An electrode unit of a thermal CVD apparatus is used to generate plasma discharge for an in-situ cleaning process. The electrode unit is configured by a substrate holder and a shield member connected to a high frequency power supply, the gas supply section electrically grounded, and an auxiliary electrode disposed in the gas supply section. In a film deposition process, a reactive gas is supplied from the gas supply section, and the reactive gas is excited in a space in front of a substrate to deposit a thin film onto the substrate. In a periodical in-situ cleaning process, a cleaning gas is supplied from the gas supply section and a cleaning discharge is generated to remove unwanted films deposited on the substrate holder and the shield member. The auxiliary electrode causes the cleaning discharge to be concentrated in a space around unwanted films.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrode unit for in-situ cleaning in a thermal CVD apparatus, and, more particularly, to an electrode unit suitable for in-situ cleaning in a thermal CVD apparatus, improving cleaning rate and productivity in thin film deposition.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent manufacturing of semiconductor chips, electronic circuit elements in the semiconductor chips are more and more integrated and miniaturized. Miniaturization of the elements in the manufacturing process requires new techniques. These techniques are, for example, of sufficiently filling fine holes with films, forming favorable step coverage, reducing heat due to high current density, and preventing damage to wiring due to electromigration. As one of the manufacturing processes meeting such technical requirements, in place of a sputtering process, a thermal CVD (chemical vapor deposition) process attracts attention. At present, in accordance with the thermal CVD process, blanket tungsten film or TiN film is mainly deposited on a substrate. In the blanket tungsten film deposition H.sub.2 and WF.sub.6 (tungsten hexafluoride) gases are used. The blanket tungsten film is hereinafter referred as a "B-W film". In the TiN film deposition an organic metal gas such as TDEAT (tetradiethylaminotitanium) or TDMAT (tetradimethylaminotitanium) is used as precursors.
When utilizing the thermal CVD process, step coverage can be sufficiently improved for fine holes with a diameter of 0.35 .mu.m or less and an aspect ratio of 4 or more. Thus, the thermal CVD process satisfies the requirements of planarization steps of elements and preventing electro-migration.
A conventional example of a thermal CVD apparatus for depositing the B-W films on a substrate will be described with reference to FIG. 7.
The conventional thermal CVD apparatus shown in FIG. 7 has a gas supply plate 112 at the top of a reactor 111 and a conductive substrate holder 113 at the bottom thereof. A substrate 114 is located on the top surface of the substrate holder 113. The top surface of the substrate holder 113 is circular, and the substrate holder 113 is supported by a plurality of insulating supporting members 115. The reactor 111 has a transmitting quartz window 116 in its bottom wall.
The gas supply plate 112 has a plurality of gas outlets 117 in its bottom surface. Reactive gas supplied by a reactive gas supply mechanism 118 passes through a gas supply pipe 119 and is blown off from the gas outlets 117 so as to be introduced into the reactor 111. The bottom surface of the gas supply plate 112 is opposed to the substrate 114 placed on the substrate holder 113. The reactive gas supplied from the gas supply plate 112 is excited in the space between the gas supply plate 112 and the substrate holder 113. Consequently, a desired thin film can be deposited on the top surface of the substrate 114 placed on the substrate holder 113. Unreacted gas and by-products generated within the reactor 111 are evacuated to the outside through an evacuation section 120. The illustration of an evacuation vacuum pump is omitted in FIG. 7.
A shield member 121 is arranged around the substrate holder 113. This shield member 121 has a ring plate portion 121a and a cylindrical portion 121b. The shield member 121 is conductive. The ring plate portion 121a is located above the substrate holder 113 and around the substrate 114. In accordance with their positional relationship, there is a gap between the ring plate portion 121a and the top surface of the substrate holder 113. The cylindrical portion 121b is also located around the substrate holder 113. Further, the shield member 121 is located on a ring-shaped insulating member 122 disposed on the bottom wall of the reactor 111.
A combination of the bottom wall of the reactor 111, the ring plate portion 121a, the cylindrical portion 121b, and the substrate holder 113 forms a path through which a purge gas (an inert gas) flows. The purge gas is supplied by a purge gas supply mechanism 123 through a purge gas introduction section 124. The purge gas introduced into the reactor 111 via the purge gas introduction section 124 passes through the gap between the ring plate portion 121a and the substrate holder 113. After the purge gas passes through the gap, it is blown off into the reactor 111 from the overall periphery of the substrate 114. This configuration prevents the reactive gas supplied from the gas supply plate 112 from entering the gap. Therefore, the purge gas can prevent unwanted films from being deposited around the circumference of the substrate holder 113 or on the quartz window 116. Further, the shield member 121 serves to prevent the heated substrate holder 113 from being directly exposed to the reactive gas.
An annular lamp support member 125 with a reflecting section is arranged below the quartz window 116 in the bottom wall of the reactor 111. A plurality of heating lamps 126 are mounted on the lamp support member 125 at an almost equal interval. Radiant heat from the heating lamps 126 is transmitted to the substrate holder 113 through the quartz window 116 to heat the substrate holder 113. The substrate 114 is also heated by heat transferred from the substrate holder 113. The temperature of the substrate holder 113 is detected by a thermocouple 127 embedded therein, and a detected signal is fed back to a controller (not shown) so as to be used to control the temperature of the substrate holder 113.
The reactor 111 is electrically grounded at a ground point 128. In addition, a high frequency power supply 130 is connected to both the substrate holder 113 and the shielding member 121 via a matching circuit 129. High frequency power is supplied to both the substrate holder 113 and the shielding member 121. Reference numeral 131 designates an insulating section of the reactor 111 into which a connection line for the high frequency power is inserted.
In accordance with the above configuration, the reactive gas is supplied to the substrate 114 placed on the substrate holder 113, and the reactive gas is excited in the space between the gas supply plate 112 and the substrate holder 113 or the shield member 121, thereby depositing the desired thin film on the substrate 114. The unreacted gas and by-products in the reactor 111 are evacuated by the evacuation section 120. During a thin film deposition process, the purge gas supplied by the purge gas introduction section 124 via the purge gas supply path is continued to be blown off from the above-mentioned gap. The blow-off of the purge gas from the periphery of the substrate 114 prevents the reactive gas from entering the gap, thereby preventing the unwanted films from being deposited on the quartz window 116 and the like.
The normal conditions for the thin film deposition in the conventional thermal CVD apparatus are as follows. In the initial stage of nucleation, the conditions are a 2-10 sccm flow rate for WF.sub.6 as the reactive gas, a 2-10 sccm flow rate for SiH.sub.4, a 100-500 sccm flow rate for Ar as the purge gas, 400-500.degree. C. for the temperature, and 66-1330 Pa for the pressure. In the subsequent stage of film growth by H.sub.2 reduction, the conditions are a 50-200 sccm flow rate for WF.sub.6, a 500-2000 sccm flow rate for H.sub.2, a 300-1000 sccm flow rate for Ar as the purge gas, 400-500.degree. C. for the temperature, and 4000-9000 Pa for the pressure.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, films 132 as deposits are deposited on the part of the ring plate portion 121a, or the part of the substrate holder 113 which is not covered by the substrate 114. Of course, the deposited films 132 are not desirable because they generate contamination particles and therefore productivity in the thin film deposition process may be reduced. Accordingly, in the conventional thermal CVD apparatus, a RIE (reactive ion etching) process was carried out in order to remove the undesirable deposited films 132 as an in-situ cleaning process in the reactor 111 for each substrate or every certain number of lots. The cleaning process by the RIE was carried out by an cleaning gas. This cleaning gas is supplied by a cleaning gas supply mechanism 133 via the gas supply pipe 119, and is introduced into the reactor 111 through the gas supply plate 112. Further, plasma discharge with the cleaning gas is generated.
If CF.sub.4 and O.sub.2 are used as the cleaning gas, the normal cleaning conditions are a 50-150 sccm flow rate for CF.sub.4, a 20-90 sccm flow rate for O.sub.2, 90-300 Pa for the pressure, and 300-600 W for the high frequency power applied to the substrate holder 113 and the shield member 121.
As being clear in accordance with the above description, the productivity of the conventional thermal CVD apparatus depends on both the deposition rate in the film deposition process and the cleaning rate in the cleaning process.
The above-mentioned conventional thermal CVD apparatus has the following problems.
In accordance with the thermal CVD apparatus having a parallel plate electrode unit, if the RIE discharge process is carried out in order to clean the unwanted films 132 deposited the top surface of the subtract holder 113 or the shield member 121, the cleaning discharge due to the RIE occurs all over the space between the substrate holder 113 and the gas supply plate 112. The RIE discharge process causes a wide discharge in an area wider than the area necessary for the unwanted films 132 to be removed, thereby allowing the power of the discharge for RIE to be dispersed and furthermore the cleaning rate for removing the films 132 to be reduced.
In addition, in the conventional thermal CVD apparatus, if the pressure for the RIE discharge is increased to improve the cleaning rate, the RIE discharge becomes unstable. Further the RIE discharge is apt to occur in a relatively narrow space, for example, in the space between the shield member 121 and the wall of the reactor 111 rather than the space between the gas supply plate 112 and the substrate holer 113. Consequently, the high pressure results in low efficiency.
Even if the pressure for the RIE discharge is relatively high, the RIE discharge may be stabilized by reducing the distance between the gas supply plate 112 and the substrate holder 113. The substrate holder 113, however, is normally maintained at high temperature, that is, 400-500.degree. C., so the temperature of the surface close to the substrate holder 113 increases, and the film may be deposited on the surface of the gas supply plate 112. The unwanted films will generate contamination particles that may reduce the productivity in the thermal CVD apparatus. In addition, a special drive mechanism for vertically moving the gas supply plate 112 or substrate holder 113 will be required in order to have a space for transferring substrates. Consequently, the internal structure of the thermal CVD apparatus is complicated, thereby decreasing the maintainability and increasing the trouble rate.

Electrode unit for in-situ cleaning in thermal CVD apparatus


An implant designing method to be applied to a body of bone which has a bone deficient portion, wherein the bone being substantially symmetric with respect to a plane of symmetry, includes generating three-dimensional data of the bone based on a plurality of pieces of tomographic data of the bone, and estimating a shape of a bone that is to exist at the bone deficient portion using part of the three-dimensional data corresponding to a symmetrical part of the bone deficient portion.

The present invention relates to a method for forming a three-dimensional implant.
Conventionally, when a body of bone, for example bones of skull, cheek bone, jaw bone or the like is partially lost, implants made of artificial material are implanted in the deficient part, and fixed thereat (reconstruction of deficient portion of bone).
In the conventional art of reconstruction of the deficient bone, material and shape of the implant is very important.
Regarding the material, ceramics which have excellent biocompatibility are widely used.
Regarding the shape, the implant is conventionally formed as follows.
Firstly, based on CT (Computed Tomography) data of a body of bone having a deficient portion, a model corresponding to the body of bone is formed using wood or the like. Then, in a deficient portion of the model, paper-mache pulp or the like is filled to obtain a shape of an implant (i.e., the shape of body of bone to be located at the deficient portion).
When the shape of the implant is determined in such a manner, however, sufficient reproductivity cannot be obtained. For example, bones of skull are typically reproduced as a continuum of smooth spheres. However, the bones of skull are not usually the continuum of the smooth spheres, and curvatures are different at various points. Therefore, the implant which is formed as the continuum of the smooth spheres has less reproductivity. Regarding the cheek bone or jaw bone, it is more difficult to achieve the high reproductivity.
In another case, the shape of an implant is determined as follows.
Firstly, CT images are obtained with respect to a plurality of cross sections of a body of bone having a deficient portion. Then, plate members (i.e., a plurality of slices) made of wood are formed to have shapes corresponding to the body of bone of the cross sections, respectively.
By stacking the plate members, and making the same adhered together, a model corresponding to the entire body of bone having the deficient portion is formed.
Then, at the deficient portion of the model, paper-mache pulp or the like is filled to obtain a shape of the bone which should exist at the deficient portion. The model formed as above has stepped portions, at its side ends, corresponding to the thickness of the plate members.
Next, using resin material, the model is molded to form a female mold. Then, using the female mold, a male mold made of resin is formed. Then, the steps at the side ends of the male mold are cut out using a cutter or the like so that the male mold has a smooth shape without stepped portions. The thus obtained smooth shape is regarded as the shape of the implant.
When the shape of the implant is determined in such a manner, the following deficiencies are known to arise.
In the above-described method, the model is formed using plate members. Since each plate member is relatively thick, it is difficult to form the model of the body of bone having the deficient portion accurately.
Further, according to the above method, the side end of the male mold is grinded down using a cutter to obtain a smooth surface. However, the actual shape of the body of bone at a surface where the bone is cut is not taken into consideration. Such an implant has less shape compatibility with respect to the body of bone.
If a thinner plate is used, it is possible to improve the shape compatibility of the model. However, there is a limitation in reducing the thickness of each plate member, and it would be difficult to obtain sufficient shape compatibility. Further, if the thinner plate members are used to form the model, it will take a relatively long time for forming a model. Therefore, such a method cannot apply to a condition where the deficient condition cannot remain for a considerable period.


An apparatus for switching and controlling the intensity of a laser beam directed toward a beam detect sensor for an image forming device. A printing power reference signal and a beam detect power reference signal is selectively connected to a laser driver through a first switch. A printing power reference holding capacitor and a beam detect power reference holding capacitor is selectively connected to the laser driver through a second switch that is controlled in tandem with the first switch. During each scan cycle, the output laser power is monitored and used to adjust one of the two holding capacitors based such that both the printing power and the beam detect power have a controlled reference.

In an image forming apparatus, such as a laser printer, a laser beam is swept, or scanned, across a photosensitive device. The accurate and precise placement of the swept laser beam ensures that the resulting output from the image forming apparatus is an accurate representation of the desired image.
It is also desirable to accurately control laser beam intensity, and one technique for doing so is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,264,871, titled "Image forming apparatus having light beam intensity switching for detection purposes," issued to Tsukada on Nov. 23, 1993. It discloses an image forming device with a beam detect sensor 31 that provides timing and position information for the laser beam 7. The Tsukada patent addresses the problem in which the laser power is changed to correspond with a selected pixel density and that same laser power level is used by the beam detect sensor 31. The Tsukada patent discloses an apparatus for switching the laser beam intensity to correspond to a position of a pixel density selection switch.

Laser power switching for alignment purposes in a laser printer


A method and apparatus for establishing a non-standard data rate in a wireless communication system include processing that begins by establishing a standard specified data rate for a given transmission. The processing then continues by determining whether the data rate of the transmission can be adjusted from the standard specified data rate by a non-standard data rate adjustment. The processing then continues when the data rate can be adjusted, adjusting the data rate to a non-standard data rate for the given data transmission.

Wireless communication systems are known to include a plurality of wireless communication devices that communicate directly (e.g., point-to-point) or through an infrastructure. For direct communications, a wireless communication device, such as a radio, cellular telephone, station coupled to a personal computer or laptop, et cetera, transmits data on a particular radio frequency channel directly to another wireless communication device. For infrastructure-supported communications, a wireless communication device transmits data on an assigned radio frequency channel to an access point (or a base station). The access point determines the targeted wireless communication device from the received RF signals. If the targeted wireless communication device is affiliated with the access point, the access point transmits the data to the targeted wireless communication device on a radio frequency channel. If the targeted wireless communication device is not affiliated with the access point, the access point forwards the data to a central station, which routes the data to the access point that is affiliated with the targeted wireless communication device.
To ensure reliability of data transmissions within a wireless communication system and to ensure interoperability of differing manufacturers' equipment, standards have been developed. Such wireless communications standards include IEEE8 02.11, Bluetooth, advanced mobile phone services (AMPS), digital AMPS, global system for mobile communications (GSM), code division multiple access (CDMA), wireless application protocols (WAP), local multi-point distribution services (LMDS), multi-channel, multi-point distribution systems (MMDS), and/or variations thereof.
Such standards prescribe operating parameters for a particular type of wireless communication system. For example, the IEEE 802.11a standard defines a wireless local area network that prescribes a frequency band of use, division of the frequency band into channels and sub-channels, encoding/decoding convention, modulation/demodulation convention, frame format, data rates, et cetera. For instance, the IEEE 802.11a standard provides various combinations of data rates and modulation schemes, which can be selected via a coding rate corresponding to a particular modulation scheme.
As is known for wireless local area networks, wireless communications devices roam within the coverage area of the wireless local area network. As such, signal strength of radio frequency signals to and from a wireless communication device varies depending on the interference between the wireless communication device and another wireless communication device or the access point and the distance therebetween. In accordance with the IEEE 802.11a standard, data rates and modulation schemes may be adjusted based on signal strength and/or interference of RF signals. For example, if the signal strength is strong and there is minimal interference, the communication may be done at 54 Mbps (megabits per second) using a 64 QAM (quadrature amplitude modulation) modulation scheme. If, on the other hand, the signal strength is weak and/or there exists substantial interference, the communication may be done at 6 Mbps using a BPSK (binary phase shift keying) modulation scheme.
The various combinations of data rates and modulation schemes prescribed by the IEEE 802.11a standard provides adequate granularity of data rates for typical data transmissions (e.g., email, file transfers, and internet access) for wireless communication devices that move within the local area network. However, for relatively stationary wireless communication devices that transmit and/or receive video data, the granularity of data rates provided by the IEEE 802.11a standard may not be sufficient. For example, data rates, which are spaced at 12 Mbps. Thus, if a wireless communication device barely fails to support a 48 Mbps rate it drops to a 36 Mbps data rate. For MPEG video streams, which have a bandwidth of about 2 Mbps, the change from 48 Mbps to 36 Mbps reduces the number of video streams that a channel can support by 6. Such a loss of potential video streams on a particular channel in many applications is highly undesirable.
Therefore, a need exists for a method and apparatus that provides for greater granularity of standardized data rates in a standard compliant wireless communication system.

Method and apparatus for establishing non-standard data rates in a wireless communication system


Aphthous ulcers and other lesions of the mucosal, submucosal, epidermal, dermal or subcutaneous tissue of the mouth are treated by a method comprising administering to a patient suffering from such lesion a topical preparation containing sucralfate as an essential ingredient. The invention is also drawn to a preparation comprising sucralfate as an essential ingredient, and a method for preparing the same. The sucralfate is combined with an appropriate pharmaceutical medium to form a homogenous mixture which can then be dispersed in other media to form a preparation useful for topical application to the lesion.

There are several types of lesions of mucosal, submucosal, epidermal, dermal and subcutaneous tissue and various other inflammatory processes for which no effective cure has previously been found. These include aphthous ulcers, lesions of the pharynx, stomatitis, gingivo-stomatitis, cheilosis, and other types of oral lesions or inflammations of the mucosal, submucosal, dermal, epidermal, or subcutaneous tissue. The present invention has particular utility in the treatment of aphthous ulcers and other oral lesions and will be described in connection with such utility, although utility for the treatment of other types of lesions and inflammations is also indicated.
The aphthous ulcer, which is commonly referred to as a canker sore, is a painful oral lesion occuring on the mucous membranes of the tongue, lips, cheek, soft and hard palates, gingiva, floor of the mouth, or pharynx. Several factors have been suggested as possible causes of the disease known as aphthous stomatitis, which is manifested by the formation of aphthous ulcers. However, the disease is still not completely understood, and the factors which cause aphthous stomatitis are still being investigated.
One popular theory is that aphthous stomatitis is caused by stress, whether chemical, physical or emotional. Chemical stress would include consumption of spicy or highly acidic foods which alter the mucosal chemistry. Physical stress would include abrasion or irritation of the mucosal tissue by ill-fitting dentures, orthodontic appliances, or stray toothbrush bristles, as well as other types of physical trauma to the mucosal tissue which may develop into canker sores. Emotional stress resulting from an intense emotional experience, change of environment, or pressures of job, school, or personal relationships have also been associated with the formation of aphthous ulcers.
Hypersensitivity to certain foods has been postulated as a factor which may account for some cases of aphthous ulcers, but there is little evidence to support this suggestion. It is also believed that some aphthous ulcers may be virally induced. The disease has also been linked to hormonal cycles in females, who tend to suffer more frequently from the disease than males. It has been found that women who suffer chronically from the disease are free of lesions during pregnancy. It is also common for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy to suffer from severe and persistent aphthous ulcers, which may appear in large numbers.
Even though the foregoing and other factors have been suggested as contributory to the disease, aphthous stomatitis is found in children and adults, males and females, patients with or without gastrointestinal problems, and patients with good or poor general health. There is some evidence of patterns in families of patients who are prone to developing aphthous ulcers which suggests that heredity may play a role in whether or not a patient may be susceptible to the disease. Although the foregoing as well as other factors have been examined, no definitive explanation of the mechanism of the formation of aphthous ulcers has been determined.
The ulcers typically last from 5 to 21 days. Often the ulcers form in groups and merge into a singular extensively ulcerated area. The lesions may become extremely painful, especially during periods of fatigue or during eating, which may become difficult if not impossible.
The treatment of aphthous ulcers, and lesions of the mouth in general, has heretofore only involved protecting, anesthetizing, and/or soothing the affected area as needed to ease patient discomfort until healing of the lesion is complete. The most common treatments have included the use of local anesthetics, astringents, antiseptics, protective preparations, and topical steroids. These treatments only serve to treat the problem symptomatically, temporarily relieving or reducing pain, cooling the area of the lesion, protecting the ulcer against further irritation, or reducing inflammation. Another treatment, described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,191,750 uses primarily potassium nitrate in a glycerol base as a topical preparation and reports some success with reduction of pain and promotion of healing. Potassium nitrate is an antiseptic and astringent agent which shows some benefit in the promotion of healing, but its primary benefit as applied to canker sores appears to be as an anesthetic. That preparation appears to have a relatively prolonged desensitizing effect, but it has the disadvantage of causing stinging during application before it takes effect as an anesthetic. There has been no effective method or preparation which provides a cure for aphthous ulcers.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an effective treatment for aphthous ulcers which actually resolves the area of ulceration.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new method of preparing an effective topical treatment for aphthous ulcers.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an effective topical treatment for lesions of the mucosal tissue, including tissues of the mouth, tongue, and pharynx.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide an effective topical treatment for lesions resulting from stomatitis, gingivo-stomatitis, or cheilosis.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide an effective topical treatment for various oral lesions of the mucosal, submucosal, dermal, epidermal, and subcutaneous tissues.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide new methods of preparing topical treatments for various oral lesions of the mucosal, submucosal, dermal, epidermal, and subcutaneous tissues.
Other objects, features and advantages will become apparent from the following description of the invention.

Topical preparation for treatment of aphthous ulcers and other lesions


In one embodiment, a transmitter (a) caches one or more MAC-d PDUs received from a network layer, (b) selects a subset of the MAC-d PDUs for combination into a MAC-e PDU, (c) generates the MAC-e PDU from the subset of selected MAC-d PDUs, (d) caches a data structure to allow re-generation of the MAC-e PDU, wherein the re-generation does not rely on any cached copy of the MAC-e PDU, (e) transmits the MAC-e PDU for receipt by a receiver; and (f) determines whether an ACK was received, wherein if an ACK was not received, then the MAC-e PDU is re-generated using the cached data structure and the subset of selected MAC-d PDUs, and steps (e) and (f) are repeated, and if an ACK was received, then the memories used to cache the data structure and the first subset of MAC-d PDUs are freed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wireless communication systems, and more particularly to transmission protocols used by third-generation (3G) wireless communication systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
One category of mobile telephony communication devices, or mobile phones, includes third-generation devices. Third-generation (3G) mobile phones use digital radio signals for communication between mobile phones and cell towers, also known as base stations. Third-generation mobile phones are able to simultaneously transfer multiple data streams, such as voice, e-mail, instant messages, and streaming audio or video. These data streams may have different Quality-of-Service (QoS) characteristics and requirements. Third-generation mobile phones additionally allow for high rates of data transfers and broadband capabilities. The high rates of data transfer rely on efficient organization and transmission of data to and from the applications running on a mobile phone. The organization and transmission of data is defined by protocols and standards.
Third-generation mobile phone standards are set by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and are based on the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network technology. UMTS evolved from Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) network technology, and UMTS might use GSM core networks. The 3GPP comprises several Technical Specification Groups (TSGs) that are responsible for various areas of third-generation technology. One way to categorize 3G technology is by layer levels and protocols. The 3G protocol stack includes at least three layers: (i) layer 1, also known as the physical layer, (ii) layer 2, also known as the data link layer, and (iii) layer 3, also known as the network layer. The network layer handles communication with applications on the mobile phone, the physical layer handles communication between a mobile phone and a base station, while the data link layer interfaces between the network and physical layers.
FIG. 1 shows a simplified partial block diagram of the 3G protocol stack. The various communication paths shown can be direct or indirect and can include intermediary elements which are not shown in the figure or described herein. Layer 1 comprises physical layer 101, which communicates with an antenna via path 101a and with layer 2 via path 102b. Path 102b comprises transport channels. Transport channels are data flows between the data link layer and the physical layer. Data in the transport channels is organized into packets. Transport channels can then be combined onto composite transport channels for radio transmission between a mobile phone and a base station using physical layer 101. Transport Format Combination Indicators (TFCI) are transmitted along with channel data in order to indicate to the receiver how to identify, decode, de-multiplex, and deliver the transmission it receives.
Layer 2 comprises Media Access Control (MAC) layer 102 and Radio Link Control (RLC) layer 103, which communicate via path 102a, which comprises logical channels. Logical channels are data flows within layer 2 associated with applications running on the wireless device. Each logical channel has an associated QoS. The data flows are organized into packets in the logic channels. Logical channels are mapped, i.e., multiplexed, to transport channels within layer 2. A particular transport channel can support logical channels with different QoS parameters.
Layer 3 includes Radio Resource Controller (RRC) entity 104, which controls and communicates with physical layer 101, MAC layer 102, and RLC layer 103 via paths 104c, 104b, and 104d, respectively. RRC 104 communicates with applications running on the mobile phone via path 104a. RLC layer 103 can also communicate with applications running on the mobile phone via path 103a, either directly or through intermediary entities (not shown) in layer 3. Layer 3 includes other entities (not shown), as well.
Layer 2 architecture and design is regulated by Working Group 2 (WG2) of the Radio Access Network (RAN) TSG, which is in charge of the Radio Interface architecture and protocols (MAC, RLC, Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP)), the specification of the Radio Resource Control protocol, the strategies of Radio Resource Management, and the services provided by the physical layer to the upper layers. Among the technical specifications (TS) provided by WG2 RAN TSG is TS 25.321, which is the MAC protocol specification. TS 25.321 is occasionally updated and multiple releases are published, in conjunction with new releases of the 3G standard. A list of releases of TS 25.321 is available on the Internet at the 3GPP website. The MAC protocol specifies, among other things, (i) communication channels and (ii) protocol data units, formats, and parameters, for communication between the physical layer and the RLC layer of a mobile phone.
Release 6 of the 3GPP standard introduced the high-speed uplink packet access (HSUPA) protocol, which allows for the high-speed transmission of data from a mobile telephony device, referred to as user equipment (UE), to a base station, referred to as a Node-B, which is part of the UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN). Release 7 of the 3GPP also includes the HSUPA protocol, and later releases are expected to include it as well.
The HSUPA protocol employs (i) a shorter Transmission Time Interval (TTI) than other transport channels and (ii) a faster Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) mechanism. TTI refers to the length, typically in milliseconds, of an independently-decodable radio transmission. TTI is one representation of a transport block. Different transmission channels with different Quality of Service (QoS) parameters typically have different TTIs. HARQ is an error-control retransmission mechanism, which allows for the retransmission of a data packet that was not received as intended by the receiver. HSUPA uses HARQ with a Stop and Wait (SAW) protocol, wherein a process associated with a particular payload stops and waits for an acknowledgement (ACK) from the receiver indicating a successful receipt by the receiver, a negative acknowledgment (NACK) from the receiver indicating an unsuccessful receipt by the receiver, or the expiration of a defined waiting time in the case where neither an ACK nor a NACK are received from the receiver.
The HSUPA protocol uses an uplink Enhanced Dedicated Transport Channel (E-DCH), which is controlled by MAC-layer entities called MAC-e and MAC-es, which might be combined into one MAC-e/es entity. The HSUPA-related functions of the MAC layer include: (i) mapping between logical channels and transport channels, (ii) selection of appropriate transport format for each transport channel depending on instantaneous source rate, (iii) multiplexing/demultiplexing of upper-layer protocol data units (PDUs) into/from transport blocks delivered to/from the physical layer on common and dedicated transport channels, (iv) control of E-DCH transmission and reception, including support of a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) mechanism, and (v) generation of uplink scheduling information to assist with E-DCH resource allocation.
FIG. 2 shows a simplified block diagram of the architecture of UE-side MAC-e/es entity 201 in accordance with Release 7 of the 3G standard. MAC-e/es entity 201 controls access to the E-DCH transport channel and handles functions specific to the E-DCH, such as described below for its component entities. MAC-e/es entity 201 comprises HARQ entity 202, multiplexing entity 203, and E-DCH Transport Format Combination (E-TFC) selection entity 204. MAC-e/es entity 201 is controlled by MAC control entity 205 via path 205a. HARQ entity 202 communicates with layer 1 via paths 202a and 202b. Path 202a is used for ACK/NACK signaling, while path 202b is used for traffic, including MAC-e payloads. HARQ entity 202 communicates with multiplexing entity 203 via path 202c, which transports MAC-e payloads. HARQ entity 202 is responsible for storing MAC-e payloads and re-transmitting them if necessary.
The HARQ mechanism allows a Node-B to rapidly request retransmission of erroneous uplink transport blocks until they are successfully received. In order to better use the time between acknowledgements, multiple processes can run for the same receiver using separate TTIs. This is called N-channel SAW (Stop and Wait). While one or more channels of the N channels are all awaiting an acknowledgement, the remaining channels can continue to transmit. Using HARQ, the receiver does not discard the information from failed transmissions, as is done with conventional Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ). Instead, the receiver stores and later combines the information from a failed transmission with the retransmission(s) to increase the probability of successful decoding. A HARQ entity, responsible for handling the MAC functions relating to the HARQ mechanism, is present in one or more MAC entities, which are located in the MAC layer.
E-TFC selection entity 204 of FIG. 2 communicates scheduling information with a Node-B via layer 1 and path 204a. E-TFC selection entity 204 is responsible for E-TFC selection according to the scheduling information received from the Node-B and MAC control entity 205. E-TFC selection entity 204 is responsible for arbitration among the different data flows mapped on the E-DCH channel. E-TFC selection entity 204 also controls the multiplexing function of multiplexing entity 203 by selecting which received MAC-d PDUs are to be multiplexed into each particular MAC-e PDU payload.
Multiplexing entity 203 communicates with a MAC-d entity (not shown) via path 203a, which transmits MAC-d protocol data units (PDUs). The MAC-d entity controls access to all dedicated transport channels. Multiplexing entity 203 is responsible for concatenating selected MAC-d PDUs into MAC-es PDUs, and multiplexing the one or more resultant MAC-es PDUs into a single MAC-e payload, to be transmitted in a next TTI, as instructed by E-TFC selection entity 204, via path 203b. All the MAC-d PDUs in a single MAC-es PDU are of the same size and come from the same logical channel. The size and logical channel for the MAC-d PDUs in a MAC-es PDU are indicated by a Data Description Indicator (DDI). Multiplexing entity 203 is also responsible for managing and setting the Transmission Sequence Number (TSN) per logical channel for each MAC-es PDU.
FIG. 3 shows exemplary MAC-es PDU1 301 in accordance with the 3G standard. A MAC PDU in general is a bit string of variable length. A MAC PDU comprises an optional MAC header and a MAC Service Data Unit (SDU). Both the MAC header and the MAC SDU are of variable length. The content and the size of the MAC header depends on the type of the associated logical channel, and in some cases none of the parameters of the MAC header are needed.
MAC-es PDU1 301 comprises a header with a TSN and an SDU section comprising N1 MAC-es SDUs, wherein N1 is an integer and each MAC-es SDU comprises a MAC-d PDU, such as MAC-d PDU 303, received from a MAC-d entity. Data entity 302 comprises DDI1 and N1. DDI1 contains the DDI information for MAC-es PDU1 301, and N1 is the number of MAC-es SDUs in MAC-es PDU1 301. Data entity 302 and MAC-es PDU1 301 are then combined with other data entities and MAC-es PDUs to form a MAC-e payload, also called a PDU.
FIG. 4 shows exemplary MAC-e PDU 401 in accordance with the 3G standard. MAC-e PDU 401 comprises Nn MAC-es PDUs, wherein Nn is an integer, and further comprises a header section comprising the data entities of those Nn MAC-es PDUs. MAC-e PDU 401 might optionally comprise additional header information, Scheduling Information (SI), and padding. MAC-e PDU includes data entity 302 and MAC-es PDU1 301 from FIG. 3, as well as (Nn−1) other data entities and MAC-es PDUs, such as MAC-es PDU2 403 and its affiliated data entity 402. The MAC-d PDUs included in MAC-es PDU2 403 can be from a logical channel the same as or different from the logical channel of the MAC-d PDUs included in MAC-es PDU1 301. MAC-e PDU 401 is adapted to be transmitted in a single TTI.
The TTI for HSUPA operation can be a mere 2 msec. The short duration of the TTI ensures that the channel conditions are likely to remain substantially fixed during a single TTI. However, the short duration is demanding on the User Equipment (UE) because it needs to process a whole MAC-e payload of data in less than 2 msec. Specifically, the UE needs to (i) select an E-TFC, (ii) concatenate and multiplex MAC-d PDUs into a single MAC-e payload, which can involve many bit-shifting operations, (iii) set and manage a TSN, and (iv) handle HARQ functions, including storing and retransmitting MAC-e payloads. These operations might require more complex processors and/or greater power consumption than pre-HSUPA operations do.
FIG. 5 shows a simplified block diagram of part of prior-art UE 500 showing processor relationship to protocol-stack layers. Different processors may be associated with different layers of the 3G protocol stack. For example, MAC-e functionality is typically implemented in a Protocol Stack (PS) processor, such as PS processor 501. Thus, one task of PS processor 501 is to multiplex and concatenate MAC-d PDUs.
The size of a MAC-e header depends on the number of logical channels, i.e., MAC-d flows, that are multiplexed in the associated MAC-e PDU. The MAC-e header contains 18 bits for every MAC-d flow. Thus, MAC-e header size is variable and can change from one TTI to the next, and typically is not a multiple of 8 bits, i.e., is not byte-multiple. MAC-d PDUs, on the other hand, are aligned to byte-multiple memory address, e.g., 8-, 16-, or 32-bit memory addresses. The MAC-d PDUs should be concatenated immediately following the header. Since MAC-e header size is variable and MAC-d PDUs can start in the middle of a byte, it may be necessary to shift all the MAC-d PDUs by a few bits for the concatenation. Thus, the concatenation of MAC-d PDUs might involve many bit-shifting operations. This shifting might be an inefficient and time-and-effort-costly procedure for a PS processor designed to operate with multi-byte words.
Layer 1 processor 502 is a baseband processor, which is a type of DSP, and is designed to efficiently handle bit-shifting operations. Layer 1 processor 502 performs baseband processing, which includes modem-like functionality for UE 500. In general, operations in layer 1 processor 502 are bit-oriented, while operations in PS processor 501 are byte- and word-, i.e., multi-byte memory unit, oriented.
The memory of PS processor 501 comprises the retransmission buffer required by the HARQ entity, such as HARQ entity 202 of FIG. 2, for storing MAC-e payloads if retransmission becomes necessary. PS processors, such as PS processor 501, are typically implemented using Advanced RISC Machine (ARM) processors.

Data structure caching for PDU re-generation and transmission in a 3G wireless network


A plastic optical fiber having a low-loss, light-guiding plastic core surrounded by an inner, low-loss layer of a smaller refractive index and by an outer, stronger light-absorbing layer. The low-loss, light-guiding plastic core can also be surrounded by a light-absorbing layer.

The invention relates to a plastic optical fiber.
Plastic optical fibers (POF) represent a light wave transmission medium well suited for a broad application in telecommunications. For making these fibers mainly polymer plastics such as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or polystrene (PS) are employed as the core material. As the sheathing substances fluorinated polymers, silicones or PMMA are put to use. Plastic optical fibers, unlike those of glass, can be produced with large diameters. Plastic fibers have high numerical apertures. They feature a high ultimate strength and permit facilitated handling. Furthermore, connecting and termination systems are simple to make since their precision requirements are low. The core diameter of a POF corresponds practically to the outer diameter whilst in usual glass fibers it approaches the wavelength of the light to be transmitted. According to H.Hultzsch: xe2x80x9cOptische Telekommunikationssystemexe2x80x9d, Damm-Verlag, Gelsenkirchen POF diameters are typically of the order of 1 mm.
Due to the large core diameters and numerical apertures plastic fibers guide a large number of so-called modes, i.e. light bundles travelling through the waveguides at various angles. The greater the angle the higher the order number of the modes and the longer the light path in the waveguide the higher the number of reflections in the junction between core and sheath with increasing depth of penetration of the light into the sheath.
Data are transmitted in such light guides in the form of a light pulses. Due to the differences in the transit time between the modes the light pulses are strongly dispersed (mode dispersion).
Hitherto only so-called step-index fibers are available which permit, at best, a bandwidth of 170 MHz for an overall length of 100 m. These values are, however, too low for future wideband networks.
To enhance the transmission bandwidth work has been going on since many years in developing gradient-index plastic fibers comprising instead of the step-index profile a parabolic profile of the refractive index in the fiber core and thus to compensate the differences in the transit time between the modes (see also H.Hultzsch: xe2x80x9cOptische Telekommunikations-systemexe2x80x9d, Damm-Verlag, Gelsenkirchen). The methods for producing these gradient-index fibers are, however, complicated and expensive. Hitherto they are not commercially viable and there is no prospect of when this type of fiber could be produced cost-effectively.
The object of the present invention is to define a plastic optical fiber which is relatively simple and cost-effective to produce and comprises a lower mode dispersion than conventional step-index fibers.
This object is achieved in that the core of the fiber comprised of a low-attenuation, light-guiding plastic is surrounded by an inner, low-attenuation layer of a smaller refractive index and by an outer, stronger light-absorbing layer. The present invention describes a new type of step-index plastic fibers which can be produced by existing systems, it preferably being provided for that the thickness of the low-attenuation layer is in the range 0.3 xcexcm to 3 xcexcm.
As an alternative thereto it is proposed to achieve the object in that the core of the fiber comprised of a low-attenuation light-guiding plastic is surrounded by a light-absorbing layer so that the intermediate layer can be eliminated in cases when the fiber satisfies the optical requirements.


A small scale power divider which is less susceptible to large tolerances in the manufacture includes a substrate and a power dividing circuit thereon. The power dividing circuit includes an input port, a first output port, a second output port, an impedance converter, a first microstrip line, and a second microstrip line. An end of the first microstrip line is connected to the impedance converter, another end of the first microstrip line is connected to the first output port. An end of the second microstrip line is connected to the impedance converter, another end of the second microstrip line is connected the second output port.

A Wilson power divider has advantages of a simple structure, 3-dB power distribution, and good isolation between the outputs, thus it is often used in power combining application circuits and feed networks for array antennas.
Performing 3-dB power distribution at design frequency, the Wilson power divider includes two 70.7 ohm quarter-wave transmission lines. However, when using a thin substrate having dielectric constant, a line width (typically 0.096 mm) of the Wilson power divider is very narrow, and the narrower line width is more sensitive to lack of precision in manufacturing.
There is room for improvement within the art.

Power dividing circuit and power divider

NANNING FUGUI PRECISION INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.


The invention provides isolated nucleic acids molecules, designated CARK nucleic acid molecules. The invention also provides antisense nucleic acid molecules, recombinant expression vectors containing CARK nucleic acid molecules, host cells into which the expression vectors have been introduced, and nonhuman transgenic animals in which a CARK gene has been introduced or disrupted. The invention still further provides isolated CARK proteins, fusion proteins, antigenic peptides and anti-CARK antibodies. Diagnostic methods utilizing compositions of the invention are also provided.

Phosphate tightly associated with protein has been known since the late nineteenth century. Since then, a variety of covalent linkages of phosphate to proteins have been found. The most common involve esterification of phosphate to serine, threonine, and tyrosine with smaller amounts being linked to lysine, arginine, histidine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and cysteine. The occurrence of phosphorylated proteins implies the existence of one or more protein kinases capable of phosphorylating amino acid residues on proteins, and also of protein phosphatases capable of hydrolyzing phosphorylated amino acid residues on proteins.
Protein kinases play critical roles in the regulation of biochemical and morphological changes associated with cellular growth and division (D""Urso, G. et al. (1990) Science 250: 786-791; Birchmeier. C. et al. (1993) Bioessays 15: 185-189). They serve as growth factor receptors and signal transducers and have been implicated in cellular transformation and malignancy (Hunter, T. et al. (1992) Cell 70: 375-387; Posada, J. et al. (1992) Mol. Biol. Cell 3: 583-592; Hunter, T. et al. (1994) Cell 79: 573-582). For example, protein kinases have been shown to participate in the transmission of signals from growth-factor receptors (Sturgill, T. W. et al. (1988) Nature 344: 715-718; Gomez, N. et al. (1991) Nature 353: 170-173), control of entry of cells into mitosis (Nurse, P. (1990) Nature 344: 503-508; Mailer, J. L. (1991) Curr. Opin. Cell Biol. 3: 269-275) and regulation of actin bundling (Husain-Chishti, A. et al. (1988) Nature 334: 718-721). Protein kinases can be divided into two main groups based on either amino acid sequence similarity or specificity for either serine/threonine or tyrosine residues. A small number of dual-specificity kinases are structurally like the serine/threonine-specific group. Within the broad classification, kinases can be further sub-divided into families whose members share a higher degree of catalytic domain amino acid sequence identity and also have similar biochemical properties. Most protein kinase family members also share structural features outside the kinase domain that reflect their particular cellular roles. These include regulatory domains that control kinase activity or interaction with other proteins (Hanks, S. K. et al. (1988) Science 241: 42-52). For example, kinases which contain ankyrin repeat domains have been identified, such as the Integrin-linked kinase (ILK).
ILK is an ankyrin repeat containing serine-threonine protein kinase which interacts with integrin xcex21 and xcex23 heterodimeric transmembrane glycoprotein subunit cytoplasmic domains. Integrins communicate with cell surface and cytoplasmic molecules such as cytoskeletal and catalytic signaling proteins (Hannigan G. E. et al. (1981) Nature 379:91-96, Schwartz M. A. et al. (1995) Annu. Rev. Cell Dev. Biol. 11:549-599). Overexpression of ELK increases the expression of cyclin A, cyclin D1 and Cdk4 proteins by overriding the adhesion-dependent regulation of cell cycle progression through G1 into S phase. This activity suggests that ILK may be an important regulator of integrin-mediated cell cycle progression (Radeva G. et al. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272:13937-13944). Overexpression of ILK also stimulates fibronectin matrix assembly in epithelial cells (Wu C. et al. (1998) J. Biol Chem. 273:528-536).
The present invention is based, at least in part, on the discovery of novel ankyrin repeat containing kinases, referred herein as xe2x80x9cCardiac-related Ankyrin-Repeat Protein Kinasexe2x80x9d (xe2x80x9cCARKxe2x80x9d) nucleic acid and protein molecules. The CARK molecules of the present invention are useful as modulating agents for regulating a variety of cellular processes, e.g., cardiac cellular processes. Accordingly, in one aspect, this invention provides isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding CARK proteins or biologically active portions thereof, as well as nucleic acid fragments suitable as primers or hybridization probes for the detection of CARK-encoding nucleic acids.
In one embodiment, a CARK nucleic acid molecule of the invention is at least 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98%, or more identical to the nucleotide sequence (e.g., to the entire length of the nucleotide sequence) shown in SEQ ID NO:1 or 3 or the nucleotide sequence of the DNA insert of the plasmid deposited with ATCC as Accession Number PTA-1530, or a complement thereof. In one embodiment, a CARK nucleic acid molecule of the invention is at least 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 82%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98%, or more identical to the nucleotide sequence (e.g., to the entire length of the nucleotide sequence) shown in SEQ ID NO:7 or 9 or the nucleotide sequence of the DNA insert of the plasmid deposited with ATCC as Accession Number PTA-1530, or a complement thereof.
In a preferred embodiment, the isolated nucleic acid molecule includes the nucleotide sequence shown SEQ ID NO:1 or 3, or a complement thereof. In another embodiment, the nucleic acid molecule includes SEQ ID NO:3 and nucleotides 1-47 of SEQ ID NO:1. In another embodiment, the nucleic acid molecule includes SEQ ID NO:3 and nucleotides 2553-3025 of SEQ ID NO:1. In another preferred embodiment, the nucleic acid molecule consists of the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:1 or 3. In another preferred embodiment, the nucleic acid molecule includes a fragment of at least 467 nucleotides (e.g., 467 contiguous nucleotides) of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or 3, or a complement thereof.
In a preferred embodiment, the isolated nucleic acid molecule includes the nucleotide sequence shown SEQ ID NO:7 or 9, or a complement thereof. In another embodiment, the nucleic acid molecule includes SEQ ID NO:9 and nucleotides 1-60 of SEQ ID NO:7. In another embodiment, the nucleic acid molecule includes SEQ ID NO:9 and nucleotides 2566-3026 of SEQ ID NO:7. In another preferred embodiment, the nucleic acid molecule consists of the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:7 or 9. In another preferred embodiment, the nucleic acid molecule includes a fragment of at least 2962 nucleotides (e.g., 2962 contiguous nucleotides) of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:7 or 9, or a complement thereof.
In another embodiment, a CARK nucleic acid molecule includes a nucleotide sequence encoding a protein having an amino acid sequence sufficiently homologous to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or 8, or an amino acid sequence encoded by the DNA insert of the plasmid deposited with ATCC as Accession Number PTA-1530. In a preferred embodiment, a CARK nucleic acid molecule includes a nucleotide sequence encoding a protein having an amino acid sequence at least 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or more homologous to the entire length of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, or the amino acid sequence encoded by the DNA insert of the plasmid deposited with ATCC as Accession Number PTA-1530. In another preferred embodiment, a CARK nucleic acid molecule includes a nucleotide sequence encoding a protein having an amino acid sequence at least 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 92%, 95%, 98% or more homologous to the entire length of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8, or the amino acid sequence encoded by the DNA insert of the plasmid deposited with ATCC as Accession Number PTA-1530.
In another preferred embodiment, an isolated nucleic acid molecule encodes the amino acid sequence of human CARK. In yet another preferred embodiment, the nucleic acid molecule includes a nucleotide sequence encoding a protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, or the amino acid sequence encoded by the DNA insert of the plasmid deposited with ATCC as Accession Number PTA-1530. In yet another preferred embodiment, the nucleic acid molecule is at least 467 nucleotides in length. In a further preferred embodiment, the nucleic acid molecule is at least 467 nucleotides in length and encodes a protein having a CARK activity (as described herein).
In another preferred embodiment, an isolated nucleic acid molecule encodes the amino acid sequence of rat CARK. In yet another preferred embodiment, the nucleic acid molecule includes a nucleotide sequence encoding a protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8, or the amino acid sequence encoded by the DNA insert of the plasmid deposited with ATCC as Accession Number PTA-1530. In yet another preferred embodiment, the nucleic acid molecule is at least 2962 nucleotides in length. In a further preferred embodiment, the nucleic acid molecule is at least 2962 nucleotides in length and encodes a protein having a CARK activity (as described herein).
Another embodiment of the invention features nucleic acid molecules, preferably CARK nucleic acid molecules, which specifically detect CARK nucleic acid molecules relative to nucleic acid molecules encoding non-CARK proteins. For example, in one embodiment, such a nucleic acid molecule is at least 250-300, 300-350, 350-400, 400-450, 467, 467-500, 500-550, or 550-600, 600-800, 800-1000, 1000-1200, 1200-1400, 1400-1600, 1600-1800, 1800-2000, 2000-2400, 2400-2800, 2800-2900, 2962, or more nucleotides in length and hybridizes under stringent conditions to a nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:1, 3, 7, or 9, or, the nucleotide sequence of the DNA insert of the plasmid deposited with ATCC as Accession Number PTA-1530, or a complement thereof.
In preferred embodiments, the nucleic acid molecules are at least 15 (e.g., contiguous) nucleotides in length and hybridize under stringent conditions to nucleotides 1-47, 94-294, 318-338, 1145-1364, 1833-1921, 2051-2267, 2290-2543, or 3018-3025 of SEQ ID NO:1. In other preferred embodiments, the nucleic acid molecules comprise nucleotides 1-47, 94-294, 318-338, 1145-1364, 1833-1921, 2051-2267, 2290-2543, or 3018-3025 of SEQ ID NO:1. In other preferred embodiments, the nucleic acid molecules consist of 20 nucleotides 1-47, 94-294, 318-338, 1145-1364, 1833-1921, 2051-2267, 2290-2543, or 3018-3025 of SEQ ID NO:1.
In other preferred embodiments, the nucleic acid molecule encodes a naturally occurring allelic variant of a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or 8, or an amino acid sequence encoded by the DNA insert of the plasmid deposited with ATCC as Accession Number PTA-1530, wherein the nucleic acid molecule hybridizes to a nucleic acid molecule comprising SEQ ID NO:1 or 3, or SEQ ID NO:7 or 9, respectively, under stringent conditions.
Another embodiment of the invention provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule which is antisense to a CARK nucleic acid molecule, e.g., the coding strand of a CARK nucleic acid molecule.
Another aspect of the invention provides a vector comprising a CARK nucleic acid molecule. In certain embodiments, the vector is a recombinant expression vector. In another embodiment, the invention provides a host cell containing a vector of the invention. In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a host cell containing a nucleic acid molecule of the invention. The invention also provides a method for producing a protein, preferably a CARK protein, by culturing in a suitable medium, a host cell, e.g., a mammalian host cell such as a non-human mammalian cell, of the invention containing a recombinant expression vector, such that the protein is produced.
Another aspect of this invention features isolated or recombinant CARK proteins and polypeptides. In one embodiment, the isolated protein, preferably a CARK protein, includes at least one ankyrin repeat domain, and preferably two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, or, most preferably, nine or more ankyrin repeat domains. In another embodiment, the isolated protein, preferably a CARK protein, includes at least one protein kinase domain. In a preferred embodiment, the protein, preferably a CARK protein, includes at least one ankyrin repeat domain and preferably two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, or, most preferably, nine or more ankyrin repeat domains, and has an amino acid sequence at least about 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 92%, 95%, 98% or more homologous to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or 8, or the amino acid sequence encoded by the DNA insert of the plasmid deposited with ATCC as Accession Number PTA-1530. In another preferred embodiment, the protein, preferably a CARK protein, includes at least one protein kinase domain and has an amino acid sequence at least about 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 92%, 95%, 98% or more homologous to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or 8, or the amino acid sequence encoded by the DNA insert of the plasmid deposited with ATCC as Accession Number PTA-1530. In yet another preferred embodiment, the protein, preferably a CARK protein, includes at least one ankyrin repeat domain and preferably two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, or, most preferably, nine or more ankyrin repeat domains, at least one protein kinase domain, and has an amino acid sequence at least about 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 92%, 95%, 98% or more homologous to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or 8, or the amino acid sequence encoded by the DNA insert of the plasmid deposited with ATCC as Accession Number PTA-1530.
In another preferred embodiment, the protein, preferably a CARK protein, includes at least one ankyrin repeat domain and preferably two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, or, most preferably, nine or more ankyrin repeat domains and has a CARK activity, as described herein. In yet another preferred embodiment, the protein, preferably a CARK protein, includes a protein kinase domain and has a CARK activity, as described herein. In a further preferred embodiment, the protein, preferably a CARK protein, includes at least one ankyrin repeat domain and preferably two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, or, most preferably, nine or more ankyrin repeat domains, at least one protein kinase domain, and has a CARK activity, as described herein.
In yet another preferred embodiment, the protein, preferably a CARK protein, includes at least one ankyrin repeat domain and preferably two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, or, most preferably, nine or more ankyrin repeat domains and is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleotide sequence which hybridizes under stringent hybridization conditions to a nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, 3, 7, or 9. In a further embodiment, the protein, preferably a CARK protein, includes at least one protein kinase domain and is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleotide sequence which hybridizes under stringent hybridization conditions to a nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, 3, 7, or 9. In another preferred embodiment, the protein, preferably a CARK protein, includes at least one ankyrin repeat domain and preferably two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, or, most preferably, nine or more ankyrin repeat domains, at least one protein kinase domain, and is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleotide sequence which hybridizes under stringent hybridization conditions to a nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, 3, 7, or 9.
In another embodiment, the invention features fragments of the protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or 8, wherein the fragment comprises at least 15 amino acids (e.g., contiguous amino acids) of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or 8 or an amino acid sequence encoded by the DNA insert of the plasmid deposited with the ATCC as Accession Number PTA-1530. In another embodiment, the protein, preferably a CARK protein, has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or 8.
In another embodiment, the invention features an isolated protein, preferably a CARK protein, which is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule consisting of a nucleotide sequence at least about 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 82%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or more homologous to a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, 3, 7, or 9, or a complement thereof. This invention further features an isolated protein, preferably a CARK protein, which is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule consisting of a nucleotide sequence which hybridizes under stringent hybridization conditions to a nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, 3, 7, or 9, or a complement thereof.
The proteins of the present invention or portions thereof, e.g., biologically active portions thereof, can be operatively linked to a non-CARK polypeptide (e.g., heterologous amino acid sequences) to form fusion proteins. The invention further features antibodies, such as monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies, that specifically bind proteins of the invention, preferably CARK proteins. In addition, the CARK proteins or biologically active portions thereof can be incorporated into pharmaceutical compositions, which optionally include pharmaceutically acceptable carriers.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for detecting the presence of a CARK nucleic acid molecule, protein or polypeptide in a biological sample by contacting the biological sample with an agent capable of detecting a CARK nucleic acid molecule, protein or polypeptide such that the presence of a CARK nucleic acid molecule, protein or polypeptide is detected in the biological sample.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for detecting the presence of CARK activity in a biological sample by contacting the biological sample with an agent capable of detecting an indicator of CARK activity such that the presence of CARK activity is detected in the biological sample.
In another aspect, the invention provides a method for modulating CARK activity comprising contacting a cell capable of expressing CARK with an agent that modulates CARK activity such that CARK activity in the cell is modulated. In one embodiment, the agent inhibits CARK activity. In another embodiment, the agent stimulates CARK activity.
In one embodiment, the agent is an antibody that specifically binds to a CARK protein. In another embodiment, the agent modulates expression of CARK by modulating transcription of a CARK gene or translation of a CARK mRNA. In yet another embodiment, the agent is a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleotide sequence that is antisense to the coding strand of a CARK mRNA or a CARK gene.
In one embodiment, the methods of the present invention are used to treat a subject having a disorder characterized by aberrant or unwanted CARK protein or nucleic acid expression or activity by administering an agent which is a CARK modulator to the subject. In one embodiment, the CARK modulator is a CARK protein. In another embodiment the CARK modulator is a CARK nucleic acid molecule. In yet another embodiment, the CARK modulator is a peptide, peptidomimetic, or other small molecule. In a preferred embodiment, the disorder characterized by aberrant or unwanted CARK protein or nucleic acid expression is a cardiovascular disorder.
The present invention also provides a diagnostic assay for identifying the presence or absence of a genetic alteration characterized by at least one of (i) aberrant modification or mutation of a gene encoding a CARK protein; (ii) mis-regulation of the gene; and (iii) aberrant post-translational modification of a CARK protein, wherein a wild-type form of the gene encodes a protein with a CARK activity.
In another aspect the invention provides a method for identifying a compound that binds to or modulates the activity of a CARK protein, by providing an indicator composition comprising a CARK protein having CARK activity, contacting the indicator composition with a test compound, and determining the effect of the test compound on CARK activity in the indicator composition to identify a compound that modulates the activity of a CARK protein.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and claims.

CARK protein and nucleic acid molecules and uses therefor


Apparatus is provided that is configured to be deployed in a lumen of a blood vessel of a subject. The apparatus includes a pump portion, including an anchor configured to engage a wall of the blood vessel in order to maintain the apparatus in place within the blood vessel, and a reciprocating valve coupled to the anchor and including a set of one or more leaflets. A valve driver is configured to drive the reciprocating valve in a reciprocating pattern between (i) a first state in which the leaflets are in an open configuration allowing blood flow through the reciprocating valve, and (ii) a second state in which the leaflets are in a closed configuration inhibiting blood flow through the reciprocating valve. Other embodiments are also described.

Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death. Blood pumps for insertion into the vasculature of a patient have been developed to provide mechanical circulatory support by supplementing the blood pumping action of a damaged or diseased heart. An example of an intravascular blood pump is the intra-aortic balloon pump, which is a pneumatic device typically deployed in an aorta of a patient to augment the pumping action of the heart. Typically, the aortic balloon pump includes a balloon, which inflates and deflates in a predetermined synchronous pattern with respect to the diastole and systole of the patient (inflates during diastole and deflates during systole). The aortic balloon pump typically inflates during diastole, thereby increasing coronary flow in the coronary arteries, and deflates during systole, thereby increasing blood flow forward in the aorta.


A method and apparatus of preventing sunburn includes a forearm guard, which includes a first panel having a front edge, a rear edge, a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge. A coupler is attached to the first panel for selectively coupling an inner surface of the first panel to an outer surface of the first panel. The forearm guard is extended around a forearm and coupled thereto with the coupler. An upper armguard includes a second panel having an upper edge, a lower edge, a first side edge and a second side edge. A biasing member is attached to the second panel for biasing the first and second side edges toward each other. An arm may be extended between the biasing member and the second panel so that the upper armguard is positioned on a front portion of an upper arm.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to body covering devices and more particularly pertains to a new body covering device for preventing sunburn and skin damage to body parts exposed to the sun while driving.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of body covering devices is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,974,586 describes a pair of sleeves that may worn over the arms to protect the arms from sunlight. Another type of body covering device is U.S. Pat. No. 5,357,633, which again includes a sleeve for covering an arm but also including a closed end having a thumb opening extending therethrough. Yet another sleeve device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,062.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device that includes multiple components so that an entire sleeve need not be worn and so that an under portion of the arm is exposed as well as the hand to ensure that those covered portions do become overly warm. Additionally, it would be beneficial to include a component that may be used for covering the chest of a person using the device.

Method and apparatus of preventing sunburn


An information storage medium includes: a video zone for recording audio/video information including video information and audio information associated with the video information; an audio zone for recording audio information; first navigation information for a video player which can reproduce the audio/video information; second navigation information for an audio player which can reproduce the audio information in the video zone and the audio information in the audio zone; and third navigation information for a compatible player which can reproduce both the audio/video information and the audio information. The first navigation information, the second navigation information and the third navigation information are recorded separately from each other.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an information storage medium, and more specifically to the reproduction of DVD disc having a video zone in which picture information and associated sound information are mainly recorded and an audio zone in which sound information is mainly recorded.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There is known a video DVD (i.e., a disc in conformity with the DVD-Video Standard) on which picture information such as movies are recorded. A video DVD is broadly used as an information storage medium for picture information such as movies because of its large storage capacity. Further, there has been developed an audio DVD (i.e., a disc in conformity with the Audio-DVD Standard) adapted to record, not picture information such as movies, but only audio information such as music. A single audio DVD can record audio information corresponding to plural CDs (Compact Disc) because of its large storage capacity. Also, in addition to picture information of a movie, audio information of a soundtrack CD for the movie can be recorded together on a single audio DVD.
In such circumstance, it is forecasted that a so-called compatible DVD player, having an ability to reproduce both audio DVD and video DVD, will be developed and used in the near future. However, simply recording video information and audio information on a single disc according to the DVD-Video Standard and the DVD-Audio Standard may restrict desired various manners of reproduction by the compatible DVD player. Specifically, the following drawbacks are presumable. First, since only the navigation information (i.e., a control information used to reproduce information) for video information is recorded in the video zone according to the DVD-Video Standard, only the audio information recorded in the video zone normally cannot be reproduced separately from the associated video information. In addition, the reproduction is limited to such manners that titles in the audio zone are reproduced and then titles in the video zone are reproduced, or in the reversed order. Namely, it is not possible to control the reproduction of all titles recorded in the video zone and audio zone of a single disc in an intermixed manner.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Information storage medium and apparatus for reproducing the same


A tool for cutting or milling casing in a well is disclosed. It includes a plurality of blades extending outwardly to a substantially radial position for cutting the walls of casing strings and removing a predetermined length of the casing strings in a cutting action. The blades have cutting elements positioned on leading faces of the blades to engage the casing strings in a cutting action without tripping or removal from the bore hole. The cutting elements can be arranged in rows and columns. The cutting elements can be shaped to continually present a sharp cutting edge to the object being milled. The cutting elements can be inclined at a negative axial rake angle to cause the metal chips cut from the object being milled to break off at short lengths. The cutting element can also have surface irregularities to cause the metal chips cut from the casings to break off at short lengths. The cutting element can also have stress relieving grooves to prevent the propagation of a crack across the face of the element.

This invention relates generally to a cutting or milling tool and method for cutting or milling fixed casing strings downhole.
Heretofore, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,668 dated Dec. 19, 1989, cutting tools for cutting well casing or casing strings have been provided utilizing swinging blades for first cutting the inner periphery of a string of well casing and then cutting a section of the cut casing string from its annular cut end for removing a desired length or longitudinal section of casing as might be required for removing a damaged section or to provide a window for diagonal drilling, for example. As shown in the aforementioned patent, swinging blades have had separate cutting inserts or discs mounted on their outer ends and upper sides for cutting a single string of casing.
Normally, and especially for wells of a substantial depth, casing strings of different diameters are utilized with the lowermost casing string being of the widest diameter. For example an outer lower casing of around 133/8 inches in diameter with an inner upper casing of around 95/8 inches in diameter may be utilized with overlapping end portions providing an annulus filled with concrete for securing the two casing strings together in a sealed relation. Thus, in the event the removed casing sections include a so-called cemented joint, it is necessary to remove two separate casing strings at the joint as well as concrete in the annulus between the strings.
In the event the inner casing is removed first in one cutting operation, and then the outer casing is removed in a separate cutting operation, a different blade or tool is utilized which requires a tripping or removal of the tool from the bore hole. If the same cutting tool is used for both cutting operations, it is difficult to stabilize the cutting tool during cutting of the outer string, as the tool body which fits within the inner casing is spaced laterally a substantial distance from the inner periphery of the outer casing. While special blades, utilizing a tang or projecting lug on the lower end of each blade for riding along the inner periphery of the outer casing, may be used for stabilization of the tool during the cutting operation, such an arrangement requires removal of the cutting tool from the bore hole after cutting of the inner casing for attachment of the special blades and subsequent running in of the tool. Such a "tripping" of the cutting tool is costly and time consuming.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,331,439 shows a cutting tool for cutting multiple casing strings simultaneously without having to remove the cutting tool from the well bore and with the cutting tool centered by the small diameter casing being cut. However, this cutting tool removes a section or length of casing by engaging and cutting the lower annular cut end of the casing and the cutting surface of the blade is along its upper side only.
For cutting multiple casing strings simultaneously, the cutting blades must first cut through the walls of the multiple casing strings in series, and then a section or length of the multiple casing strings is cut away simultaneously. Thus, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,331,439, the cutting surface on the extending end of the pivoted blade has been utilized for cutting through the casing walls in series and then the cutting surface along the upper side of the blade has been utilized for cutting away the lower annular cut ends of multiple casing strings simultaneously during upward movement of the cutting tool.


Disclosed is a beam member for furniture and mainly including a long body having an ellipse-shaped cross section. Two symmetrical L-shaped rails are formed along outer surface of an upper half of the long body to define a sector-shaped channel between them. A similar L-shaped rail and a linear groove are formed along outer surface of a lower half of the long body, and a closed channel having a locating recess is formed inside the long body between the lower L-shaped rail and the linear groove. Different members, such as seat members, back members, supporting arms and leg members, may be correspondingly connected to the L-shaped rails and the channels to form different articles of furniture. The wide usage of the beam member in different furniture enables it to be produced in large quantity at reduced cost.

The present invention relates to a beam member for furniture, and more particularly to a multipurpose beam member for built-up furniture, including chairs, row chairs, tables, signboards, screens, coat and hat racks, etc.
The term "furniture" used hereinafter shall include chairs, row chairs, tables, signboards, screens, coat and hat racks, etc. that are commonly used in our daily life. To make these furniture, it is usually necessary to select and cut materials, transport the cut materials to manufacturers, assemble the half-finished products, and paint the finished products. There are several factors that adversely affect the mass production and accordingly the cost of furniture. First, to meet different requirements of general consumers, the furniture manufacturers tend to produce a variety of differently shaped furniture each having limited quantity. It is therefore inevitable that increased costs are needed for materials of different specifications in low quantities. Second, there are not sections suitably designed for commonly use in more than one type of furniture to simplify the production of furniture.
It is therefore tried by the inventor to develop a beam member for furniture that can be manufactured by mass production for use with other different sections to form multiple types of built-up furniture at lowered costs.

2 F., No. 3, Lane 280, Chung-Chan Rd., Hsin Tien City


The disclosed transducer the can transfer an audio signal into a full-spectrum tactile wave over a frequency of 10 Hz-2 KHz. Upper and lower springs of the transducer produce vibrations via a coil/magnet in a manner similar to a conventional speaker, but the transducer uses a novel arrangement of elements, such as two south-to-south coils and carbon fiber springs, so as to produce the vibrations tactilely. The transducers can be tuned for specific applications and can be attached or formed integrally with a support surface. When attached or incorporated into a chair, massage table or other human-support structure, the transducer creates a sonic environment that surrounds and permeates the body with vibration, providing a direct experience of mental desired states. When connected to any full fidelity sound system, a support structure, a full frequency response process promotes a state of relaxation in the listener.

The present invention relates in general to transducers, and in particular to transducers for converting electrical energy into mechanical energy, which are suitable for tactile applications. The present invention also relates to devices that incorporate transducers therein.
Current sound transducers, as incorporated in conventional speakers, are limited in that they cannot easily be tuned for variable frequency applications. They are further limited by requiring a physical support structure. Many conventional transducer designs limit the possible orientation to vertical or horizontal alignments.
Prior art transducers for use in the "tactile" frequency range (10 hz to 2 khz) suffer from a number of these and other limitations. Many applications of these transducers involve attaching the transducer to existing devices (walls, chairs, etc.) that have limited clearance.
One early transducer is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,430,007 and 3,524,027 and is commercially manufactured and sold by Richtech Enterprises as the Rolen-Star Audio Transducer (RSAT). The RSAT measures 1.75″×4″ and employs a 2.2 lb. magnet with a 1″ edgewound aluminum voice coil. The center of one side of the RSAT is mounted to a panel, such as a wall or ceiling, so as to turn the surface into speaker. Although the voice coil may originally be from a full range 20 hz-20 khz speaker (since this is their advertised range), encasing the coil in a fully-sealed Lexan® plastic casing decreases this range. Furthermore, the mounting surface limits the actual frequency range and its use of a "short throw" voice coil design inside a casing results in very poor bass response. Although pioneering in its day, the RSAT is now considered the cheapest and lowest quality of this type of transducer.
Variations on this type of transducer are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,567,870 to Riviera and U.S. Pat. No. 3,728,497 to Komatsu.
One other prior art transducer is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,424,592, assigned to Aura Systems, Inc. Variations of this prior art transducer are marketed by Aura Systems as "Bass Shakers." These "Bass Shakers" can be mounted in any orientation, but the commercial embodiments, such as the Aura AST-2B-4, have a limited frequency response in the 20 hz-80 hz range and are further limited in their application by their size and weight (2.2″×6.2″, 3 lbs.). Aura's "Bass Shakers" are also inefficient and tend to get quite hot with extended use, even when cooling fins are used, such as on the Aura AST-2B-4. Yet another problem with the Aura units is that they have a resonant frequency of 45 hz which can easily overpower their phenolic springs.
Another prior art transducer is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,473,700, assigned to Clark Synthesis. Variations of this prior art transducer are marketed by Clark Synthesis as "Tactile Sound Transducers" or "TSTs." The commercial embodiment of these devices, such as the Clark Synthesis TST429, have an improved frequency range relative to the Aura devices of 5 hz-800 hz, but are limited in their application by being even larger (2.25″×8 ″) and have been found by the present inventor to be limited in the orientation that they can be mounted due to the material used in the springs. While the resonant frequency of Clark Synthesis units depends on the material (older units used Lucite "L" acrylic and had a 550 hz resonant frequency whereas newer units have a 65 hz resonant frequency due to use of Cevian® ABS and SAN), in general, they have a flatter frequency response than the Aura units.
A further prior art transducer is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,659,773, assigned to D-Box Technology Inc. This motion transducer system uses a plurality of synchronized movement generator units for generating small amplitude and low frequency movements in a viewer's chair. A DSP-controller brushless AC motor and a hydraulic piston are used for the generator units.
Additional prior art transducers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,297,972 to Mills, U.S. Pat. No. 2,862,069 (Re.26,030) to Marchand et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,366,749 to Ries, U.S. Pat. No. 4,635,287 to Hirano, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,951,270 to Andrews.
It would therefore be desirable to provide a transducer that overcomes these limitations with the prior art.
Furthermore, stress levels caused by modern society are increasing. Stress is an emotional, physical, and psychological reaction to change. While people often think of stressful events as being "negative," such as loss of a job or relationship, illness or death, they can also be perceived "positive." For example, a promotion, a marriage, or a home purchase can bring a change of status and new responsibility, which leads to stress. Stress is an integral part of life. Whether a stressful experience is a result of major life changes or the accumulative effects of minor everyday events, it is how an individual perceives and reacts to a stressful experience that can create a negative result.
As the result of living in a culture that has advanced more rapidly than its biological nature has progressed, humans still carry primitive instincts from our prehistoric ancestors. A predominate instinctual pattern is the "fight or flight" response. This response is a series of biochemical changes that prepare humans to deal with threats. Primitive man needed quick bursts of energy to fight or flee predators. Today, when society prevents people from fighting or running away, stress triggers a mobilization response that is no longer useful. The dilemma is that people so often mobilize involuntarily for fight or flight, but seldom carry through the process in physical terms. This has very serious consequences for health and well-being.
According to recent American Medical Association statistics: over 45% of adults in the United States suffer from stress-related health problems; 75-90% of all visits to primary care physicians are for stress-related complaints and disorders; every week 112 million people take some form of medication for stress-related symptoms; and on any given day, almost 1 million employees are absent due to stress. In view of this, it is clear that there is a need for improved means for stress reduction.
People often relate the state of relaxation to sleeping, or being otherwise disengaged from responsible activity. In reality, it is a very useful and necessary state when they in the midst of daily activity. Western culture is so oriented to the concept of being physically active and productive that it gives little credibility to activities that don't result in a physical product as their outcome. This leads to an increase in stress levels. Giving individuals permission to choose a state of awareness that is more inner directed than outer allows them to "work smarter, not harder." In the alpha-theta states, people can reduce stress levels, focus, and be centered, not lost in the emotion of the moment. In these states, people can be more creative and self-expressive and bring more clarity to all their ideas.
As the pace and stress of modern life has increased, research into the physical, mental and psychological benefits of stress reduction has also increased. Recently, research has centered on the positive impact of neuro-feedback (EEG Training). The recent availability of powerful personal computers has allowed widespread application of neuro-feedback techniques. Using feedback to increase the deeper, more relaxed brainwave states known as alpha and theta, in turn, facilitates the ability of the subject to understand the feeling of these states of reduced stress and emotionality. Understanding of the feeling allows the subject to access alpha and theta more readily when the states are needed and useful.
This technique relies upon the typical feedback methods of using tones or graphs on the computer screen to gauge access to the states. However, the feedback methods of achieving the desired state often aren't connected to the inner mechanism of reaching them unless the subject spends a lot of time in practice sessions. It would therefore be desirable to have equipment that gives stronger reward system cues when the desired state is being met so as to speed the learning process.
It would also be desirable to have means for stress reduction that does not require any training and practice sessions. One such known method of stress reduction has been to supply a direct experience of the desired state, but supplying these direct experiences (i.e., sitting on a beach or having a full-body massage) are impractical or impossible to supply as often as required.
It would therefore be desirable to have a means and method for addressing stress.
Numerous prior art attempts have been made at providing therapeutic body-support structures such as chairs and tables that provide aural or vibratory stimuli. Examples include U.S. Pat. No. 2,520,172 to Rubinstein, U.S. Pat. No.2,821,191 to Paii, U.S. Pat. No. 3,556,088 to Leonardini, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,880,152 and 4,055,170 to Nohmura, U.S. Pat. No. 4,023,566 to Martinmaas, U.S. Pat. No. 4,064,376 to Yamada, U.S. Pat. No. 4,124,249 to Abbeloos, U.S. Pat. No. 4,354,067 to Yamada et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,753,225 to Vogel, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,813,403 and 5,255,327 to Endo, U.S. Pat. No. 4,967,871 to Komatsubara, U.S. Pat. No. 5,086,755 to Schmid-Eilber, U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,810 to Skille et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,055 to Eakin, and U.S. Pat. No.5,624,155 to Bluen et al. With regard to placement of transducers, the primary teaching of the prior art appears to be that of even distribution of the aural and/or vibratory stimuli.

Transducer for tactile applications and apparatus incorporating transducers


Disclosed are apparatus and methods operable to distribute targeted content. Additionally, disclosed are corresponding apparatus and methods operable to selectively choose and cache selected ones from among the distributed targeted content, and to further choose ones from among the cached content to present on a device. In some aspects, selective caching of content may be based upon a match between predetermined content attribute information and predetermined profile information. Further, in some aspects, an indicator is operable to trigger the selective inclusion of one or more of the cached content in a presentation of other content, which may be based on a match between a desired content attribute associated with the indicator and the respective predetermined content attribute information of the cached content.

1. Field
The described aspects relate to content distribution systems, and more particularly, to apparatus and methods of selective collection and selective presentation of content.
2. Background
One of the biggest problems in traditional media distribution systems, such as broadcasting and pay television, is the inability to profile consumers in order to provide media content tuned to individual preferences. For example, such tuned content may include targeted advertising and direct marketing. The problem is two-fold. In a traditional television environment, which is normally tracked at the household level, it is difficult if not impossible to identify the viewing habits of the actual individual watching the programming or transacting, for example via interactive television, with the platform in any way. This is because there are usually multiple viewers in each household and no way to tell who watches what programming. The second problem is that profiling, in general, is not well received by the public in most countries. Often, it is outlawed to collect subscriber information without the consent of the subscriber.
Non-traditional media distribution systems, such as those that provide media content to computers and wireless devices, also may experience some of these problems. For example, in the realm of supplying media content to a wireless device, the identification of the actual individual consuming the media content is less of an issue, as a wireless device is typically used by only one person. The problem with respect to profiling, however, is pervasive, and is very much an issue even with a computer and/or a wireless device.
Thus, improved systems and method of distributing and receiving targeted content are desired.

Apparatus and methods of selective collection and selective presentation of content