Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for correcting scan position errors in an imaging system. In one embodiment of the present invention, the method includes determining an image beam velocity error as a function of a position within a scan line of an image, and using the image beam velocity error to determine a plurality of pixel clock frequencies to be respectively applied to a plurality of positions within the scan line.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for correcting scan position errors in an imaging system.
2. Background Description
FIG. 1, generally at 100, is an illustration of a known flat field scanning system in which images can be plotted on a suitable medium, such as photosensitive material 132, from an electrical signal, such as an externally applied video signal 90 of the image. Video signal 90 modulates a power source such as laser driver 95, which, in turn, drives light source 110. Light source 110 converts video signal 90 into an image modulated visible or infrared light output that is collimated by lens 112 to form an image modulated light beam 115. Image modulated light beam 115 may be visible, infrared, or ultraviolet light and is generated by a laser, such as a helium neon laser or a semiconductor laser diode. Image modulated light beam 115 is deflected by a rotatable mirror 120 having, for example, a 45 degree surface 150, towards a focusing lens (or scan lens) system 125, which focuses deflected light beam 145 into an image point on photosensitive material 132. A high-speed motor 142 drives rotatable mirror 120 about a rotation axis 140.
As mirror 120 is rotated, beam 145 passes through scan lens system 125, causing a focused spot to move in a raster-like fashion along an imaging line 135 on material 132. The scan angles 0 that are swept out during imaging by the surface 150 span a range from approximately −32° to +32°. During this period, information contained in beam 145 exposes photosensitive material 132 in a sweep or scan-like manner. To produce the sweeping action of beam 145, motor 142 rotates mirror 120 at a pre-determined angular velocity. For a high-resolution scan, imaging line 135 is very fine (e.g., less than about 1/1000 of an inch wide). To scan an image field rapidly with such fine scan-beams, motor 142 typically turns mirror 120 at a high frequency (e.g., 20,000 revolutions per minute (RPM)).
Images are plotted by repetitive deflection of beam 145 where, for example, imaging line 135 is plotted in one beam deflection. Images are plotted as a successive plotting of imaging lines 135, wherein each imaging line 135 is made up of image elements known as pixels. More particularly, to expose the second dimension of photosensitive material 132, photosensitive material 132 can be translated in a direction perpendicular to imaging line 135 using techniques known in the art, such as a standard capstan roller. Alternatively, focused beam 158 can be translated perpendicular to imaging line 135 on photosensitive material 132 by, for example, using another movable mirror (not shown) positioned between scan lens system 125 and photosensitive material 132 to redirect beam 158. In addition, scan lens system 125 can be translated in a direction perpendicular to imaging line 135 using techniques known in the art, such as a flat bed Scan lens system 125 is constructed and arranged to focus beam 145 during scanning at all points along imaging line 135. In particular, scan lens system 125 can be an f-theta lens, i.e., it maintains the relationship Y=f×θwhere f is the effective focal length of the system, 74 is the scan angle, and Y is the distance of the imaged object along imaging line 135 from optical axis 98. An f-theta lens ensures that the scanning speed of beam 145 across the flat image field on photosensitive material 132 is uniform for a constant angular velocity of rotatable mirror 120.
In a scan lens system, such as scan lens system 125, that uses an f-theta lens, position errors occur when image pixels are not located at their ideal position on photosensitive material 132. For example, on imaging line 135, a pixel intended for position 135a may actually appear at position 135b. The distance between the actual position 135b and the intended position 135a is the position error. Sources of position error(s) can include: (a) scan lens system 125 design and/or assembly; (b) scan lens system 125 tilt (the scan lens system 125 is not ideally located in the path of beam 145); and (c) contributions of other optical and/or mechanical components positioned in the laser beam path that have non-ideal characteristics, and/or a non-ideal location of other optical and/or mechanical components in the laser beam path.
While position error is generally predictable for a given scan lens system 125 design, the actual position error produced by the scan lens system 125 can deviate from the predicted position error due, for example, to lens manufacturing tolerances and/or variations in other system components and alignments. It should be understood that position errors can also occur, for example, in drum type imaging systems, where such position errors are typically caused because the drum surface, or sections thereof, are not ideally located at the laser beam path.
One or more embodiments of the present invention is directed to systems and methods for reducing or eliminating position errors that occur in imaging systems.

System and method for correcting scan position errors in an imaging system


A record of authorization including user information is received and appended to a blockchain. The record of authorization authorizes access by a third-party application to the user information for an access duration. The user information is encrypted by a group key and access duration is based on a change to the group key. The group key comprises a public/private key pair, and the access duration is implemented by an authorization group of nodes having the group key. The group key corresponds to either a valid group key at or near the start of the access duration, that enables decryption of a message in the record of authorization that includes the user information, or an incompatible group key at or after the end of the access duration, that does not enable decryption of the message in the record of authorization that includes the user information.

The average smartphone user these days has between 60 and 90 applications on their device. Most of these applications request some sort of information about the user and the device being using. For example, these applications may want to know the user's name, email address, or real-world address. Depending on the application, additional and more highly sensitive personal or financial information may be required, such as date of birth, social security number, annual income, credit score, etc.
In a conventional application architecture, user information is stored on a centralized application server for each application being used. For example, with reference to FIG. 1, for each of applications 1 through n that a user downloads and creates an account, the user is required to enter some personal user information. This user information is stored in a persistent storage, e.g., server database, associated with the application server for that application, and ownership of this user information is no longer under the control of user. Instead, the application provider has control of the information and also have the right to sell the information for profit. While the foregoing use of user information is typically done with the user's consent, some applications share sensitive data with third parties without notifying users, and this rings alarm bells among users who are careful about their privacy.
In addition to concerns over privacy and the control of user information, conventional application architectures are also inconvenient in that the user is required to repeatedly enter much of the same user information for each application. A user, however, may enter slightly different information for one application relative to another application. This may lead to inconsistent user information being stored on various application platforms.
It is therefore desirable to provide a user the ability to centralize the storage of her user information and the ability to control access to user information. It is further desirable to provide the user the ability to establish parameters that prevent access to user information in perpetuity. The concepts disclosed below address this need and others.

Apparatus and method for terminating an authorization to access a record in a blockchain ledger


There are provided an intermediate slide valve as well as a plunger slide valve equipped in a syringe in direct contact with injection liquids and a syringe equipped with such slide valves, the injection liquids nor valves being not affected with each other.

There have been conventionally used plural segment type syringes in which a plurality of injection liquids, medicines, other dissolving liquids, etc. are kept in a plurally segmented syringe in advance, so that each liquid is mixed upon injection or a plurality of injection liquids can be dosed continuously by one shot operation.
According to an above mentioned conventional syringe, inside thereof is separated by intermediate slide valves into a plurality of segments in which each of injection liquids are charged separately.
There has been proposed an intermediate slide valve in Japanese Patent A No. 6-343,677, in which a synthetic resin film is conventionally laminated on a liquid contact surface of the intermediate slide valve, while a body end portion directly continued from the liquid contacting surface is not laminated with the synthetic resin film and is exposed as an elastic naked surface, that is to say, the elastic naked surface is exposed in a ring-like form on the body end portion.

Slide valves equipped in a syringe and thus equipped syringe

Abstract: The intermediate slide valve 10 equipped in the syringe 10 comprises an approximately cylindrical first elastic body 13 and an approximately cylindrical second elastic body 14 which is jointed with one bottom surface 13c of the first elastic body 13, the other bottom surface 13a of the first elastic body 13 and a side surface portion continued therefrom being laminated with a synthetic resin film 15 and the other bottom surface 14a of the second elastic body 14 and a side surface portion continued therefrom be laminated with a synthetic resin film 16.


A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a SiC drift layer formed above the substrate, a GaN-based semiconductor layer that is formed on the SiC drift layer and includes a channel layer, a source electrode and a gate electrode formed on the GaN-based semiconductor layer, current blocking regions formed in portions of the SiC drift layer and located below the source and gate electrodes, and a drain electrode formed on a surface that opposes the GaN-based semiconductor layer across the SiC layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to semiconductor devices and fabrication methods of the same, and more particularly, to a power control transistor having a vertical structure and a method of fabricating the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
The power control transistors are widely used in various fields such as home electric appliances, electric railways, electric automobiles and electric power. The power control transistors are required to have high breakdown capability such that dielectric breakdown does not take place even if high power is applied. The power control transistors are also required to have a small on-state resistance in order to realize low insertion loss. Recently, transistors having a vertical structure have had a great deal of attention as power control transistors.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a Si-based vertical type MOSFET (hereinafter referred to as first prior art). An n-type SiC buffer layer 12 and n-type SiC channel layer 14 are laminated on an n-type SiC substrate 10 in this order. A gate oxide film 54 is formed on the channel layer 14, and a gate electrode 62 is provided on the gate oxide film 54. Source electrodes 62 are provided on opposing sides of the gate electrode 60. N-type regions 52 are respectively provided below the source electrodes 60, and are surrounded by p-type regions 50. A drain electrode (not shown) is provided on the backside of the SiC substrate 10.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-165520 discloses, in FIG. 1, a vertical FET using a GaN-based semiconductor (hereinafter referred to as second prior art). On a substrate, laminated are an undoped GaN layer, an n-type GaN drain layer, an n-type GaN channel layer, and an n-type GaN source layer in this order. An opening that reaches the drain layer is provided in a given region, and an insulating film is provided on a sidewall of the opening. A gate electrode is provided an insulating film on the channel layer. A source electrode and a drain electrode are respectively provided for the source layer and the drain layer.
However, the first prior art has a problem such that the SiC channel layer realizes a mobility of only tens of cmV/s and the resultant on-state resistance. is as low as tens of mΩ/cm2. The second prior art has a problem such that high breakdown voltage cannot be achieved-because the drain electrode is connected to the drain layer. If it is attempted to arrange the drain electrode on the backside of the substrate for improvement in breakdown, the substrate may be a GaN substrate, which has lattice match with the GaN layer. However, the GaN substrate is very expensive and has a difficulty in enlarging the size. For a substrate that does not have lattice match with the GaN layer, GaN cannot be grown to form a thick film, and high breakdown cannot be achieved.

Semiconductor device and fabrication method of the same


A visor for an automobile is provide, which does not impair the design of the automobile when mounted on a window frame of the automobile. A side visor includes a brim portion made of stainless steel formed along a window frame of an automobile, and a visor portion made of acrylic resin formed so as to expand from the brim portion when mounted on the brim portion. The brim portion is provided at its lower edge with a connecting portion. The visor portion has an inner side of an upper edge that is provided with a bonding portion having a width approximately equal to the width of the connecting portion and expanding inwardly. By bonding the connecting portion of the brim portion and the bonding portion of the visor portion together by an adhesive tape, the brim portion and the visor portion are connected together.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a visor for an automobile mounted on a window frame of an automobile.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a visor for an automobile mounted on a window frame of an automobile for protection against rain and sunbeam or ornamental purpose, one has been conventionally known in which a brim portion mounted on the window frame and a visor portion connected from the brim portion are integrally formed.
FIG. 13 is an illustrative drawing of a state in which a side visor which is an example of the above-mentioned conventional visor for an automobile is mounted on a window frame of an automobile. A side visor 81 includes a brim portion 83 made of synthetic resin (for example, acrylic resin) mounted on a window frame 82 of an automobile, and a visor portion 84 made of synthetic resin formed so as to expand from the brim portion 83. The brim portion 83 and the visor portion 84 are integrally formed by injection molding. Also, the brim portion 83 has an adhesive tape (for example, two-sided tape) 85 adhered to its inner surface side. With that adhesive tape 85, the side visor 81 is mounted on the window frame 82. On the other hand, in order to eliminate a sense of discomfort in appearance and achieve a sense of unity with the window frame when mounted on the automobile, the brim portion 83 has a moulding 86 made of metal (stainless steel) with a constant width adhered to its outer surface side via an adhesive tape (for example, two-sided tape) 87.
Also, in the side visor 81 with the moulding 86 as described above being adhered to the outer surface side, the moulding may fall off while the automobile is running. To prevent this, as in the Japanese Patent-Laid Open Publication No. 9-136537, a side visor has been devised in which the outer surface side of the brim portion is plated with metal. Furthermore, as in Japanese Patent-Laid Open Publication No. 2002-219933, another side visor has also been devised in which an ornamental tape is adhered to the upper surface of the visor body and a side edge of that ornamental tape is folded to the backside of the visor body.
However, in the side visor with the moulding 86 adhered to the brim portion 83, when mounted on the window frame 82 of the automobile, the brim portion 83 made of synthetic resin overlaps with a vehicle's moulding made of metal surrounding the window frame 82. Furthermore, at the adhering portion of the moulding 86, with the thickness of each of the adhesive tapes 85 and 87, the thickness of the moulding 86, and the thickness of the brim portion 83 (normally, 8 mm in total), the outer surface of the brim portion 83 may be far away from the surface of the window frame 82, thereby disadvantageously forming a large step between the outer surface of the brim portion 83 and the surface of the window frame 82. For this reason, the side visor with the moulding 86 adhered to the brim portion 83 cannot achieve a sense of unity with the window frame when mounted on the automobile, thereby causing an inconvenience of impairing design near the window frame of the automobile. In addition, the moulding 86 has a width that is constant in a vertical direction. Thus, if the width of the vehicle moulding in a vertical direction is varied from the front to rear of the automobile, a sense of unity with the window frame will be further impaired.
Moreover, in the visor for an automobile with the brim portion plated with metal as in the Japanese Patent-Laid Open Publication No. 9-136537 or the visor for an automobile with an ornamental tape adhered as in the Japanese Patent-Laid Open. Publication No. 2002-219933, since the metal-plated portion and the ornamental tape cannot achieve texture similar to that of the vehicle moulding surrounding the window frame, a sufficient sense of unity with the window frame cannot be obtained.
An object of the present invention is to solve the problems involved in the conventional visors for automobiles and provide a visor for an automobile not impairing design surrounding the window frame of an automobile when mounted on the window frame of the automobile.


A binder for bituminous compositions including at least one dialkylamide derived from an unsaturated fatty acid; and at least one catalyst for polymerizing the at least one dialkylamide under the action of oxygen is provided. A bituminous composition including (i) 80% b.w. to 94.9% b.w. bitumen; and (ii) a binder, that includes (a) 1% b.w. to 19% b.w. unsaturated fatty acid dialkylamides; and (b) 0.1% b.w. to 1% b.w. of a polymerization catalyst, where the amounts are calculated based on the solids content of the composition, and where the amounts total 100% b.w. is also provided. A method for preparing a binder for a bituminous composition including combining at least one unsaturated dialkylamide derived from an unsaturated fatty acid with at least one catalyst for the polymerization of the at least one dialkylamide under the action of oxygen is also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to bituminous compositions and methods, and more specifically, relates to binders and methods for making the binders for bituminous compositions.
2. Background Information
Bituminous binders are used, particularly in the road construction industry, to provide bonding between aggregates or between a substrate and aggregates. The various possible uses are distinguishable by the following:                (i) The bituminous binder is hot-mixed with aggregates, and the resulting product is described as a hot bituminous mix. The bituminous binder provides the bonding between the aggregates.        (ii) The bituminous binder is hot-spread over a substrate, and the aggregates are spread over the bituminous layer which provides adhesion to the substrate. The resulting product is described as an anhydrous binder surfacing.        (iii) The bituminous binder is cold-mixed with aggregates and the resulting product is described as a cold bituminous mix produced with an aqueous bituminous product emulsion.        (iv) The bituminous binder is cold-spread, and the resulting product is described as a surfacing produced with an aqueous bituminous binder emulsion.
When the mixes are prepared, or the spreading operations are carried out, it is always necessary for the consistency of the binder to be such that it allows good wetting of the aggregates, and for the consistency of the binder subsequently to change in order for the bituminous mixes or the surfacings thus produced to acquire mechanical performances which render them suitable for road construction use. A more fluid initial consistency of the binder is obtained either by heating the bituminous binder, or by thinning or fluxing (the two terms denote the same operation, the choice of one or the other usually being a function of the nature of the additive), by introducing a solvent or fluxing oil of petroleum or carbon chemistry origin, or by aqueous emulsification of the bituminous binder, or a combination of the above methods.
The solvents currently used are of petroleum or carbon chemistry origin. After the application of the binder, the solvents evaporate in order to allow the binder to recover its high consistency. The solvents, which are gradually dispersed into the atmosphere, pollute the atmosphere, contaminate aerobic organisms, and contribute to the greenhouse effect. Furthermore, the solvents generally comprise polycyclic aromatic compounds, at least some of which are recognized as mutagenic. The use of these solvents contributes to the exhaustion of fossil fuel resources. The presence of the above-mentioned solvents also poses safety problems, because they greatly lower the ignition point and require strict measures for protection against fire on storage and during transportation. French patent application FR 2768150 A1 (Saada) suggests using unsaturated fatty acid methyl esters as thinner components. These compounds, however, have been found to exhibit unsatisfying rheological behavior during the curing process.
The aim of the invention is to overcome all or part of the above disadvantages, without affecting the road construction performance of the bituminous binder or the conditions of use.


A fiber optic cable assembly includes a fiber optic cable including at least one strength member and a fiber optic connector including a connector body. The assembly also includes a weld collar positioned such that the at least one strength member is at least partially captured between the connector body and the weld collar. The assembly further includes a composite including a portion of the at least one strength member and a portion of at least one of the weld collar or the connector body. A method of coupling a fiber optic cable to a fiber optic connector is also provided.

Optical fibers are useful in a wide variety of applications, including the telecommunications industry for voice, video, and data transmissions. In a telecommunications system that uses optical fibers, there are typically many locations where fiber optic cables that carry the optical fibers connect to equipment or other fiber optic cables. To conveniently provide these connections, fiber optic connectors are often provided on the ends of fiber optic cables. The process of terminating individual optical fibers from a fiber optic cable is referred to as "connectorization." Connectorization can be done in a factory, resulting in a "pre-connectorized" or "pre-terminated" fiber optic cable, or the field (e.g., using a "field-installable" fiber optic connector).
Regardless of where installation occurs, a fiber optic connector typically includes a ferrule with one or more bores that receive one or more optical fibers. The ferrule supports and positions the optical fiber(s) with respect to a housing of the fiber optic connector. Thus, when the housing of the fiber optic connector is mated with another connector (e.g., in an adapter), an optical fiber in the ferrule is positioned in a known, fixed location relative to the housing. This allows an optical connection to be established when the optical fiber is aligned with another optical fiber provided in the mating connector.
The assembly of connectors involve several steps, including mechanically coupling the fiber optic cable to fiber optic connector. In many connectors, such as LC-type and SC-type connectors, this step includes crimping the strength members of the cable, such as aramid fibers, to the connector. This typically involves crimping directly on a molded plastic body which is part of the connector. In some instances, the resulting stress/strain distribution can make these parts susceptible to failure due to breaking of the plastic body. For both plastic and non-plastic bodies, crimping of the strength members can result in additional defects, such as in cases where the strength members (1) are not uniformly distributed around the body, (2) are not the correct length for the particular product, and/or (3) are crimped incorrectly, such as by applying an improper (e.g., excessive or insufficient) crimping force. Each of these defects or failure modes may be difficult to detect. Additionally, the use of metal components such as metal crimp bands in these applications to supplement or replace the plastic components may be more costly relative to the plastic components.
Accordingly, there exists a need for an improved fiber optic cable assembly that addresses these and other deficiencies of the prior art.

Fiber optic cable assembly including a composite for retaining strength members and associated method

Corning Research & Development Corporation


An image recording method for causing an ink to adhere on a recording medium, which provides with at least one ink-receiving layer on a base material to form an image. The ink is an inkjet recording ink, which composed of a high molecular dispersant, a water-insoluble colorant, a water-soluble organic solvent and water. The high molecular dispersant contains at least one hydrophobic block and at least one hydrophilic block. The ink receiving layer contains fine inorganic particles and a water soluble resin or water dispersible resin, and a surface pH of the ink receiving layer is controlled within a range of from 3.0 to 6.5, wherein said fine inorganic particles are made of at least one selected from the group consisting of aluminum hydrate of boehmite structure and aluminum hydrate of the pseudo-boehmite structure each of which has an average particle size of from 100 to 300 nm.

Inkjet recording is a recording technique that performs recording of an image, characters or the like by causing tiny droplets of ink to fly in accordance with one of various operation principles and then allowing them to adhere on a recording medium such as paper. Inkjet recording features high-speed printing performance, low operating noise, applicability for the recording of a wide variety of characters and patterns, easy multicolor printing, and obviation of development and image fixing. In particular, an image formed by multicolor inkjet recording can provide a record which is no way inferior to an image printed by multicolor printing making use of a form-plate-dependent printing technique or by a color photographic technique. Multicolor inkjet recording has a still further merit in that, when the number of copies or prints to be made is small, it requires lower printing cost than an ordinary printing technique or photographic technique. Multicolor inkjet recording is, therefore, rapidly finding wide-spread utility as image recorders for various information equipment in recent years. For example, multicolor inkjet recording is finding increasing utility in a wide variety of fields in which recording of full-color images is required, for example, output of image designs in design business, production of color block copies in a printing field where the quality of photographic images is required, and production of billboards and catalogs which are frequently updated.
Further, owing to the spreading of digital still cameras and computers, there are greater opportunities to output photographic images simply by inkjet printers. From such a background, images recorded by inkjet printers are required to have high resolution and vividness equivalent to silver halide pictures, leading to demands for recording apparatuses, recording media and inks of higher performance.
As inks loaded on inkjet printers these days, those using as colorants water-soluble dyes excellent in color developing ability constitute the mainstream. However, a water-soluble dye has high hydrophilicity so that, when an image is stored under high humidity for a long time or water drops adhere a recorded surface subsequent to recording of the image with such an ink, the dye with which the image is formed tends to bleed. Further, use of a water-soluble dye ink, especially on a recording medium having a porous ink-absorbing layer makes it possible to obtain an unblurred uniform image, but involves a problem that subsequent to the recording, the image is prone to fading.
To overcome these problems, water-based dispersion inks are finding utility. Each of these water-based dispersion inks contains a water-insoluble colorant, such as a pigment, dispersed in water by using a hydrophilic high-molecular compound and a surfactant. Images formed with these inks are excellent in light fastness, waterproofness and ozone resistance. For high image fastness, these inks are therefore attracting interests as replacements for dye inks.
Compared with dye inks, however, water-based dispersion inks with pigments contained therein are lower in tinting efficiency so that they are required in greater amounts to record images. This means that these water-based dispersion inks require recording media excellent in ink absorbency. With a recording medium with an ink-receiving layer simply rendered thick to provide improved ink absorbency, however, the colorant penetrates deep into the ink-receiving layer so that the colorant exhibits inferior color-developing ability. With a recording medium prepared by placing importance on the color-developing ability of a colorant, on the other hand, (an ink solvent runs over on the ink-receiving layer, thereby developing a problem such as image bleeding.
When an image is formed on a recording medium, the surface of which has been smoothened to impart gloss, by using a water-based dispersion ink with a pigment contained as a colorant therein, particles of the pigment cannot enter an ink-receiving layer so that the pigment particles remain on the surface. The image is, therefore, provided with lowered abrasion resistance. An attempt has, therefore, been made to provide the surface of an ink-receiving layer with some asperity. With this method, however, no satisfactory results have been obtained yet with respect to the ink absorbency upon forming an image or the surface gloss of the image so obtained.
As other methods for providing an ink-receiving layer with improved ink-fixing property, many methods have also been disclosed, each of which features incorporation of a cationic polymer having tertiary or quaternary ammonium salts in the ink-receiving layer. To improve the ink-fixing property of an ink-receiving layer, however, it is necessary to incorporate a predetermined or greater amount of such a cationic polymer in the ink-receiving layer. This leads to an increase in the amount of the cationic polymer in the ink-receiving layer. Accordingly, the content of fine inorganic particles in the ink-receiving layer is relatively decreased, thereby making it difficult to retain high ink-absorbing ability. In addition, the cationic polymer has a potential problem in that it may deteriorate the stability of a coating formulation required for the formation of the ink-receiving layer. This tendency becomes more pronounced as the content of the cationic polymer increases. The incorporation of such a cationic polymer, therefore, is accompanied by problems that the coating stability of the coating formulation is significantly reduced and the ink-receiving layer formed subsequent to the coating is provided with deteriorated surface smoothness and hence, with lowered gloss.
Further methods have, therefore, been proposed as new techniques. According to these methods, two solutions are used, one being an ink and the other an auxiliary solution for forming agglomerates when brought into contact with the ink, to improve the fixing property and waterproofness of a colorant on a recording medium. Before injecting the ink, the auxiliary solution is caused to adhere on the recording medium such that its ink-fixing property is improved.
For example, JP 63-29971 A discloses to cause a solution, which contains an organic compound having two or more cationic groups per molecule, to adhere on a recording medium and then to perform recording on the recording medium with an ink containing an anionic dye. JP 64-9279 A discloses to cause an acidic solution, which contains succinic acid or the like, to adhere on an ink-receiving layer and then to perform recording on the ink-receiving layer with an ink containing an anionic dye. JP64-63185 A discloses, specifically to cause a dye-insolubilizing solution to adhere before recording with an ink. Further, JP2002-302627 A discloses to cause a reaction mixture, which contains an anionic reactant and an anionic resin emulsion, to adhere on a recording medium and then to cause a water-based ink composition, which contains a colorant and a cationic resin emulsion, to adhere on the recording medium.
Even in the above-described methods, a recording medium the ink absorbency of which is low causes thickening of an ink only on the surface of the recording medium, thereby inducing an uneven distribution of the ink on the recording medium and a reduction in image uniformity. Further, the image-forming surface is hard to dry so that an image formed thereon is provided with lowered abrasion resistance. These methods are, therefore, accompanied by a drawback that, when images are formed, for example, on sheet-form recording media by continuous printing and the recorded matters are stacked one over the other, the recorded matters are smeared by offsetting or the like of the ink because the ink-absorbing property is insufficient. In addition, these methods are disadvantageous in cost because each printer requires an ejection system exclusively for the above-described auxiliary solution.


A transmission device having a simplified construction as well as a higher power transmission efficiency is provided, wherein a rotational speed can be changed steplessly without interrupting a power transmission and the rotation can be reversed. In the outer periphery of the rotating shaft (2) a thread-shape spline (5) having a first inclined plane oblique to the axial direction is provided and a rotating body (3) having a spline (not-shown) engaging with the spline (5) is rotatably and externally engaged with the rotating shaft (2). One of the rotating shaft (2) or the rotating body (3) is selected as a driving side and the other is selected as a driven side and both or one of the rotating shaft (2) and the rotating body (3) are displaced in the axial direction of the rotating shaft (2). By changing the relative speed and direction of displacement between the rotating shaft and the rotating body at their displacement, a rotation of constant speed can be transmitted into the driven side at a speed changed steplessly in a possible range or in a reverse direction.

This invention relates to a transmission device which transmits power from a driving side to a driven side.
Conventionally, a transmission device for transmitting a rotation from a power at the same rotational speed, at an increased rotational speed or at a decreased rotational speed has been used mainly as a speed change device. As such a speed change device, the following examples are enumerated.
FIG. 10 (a) is a schematic representation showing a general gear type multistage speed change device, wherein the gear type multistage speed change device 61 has an input shaft 63 connected to a motor 62 as a driving side and a driven shaft 64 as a driven side. Said input shaft 63 is provided with a first speed input shaft gear 65 and a second speed input shaft gear 66 and said driven shaft 64 is provided with a first speed driven shaft gear 67 engaging with said first speed input shaft gear 65 and a second speed driven shaft gear 68. Furthermore, the gear ratio is preset such that a gear ratio of the first speed input shaft gear 65 to the first speed driven shaft gear 67 is different from a gear ratio of the second speed input shaft gear 66 to the second speed driven shaft gear 68. In addition, when the second speed input shaft gear 66 and the second speed driven shaft gear 68 come into an engagement by a displacement of said driven shaft 64 (FIG. 10 (b)), a rotational speed transmitted from the input shaft 63 to the driven shaft 64 will be changed stepwise.
As an example of belt type, a belt type stepless speed change device 71 (as shown in FIG. 11) is used. Said belt type stepless speed change device 71 has an input shaft 73 connected to a motor 72 as a driving side and a driven shaft 74 parallel to the input shaft 73 as a driven side. Said input shaft 73 and said driven shaft 74 are provided with an approximately conical pulley 75, 76, respectively, wherein a belt 77 transmitting a power from the input shaft 73 to the driven shaft 74 is wound around both pulleys 75, 76. Therefore, the rotational speed of the driven shaft 74 can be changed steplessly when the difference of peripheral speed between both pulleys 75 and 76 is changed by a displacement of the winding location of said belt 77 in the axial direction of the inputs shaft 73 and the driven shaft 74.
Furthermore, as an example of a stepless speed change device, a friction disc type stepless speed change device 81 (as shown in FIG. 12) is used. Said friction disc type stepless speed change device 81 is provided with an input shaft 83 connected to a motor 82 as a driving side and a driven shaft 84, perpendicular to the input shaft 83, as a driven side, wherein the input shaft 83 is provided with an input shaft disc 85 witn a larger diameter and the driven shaft 84 is provided with a driven shaft disc 86 abutted against the input shaft disc 85. In said friction disc type stepless speed change device 81, the rotational speed of said driven shaft 84 can be changed steplessly by using the difference of the peripheral speed between the input shaft disc 85 and the driven shaft disc 86 by a displacement of said driven shaft disc 86 in the radial direction of said input shaft disc 85 in the same way as said belt type stepless speed chabge device 71.
However, in such a prior transmission device, e.g. in the case of said gear type multistage speed change device 61 (FIG. 10), the rotational speed of said driven shaft 64 cannot be changed steplessly because power is transmitted by a respective combination of gears having a different gear ratio. Since in order to obtain a plurality of rotational speeds from said driven shaft 64 a plurality of gears is required, the capacity and the weight of the device are, therefore, inadvantageously increased. Furthermore, since in a speed change operation it is required to interrupt a transmission of power and to obtain a correct matching between the crest of one gear and the root of the other gear, the speed change operation is intricate and the device itself must be complicated.
In the case of said belt type stepless speed change device 71, it is possible to change the rotational speed of said driven shaft 74. However, since in the case of the belt type stepless speed change device 71 a power is transmitted by a friction force generated in a contact surface between said belt 77 and both pulleys 75 and 76, the power transmission efficiency becomes lower, compared with said gear type multistage speed change device 61, due to a partial consumption of transmission power by said friction force. If a large torque is required from said driven shaft 74, a plurality of said belts 77 shall be provided, thereby a volume ratio of the device to the required torque is inadvantageously increased. A deterioration of the material used in the contact surface portion between said belt 77 and both pulleys 75, 76 is a problem and, in particular, when a load torque of the driven shaft 44 is large, a great degree of deterioration is expected so that it is difficult to use it for a device requiring a large torque at the driven shaft 74. Furthermore, since in the case of said friction disc type stepless speed change device 81 a power is also transmitted by a friction force, the power transmission efficiency is low in the same way as said belt type stepless speed changer device 71, so that it is difficult to use it for a device requiring a large torque at the driven shaft 84.


An arcade game is disclosed having a modified three dimensional control of an acquisition device using three motors, pulleys, and belts that maneuver the acquisition device in three directions. Each belt is located in a pair of pulley wheels that have a “grooved section that allows the belt to slip when the motor reaches an end of its cycle, eliminating the need for switches and clutches.

"Crane" type arcade games have been around for many years. A crane is supported in a housing and manipulated by a player to center the crane over a prize. The player then actuates a motor that lowers the crane and attempts to pick up the prize using the crane. If the player has successfully positioned the crane, the claw, vacuum, or other pick-up mechanism may acquire the prize and bring it to a retrieval bin where the player can collect the prize. The prior art is rife with such games, although advancements are continuously made due to the popularity of such games.
One aspect of the game that has not received much attention is the manner in which the crane is maneuvered over the playing field prior to lowering the pick-up device. In the past, a gear or worm drive system moved the crane on an X, Y and Z axes. Changes in the types of targets from plush animals and heavier prizes to tickets, cards, and other lighter targets reduced the need for a powerful gear or worm drive. Tickets, gift cards, post cards, or objects that are very light weight are easily moved and do not require a heavy duty drive system. In the vacuum crane games, prizes can be stacked in central locations so the crane rarely reaches a stall position. An example of a two pulley crane game is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,234,487 entitled Crane Game Claw Gauge, the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference.
The aforementioned drive mechanism used a gear or a worm drive, and switches are used to stop or control the direction of the movement of the pick-up mechanism. The pick-up mechanism goes left/right (X), forward/back (Y), and up/down (Z) using motors, gears, and switches. At the end of each path there is an electrical or mechanical switch that causes the motors to stop or change directions. Since there are three motors, that results in at least six switches (one for each direction of travel), with two to three wires per switch. The electronic control system for the many wires, plugs, and connectors, all subject to wear and malfunction, results in high maintenance of the games. This mechanism is unduly complicated and a bad switch, or mal-adjusted one, can burn out a motor, as can defective or damaged wires, plugs, and connectors that results in a non-working game and loss of revenue to the operator.
The alternative is to use a clutch mechanism in place of the switches. The clutches are more reliable, but they are more complicated to build, incorporate more moving parts, and are more expensive than the switches. This added cost of the game is also a limiting factor on how small the game can be made, since the clutches are much larger and take up more space than the switches. An alternative to this system would benefit the art.


A catalyst composition resulting in increased propylene yields during fluid catalytic cracking processes comprises (i) Y zeolite, (ii) ZSM-5 zeolite, and (iii) Beta zeolite.

Catalytic cracking, and particularly fluid catalytic cracking (FCC), is routinely used to convert heavy hydrocarbon feedstocks to lighter products, such as gasoline and distillate range fractions. There is, however, an increasing need to enhance the yield of light olefins, especially propylene, in the product slate from catalytic cracking processes. Light olefins (C2-C4 olefins) are important feedstocks for the petrochemical industry. Propylene, for example, a light olefin hydrocarbon with three carbon atoms per molecule, is an important chemical for use in the production of other useful materials, such as polypropylene. Polypropylene is one of the most common plastics found in use today and has a wide variety of uses for both as a fabrication material and as a material for packaging.
To produce light olefins, the catalytic cracking of heavy hydrocarbon feedstocks, such as naphtha, is typically carried out by contacting a naphtha-containing feed with a catalyst composition usually comprised of one or more crystalline microporous molecular sieves to selectively convert the feed into an olefin-containing mixture. Although various naphtha catalytic cracking processes have been proposed in the past, many of the processes do not produce commercially important light olefins, e.g., propylene, with sufficient selectivity or yield. Also, the cracking processes can produce undesirable amounts of methane and aromatics as unwanted byproducts. In contrast, a practical and economic naphtha catalytic cracking process should selectively produce increased amounts of light olefins, e.g., propylene, while producing minimal amounts of methane and aromatics.
In FCC processes, a hydrocarbon feedstock is injected into the riser section of a FCC reactor, where the feedstock is cracked into lighter, more valuable products upon contacting hot catalyst circulated to the riser-reactor from a catalyst regenerator. A major breakthrough in FCC catalysts came in the early 1960s, with the introduction of molecular sieves or zeolites. These materials were incorporated into the matrix of amorphous and/or amorphous/kaolin materials constituting the FCC catalysts of that time. These new zeolitic catalysts, containing a crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite in an amorphous or amorphous/kaolin matrix of silica, alumina, silica-alumina, kaolin, clay or the like were at least 1,000-10,000 times more active for cracking hydrocarbons than the earlier amorphous or amorphous/kaolin containing silica-alumina catalysts. This introduction of zeolitic cracking catalysts revolutionized the fluid catalytic cracking process. New processes were developed to handle these high activities, such as riser cracking, shortened contact times, new regeneration processes, new improved zeolitic catalyst developments, and the like.
The zeolites typically used in FCC are crystalline aluminosilicates which have a uniform crystal structure characterized by a large number of regular small cavities interconnected by a large number of even smaller channels. It was discovered that, by virtue of this structure consisting of a network of interconnected uniformly sized cavities and channels, crystalline zeolites are able to accept, for absorption, molecules having sizes below a certain well defined value while rejecting molecules of larger sizes, and for this reason they have come to be known as "molecular sieves." This characteristic structure also gives them catalytic properties, especially for certain types of hydrocarbon conversions.
In current commercial practice, most FCC cracking catalysts used throughout the world are made of a catalytically active component large-pore zeolite. Conventional large-pore molecular sieves include zeolite X; REX; zeolite Y; Ultrastable Y (USY); Rare Earth exchanged Y (REY); Rare Earth exchanged USY (REUSY); Dealuminated Y (DeAl Y); Ultrahydrophobic Y (UHPY); and/or dealuminated silicon-enriched zeolites, e.g., LZ-210. ZSM-20, zeolite L and naturally occurring zeolites such as faujasite, mordenite and the like have also been used.
In addition to large pore zeolites, the ZSM family of zeolites is well known and their preparation and properties have been extensively described in the catalytic cracking of hydrocarbons. For example, one type of the ZSM family of zeolites is that known as ZSM-5. The crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite known as ZSM-5 is particularly described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,702,886, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. ZSM-5 crystalline aluminosilicate is characterized by a silica-to-alumina mole ratio of greater than 5 and more precisely in the anhydrous state by the general formula:[0.9.+−.0.2M.2/nO:Al2O3:>5SiO2]wherein M having a valence n is selected from the group consisting of a mixture of alkali metal cations and organo ammonium cations, particularly a mixture of sodium and tetraalkyl ammonium cations, the alkyl groups of which preferably contain 2 to 5 carbon atoms. The term "anhydrous" as used in the above context means that molecular water is not included in the formula. In general, the mole ratio of SiO2 to Al2O3 for a ZSM-5 zeolite can vary widely. For example, ZSM-5 zeolites can be aluminum-free in which the ZSM-5 is formed from an alkali mixture of silica containing only impurities of aluminum. All zeolites characterized as ZSM-5, however, will have the characteristic X-ray diffraction pattern set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,702,886 regardless of the aluminum content of the zeolite.
Beta zeolite is another zeolite that can be used in the catalytic cracking of hydrocarbons. Beta zeolite is typically a silicon-rich large pore zeolite having a three-dimensional pore structure, and has both acid catalytic properties and structural selectivity due to its structural particularity, and further has very high thermostability (the failure temperature of the crystal lattice is higher than 1200° C.), hydrothermal stability and abrasion-resistant properties. Due to the unique structural features, thereof, the zeolite beta has good thermal and hydrothermal stability, acid resistance, anti-coking properties and catalytic activity in a series of catalytic reactions. It has thus developed rapidly for new catalytic processes in recent years.
The catalysts used in FCC processing have been tailored to maximize the performance in specific hydrocarbon conversion processes. For instance, the catalyst compositions used in hydrocarbon conversion processes have been made into multifunctional catalysts, e.g., a bifunctional catalyst or a trifunctional catalyst. A bifunctional catalyst comprises two separate catalysts, e.g., two zeolites having different compositions or structure types, which induce separate reactions. The reaction products can be separate or the two catalysts can be used together such that the reaction product of one catalyst is transported to and reacts on a catalyst site of the second catalyst. Also, since one of the benefits of using a zeolite catalyst is that the catalyst is shape selective and non-selective reactions on the surface of the zeolite are usually not desirable, zeolite catalysts used in hydrocarbon conversion processes have the capability of preventing or at least reducing unwanted reactions which may take place on the surface of the zeolite catalyst by selectively sieving molecules in the feedstream based on their size or shape. Thus, undesirable molecules present in the feedstream are prevented from entering the pores of the catalyst and reacting. In addition, the performance of a zeolite catalyst can sometimes be maximized if the catalyst selectively sieves desired molecules based on their size or shape in order to prevent the molecules from exiting the pores of the catalyst.
Hydrocarbon conversions using catalyst compositions containing two different zeolites have been used in the past. For example, in order to increase the octane number of the gasoline fraction, a catalyst composition containing a large pore molecular sieve, such as zeolite Y, as the primary cracking component and a medium pore zeolite, such as ZSM-5, added to the zeolite Y cracking catalyst is typically used in conventional processes for catalytic cracking of heavy hydrocarbon feedstocks to gasoline and distillate fractions. U.S. Pat. No. 3,758,403 discloses a catalyst using ZSM-5 zeolite and a large pore zeolite such as zeolite Y (with a ratio of 1:10 to 3:1) as active components. In addition to enhancing the octane number of the gasoline, this catalyst mixture provides a higher yield of C3 and C4 olefins.
It is also known, e.g. from U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,726 and EP 559,646, to form composites of two different aluminosilicates, a Y zeolite and zeolite beta, for use in hydrocarbon cracking. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,726 a hydrocracking catalyst is disclosed having high activity and selectivity for gasoline which comprises a hydrogenation component on a catalyst support comprising both zeolite beta and a Y zeolite. In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,687 involves a hydrocracking process using a catalyst containing crystals of zeolite beta and zeolite Y that are bound by an amorphous binder material such as alumina.
In addition, CN 1103105A and EP-2-075-068 A1 describe the use of catalyst compositions comprising three different zeolites in hydrocarbon cracking. CN 1103105A discloses a cracking catalyst capable of giving a higher yield of isobutene and isopentene than without the catalyst and can coproduce high octane level gasoline. The components and contents of the catalyst described in CN 1103105A are as follows: (1) 5-25 wt. % modified HZSM-5 with a silicon:aluminum ratio of 20-100; (2) 1-5 wt. % of high silicon HZSM with a silicon:aluminum ratio of 250-450; (3) 5-20 wt. % of USY zeolite; (4) 1-5 wt. % of beta zeolite; (5) 30-60 wt. % of natural clay; and (6) 15-30 wt. % of inorganic oxide. EP-2-075-068 A1 describes a catalyst composition with a zeolite mixture as follows: (1) 1-75 wt. % of a zeolite beta modified with phosphorus and a transition metal; (2) 25-99 wt. % of a zeolite having a MFI structure, such as ZSM-5; and (3) 0-74 wt. % of a large pore zeolite, such as a Y zeolite.
To increase the yields of light olefins during the hydrocarbon cracking process, a zeolite cracking catalyst with added phosphorus has been used. WO 98/41595 discloses that the addition of a phosphorus-containing, medium pore zeolite, such as ZSM-5, to a conventional large pore molecular sieve cracking catalyst increases the yield of C3 to C5 olefins in the catalytic cracking of hydrocarbon feedstocks without significant loss in the aging characteristics of the medium pore additive. Thus, the yield of C4 and C5 olefins in catalytic cracking can be enhanced by adding a phosphorus-containing medium pore zeolite, such as ZSM-5, to a conventional zeolite Y cracking catalyst.
Incorporation of the phosphorus in the medium pore zeolite is conveniently achieved by the methods described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,356,338, 5,110,776, and 5,231,064. Treatment with phosphorus-containing compounds can readily be accomplished by contacting the zeolite, either alone or in combination with a binder or matrix material, with a solution of an appropriate phosphorus compound, followed by drying and calcining to convert the phosphorus to its oxide form.
While the current FCC process of using various combinations of zeolite Y, beta zeolite, and ZSM-5 is an efficient process for converting heavier feed to lighter products, many times the process makes less than desirable amounts of light olefins like propylene. Growth in the polypropylene market is expected to drive the demand for propylene, and a production process of propylene via an FCC process that is more selective towards propylene than the prior art catalyst compositions is desired.

Catalyst to increase propylene yields from a fluid catalytic cracking unit


A safety device for maintaining a load raised cylinder linkage in selected extended position. A combination cylinder engagement rod and locking sleeve with a piston rod engagement channel that will adjustably secure and extended piston rod from a cylinder assembly in a safe secure locked extended position. The cylinder safety stop of the invention is interposed between the cylinder sleeve and the piston end block by the incrementally adjustable engagement panel's positioning via removably positioned stop adjustment pin. An intermediate incrementally adjustable fitting provides for positioning between multiple aligned stop pin engagement apertures.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to piston and cylinder stops that secure the piston rod when it is in extended position to prevent accidental deactivation of the piston and cylinder assembly when in extended support linkage load bearing engagement.
2. Description of Prior Art
Prior art devices of this type have been directed to a variety of cylinder locks that will engage the piston and cylinder and keeping it from retracting unintentionally. See for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,043,253, 4,122,758, 4,483,564 and 4,947,705.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,043,253 a boom cylinder stop for lift cylinders is disclosed having a tubular bearing mounted on the rod so that when extended it will drop down and engage the cylinder holding same in place.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,122,758 is directed to a service support wherein a U shaped bracket is bolted to an extended lift rod, locking it in place.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,483,564 claims an oil well sucker rod safety block formed of a slotted pipe with a handle that is positioned over the well spring and held in place by end caps and engagement of the string thereon.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,947,705 discloses a method and apparatus for maintaining a load raising linkage in raised position. The device comprises a locking member pivoted between an unlocked position and a locking position over the extended piston rod.


There is provided a servo controller for synchronously controlling a master side drive source to drive one drive axis and a slave side drive source to drive the other drive axis. The servo controller includes a correction data calculation means for calculating correction data to correct a positional deviation of a slave side drive source according to a synchronization error which is a difference between a positional deviation of a master side drive source and a positional deviation of the slave side drive source, in which the correction data is added to the positional deviation of the slave side drive source.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a servo controller for synchronously controlling a master side drive source and a slave side drive source when the servo controller is applied to a machine in which the same machining is repeatedly conducted and, for example, thread cutting or tapping is repeatedly conducted.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, in the case of machining a male screw on an outer circumferential face of a work, while the work chucked by a primary spindle is being rotated, a predetermined depth of cut is given to a thread cutting tool and the thread cutting tool is linearly moved in the axial direction of the work so as to conduct thread cutting on the work. In this case, in order to prevent the cutting tool from being given an excessively strong cutting force, the depth of cut is given to the cutting tool being divided by several times, that is, cutting of a predetermined depth is repeated by a predetermined number of times so that a perfect thread shape can be formed. In the case of machining a female screw on a work with a tap, the work is fixed onto a table which is moved in X-Y directions, and while the tap attached to the primary spindle is being rotated, the tap is fed in the axial direction of the rotary axis. On the contrary, while the tap is being rotated, the work is fed in the axial direction of the rotary axis. In this way, thread cutting is conducted.
A feed speed of the cutting tool in the case of machining a male screw and a feed speed of the tap in the case of machining a female screw are determined according to the rotary speeds of the work and tap so that the screw can be continuously formed at a predetermined pitch. That is, a movement command (feed speed) of the cutting tool or the tap, which is linearly moved, and a rotation command (rotary speed) of the rotating work or the rotating tap are maintained at a predetermined ratio. Therefore, in this type of thread cutting or tapping, in order for both drive sources (servo motors) to be synchronously driven at a predetermined ratio, the rotation command and the movement command are given by a numerical controller of a machine tool.
An example is explained below in which a screw of 1 mm pitch is machined at 6000 min−1. In this case, a position detecting unit of a feed axis driven by one drive source is 10000 pulse/mm and a position detecting unit of a rotary axis driven by the other drive source is 4096 pulse/rev. When consideration is given to a movement command of the feed axis, the rotary axis is rotated one revolution in 10 ms and the feed axis advances 1 mm per revolution. Therefore, the number of pulses becomes 10000 pulse/10 ms. A feed speed of the feed axis becomes 6 m/min. On the contrary, the number of pulses of the rotary axis becomes 4096/10 ms. Accordingly, a ratio of one drive axis to the other drive axis is K=4096/10000. Accordingly, when a movement command for the drive source to drive the feed axis is multiplied by 4096/10000 and the thus obtained command is made to be a movement command for the drive source to drive the rotary axis, it is possible to machine a screw of 1 mm pitch.
This is an example in which a pair of driving axes are a rotary axis and a feed axis. However, both of the pair of driving axes may be respectively a feed axis. Alternatively, both of the pair of driving axes may be respectively a rotary axis. That is, the present invention is not limited to the above specific embodiment of the drive axis.
In this connection, the official gazette of JP-A-2004-280772 discloses an example of the conventional servo controller in which the respective drive sources of the rotary and the feed axis are synchronously controlled so that a work can be repeatedly machined into the same shape.
As described before, in the case where a male screw is machined on an outer circumferential face of a work or a female screw is machined at a predetermined position of a work with a tap, it is necessary that drive sources for respectively driving a rotary axis and a feed axis are synchronized with each other. It is conventional to conduct machining in such a manner that a movement command of one drive source is multiplied by a specific ratio and the other drive source is driven according to thus multiplied movement command.
However, in the case of machining a male screw or a female screw, as long as the servo characteristics of the drive sources, which are driven synchronously with each other, are the same, the rotary axis and the feed axis have the same positional deviation. Therefore, from the theoretical view point, no synchronization error is caused. However, in the case where inertia of the rotary axis is increased according to an enhancement of the rigidity of the rotary axis or in the case where the rotary axis is rotated at a high speed, the servo characteristic of the rotary axis is inferior to that of the feed axis. Accordingly, a large positional deviation is generated at the time of acceleration and deceleration of the rotary axis. Further, the synchronization error is increased by a cutting disturbance such as a change in the depth of cut of a cutting tool or a shock caused at the time of starting cutting. Furthermore, the synchronization error is increased by the friction. Being affected by the cutting disturbance and friction, the accuracy of machining a screw is deteriorated.
When the positional deviation of each axis can be made to come close to 0 by conducting learning control on the individual positional deviation of both axes, the synchronization error can be made come close to 0. However, although the inertia is high especially on the rotary axis side, it is necessary to rotate the rotary axis at a high speed. For the above reason, there is a high possibility that the learning control cannot exhibit the effect because it is restricted by the maximum torque of a motor. Explanations are made by referring to an example shown by the paragraph number 0004 as follows. When the rotary speed of the primary spindle is 6000−1, the speed of the feed axis is 6 m/min−1, and the rotation·linearity conversion coefficient (for example, the pitch of a ball screw) is 10 mm/rev. In this case, the rotary speed of the feed axis is 600 min−1 which is 1/10 of the rotary speed of the rotary axis. In this way, even when the axes are driven by the same synchronization command, the speed of the rotary axis must be higher than that of the feed axis by 10 times. Therefore, even when both axes are rotated by the same acceleration and deceleration time constant, a higher torque must be given to the rotary axis, which is very difficult from the practical viewpoint. Therefore, it is reasonable that the synchronous error is learned and controlled by the feed axis because this method is more advantageous from the viewpoints of speed and inertia than the method of learning the positional deviation of both axes.


A system for detecting data spectrum distortion in a transmitted signal, in particular distortion caused by selective fading. The system includes: two blocks in parallel, which act on the spectrum average power of the input signal in an equal but opposite manner (i.e. they have equal slopes but act with opposite effect on the amplitude of the input signal versus frequency); two detectors which detect the average power output from the two respective blocks, each being associated with one of the blocks; and one comparitor for comparing the outputs of the two detectors. The system allows one to detect the asymmetries of the data spectrum and, by adding an AGC and a reference voltage, information related to the notch frequency f.sub.o is also obtained. The distortion measurement obtained in this manner allows one to generate a switching criterion, as a countermeasure for selective fadings in the transmitted signal.

1. Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates to a system for detecting data spectrum distortion in transmission, e.g. distortions caused by selective fading and, more particularly, to a system for detecting possible in-band dispersions, wherein dispersion means an amplitude dispersion.
2. Description of the Related Art:
Until today, the measurement of amplitude dispersion has been made by measuring the power of the data spectrum around `n` frequencies; generally this measurement is carried out by `n` frequency selective filters.
The obtained information is much more complete as `n` increases; but this functional requirement conflicts with many other requirements, in particular the complexity involved in manufacturing frequency selective filters (band-pass filters, with a very narrow bandwidth) and, with the need to save space and to limit costs. Owing to these and other requirements, the number `n` of filters that are used is typically limited to two or three.
If two filters are used, or in any case in which if `n` is an even number, information regarding the dissymmetry of the data spectrum with respect to central frequency (fc) is, obtained, which is in any event, incomplete, as the channel bandwidth is sampled only in some points; hence the information is not "all band".
If there are three filters, or in any case in which `n` is an odd number, it is possible to detect also the presence of fading with notch frequency equal to the frequency of the central band, but also in this case there is still the inconvenience of obtaining a measurement which not extended over the whole band.

System to generate switching criteria and equalize adaptively in data spectrum


A ramp (1) is provided with spiked chains (2) for handling bales (4), movable from a gathering position, parallel to the direction of advance of the trailer (8) and inclined with respect to the horizontal plane, for gathering the bale from the ground, to a loading position, at right angles to the direction of advance of the trailer (8) and at the same height as its platform, for loading the bale onto the trailer (8), characterized in that the movement of the ramp (1) between the positions is effected in a single rotation around a geometrical axis which is fixed with respect to the trailer (8), the fixed geometrical axis being inclined with respect to the horizontal plane and with respect to the vertical plane containing the longitudinal axis of the trailer (8).

There are known devices able to gather bales and perform a series of operations with the objective of depositing them on the platform of a self-loading trailer.
Spanish Utility Model No. 9001845, in the name of D. Manuel Cusine Barber, who is also titleholder of the present application, describes a device of this type which comprises a tiltable ramp, provided with a system of chains for gathering the bale from the ground and hydraulic cylinders for lifting it to a horizontal position, and a turnable platform which receives the bale from said ramp and is provided with an hydraulic cylinder to turn in a horizontal plane and with a manual pushing device for placing the bale on the trailer.
Other known embodiments of devices of this type envisage a single frame, also provided with a system of traction chains, which gathers the bale from the ground and performs two successive movements, each of them operated by an hydraulic cylinder, respectively placing the bale in a horizontal plane and orienting it in the appropriate direction.
In these known devices it is necessary to accomplish at least two independent, successive, movements in order to load the bale onto the trailer, for lifting and orienting it respectively, thus they require the presence of at least two mechanical actuators--for example hydraulic cylinders. As a consequence these known devices are relatively costly and slow.

Automatic loading device for bales of hay, alfalfa and the like

Ctra. de Tarrega a Balaguer, s/n, 25332 La Fuliola


Disclosed is DNA encoding a single-chain Fv (sFv) polypeptide defining a binding site which exhibits the immunological binding properties of an immunoglobulin molecule which binds c-erbB-2 or a c-erbB-2-related tumor antigen, the sFv includes at least two polypeptide domains connected by a polypeptide linker spanning the distance between the C-terminus of one domain and the N-terminus of the other, the amino acid sequence of each of the polypeptide domains includes a set of complementarity determining regions (CDRs) interposed between a set of framework regions (FRs), the CDRs conferring immunological binding to the c-erbB-2 or c-erbB-2-related tumor antigen.

Carcinoma of the breast is the most common malignancy among women in North America, with 130,000 new cases in 1987. Approximately one in 11 women develop breast cancer in their lifetimes, causing this malignancy to be the second leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States, after lung cancer. Although the majority of women with breast cancer present with completely resectable disease, metastatic disease remains a formidable obstacle to cure. The use of adjuvant chemotherapy or hormonal therapy has definite positive impact on disease-free survival and overall survival in selected subsets of women with completely resected primary breast cancer, but a substantial proportion of women still relapse with metastatic disease (see, e.g., Fisher et al. (1986) J. Clin. Oncol. 4:929-941; "The Scottish trial", Lancet (1987) 2:171-175). In spite of the regularly induced objective responses induced by chemotherapy and hormonal therapy in appropriately selected patients, cure of metastatic breast cancer has not been achieved (see e.g., Aisner, et al. (187) J. Clin. Oncol. 5:1523-1533). To this end, many innovative treatment programs including the use of new agents, combinations of agents, high dose therapy (Henderson, ibid.) and increased dose intensity (Kernan et al. (1988) Clin. Invest. 259:3154-3157) have been assembled. Although improvements have been observed, routine achievement of complete remissions of metastatic disease, the first step toward cure, has not occurred. There remains a pressing need for new approaches to treatment.
The Fv fragment of an immunoglobulin molecule from IgM, and on rare occasions IgG or IgA, is produced by proteolytic cleavage and includes a non-covalent V.sub.H -V.sub.L heterodimer representing an intact antigen binding site. A single chain Fv (sFv) polypeptide is a covalently linked V.sub.H -V.sub.L heterodimer which is expressed from a gene fusion including V.sub.H - and V.sub.L -encoding genes connected by a peptide-encoding linker. See Huston et al., 1988, Proc. Nat. Aca. Sci. 85: 5879, hereby incorporated by reference.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,753,894 discloses murine monoclonal antibodies which bind selectively to human breast cancer cells and, when conjugated to ricin A chain, exhibit a TCID 50% against at least one of MCF-7, CAMA-1, SKBR-3, or BT-20 cells of less than about 10 nM. The SKBR-3 cell line is recognized specifically by the monoclonal antibody 520C9. The antibody designated 520C9 is secreted by a murine hybridoma and is now known to recognize c-erbB-2 (Ring et al., 1991, Molecular Immunology 28:915).

DNA encoding biosynthetic binding protein for cancer marker


A fishing device that can act in one mode as either a diver or side diver, and in a second mode as a side sub-surface planer. The device includes a top plate, a curved bottom plate joined at their leading and trailing edges. Side plates are attached to the right and left sides of the top and bottom plates to thereby form a watertight compartment. A keel member is mounted on the curved bottom plate in a manner adapted to allow the keel member to be adjusted and held at any position between substantial abutment with the bottom edge of the right side plate and substantial abutment with the bottom edge of the left side plate. A keel weight is attached to the keel member. To cause the device to act in its second mode, a planer mode arm is removably attached to one of the side plates.

The present invention relates to a fishing device that can act in one mode as either a diver or side diver, and in a second mode as a side sub-surface planer.
There are many fishing devices that act as either divers or planers. It is not believed that the prior art has suggested a fishing device that can act as both a diver and planer. It is not believed that any prior art fishing device can act in a side diver mode.


Whenever any laser is interfaced with any type of optics there is always backscatter back into the laser. For diode lasers this backscatter makes it emit chaotic radiation where the frequency spectrum is broad and contains many different frequencies. This means that the laser has limited use as a source of information transfer in fibers. This weakness can be overcome, by driving the laser with an external cavity filled with a Kerr material. The addition of a Kerr material in the external cavity suppresses the chaos, or coherence collapse. Thus the new apparatus of laser plus external cavity filled with a Kerr material increases the stability of the diode laser.

The present invention relates generally to lasers, and more specifically the invention pertains to a system and a process for suppressing chaos in diode lasers due to optical backscatter from optical elements. Whenever any laser is interfaced with any type of optics there is always backscatter back into the laser. For diode lasers this backscatter makes it emit chaotic radiation where the frequency spectrum is broad and contains many different frequencies. This means that the laser has limited use as a source of information transfer in fibers.
The task of suppressing chaos in diode lasers due to optical backscatter is alleviated, to some extent, by the system disclosed in the following U.S. Patents, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,429 issued to Smith et al;
U.S. Pat. No.4,196,396 issued to Smith;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,236,785 issued to Papuchon et al.;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,382,660 issued to Pratt, Jr. et al.;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,431,263 issued to Garito;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,486 issued to Grippi;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,028,770 issued to Miyazaki et al.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,997,243 issued to Aiki et al.;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,276 issued to Dixon et al.;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,656,641 issued to Scifres et al.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,656,635 issued to Baer et al.; and
U.S. Pat. No. 4,594,715 issued to Knollenberg.
All of the above references deal with diode laser technology. The Smith et al. reference uses a Kerr medium in an interferometer cavity. While these references are instructive, a need remains to suppress the chaos in diode lasers due to optical backscatter from ordinary optical elements. The present invention is intended to satisfy that need.

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


A vehicle body repair apparatus comprises a platform with cross member retainers, unibody clamps, at least one pulling assembly, at least one movable cross member, a scissors lift, and a lifting assembly.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the repair of damage to a vehicle body after a collision.
2. Background Information
The collision repair industry is very large. Skilled auto body collision repair is a relatively skilled trade, and skilled people are in demand. While collision repair equipment is available, there is always room for improvement.
As will be seen from the subsequent description, the preferred embodiments of the present invention overcomes these and other shortcomings of existing vehicle body repair equipment.

Abstract: The lifting assembly comprises an actuator at an angle with respect to the platform, so a toggle action exists that enables the scissors lift to raise the platform from a minimal height position from a floor surface.


A plumbing bracket assembly has a plastic main bracket body and a telescoping bracket. The telescoping bracket runs through the main bracket body, and is able to extend to allow the bracket assembly to be secured to structure (such as studs) at both ends, over a range of distances between structure elements. The bracket body is initially able to slide along the telescoping bracket, for desired positioning, but may be locked in place using screws on the main bracket body. Hardware, such a hose clamp and multiple pipe clamps, is initially coupled to the main bracket body. The main bracket body may have a central depression for receiving a relatively large pipe run, and notches or depressions on opposite sides of the central depression, for receiving smaller pipe runs.

Technical Field of the Invention
The invention is in the field of brackets and assemblies for plumbing installations.
Description of the Related Art
In making plumbing installations, waste pipes and supply pipes are often pre-fabbed or pre-assembled off-site, and then are installed together on a jobsite. Currently, contractors use inexpensive brackets to do this pre-fab work. Assemblies are fabricated in a shop, and then are shipped to a jobsite, where installers lift them into the stud wall and attach a mid-span support from the studs to the pipes. This method has been found to be the standard in many pre-fab shops throughout the country. There are many shortcomings in common products and methods for accomplishing. Among these are problems with a plastic bracket that comes in loose pieces and is time consuming to assemble, and that such a plastic bracket breaks easily when installing the supply line clamps over the pipes, and during the transport of the pre-fab assemblies to the job site.
Telescoping brackets are sometimes used that offer a mid-span support, but are sold separate from the clamps. These telescoping brackets also do not clamp the waste line.
Certain copper-plated steel brackets are time consuming to sweat/solder onto copper pipes. The brackets must also be separately attached to the waste pipes, perhaps with separate loose pieces.
In all of the above prior approaches, the contractor still needs to install a separate mid-span support from the pipes to the wall. This is generally fully done during installation, which can result in higher costs.
It would be advantageous to reduce the time it takes to pre-fab waste and supply pipes together. It would also be advantageous to reduce the time it takes to install the pre-fabbed sections into the wall cavity.


This disclosure relates to oligonucleotides, compositions and methods useful for reducing GYS2 expression, particularly in hepatocytes. Disclosed oligonucleotides for the reduction of GYS2 expression may be double-stranded or single-stranded, and may be modified for improved characteristics such as stronger resistance to nucleases and lower immunogenicity. Disclosed oligonucleotides for the reduction of GYS2 expression may also include targeting ligands to target a particular cell or organ, such as the hepatocytes of the liver, and may be used to treat glycogen storage diseases (e.g., GSDIa, GSDIII, GSDIV, GSDVI, and GSDIX) and related conditions.

Glycogen is a complex sugar used by the body to store glucose. When the body requires more glucose to function, it normally breaks down the stored glycogen for use in cellular processes. Several enzymes participate in the processes that are used to store glucose as glycogen (glycogen synthesis) and break down glycogen to glucose (glycogen breakdown). When one or more of these enzymes are inhibited, it can result in a glycogen storage disease in which a dearth of glycogen storage, a buildup of glycogen in affected cells (e.g., liver and/or muscle cells), or the formation of abnormally structured glycogen may be observed. When a disorder of glycogen storage or breakdown occurs, those affected may suffer from a number of symptoms including, but not limited to: hepatomegaly, increased liver toxicity (e.g., higher levels of AST, ALT, and/or ALP), liver fibrosis, fatty acid deposition in the liver, hepatic hyperplasia, hepatocellular adenoma, and/or hepatocellular carcinoma. A non-limiting set of exemplary glycogen storage diseases may include: GSDI (e.g., GSDIa), GSDIII, GSDIV, GSDVI, and GSDIX.

Compositions and methods for inhibiting GYS2 expression


A method for gain equalization. In this method, an optical transmission line including an optical amplifier for giving a gain to WDM (wavelength division multiplexed) signal light is first provided. Gain equalization is next performed on the optical transmission line so as to obtain a gain changing substantially monotonously with respect to wavelength. Gain equalization is further performed on the optical transmission line so as to obtain a gain substantially fixed with respect to wavelength. A wavelength characteristic of gain changing monotonously can be easily gain-equalized by an active gain equalizer having a simple configuration. Accordingly, even when the optical amplifier has a nonmonotonous wavelength characteristic of gain, a gain tilt in the optical amplifier can be easily flattened.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for gain equalization, and a device and system for use in carrying out the method.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a manufacturing technique and using technique for a low-loss (e.g., 0.2 dB/km) optical fiber have been established, and an optical communication system using the optical fiber as a transmission line has been put to practical use. Further, to compensate for losses in the optical fiber and thereby allow long-haul transmission, the use of an optical amplifier for amplifying signal light has been proposed or put to practical use.
An optical amplifier known in the art includes an optical amplifying medium to which signal light to be amplified is supplied and means for pumping the optical amplifying medium so that the optical amplifying medium provides a gain band including the wavelength of the signal light. For example, an erbium doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) includes an erbium doped fiber (EDF) as the optical amplifying medium and a pumping source for supplying pump light having a predetermined wavelength to the EDF. By preliminarily setting the wavelength of the pump light within a 0.98 xcexcm band or a 1.48 xcexcm band, a gain band including a wavelength band of 1.55 xcexcm can be obtained. Further, another type optical amplifier having a semiconductor chip as the optical amplifying medium is also known. In this case, the pumping is performed by injecting an electric current into the semiconductor chip.
As a technique for increasing a transmission capacity by a single optical fiber, wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) is known. In a system adopting WDM, a plurality of optical carriers having different wavelengths are used. The plural optical carriers are individually modulated to thereby obtain a plurality of optical signals, which are wavelength division multiplexed by an optical multiplexer to obtain WDM signal light, which is output to an optical fiber transmission line. On the receiving side, the WDM signal light received is separated into individual optical signals by an optical demultiplexer, and transmitted data is reproduced according to each optical signal. Accordingly, by applying WDM, the transmission capacity in a single optical fiber can be increased according to the number of WDM channels.
In the case of incorporating an optical amplifier into a system adopting WDM, a transmission distance is limited by the wavelength characteristic of gain which is represented by a gain tilt or gain deviation. For example, in an EDFA, it is known that a gain tilt is produced at wavelengths in the vicinity of 1.55 xcexcm, and this gain tilt varies with total input power of signal light and pump light power to the EDFA.
A gain equalization method is known as measures against the wavelength characteristic of gain of an optical amplifier.
This method will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a conventional optical communication system adopting WDM. A plurality of optical signals having different wavelengths are output from a plurality of optical senders (OS) 2(#1) to 2(#N), respectively, and next wavelength division multiplexed in an optical multiplexer 4 to obtain WDM signal light. The WDM signal light is next output to an optical transmission line 6. The optical transmission line 6 is configured by inserting a plurality of optical amplifiers 8 for compensating for losses and at least one gain equalizer 10 in an optical fiber transmission line 7. Each gain equalizer 10 may be provided by an optical filter. The WDM signal light transmitted by the optical transmission line 6 is separated into individual optical signals according to wavelengths by an optical demultiplexer 12, and these optical signals are next supplied to a plurality of optical receivers (OR) 14(#1) to 14(#N), respectively.
Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown an example of the spectrum of the WDM signal light output from the optical multiplexer 4 to the optical transmission line 6 in the system shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, the vertical axis represents optical power, and the horizontal axis represents wavelength. In this example, the optical senders 2(#1) to 2(#N) output optical signals having wavelengths (xcex1) to (xcexN), respectively. When preemphasis is not considered, the optical powers of the optical signals in all the channels are equal to each other in general. In this example, the band of the WDM signal light is defined by the wavelength range of xcex1 to xcexN as shown by reference numeral 16.
If each optical amplifier 8 in the system shown in FIG. 1 has a wavelength characteristic of gain in the band 16 of the WDM signal light, a gain tilt or gain deviation is accumulated over the length of the optical transmission line 6, causing an interchannel deviation in signal power or signal-to-noise ratio (optical SNR). For example, in the case that each optical amplifier 8 has a wavelength characteristic of gain as shown in FIG. 3A, this wavelength characteristic of gain is accumulated to result in remarkable generation of a wavelength characteristic of total gain as shown in FIG. 3B.
In the gain equalization method, the wavelength characteristic of loss of each gain equalizer 10 is set so as to cancel the wavelength characteristic of total gain of the cascaded optical amplifiers 8.
This will now be described more specifically with reference to FIG. 4.
In FIG. 4, the broken line shown by reference numeral 18 represents the wavelength characteristic of total gain of the cascaded optical amplifiers 8, and the solid line shown by reference numeral 20 represents the wavelength characteristic of loss in the gain equalizer 10. In the example shown, the wavelength characteristic of total gain is canceled by the wavelength characteristic of loss in the band 16 of the WDM signal light, thereby achieving gain equalization in the whole of the optical transmission line 6.
In the case that an EDFA is used as each optical amplifier 8, the wavelength characteristic of gain of the EDFA is asymmetrical with respect to a wavelength axis in general. In contrast, the wavelength characteristic of loss of one optical filter usable as an element of each gain equalizer 10 is symmetrical with respect to a wavelength axis in general. Accordingly, in the case that each gain equalizer 10 includes only one optical filter, the asymmetrical wavelength characteristic of total gain of the cascaded optical amplifiers 8 cannot be compensated. As the optical filter, a dielectric multilayer filter, etalon filter, Mach-Zehnder filter, etc. are known. These filters can be precisely manufactured, and the reliability has been ensured.
As the related prior art to compensate for the asymmetrical wavelength characteristic of gain in an optical amplifier, it has been proposed to configure a gain equalizer by combining two or more optical filters having different wavelength characteristics of loss. With this configuration, the wavelength characteristic of gain can be canceled by the wavelength characteristic of loss with high accuracy in a given band of WDM signal light.
The wavelength characteristic of gain of an optical amplifier changes according to operating conditions such as a pumped condition of the optical amplifier and an input power of signal light. In a submarine optical repeater system, for example, there is a case that the input power to an optical amplifier may change because of an increase in optical fiber loss due to aging or because of cable patching for repairing. Such a change in system condition causes a change in operating conditions of the optical amplifier, resulting in a change in its wavelength characteristic of gain. Further, there is a possibility that the wavelength characteristic of gain may deviate from a design value because of variations in quality of optical amplifiers manufactured.
In the conventional gain equalization method using an optical filter having a fixed wavelength characteristic of loss, there arises a problem such that when the wavelength characteristic of gain of an optical amplifier changes from a characteristic shown by reference numeral 18 to a characteristic shown by reference numeral 18xe2x80x2 in FIG. 5 because of a change in system condition, the new wavelength characteristic of gain of the optical amplifier does not coincide with the wavelength characteristic of loss of the optical filter, causing an equalization error. The equalization error varies according to a system condition, and a large amount of variations in the equalization error may cause an interchannel deviation in signal power or optical SNR or may remarkably deteriorate a transmission quality in a certain channel.
From this point of view, there has been proposed a method using a variable gain equalizer having a variable wavelength characteristic of loss.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a variable gain equalizer in the related art. An optical circulator 26 is provided between an input port 22 and an output port 24. A first port 30 of an AWG (arrayed waveguide) element 28 is connected to the optical circulator 26. An optical coupler 34, a variable optical attenuator 36, and a total reflector 38 are connected in this order to each of a plurality of second ports 32 of the AWG element 28. The power of reflected light in the total reflector 38 is detected by a photodetector 40 connected to the optical coupler 34, and the variable optical attenuator 36 is controlled so that a detection output from the photodetector 40 becomes constant. The first port 30 and each second port 32 of the AWG element 28 are coupled by a specific wavelength, so that a flat wavelength characteristic can be obtained by the configuration shown in FIG. 6.
However, the conventional variable gain equalizer shown in FIG. 6 requires expensive optical devices including the optical circulator 26 and the AWG element 28, and a plurality of (e.g., 32) feedback loops each including the variable optical attenuator 36 are also required, causing a complicated configuration and a high cost.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a simple method for gain equalization which can suppress variations in equalization error due to variations in system condition.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel device (gain equalizer) having a variable wavelength characteristic of loss and a simple configuration.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system which can be used in carrying out the above method or which includes the above device.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for gain equalization. First, an optical transmission line including an optical amplifier for giving a gain to wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) signal light including an optical signal having a specific wavelength is provided (step (a)). Then, gain equalization is performed on the optical transmission line so that a gain changing substantially monotonously with respect to wavelength is obtained (step (b)). Further, gain equalization is performed on the optical transmission line so that a gain substantially fixed with respect to wavelength is obtained (step (c)). The order of execution of the step (b) and the step (c) is arbitrary.
For example, by executing the step (c) after the step (b), gain equalization can be simply performed on the gain changing substantially monotonously, so that variations in equalization error due to variations in system condition can be easily suppressed.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device comprising an optical element provided on an optical path of wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) signal light including an optical signal having a specific wavelength, for giving a loss changing with a periodicity with respect to wavelength to said WDM signal light; and means acting on said optical element so that said periodicity is changed. The specific wavelength is substantially coincident with a wavelength giving a minimum or maximum of the loss in said optical element, for example. This device is suitable for gain equalization on the gain changing substantially monotonously with respect to wavelength, so that this device can be used in carrying out the method according to the first aspect of the present invention.
In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system comprising an optical fiber transmission line for transmitting wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) signal light including an optical signal having a specific wavelength; an optical amplifier optically connected to said optical fiber transmission line; and an active gain equalizer optically connected to said optical fiber transmission line. The active gain equalizer may be provided by the device according to the second aspect of the present invention.
In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system comprising an optical fiber span consisting of a plurality of sections each comprising an optical amplifier and an optical fiber transmission line for transmitting wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) signal light including an optical signal having a specific wavelength. Each section further comprises a passive gain equalizer having a fixed wavelength characteristic of gain or loss, and an active gain equalizer having a variable wavelength characteristic of loss. The active gain equalizer may be provided by the device according to the second aspect of the present invention.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention and the manner of realizing them will become more apparent, and the invention itself will best be understood from a study of the following description and appended claims with reference to the attached drawings showing some preferred embodiments of the invention.

Method for gain equalization, and device and system for use in carrying out the method