The present invention relates to a gaming machine and/or entertainment machine, in particular in the form of slot machines and/or gambling machines operable by coins and/or by monetary equivalents, having a plurality of screens for the presentation of information, in particular of game contents and/or of game information, which are directed toward a machine operating position, and having a control device for the control of the screens and/or for the control of game procedures. It is proposed to arrange a plurality of screens staggered behind one another and overlapping one another so that the viewing window onto at least one screen remains behind the actual screen surface of the screen with respect to format and/or size in order to accommodate a maximum number of screens in a compact arrangement, on the one hand, and in order not to be restricted to the desired field of view with respect to the formats of the screens to be used. Provision is made in accordance with the invention that at least one of the screens is arranged partly or fully hidden behind at least one further screen viewed from the machine operating position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a gaming machine and/or entertainment machine, in particular in the form of slot machines and/or gambling machines operable by coins and/or by monetary equivalents, having a plurality of screens for the presentation of information, in particular of game contents and/or of game information, which are directed toward a machine operating position, and having a control device for the control of the screens and/or for the control of game procedures.
Such gaming machines can, for example, form electronically designed reel gaming machines in which a plurality of rotating reels having different game symbols are presented in a rotating manner in the viewing windows of the display fields and game winnings are dispensed when the reels having the same game symbols come to a stop along a winning line. In this respect, a control panel having a plurality of control buttons is provided beneath the screens, approximately at the level of the stomach of the player standing in front of the machine, said control buttons being operable by hand and serving, among other things, to set the rotating reels into operation and/or to stop them.
2. Description of Related Art
It has already been proposed to increase the playing appeal in such gaming machines to install a plurality of screens to be able to have different games run simultaneously or to be able to display further information, in addition to a running game, for example on other game options of the machine or the status of other gambling games, so that the player can obtain additional entertainment from the respective other screen during less exciting game periods.
A gaming machine of the initially named kind is known, for example, from WO 2005/041139 A1 in which the display apparatus includes two large-area screens which are inclined with respect to one another and on which games to be played with the gaming machine can be displayed. A control panel with a plurality of operating buttons which can be operated by hand, which control different game functions or game parameters and which inter alia include a start button to set a game into motion is also provided beneath the display apparatus comprising screens.
It has also already been proposed with such gaming machines to use more than two screens to increase the playing appeal. The number of screens can, however not be increased as desired with a given total size of the machine housing. In addition, with an arrangement of large screens, the field of view to be surveyed overall is very large, which can no longer or not easily be perceived simultaneously in a relaxed manner without looking to and fro and which ultimately cannot only result in physical fatigue of the player, but can also bring along a reduction in the playing appeal and in concentration. In addition, with slot machines having a plurality of large screens which are arranged above one another, the plurality of games ongoing at the same time are not able to be followed ideally in the player position predetermined by the named control panel.
It is therefore the underlying object of the present invention to provide an improved electronic gaming machine, in particular a slot machine and/or gambling machine which avoids disadvantages of the prior art and further develops it in an advantageous manner. An increased playing appeal should in particular be achieved with a limited machine size without obtaining this with fatigue problems or concentration problems.


The presently disclosed method and system includes a network of computer devices, sensors, and actuators operating in concert with application software to actively detect, identify, and localize threats and generate real-time countermeasures designed to delay and/or mitigate damage that may be caused by the threats. Application software, in the form of automated reasoning and logic control, initiates preparatory and countermeasure sequences automatically, which may be used by users or automatically executed by the system to at least delay an attack to a physical asset/area by adversaries with use of non-lethal actuators. Learned scenarios are generated and continuously adapted via feedback loops and decision rules to provide preparatory and countermeasure sequences that maximize results with minimal expenditure of assets.

Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the presently disclosed method and system include a network of computer devices, sensors, and actuators operating in concert with application software to actively detect, identify, and localize threats and generate real-time countermeasures designed to delay and/or mitigate damage that may be caused by the threats.
Background of the Related Art
Damage to physical assets, such as utility and power stations can result in wide spread disruption and significant costs. For example, there are about 55,000 electric power substations in the United States, and damage to each can cost anywhere from a few million to tens or hundreds of millions of dollars in lost physical assets and lost revenue from power interruption. Yet, current passive protection systems cannot protect against terrorist style attacks. Furthermore, current passive protection systems are noncompliant with regulations implemented by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on Nov. 20, 2014, which has created an even greater impetus to find an improved way to prevent adversaries from successfully attacking these critical infrastructures, as well as other similar infrastructures.
Prior art in the field consists of physical security in the form of human security on site and responder personnel. However, stationing forces onsite is prohibitively expensive. Additionally, responder forces typically take from 3-5 minutes at best, and up to 3 hours to arrive. By that time the damage has been done.
Another form of prior art security in the field consists of passive physical protection systems, such as, for example, cameras for detection, fences for ballistic protection or impeded access, etc. However, passive physical protection systems can be overcome due to a lack of actively resisting the adversary. Such systems also fail to take other active measures and/or countermeasures to mitigate and/or extinguish the threat exposed to the physical asset. Another inadequacy is the failure to adaptively respond to an occurrence, such as a terrorist style attack, so as to coordinate responses, optimize results, and minimize damage. In addition to failing to actively resisting the adversary, prior art systems do nothing to operate in concert with physical security once they arrive.
The inability of prior art to immediately, actively, and physically interdict adversaries, especially doing so beyond the perimeter of the area wherein the physical asset is located, is one reason why adversaries may be able to move quickly through their attack sequence without delay or disruption to their objective. The ability of a system to perform such a function may not only protect physical assets from hostile incidences, but when implemented in accordance with the disclosed method, may also comport with FERC regulations.


A magnetic actuator utilizes a single magnet and two voice coils to rotate a mirror between two angular positions with respect to a rest state. A magnetic field assembly applies magnetic flux across the voice coils. An upper plate and a lower plate are held together by a permanent magnet, so that each plate forms a magnetic pole. The voice coils are actuated by feeding current to their coils, resulting in an electromagnetic field being formed around the coils. The voice coils have magnetic flux passing across them, caused by the magnet and the two plates. Hence, the coils move upward or downward according to the current applied. A mirror holder includes a fixed periphery and moving arms attached to a torsional beam spanning the periphery. The arms are moved by the adjacent voice coils, twisting the torsional beam, and the attached mirror moves also.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an electromagnetic actuator for tilting a surface between angular positions. In particular, this invention relates to mirror actuating devices for rotating a mirror between two angular positions with respect to a rest state, which utilize a single magnet and voice coils, for use in projection systems.
2. Description of Related Art
In the present context, the mirror is moved between two positions in order to double the pixel density of a projected image, by alternating two subframes, each having half of the pixels of the final image. The subframes are slightly offset from each other by the movement of the mirror, for example by having one subframe offset one-half pixel downward relative to the other subframe. The human eye integrates the two consecutive subframes to create the single final image.
While the required mirror rotation is typically very small, it occurs at high accelerations, for example 12G's or more.
In order to realize the forces required, previous motors used in this sort of system have used multiple magnets and numerous moving parts. FIGS. 1A and 1B (Prior Art) illustrate such a prior art device 1 for actuating a mirror in a projector. FIG. 1A shows an assembled device 1 and FIG. 1B shows an exploded view of device 1 of FIG. 1A. In order to accomplish the forces required for mirror actuating, two voice coils 4, four magnets 14, and five pieces of steel (four steel plates 12 and base 16) are required.
As can be seen from the figures, such an assembly comprises many expensive components which are difficult to assemble and due to complexity, might fail during operation.
Therefore a need remains in the art for an electro-magnetic actuator utilizing a simple magnet and coil assembly, for rotating a surface a small amount between angular positions at a high frequency.

Mirror actuating device for projection systems


A three-dimensional check image viewer comprises a display device and a processing unit. The processing unit includes means for (i) displaying on the display device an image of a first check, and (ii) displaying on the display device an image of a second check such that the images appear three-dimensional relative to each other. An input device is provided for allowing an operator to manipulate the images such that any relative movement between the images on the display device appears three-dimensional to the operator.

The present invention relates to check processing systems, and is particularly directed to a three-dimensional check image viewer and a method of handling check images in an image-based check processing system.
In some known image-based check processing systems, an image of one side of a check is displayed on a display device. An image of the other side of the check may also be displayed on the display device. At the same time, an image of either one of both sides of another check may also be displayed on the display device. An operator is usually able to manipulate displayed check images in a number of different ways. For example, an image associated with one side of a particular check may be "rotated" and/or moved around on the display device relative to other images appearing on the display device. Also, the image associated with the one side of the particular check may be "flipped" around such that an image of the other side of the particular check is displayed on the display device.
Although different images of a number of different checks may be displayed on a display device in known image-based check processing systems, such displayed images are separate from each other as they appear on the display device. The separate check images on the display device are essentially presented in a two-dimensional manner for an operator to view. A drawback in presenting separate check images in a two-dimensional manner on a display device for an operator to view and manipulate is that operators typically do not manipulate real world physical checks in a two-dimensional manner.
Operators in real world typically manipulate physical checks in a three-dimensional manner. Since operators manipulate physical checks in a three-dimensional manner in the real world, it would be desirable to display check images on a display device in a three-dimensional manner so that the operator is able to manipulate such three-dimensional check images in the same way as manipulating physical checks in the real world.

Three-dimensional check image viewer and a method of handling check images in an image-based check processing system


A system for communicating with a processor within an integrated circuit can include a dual-bus adapter (115) coupled to the processor (105) through a first communication channel (110) and a second communication channel (120). The dual-bus adapter further can be coupled to a memory map interface (135) through which at least one peripheral device communicates with the processor. Single word operations can be exchanged between the processor and the dual-bus adapter through the first communication channel. Burst transfer operations can be performed by exchanging signaling information between the processor and the dual-bus adapter over the first communication channel and exchanging data words between the processor and the dual-bus adapter through the second communication channel.

Programmable integrated circuit devices (programmable ICs) are a well-known type of integrated circuit that can be programmed to perform specified logic functions. One type of programmable IC, the field programmable gate array (FPGA), typically includes an array of programmable tiles. These programmable tiles can include, for example, input/output blocks (IOBs), configurable logic blocks (CLBs), dedicated random access memory blocks (BRAM), multipliers, digital signal processing blocks (DSPs), processors, clock managers, delay lock loops (DLLs), and so forth.
Each programmable tile typically includes both programmable interconnect and programmable logic. The programmable interconnect typically includes a large number of interconnect lines of varying lengths interconnected by programmable interconnect points (PIPs). The programmable logic implements the logic of a user design using programmable elements that can include, for example, function generators, registers, arithmetic logic, and so forth.
The programmable interconnect and programmable logic are typically programmed by loading a stream of configuration data into internal configuration memory cells that define how the programmable elements are configured. The configuration data can be read from memory (e.g., from an external PROM) or written into the FPGA by an external device. The collective states of the individual memory cells then determine the function of the FPGA.
Other types of programmable ICs can include complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs), programmable logic arrays (PLAs), and programmable array logic (PAL) devices. For all of these programmable IC, the functionality of the device can be controlled by data bits provided to the device for that purpose. The data bits can be stored in volatile memory (e.g., static memory cells, as in FPGAs and some CPLDs), in non-volatile memory (e.g., FLASH memory, as in some CPLDs), or in any other type of memory cell.
Other programmable ICs can be programmed by applying a processing layer, such as a metal layer, that programmably interconnects the various elements on the device. These programmable ICs are known as mask programmable devices. Programmable ICs can also be implemented in other ways, e.g., using fuse or antifuse technology. The phrase "programmable IC," refers to these devices and further may encompass other devices that are only partially programmable. For example, one type of programmable IC can include a combination of hard-coded transistor logic and a programmable switch fabric that programmably interconnects the hard-coded transistor logic.
Since programmable ICs provide a robust platform upon which complex systems may be built, these devices have become widely used in system development. Such is the case whether one is prototyping a system or creating the end product for release. This is particularly true of programmable ICs that include embedded processors. Some programmable ICs include a "hard" processor that is implemented within the device with preconfigured circuitry. That is, the programmable IC includes physical, preconfigured circuitry implementing the processor. No programming of the programmable logic is required. In other cases, the programmable ICs may include a "soft" processor. A soft processor is one that is implemented using the programmable fabric of the programmable IC by loading the appropriate configuration data into the device.
Often, peripheral devices communicate with the embedded processor, whether a soft processor or a hard processor, through a shared bus. A shared bus refers to a bus over which a plurality of different devices or peripherals may communicate with the processor. In general, shared buses can support burst transfers of data. A "burst transfer operation" or "bursting data" refers to sending one memory address and either sending a plurality of data words to be written beginning at the memory address or reading a plurality of words beginning at the memory address.
Burst transfers of data between a processor and another device over a shared bus, however, typically require a significant amount of control signals to be exchanged. This exchange of control signals, also referred to as "handshaking," adds complexity to any device with which the processor communicates. This "complexity" translates into system overhead in several ways including, but not limited to, the amount of hardware necessary to implement the control signaling, the bandwidth required to support the control signaling, and the time necessary to process the control signals. The complexity of supporting bust transfers of data over a shared bus also extends to the processor. Any processor that is to support burst data transfers on a shared bus must include specialized instructions, or functionality, for performing that task.

Dual-bus system for communicating with a processor


A cheque clearing process includes the steps of: receiving, in a computer system, first payment information based on digital ink generated by an optically imaging pen, the digital ink identifying a unique cheque identity and representing handwritten information entered on the cheque by the pen; receiving, in the computer system, second payment information based on independently reading visible information on the cheque; and comparing the first payment information with the second payment information.

Cheque clearance is a highly distributed and automated process, and it is currently difficult for the paying bank to systematically detect conversion errors or fraud. It is largely up to the account holder to detect mistakes reflected in their statement, and many account holders do not have the time or the inclination to verify their statements. An incorrect cheque value can result from a transcription error during conversion, a failure of intelligent character recognition (ICR) during conversion, or from fraudulent alteration of the cheque details by the payee.
It would be desirable to improve cheque clearance processes so as to minimize conversion errors and fraud.

Double conversion cheque-clearing process and system


A disk player-recorder for cartridge disks, the cartridge including a disk mounted in a housing, the player-recorder having a frame which includes an aperture for insertion of the cartridge, a mechanism to set the cartridge to the play and/or record position and a mechanism for transporting the cartridge between the aperture and the cartridge positioning mechanism and vice-versa. The cartridge transport mechanism includes a cartridge support mounted on a player-recorder frame by a pivoting parallelogram system and a mechanism for moving the support with a virtually sinusoidal motion between the aperture and the positioning mechanism.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is a player-recorder in which the recording medium is a disk, particularly a disk cartridge consisting of a disk mounted in a cover. This type of player-recorder is used particularly for optical disks.
2. Discussion of the Background
Disk cartridge player-recorders in which the disk is protected by a cartridge, are well-known in the industry. They are described, in particular, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,356. These player-recorders include a mechanism to transport a cartridge from a top position, at which the cartridge is inserted, to a bottom position in which the disk is played and/or recorded or vice-versa. However, known types of player-recorders are a number of disadvantages. The operating cycle lasts several seconds, their life is insufficient for the number of cycles required and the cartridge transport movement is not possible without impacts or wear. Moreover, these player-recorders are increasingly frequently used in conjunction with a robot which moves the cartridge quickly, either to place it in the top-position mechanism or to remove it from this position. This is particularly true when the player-recorder is part of a "juke-box".


A number of control signals are provided, where each is responsive to a phase error measured at a different time between a first oscillatory signal and a number of second oscillatory signals. A node is either charged or discharged using a number of charged storage devices, where each device has a predetermined capacitance, in response to the number of first control signals. The method is applicable in frequency control circuit applications such as phase locked loops (PLLs), delay locked loops (DLLs) and clock recovery circuits (CRCs).

This invention is related to frequency control circuits such as phase locked loops (PLLs), delay locked loops (DLLs), and clock recovery circuit (CRC) units.
Frequency control circuits are used in a wide range of applications. For instance, a PLL or DLL may be used to eliminate jitter or skew in a clock signal. A CRC unit locks the phase of a reference clock signal to an input data signal and provides a synchronized data output by sampling the input data signal and synchronizing the sample with the controlled reference clock. In a typical frequency control unit, the phase of an input oscillatory signal is compared to the phase of an output oscillatory signal, and the phase error between these signals is driven to zero using a process that controls the frequency of the output signal and features negative feedback. The term xe2x80x9ccontrol bandwidthxe2x80x9d refers to the rate at which the process is updated with the most recent phase error information.
At relatively high control bandwidths, it becomes very difficult to ensure that the manufactured version of the frequency control unit can measure the phase error and reliably update the process as designed, particularly when using a low cost integrated circuit (IC) solution that would be more effective at lower frequencies. A limited solution to this problem is to use a parallel phase detector array in which each parallel element measures the phase error at different times and at a lower rate then the xe2x80x9ccombinedxe2x80x9d rate of the array as a whole. For instance, if each element of a five-element parallel phase detector is able to measure the phase error at 200 MHz but at a slightly different time, then the detector as a whole is effectively measuring the phase error at five times the rate of each element, or 1 GHz.
In practice, however, the theoretical approach outlined above has not been successful in fully taking advantage of the reduction in the speed of operation of each element of the parallel phase detector array. For instance, in frequency control circuits that use an array of parallel detector elements all of which control the same charge pump (gated current source), the so-called xe2x80x9cupxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cdownxe2x80x9d pulses that are generated by each phase detector element must be active only when that particular element contains the most recent measurement of the phase error to properly control the charge pump. In CRC units, this has translated into the undesirable requirement that the up and down pulses be no wider than the length (from a time point of view) of a xe2x80x9cbit cellxe2x80x9d in the data signal received by the CRC unit. This means that at least some of the devices which form the integrated circuit CRC unit must operate at the same speed as the control bandwidth of the CRC unit. The disadvantage here is that once the limit of device operating speed has been reached in a frequency control circuit fabricated using a given IC manufacturing process, a different, xe2x80x9cfasterxe2x80x9d manufacturing process must be used to increase the control bandwidth.

Method for increasing the control bandwidth of a frequency control circuit


(1) During vulcanization, a tire clamping device C is released. (2) After vulcanization has been completed in one tire mold M, the tire mold clamping device C on the side of this tire mold assembly M is operated, so that an upper mold M.sub.2 is connected to an upper mold attaching plate 1. (3) The upper mold attaching plate 1 is raised and the upper mold M.sub.2 connected to the upper mold attaching plate 1 is opened, while on the side of the other tire mold assembly M, vulcanization is continued with the upper mold M.sub.2 being closed. (4) On the side of one tire mold assembly M in which vulcanization has been completed, the removal of the vulcanized tire and the insertion and forming of an unvulcanized tire are carried out in sequence by the procedure similar to the conventional one, and then the upper mold M.sub.2 is closed. Then, a predetermined heating/pressurizing medium is supplied to start vulcanization. For the period from this time to the completion of vulcanization, the tire mold clamping device C is released. (5) On the side of the other tire mold assembly M as well, when vulcanization is completed and the time of opening/closing the upper mold M.sub.2 is reached, the upper mold M.sub.2 is opened and closed by the same procedure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tire vulcanizing method using a tire vulcanizer.
2. Description of the Related Art
A tire vulcanizing process is accomplished as follows: First, a tire is inserted into a tire mold, and then the tire mold is closed while forming. After that, a heating/pressurizing medium is introduced into the tire to vulcanize the tire. Next, the tire mold is mounted on a vulcanizer having a mold opening/closing mechanism. After heating and pressurization are performed for a given time, the tire mold is opened to take out the vulcanized tire.
The aforementioned tire mold opening/closing system includes two systems: a system in which a vertical movement and a horizontal movement are combined (usually called a mechanical crank press) and a system using a vertical action only (usually called a hydraulic press). In general, both of the two systems use two sets of molds for the reasons of productivity and ease of use.
When various types of tires are produced, there is a demand that the producer desires to produce tires requiring different vulcanization times by a set of vulcanizer at the same time. Some of the vertically acting systems which meet this demand have been used practically, but the system in which a vertical movement and a horizontal movement are combined (mechanical crank presses), which meets this command, has not been used practically at present.
The reason for this is that on the mechanical crank press, two sets of molds are used by installing to a set of movable beam, so that the times when the molds of both sets are opened are equal. Therefore, two types of tires requiring different vulcanization times cannot be produced at the same time.
Also, the aforementioned vertically acting system has a complicated configuration because it has mold opening/closing devices individually.
The present invention was made to solve the above problem. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a tire vulcanizing method using a tire vulcanizer, which can vulcanize plural kinds of tires requiring different vulcanization times by using a conventional mechanical crank press or a hydraulic vulcanizing press.

Tire vulcanizing method using a tire vulcanizer


A glove closure system having an opening dividing the glove into a lateral portion (thumb side) and a medial portion (pinky side). The opening allows for easy access of the user's hand. The system consists of a rectangular or oval flap attached to the lateral portion and pulled over the access opening. A push button is mounted on the flap and movably connected to a slide bar attached to the medial portion. The slide bar includes a notched surface for engaging and stationing the button at any point along the bar. The button includes a release tab which when depressed allows the button to move along the slide bar therein allowing for the closure to either be tightened or loosened. The further the button moves toward the lateral portion the tighter the closure. When the button is engaged and locked, a simple press on the release tab disengages to allow the glove to be opened.

With respect to athletic gloves, such as those used in golf, it is important that a glove fit properly and be firmly secured about the wearer's hand to ensure that the glove does not interfere with the feel of a sports instrument in the wearer's hand. While adequate sizing plays a role in ensuring proper fit, a glove must also initially be loose enough to allow the wearer's hand ingress and egress. Thus, to ensure proper fit, there must be a way to tighten the glove after it has been placed over the wearer's hand.
There currently exist a number of mechanisms and methods for tightening gloves around a wearer's hand. Such mechanisms include buckles, straps, buttons, ties, elastic, pull closures, hook and loop systems, cable systems and others. While these mechanisms allow gloves to be tightened, they generally have limited range, are difficult to adjust and operate one-handed, and/or have durability constraints. Buckles or straps, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,042,977 for example, can be difficult to operate one-handed, as is often required when tightening a glove on to the wearer's other hand. Buttons, such as that in U.S. Pat. No. 1,083,795, are not only difficult to operate one-handed, but also are limited in the range of tightening that they can accomplish. Elastic portions, such as those discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,480,944, allow gloves to stretch to allow ingress and egress and then contract to hold the glove in place, and are easy to operate one-handed. However, they can stretch over time, such that they do not maintain a tight fit, and are limited in their ability to create tension around the wearer's hand for a truly snug fit. Pull closures, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,202, allow an elastic strap to be pulled tight, but generally leave excess elastic cord hanging free, which is undesirable in an athletic glove. Lastly, hook and loop closures, often marketed as Velcro®, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,701,963, can become clogged with other fibers or dirt, and can be difficult to pull tight with a single hand. Cable systems, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,104, can be difficult to operate one-handed in the same manner as hook and loop closures.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved glove fastening and tightening system.


A cyclic azine compound of formula (1):

An organic EL device has a multilayer structure comprising (i) a light emitting layer comprising a luminescent material and (ii) a hole transport layer and an electron transport layer, which sandwich the luminescent layer, and (iii) an anode and a cathode, which sandwich the hole transport layer, the luminescent layer and the electron transport layer.
The organic EL device utilizes light emission (fluorescence or phosphorescence) occurring at deactivation of an exciton formed by the recombination of electron and hole, which are injected in the luminescent layer. The organic EL device is widely used for a display and other applications.
The cyclic azine compound according to the present invention includes both of a 1,3,5-triazine compound and a pyrimidine compound. The 1,3,5-triazine compound is novel and characterized as having a nitrogen-containing condensed ring aromatic group which is bonded, directly or via a phenylene group, to a phenyl group bonded on 2-position of a triazine ring. The pyrimidine compound also is novel and characterized as having a nitrogen-containing condensed ring aromatic group which is bonded, directly or via a phenylene group, to a phenyl group bonded on 2-position of a pyrimidine ring.
Examples of an organic EL device comprising a 1,3,5-triazine compound as a constituent are disclosed in patent document 1. This 1,3,5-triazine compound does not have a nitrogen-containing condensed ring aromatic group, and therefore, this compound is distinguished from the 1,3,5-triazine compound of the present invention.
1,3,5-triazine derivatives are disclosed in patent document 2. These 1,3,5-triazine derivatives include those which have a 1,3,5-triazine ring and a nitrogen-containing aromatic group. However, no working examples are given wherein specific examples of such 1,3,5-triazine derivatives are described.
As an example of a 1,3,5-triazine compound which is useful as a constituent of an organic EL device, a triazine compound having two phenanthrolinyl groups is known (see, for example, patent document 3) and a triazine compound having two isoquinolinyl groups is known (see, for example, patent document 4). These triazine compounds have a structure such that two nitrogen-containing condensed ring aromatic groups are symmetrically arranged via an arylene group on a phenyl group bonded to 2-position of the triazine ring, and therefore, this compound is distinguished from the 1,3,5-triazine compound of the present invention.

Cyclic azine compound having nitrogen-containing condensed aromatic group, method for producing same, and organic electroluminescent device comprising same as constituent component

Abstract: A cyclic azine compound of formula (1):

Abstract: wherein, Y is C—H or a nitrogen atom, Ar1 is a C6-18 aromatic hydrocarbon group, which may be substituted with an C1-4 alkyl group or a phenyl group, Ar2 is a hydrogen atom, or a C6-18 aromatic hydrocarbon group, which may be substituted with a phenyl group or a pyridyl group, or is a nitrogen-containing condensed ring C9-15 aromatic group, Ar3 is a nitrogen-containing condensed ring C9-15 aromatic group, X is a phenylene group, and n is an integer in the range of 0-3. The cyclic azine compound is useful as a constituent of an organic electroluminescent device.


An iron cover for ski wax irons a heat resistant liner having a padded bottom segment shaped to cover and protect the sole of an iron and a plurality of side flaps with ends. The side flaps extend sufficiently around the sides of an iron placed within the liner, and are secured around the iron with an elastic cord associated with the side flaps. The side flaps are structured and separated to define a plurality of heat release vents to allow heat to escape from a hot iron placed in the cover for storage.

1. Field
This invention relates to heating irons. In particular, it relates to heating iron covers for ski wax irons.
2. State of the Art
A number of iron covers are known. Iron covers are used for a variety of purposes such as preventing the scorching of materials being ironed. Doyel, U.S. Pat. No. 5,987,788 provides a removable iron cover with steam passage holes made of polytetrafluroethylene (PTFE) inserted over the sole plate of a steam iron to facilitate the efficient delivery of steam from the iron to the material being ironed. It also reduces friction, and acts as a thermal barrier to prevent burning of the material. Emberson-Nash et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,962 provides another attachable cover for the soleplate of a hand steam iron made of a relatively thin sheet of friction reducing PTFE material including steam passage holes which provides a low friction heat shield for hand pressing steam irons.
A number of curling iron cases have been designed for storing curling irons that are still warm. These irons cannot simply be stowed in a suitcase or kit where items may be damaged in close proximity to the heated iron. Thus the prior art contains a number of curling iron travel cases used to store a hot curling iron, such as Lykowski, U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,826 which also provides a single travel case with multiple storage compartments for the curling iron and other hair maintenance devices and materials.
Ski wax irons are used to apply various types of waxes to the bottoms of skis, snowboards, and toboggans. Different waxes are used to alter the performance characteristics of the skies to suit a particular snow conditions and protect the skis from moisture. Conventional methods of applying a wax coating to a surface use a solid bar of wax to rub the wax from the bar onto the surface. This hand rubbing typically left a non-uniform and discontinuous layer of wax on the surface, which then had to be smoothed with a piece of plastic or cork. Others used a hand-held propane torch to melt the wax to form a uniform coating on the surface. Still others applied wax to the skies by brushing or rolling melted wax onto the skies.
Ski irons were developed to not only melt the solid wax to drop onto the sliding surfaces, but to then evenly distribute the same using the sole of the hot iron in a trowel-like movement. Thus the bottom of the ski wax iron must be smooth to prevent uneven application of the wax or roughing the sliding surface; thereby reducing the ski""s performance. Others use ski wax irons to melt and apply a wax laminate to the bottom of the ski, such as the wax laminate described in Fitzburgh, U.S. Pat. No. 5,534,061.
These ski wax irons typically only get up to about 200 degrees Celcius to prevent breaking down the components of various types of waxes and bases of skis. However, when turned off, they still are too hot to be placed into an equipment bag without damaging other items placed therein, such as supplies of waxes. Oftentimes, when used in the field the hot ski wax iron is placed in the snow to rapidly cool it before storage. This causes water to get into the electronics damaging the iron. The sole of these ski wax irons must also be protected during storage from marring or damage. The iron cover described below provides a protective cover for these ski wax irons to aid in ready storage while still warm.
The objective of the present invention is to provide a cover for the new ski wax irons used to apply waxes to the bottom of skis, although it can be used with other conventional irons.
A further objective is to provide an iron cover, which protects the bottom surface of the iron from nicks, scrapes, and marring. The bottoms of ski wax irons must be protected during storage to prevent them from accidentally being dented or marred in a manner to affect the smooth application of waxes to the bottoms of skis.
Still a further objective is to provide a cover, which partially insulates the hot iron from damaging articles placed in a bag with the cooling iron. These ski wax irons often are used quickly in the field and then have to be put in an equipment bag while still warn. Thus, there is a need for heat resistant, padded storage iron cover for ski wax irons to insure a better performance of skis. It also indirectly better protects the base of the skis.
The invention comprises an iron cover having a padded bottom covered by a flexible non-transmitting heat resistant liner shaped to fit over and cover the sole of a ski wax iron. The bottom padding is of sufficient thickness to prevent the sole of the iron from being damaged by accidental contact. Attached to the padded bottom are a plurality of side flaps also covered by a heat resistant liner. The side flaps are expandably secured together to extend sufficiently around the sides of the iron to secure the iron cover there around with draw strings or other securing means. This oversize side flap configuration allows various sized of irons to be placed and secured within the cover. Each side flap is separated and structured when folded about the iron to define side heat release vents therebetween to allow heat to escape from the cooling hot iron placed therein for storage.
The preferred embodiment uses a flannel type of material for the heat resistant finer, although other materials such as plastics, metal, and fabrics could be used which protect from abrasion, are heat resistant, and will not readily transmit heat from the cooling iron. The preferred material also will not rub off against the sole of the iron during storage. Examples of preferred materials are:
a. 16 oz. Neoprene coated fiberglass, which is particularly suited to protect from abrasion and liquids,
b. 18 oz white general purpose fiberglass, 20 oz yellow fiberglass coated for abrasion that has a 1000 degree F. melt temperature,
c. 22 oz Kevlar blend, which is abrasion and heat resistant and has a 900 degree F. melt temperature,
d. 28 oz black fiberglass, which is coated for abrasion resistance and has a 1200 degree F. melt temperature,
e. 30 oz yellow fiberglass, which is coated for abrasion resistance and has a 1000 degree F. melt temperature,
f. 32 oz orange fiberglass, which is coated for abrasion resistance and has a 1000 degree F. melt temperature,
g. 18 oz bronze silica/ceramic, which is coated for abrasion resistance and has a 3000 degree F. melt temperature,
h. 12 oz duck, which is fire, water, mildew resistant,
i. 32 oz chrome tanned leather,
j. para aramid fiber, which is abrasion, cut and temperature resistant and has high tensile strength used for protective clothing,
k. ceramic fiber, which has very high temperature resistance, and low thermal conductivity, used in kiln car seals,
l. meta aramid fiber, which is inherently flame retardant and has good temperature resistance used in protective fire proximity clothing,
m. silica fiber, which has very high temperature resistance, low thermal conductivity, and low abrasion resistance,
n. Permanent flame retardant (PFR) rayon, which has good strength and is used in fire proximity clothing.
The heat resistant liner is generally covered by another flexible material resistant to abrasion, such as nylon, to protect the liner from being cut or abraded. However, the iron cover could be made entirely of the heat resistant liner material, provided it had sufficient durability.
The preferred iron cover shape is square, with the liner made of a heat resistant material laid out in a cross-shape to form side flaps with cut out corners surrounding the bottom area, which covers the sole of the iron. A similar shaped nylon outer cover is then placed over the liner, and a layer of cotton, plastic, or other padding added therebetween to pad the bottom of the iron cover to prevent damage to the sole of the iron. The heat resistant liner is then stitched, welded, or secured to the outer cover to secure the padding in position and form open loops or holes in the ends of the side flaps. A rubberized nylon or plastic cord is then threaded between the loops or holes to raise the flaps to secure around an iron and form the heat release vents. The nylon cord preferably has a fastener associated with its ends to enable the cord shortened or lengthened for tightening around the sides of different sized irons. Various types of fasteners can be used for this purpose, or the ends of the elasticized cord may be secured or tied together without a fastener.
Other iron cover shapes may be employed as long as they are sufficient to cover the sole of the iron to protect it from dirt, scratches, dents or any other impact damage, which would mar the iron sole surface. However, the cover and flaps must be expandable to secure around the iron and form or have side heat release vent holes when secured about a cooling iron to release heat.
Also attached to the bottom of the iron cover is an openable strap storage system to secure about the iron placed within the iron cover. This strap storage system is also configured to secure folded iron power cords to the iron cover. The preferred embodiment of the storage system comprises an securable strap with corresponding hook and loop strips securing the ends and corresponding segments. This strap is sewn to the bottom of the cover in a manner to removably secure around an iron placed therein, but having additional length to fold back on itself in a manner to secure folded power cords therebetween. In the preferred embodiment, this is accomplished by lining segments of the strap with hoop and loop strips, so that the end of the strap can be threaded through a cinch attached to one end of the sewn strap, which is doubled back over the top of the iron cover to secure between the ends of the strap the folded power cord of the iron.
To use the invention, a hot iron is first allowed to cool somewhat so that it won""t singe the liner. Then it is placed within the cover on the heat resistant liner segment covering the padded bottom and secured therein with the elastic cord holding the sides flaps. The iron is further secured by the strap system and the iron cord is then folded and secured thereto with the double backed ends of the strap affixed with the corresponding hook and loop strips. Thus stored, the iron cover protects the sole of the iron from scratches and marring. It also prevents direct transmission of the heat from the iron, and allows hot irons to gradually cool during storage. Ski wax irons may therefore be put away in an equipment bag or kit while still warm without damaging waxes and other stored equipment. The power strap storage system also secures the wrapped iron cord and keeps it neatly packed.


An improved vehicle ramp is formed to eliminate interference between the vehicle spoilers and the ramp by extending the ramp when assembled such that the ramp has a lesser angled or sloped inclined surface. The improved vehicle ramp is further formed to eliminate ramp sliding as the vehicle is driven onto and up the ramp. Finally, the improved vehicle ramp eliminates knifing into the ground under loading. The improved vehicle ramp includes a base ramp with a base plate under its vertical edge. The improved vehicle ramp further includes a ramp extension secured to the base of the base ramp incline, and a ramp transition secured between the ramp extension and base ramp for providing a lesser sloped incline with a gradual entrance angle. The ramp extension, ramp transition, and base plate from two improved vehicle ramps are packageable in a compact nature for shipping, display and storage.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to vehicle ramps of the type for supporting one wheel of a vehicle sufficiently clear of the ground to enable a person to slide under the vehicle for underside inspection and/or repair purposes. More particularly, the invention relates to a vehicle ramp (1) having an elongated, lesser sloped grade, that provides sufficient clearance between the vehicle, and particularly its spoilers, and the ramp during said positioning, (2) that is less susceptible to sliding during positioning of the vehicle thereon, and (3) that is less susceptible to sinking into any soft ground surface when loaded with a vehicle thereon. Specifically, the invention relates to a multiple piece vehicle ramp system that includes a base ramp with a ramp extension connectable thereto, and a ramp transition connectable therebetween in a bridging manner whereby the ramp extension and transition eliminate ramp sliding and interfering with the vehicle during positioning of the vehicle up the ramp extension and transition onto the base ramp, and where the invention includes a base plate that reduced or eliminates sinking of the front of the base ramp into any soft ground surface when loaded. This invention is also packageable in a compact and interlocking manner.
2. Background Information
Many vehicle owners perform routine maintenance and repairs on their vehicles. In order to gain easy access to the underside of the vehicle they will elevate either the front or rear portion of the vehicle on which they are working to provide such access. Various portable ramps have been used by amateur auto mechanics and vehicle owners for this purpose. These ramps are usually formed of metal and have various configurations to enable the vehicle wheel to be driven up an inclined portion of the ramp, after which it settles into a wheel retaining area of the ramp.
Prior examples of such metal ramps are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,279,464, 2,450,648, 3,638,910, 3,847,376, 3,870,277, 3,917,227, 4,421,300, 4,050,403, 4,845,972, 4,920,956, 5,324,004, and 5,446,937; and in U.S. Pat. Nos. D 228,301, D 232,020, D 237,162, D 239,610 and D 313,102.
Although many of these prior art ramps were satisfactory for their intended purpose, several disadvantages or problems occur when used in conjunction with either certain newer model vehicles with low front and/or rear spoilers, or in certain ground conditions such as sand, wet, dirt, or mud, etc. Specifically, many newer model vehicles have front and/or rear spoilers that are often low enough to interfere with the needed vehicle-ramp clearance that enables the vehicle to be driven up an inclined portion of a standard ramp. This problem is shown in FIG. 1. Although these standard one-piece ramps could be redesigned and manufactured in a longer version with a more gradual incline, this is unacceptable to the shippers, retailers, and end-users because any increased bulk and weight equates to more shipping and workers compensation expense (particularly as the size and weight increases), any increased shelf space per unit equates to less display area and more storage cost, and any increased bulk and weight equates to a less user friendly product due to undesirable weight and size. It is thus desirable to design a new ramp or ramp system that is extendable so as to provide a lesser sloped grade or inclined portion while not enlarging the packaged product at all, where the initial grade is such that sliding is unlikely to occur during driving of the vehicle onto the ramp.
In addition to these slide and clearance disadvantages, many of the prior art ramps are also susceptible to sinking, often referred to as knifing, into soil, sand, clay, warm asphalt, etc. when the ramp is used on any surface other than concrete. This sinking is very dangerous because the vehicle weight will shift on the ramps and cause an off-center load condition through possible movement of ramps knifing, sinking, bending, tipping and/or flipping, resulting in the decrease of vehicle-ground clearance and/or loss of load, limb and/or life. It is thus desirable to design a new ramp or ramp system that resists such sinking or knifing.
Furthermore, it is always desirable to be able to manufacture such a ramp at a reduced cost and of a lighter weight, in order for it to be more easily handled by the user, but without sacrificing any safety to the user thereof. It is also desirable to manufacture such a vehicle ramp as a snap-fit system free of moving parts which require manipulation and are subject to breakage and maintenance.
Therefore, the need exists for an improved vehicle ramp which enables the user to drive one of the vehicle wheels along the ramp to a safe resting position without any ramp sliding or interference due to insufficient ramp-vehicle clearance, whereat the vehicle will be safely supported for subsequent repair and maintenance and not susceptible to sinking, by a lightweight, yet sturdy and durable device, free of moving parts which require extra manipulation by the user thereof, while remaining of reasonable overall size when packed in a shipping position.


A process for the recovery of high purity hydrogen for recycling to a hydroprocessing or similar unit located in an integrated refinery facility includes sampling and providing analytical information on the make-up of the hydrogen-containing feedstream entering the bottom of a stripping column and the composition of the hydrogen recycle stream at, and/or approaching the top of the stripping column to a computer-directed control system in real time for the purpose of controlling the selection and the volumetric flow rate of one or more “refinery solvents” into the column to maximize the removal of non-hydrogen gases from the feedstream and to thereby maximize the percentage of hydrogen in the recycle gas stream. The “refinery solvent” used in the stripping column is any one or more compounds that are generated as product or by-product streams in the integrated refinery facility that are readily available for diversion in the required quantities for use a solvent to absorb or strip one or more compounds from the hydrogen-containing feedstream at the integrated refinery facility. The refinery solvent is preferable subsequently flashed to remove separated compounds and returned to its original product stream.

A wide variety of methods and solvents have been disclosed for use in recovering higher yields of hydrogen for recycling in various hydroprocessing treatments. Obtaining a higher yield and purity of hydrogen for a recycled feedstream allows the plant to operate more efficiently and minimize the hydrogen production capacity and therefore the capital required to construct and operate the hydrogen production facility.
It is well known in the art to employ liquid solvents to strip methane, acid gases and other hydrocarbon gases from a mixed process stream containing hydrogen. While it is possible to strip methane and other undesired gases from the stream to leave a relatively high purity hydrogen stream of 98%, or better, there are a number of parameters that must be taken into account in designing and operating a practical system. For example, certain solvents that are highly efficient, e.g., have a high solubility for methane and other gases, would not be considered practical choices because of their cost.
It is also known in the chemical industry to analyze the quality of feedstock and process streams utilizing advanced analytical chemistry, alone or in combination with advanced mathematical models, chemometrics and correlations. These methods and systems permit efficient and rapid recovery of data for operating processes. Existing industrial analytical and control systems thus provide means for real-time changes of operating conditions to maintain product quality and process efficiency.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus in which one or more readily available "refinery solvents" are utilized in a counter-current flow stripping column to achieve the maximum purity of hydrogen in the recycle gas stream leaving the top of the column by selective absorption of one or more non-hydrogen compounds mixed with the hydrogen passing through the column.
As used herein, the term "refinery solvents" means any one or more compounds that are generated as product or by-product streams in the same refinery facility or other chemical processing facility as the feedstream in which the percent hydrogen content is to be enhanced, and that are readily available for diversion in the required quantities for use as a solvent to absorb or strip one or more compounds from the hydrogen-containing feedstream in the practice of the invention. Relevant processes would include liquid/gas separation processes.
It is a further object of the invention to provide apparatus and a method of operation that selectively controls the type, volume and flow rate of one or more refinery solvents in response to the real time analytical results of the gases moving through the stripping column in order to obtain a hydrogen stream of maximum purity from a refinery process.
It is yet another object of the invention to employ analytical instruments and a computer-controlled flow regulation system with appropriate software to achieve the maximum purity of hydrogen by the selection from one or more readily available refinery solvents of a liquid absorbent composition that affords maximum solubility for the non-hydrogen gaseous components in the feedstream to the stripping column.
Another object of the invention is to provide an integrated real-time feedstream analytical system to monitor and control solvent selection and solvent flowrate based upon the solubility and selectivity of feedstream solutes in the refinery solvent or solvents available for use in the hydrogen purification process.

Enhanced hydrogen recovery for hydroprocessing units


Disclosed is a rug shaver for removing pilling and other loose fibers. The rug shaver may include a handle connected to a shaver head through a swivel. The shaver head may have a motor that rotates blades above a grill plate. The shaver head also may include baskets removeably retained within basket cutouts in a top of the shaver head. As pilling and other loose fibers poke through the grill plate, the rotating blades may cut the loose fibers. The loose fibers may be drawn into the baskets.

1. Field
The information disclosed in this patent relates to a rug shaver in which the blades have a rotary motion during removal of pilling and other loose fibers by the rug shaver.
2. Background Information
Fabric is a flexible material made up of a network of fibers (thread or yarn) formed by weaving or knitting (textiles), or pressed into felt. Fabric has a tendency to accumulate (ball up) on the surface of the fabric, usually due to general wear and tear. These small bobbles of fabric that develop on the fabric surface typically are called pilling. The degree of pilling may depend on the type of fabric, the structure of the fabric, and the finish of the fabric.
Pilling in floor carpets and rugs results when small "pills" of fiber appear on the top of the rug. Some pilling may occur as a result of the type of fiber used to manufacture the rug and the level of foot traffic. It is desirable to remove the pilling from carpets, rugs, blankets, bedspreads, and other fabric.


Input challenge based authentication techniques are described in which data regarding a user's input signature is employed for authentication of the user to access resources. Different users have distinct input signatures that are indicative of the manner in which each individual user provides input including at least typing characteristics and timing data. Data regarding input signatures may be captured from user interaction with computing devices and associated with user accounts. Once sufficient data regarding a user's input signature is captured, access to a user account may be controlled at least in part based on the input signature. To do so, an input challenge that indicates a non-secret pattern of input is presented to the user in connection with an authentication sequence. The user reproduces the non-secret pattern of input and selective access to the user account is granted depending upon whether or not the reproduction matches the input signature.

Computing device users may use local and online accounts to access various computing resources. Users may seek access to their accounts from different devices and may also share devices to access respective accounts. Authentication of users to prove the users "are who they say they are", differentiate between users, and provide selective access to computing resources is a persistent challenge faced by service providers. Traditionally, authentication techniques rely upon shared secrets such as passwords or digital keys. However, shared secrets can be stolen or compromised. Further, management of shared-secrets can be complex and frustrating, and it is not uncommon for users to forget their passwords. Thus, although shared secret based authentication techniques may be effective, there are some drawbacks associated with the techniques.


A receiver has a low spurious level and a high frequency precision without increasing power consumption of a local oscillator. The receiver comprises first and second local oscillators; a phase locked loop operating based on an output of the first local oscillator; a first mixer for receiving an RF signal or an IF signal, and converting the received signal to a second IF signal according to an output signal of the phase locked loop; an analog-to-digital converter for converting an output signal of the first mixer to a digital signal; a second mixer for converting the digital signal to a detection process frequency according to an output of the second local oscillator; and a filter for bandpass filtering, interposed between the first mixer and the analog-to-digital converter or between the analog-to-digital converter and the second mixer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a receiver in a radio communication system, and in particular, to a receiver for sampling an intermediate frequency (IF) signal and then performing digital signal processing on the sampled signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional receiver samples a received signal and performs digital signal processing on the sampled signal in an RF (Radio Frequency) unit or an IF unit, for signal selection or detection. A block diagram of the conventional receiver is illustrated in FIG. 4.
Referring to FIG. 4, a phase locked loop (PLL) 102 outputs a local signal depending on a reference signal, the reference signal being an output signal of a DSP (Digital Signal Processing)-based signal generator 103. A first set of mixers 101a and 101b convert a received RF signal to IF signals using the local signal. The IF signals, after being sampled into digital signals, are converted to baseband signals by digital signal processing in a second set of mixers 111a and 111b in a digital down-converter 110.
In the conventional receiver, a local oscillator, or a direct digital synthesizer (DDS), used for the first mixers 101a and 101b, generates spurious signals due to the inherent operation of a reference signal generator. Among the spurious signals, a spurious signal whose frequency is positioned apart from a local frequency is suppressed by the phase locked loop 102, but a spurious signal of which frequency is close to the local frequency is not suppressed, increasing interference to an adjacent channel.
Several attempts have been made to solve this problem, among them are (1) increasing an operation precision to decrease a level of the spurious signal from the DSP-based signal generator to a tolerable level, (2) adopting a dither technique to reduce a spurious peak level by spreading the spurious signal generated from the local oscillator used as the DSP-based signal generator, and (3) using a frequency where the spurious signal is not generated, based on the fact that generation of the spurious signal by the local oscillator depends upon an oscillation frequency of the local oscillator. Using the spurious-free frequency, a method for selecting a best combination out of combinations of frequency division and multiplication values of the phase locked loop and output frequencies of the local oscillator is typically used. However, it is known that a reduction in bandwidth of a DDS-driven phase locked loop such as the phase locked loop 102 desirably narrows a band where the spurious signals are not suppressed, but undesirably lowers a response speed of the phase locked loop.
However, the above listed attempts to reduce the spurious signal (1) cause an increase in circuit scale and power consumption, (2) also cause an increase in circuit scale and power consumption, though less than when the measurement of decreasing the spurious level has been taken, and a deterioration in a carrier-to-noise ratio (C/N), and (3) cause the restriction of available frequencies. In particular, if an output frequency of the DSP-based signal generator is increased in order to improve a response characteristic of the phase locked loop and a C/N characteristic, then a weight of the power consumption by a digital signal processor is undesirably increased.

Receiver in a radio communication system


Fc fusion proteins of human G-CSF with increased biological activities relative to rhG-CSF on a molar basis are disclosed. The hG-CSF-L-vFc fusion protein comprises hG-CSF, a flexible peptide linker of about 20 or fewer amino acids, and a human IgG Fc variant. The Fc variant is of a non-lytic nature and shows minimal undesirable Fc-mediated side effects. A method is also disclosed to make or produce such fusion proteins at high expression levels. Such hG-CSF-L-vFc fusion proteins exhibit extended serum half-life and increased biological activities, leading to improved pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, thus fewer injections will be needed within a period of time.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is a 20 kilodalton (kDa) glycoprotein that promotes the proliferation of progenitor cells and induces their differentiation into neutrophils. In addition, G-CSF prolongs the survival of mature neutrophils and activates their functions Human G-CSF (hG-CSF) is produced by monocytes, macrophages, fibroblasts and endothelial cells (see, for example, Moore, Annu. Rev. Immunol., 9:159-191, 1991; Nicola, Annu. Rev. Biochem., 58:45-77, 1991). The biological effects of G-CSF are mediated through its interaction with the G-CSF receptor (G-CSF-Rc) expressed on the surface of bone marrow hematopoietic progenitors and cells of the myeloid lineage. Upon binding G-CSF, the receptor is activated and undergoes homodimerization, followed by phosphorylation of Janus family of tyrosine kinases. Subsequently, a series of intracellular signal transduction events take place, leading to the increase of the number of progenitor cells, their maturation into neutrophils, and further activation of effector functions in mature neutrophils (see, for example, Demetri et al., Blood, 78:2791-2808, 1991). Therefore, G-CSF plays an essential role not only in the regulation and maintenance of hematopoiesis, but also in host defense against infection and inflammation.
Recombinant human G-CSF (rhG-CSF) is widely used in the treatment of patients with neutropenia as a result of receiving chemotherapy. Administration of rhG-CSF is effective in restoring functioning neutrophils to these patients, leading to a decrease of infection-related events. Use of rhG-CSF allows intensified dosing or scheduling of chemotherapeutic agents that may be of benefit to cancer patients. Besides chemotherapy-induced neutropenia, rhG-CSF has been used for the treatment of myelosuppression after bone marrow transplantation, acute leukemia, aplastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, severe chronic neutropenias, and mobilization of peripheral blood progenitor cells for transplantation (see, for example, Welte et al., Blood, 88:1907-1929, 1996).
The elimination half-life of the serum concentration of rhG-CSF is approximately 3 to 4 h for intravenous or subcutaneous administration. The safety profile and patient tolerance of rhG-CSF are good with medullary bone pain being the only frequent and significant side effect. The relatively low toxicity of rhG-CSF has made it feasible to develop longer-acting derivatives to decrease the inconvenience of the daily or twice-daily injection schedule. Attachment of polyethylene glycol (PEG) to various proteins, including G-CSF, has been reported to yield derivatives with higher in vivo potency due to their longer half-lives (see, for example, Zalipsky et al., in "PEG chemistry: biotechnical and biomedical applications", pp. 347-370, 1992). PEG-conjugated proteins usually have considerably lower in vitro biological activity than their unmodified parent proteins (Eliason et al., Stem Cells, 18:40-45, 2000). The increased in vivo potency of these modified proteins is, at least in part, due to decreased removal by the kidney in a manner proportional to their molecular weight (Yamaoda et al., J. Pharmaceut. Sci., 83:601-606, 1994). We unexpectedly discover that it is possible to increase the potency of hG-CSF through prolonging its half-life as well as enhancing its biological activity is to attach the Fc region derived from human IgG at the C-terminus of hG-CSF, as described in this invention.
Immunoglobulins of IgG class are among the most abundant proteins in human blood. Their circulation half-lives can reach as long as 21 days. Fusion proteins have been reported to combine the Fc regions of IgG with the domains of another protein, such as various cytokines and soluble receptors (see, for example, Capon et al., Nature, 337:525-531, 1989; Chamow et al., Trends Biotechnol., 14:52-60, 1996); U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,116,964 and 5,541,087). The prototype fusion protein is a homodimeric protein linked through cysteine residues in the hinge region of IgG Fc, resulting in a molecule similar to an IgG molecule without the CH1 domains and light chains. Due to the structural homology, Fc fusion proteins exhibit in vivo pharmacokinetic profile comparable to that of human IgG with a similar isotype. This approach has been applied to several therapeutically important cytokines, such as IL-2 and IFN-α2a, and soluble receptors, such as TNF-Rc and IL-5-Rc (see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,349,053 and 6,224,867). It is desirable to extend the circulating half-life of G-CSF and/or to increase its biological activity by making fusion proteins containing G-CSF linked to the Fc portion of the human IgG protein as disclosed and/or described in this invention.
Erythropoietin (EPO) derivatives, such as dimers, have been reported. Relative to the EPO monomer, a fusion protein consisting of two complete EPO domains separated by a 3- to 7-amino acid peptide linker exhibited reduced activity (Qiu et al., J. Biol. Chem., 273:11173-11176, 1998). However, when the peptide linker between the two EPO domains was 17 amino acids in length, the dimeric EPO molecule exhibited considerably enhanced in vitro and in vivo activities (see, for example, Sytkowski et al., J. Biol. Chem., 274:24773-24778, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 6,187,564). The length of the peptide linker between the two hematopoietic growth factors is important, while not bound by this theory, presumably due to its effect on the flexibility of such molecular forms. We find that this approach is generally applicable to other therapeutic proteins, including G-CSF. We'll also refer this to this as a flexible peptide linker.
In most of the reported Fc fusion protein molecules, a hinge region serves as a spacer between the Fc region and the cytokine or soluble receptor at the amino-terminus, allowing these two parts of the molecule to function separately (see, for example, Ashkenazi et al., Current Opinion in Immunology, 9:195-200, 1997). A human G-CSF fusion protein with an appropriate peptide linker between the hG-CSF and Fc moieties (hG-CSF-L-Fc) is more active than rhG-CSF, with in vitro activity at least 2-fold as that of rhG-CSF on a molar basis. It is discovered according to this invention that an added peptide linker present between hG-CSF and a human IgG Fc variant enhances the in vitro biological activity of the hG-CSF-L-Fc molecule in two ways: (1) keeping the Fc region away from the G-CSF-Rc binding sites on G-CSF, and (2) keeping one G-CSF from the other G-CSF domain, so both G-CSF domains can interact with G-CSF-Rc on the granulocyte procursor cells independently. For the present invention, a flexible peptide linker of about 20 or fewer amino acids in length is preferred. More preferably, the peptide linker should have at least two amino acids in length. Furthermore, it is even more preferable to use a peptide linker comprising two or more of the following amino acids: glycine, serine, alanine, and threonine.
The Fc region of human immunoglobulins plays a significant role in immune defense for the elimination of pathogens. Effector functions of IgG are mediated by the Fc region through two major mechanisms: (1) binding to the cell surface Fc receptors (FcγRs) can lead to ingestion of pathogens by phagocytosis or lysis by killer cells via the antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) pathway, or (2) binding to the C1q part of the first complement component C1 initiates the complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) pathway, resulting in the lysis of pathogens. Among the four human IgG isotypes, IgG1 and IgG3 are effective in binding to FcγR. The binding affinity of IgG4 to FcγR is an order of magnitude lower than that of IgG1 or IgG3, while binding of IgG2 to FcγR is below detection. Human IgG1 and IgG3 are also effective in binding to C1q and activating the complement cascade. Human IgG2 fixes complement poorly, and IgG4 appears quite deficient in the ability to activate the complement cascade (see, for example, Jefferis et al., Immunol. Rev., 163:59-76, 1998). For therapeutic use in humans, it is essential that when hG-CSF-L-Fc binds to G-CSF-Rc on the surface of the progenitor cells or other cells of the myeloid lineage, the Fc region of the fusion protein will not mediate undesirable effector functions, leading to the lysis or removal of these cells. Accordingly, the Fc region of hG-CSF-L-Fc must be of a non-lytic nature, i.e. the Fc region must be inert in terms of binding to FcγRs and C1q for the triggering of effector functions. It is clear that none of the naturally occurring IgG isotypes is suitable for use to produce the hG-CSF-L-Fc fusion protein. To obtain a non-lytic Fc, certain amino acids of the natural Fc region have to be mutated for the attenuation of the effector functions.
By comparing amino acid sequences of human and murine IgG isotypes, a portion of Fc near the N-terminal end of the CH2 domain is implicated to play a role in the binding of IgG Fc to FcγRs. The importance of a motif at positions 234 to 237 has been demonstrated using genetically engineered antibodies (see, for example, Duncan et al., Nature, 332:563-564, 1988). The numbering of the amino acid residues is according to the EU index as described in Kabat et al. (in Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, 5th Edition, United States Department of Health and Human Services, 1991). Among the four human IgG isotypes, IgG1 and IgG3 bind FcγRs the best and share the sequence Leu234-Leu-Gly-Gly237 (only IgG1 is shown in FIG. 1). In IgG4, which binds FcγRs with a lower affinity, this sequence contains a single amino acid substitution, Phe for Leu at position 234. In IgG2, which does not bind FcγRs, there are two substitutions and a deletion leading to Val234-Ala-Gly237 (FIG. 1). To minimize the binding of Fc to FcγR and hence the ADCC activity, Leu235 in IgG4 has been replaced by Ala (see, for example, Hutchins et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 92:11980-11984, 1995). IgG1 has been altered in this motif by replacing Glu233-Leu-Leu235 with Pro233-Val-Ala235, which is the sequence from IgG2. This substitution resulted in an IgG1 variant devoid of FcγR-mediated ability to deplete target cells in mice (see, for example, Isaacs et al., J. Immunol., 161: 3862-3869, 1998).
A second portion that appears to be important for both FcγR and C1q binding is located near the carboxyl-terminal end of CH2 domain of human IgG (see, for example, Duncan et al., Nature, 332:738-740, 1988). Among the four human IgG isotypes, there is only one site within this portion that shows substitutions: Ser330 and Ser331 in IgG4 replacing Ala330 and Pro331 present in IgG1, IgG2, and IgG3 (FIG. 1). The presence of Ser330 does not affect the binding to FcγR or C1q. The replacement of Pro331 in IgG1 by Ser virtually abolished IgG1 ability to C1q binding, while the replacement of Ser331 by Pro partially restored the complement fixation activity of IgG4 (see, for example, Tao et al., J. Exp. Med., 178:661-667, 1993; Xu et al., J. Biol. Chem., 269:3469-3474, 1994).
We discover that at least three Fc variants (vFc) can be designed and/or used for the production of hG-CSF-L-vFc fusion proteins (FIG. 1). Human IgG2 Fc does not bind FcγR but showed weak complement activity. An Fcγ2 variant with Pro331Ser mutation should have less complement activity than natural Fcγ2 while remain as a non-binder to FcγR. IgG4 Fc is deficient in activating the complement cascade, and its binding affinity to FcγR is about an order of magnitude lower than that of the most active isotype, IgG1. An Fcγ4 variant with Leu235Ala mutation should exhibit minimal effector functions as compared to the natural Fcγ4. The Fcγ1 variant with Leu234Val, Leu235Ala and Pro331Ser mutations also will exhibit much less effector functions than the natural Fcγ1. These Fc variants are more suitable for the preparation of the G-CSF fusion proteins than naturally occurring human IgG Fc. It is possible that other replacements can be introduced for the preparation of a non-lytic Fc without compromising the circulating half-life or causing any undesirable conformational changes.
There are many advantages with the present invention. The increased activity and prolonged presence of the hG-CSF-L-vFc fusion protein in the serum can lead to lower dosages as well as less frequent injections. Less fluctuations of the drug in serum concentrations also means improved safety and tolerability. Less frequent injections may result in better patient compliance and quality of life. The hG-CSF-L-vFc fusion protein containing a non-lytic Fc variant will therefore contribute significantly to the management of a variety of conditions associated with an impaired immune or hematopoietic system, including cancer chemotherapy, leukemias, anemias AIDS, bone marrow transplantation, and chronic neutropenias.

Fc fusion proteins of human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor with increased biological activities


A method of delivering packet data units (PDUs) for a user equipment in a wireless communications system includes receiving a reordering PDU having at least one upper layer PDU from a protocol entity, determining whether the at least one upper layer PDU are segmented for reassembling with a previously stored segment of a upper layer PDU according to a segmentation indication message corresponding to the reordering PDU, and delivering the at least one PDU to an upper layer protocol entity and discarding the previously stored segment when the at least one upper layer PDU are all not segmented PDUs.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for delivering protocol data units in a user equipment of a wireless communications system, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for delivering protocol data units by properly discarding previously stored segments of protocol data units in a user equipment of a wireless communications system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The third generation (3G) mobile telecommunications system has adopted a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) wireless air interface access method for a cellular network. WCDMA provides high frequency spectrum utilization, universal coverage, and high quality, high-speed multimedia data transmission. The WCDMA method also meets all kinds of QoS requirements simultaneously, providing diverse, flexible, two-way transmission services and better communication quality to reduce transmission interruption rates.
In the prior art, lengths of all Protocol Data Units (PDUs) outputted from a Radio Link Control (RLC) layer are the same. However, this decreases bandwidth utility rate and data processing efficiency, especially for high data rate applications, such as High Speed Downlink Package Access (HSDPA) and High Speed Uplink Package Access (HSUPA) in the 3G mobile telecommunications system. Thus, targeting high data rate applications, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) makes some modifications for RLC and Media Access Control (MAC) layers, which primarily includes adopting flexible RLC PDU sizes and providing PDU segmentation/reassembly in the MAC layer, to enhance bandwidth utility rate and data processing efficiency, thereby making high data rate enabled by physical layer features such as Multi-input Multi-output (MIMO) and high order modulations possible.
In such a situation, the 3GPP newly introduces a MAC-ehs protocol entity in the MAC layer, which allows the support of flexible RLC PDU sizes as well as MAC segmentation/reassembly. Furthermore, unlike MAC-hs for HSDPA, MAC-ehs allows multiplexing of data from several priority queues within one transmission time interval (TTI) of 2 ms. Detailed operations of the MAC-ehs entity can be found in the MAC protocol specification formulated by the 3GPP, and are not narrated herein.
Please refer to FIG. 1, which illustrates a schematic diagram of a MAC-ehs PDU. The MAC-ehs PDU consists of a plurality of reordering PDUs R_PDUn and a corresponding MAC-ehs header. Each reordering PDU consists of at least one consecutive MAC-ehs Serving Data Unit (SDUs) or segments of MAC-ehs SDUs belonging to the same priority queue, or reordering queue. A MAC-ehs SDU, i.e. an upper layer PDU, is either a MAC-c PDU or a MAC-d PDU. For each reordering PDU, the MAC-ehs header carries a Logical channel identifier (LCH-ID) field LCH-IDn, a Length field Ln, a Transmission Sequence Number (TSN) field TSNn, a Segmentation Indication (SI) field SIn, and a header extension field Fn. The LCH-ID field LCH-IDn indicates a priority queue for each reordering PDU, wherein the mapping between the logic channel and the priority/reordering queue is provided by upper layers. The Length field Ln indicates data length of each reordering PDU. The TSN field TSNn indicates a TSN of each reordering PDU for reordering purpose. The SI field SIn indicates whether MAC-ehs SDUs included in each reordering PDU are segmented and segmentation type of the reordering PDU for reassembly. The header extension field Fn then indicates whether there exists a next reordering PDU in the following.
Thus, when a MAC-ehs PDU is received by the UE, each reordering PDU is firstly assigned to a corresponding reordering queue for reordering according to the LCH-ID field LCH-IDn and the TSN field TSNn. In each reordering queue, if the latest received reordering PDU is determined to be consecutive to a previously stored segment of a MAC-ehs SDU, the reordering PDU shall be further concatenated with the previously stored segment of the MAC-ehs SDU according to the SI field SIn, so that a complete MAC-ehs SDU can be delivered to upper layers.
According to the above MAC protocol, the SI field is indicated by two bits, and thus includes four segmentation types:
1) Type '00': indicates that a first MAC-ehs SDU and a last MAC-ehs SDU in a reordering PDU are not segmented.
2) Type '01': indicates that a first MAC-ehs SDU in a reordering PDU is a front-end segmented upper layer PDU; and, if there are more than one MAC-ehs SDUs in the reordering PDU, a last MAC-ehs SDU in the reordering PDU is not segmented.
3) Type '10': indicates that a last MAC-ehs SDU in a reordering PDU is a back-end segmented upper layer PDU; and, if there are more than one MAC-ehs SDUs in the reordering PDU, a first MAC-ehs SDU in the reordering PDU is not segmented.
4) Type '11': indicates that a first MAC-ehs SDU in a reordering PDU is a front-end segmented upper layer PDU; and, a last MAC-ehs SDU in the reordering PDU is a back-end segmented upper layer PDU.
In the prior art, when a reordering PDU with the SI field='00' is received, since MAC-ehs SDUs included in the reordering PDU have not been segmented, all complete upper layer PDUs in the reordering PDU shall be directly delivered to upper layers, such as to corresponding logic channels, and concatenation with the previously stored segment of MAC-ehs SDU is not performed. However, if the previous stored PDU segment is not discarded, a wrong upper layer PDU may be generated and delivered due to incorrect concatenation.
For example, when a reordering PDU with TSN=2 and the SI field='00' is received, as mentioned above, all complete upper layer PDUs in the reordering PDU shall be directly delivered to corresponding logic channels without performing any concatenation. In this case, if SI fields of following received reordering PDUs are all equal to '00', the previous stored PDU segment would not be discarded or concatenated. At this time, if a reordering PDU with TSN=2 of a next cycle and the SI field='01' or '11' is received, the reordering PDU would be determined to be consecutive with the previously stored PDU segment according to the TSN, and may concatenate with the previously stored PDU segment, so as to generate an incorrect upper layer PDU.
In short, since the previously stored PDU segment is not discarded appropriately, the following received reordering PDU may be concatenated with the previously stored PDU segment in some situations, resulting in a data error of the UE.

Method and apparatus of delivering protocol data units for a user equipment in a wireless communications system


A content use rights discrimination card corresponding to encrypted content is sold to a user. The user transmits data recorded on the content use rights discrimination card to a content use rights management center. The content use rights management center then verifies the content and the card, based on data in the received content use rights discrimination card, to encrypt a decoding key for decoding the content together with, for example, a session key, to transmit the encrypted content key to the user. The content use rights discrimination card, when sold to the user, can be set for enabling resale and transferred between different users so that the decoding key can be transmitted plural times from the content use rights management center. This procedure enables content to be utilized without executing any on-line settlement processing.

The invention relates to an information transaction system, an information transaction method and a program providing medium. More particularly, the invention relates to information transaction systems and information transaction methods in which a variety of content information, such as music, picture data or game programs are provided to a user through a recording medium, such as a CD or DVD, or by the distribution over the network, and in which a fee for use of the content is collected or use points are associated with such use.
Nowadays, a variety of software and data, such as game programs, speech data, and picture data, referred to as content, are in circulation via various networks, such as the Internet, or via commercially available media, such as a DVD or CD. The content may be stored in recording devices coupled to recording and/or reproducing apparatus owned by a user, such as a personal computer (PC) or a game appliance, in a memory card or in a hard disc. Once stored, the content can be replayed from the storage medium.
The main elements of the conventional information equipment, such as video game equipment or a PC, include control means for operational control, a connector connected to the control means for connection to a slot formed in a main body portion of the information equipment, and a non-volatile memory for data storage which is connected to the control means. The non-volatile memory is provided in a memory card which may include an EEPROM and a flash memory.
The data stored in the commercially available recording media or content stored in the memory are fetched from the respective memory in response to a user command generated by the game equipment that is used as reproducing equipment or by the main body portion of the information equipment, such as a PC. Alternatively, the data or content are fetched in response to a user command entered through an inputting means for replay through the main body portion of the information equipment or for replay through a display or loudspeaker connected thereto.
The right of distribution, for example, of software content, such as game programs, music data or picture data, is generally owned by the authors or the sellers of the content. Thus, when distributing the content by a recording medium, such as a DVD or a CD, a fee is collected at the time of its sale. Alternatively, when distributing the content over the network, such as via the Internet, user information, such as a credit card number, is acquired to collect the counter-value for the provided content, that is the use fee, from the user.
During distribution, the conventional practice is to allow the use of the software only for authorized users by way of imposing certain restrictions on its use so as to prevent unauthorized duplication. When distributing the content through a recording medium or over a network, the content is encrypted and a key for decoding the encrypted content, known as a content key, is provided only for an authorized user.
For example, on-line distribution systems for digital data or content, which are becoming increasingly popular, are configured so that a user acquires content encrypted over a network or medium. To utilize the content, the distribution center connects a user terminal to a content utilization rights sales center to purchase the rights to use the content on-line and to acquire a key for decoding of the encrypted content.
The encrypted content data can be decoded by an on-line procedure, using the key acquired from the content use rights sale center, such that the data can be restored by decoding to decoded data (or plain text) at a user terminal. The data encrypting and decoding method, which employs a secret key for encrypting the information and a decoding key for decrypting the information, has been used extensively.
Among the variety of data encrypting or decrypting methods employing the secret key and decoding key is a system known as a common key encryption system. The common key encryption system uses a secret key for data encryption, a decoding key used for decrypting the data, and a common key for encryption and decoding by an authorized user to prevent an unauthorized user who does not have the key from accessing the data. Typical of this system is a data encryption standard (DES).
The secret key and the decoding key used in the above-described encryption and decoding may be obtained by an authorized user using a uni-directional function, such as a Hash function based, e.g., on a password. The uni-directional function is a function whose input is extremely difficult to find from the output by a reverse path. For example, a uni-directional function may use a user-selected password as input to generate the secret and decoding keys. It is virtually impossible to derive the password from the secret and decoding keys by tracing a reverse path.
Open key encryption systems exist in which an algorithm different from that used to decode is used to process the secret key during encryption. The open key may be used by unidentified users. Specifically, a document may be encrypted using the open key distributed by the individual or acquired from an authentication office. The document encrypted by the open key may be decoded only by the secret key corresponding to the open key that was used for the encryption. Since the secret key is owned solely by the person who distributed the open key, the document encrypted by the open key may be decoded solely by the owner of the secret key. A typical open key encryption system is the Rivest-Shamir-Adleman (RSA) cipher.
By exploiting this encryption system, encrypted content can be decoded solely by an authorized user.
FIG. 1 shows a typical configuration in which content, such as programs, speech data or video data, are acquired from a data providing means, such as a DVD, a CD 30 or the Internet 40. The content is reproduced by a reproducing means 10, such as game equipment, and can be stored in a memory means 20, such as a floppy disc, a memory card or a hard disc.
The content is encrypted and sent to a user having the replay means 10. An authorized user also receives, in addition to the encrypted data, key data in the form of encryption and decoding keys for the encrypted data.
The reproducing means 10 includes a central processor unit (CPU) 12 that controls the input data reproducing operation that is carried out by a reproducing unit 14. The reproducing unit decodes the encrypted data to reproduce the program and the content provided, such as audio or picture data 12.
The authorized user saves the content in the memory means 20 to later re-use the programs provided. The reproducing means 10 includes a storage processor 13 for this purpose. To prevent unauthorized use of data stored in the memory means 20, the storage processor 13 also encrypts the data.
To encrypt the content, a key for content encryption is used. The saving processor 13 uses content encryption to cipher the content so that the ciphered content may be stored in a storage unit 21 of the storage means 20.
To acquire and reproduce the content stored in the memory means 20, the user obtains encrypted data from the storage means 20 and then executes decoding in the reproducing unit 14 of the reproducing means 10 using a decoding key to acquire and reproduce decoded data from the encrypted data.
To utilize the ciphered content, it is necessary to acquire authenticated use rights for the content from a content use rights sale center, and so it is necessary to purchase the key applicable to the decoding of the ciphered content. There are a variety of methods of payment, such as (1) inputting a credit card number into a terminal for transmission to the content use rights sale center, (2) inputting a user bank account number into a terminal for transmission to the content use rights sale center, (3) registering, at the content use rights sale center, the credit card number or a bank account number in advance so that debits are effected based on the pre-registered data, and (4) using an electronic money for payment.
In the above payment methods (1) to (3), user credit card numbers and the bank account numbers are needed. Thus, users who do not have a credit card or a bank account cannot easily make such payments. Also, for the transaction of the content in smaller units, such as for distributing music content, the transaction may be for a sole musical number. In such a case, the content fee is of a small monetary value. Also, the need to present the credit number or the bank account number tends to restrict the circulation of content.
Such desired use of electronic money as in method (4) is in the tentative stage and the form of utilization is not yet established and thus is not in extensive use.


The number of channels is changed in accordance with an operation mode in an image pickup apparatus. An image-pickup control unit 240 determines the number of operation channels W in accordance with an operation mode. A sensor unit 210 outputs an image pickup signal corresponding to each pixel in accordance with the number of operation channels W. A data sending unit 220 performs serial conversion on image pickup signals, and transfers them to the image processing unit 300 using a high-speed interface (a signal line 229) such as an LVDS in accordance with the number of operation channels W. A data receiving unit 311 performs parallel conversion on the transferred serial signal for each of the channels in units of M bits. A data reconstruction unit 500 detects a synchronization code embedded in the parallel signals, extracts data windows, and supplies, to a signal line 319, image pickup signals of bit length n which are reconstructed from the data windows. A clock gating circuit 330 supplies a clock CLK3 to a signal line 337 only during a period in which a valid flag (a signal line 316) indicates validity.

In recent years, as semiconductor technology progresses, an image sensor in an image pickup apparatus has been speeded up. Because of this, a high-speed interface has been employed in order to improve the data transmission speed from the image sensor to a signal processing unit. As such an image pickup apparatus, for example, an apparatus employing an LVDS (Low Voltage Differential Signaling) transmission scheme for data transmission from an image sensor to a signal processing unit has been proposed (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-244709 (FIG. 1)). This LVDS transmission scheme is a scheme used to speed up the transmission speed and reduce power consumption by using differential signals of small amplitude which are opposite to each other (are different in polarity).
The above-described existing technology enables low-amplitude signals to be transmitted at high speed by using a differential amplifier.
However, there are various operation modes for such an image pickup apparatus, and there may be a case in which the transmission speed is not important such as an operation mode for picking up a low-resolution image. Even in such a case, some power is consumed in order to drive a differential amplifier. Thus, even if the frequency of the differential amplifier is lowered, it has little effect in reducing power consumption.
On the other hand, since image pickup signals supplied from the image sensor are in a certain order, if the number of active differential amplifiers, that is, the number of channels is simply changed according to an operation mode, the loss of an image pickup signal may occur.
The present invention has been made in light of such circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to change the number of channels in accordance with an operation mode of an image pickup apparatus.

Imager, imaging circuit, and image processing circuit