate depending on the composition of the sample. Petr Gebauer, Wolfgang Thormann and Petr Bocek provide a theoretical explanation of how such fluctuations can occur in an article in the Journal of Chromatography, volume 608 (1992) pp. 47-57. This article describes how the concentration of a major component in the sample can affect the migration time of minor sample components by amounts in the tens of percent and cautions that the record of each analysis must be evaluated with great care to avoid making a false determination of the identity of the analytes in the sample. However, the authors do not propose solutions to prevent migration times from varying. Also, neither the patent cited above concerning the application of pulsed voltage nor that describing the imposition of an AC voltage on the DC separation voltage addressess the problem of migration time variation caused by changing sample composition.
In certain applications, the effect of sample composition changes can be magnified, as when it is desired to maximize the sensitivity of a capillary electrophoresis analysis. For example, it may be advantageous for the sample mixture to be analyzed to be dissolved in pure water or other very low conductivity medium rather than, for example, in the separating medium. This causes a phenomenon known as stacking to occur and permits a larger volume of sample mixture to be introduced into the capillary without undesirable broadening of the analyte concentration peaks. However, when the sample is dissolved in pure water to achieve this desirable enhancement in sensitivity, the migration time of the analytes becomes even more dependent on the sample composition.
It would thus be desirable to be able to use migration time as an identifying characteristic for sample components in CE and it would also be desirable to do this while also using the sensitivity enhancement that results from having the sample mixture dissolved in pure water or other low conductivity medium.

Method for sample analysis using capillary electrophoresis


A clamp for affixing a pliable bag to a container and to control the crawling insect population at or near the container. The clamp contains an insect bait station on one surface thereof. The device can be deformed to an open position and normally assumes a closed position. While in the closed position, the clamp is in condition to secure a bag to a container. The clamp may be deformed to place it in position on the lid of a container, and to allow release of the bag from the container.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to clamping devices, and more particularly to an efficient clip device to fasten a plastic trash bag to a rigid container, where the clip includes an insect bait station to control crawling insects.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Virtually all human activity results in the generation of some refuse or waste. The sanitary storage and collection of waste is a hallmark of a civilized society. People generally store waste, or trash, in relatively small containers ranging anywhere from one to 55 gallons in size. Plastic or paper liners, or bags, are frequently used in an effort to keep these containers clean, and to facilitate removal of the trash. These liners are placed inside the rigid trash container and frequently are fastened to the container by folding the upper section of the bag over the lip of the container.
Several disadvantages exist with this arrangement. When garbage is placed in the bag, the bag often detaches from the lip and falls to the bottom of the container, where it becomes another trash item. Attempts to remedy this by closely matching the size of the bag opening with the size of the container opening frequently result in bags that split or tear when folded over the container lip. A bag that splits, or otherwise detaches from the container fails to perform its primary tasks of holding the refuse placed within it, and protecting the container from soiling.
It is also well known that refuse or waste from human activity attracts flying and crawling insects. Residual organic matter on the waste can provide sustenance for these insects, giving them the opportunity to grow and proliferate. Often this occurs in undesirable locations, especially where trash containers are located in living areas.
In addition, many devices containing poisonous bait to control crawling insects are known. They exist in numerous shapes, sizes and configurations. In general, the insects are attracted to the bait and when it is consumed, the insect dies. The bait also may be carried back to a group of insects, and when the group feeds on the bait they die. Generally, these bait stations contain the bait securely so that it does not become dislodged from the device during normal use. Such bait stations are preferably constructed so that no bait is accessible to a child attempting to probe the device with a stick or other object. More specifically, the bait stations are constructed so that insects have easy access to the bait, that being the primary purpose of these devices.

Flexible clamp device with insect bait station


A server in a communications network establishes a communication channel between a user's device and another device having a display. Particularly, the server generates a Quick Response (QR) code utilizing one or more parameters, and sends it to a device for display to a user. Using his or her device, the user captures an image of the displayed QR code and extracts the parameters using an image analysis technique. The device then sends the extracted parameters back to the server, which then utilizes them to authenticate the user and establish the communications session.

Communicating data between two or more devices is commonplace. However, the methods by which communication sessions are established can be, at times, cumbersome for the user.
For example, many web sites require users to login using a unique username/password combination. This allows the website operator to identify and authenticate the user, as well as to track and monitor his or her actions. Users are generally advised to maintain unique username/password combinations for each site to minimize the dangers presented by malicious third party eavesdroppers; however, this creates a burden on the user to remember many different combinations. Some sites allow the use of a service such as OPENID for identification and authentication purposes. Although this greatly reduces the number of username/password combinations a user must remember, it does not eliminate them altogether because a username/password is still needed for OPENID. Further, manually entering a username/password combination is an especially cumbersome process when performed on a handheld device.
Other common activities also require establishing a communications session and identifying and authenticating the user. For example, a person using a debit card or credit card to perform some protected function, such as purchasing an item or withdrawing cash, is normally required to enter a Personal Identification Number (PIN). Further, different PINs are usually required for different cards. This creates an additional burden on the user to remember the PINs in addition to the many username/password combinations.
With Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, a user need not commit such information to memory. Instead, some or all of the information can be stored in memory on the device, such as the user's cellular telephone, and transferred to an NFC reader when the user places the cellular telephone in close physical proximity to the NFC reader. However, the use of NFC technology for performing such functions is limited because NFC enabled devices are not widely deployed.

System and method for establishing a communication session


Cardiac pacemaker, having at least one stimulation pulse generator to selectively generate stimulation pulses for delivery to an atrium or to an atrium and a ventricle of a heart in DDD mode, at least one sensing stage adapted to process electrical signals sensed by an atrial and ventricular sensing electrode to detect an atrial or ventricular event and to generate an atrial or ventricular sense signal upon event detection, a control unit connected to the generator and sensing stage and being adapted to trigger the generator in DDD mode, wherein the control unit is adapted to verify proper atrioventricular conduction and to switch from a regular (DDD) mode, wherein scheduled ventricular stimulation pulses having predetermined positive intensity is triggered unless inhibited to a ventricular pulse suppression mode (VPS mode) wherein no ventricular stimulation pulses or ventricular stimulation pulses of sub-threshold intensity are generated as long as proper atrioventricular conduction is verified.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the design of cardiac pacemakers and more particularly to dual chamber AV sequential or atrium-synchronous pacemaker.
2. Description of the Related Art
Cardiac pacemakers are medical devices, usually implantable, that can be connected to or that are permanently connected to electrode leads for delivery of electrical stimulations pulses to the tissue (myocardium) of a human heart. Dual chamber pacemakers are capable of generating stimulation pulses for the atrium and the ventricle of a human heart. Biventricular pacemakers usually are capable to stimulate at least three chambers of a human heart that is the right atrium, the right ventricle and the left ventricle.
In a dual chamber pacemaker, this is usually realized by placing electrodes in both the right atrium and right ventricle of the heart.
In a demand-type pacemaker these electrodes are coupled through intravenous and/or epicardial leads to sense amplifiers housed in an implanted pacemaker. Electrical activity occurring in these chambers can thus be sensed. When electrical activity is sensed, the pacemaker assumes that a depolarization following a contraction of the indicated chamber has occurred. If no electrical activity is sensed within a prescribed time interval, typically referred to as an atrial or ventricular escape interval, then a pulse generator, also housed within the pacemaker housing, generates a stimulation pulse that is delivered to the indicated chamber, usually via the same lead as is used for sensing.
Separate stimulation pulse generators are usually provided for each heart chamber (atrium or ventricle) to be stimulated.
A control unit triggers the generation of a respective atrial or ventricular stimulation pulse according to a pre-programmed, variable timing regime in order to provide for adequate timing of the stimulation pulses.
A stimulation pulse to the myocardium may cause a contraction of a respective heart chamber, if the myocardium of that chamber is not in a refractory state and if the stimulation pulse intensity is above the stimulation threshold of the myocardium. A sub-threshold stimulation pulse will not cause a cardiac contraction even if delivered to the myocardium in its non-refractory state.
Depending on the mode of operation, a pacemaker only delivers a stimulation pulse (pacing pulse) to a heart chamber (atrium or ventricle) if needed, that is, if no natural excitation of that chamber occurs. Such mode of operation is called an inhibited or demand mode of operation since the delivery of a stimulation pulse is inhibited if a natural excitation of the heart chamber is sensed within a predetermined time interval (usually called escape interval) so the heart chamber is only stimulated if demanded.
In a demand mode, the pacemakers monitors the heart chamber to be stimulated in order to determine if a cardiac excitation (heartbeat) has naturally occurred. Such natural (non-stimulated) excitation, also referred to as "intrinsic" or "signs" cardiac activity, are manifested by the occurrence of recognizable electrical signals that accompany the depolarization or excitation of a cardiac muscle tissue (myocardium). The depolarization of the myocardium is usually immediately followed by a cardiac contraction. For the purpose of the present application, depolarization and contraction may be considered as simultaneous events and the terms "depolarization" and "contraction" are used herein as synonyms.
In order to monitor the heart chamber and thus to determine whether or not a natural contraction of a heart chamber has occurred a pacemaker has a sensing stage during which operation of the pacemaker is connected to an electrode placed in a respective heart chamber. A natural contraction of a heart chamber can be detected by evaluating electrical potentials sensed by this sensing electrode. In the sensed electrical signal the depolarization of an atrium muscle tissue is manifested by occurrence of a signal known as "P-wave". Similarly, the depolarization of ventricular muscle tissue is manifested by the occurrence of a signal known as "R-wave". A P-wave or a R-wave represent an atrial event or a ventricular event, respectively, in the further course of this application.
In a demand mode of operation, the pacemaker monitors the heart for the occurrence of P-waves and/or R-waves. If such signals are sensed within a prescribed time period or time window, which is called atrial or ventricular escape interval, respectively, then the escape interval is reset (i.e., restarted) and generation of a stimulation pulse is inhibited and no unnecessary stimulation pulse is triggered. The escape interval is measured from the last heartbeat, i.e., from the last occurrence of an intrinsic (sensed) atrial event (P-wave, A-sense, AS) if the atrium is monitored, or an intrinsic (sensed) ventricular event (R-wave, V-sense, VS) if the ventricle is monitored, or the generation of a stimulation pulse (V-pace, VP; A-pace, AP) if no respective intrinsic event has occurred. If the escape interval "times-out", i.e., if a time period equal to the escape interval has elapsed without the sensing of a P-wave and/or R-wave (depending upon which chamber of the heart is being monitored), then a stimulation pulse is generated at the conclusion of the escape interval, and the escape interval is reset, i.e., restarted. In this way, the pacemaker provides stimulation pulses "on demand," i.e., only as needed, when intrinsic cardiac activity does not occur within the prescribed escape interval.
Several modes of operation are available in a state of the art multi mode pacemaker. The pacing modes of a pacemaker, both single and dual or more chamber pacemakers, are classified by type according to a three letter code. In such code, the first letter identifies the chamber of the heart that is paced (i.e., that chamber where a stimulation pulse is delivered), with a "V" indicating the ventricle, an "A" indicating the atrium, and a "D" indicating both the atrium and ventricle. The second letter of the code identifies the chamber wherein cardiac activity is sensed, using the same letters, and wherein an "O" indicates no sensing occurs. The third letter of the code identifies the action or response that is taken by the pacemaker. In general, three types of action or responses are recognized: (1) an Inhibiting ("I") response wherein a stimulation pulse is delivered to the designated chamber at the conclusion of the appropriate escape interval unless cardiac activity is sensed during the escape interval, in which case the stimulation pulse is inhibited; (2) a Trigger ("T") response wherein a stimulation pulse to a prescribed chamber of the heart a prescribed period of time after a sensed event; or (3) a Dual ("D") response wherein both the Inhibiting mode and Trigger mode may be evoked, e.g., with the "inhibiting" occurring in one chamber of the heart and the "triggering" in the other.
To such three letter code, a fourth letter "R" may be added to designate a rate-responsive pacemaker and/or whether the rate-responsive features of such a rate-responsive pacemaker are enabled ("O" typically being used to designate that rate-responsive operation has been disabled). A rate-responsive pacemaker is one wherein a specified parameter or combination of parameters, such as physical activity, the amount of oxygen in the blood, the temperature of the blood, etc., is sensed with an appropriate sensor and is used as a physiological indicator of what the pacing rate should be. When enabled, such rate-responsive pacemaker thus provides stimulation pulses that best meet the physiological demands of the patient.
Multiple-mode, demand-type, cardiac pacemakers allow a sequence of contractions of the heart's chamber which equals as far as possible a natural behavior of the healthy heart for damaged or diseased hearts that are unable to do so on their own.
In a healthy heart, initiation of the cardiac cycle normally begins with depolarization of the sinoatrial (SA) node. This specialized structure is located in the upper portion of the right atrium wall and acts as a natural "pacemaker" of the heart. In a normal cardiac cycle and in response to the initiating SA depolarization, the atrium contracts and forces the blood that has accumulated therein into the ventricle. The natural stimulus causing the atrium to contract is conducted to ventricle via the atrioventricular node (AV node) with a short, natural delay, the atrioventricular delay (AV-delay). Thus a short time after an atrial contraction (a time sufficient to allow the bulk of the blood in the atrium to flow through the one-way valve into the ventricle), the ventricle contracts, forcing the blood out of the ventricle to body tissue. A typical time interval between contraction of the atrium and contraction of the ventricle might be 180 ms; a typical time interval between contraction of the ventricle and the next contraction of the atrium might be 800 ms. Thus, in a healthy heart providing proper AV-synchrony an atrial contraction (A) is followed a relatively short time thereafter by a ventricle contraction (V), that in turn is followed a relatively long time thereafter by the next atrial contraction and so on. Where AV synchrony exists, the heart functions very efficiently as a pump in delivering life-sustaining blood to body tissue; where AV synchrony is absent, the heart functions as an inefficient pump.
To mimic the natural behavior of a heart, a dual-chamber pacemaker, in conventional manner, defines a basic atrial escape interval (AEI) that sets the time interval for scheduling an atrial stimulation pulse. The atrial escape interval can be started by a ventricular event and end with an atrial event. A basic AV delay (AVD) or ventricular escape interval (VEI) sets the time interval or delay between an atrial event and a ventricular event. In such embodiment, AEI and AVD (or VEI) thus together define a length of a heart cycle which is reciprocal to the pacing rate at which stimulation pulses are generated and delivered to a patient's heart in the absence of sensed natural cardiac activity.
For the purpose of this application, a "ventricular event" may refer either a natural ventricular excitation (intrinsic ventricular event) which is sensed as an R-wave or a ventricular stimulation pulse (V-pulse, VP). Similarly, an atrial event shall refer to both, a P-wave or an atrial stimulation pulse (A-pulse, AP).
Since the atrial escape interval usually defines the time of delivery of a next scheduled atrial stimulation pulse, and since an atrial stimulation pulse may be timed from the latest ventricular event as well as from the latest atrial event, in some cases the atrial escape interval is an A-A interval.
In general, two kinds of dual-chamber DDD-timing schemes are known:
In atrial-based DDD pacing, all timing is controlled either from the sensing of atrial activity (a P-wave) or an atrial pacing. When a P-wave is sensed, two separate timers are started that operate in parallel. A first timer defines an atrial escape interval, which, if timed-out, results in an atrial paced event. A second timer defines a separate AV delay, which, if timed-out, results in a ventricular paced event. The first and second timers both start upon sensed or paced atrial activity. The AV delay timer does not affect the basic atrial escape interval timer. The atrial escape interval timer thus controls the basic functioning rate of the pacemaker from atrial to atrial event. The ventricle is paced, if needed, at a rate that tracks the sensed atrial rate. If no atrial activity is sensed, then the atrium is also paced at a rate equal to the set rate. Nonetheless, even when operating in such atrial-based mode, there still remains a need to enhance pacemaker longevity, as well as a need to allow the heart to beat at its own rhythm more often.
In atrial based DDD-pacing the atrial escape interval usually is an A-A-interval which is simultaneously started with a ventricular escape interval (AV-interval)
As an alternative to above-described atrial-based DDD pacing, there is also a second type of dual chamber operation known as ventricular-based pacing. In ventricular-based DDD pacing (sometimes referred to as ventricular-based timing), two parallel timers are used, as indicated above. By a ventricular event, a VA Delay timer is started. If the VA Delay timer times-out all the way, an atrial pulse (A-pulse) is provided. Thus, the VA-delay timer defines an atrial escape interval (AEI). If a P-wave is sensed before the VA Delay timer times-out, such sensing terminates the VA Delay timer. The sensing of a P-wave or the generating of an A-pulse thus define a atrial event. A ventricular event also starts a Ventricular Escape Interval timer. If this Ventricular Escape Interval timer times-out all the way, a ventricular pulse (V-pulse) is provided. If an R-wave is sensed before the Ventricular Escape Interval timer times-out, such sensing terminates the Ventricular Escape Interval Timer. The sensing of an R-wave or the generating of a V-pulse thus comprise a ventricular event, which ventricular event again starts both, the VA Delay timer and the Ventricular Escape Interval Timer.
In patients having an AV-block, the natural conduction from the atrium to the ventricle is affected. However, the atrium itself may contract in a natural way with a physiologically adequate rate. In the DDD(R) mode of operation an AV-sequential stimulation or atrium-synchronous pacing is possible, which allows to track intrinsic atrial contractions and to stimulate the ventricle with an (artificial) AV delay after each sensed atrial contraction in order to maintain AV synchronicity. In such mode of operation the maximum AV delay between an atrial event and the next paced ventricular event is given by the ventricular escape interval.
The choice of an adequate duration of an escape interval depends at least on two demands: the escape interval shall reflect the natural timing of a healthy heart. Therefore, the ventricular escape interval would be chosen to match the natural atrioventricular conduction time in a healthy heart. On the other hand, it is an object to allow as many natural contractions of a heart chamber as possible. Therefore, timeout of the escape interval should not occur to early to give the heart the chance to contract on its own.
To meet these demands one of the programmable modes that has been used with programmable pacemakers for many years is a mode known as the "hysteresis" mode. The hysteresis mode is used in conjunction with selected other modes, such as single-chamber demand pacing, to allow the natural sinus rhythm of the heart to persist at rates less than the programmed minimum rate of the pacemaker. The programmed minimum rate of the pacemaker, in turn, sets the atrial escape interval. During pacing, i.e., during those times when the pacemaker is generating stimulation pulses, the pacemaker thus stimulates the heart at the rate set by the atrial escape interval or the sum of the atrial escape interval and the AV delay, respectively, i.e., upon the timing-out of each atrial and/or ventricular escape interval. When the hysteresis mode is enabled, sensed cardiac activity causes the pacemaker escape interval to be extended, or lengthened, thereby providing a longer period of time within which natural cardiac activity may occur before the pacemaker steps in to generate a stimulation pulse. Should the intrinsic rate of the heart fall below the programmed hysteresis rate, i.e., should no intrinsic cardiac activity be sensed during the lengthened escape interval, then a stimulation pulse is generated, and the escape interval reverts back to its initial value, as determined by the programmed minimum rate.
Further intervals set to determine the pacemaker's behavior include refractory periods like a post ventricular refractory period (PVARP), which is started with delivery of a ventricular pacing pulse and during which no atrial activity is sensed thus rendering the pacemaker refractory (insensitive) in the atrium during PVARP. This interval and other intervals will not be discussed further herein since they are known to one skilled in the art.
State of the art pacemakers are disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,523, U.S. Pat. No. 5,237,992 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,374,281.
It is an object of the present invention to reduce the percentage of ventricular pacing by promoting the intrinsic AV conduction, while maintaining the ability to switch to DDD(R) in the event of unacceptable AV conduction in particular with patients suffering from a sick sinus syndrome (SSS) and AV block I/II.
Dual chamber pacemakers are often implanted in patients with Sick Sinus Syndrome (SSS). Although such patients often have intact AV conduction or 1st degree AV block (AV-block I), the device is often programmed to the DDD(R) mode with factory AV delay setting, which is more suitable to third degree AV block (AV-block III) patients. Therefore, many patients are unnecessarily paced in the ventricle.
There is growing medical evidence that inappropriate ventricular pacing has disadvantageous short-term hemodynamic effects, and may be less than desirable after an extended period of time, e.g. the Mode Selection Trial (MOST) demonstrated that ventricular desynchronization imposed by ventricular pacing even when AV synchrony is preserved increases the risk of heart failure hospitalization and incidence of AF in 2010 SSS patients with normal QRS duration. A 10% increase in cumulative ventricular pacing was associated with a 20% increased risk of CHF hospitalization. This risk increases linearly until cumulative ventricular paced time reached 60% and then plateaus.


Slight camera movement between capture of successive images is advantageously utilized to minimize or eliminate the need to interpolate in order to fill in the “holes” in a Bayer pattern. The captured color values from multiple appropriately positioned images are used to fill these holes. For example, instead of interpolating the value of red for the second pixel position on the first row of a Bayer pattern, an image is selected which is positioned one pixel to the right of the first image, and the red vales from this image are used for the red values of the second pixel on the first line. Values of the pixels in multiple images which are appropriately aligned to each pixel position are averaged to generate a better value for each pixel position. Information carried by a digital watermark (either alone or together with other techniques) is used to determine the alignment of the images. Images are selected which are positioned so that corresponding pixels fall within a specified tolerance from a location in a Bayer pattern. The pixel values of the images which fall within the specified tolerance of each pixel position in a Bayer pattern are selected and used for the alignment.

The technology to detect and read digital watermarks that are embedded in images is well developed. For example see, U.S. Pat. No. 5,721,788, U.S. Pat. No. 5,745,604, U.S. Pat. No. 5,768,426 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,748,783. Programs for detecting and reading digital watermarks are included in various commercially available image editing programs such as Adobe Photoshop that is marketed by Adobe Corporation.
A digital watermark can more easily be detected and read from a high quality, high resolution image, than from a low quality or low resolution image. In some situations multiple images having similar picture content are available. There are known techniques for combining multiple low resolution images which have similar content in order to make one relatively high resolution image. Such a technique is, for example, described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,208,765. The system shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,208,765 aligns images using a reference coordinate system. An enhanced image is then synthesized, and regions of image overlap (i.e. regions of similar image content in multiple images) have improved quality. The synthesis process combines information in overlapping regions to form an enhanced image that corrects many of the image impairments.
Inexpensive low resolution cameras designed for connection to personal computers are in widespread use. Such cameras are herein referred to as PC cameras. PC cameras generally capture pixels in what is often termed a "Bayer pattern". A Bayer pattern is a four pixel square where only one color is captured for each pixel. The colors captured for the two pixels on the first line are red and green. The colors captured for the two pixels on the second line are green and blue. Interpolation is used to calculate three colors for each pixel position. The positions in the Bayer pattern where values of a colors are calculated rather than actually measured are herein termed "holes".
If a camera which uses pixel interpolation is used to acquire a digital image of a watermarked physical image, the pixel interpolation may make it more difficult to accurately read the watermark from the acquired digital image. However, with cameras such as PC cameras, it is easy to obtain multiple images which have almost identical content. The present invention is directed to using such multiple images to minimize or eliminate the need to interpolate to obtain a high resolution image.

Generating super resolution digital images


A network device comprises a Web service provider unit. In order to provide a client in a network with a service to display a list of multiple images stored in a predetermined storage area, the client having a function as a Web browser, the Web service provider unit sends the client in response to a request from the client a markup language file described in a predetermined markup language. The Web service provider unit includes a layer configuration unit and a Web program generator. The layer configuration unit configures as an element included in the markup language file at least one layer having a visibility attribute that defines whether or not the layer will be displayed on the client and assigns each of the multiple images to one of the layer. The Web program generator generates a Web program that operates on the client and sends the Web program to the client. The Web program is a program that causes the client to implement a first function to set the visibility attribute of the layer and a second function to issue a request to obtain each of the multiple images such that each of the multiple images is respectively placed on the layer to which the image is assigned.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a technology to improve user-friendliness in image list displaying on a client having a function as a Web browser in a network.
2. Description of the Related Art
Technologies that cause a list of multiple images to be displayed on a Web browser based on multiple image data are known in the prior art (see JP2000-357169A, for example). Such technologies used to display a list of images are applied in a network system that includes a Web server and a client having a Web browser function.
In such image list display in a network system, when a client issues a request for image list display, a Web server generates an HTML file in which are embedded URLs for multiple image data and sends this HTML file to the client. The client receives and interprets the HTML file and issues requests to obtain the image data specifying the URLs for the image data embedded in the HTML file. When the client performs display processing after receiving the image data sent in response to the requests, a list display page that includes multiple images is displayed on the client.
In image list display in a network system, because requests to obtain all of image data whose URLs are embedded in the HTML file are simultaneously issued from the client, the burden on the network and a server that provides the image data is substantial. As a result, the time required for image list display increases, which reduces user-friendliness.
On the other hand, in image list display in a network system, the multiple images may be distributed among multiple HTML files allocating a prescribed number of images for each HTML file, enabling all images to be displayed by switching pages. In this case, because the image data sought to be obtained by a client at any one time are limited to those allocated to a single HTML file, the burden on the network and the server that provides the image data can be distributed. However, in this case, each time the page is switched on the client, an HTML file and image data are sent and received and the burden on the network is still substantial. As a result, the time required for image list display increases, reducing user-friendliness.


A power machine diagnostic system. The diagnostic tool system includes a first interface removably coupled to a power machine, a computer to identify a type of the power machine coupled at the first interface, and a second interface between the tool and the computer.

Embodiments of the invention relate to a portable universal diagnostic system for power machines.
Various types of power machines typically have same or similar interfaces. Different tools are used to perform various functions such as diagnoses and control on each type of machine. As a result, technicians working on different machines are required to learn how to operate each tool. Different tools generally require different production lines, which can be costly. Learning to operate different tools is also time-consuming and cost-ineffective.

Power machine diagnostic system and method


A vehicle-body structure for a motorcycle which is capable of suppressing the reduction of a contact load of a rear wheel by reducing a load applied to a vehicle-body frame at an application of an excessive load from the front of a vehicle. In a vehicle-body structure for a motorcycle including a head pipe supporting a front wheel in front of a vehicle-body frame, a guide member guides the front wheel obliquely rearwardly during an application of an excessive load to the front wheel. The guide member is disposed rearwardly of the front wheel and at the front portion of the vehicle-body frame.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle-body structure for a motorcycle.
2. Description of Background Art
A vehicle, for example a motorcycle, is known that includes a function of absorbing a load at an application of excessive load from the front of the vehicle. More specifically, a front portion of a vehicle-body frame is formed in a shape like a bow of a ship with the front portion being positioned behind a front wheel. Further, the tip of the bow is offset to the right or the left from the center line, in the width direction, of the front wheel of the motorcycle maintained in the state of traveling straight. See, for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-264866.
In such a motorcycle, when the front wheel is deformed to the front portion of the vehicle-body frame at the application of excessive load from the front of the vehicle, the offset-tip of the bow deflects the front wheel from the vehicle-body frame so that the front wheel is deformed sufficiently. As a result, the excessive load is smoothly absorbed since interference between the front wheel and the vehicle-body frame is prevented.
According to Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-264866, the excessive load applied from the front of the vehicle can be absorbed when the motorcycle is traveling straight. However, in a case where an excessive load is applied when the front wheel is steered to the side opposite to that to which the tip of the bow is offset, the load is applied to the tip of the bow, and a forward rotating behavior of the vehicle body may not be suppressed sufficiently. More specifically, consider a case where the load received by the front wheel is applied to the vehicle-body frame. In this case, when the vehicle body and the colliding object move away from each other due to reaction after the application of the excessive load, a remaining moment of the vehicle-body frame may cause reduction of the contact load of the rear wheel.