A guide bearing assembly is disclosed which is capable of being thoroughly cleaned. A linear actuating embodiment includes a reciprocating shaft with first and second spools axially spaced a predetermined distance. Each spool has an associated guide bearing surface taking the form of a cylindrical bore, with the bores axially spaced a distance greater than the axial distance between spools so that when one spool is in engagement with its guide bore, the opposite spool is out of engagement with its guide bore. A rotary bearing embodiment includes a rotatable shaft having first and second spools with each spool having a plurality of angularly spaced lobes. The lobes cooperate with complementing guide bearing surfaces on a guide sleeve. The lobes of one spool are angularly spaced relative to the lobes of a second spool, so that with the lobes of the first spool in engagement with their guide surfaces, the lobes of the second spool are disengaged, and vice versa.

The invention relates to guide bearings that are suited for use with machinery that operates in whole or in part in a clean environment, and which may be thoroughly cleaned and decontaminated or sterilized prior to and after use.
Such machinery may, for example, be used for processing pharmaceutical components (e.g., vials, ampules or syringes) or in connection with food processing. Machinery of this type necessarily operates in a clean environment, either by placing the entirety of the machine in a clean room or by defining a clean or isolation zone within the machine itself in which the processing operations take place.
In either case, the various processing operations are typically accomplished through the use of mechanical apparatus that includes both stationary and moving components. To ensure that the processing operation is free from contaminants, it is essential that all surfaces of the apparatus within the clean zone, both stationary and moving, are cleaned and decontaminated or sterilized before the operation begins.
The use of a clean zone forming part of the machinery and which houses only the processing operations greatly reduces the difficulty of cleaning the entire machine. Nevertheless, all of the mechanisms within the clean zone must be decontaminated periodically, and difficulties arise particularly with regard to movable mechanical components that serve a processing function.
For example, certain operations within the clean zone may require linear reciprocating actuators which are guided by some type of bearing. Conventional guide bearings must be enclosed, at least in part, which makes them difficult to clean and therefore vulnerable to the collection of contaminants. This problem is conventionally dealt with by a seal such as a rubber bellows or boot that is connected between the reciprocating actuator and the bearing housing. While such devices serve well in shielding from contaminants, they are difficult to clean and also subject to wear over time. If the bellows or boot fails, the clean zone is immediately subject to contamination, and the processing line must be shut down while the seal is replaced. The same problems occur with rotary actuators.
The subject invention is the result of an endeavor to develop linear and rotary guide bearings usable within the clean zone of a processing machine which not only provide the intended guiding function but which are also easily cleanable in their entirety. The inventive bearings of the preferred embodiment are disclosed in conjunction with a machine that performs one step in a hypodermic syringe filling operation, but the inventive principle itself has wider application.
For linear actuators, the inventive bearing of the preferred embodiment specifically takes the form of a pair of spool members carried on a reciprocating shaft that are axially spaced by a predetermined distance. Each of the spools has an associated guide bearing surface, which in the preferred embodiment takes the form of a cylindrical bore formed in a member which is stationary in relation to the movable spool. The cylindrical bores are also axially spaced but by an amount that is greater than the axial spacing between the two spool members.
This relative axial spacing is chosen so that both spool members may be in partial guided engagement with the associated guide bearing surfaces with the actuator shaft in an intermediate position, but when the shaft is in either of its extreme positions, one spool member is in complete engagement with its associated guide bearing surface while the other spool member is moved entirely out of engagement with its associated guide surface. In the opposite extreme position, the spool members are conversely positioned.
This component arrangement ensures that the linearly moving actuator shaft is always in guided engagement by one or both spool members, thus providing the necessary guiding function. However, it will also be appreciated that the spool which is in the free position and its associated guide bearing surface may be cleaned and decontaminated or sterilized in their entirety with a disinfecting solution or sterilizing agent, and with the actuator shaft moved to its opposite limit position, the other spool member and its associated guide bearing surface may be cleaned and decontaminated or sterilized in the same manner.
The inventive principle also is applicable to rotary guide bearings. The preferred embodiment of this device takes the form of a rotatable shaft disposed within a guide housing. The shaft includes first and second spools, with each spool defining at least two radially outwardly projecting lobes (four equiangularly spaced lobes in the preferred embodiment). The guide housing includes a like number of radially inwardly projecting guide surfaces. With the lobes in guided contact with the associated guide bearing surfaces, fluid communication (e.g., passages for disinfecting liquid or a sterilizing agent) exists only through spaces between the lobes. However, when the shaft is rotated and the lobes are out of guided engagement with the associated guide bearing surfaces, all surfaces of both the spool and the guide housing are exposed for cleaning and decontamination. The second spool is axially spaced from the first spool and has the same structural configuration. However, its lobes are angularly disposed in a staggered arrangement relative to the lobes of the first spool; e.g., the four lobes of one spool are disposed at a relative angular difference of 45.degree. to the other. Stated otherwise, when the lobes of the first spool are in full engagement with the associated guide surfaces, the lobes of the second spool have moved entirely out of engagement with their associated guide bearing surfaces.
From the standpoint of cleaning and decontamination, the rotary bearing operates in the same manner as the reciprocating bearing. In other words, the "free" spool and its associated guide bearing surfaces may be cleaned and decontaminated or sterilized with the shaft in the first position, and when the shaft is rotated to a second position (e.g., 45.degree. for four-lobed spools), the other spool may be cleaned and decontaminated or sterilized in its entirety.
The inventive guide bearings are simple in construction, but provide the necessary guiding function throughout all phases of operation. Most importantly, they are capable of being cleaned and decontaminated in their entirety by moving the actuator from one limit position to the other during the cleaning process.
The invention will be more fully appreciated from the following specification and drawings.


A plurality of thermoplastic composite structures are laminated to each other in a lay-up arrangement to form a laminate. Each thermoplastic composite structure is composed of a core composite layer and a surface layer polymer applied to opposing surfaces of the core composite layer. The core composite layer is composed of a fibrous substrate and one or more high performance polymers, which crystallize at a faster rate than the surface layer polymer.

Field of the Invention
The subject matter of the present invention relates to thermoplastic composite materials and prepregs used for creating structures that have a high strength-to-weight ratio. More particularly, in certain embodiments the present invention relates to layered thermoplastic composites for use in rapid lamination and forming processes, which composites possess an interlayer region containing at least one polymer that is high in crystallinity and either partially or fully crystallizes during the process window of the rapid lamination or forming process, and an outerlayer region containing a polymer that has low or no crystallization and is miscible and/or compatible with the polymer of the interlayer region, and has a lower melting and processing temperature than the polymer of the interlayer region. Such thermoplastic composites are useful in aerospace and other high-performance automotive/industrial applications.
Description of the Related Art
Reinforced thermoplastic and thermoset materials have wide application in, for example, the aerospace, automotive, industrial/chemical, and sporting goods industries. Thermosetting resins are impregnated into the reinforcing material before curing, while the resinous materials are low in viscosity. Thermoset composites suffer from several disadvantages. Low molding pressures are used to prepare these composites to avoid damage to the fibers. These low pressures, however, make it difficult to suppress the formation of bubbles within the composite which can result in voids or defects in the matrix coating. Thus, most processing problems with thermoset composites are concerned with removing entrained air or volatiles so that a void-free matrix is produced. Thermoset composites made by the prepreg method require lengthy cure times with alternating pressures to control the flow of the resin as it thickens to prevent bubbles in the matrix. While current fabrication of large structures utilize robotic placement of the thermoset composite material to increase production rate, its overall production rate for the component is limited by the lengthy cure in the autoclave process step and related operations to prepare the material for that process step. Some high volume processes, such as resin infusion avoid the prepreg step but still require special equipment and materials along with constant monitoring of the process over the length of the cure time (e.g. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,132,755, and 5,721,034). Although thermoset resins have enjoyed success as in lower volume composites applications, the difficulties in processing these resins has limited their use in larger volume applications.
Thermoplastic compositions, in contrast, are more difficult to impregnate into the reinforcing material because of comparatively higher viscosities. On the other hand, thermoplastic compositions offer a number of benefits over thermosetting compositions. For example, thermoplastic prepregs can be more rapidly fabricated into articles. Another advantage is that thermoplastic articles formed from such prepregs may be recycled. In addition, damage resistant composites with excellent performance in hot humid environments may be achieved by the proper selection of the thermoplastic matrix. Thermoplastic resins are long chain polymers of high molecular weight. These polymers are highly viscous when melted and are often non-Newtonian in their flow behavior. Thus, whereas thermosets have viscosities in the range of 100 to 5,000 centipoise (0.1 to 5 Pa*s), thermoplastics have melt viscosities ranging from 5,000 to 20,000,000 centipoise (5 to 20,000 Pa*s), and more typically from 20,000 to 1,000,000 centipoise (20 to 1000 Pa*s). Despite a viscosity difference of three orders of magnitude between thermosets and thermoplastics, some processes have been applied to both types of matrices for laminating fibrous materials.
Fiber-reinforced plastic materials may be manufactured by first impregnating the fiber reinforcement with resin to form a prepreg, then consolidating two or more prepregs into a laminate, optionally with additional forming steps. Due to the high viscosity of thermoplastics, most of the processes to form thermoplastic prepregs involve coating the outside of the fiber bundles with a thermoplastic polymer powder rather than coating individual filaments. The polymer powder is then melted to force the polymer around, into and onto the individual filaments. A few processes apply melt directly to the fibers. A tape can be made by coating a dry web of collimated fibers with the polymer and applying a heated process that forces the polymer into and around the fibers (e.g., see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,549,920 and 4,559,262). Another process used to coat and impregnate a dry web of collimated fibers is by pulling the web through an aqueous slurry of fine thermoplastic polymer particles whereby the polymer particles are trapped within the filament bundles. Subsequent heat and pressure in the process boils off the water and then melts the polymer to force it into and around the filament bundles. This process is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,372,294; 5,725,710; 4,883,552 and 4,792,481. A modification to the aqueous slurry impregnation process is to eliminate the use of water and surfactant as dispersing agents for the polymer particles and instead electrostatically charge the particles in a fluidized bed of air to trap the particles in the filament bundle. Subsequent zones of heat and pressure melt the polymer to coat/impregnate the filament bundle as given in U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,883. Thus, for those skilled in the art, there are multiple methods to coat and/or impregnate a fibrous substrate given the available process equipment, and proper selection of polymer product form (flake, fine powder, film, non-woven veil, pellets) and melt viscosity. Known methods for the fabrication of composite articles include manual and automated fabrication. Manual fabrication entails manual cutting and placement of material by a technician to a surface of the mandrel. This method of fabrication is time consuming and cost intensive, and could possibly result in non-uniformity in the lay-up. Known automated fabrication techniques include: flat tape laminating machines (FTLM) and contour tape laminating machines (CTLM). Typically, both the FTLM and the CTLM employ a solitary composite material dispenser that travels over the work surface onto which the composite material is to be applied. The composite material is typically laid down a single row (of composite material) at a time to create a layer of a desired width and length. Additional layers may thereafter be built up onto a prior layer to provide the lay-up with a desired thickness. FTLM's typically apply composite material to a flat transfer sheet; the transfer sheet and lay-up are subsequently removed from the FTLM and placed onto a mold or on a mandrel. In contrast, CTLM's typically apply composite material directly to the work surface of a mandrel. FLTM and CTLM machines are also known as automated tape laydown (ATL) and automated fiber placement (AFP) machines with the dispenser being commonly referred to as a tape head.
The productivity of ATL/AFP machines is dependent on machine parameters, composite part lay-up features, and material characteristics. Machine parameters such as start/stop time, course transition time, and cut/adding plies determine the total time the tape head on the ATL/AFP is laying material on the mandrel. Composite lay-up features such as localized ply build-ups and part dimensions also influence the total productivity of the ATL/AFP machines. Key material factors that influence ATL/AFP machine productivity are similar for a thermoset resin matrix composite when compared with a thermoplastic matrix composite yet there are a couple of key differences. For thermoset resin matrix composites, key factors are impregnation levels, surface resin coverage, and "tack". "Tack" is the adhesion level necessary to maintain the position of the tape/tow on the tool or lay-up after it has been deposited on it. Thermoset resins are partially reacted and therefore "tack" is achieved through a combination of molecular diffusion between the two laminating surfaces and chemisorption between the polar, unreacted chemical moieties. Due to the unreacted nature of the thermoset resin, the ATL/AFP process is generally performed at room temperature but in humidity controlled rooms due to the moisture sensitivity on the tack level of the material.
Thermoplastic matrix composites have similar key factors as thermoset matrix composites for ATL/AFP machine productivity but since the thermoplastics polymer matrices are generally fully reacted in the tape it lacks "tack" at ambient conditions. The fully reacted thermoplastics generally have low surface energies making adhesion at room temperature unlikely. Furthermore, the high performance thermoplastic matrices are in their "glass" state at room temperature making the molecular diffusion mechanism for "tack" virtually impossible. Thus, "tack" is achieved in thermoplastic composites by dynamically applying additional energy in the form of thermal, ultrasonic, optical (laser), and/or electromagnetic (induction) to the lay-up and incoming tape to raise the temperature of the materials above their softening and/or melt temperature in order to facilitate molecular diffusion of the polymer chains to occur between the two surfaces. Once the polymer chains have diffused across the surface, the additional energy added to the materials needs to be removed to a level that will prevent distortion of the laminated lay-up once the lamination pressure from the ATL/AFP head is removed. This rapid flux of energy into and out of the lay-up makes it desirable from an energy usage and lay down speed to perform this process step at the lowest possible temperature and energy without compromising on the temperature performance of the resulting composite part.
Consolidation is typically necessary to remove voids that result from the inability of the resin to fully displace air from the fiber bundle, tow, or roving during the processes that have been used to impregnate the fibers with resin. The individually impregnated roving yarns, tows, plies, or layers of prepregs are usually consolidated by heat and pressure by compacting in an autoclave. The consolidation step has generally required the application of very high pressures and high temperatures under vacuum for relatively long times. Furthermore, the consolidation process step using an autoclave or oven requires a "bagging" operation to provide the lay-up with a sealed membrane over the tool to allow a vacuum to be applied for removal of air and to provide the pressure differential necessary to effect consolidation in the autoclave. This process step further reduces the total productivity of the composite part operation. Thus, for a thermoplastic composite it would be advantageous to in-situ consolidate to a low void composite while laminating the tape to the substrate with the ATL/AFP machine. This process is typically referred to as in-situ ATL/AFP and the material used in that process called an in-situ grade tape.
In general, thermoplastic composites have had limited success to date, due to a variety of factors including high processing temperatures (currently around 400° C.), high pressures, and prolonged molding times needed to produce good quality laminates. Most of the efforts have been focused on combining high performance polymers to structural fibers which has only exacerbated the process problems. Because the length of time typically required to properly consolidate the prepreg plies determines the production rate for the part, it would be desirable to achieve the best consolidation in the shortest amount of time. Moreover, lower consolidation pressures or temperatures and shorter consolidation times will result in a less expensive production process due to lowered consumption of energy per piece for molding and other manufacturing benefits.
Accordingly, the fiber-reinforced thermoplastic materials and methods presently available for producing light-weight, toughened composites require further improvement. Thermoplastic materials having improved process speeds on automated lay-up machines and lower processing temperatures, and having no autoclave or oven step would be a useful advance in the art and could find rapid acceptance in the aerospace and high-performance automotive industries, among others.

Thermoplastic composites and methods of making and using same


Pharmaceutical compositions are disclosed comprising betahistine, or a salt thereof, and olanzapine in amounts effective to reduce the weight gain associated with olanzapine administration.

Obesity is a chronic, complex, multi-factorial disease, involving social, cultural, genetic, physiological and psychological components, and is associated with substantially increased morbidity and mortality. Over-nutrition is attributed as the cause of about 400,000 deaths a year in the USA (Mokdad, 2004), and may considered to be an epidemic. Based on the body-mass index, defined as the ratio of weight and squared height, (ranging normally from 18.5 to 24.9), about one third of the adult population is overweight (an index of from 25 to 29.9), and more than one quarter is obese (index greater than 30) (National Center for Health Statistics, 2000). Environmental and behavioral changes brought about by economic development and modernization have been linked to the rise in global obesity. The environmental factors which foster the tendency toward obesity include lack of physical activity combined with high-calorie foods. The prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing worldwide at an alarming rate in both developing and developed countries, in children and adults, men and women. The number of overweight and obese people has continued to increase since 1960, a trend that is not slowing down. Today, 64.5% of adult Americans—about 127 million—are categorized as being overweight or obese and nearly one-third (30.5%)—about 60 million—are obese, as reported in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Obesity significantly increases the risk of illness from about thirty serious medical conditions and is associated with increases in deaths from all-causes. Among these are high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoarthritis, heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease and cancer of the breast, prostate and colon (National Task Force on the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity, 2000). Furthermore, each year, obesity causes at least 300,000 excess deaths in the U.S., being the second leading cause of unnecessary deaths. Healthcare costs of American adults with obesity amount to approximately 100 billion dollars.
Weight gain has also been found to occur as a result of various factors, including, for example, use of certain drugs, cessation of smoking, and advent of a holiday season.
Drugs which are known to cause weight gain include antipsychotics, particularly atypical antipsychotics; antidepressants, particularly the tricyclic antidepressants; mood-stabilizers; calcium channel blockers; anti-convulsants; proton pump inhibitors; antidiabetic agents; antihypertensives; and hormones. Certain selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) also have an effect on weight gain, although other SSRIs, such as, sertraline, sibutramine and fluoxetine, often have the opposite effect, and are, in fact, used as appetite suppressants.
Weight gain associated with use of certain drugs may significantly affect patient compliance with the drug administration regime.
Certain drug categories, such as the SSRIs and tricyclic antidepressants, cause food cravings. Furthermore, such drugs may stimulate appetite by blocking of histamine receptors. For example, it has recently been shown that atypical antipsychotics, such as olanzapine and clozapine, as well as tricyclic and tetracylic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline and mirtazapine, respectively, which are potent H1 antagonists, have a high propensity to induce weight gain (Wirshing, 1999).
Atypical antipsychotics have been frequently cited as causing a higher increase in weight gain than conventional antipsychotics (see, for example, Bustilllo, 1996). Weight gain was found to be greatest with clozapine, olanzapine, risperidone, and quetiapine, and less with aripiprazole and ziprasidone, and an additive effect on weight gain was found to occur in patients treated with antipsychotic medications and concomitantly with a drug from another class which may cause weight gain through a different mechanism, such as valproate (Kane, 2003). Weight gain with clozapine and olanzapine was found to persist for up to 30 weeks of treatment, and to be associated with a higher mean weight gain than for risperidone, haloperidol and sertindole (Wirshing, 2004). Risperidone-treated patients were found to gain weight for an initial 8-week period and then reach plateau level. Weight gain was also found to be more problematic for children and adolescents than for adults.
The mechanisms by which antipsychotic drugs cause weight gain are not clear. Antipsychotic drugs have multiple effects on neurotransmitter systems, which in turn have a range of effects on energy homeostasis. Most of the antipsychotics work through some degree of dopamine blockade (Wirshing, 2004), but modulation of the serotogenic, histaminergic, and adrenergic systems, all of which have potential impact on weight regulation, may also be involved. Most of the atypical antipsychotics work through a combination of receptor systems. Olanzapine and clozapine have the highest affinity for the H1 receptor of all the atypical antipsychotics, and are also associated with the highest weight gain. A logarithmic relationship between H1 receptor affinity and weight gain has been demonstrated (Wirshing, 1999). In addition, many atypical antipsychotics exhibit activity at several serotonin receptor subtypes, including the 5-HT2C subtype, which appears to mediate some effects on appetite. Olanzapine and clozapine both have high affinities for 5-HT2A, 5-HT2C, H1-histaminergic, and M1-muscarinic receptors. Clozapine also has high affinity for α1-adrenergic receptors. Ziprasidone, which is associated with minimal weight gain, has more serotogenic and less adrenergic, histaminic and muscarinic receptor affinity. Quetiapine has relatively high affinity for histamine receptors; risperidone has modest H1 affinity, but notable affinity for 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors. There are also endocrine effects of atypical antipsychotics, which presumably also play a role in weight gain.
A dual effect of the atypical antipsychotics in weight gain has been proposed: one, appetite stimulation by a direct effect on the brain, that may be observable in the short term; and second, a delayed endocrine/metabolic dysfunction that promotes fat deposition (Baptista, 2004). Involvement of the cytokine peptides leptin and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in anti-psychotic-induced weight gain has also been suggested.
The use of atypical antipsychotics has also been found to place patients at risk for various metabolic disorders, including metabolic syndrome, which results in weight gain, as well as in hypertriglyceridemia, and in increased insulin, glucose, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (Lieberman, 2004). According to a recent review (Newcomer, 2005), clozapine and olanzapine treatment are associated with an increased risk of diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia. A smaller effect is observed with risperidone and quetiapine. In general, it appears from the rank order of risk of diabetes and dyslipidemia observed for the atypical antipsychotics, that the risk is related to the differing weight gain liabilities of the drugs. It is suggested that the increased incidence of diabetes in patients receiving antipsychotics is not due purely to weight gain, since patients can develop diabetes without significant weight gain, and diabetes usually improves rapidly when the antipsychotic is withdrawn (Koller, 2001; Koller, 2002). The mechanisms leading to diabetes can include the drug induced weight gain, but there is also evidence of a direct metabolic effect. This may be related to antagonism at the 5-HT2 or histamine H1 receptors or to an elevation of serum leptin beyond that induced by increased body weight alone (Lean, 2003).
Dyslipidemia is most often associated with clozapine and olanzapine, and is primarily seen as an increase in triglyceride levels, but may also manifest as increased total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and decreased HDL-cholesterol (Barrett, 2004).
The use of atypical antipsychotics have also been associated with an increase in eating disorders, such as binge eating disorder, and bulimia nervosa (Theisen, 2003), which may be a secondary effect of the weight gain associated with these medicaments, resulting in reduced self esteem and repeated unsuccessful dietary trials.
Weight gain commonly occurs also as a result of cessation of smoking. This may be due to the fact that smoking burns calories, artificially elevates heart rate and increases metabolism. Upon cessation of smoking, the subject has to readjust to a lower metabolic rate.
Furthermore, nicotine is an appetite suppressant. Nicotine stimulates release of adrenaline, which acts upon the liver to step-up the breakdown of glycogen so that more glucose will be liberated into the blood. Nicotine also affects release of insulin, which controls glucose levels in the blood. Hence, nicotine causes slight hyperglycemia, and as a result, the body and brain may slow down the hormones and other signals that trigger feelings of hunger.
In addition, a subject suffering from nicotine withdrawal may turn to food for emotional comfort. Also, since smoking dulls the taste buds, food begins to taste better to new non-smokers, which can lead to increased food intake. Weight gain may also be caused by drugs prescribed to assist in smoking cessation. Anti-smoking medications include Zyban™ (bupropion hydrochloride).
Weight gain frequently also occurs during a holiday season, when the subject may have more opportunity to over-indulge in food, due to increased leisure time, increased availability of food, reduced exercise etc., or due to increased participation in meals in a social context. Such weight gain is greater during holidays, such as religious or national holidays, which are associated with consumption of specific foods or festive meals. Examples of such holidays include Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Passover.
There are several different treatment options for management of weight, including: dietary therapy, physical activity, behavior therapy, drug therapy and surgery. For the majority of overweight and obese people, who find they are unable to change their lifestyle, drug therapy is the most favorable and applicable option. Although hundreds of millions of people are seeking drug therapy for the treatment of obesity, current drug therapies do not meet this need due to their undesired side effects and limited efficacy.
Medications for the treatment of obesity are currently approved for use in adults with a body-mass index of 30 or higher, or with a body-mass index of 27 or higher who have obesity-related medical problems (Physicians' Desk Reference, 2001). Approximately 10 percents of women and 3 percents of men with a body-mass index of 30 or higher reportedly use weight-loss medications (Serdula, 1999).
Medications currently approved for weight loss in the United States fall into two categories: those that decrease food intake by reducing appetite or increasing satiety (appetite suppressants), and those that decrease nutrient absorption. A potentially third category, medications increasing energy expenditure, such as ephedrine, is not currently approved for treating obesity in the United States.
The only FDA-approved medication for obesity that reduces nutrient absorption is orlistat (Xenical™), which acts by binding to gastrointestinal lipases in the lumen of the gut, preventing hydrolysis of dietary fat into absorbable free fatty acids and monoacylglycerols.
Most appetite suppressants work primarily by increasing the availability of anorexigenic neurotransmitters—notably norepinephrine, serotonin, dopamine, or some combination of these neurotransmitters—in the central nervous system. Noradrenergic drugs available in the United States include phentermine, diethylpropion, phendimetrazine, and benzphetamine. Some of these drugs are considered by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to have a potential for abuse. Amphetamines, which are considered to have a particularly high potential for abuse are no longer recommended for weight loss for this reason. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves the medications for use of "a few weeks" only (generally presumed to be 12 weeks or less) for the treatment of obesity.
Side effects of noradrenergic medications include insomnia, dry mouth, constipation, euphoria, palpitations, and hypertension (Physicians' Desk Reference, 2001).
Serotonergic agents act by increasing the release of serotonin, inhibiting its reuptake, or both. Fenfluramine (Pondimin™) and dexfenfluramine (Redux™), medications that both stimulate serotonin release and inhibit its reuptake, were withdrawn from the market in the United States in 1997 because of associations with valvular heart disease and pulmonary hypertension. Some selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors have induced weight loss in short-term studies, and fluoxetine (Prozac) has undergone considerable evaluation to determine its efficacy for weight loss (Goldstein, 1993). However, after initial weight loss, steady regain was observed in later stages of the treatment (National Task Force on the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity). Sertraline (Zoloft™), evaluated as an adjunct for weight maintenance after a very-low-calorie diet, showed a similar lack of long-term efficacy (Wadden, 1995). Sibutramine (Meridia™, Reductil™), an inhibitor of both norepinephrine reuptake and serotonin reuptake that also weakly inhibits dopamine reuptake, is approved by the FDA for weight loss and weight maintenance in conjunction with a reduction diet. Side effects of sibutramine include increased blood pressure and pulse frequency rate (McMahon, 2000).
Rimonabant (Sanofi), which is claimed to stop food cravings, represents a new class of drugs that inhibit the activity of the CB1 receptor. The CB1 receptor forms a part of the endocannabinoid system. The CB1 receptor has been found in the brain, fat cells and other parts of the body, and has been associated with regulating food intake and with tobacco dependency (Pi-Sunyer et al., 2004). The endocannabiniod system helps to regulate pleasure, relaxation, and pain tolerance. Little is currently known about the long-term effects of inhibition of this system. Further, neurologists point out that the endocannabinoid system helps to protect the brain under some circumstances (such as stroke and head injury,) such that brain damage in these circumstances might be worse in patients taking drugs that block the endocannabiniod system.
The Rimonabant drug is currently undergoing phase III clinical trials. Presently reported side effects associated therewith include anxiety, nausea and diarrhea.
Hence, although some of the currently approved medications show moderate effects and can help some patients in losing weight, there is a continuing need for efficacious treatment regimes and drugs for alleviating the serious and prevalent disorder—the weight excess.
Histamine, a potent bioactive substance that has been studied for nearly a century, is an aminergic neurotransmitter. Four histamine receptors have been identified: H1, H2, H3, and H4, leading to the discovery and therapeutic use of potent receptor antagonists. Activation of the H1 receptor is associated with effects on smooth muscle and central neurons; activation of the H2 receptor stimulates acid secretion in the stomach, while activation of the H3 receptor results in a pre-synaptic autoregulatory effect.
Histamine has been implicated, among others, in the regulation of arousal state (Lin et al., 1990), locomotor activity (Clapham, 1994), cardiovascular control (Imamura, 1996), water intake (Lecklin, 1998), food intake (Leurs, 1998), and memory formation (Blandina, 1996). It has been suggested that histaminergic neural circuits arising in the tuberomammilary nucleus and projecting into the satiety centers of the hypothalamus participate in regulation of food intake. Histaminergic neurons project into hypothalamic centers known to participate in food intake i.e. the paraventricular nucleus and ventromedial hypothalamus, where the anorectic effect is thought to be mediated by postsynaptic histamine H1 receptors. The density of this receptor, together with the H3-receptor-mediated control of the intrasynaptic concentration of histamine, both seem to be crucial for the strength of the anorectic signal. Some studies have indicated that histamine may suppress appetite by acting on hypothalamic histaminergic neurons that participate in the regulation of food intake (Sakata, 1997; Bjenning, 2000; Sakata, 1995). Thus, it was reported that histamine injected intracerebroventricularly acts as an appetite suppressant, and that depletion of histamine stimulates feeding (Tuomisto, 1994). Changes in histaminergic tone in the CNS have been associated with genetic models of obesity (Machidori, 1992). In addition, intracerebroventricular injection of leptin has been correlated with changes in the turnover rate of hypothalamic neuronal histamine (Yoshimatsu, 1999). Since histamine is unable to cross the blood brain barrier, these effects would not be expected to be seen with systemic administration of histamine.
In both humans and rodents, treatment with an H1 antagonist resulted in hyperphagia (Fukagawa, 1989), and administration of H3 antagonists led to hypophagia (Attoub, 2001). The selective histamine H3 receptor antagonist NNC 38-109 has been reported to increase hypothalamic histamine levels, in parallel with decreases in food intake and body weight, according to studies in intact HEK293 cells expressing human or rat histamine H3 receptors (Malmof, 2005). The intrasynaptic concentration of histamine is primarily controlled by feedback signals from presynaptic histamine H3 receptors that inhibit both the conversion of L-histadine to histamine and the release of histamine into the synaptic clefts. Thus, by reducing the inhibition using a selective histamine H3 receptor antagonist, the synaptic concentration of histamine increases together with the signaling from the histamine H1 receptor, and food intake is consequently inhibited. However, the long-term effects of H3 receptors on anorexigenic activities for body-weight homeostasis have not been documented because of the off-target activity (Leurs, 1995) and toxicity profile of H3 inhibitors (Onderwater, 1998).
Betahistine (also known by its chemical names 2-[2-(methylamino)ethyl]pyridine and N-methyl-2-pyridineethaneamine) is an orally active histamine-like drug extensively used in the symptomatic treatment of vestibular disorders, mainly Menier's disease and vertigo (including vertigo in patients with migraine (Amelin, 2003), dizziness with recurrent vertigo (Acta Otolaryngol., 2003), vertigo in patients with vascular and traumatic cerebral injuries (Gusev, 1998), and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (Fujino, 1994)). Studies have shown that betahistine can be further utilized in the treatment of a variety of disorders, including the after-effects of craniocerebral injury and vascular events (Odinak, 2005), preventing or reducing myocardial infraction after occurrence of coronary occlusion (U.S. Pat. No. 4,159,332), multiple sclerosis (Boika, 2002), cutaneous hypersensitivity in patients with grass pollen allergy (Synman, 1995), arteriosclerotic dementia (Seipel, 1977), acute deafness (Grahne, 1976), vertebral-basilar insufficiency (Botez, 1975), and seasickness (J. Vestib. Res. 2003).
Betahistine is a structural analog of histamine, in which the imidazole ring of the histamine is replaced by a pyridine ring. Betahistine is an H1 receptor agonist, and has been found to exhibit an H1-agonism activity of about 0.07 times that of histamine, and to cause hypotensive response, bronchoconstriction, and increased vasopermeability after parenteral administration. Receptor binding studies have also shown that betahistine is a potent H3-receptor antagonist. Betahistine is able to cross the blood brain barrier and act centrally by enhancing histamine synthesis is tuberomammillary nuclei of the posterior hypothalamus. Adverse side effected associated with betahistine are typically minor and include skin rashes of various types, urticaria, and itching. Gastric upset, nausea, and headache have also been reported by some patients.
It has been found (Rossi et al., 1999) that high doses of betahistine, delivered intraperitoneally, increased water intake and decreased food intake in pygmy goats. This was suggested as being due to stimulation of both H1 and H2 receptors, since in addition to its known action as an H1 receptor agonist, betahistine has been shown to act as a weak partial agonist of peripheral histamine H2 receptors (Arrang et al., 1985). This idea is further supported by recent findings showing that the hypophagic effect of histamine was blocked by the H2-receptor antagonist, cimetidine, in pygmy goats. These similarities in the hypophagic effects of histamine and betahistine suggest an involvement of H2-receptors in the hypophagic effect of betahistine in pygmy goats. H2-receptors are not, however, associated with weight change in humans (Rasmussen, 1993).
Szelag et al. (2001) found that betahistine, when given intraperitoneally, decreased food intake in rats, whereas this effect was not seen when betahistine was given intragastrically (Szelag, 2002). It was suggested that the effect of betahistine administration on food intake involves increasing histamine synthesis and release as a result of H3 receptor inhibition. However, since activation of H2 receptors is known to stimulate hydrochloric acid secretion (see, for example, Clayman, 1977), it was further suggested that the lack of the influence of betahistine on food intake after intragastrical administration may be due to the fact that betahistine increased hydrochloric acid release by activation of H2 receptors, thereby abolishing the central anorectic activity of betahistine.
It was also suggested that the effects on H1 receptors in humans may differ significantly from those in rats due to variations in circadian rhythm between the species. Therefore, it appears that the anorectic response of betahistine is dependent upon species and route of administration. Nevertheless, Szelag et al. fail to teach the effect of betahistine administered orally or by any other route of administration, on food intake in humans.
Lecklin et al. (2002) found that inhibition of histamine catabolism by intraperitoneal injection of metoprine, a histamine-N-methyltransferase inhibitor, resulted in suppressed daily energy intake and ingestion of fat in rats.
Pharmacokinetic studies showed that betahistine is transformed, mainly in the liver, to 2-(2-aminoethyl)-pyridine (AEP) and to 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-pyridine (HEP), (Sternoson, 1974) whereas both betahistine and the metabolites bind to histamine receptors.
The cited references corroborate the complexity of appetite regulation, which includes, among other factors, species specificity and route of administration. It has further been found (Seifert et al., 2003) that multiple differences exist in agonist and antagonist pharmacology of histamine receptors between different species, such as humans and guinea pigs. The prior art does not teach or suggest the use of H1 agonists for regulating food intake in humans. The prior art further does not teach or suggest the use of such H1 agonists that have a pharmacological half life that permits an efficient treatment therewith. The prior art further does not teach or suggest the use of orally administered H1 agonists for regulating food intake in humans.
There is thus a widely recognized need for and it would be highly advantageous to have histamine-related agents for regulation of food intake in humans and for reducing weight gain associated with e.g., drug treatment, devoid of the above limitations.


The invention relates to an extracorporeal blood treatment machine in which a blood circuit (3) is equipped with an inlet line leading to a filtration unit (2) and with an outlet line (3b) from the filtration unit; a fluid circuit comprises an inlet line (4a) leading to the filtration unit and an outlet line (4b) from the filtration unit so as to allow a fluid taken from a primary container (5) to circulate within the filtration unit, thus enabling the treatment of the patient's blood. There is further an infusion line (6) acting on the outlet line of the blood circuit, which is supplied by an auxiliary fluid container (7). The inlet line of the fluid circuit is equipped with at least an infusion branch (8) acting on the outlet line of the blood circuit so as to enable the intensive therapy machine to manage therapies with large exchange of fluids.

The present invention relates to an extracorporeal blood treatment machine and to an integrated treatment module that can be used on said machine.
The object of the invention can be used for instance in intensive therapy machines which can carry out a plurality of different blood treatments.
Extracorporeal treatments generally consists in taking blood from the patient, in treating said blood when it is outside the patient's body and then in re-circulating the blood thus treated.
The treatment typically consists in removing from the blood unwanted and/or dangerous substances, as well as excess liquid in patients who cannot autonomously carry out said operations, such as for instances patients suffering from temporary or permanent kidney problems.
For instance, it may be necessary to add or remove substances from blood, to keep a correct acid/base ratio or also to remove fluid excess from the body.
The extracorporeal treatment is generally obtained by removing blood from the patient, by letting the blood flow within a filtration unit where a semipermeable membrane ensures the exchange of suitable substances, molecules and fluids.
Generally though not necessarily, said exchange is carried out by letting a given biological fluid ensuring the aforesaid exchanges pass in counter-current and within a secondary chamber of the filtration unit.
It should be noted that currently used machines can enable different types of blood treatment.
In the ultrafiltration treatment the substances and fluids to be eliminated are removed by convection from the blood, pass through the semipermeable membrane and are led towards the aforesaid secondary chamber.
In hemofiltration treatments part of the molecules, substances and fluids present in the blood pass through the membrane by convection as in the ultrafiltration treatment, although further necessary elements are added to the blood; typically a suitable fluid is infused directly into the blood before or after the latter passes through the filtration unit and anyhow before it is carried back into the patient.
In haemodialysis treatments a fluid containing material to be transferred into the blood is introduced into the secondary chamber of the filtration unit. The unwanted material flows through the semipermeable membrane from the blood into the secondary fluid and the desired substances/molecules from the secondary fluid can pass through the membrane as far as the blood.
In hemodiafiltration treatments the blood and the secondary fluid exchange their respective substances/molecules as in haemodialysis and, in addition, a fluid is infused into the blood as in haemofiltration treatments.
Obviously, in order to carry out each of said extracorporeal blood treatments, the blood has to be removed from a patient's vein or artery, suitably circulated in the machine and then re-introduced into the patient.
As is also known, blood treatment machines for intensive therapy have to be ready as fast as possible for an immediate use for any possible emergency.
Obviously, to this purpose the machine must not require either preliminary sanitizing operations or long pre-assembling operations of the various components for the various therapies.
As is known, intensive therapy machines are present on the market and are currently used, in which a blood circuit comprises a line for taking blood from the patient, which carries said blood to a filtration cartridge, and an outlet line from the filtration cartridge, which carries the treated blood back into the patient's body.
The machine is then equipped with a circuit for the passage of dialysis fluid; also said circuit has an intake line leading into the filtration unit, which is supplied by a sterile bag containing the dialysis liquid, and has also an outlet line enabling the passage of a fluid which has received by convection/diffusion the dangerous substances and molecules from the blood towards a collection bag for their subsequent removal.
Said machine is further equipped with an infusion line allowing—with suitable doses—to transfer directly into the blood upstream from the filtration unit the content of another liquid bag, thus adding the necessary products into the blood.
A known intensive therapy machine is further equipped with a suitable syringe containing for instance heparin as blood anticoagulant, the latter being added to the blood taken from the patient so as to avoid the creation of dangerous clots within the circuit.
The structure and circuitry mentioned above are generally defined by a single integrated module attached to the machine body.
It is evident that in order to enable the immediate use of the machine, the fluid bags referred to above have to be present and already sterile, so as to be directly and easily connected to their respective tubes, the latter also being sterile and disposable.
The machine is further equipped with a suitable control unit managing the flow of fluids by means of suitable peristaltic pumps and respective sensors associated to the circuit.
It is evident that by suitably setting the control unit said machine can selectively carry out one or more of the extracorporeal blood treatments described above (i.e. ultrafiltration, haemofiltration, haemodialysis and haemodiafiltration).
The machine described above, though being today quite a vanguard device for extracorporeal blood treatments in intensive therapies, has proved to be susceptible of several improvements.
In particular, a first intrinsic drawback in intensive therapy machines is related to the limited availability of fluids for operations involving the exchange of substances by convection/diffusion within the filter and for pre- or post-infusions into the blood line.
Said limitation is obviously related to the necessary use of pre-packaged sterile fluid bags typically containing 6 kg of dialysis liquid.
It is evident that the pre-established fluid amount to be used imposes some limitations, in particular in the case of therapies with large exchange of fluids, which would sometimes be extremely suitable in emergency cases.
On the other hand, it is not possible to use larger fluid amounts in intensive therapies since suitably treated water taken from the water network cannot be used as exchange fluid in short times; indeed, this would involve long operations for installing the devices for in-line preparation of sterile liquids; moreover, it is not possible to use bags with higher amounts of liquids due to the obvious problems involving transport and management of said containers by the personnel.
Another problem of known intensive therapy machines consists in achieving an optimal management of the administration of anticoagulant substances which are necessary for a good working of the machine.
In particular, today known intensive therapy machines cannot manage effectively the use of regional anticoagulation methods, such as for instance citrate-based methods, since the use of said techniques requires the administration of further solutions recovering the blood ion balance before carrying the treated blood back into the patient's body.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


In a method for receiving control information, a transceiver decodes at least one set of decoding candidates, and then detects whether control information is present on the control channel based on the decoded at least one set of decoding candidates. In a method for transmitting control information, a transceiver selects a decoding candidate from a set of decoding candidates for transmitting control information on a control channel; and transmits to another transceiver, control information using at least one time-frequency control channel resource element corresponding to the selected decoding candidate.

In a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long-Term Evolution (LTE) wireless network, a control channel (e.g., a PDCCH) carries downlink control information (DCI) messages from an eNodeB to multiple user equipments (UEs). A DCI message intended for a particular UE includes information regarding, for example, resource allocation, transport format, and downlink shared channel (DL-SCH) hybrid automatic repeat request (ARQ). The DCI messages are part of control signaling enabling a UE to receive, demodulate and decode the DL-SCH.

Methods for transmitting and receiving control information using time-frequency resources of decoding candidates


Methods of forming an integrated circuit device may include forming an insulating layer on an integrated circuit substrate, forming a first conductive layer on the insulating layer, and forming a second conductive layer on the first conductive layer so that the first conductive layer is between the second conductive layer and the insulating layer. Moreover, the first conductive layer may be a layer of a first material, the second conductive layer may be a layer of a second material, and the first and second materials may be different. A hole may be formed in the second conductive layer so that portions of the first conductive layer are exposed through the hole. After forming the hole in the second conductive layer, the first and second conductive layers may be patterned so that portions of the first and second conductive layers surrounding portions of the first conductive layer exposed through the hole are removed while maintaining portions of the first conductive layer previously exposed through the hole.

An integrated circuit semiconductor device (such as a Dynamic Random Access Memory or DRAM device) may include a cell array region having a plurality of cell units; and a peripheral circuit region positioned outside the cell array region and having semiconductor circuits (e.g., a driver, a buffer, an input/output unit, an amplifier, etc.) for controlling read/write operations of cell units and input/output of data. A semiconductor device including a cell array region and a peripheral circuit region may include transistors as active devices, and resistors as passive devices. Hence, a fabrication process for a semiconductor device may include a forming pluralities of transistors and resistors. These semiconductor devices may be formed in the cell array region, and in the peripheral circuit region.
A conventional semiconductor device may include a gate polysilicon resistor using a dummy gate structure in the peripheral circuit region formed from a same material used for a gate structure of the cell array region, a self-aligned contact polysilicon plug resistor using a self-aligned contact plug formed from a same material used for a self-aligned contact plug of the cell array region, and/or a plate electrode polysilicon resistor formed from same material used for a plate electrode of the cell array region. The gate structure and the dummy gate structure may include a spacer formed on the lateral side of the gate stack, and a gate stack having a gate insulation layer, a gate electrode, and a capping layer.
Generally, when a capacitor has a polysilicon-insulator-polysilicon (PIP) structure in a semiconductor device having a COB (Capacitor Over Bit line) structure disposed over a bit line, upper and lower electrodes may be formed from polysilicon as a conductive material. Accordingly, a resistor can be formed using a polysilicon material in the peripheral circuit region. When the capacitor is of a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) structure to enhance the capacitor performance, however, it may be difficult to form a resistor using a polysilicon material. It may be similarly difficult to form a resistor using a polysilicon material when the self-aligned contact plug connecting upper and lower electrodes is formed from a metal material, or when a gate electrode or a bit line electrode is formed from a metal material. Additional steps of polysilicon deposition, photolithography, etching, etc. may be needed to form a polysilicon resistor. A complexity of the fabrication process of the semiconductor device may be increased and defects of the semiconductor device result with an increase of the production cost of the semiconductor device.

Methods for forming resistors for integrated circuit devices


A nozzle cleaning device for an ink jet printer containing a plurality of ink reservoirs, the cleaning device including a pressure source and a valve mechanism for selectively coupling the pressure source to the ink reservoirs, wherein the valve mechanism comprises a valve housing, and a piston movable within the valve housing and defining therewith a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber, said first and second pressure chamber being connected to the pressure source such that during idle conditions, the pressure source is in communication with the ink reservoirs through said first pressure chamber, and during cleaning conditions and through the movement of the piston, the pressure source is in selective communication with individual ink reservoirs through said second pressure chamber.

The present invention relates to a nozzle cleaning device for an ink jet printer having a plurality of ink reservoirs, the cleaning device including a pressure source and a valve mechanism for selectively coupling the pressure source to the ink reservoirs.
An ink jet printer typically contains a plurality of printheads, e.g. at least one for each color in the case of a multi-color printer. Each printhead has an array of nozzles through which ink droplets can be jetted out onto a recording medium, and also ink reservoirs that are in communication with each of the nozzles of the nozzle array through respective ink channels. In or adjacent to each of the ink channels an actuator, e.g. a piezoelectric actuator is provided which may be energized in order to generate a pressure wave in the liquid ink in the ink channel, so that an ink droplet is expelled from the associated nozzle.
In some known ink jet printing systems, the ink reservoir is maintained under a slight subatmospheric pressure in order to prevent ink from leaking out of the nozzles.
Since the minute nozzles tend to become clogged with impurities, it is necessary to clean the nozzles from time to time. This is normally achieved by moving the printhead to a cleaning station and then applying a positive pressure to the ink reservoir in order to flush the nozzles with ink from the ink reservoir. The cleaning station includes a gutter which faces the nozzles of the printhead for collecting the ink that is ejected out of the nozzles in the flushing step, and may also include a wiper for removing remnants of ink and dust from the nozzle face of the printhead. Another purpose of such a cleaning or flushing procedure is to remove air bubbles that may have entered into the ink channels and which can have an adverse effect on the jetting properties of the nozzles.
In order to limit the required capacity of the pressure source and the dimensions of the cleaning station, it is preferable that the printheads are not cleaned simultaneously but are cleaned individually by applying pressure only to one ink reservoir at a time when the nozzles connected to this particular ink reservoir are in a position facing the ink collecting system of the cleaning station. This also has the advantage that the amount of waste ink can be reduced by performing the cleaning process only for the printhead or printheads that actually need a cleaning treatment. In this situation, however, a valve mechanism is required for connecting the pressure source selectively to the ink reservoir of the printhead that is being cleaned. Such a valve mechanism adds to the complexity and costs of the system as a whole, in particular since valves of the direct-driven type ought to be employed in view of the generally small differential pressures involved.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,633 discloses a cleaning device of the type described above, in which a separate valve is provided for each of the ink reservoirs in order to controllably connect the valves to a common pressure source.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,870,431 discloses a cleaning device for a hot-melt ink jet printer having a rotating printhead with nozzles arranged at the outer periphery thereof for printing onto a sheet of recording paper that has been wrapped around the printhead. Here, the interior of the printhead is subdivided into a plurality of ink reservoirs each having the cross-sectional shape of a sector of a circle. Each reservoir has a supply opening in its top face, so that solid pellets of ink may be dropped into the ink reservoir where the ink is molten. By rotating the printhead, each reservoir opening may be brought into a position where it is aligned with and sealingly connected to an air supply system. When the printhead is locked in this position, pressurized air is supplied into the ink reservoir for flushing the nozzles connected thereto. The rest of the top face of the printhead is covered by a stationary lid for closing off the openings of the ink reservoirs that are not in the cleaning position.

Nozzle cleaning device for an ink jet printer


A temporary fixing structure includes one hooking part 14a provided on a ceiling of a compartment or a room; the other hooking part 7a that is provided on an information device 1, and is rotatably hooked on the one hooking part 14a; and a stopper holding back rotation of the information device due to self-weight moment exerted on the information device 1 in hooked condition of these hooking parts 14a and 7a in a temporally fixed posture of the information device.

In securing an information device to a ceiling of a compartment or a room, it has been accustomed determining a path of wiring of a harness and the distance thereof in situations where a temporary position is located in the vicinity of an actual setting position and then the information device is moved to the temporary position. However, the information device is generally heavy and so a work such as wiring of the harness while holding the device by a worker is not merely dangerous but also lowers workability thereof.
To break such a situation, one can think out a remedy of temporary fixing the information device to the temporary position; however, it eventually comes to the same thing in a demanding task as heavy goods must be lifted close to the ceiling even in the temporary fixation. Conventionally, known temporary fixing structures for electronic devices include a technology intended for the prevention of falling of the device during screw cramping (e.g., see Patent Document 1).
The technology disclosed in the above Patent Document 1 is defective in that the device body should be lifted such that first lugs of the bracket are inserted in their respective through holes after a bracket is fixed on the ceiling of a vehicle, and further, a fitting relation between a concave and a convex has to be established with the device lifting.
Patent Document 1: JP-A2003-333458
The temporary fixing structure for electronic devices disclosed in the Patent Document is arranged to insert a connecter as well from the side of the device body, and therefore, there is no gap between the device body and the ceiling in the inside of the vehicle on which the device is mounted in temporarily fixed condition. Accordingly, the temporary fixing structure disclosed therein is not suited for an insertion of the connector from a gap between the device body and the ceiling in the inside of the vehicle on which the device is mounted.
The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a temporary fixing structure for an information device able to easily bring the information device into temporarily fixed condition, and to take any temporally fixed posture.

Temporary fixing structure for information device


A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘PHALGETWO’, particularly characterized by white, flecked and shaded flowers with red-purple lips, flower longevity on the plant of about 17 weeks, moderately compressed petals, flat flower shape in lateral view, and is propagated by meristem tissue culture, is disclosed.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis hybrid of the Orchidaceae family, commonly referred to as moth orchid, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name 'PHALGETWO'.
The new Phalaenopsis plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. The objective of this breeding program was to create a new Phalaenopsis plant with attractive, white, flecked and shaded flowers with red-purple lips, suitable for potted plant production.
The new Phalaenopsis plant 'PHALGETWO' is a result of cross-pollination made by the inventor in March 2010 in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands, of the proprietary female, or seed parent, Phalaenopsis hybrid '01-2167' (unpatented) with the proprietary male, or pollen parent, Phalaenopsis hybrid '20155-01' (unpatented).
The new Phalaenopsis was selected by the inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands, in February 2013. Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis plant by meristem tissue culture since 2014 in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands, has demonstrated that the new variety reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations.
Community Plant Variety Rights for this variety have been applied for in the European Union on Apr. 26, 2018 (Application no. 2018/1197), by Applicant who obtained the subject matter disclosed directly from the inventor. 'PHALGETWO' has not been made publicly available or sold anywhere in the world prior to the effective filing date of this application with the exception of sales or disclosures made one year or less before the effective filing date of this claimed invention by Applicant who obtained 'PHALGETWO' directly from the inventor.


A device is provided that attaches and dettaches a connector for an electric vehicle of a battery replacement type. The device automatically connects and separates a connector at a battery and a connector at a vehicle when replacing a battery in an electric vehicle. The device may include a connector housing that is disposed on a battery mounting module for mounting and separating the battery and a connecting member that is connected to a cable at the vehicle, movably disposed within the connector housing, and selectively connected with the connector at the battery. A movable member is movably disposed within the connector housing in correspondence to the connecting member by a guide pin of the connector at the battery and a power transmitting member is connected to the connecting member and the movable member and moves the connecting member opposite to the movement direction of the movable member.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a battery replacement type electric bus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a device for attaching and detaching a connector for an electric vehicle of a battery replacement type that automatically attaches and detaches a high-voltage connector during replacement of a battery.
(b) Description of the Related Art
In general, electric vehicles can travel, using an electric motor driven by electric energy charged in a high-voltage battery. Electric vehicles can be classified into a battery powered electric vehicle, a hybrid electric vehicle using both an electric motor and an engine, and a fuel cell electric vehicle.
It is necessary to construct infrastructures for charging by which a battery can be easily charged at anytime and anywhere for revitalization and expansion of use of the electric vehicles and various studies of the electric vehicles have been conducted. However, since plug-in type electric vehicles charges a battery with power, unlike the vehicles using fossil fuel (e.g., gasoline, diesel etc.) or natural gas, consumers are considerably inconvenienced due to the time required to charge the battery and the companies running the charging facilities have no economical efficiency due to the long waiting time.
Therefore, recently, a charging technology that charges a battery in advance without directly supplying power to the battery in electric vehicles, and then replaces the battery with the fully charged battery has been proposed. According to the battery replacement type, since the battery to be charged is replaced with a battery that is fully charged in advance, that battery may be conveniently used without requiring a specific time for charging. For example, an electric bus of a battery replacement type is equipped with a battery mounting module on the top for attaching and detaching a battery. When a battery is replaced by the battery mounting module on the electric bus, a high-voltage connector at the battery and a high-voltage connector at the bus are electrically connected.
However, when the battery is replaced by the battery mounting module on the top of the electric bus of a battery replacement type, the high-voltage connector at the battery and the high-voltage connector are manually connected to the vehicle. Therefore, since the high-voltage connector at the battery and the high-voltage battery on the vehicle are connected manually when the battery is replaced, in the related art, the time required to replace the battery may increase, the cost for replacing the battery increases, and the safety risk may increase.
The above information disclosed in this Bacground section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Device for attaching and removing connector for electric vehicle of battery exchanging type


The present invention relates to a method of preparing porous macroreticular polymers comprising polymerizing one or more monoethylenically unsaturated monomers in the presence of a silicone based porogen.

The preparation of macroreticular copolymers is known to those skilled in the art. See, EP 0135292 which discloses a method for preparing macroreticular resins using macromolecular porogens such as polyvinylmethyl ether and polyethylene oxide. The monomers used to prepare said resins are monoethylenically unsaturated monomers such as styrene and polyethylenically unsaturated monomers such as divinylbenzene. Further, U.S. Pat. No. 6,107,429 discloses a microporous oil and water sorbent microparticle comprising a copolymer of a first diethylenically unsaturated monomer and a second diethylenically unsaturated monomer, in a mole ratio of about 1:1 to about 1:2, wherein the microparticle has a mean unit diameter of less than about 50 microns, a bulk density of about 0.008 to about 0.1 g/mL, and a total sorption capacity for mineral oil that is 72% by weight or greater. The preferred diethylenically unsaturated monomers are allylmethacrylate and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate. Silicone porogens such as hexamethyldisiloxane are disclosed. U.S. Pat. No. 5,830,967 discloses microporous and oil sorbent microparticles comprising a terpolymer of diethylenically unsaturated monomers such as butyl methacrylate, allyl methacrylate and an ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, in a mole ratio of about 1:3 to 5:5 to 7 respectively, said particle characterized by having a mean unit diameter of less than about 50 microns and a total sorption capacity for mineral oil that is 72% by weight or greater. Silicone porogens such as hexamethyldisiloxane are disclosed. U.S. Pat. No. 5,955,552 discloses a process for producing the aforementioned microporous oil sorbent micropolymers. U.S. Pat. No. 6,323,249 discloses a method for producing porous resins using monoethylenically and polyethylenically unsaturated monomers and a polyalkylene oxide as a porogen.
Now, Applicant has enhanced the art of preparing macroreticular polymers by discovering a method for preparing macroreticular polymers from substantially monoethylenically unsaturated monomers in the presence of a silicone porogen such as hexamethyldisiloxane. The ion exchange resins derived from these macroreticular polymers have high volume capacity, high weight capacity, and high physical stability as measured by resistance to osmotic shock and attrition.
The following terms have the following meanings herein:
Ion exchange resins are characterized by their capacity to exchange ions. This is expressed as the "Ion Exchange Capacity." For cation exchange resins the term used is "Cation Exchange Capacity," and for anion exchange resins the term used is "Anion Exchange Capacity." The ion exchange capacity is measured as the number equivalents of an ion that can be exchanged and can be expressed with reference to the mass of the polymer (herein abbreviated to "Weight Capacity") or its volume (often abbreviated to "Volume Capacity"). A frequently used unit for weight capacity is "milliequivalents of exchange capacity per gram of dry polymer." This is commonly abbreviated to "meq/g."
Physical Stability is measured by resistance to "Osmotic Shock" and "Attrition". Osmotic shock is the expansion or contraction of resin beads due to either the volume change imposed by repeated applications of dilute and concentrated solutions, or the volume change imposed by repeated changes in the ionic form of the resin beads. Attrition is the breakage and abrasion of resin beads due to mechanical stresses. The test of osmotic shock and attrition measures the ability of an ion exchange materials to resist physical degradation due to the synergistic effects of both osmotic shock and attrition. The test is carried out by repeated cycles of resin exhaustion and regeneration using concentrated reagents and impact at high velocity against a fixed screen, followed by a determination of the percentage of ion exchange resin beads that broke.


An object is to provide a polygon detection device, a polygon detection method, and a polygon detection program to accurately detect a polygon resembling a reference polygon from an image.

Conventionally, a technology of detecting a figure such as a polygon from an image has been known. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a method of detecting a rectangle included in an image. Specifically, in this method, an image is projected onto a plurality of projection axes, feature points are detected from these projected images, and candidates for rectangular vertices are extracted from the feature points.

Polygon detection device, polygon detection method, and polygon detection program

Abstract: The polygon detection device acquires a ratio among lengths of sides of a reference polygon included in an appearance of a predetermined object. The polygon detection device acquires a photographic image of the predetermined object. The polygon detection device detects line segments from the acquired photographic image. The polygon detection device forms at least one polygon based on the detected line segments. The polygon detection device identifies, from the formed polygon, a polygon corresponding to the reference polygon based on a degree of similarity between a ratio among lengths of sides of the formed polygon and the acquired ratio among the lengths of sides of the reference polygon, among from the formed polygon.


In order to provide a method of distinguishing natural from synthetic diamond which does not involve costly equipment or long periods to make a measurement, a diamond is irradiated with ultraviolet radiation which is preponderantly of wavelength 225 nm or less, such that substantially only the surface region of the diamond is irradiated. By observing the pattern or luminescence and/or phosphorescence produced by the diamond, an observer can identify the diamond as a natural or synthetic diamond.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for distinguishing natural diamond from synthetic diamond by observing the luminescence, for example by investigating the arrangement of growth sectors in the diamond.
Synthetic diamonds differ from natural diamonds in that synthetic diamonds show mixed habit growth, having different growth sectors through the body of the crystal. These different growth sectors all incorporate impurities as they grow, but do so at different rates and in different ways, and this gives them different spectroscopic properties. In an unpolished stone, the presence of different growth sectors in synthetic diamonds will produce characteristic growth faces on the surface of the diamond quite distinct from those formed on the surface of a natural diamond, which will tend to exhibit single habit octahedral growth. A skilled person can identify an unpolished synthetic diamond from a natural diamond just by looking at it, but all this surface information is removed if the stone is polished.
A technique known as cathodoluminescence has been developed and discussed in Woods & Lang (J. Crystal Growth vol 28 (1975) page 215), Burns et al (J. Crystal Growth vol 104 (1990) page 257), Shigley et al (Gems and Gemology, vol 23 (1987) page 187), and Marshall ("Cathodoluminescence of Geological Materials", 1988, published by Unwin Hyman, pages 19 to 36). This technique involves subjecting a diamond to an electron beam in an evacuated cathode ray chamber. With a typical energy of 18 keV, electrons will penetrate and cause excitation in a surface region to a depth of about 3 .mu.m. Luminescence known as cathodoluminescence will be generated in this region. An image of the surface being excited can be then formed, this image showing the cathodoluminescence pattern.
Ponahlo (J. Gemology, vol 21 (1988) page 182) describes the use of the cathodoluminescence technique for distinguishing natural from synthetic emeralds and rubies.
The cathodoluminescence technique has significant disadvantages in the form of the apparatus required. The gemstone has to be placed in a vacuum chamber, which is expensive and increases the time required to make a measurement, and the electron beam generates X-rays which have to be screened. In addition, the cathode ray apparatus itself is expensive.
It is desirable to provide a method of distinguishing natural diamond from synthetic diamond without using complex and expensive apparatus or vacuum chambers.
Shigley et al discloses a method of short wave ultraviolet illumination of synthetic diamonds to study growth sectors, using ultraviolet radiation of a wavelength of 254 nm. This causes excitation into impurity energy level(s) specific to the particular type of diamond being studied. The technique described in this disclosure will only work with those diamonds that have a strong extrinsic absorption at 254 nm.
It is desirable to provide an observation technique that will work with a single wavelength or single band of wavelengths for all diamonds.
A paper by Walsh et al (Journal Of Luminescence, Volume 4 (1971) page 369) describes the thermoluminescence technique in natural and synthetic semi-conducting diamonds, and relates it to phosphorescence phenomena. Thermoluminescence is the thermal generation of luminescence following excitation at a low temperature, for example 77K. The sample is excited using an electron beam or photo-excitation from an arc lamp.
Upon raising the temperature of the sample, thermoluminescence peaks at different temperatures are observed. Phosphorescence may also be observed.
Phosphorescence is the decay of stimulated luminescence, following the removal of the excitation source, over a period of milliseconds to tens of seconds and sometimes over a period of minutes.
Thermoluminescence apparatus is complicated and expensive and may not be suitable for differentiating synthetic diamonds and natural diamonds.

Distinguishing natural from synthetic diamonds

Waltham St. Lawrence Berkshire, RG10 0NT


The performance of a golf club may be enhanced through the provision of a void space behind a face plate and above the sole plate, to decrease club weight and provide single or combinations of selectable weighting elements within volumetric coordinates of an orthonormal matrix about the void space. The weighting coordinates are provided in response to ball strike, flight analysis and physiologic observation of the golf strike swing. Ball backspin, trajectory, penetration and hook or slice may be modified through the use of a definable weighting strategy.

A. Area of Invention
The invention relates to a method of selectably varying the center of gravity and distribution of weighting in a void space in the head of a golf club.
B. Prior Art
Golfing enthusiasts appreciate the dynamic characteristics of golf irons and woods and the manner in which performance of the same will vary as a consequence of physiologic characteristics of a particular golfer. Such physiologic factors will affect a variety of ball strike parameters including, without limitation, loft trajectory, inertial spin, range hook and slice.
My issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,530,848 (2003) sets forth the use of weighting options for the center of gravity ("CG") of a club resultant from a substantial hollowing out of or void space in a top or predominant portion of the club head, as a manufacturing step. Said void space teaches the significance of placement of the position of a weight within such hollowed-out portion to effect a variety of ball strike and flight characteristics including increase or decrease of clockwise spin, counterclockwise spin and back spin of the ball so propelled by the golf club. Said patent further sets forth the variability of a weight element to adjust the weight of the golf club to induce a more desirable ball spin to thereby accomplish an improved trajectory of ball flight.
Use of a cavity within the upper surface of a putter type golf club in to vary the weight or balance of the heel, toe and bottom portions of a putter club head, and certain uses of weights therein, is recognized in U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,307 (1997) to Rife, entitled Putter Type Golf Club Head with Balance Weight Configuration and Complementary Ball Striking Face. U.S. Pat. No. 3,841,640 (1974) to Gaulocher, entitled Golf Putter, reflects a rudimentary recognition of the importance of proper weighting within the head of a golf putter to compensate for physiologic needs and preferences of a golfer. Such approaches in the prior art have attempted to address one or another problem associated with the golf strike characteristics or, in some cases, the characteristics of the golf range surface. As is well known, golfing greens are replete with imperfections which affect ball speed, spin and roll. Accordingly, a wide range of both ball flight and ground surface performance factors can be attributed to weight distribution and position of the CG within the club head.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,029 (1990) to Sinclair employs an upper void space to modify the aerodynamics of the head of the golf ball.
The present inventive method reflects my discovery that many more options for positioning of the CG and distribution of weight or weights within the head of a golf club, whether that club comprises an iron, a wood, or a hybrid thereof, in positioning, behind the club face, selectable high density weighting elements at coordinates of an orthonormal matrix up to 27 potential locations in a void space, to thus compensate for physiologic imperfections in one or more characteristic of the swing of a golfer. The angulation and curvature of the club face relative to said matrix provides a yet further performance enhancing parameter that co-acts with weight elements within said matrix.
Published U.S. Specification US 2003/0199331A1 teaches use of a re-positionable weight chip in a golf club to modify club performance.

Method of golf club performance enhancement and articles resultant therefrom


A method, apparatus, computer program product, and processing system provide for dynamic selection of a secondary serving cell among various available secondary serving cells, be they in the same frequency as the primary serving cell (as in SFDC-HSDPA), in a different frequency but in the same band as the primary serving cell (as in DC-HSDPA), or in a different band from the primary serving cell (as in DB-DC-HSDPA). Here, the UE may be preconfigured for each of the available secondary serving cells, and may receive a configuration message to select between one of them based on factors such UE battery consumption, CQIs corresponding to the available secondary serving cells, loading of the secondary serving cells, or UE power headroom limitations. Thus, an advanced UE capable of receiving the plurality of technologies may benefit from dynamically selecting the best available secondary serving cell in accordance with the factors.

1. Field
Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to wireless communication systems, and more particularly, to dynamically selecting among a plurality of available secondary serving cells for a user equipment capable of receiving multiple serving cells in more than one technology.
2. Background
Wireless communication networks are widely deployed to provide various communication services such as telephony, video, data, messaging, broadcasts, and so on. Such networks, which are usually multiple access networks, support communications for multiple users by sharing the available network resources. One example of such a network is the UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN). UTRAN is the radio access network (RAN) defined as a part of the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), a third generation (3G) mobile phone technology supported by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). UMTS, which is the successor to Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) technologies, currently supports various air interface standards, such as Wideband-Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA), Time Division-Code Division Multiple Access (TD-CDMA), and Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA). UMTS also supports enhanced 3G data communications protocols, such as High Speed Packet Access (HSPA), which provides higher data transfer speeds and capacity to associated UMTS networks.
As the demand for mobile broadband access continues to increase, research and development continue to advance UMTS technologies not only to meet the growing demand for mobile broadband access, but to advance and enhance the user experience with mobile communications. For example, recent releases of 3GPP standards include Dual Cell (DC)-HSDPA, wherein a UE may receive dual transport blocks in different 5-MHz carriers (in the same band or in different bands) transmitted by the same Node B. In addition, more recent advances undergoing ongoing development within 3GPP include single-frequency, dual cell (SFDC)-HSDPA, wherein the UE may receive dual transport blocks from different sectors (transmitted by the same Node B or by disparate Node Bs) in downlink transmissions utilizing the same carrier frequency. With these and other paradigms including dual-frequency dual-cell HSDPA, which is similar to DC-HSDPA except that the dual transport blocks in different carriers may be transmitted by disparate Node Bs, there may arise scenarios where a particular UE configured for many or even all of these functionalities may benefit from selecting between the various technologies in accordance with any number of factors.

Dynamic switching between DC-HSDPA and SFDC-HSDPA


The present invention provides methods of identifying an agent that modulates PRPK, TPRKB, OSGEP, LAGE3 and its homologs, PRPK/TPRKB complex, and/or KEOPS complex. The present invention also provides compositions of such agents and methods of treating a disease, disorder, or condition associated with PRPK, TPRKB, OSGEP, LAGE3 and its homologs family (CT antigens), PRPK/TPRKB complex, and/or KEOPS complex using such an agent or composition.

Revlimid® (lenalidomide) is an FDA-approved small molecule drug developed and marketed by Celgene for the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) in combination with dexamethasone and for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes in patients with a specific 5q chromosomal deletion. The cellular target and mechanism of action of Revlimid® are unknown in the art. In 2009, sales of Revlimid® reached USD $ 1.7 billion and sales in 2010 are expected to exceed USD $2.0 billion, making Revlimid® one of the most successful oncology products introduced into commerce in the past five years. Based on this demonstrated commercial success and the absence of any FDA-approved competitive therapeutic drugs with a similar mechanism of action, the potential economic value of the demonstrated anti-cancer target(s) of Revlimid® (lenalidomide) is considerable.
Revlimid® belongs to a class of compounds referred to as immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) that include the analogs thalidomide (FDA-approved for MM and leprosy) and pomalidomide (Actimid™, under development by Celgene). Thomson Pharma has projected that annual Revlimid® drug sales could reach USD $3.8 billion by 2013. Because of thalidomide's well-known teratogenic effects, Revlimid® is sold under an FDA-mandated risk mitigation program with a 'Black Box Warning' describing the risks of birth defects. Recently, the protein target responsible for the teratogenicity of thalidomide was published as Cereblon (CRBN) (Ito et al, Science 327:1345-1350 (2010)); however, the anticancer target(s) of IMiD's are still unknown.


A method and apparatus for increasing the perceived gradation of the shades in visual displays is disclosed. A plurality of signals control the intensity of a sub-pixel of a display so that display can exhibit a native number of shades. Frame rate modulation techniques are used to increase the perceived gradation. Finally, flicker is reduced by spreading the phases of the modulating pixels across time, and the horizontal and vertical axes of the display.

On a computer system display ergonomic principals often dictate that there be more gradations of displayable colors or intensities than what was originally provided for by the designers of the display panel component. Ergonomics also calls for less flicker from the display.
In some displays, producing more colors generates more flicker. The flicker in question occurs when a display controller utilizes certain techniques to increase the number of shades of intensity which a pixel on a LCD may display beyond the native shades originally provided for in the display. For example, a frame rate cycling ("FRC") technique has been employed with multishade displays which varies pel intensities over a sequence of frames in order to achieve a display having an intensity which is the average of the intensities being driven. In general, however, this technique produces flicker which must be minimized in order to provide an ergonomic display suitable for human interface.
Pixels on current raster color displays are composed of triplets of monochrome sub-pixels of primary or secondary colors. See display 101 in FIG. 1. See display 101, in FIG. 1A where, for each pixel location, only one out of three "sub-pixels" is shown, it being understood that in an actual color display three "subpixels" may be provided for each pixel. Each of these "sub-pixels" will be referred to herein as "pels", for example pel 102, FIG. 1A. Pels are the fundamental components of colors in a display. For purposes of the present application, the discussion will be in terms of pels so that a color panel can be viewed as a monochrome panel from the electrical standpoint.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,921,334, to Akodes, discloses a technique of frame rate cycling, herein referred to as Akodes' frame rate cycling approach, which increases the number of available shades from the native set of shades. When Akodes' approach is used, a pel's intrinsic shade capability may be nearly doubled. In accordance with Akodes' frame rate cycling approach, a pel is alternately driven with two intensities, across multiple frame refreshes, to produce a visual effect of the average (inter-shade) intensity. For example, in FIG. 1A, pel 102 is shown being driven with intensity levels 5 and 6 for an average intensity level of 5.5. This nearly doubles the number of available shades (less one due to the Nth intrinsic shade not having an N+1 shade with which to undergo FRC on a display with N intrinsic shades).
FIGS. 1A and 1B, illustrate Akodes' frame rate cycling approach, in which a FRC circuit alternately drives each pel undergoing FRC with a native intensity and an increased intensity from frame to frame. Pels 105 and 106, which are undergoing FRC, achieve average intensities over the sequence of frame refresh times of 2.5 and 1.5 respectively. However, as can be seen in FIGS. 1A and 1B, pels 105 and 106 cycle with their increased intensities in-phase with each other. Thus, from frame 1 to frame 2 both pels 105 and 106 are driven from a lower intensity to a higher intensity, i.e. in-phase with each other. The visual effect is that the increased intensities reinforce each other, accentuating flicker.
Another drawback with Akodes' frame rate cycling approach is that the number of shades produced is only about twice the number of native shades.
The in-phase FRC may be tolerable on displays in which there is a sufficient persistence on the pels so that the observer does not perceive a cycling of the intensities of the aggregate of FRC pels across the display. However, with some more recent display panels, persistence time has been reduced to yield faster response times. The use of Akodes' frame rate cycling approach on these displays is less desirable because the observer will perceive accentuated flicker. Because human perception is sensitive to aggregate features in displays, the observer perceives that the display's intensities are cycling.
Passive matrix liquid crystal displays differ from active matrix displays in that passive displays have longer persistence and generally have only a single bit per pel to control the intensity of the pel. In co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 07/335,622, filed Apr. 10, 1989, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,185,602 entitled "Method and Apparatus for Producing Perception of High Quality Grayscale Shading on Digitally Commanded Displays" (hereinafter "the '622 Application"), and assigned to the same assignee as the subject application, there is discussed the reduction of perceivable flicker on an aggregate of pels in a passive display which are undergoing frame rate cycling by spreading the phases of the frame rate cycling in a specific pattern across the display.
One drawback of the system discussed in the '622 Application is that it does not support displays that have more than one bit per pel.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,769,713, issued Sep. 6, 1988, to Yasui, discusses the use of n-1 frames to generate n shades using frame rate cycling on panels which use a single command bit per pel. However, the disclosed circuit also does not support displays that have more than one command signal input per pel.

Apparatus for shade gradation enhancement and flicker reduction in multishade displays


An adaptive vehicle power window control apparatus (20) includes an electric motor (28) for moving a member (34) between a first position and a second position. The space between the first position and the second position is divided into a plurality of trap zones and each zone has an associated sensitivity value. A controller 24 determines (40) a value functionally related to the present motor speed and determines (44) a value functionally related to a reference motor speed. The sensitivity value is adjusted as a function of the two determined values. A window zone determining function (62) determines which of the plurality zones the member (34) is located. The value functionally related to present motor speed is adjusted (52) as a function of the sensitivity value for the zone that the member is located. A comparing function (48) compares the adjusted value with the value functionally related to reference motor speed. The motor direction and movement is controlled as a function of the comparison. Zone locations are adjustable with a calibration procedure.

Vehicle power window systems use a reversible electric motor to open and close an associated window. Typical systems include a bi-directional window switch electrically connected to the reversible electric motor. The motor is operatively connected to an opening and closing mechanism attached to the associated window. When the switch is manually operated and held in position by a vehicle occupant, electric current is supplied to the motor causing the motor to rotate in a desired direction. When the motor rotates, the opening and closing mechanism opens or closes the window. When the window switch is released, the motor rotation stops and the window movement stops.
Some power window systems have an automatic operation feature. In an automatic operating mode, a single movement and release of the window switch causes the window to fully open or fully close even though the switch has been released. Some automatic mode power window systems include what is referred to in the art as an "anti-trap" feature. The anti-trap feature is designed to prevent closing of the window on an obstruction, e.g., part of an occupants body, and "trapping" the obstruction in the window. When the window is moving in an upward direction and an obstruction is encountered in the path of the window, a typical power window anti-trap system senses that an obstruction is resisting continued upward window movement. Upon detecting the increased resistance to movement, the anti-trap system reverses the window direction.

Method and apparatus for adaptive control of a vehicle power window