In order to make it possible to stably and smoothly perform the operation of position adjustment of a steering wheel 1, the electric position adjustment apparatus for a steering wheel of the present invention is such that: a concave engaging section 19a of a moving piece 16a that moves in the forward/backward direction with an electric motor 56 as a driving source has a cylindrical concave-shaped inner-circumferential surface; a cylindrical column section 65 of a transmission member 17a that transmits the movement of the moving piece 16a to a steering column 5b is inserted into the concave engaging section 19a by way of cylindrical spacer 72 and has a cylindrical convex-shaped outer-circumferential surface; and a cylindrical spacer 72 has a cylindrical convex-shaped outer-circumferential surface and a cylindrical concave-shaped inner-circumferential surface.

Various kinds of structure for electric position adjustment apparatuses for a steering wheel are known, and some are already being applied to steering apparatuses for automobiles. FIG. 21 illustrates a first example of conventional structure as disclosed in JP 2010-116042 (A). A steering shaft 2 to which a steering wheel 1 is fastened has a cylindrical shaped outer shaft 3, and a circular rod shaped inner shaft 4 that is inserted into the outer shaft 3 and is able to slide in the axial direction and transmit rotational force. More specifically, the inner circumferential surface from the middle section to the front-end section of the outer shaft 3 and the outer circumferential surface of the rear-end section of the inner shaft 4 are connected with spline engagement. The steering wheel 1 is fastened to the rear-end section of the outer shaft 3.
The steering shaft 2 is inserted into a cylindrical steering column 5, and is supported so as to be able to rotate freely. The steering column 5 has a cylindrical shaped outer column 6 that is supported by the vehicle body, and a cylindrical inner column 7 that is inserted into the outer column 6 so as to be able to slide in the axial direction. The rear end side portion of the middle section of the outer shaft 3 is supported on the inner side of the rear-end section of the inner column 7 such that displacement in the axial direction is prevented, and so as to be able to rotate freely. Moreover, the front end side portion of the middle section of the inner shaft 4 is supported on the inner side of the front-end section of the outer column 6 such that displacement in the axial direction is prevented, and so as to be able to rotate freely. With this structure, the steering shaft 2 is supported on the inside of the steering column 5 so as to be able to rotate freely, and the outer shaft 3 and inner column 7 are able to move in the forward/backward direction relative to the inner shaft 4 and outer column 6.
The apparatus of this first example of conventional structure is equipped with an electric actuator for making it possible to adjust the forward/backward position of the steering wheel 1 of a gear housing 8 that is fastened to the bottom surface of the outer column 6; a feed nut 9 that is supported on the inside of the gear housing 8 so that only rotation is possible with displacement in the axial direction prevented; a push-pull arm 10 that is fastened to the portion on the rear-end section of the inner column 7 that protrudes further toward the rear than the outer column 6; a push-pull rod 11 having a male screw section 12 provided on the front half section thereof that screws into the feed nut 9, and a rear-end section that is connected to the push-pull arm 10; and an electric motor (not illustrated in the figure) that is connected to the feed nut 9 by way of a worm reduction gear 13, and that rotates and drives the feed nut 9.
When adjusting the forward/backward position of the steering wheel 1, the feed nut 9 is rotated and the push-pull rod 11 is caused to displace in the axial direction. As the push-pull rod 11 displaces, the inner column 7 displaces in the same direction as the push-pull rod 11 by way of the push-pull arm 10, and by causing the outer shaft 3 that is supported on the inside of the inner column 7 to move in the forward/backward direction, the forward/backward position of the steering wheel 1 is adjusted.
In the electric position adjustment apparatus for a steering wheel of this first example of conventional construction, there is a possibility that the driver that is operating the steering wheel 1 will have a strange or uncomfortable feeling due to a small gap that exists in a joint section between the rear-end section of the outer column 6 and the front-end section of the inner column 7. In other words, in an electric position adjustment apparatus for a steering wheel, differing from a manual apparatus, the diameter of the rear-end section of the outer column 6 is not reduced even when maintaining the position of the steering wheel 1 after adjustment, so the small gap remains in the joint section. There is a possibility that the inner column 7 that supports the outer shaft 3 to which the steering wheel 1 is fastened may move or vibrate with respect to the outer column 6 that is supported by the vehicle body. There is also a possibility, that due to this movement, the support rigidity of the steering wheel 1 will decrease, giving the driver that operates the steering wheel 1 an uncomfortable feeling. Moreover, this backlash movement causes the resonant frequency of the portion of the electric position adjustment apparatus for a steering wheel that makes up the steering column apparatus that includes the steering shaft 2 and steering column 5 to become lower, and thus when there is minute vibration of the vehicle body such as when traveling over a rough road, there is a possibility that unpleasant noise or vibration will occur in this portion of the steering column apparatus.
FIG. 22 and FIG. 23 illustrate a second example of conventional structure as disclosed in JP 2006-297989 (A). In this second example of conventional structure as well, using construction similar to that of the first example of conventional structure, a steering shaft 2a is supported inside a steering column 5a so as to be able to rotate freely, and an outer shaft 3a and inner column 7a move in the forward and backward direction relative to an inner shaft 4a and outer column 6a.
In the apparatus of this second example of conventional structure, by using a linear motion ultrasonic motor 15 that is supported by the bottom end section of an installation bracket 14 as an electric actuator for making it possible to adjust the forward/backward position of the steering wheel 1, it is possible for the inner column 7a to displace in the axial direction with respect to the outer column 6a. More specifically, a moving piece 16 of the linear motion ultrasonic motor 15 is connected with the inner column 7a by a transmission member 17, and by transmitting the movement of the moving piece 16 to the inner column 7a, the inner column 7a is able to move in the forward/backward direction. The base end section of the transmission member 17 is linked with the moving piece 16 by way of a spherical joint 18. The spherical joint 18 has: a concave engaging section 19 that is formed in the moving piece 16; a spacer 20 that fits with and is supported by the concave engaging section 19, and that has an inner circumferential surface that is a spherical concave surface; a spherical engaging section 21 that is provided on the tip-end section of the transmission member 17, and has an outer circumferential surface that is a spherical convex surface that fits spherically with the inner circumferential surface of the spacer 20.
When adjusting the forward/backward position of the steering wheel 1, the linear motion ultrasonic motor 15 causes the moving piece 16 to displace in the axial direction of the steering column 5a. This displacement, by way of the transmission member 17, causes the inner column 7a to displace in the same direction as the moving piece 16, which causes the outer shaft 3a that is supported on the inside of the inner column 7a to displace in the forward/backward direction together with the inner column 7a. As a result, as illustrated by the two-dot chain line, it becomes possible to adjust the forward/backward position of the steering wheel 1.
In the case of this second example of conventional structure, there is a structural problem in that the manufacturing cost for maintaining smooth operation of the engaging section between the moving piece 16 and the transmission member 17 increases. In other words, in order to smoothly perform adjustment of the forward/backward position of the steering wheel 1 without backlash movement, it is necessary to adequately regulate the engagement strength of the engaging section between the spherical engaging section 21 of the transmission member 17 and the engaging section of the spacer 20. When this engagement strength is too low, there is a positive gap in the engaging section, so backlash movement occurs between the spherical engaging section 21 and spacer 20, and thus it becomes easy for backlash movement of the steering wheel 1 to occur in the forward/backward direction. On the other hand, when this engagement strength is too high, it becomes impossible for pivotal displacement of the spacer 20 with respect to the spherical engaging section 21 to be performed smoothly.
In this second example of conventional structure, the amount of movement of the moving piece 16 in the forward/backward direction is large, and unless there is a good degree of parallelism between the direction of movement of this moving piece 16 and the direction of movement of the inner column 7a during adjustment of the forward/backward position of the steering wheel 1, the transmission member 17 will displace in the axial direction of this transmission member 17 relative to the moving piece 16 due to the adjustment of the forward/backward position of the steering wheel 1. This relative movement causes rubbing in the axial direction of the transmission member 17 between the outer circumferential surface of the spacer 20 and the inner circumferential surface of the concave engaging section 19. When this occurs and the engagement strength is too high and pivotal displacement of the spacer 20 with respect to the spherical engaging section 21 is not performed smoothly, there will be strong rubbing between the outer circumferential surface of the spacer 20 and the inner circumferential surface of the concave engaging section 19, and there will be a possibility that strange noise or vibration will occur, causing the passengers to have an uncomfortable feeling. Particularly, in this state, the surface that allows relative displacement in the axial direction of the transmission member 17 between the transmission member 17 and the moving piece 16 is limited to one location on the outer circumferential surface of the spacer 20 and the inner circumferential surface of the concave engaging section 19, so it becomes easy for the rubbing length to become long, and thus it becomes even easier for strange noise or vibration to occur.
Highly precise processing of the inner circumferential surface of the spacer 20, which is a concave spherical surface, and the outer circumferential surface of the spherical engaging section 21, which is a convex spherical surface, in order to prevent the occurrence of this strange noise or vibration leads to a high cost. Moreover, even when the spherical engaging section 21 is accurately manufactured, it is impossible to avoid the outer diameter of the transmission member 17 from becoming small at the base end section of the spherical engaging section 21. Therefore it becomes easy for large stresses to occur in the neck section of the transmission member 17 during adjustment of forward/backward position of the steering wheel 1, and thus this kind of construction is disadvantageous from the aspect of maintaining sufficient durability during use over a long period of time.
As a structure for preventing the occurrence of strange noise or vibration in portions of the steering column apparatus, there is a mechanism such as illustrated in FIG. 24 and disclosed in JP 6,076,908 (B2) in which retaining holes 22 are formed in part in the axial direction of an outer column 6b, and by adjustment screws 24 that are screwed into female screws 23 that are formed in the retaining holes 22 pressing synthetic resin pads 26 so as to be in contact with the outer circumferential surface of an inner column 7b, backlash movement of portions of the steering column apparatus is prevented. However, in this mechanism, when the pressure force for pressing the pads 26 against the outer circumferential surface of the inner column 7b is made just large enough so that backlash movement can be prevented, the friction force when moving the outer column 6b and inner column 7b becomes large, so there is a problem in that the drive load on the motor, such as an electric motor, becomes large and the operating sound becomes large.

Electric position adjustment apparatus for steering wheel


A method for treatment of a vascular or cardiovascular condition or acute coronary syndromes comprises administering an effective amount of a flavone 8-carboxylic acid to a mammal suffering from a vascular or cardiovascular condition or acute coronary syndromes. The flavone 8-carboxylic acid is typically flavone 8-acetic acid. The flavone 8-carboxylic acid can be administered alone or in combination with another agent such as a thrombolytic agent, an antithrombotic agent, an anticoagulant, or an antiplatelet agent. The invention also includes pharmaceutical compositions formulated for the treatment of a vascular or cardiovascular condition or acute coronary syndromes.

This invention is directed to the use of flavone 8-acetic acid and its homologues in vascular and cardiovascular intervention and in acute coronary syndromes, alone or in combination with thrombolytic agents, antithrombotic agents, anticoagulants, or antiplatelet agents.
Vascular and cardiovascular diseases, including stroke, myocardial infarction, and blood clots, continue to be major causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States and other advanced industrial countries. A number of genetic and environmental factors have been linked to the occurrence of vascular and cardiovascular diseases, including genetic errors of lipid or lipoprotein metabolism and lifestyle factors such as tobacco smoking, the consumption of foods high in saturated fat, and lack of exercise. Despite a number of recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of such diseases, they are still among the leading causes of death in the United States.
Therefore, there is a need for improved treatments for vascular and cardiovascular diseases. There is a particular need for agents and treatments that can treat both thrombosis and vasoconstriction in a coordinated manner.
The administration of a flavone 8-carboxylic acid is effective in treating vascular and cardiovascular conditions and acute coronary syndromes.
In particular, one aspect of a method according to the present invention comprises a method for treating a vascular or cardiovascular condition or acute coronary syndromes comprising administering an effective amount of a flavone 8-carboxylic acid of formula (I)
where n is an integer from 1 to 3 to a mammal suffering from a vascular or cardiovascular condition or acute coronary syndromes.
Preferably, the flavone 8-carboxylic acid is flavone 8-acetic acid, in which n is 1.
The mammal can be a human or a socially or economically important nonhuman animal.
The flavone 8-carboxylic acid can act by reducing thrombosis or by reducing vasoconstriction.
Another aspect of the present invention is a method for treating a vascular or cardiovascular condition or acute coronary syndromes comprising administering an effective amount of a flavone 8-carboxylic acid of formula (I) where n is an integer from 1 to 3 and an additional agent that can ameliorate a vascular or a cardiovascular condition or acute coronary syndromes to a mammal suffering from a vascular or cardiovascular condition or acute coronary syndromes.
The additional agent can be selected from the group consisting of a thrombolytic agent, an antithrombotic agent, an anticoagulant, or an antiplatelet agent.
Thrombolytic agents include streptokinase, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), and urokinase and modifications or derivatives of these molecules. Aminocaproic acid is an antithrombotic agent. Anticoagulants include heparin, warfarin, dicoumarol, phenprocoumon, acenocoumarol, ethyl biscoumacetate, and anisindione. Antiplatelet agents include aspirin, dipyramidole, ticlopidine, and plavix.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is a pharmaceutical composition comprising:
(1) an effective amount of a flavone 8-carboxylic acid of formula (I) where n is an integer from 1 to 3; and
(2) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, the pharmaceutical composition being formulated for the treatment of a vascular or cardiovascular condition or acute coronary syndromes.

Use of flavone 8-acetic acid in vascular and cardiovascular interventions and acute coronary syndromes


There is disclosed a hand cover such as a glove or mitten having at least a portion of its frontal surface bearing an outwardly exposed thin pad of reticulated plastic foam. Reticulated plastic foam is a non-capillary, open skeletal fibrous structure that is obtained from open cell plastic foam by destroying a substantial quantity of the cell walls with a suitable treatment, leaving an intertwined skeletal fibrous structure. In various embodiments, the thin pad of reticulated foam overlies the palm, the frontal surfaces of the fingers, the entire frontal surface of the hand, or the entire hand. The reticulated foam provides a vastly superior grip to objects such as tools, bats, rackets and the like.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to a hand cover and, in particular, to a glove or mitten having a superior grip.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
A universal problem encountered by workers and athletes is that wet objects are difficult to grip and when the hand becomes wet with perspiration or oil, a secure grip cannot be maintained without great difficulty. Prior investigators have suggested the use of sleeve coverings and wraps of various materials which are applied to the handles of tools and rackets to avoid this problem. These coverings all suffer from a number of shortcomings and, in my prior patent, U.S. Pat. No. 4,098,506, I disclose an improved sleeve covering for tools and racket handles which is formed of reticulated foam that provides a firm gripping surface even when wet.
In my copending prior application, Ser. No. 904,538, filed on May 10, 1978, I disclose the application of a tape of reticulated foam that is applied as a wrapping to the handle of tools and the like.
A difficulty with covering handles of tools and the like is that the coverings are not readily or immediately removeable and, in addition, a large number of objects are not adaptable to covering with sheet material. To illustrate, wet ropes, fish and watermelons are all difficult to grasp when wet and are not adaptable to covering with the reticulated foam.


A DC superconductor quantum interference device (i.e. DC SQUID) is used in a flux-locked loop as a sensitive detector of magnetic flux. Prior art devices of this sort had a transfer function which was frequency-limited by the transfer function of impedance matching circuitry which is used to connect the DC SQUID with the first preamplifier, which amplifies the DC SQUID signal before it is applied to a detector circuit. The present invention corrects this frequency limitation by creating a compensating circuit having a transfer function which is the inverse of that of the impedance matching circuitry, and inserting it in the system after the first preamplifier and before the detector circuit.

Superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) are very sensitive detectors of magnetic flux. It is known to use a DC SQUID in a flux-locked loop as a null detector of magnetic flux. Typically a DC SQUID is exposed to a flux to be detected, and is simultaneously modulated with an alternating flux of some reference frequency. If there is no flux to be detected, the output signal from the DC SQUID resulting from the modulating flux contains only a signal of twice the reference frequency. If, however, there is flux to be detected, the DC SQUID output signal approaches closer to the reference frequency, with the polarity of the output signal varying with the polarity of the flux to be detected. A lock-in detector at the reference frequency and phase will provide an output voltage proportional in amplitude and equal in polarity to the flux to be detected. Locking of the detector reference frequency to the frequency and phase of the modulation flux results in a flux-locked loop.
If a square-wave modulation and demodulation process is employed, then the following equations hold:
for the modulation process, s.sub.m (t)=s.sub.s (t).times.m(t) PA1 for the demodulation process, s.sub.d (t)=s.sub.m (t).times.M(t) PA1 s.sub.s (t) is the DC SQUID output signal, PA1 s.sub.m (t) is the modulated signal, PA1 m(t) is a square wave modulating signal, PA1 s.sub.d (t) is the detected signal, and PA1 M(t) is the demodulation signal proportional to M(t).
where
Because M(t).times.m(t) is a constant, the detected signal is proportional to the output signal of the DC SQUID. In the conventional approach, the modulated signal is distorted and the original signal cannot be reconstructed completely.
Because the DC SQUID, operated at 4.2 degrees Kelvin, has a low output resistance (typically a few ohms) and since the input resistance of the room temperature operated pre-amplifier is on the order of several thousand ohms, some form of impedance matching is necessary. Typically, the impedance matching is accomplished via a coldside transformer or resonant LC circuit. In addition, these impedance matching networks also provide a limited amount of signal gain, so as to improve the signal-to-noise ratio associated with the transmission line used to couple the signal from the DC SQUID to the warmside preamplifier. However, the use of these impedance matching networks severely limits the bandwidth of the DC SQUID flux-locked loop (FLL).

Channel equalized DC squid flux-locked loop

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


Orientation sensing apparatus including a bubble suspended in liquid contained within a transparent cylindrical container, light sources aligned along the cylindrical axis of the container that transmit light via light pathways for illuminating the bubble, light sensors disposed along the circumference of the container that receive light via light pathways for measuring the amount of light reflected from the bubble, and signal processing circuitry for converting the light sensors' readings into an orientation indicating signal for communication to other electronic devices.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to orientation sensors, and more particularly to an improved sensor for producing electrical signals corresponding to angular position about a generally horizontal axis.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
It is well established that a spirit (or carpenter's) level comprised of a transparent elongated vial enclosing a fluid and a bubble can be used to indicate a level orientation. Further, it has been recognized that the light transmission, reflection or refraction characteristics associated with a fluid-filled spirit level can be utilized by light sensitive electronic devices to remotely and more accurately sense level status. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,154,000 shows a transparent elongated spirit level device utilizing pairs of concentrated light beam sources and photodetectors configured so that the position of a bubble can be sensed by the disruption of a refracted light beam's path through a liquid. Such a device, using two pairs of sources and detectors located near the middle of the vial, can fairly effectively determine whether a "level" condition exists. However, if measurement of the off-level angle is desired, additional source/sensor pairs spaced along the length of the vial must be employed. In such a configuration, the position of the bubble in the vial (which corresponds to the off-level angle) is determined by which of the source/detector beams has been interrupted. However, the precision of such a device's measurements is severely limited by the number of source/detector pairs employed, which is usually limited by space constraints and beam overlap considerations. Further, the angular range of measurement of such an elongated spirit level is usually limited to just a few degrees off-level.
International Pat. App. No. PCT/F189/00083 discloses an elongated spirit level device in which multiple sources are mounted along the side perimeter of the vial, and a photodetector is mounted directly below the center of the vial. As the light sources are sequentially lit, readings are taken from the photodetector measuring the amount of light reflected from the bottom of the bubble. After readings have been taken corresponding to all of the sources, a computer can compare the readings and determine the bubble's location within the vial. It is evident that such an arrangement would require complex electronics to perform the sequential lighting of the sources and the corresponding synchronous measurements of the photodetector Further, the speed of such a device is necessarily limited by the speed at which the sources can be sequentially turned on and off, as well as the speed at which the computer can measure, process and compare the photodetector readings.


A fly catcher includes a housing having an orifice formed in an upper peripheral portion and communicating with an inner chamber of the housing, and a cover includes a lower peripheral portion rotatably engaged with the upper peripheral portion of the housing, the cover includes an opening for selectively aligning with the orifice of the housing when the cover is rotated relative to the housing, and the cover includes a casing extended from an upper portion into the cover, and the casing includes an aperture for guiding a fly or mosquito into the cover and the housing. The cover includes a key slidably engaged with a channel of the housing for guiding and limiting the cover to rotate relative to the housing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fly catcher, and more particularly to a fly catcher including an improved and simplified structure or configuration that may be easily and quickly made or manufactured by the workers with a simplified making or manufacturing procedure and with a decreased manufacturing cost.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various kinds of typical fly catchers or mosquito lamps have been developed and provided for catching and removing flies and/or mosquitos, and normally comprise a housing for attracting and receiving the flies and/or the mosquitos, in which the typical mosquito lamps are required to be energized with electric power or energy. The other typical fly catchers have been developed and provided for catching and removing flies and/or mosquitos without electric power or energy.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,141,173 to Welmert et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,217,723 to Hrebec, U.S. Pat. No. 5,363,589 to Flynn, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,461,822 to Green et al. disclose several of the typical fly catchers each also comprising a housing for attracting and receiving the flies and/or the mosquitos.
However, the typical fly catchers includes a complicated structure or configuration that may not be easily and quickly made or manufactured by the workers, and that may include a complicated making or manufacturing procedure, and that may include a greatly increased manufacturing cost.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional fly catchers or the like.


A flail chain unloader for discharging particulate material from a lower output of an upright storage vessel includes a rotating shaft extending upwardly of the central portion of the vessel above the outlet and flail chains secured to the shaft at different levels thereon to rotate with the shaft and loosen the particulate materials in the vessel to flow downwardly for discharge through the lower outlet. One or more upper flail chains are secured adjacent an upper level portion of the shaft and have outer ends movable in a generally circular path closely adjacent the inside wall surface of the vessel for loosening the material adjacent the vessel wall. At least one set of intermediate flail chains of a relatively short length is provided at spaced apart lower levels below the upper flail chains in order to dig out the material in the central portion of the vessel around the shaft. These short length chains are designed to minimize entanglement with the upper longer flail chains when the unloader is starting up from rest and the chains are hanging downwardly around the shaft before sufficient centrifugal force is attained for the chains to swing outwardly toward a horizontal orbit around the vessel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to flail chain unloaders for discharging particulate material from the lower outlet of an upright storage vessel and, more particularly, to an unloader of the character described which is suitable for use with relatively fine or small sized particulate type of materials stored in an upwardly extending storage vessel and which materials are free-flowing and do not tend to bridge, form open pockets or a void in the region around the unloader while the unloader is in a stationary or inoperative condition.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Flail chain type unloaders have long been used for discharging silage material from upright agricultural silos and these type of unloaders employ swinging flail chains attached to an upright, centrally located, rotating shaft at succeeding spaced apart levels with ever increasing chain lengths until reaching a maximum length chain having an outer end movable in a path closely adjacent an inside wall surface of the silo. Additional upper flail chains of shorter length may normally be provided and spaced above the maximum length chains in order to dig out a crown-shaped bridge or roof of an open space in the silage mass at the bottom of the silo around the unloader. The silage bridge above the unloader permits the silage to move slowly downwardly into the path of the flail chains during an unloading operation. When the unloader is shut down, the silage normally tends to remain in a bridged condition providing a somewhat open pocket or void around the unloader so that when the unloader is again started by rotation of the shaft, the flail chains of varying lengths can move upwardly after becoming disentangled from one another and out of the hanging or rest position to occupy a normal operating horizontal position wherein the chains eat away or cut away a bottom layer of the silage bridging across the silo so that the entire mass of silage above the unloader moves slowly down as the unloading operation proceeds.
Typical prior art flail chain unloaders for silage in agricultural silos are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,907,131; 3,142,656 and 4,079,848, which patents are assigned to the same assignee as the present application, and which patents are incorporated herein by reference. These type of silage unloaders may be unsuitable for use with relatively fine and/or free-flowing particulate materials such as agricultural grains, wood chips, plastic beads, meat meal, fish meal, etc., which commodities are oftentimes stored in upright silos or vessels for commercial operations. In general, freely flowable materials stored in commercial and industrial silos such as sand and granular materials tend to flow more easily than stringly silage material and these free-flowing particulates tend to fill up a lower portion of the vessel surrounding the flail chain type unloader when stopped so that thereafter, upon initial start up of the unloader for the purpose of discharging material from the storage vessel, the elongated flail chains and particularly the longer ones at the upper levels, are often unable to become disentangled from the progressively shorter chains therebelow and ineffective discharge results. Sometimes the longer chains never become disentangled enough to move outwardly into the normal horizontally extending operating position for digging out and dislodging the material to flow downwardly into the discharge opening.
Attempts at using conventional types silage unloaders having chain lengths as illustrated in the foregoing patents for free-flowing particulates have sometimes been unsuccessful because of the inability of the upper, longer unloader chains to become disentangled from lower chains during initial start up.

Flail chain unloader for particulate material


A light of measurement emitted from a semiconductor laser (1) is incident to a beam splitter formed by a prism (4). The light of measurement transmits into an incident surface (3) having a positive power so as to be emitted to a reflecting surface (5c) of measurement. A light reflected there is returned by a beam splitting surface (4a) so as to be reflected by a concave reflecting surface (6). The reflected light is returned so as to be condensed and focused on a light receiving surface (8) of sensor in a light measuring device (7). A position of a spot of light which is received is measured so as to measure the deflection angle of a rotating mirror (5). By doing this, it is possible to form a compact device even if the length of the optical path is long. As a result, it is possible to broaden the deflection angle measuring range.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a deflection angle measuring device, an optical signal switching system, an information recording and replaying system, deflection angle measuring method, and optical signal switching method.
The present application is based on patent application No. 2002-79150 filed in Japan, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, technology for optical information communication and optical information recording has been developed tremendously; thus, information transmitting density and information recording density have increased greatly. In this technology area, it is necessary that a technique for measuring and controlling an inclination of an light deflecting mirror accurately so as to be used in for an optical signal switch for optically switching optical fiber networks and relay stations and a tracking-control for an optical pickup in an optical information recording and replaying system improves.
For such a purpose, various sensors for measuring the deflection angle have been proposed conventionally.
Such a conventional technology is disclosed in prior art documents such as Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Second Publication No. Hei7-66554, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication, No. Hei8-227552, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication, No. 11-144273, and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication, No. 11-144274.
In Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Second Publication No. Hei7-66554, a device for measuring a relative angle between a light path of a beam which is emitted from an optical pickup to a recording medium and a recording surface on the recording medium. Such a device is provided with an illuminating element for emitting a light to a recording surface and two light receiving element which are disposed on both sides of the illuminating element for detecting a light which is reflected from the recording surface. In this technique, a difference between the amount of the reflected lights which are detected by two light receiving elements are measured so as to measure an amount of inclination of the recording medium.
In Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication, No. Hei 8-227552, a device for measuring a relative angle between a light path of a beam which is emitted from an optical pickup to a recording surface and a recording surface on the recording medium is also disclosed. This device receives a light which is reflected at the recording medium at a light-receiving surface which is divided in four regions so as to measure an amount of inclination in two directions according to the amount of received light.
Also, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication, No. 11-144273, and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication, No. 11-144274, it is disclosed that an angle-measuring light flux is emitted to a galvano-meter mirror which is used for a fine-movement tracking of an optical pickup, and an amount of the light which is reflected there is measured by a light measuring device through a beam splitter of which reflection ratio changes according to an incident angle; thus, an inclination angle is measured.
Also, in particular, a conventional optical signal switching system such as an optical MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) switches the angle of a light deflecting mirror at a predetermined deflection angle according to a predetermined signal.

Deflection angle measuring device, optical signal switching system, information recording and replaying system, deflection angle measuring method, and optical signal switching method


In an image generating device, descriptions of objects which constitute an image are stored in an intermediate form in a display list. The data which describes the objects is stored in an plurality of lists, where each list is related to a region of the image. To create each list, objects that appear in a given region of the image which are of the same type and which have the same appearance state are collected in buffers. A collection of objects is stored as a single entry in the display list upon change of the appearance state. As a result, the amount of overhead required to store the identifications of the objects is reduced.

In a computer-based imaging system, data which describes an image is generated in a host computer, for example by means of a desktop publishing program, and then forwarded to an image generating device where it is converted into a format that can be used by the device. In an exemplary system, the image data from the host computer might be in the format of a high-level page description language (PDL). One example of a well-known PDL is PostScript. In the host computer, graphic commands from the desktop publishing program, or other suitable application program, are converted into PDL commands. These commands are sent to the printer which interprets them and determines which types of graphics operations are to be performed, such as draw a rectangle or a particular character of text. The interpretation process typically also determines associated graphic state arguments that apply to each object, such as color, font, size, and the like. This information is then converted into pixel display values which are stored in a frame buffer to represent the shapes and colors of the objects. The values in the frame buffer are used to control the operation of the active elements in a print engine, such as a laser diode in a laser printer or a print head in an inkjet printer, to form the image. The process of converting the high-level PDL commands into the frame buffer display values is known as rendering.
To increase the overall rate at which printing is carried out, particularly for complex documents containing different types of objects, the various steps of the rendering process might be pipelined. At one or more stages of the process, the image data is converted to an intermediate form which can be utilized more efficiently by the next stage. For example, in one well-known type of operation relating to laser printers, high-level graphics operations are determined from the PDL data, and stored in a display list from which they are provided to the stage which generates the individual pixel display values.
Typically, one of two different types of organization is employed to store data pertaining to objects and graphic states in the display list. In one form of organization, the objects are sorted by time, i.e., they are stored in the order in which they were drawn by the user. In the other form, the objects are sorted by their position in the image, with reference to the direction of output device processing, e.g., the scanning of a laser beam across a photosensitive element in a laser printer. Sorting by time offers the advantage that it preserves imaging order. If a later-created object overlaps an earlier created object, it will obscure some or all of the earlier-created objects in the final image (assuming the objects are opaque). The time-sorted display list inherently identifies the overlapping relationship of the objects without the need to store additional information pertaining thereto. However, the list of objects can jump from one location on the page to another and back, which can result in certain inefficiencies in some types of rendering implementations. When the display list is sorted by position, more efficient rendering can be carried out. However, this approach requires additional information to be stored in the list which identifies the relative depth, i.e., front-to-back relationship, of objects in the image.
Even with time-sorted display lists, the amount of information to be stored is a significant consideration for purposes of efficient memory allocation. More particularly, each entry in the display list represents a shape or a graphics state command, e.g., color, to be applied to subsequent entries. In addition to this image data, each entry has some associated overhead information. This overhead information might comprise a header which describes the type of entry, and a pointer or other reference to the next entry on the list. In doubly-linked lists, another pointer refers back to the previous entry on the list.
It is desirable to store image data in a display list, or other intermediate form of data storage, in a manner which provides the benefits of both time-sorted entries and position-sorted entries, without the limitations associated with each. It is also desirable to minimize the overall amount of information that is stored in a display list, to provide more efficient memory utilization.

Image generation with dynamically consolidated list of image data


A method for generating an adaptively interpolated projection of an object with an imaging system includes generating a first projection using a first interpolation kernel, generating a second projection using a second interpolation kernel, different from the first interpolation kernel, and taking a difference between the first projection and the second projection to generate a differential signal.

This invention relates to computed tomographic (CT) imaging, and more particularly to methods and apparatus for reducing imaging artifacts in image generated using a multi-slice CT imaging system.
Some known helical algorithms use helical weighting functions that are determined based on the geometric information of a scanner. In other words, the weighting function does not change from scan-to-scan or patient-to-patient, as long as the scanning protocol remains the same. Although these algorithms have been performing somewhat satisfactorily in a clinical setting, recent investigations have revealed severe image artifacts. Studies have shown that all of the existing algorithms perform roughly the same in terms of image artifacts. Traditionally, these artifacts are suppressed by applying a low-pass filtering along the z-axis. The low-pass filtering can be carried out either in the projection space or in the image space. This approach, however, merely trades off image artifacts with the slice thickness. In order to achieve reasonable artifact suppression, a 20% or more degradation in slice thickness is encountered.
In one aspect, a method for generating an adaptively interpolated projection of an object with an imaging system is provided. The method includes generating a first projection using a first interpolation kernel, generating a second projection using a second interpolation kernel, different from the first interpolation kernel, and taking a difference between the first projection and the second projection to generate a differential signal.
In another aspect, a computer to generate an adaptively interpolated projection of an object with a scanning imaging operable in at least one of a high speed data acquisition mode and a high quality data acquisition mode is provided. The computer is programmed to generate a first projection using a first interpolation kernel, generate a second projection using a second interpolation kernel, different from the first interpolation kernel, and take a difference between the first projection and the second projection to generate a differential signal.
In a further aspect, a computed tomographic (CT) imaging system for generating an adaptively interpolated projection of an object is provided. The CT system includes a detector array, at least one radiation source, and a computer coupled to the detector array and the radiation source. The computer is configured to generate a first projection using a first interpolation kernel, generate a second projection using a second interpolation kernel, different from the first interpolation kernel, take a difference between the first projection and the second projection to generate a differential signal, filter the differential signal using a low-pass filter, and map the filtered differential signal to a scaling function to generate an adaptively interpolated projection.

Methods and apparatus for multi-slice image reconstruction

GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC


The invention relates to an optical system or apparatus such as a lens system capable of focus control and a variable-focus lens, which has reduced power consumptions, ensures noiseless operation and fast response and contributes to cost reductions for the reason of simplified structure. Specifically, the invention provides an optical apparatus comprising an element 409 having variable optical properties and an image plane 612. To correct the optical apparatus for movement of the image-formation surface of an optical system 614 in association with a change in the element 409 having variable optical properties, the image plane 612 is placed in the range of movement of the image-formation surface in association with the change in the element having variable optical properties.

The present invention relates to an optical system and an optical apparatus, and more particularly to an optical system comprising a focus-controllable optical element having variable optical properties represented by a variable-shape mirror and optical apparatus comprising said optical system, e.g., video projectors, digital cameras, TV cameras, endoscopes and camera finders.
Referring to conventional lenses formed of polished glass materials, their focal length cannot be varied because they cannot transform by themselves. For this reason, mechanical structures become complicated, which are used to move said lenses or lens groups comprising the same in an axial direction for focusing and zooming.
Since motors, etc. are used to mechanically move some of the lens groups, there are problems such as increased power consumptions, noisy sounds, slow response speeds, and time-consuming movement of lens groups.
Even for phototaking or observations while camera shake is prevented, lens groups are mechanically moved with motors, solenoids, etc., resulting in problems such as increased power consumptions, cost rises due to complicated mechanical structures.


A polymer material for manufacturing arcing chambers for low-voltage switchgear is characterized by a thermoplastic polymer matrix of polyamide or polyolefin which contains a cellulose material sheathed by cured melamine-formaldehyde resin.

The invention relates to a polymer material for manufacturing arcing chambers for low-voltage switchgear, as well as to a method for manufacturing the same.
In low-voltage switchgear, such as low-voltage power circuit-breakers, the switch-off arc is supposed to migrate from the point of origin, i.e., from the separating contacts, quickly into the quenching device, i.e., into the arc splitter plates. The properties of the material of the arc-quenching or arcing chamber have a considerable effect on this arcing movement, particularly in the case of short-circuit breaking. It happens, namely, during arcing movement that gaseous products are released from the chamber material because of the briefly occurring high arc temperature. These gases are needed to quickly extinguish the arc if they have the necessary chemical composition and when they are formed--per switching operation--in a quantity that is suited for avoiding too high a pressure inside the switch.
Under the state of the art, one has generally used molded materials based on cellulose-fiber-filled melamine-formaldehyde resins to fabricate arcing chambers (see, e.g.: Hansj urgen Saechtling "Kunststoff-Taschenbuch" [Plastics Manual], 24th edition, Carl Hanser Publishers, Munich 1989, p. 452). However, these are thermosetting materials, and--due to the long mold occupation time and the required postcure--it is, therefore, complicated and expensive to manufacture the chambers, even though this is done analogously to injection molding.
The object of the invention is to specify a polymer material that will make it possible to substantially shorten the cycle times required in the manufacturing of arcing chambers for low-voltage switchgear.


The present invention provides a novel fender, which has a sufficient shock absorbing action with respect to a ship and is capable of dispersing a compressive force given at the time when the ship comes alongside at the pier and reducing a friction force at the time given when the ship is moored at the pier. A fender of the present invention comprises a fender body 10, and a surface layer 12 with which at least an impact receiving surface of this fender body 10 is coated, wherein the surface layer 12 is made of a blended polymer of a crystalline polyolefin resin and a diene rubber and the proportion of the crystalline polyolefin resin in the blended polymer exceeds 50% by weight and not more than 85% by weight.

The present invention relates to a fender serving as a shock absorber at the time when a ship comes alongside or moored at the pier.
A fender as a shock absorber is disposed at the pier to protect both the ship and pier from an impact or friction produced at the time when the ship comes alongside or moored at the pier of the harbor.
As shown in FIG. 4(a), a fender 40 comprises a top section 40 as a contact surface with a ship body, and a leg section 44 attached to both ends of the top section 42, and is fixed to a pier 50 by inserting a bolt 48 into a flange section 46 of the tips of the leg section 44. As shown in 4(b), this fender 40 protects the ship body by deforming the leg section 44 to reduce the impact at the time when the ship comes alongside the pier.
As the fender, a fender made of rubber has widely been used, heretofore. However, since a rubber material used in the fender has normally a large friction coefficient .mu. of not less than 1, when a ship body 52 comes into contact with the fender 40 diagonally (at the time when the ship comes in contact with the pier diagonally), an excess force is locally exerted and deformation of the fender 40 becomes non-uniform. As a result, not only is the desired shock absorbing performance not exerted, but also the fender 40 itself is liable to cause damage such as crack and the like.
Since the ship body always rolls by an influence of wave and wind while the ship is moored at the pier, a friction force is produced between the fender and ship body. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, a shear force is exerted on the fender 40 by friction with the ship body 52 and the fender is liable to be deteriorated, for example, damage such as crack and the like arise.
On the other hand, a fender obtained by forming a coating layer of a material such as polyurethane having a low friction coefficient .mu. on the surface of a fender body of rubber alone is known, but the adhesion between the coating layer and fender body is low and the coating layer is liable to be peeled off.
To solve the above problems, there has been suggested a method of dispersing a compressive force given at the time when the ship comes alongside at the pier or reducing a friction force given at the time when the ship is moored at the pier by providing a surface layer 54 of a resin having a small friction coefficient, such as ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (friction coefficient .mu.=0.2) on the top section of the fender 56 to make the surface of the fender slippery, as shown in FIG. 7. According to this method, the surface layer 54 is fixed by inserting a bolt 48 into a metal plate 58 embedded in the fender 56.
However, since the friction coefficient of the surface layer 54 is low, a friction force between the bolt 48 or washer 49 and the surface layer 54 is small. When the above-described excess force or shear force is exerted at the time when the ship comes alongside or is moored at the pier, the surface layer 54 is removed from the bolt 48 section, as shown in FIG. 8.
According to the above method, since parts such as is surface layer 54, is metal plate 58 and a bolt are required, additionally, the production cost of the fender becomes higher. On the other hand, even if the surface layer 54 is directly bonded on the surface of the top section of the fender 56 without using the bolt, the bonding force between the surface layer 54 and rubber is low and the fender is considerably deteriorated.


A combination pressure/vacuum relief valve is formed by a closed end cylindrical body having a first port providing communication with a fluid containing vessel and a second port providing communication with the atmosphere. A piston valve within the cylinder is normally seated on a valve seat between the ports with the respective end portions of the piston rod projecting through the closed ends of the cylinder. Each end of the cylinder is provided with a cage supporting a pressure responsive fuse rod interposed between the outwardly projecting end of the piston rod and the opposite end of the cage. When the fluid pressure within the vessel falls below or exceeds a predetermined value, such pressure axially moves the piston valve in a respective unseating direction for providing communication between the interior of the fluid vessel with the atmosphere.

1. Field of the invention.
This invention relates to relief valves and more particularly to a combination double acting valve responsive to vacuum and/or pressure to prevent excess vacuum or pressure of fluid in a vessel.
2. Description of the prior art.
Relief valves are well known in industry and are calibrated to open at a predetermined pressure However I do not know of any prior patent disclosing a combination double acting relief valve biased open by fluid pressure above or below a predetermined value in a vessel.
This invention accomplishes this purpose.


An electrical discharge machining device that is used for both rotational EDM, such as tapping, and the like, and for conventional or non-rotational EDM applications. The device includes a base support to which a carriage is slidably mounted, with a motor driven, rotating electrode assembly mounted thereon. A threaded lead screw is removably coupled to the upper end of the rotating electrode assembly and a mating threaded collar is removably mounted on the support so as to receive the lead screw and thereby advance the carriage as the lead screw is rotated. The lead screw and threaded collar are interchangeable with other lead screws and collars having different thread pitches, so as to regulate the advancement of electrodes having different thread pitches. An electrode is mountable both on the rotating electrode assembly and on the carriage itself.

The present invention relates to electrical discharge machining (EDM) devices, and more particularly to heads and advancement mechanisms for EDM devices.
Electrical discharge machining is conventionally used to machine very hard, electrically conductive workpieces, and the like, that are difficult or impossible to machine by conventional methods. In normal applications of EDM, the workpiece is immersed in a bath of dielectric fluid, and a power supply is applied across the cutting tool and the workpiece. When the cutting electrode is brought sufficiently proximite to the workpiece, the dielectric fluid breaks down, and an electric discharge or spark is generated across the space or gap between the electrode and the workpiece. With the electrical discharge, a minute amount of material is removed from the workpiece.
It will be appreciated that in EDM processes, the spacing between the two electrodes, or the "spark gap", is critical. If the spark gap becomes too small, or actual physical contact is made, a short circuit occurs between the cutting electrode and the workpiece. Such a short circuit results in either the fusing of the cutting electrode to the workpiece, or a melting or embrittling of the effected area of the workpiece. A fused electrode is very difficult and time consuming to remove, and if sufficient damage occurs, the workpiece must be scrapped.
The problem of maintaining a proper spark gap is further complicated when an EDM device is used to tap holes in or through a workpiece. In such tapping operations the cutting electrode must be rotated as it is advanced into the workpiece. Heretofore, due to the difficulty of maintaining the proper spark gap, thread tapping EDM devices were often forced to rely upon hand advancement of the cutting tool, in order to properly control the machining process. However, an operator is not always capable of reacting quickly enough when the spark gap becomes too small in order to reverse the advancement of the cutting electrode. Further, hand advanced machines are relatively slow, and difficult to accurately control. Such hand advanced machines require an operator's constant attendance, which greatly increases the labor costs of machining the workpiece.
Some EDM devices have utilized automatic advancement of the thread tapping electrode. However, the advance mechanism for the electrode is relatively complex, and cannot be readily converted to cut different thread styles and sizes. The set-up time for such prior machines is therefore substantial. Further, multiple EDM devices are required in order to produce a full range of machining operations. Thread tapping EDM devices, that are designed for rotational advancement of the electrode, are not capable of being used for conventional EDM applications, in which the cutting electrode does not rotate. Similarly, devices designed for conventional EDM applications cannot be used for thread tapping.

Mechanical feed EDM machine for making threaded and nonthreaded bores


The present invention relates to a method for driving an ultrasonic motor of the type which includes a vibrator for causing a flexural vibration wave in response to a pair of AC driving voltage signals, and a rotor in contact with the vibrator and moved by the flexural vibration wave. The rotational speed of the ultrasonic motor is controlled by using a feedback signal and a data table, the feedback signal indicating the current rotational speed of the ultrasonic motor, and the data table storing values of the feedback signal as a standard function of the rotational 21 speed. The method includes the step of sampling the feedback signal and detecting the rotational speed in a plurality of rotation states of the ultrasonic motor. The method obtains an approximate function representing the relationship between the sampled feedback signal and the detected rotational speed of the ultrasonic motor, and calculates correction coefficients for adjusting the approximate function to the standard function. The method then controls the rotational speed of the ultrasonic motor by using the feedback signal. In the controlling step, the method corrects the feedback signal obtained from the ultrasonic motor by using the correction coefficient, whereby a value of the approximate function is transformed into a corresponding value of the standard function.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic motor, and more particularly, to a method for controlling the rotation speed of an ultrasonic motor which is driven by elastic vibration caused by the piezoelectric effect of a piezoelectric member.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, ultrasonic motors have been received much attention. An ultrasonic motor has a vibrator comprising a piezoelectric member formed of piezoelectric ceramic or the like for converting electric energy into mechanical energy, and an elastic substrate such as a metal substrate. The ultrasonic motor is driven by elastic vibration of the vibrator which is caused by applying an AC voltage to the vibrator.
Referring to the figures, a conventional disc-type ultrasonic motor using a traveling wave of the vibrator will be now described. FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional ultrasonic motor 700. The ultrasonic motor 700 includes a vibrator 3 and a rotor 6. The vibrator 3 includes a disc-shaped elastic substrate 1 formed of an elastic material such as metal or ceramic, and a disc-shaped piezoelectric body 2 formed of ceramic provided on one of two main surfaces of the elastic substrate 1. On the other main surface of the elastic substrate 1, projection 1A is provided for enlarging the displacement in a circumferential direction of the vibrator caused by the vibration. The rotor 6 includes an elastic body 4 formed, for example, of metal or plastic and a friction body 5 formed of an anti-abrasion material. The friction body 5 enhances the resistance against abrasion and ensures stable contact between the rotor 6 and the projection 1A.
The vibration of the vibrator 3 is converted into a rotation of the rotor 6 so as to be transmitted through a transmission axis 7. The transmission axis 7 includes a protruding porion 7A for efficiently and stably transmitting rotational force of the rotor 6 to the transmission axis 7, and an output transmission portion 7B for outputting the rotational force. An elastic member 8 having a large frictional constant is provided on the protruding portion 7A. The elastic member 8 absorbs and compensates abnormal vibrations of the transmission axis 7 so that the rotational force of the rotor 6 is efficiently and stably transmitted.
The vibrator 3 is supported by a supporting member 9 provided on a base 13. The supporting member 9 holds the vibrator 3 without obstructing the vibration thereof. A bearing 10 is provided at the base 10 for positioning the transmission axis 7. The rotor 6 is placed on the vibrator 3 on the side of the friction body 5 and is pressed against the vibrator 3 as a result of a pressure applied by a pressing member 11 such as a spring or the like. The pressure is controlled by a pressing adjuster 12.
FIG. 17 shows an exemplary structure of driving electrodes provided on the piezoelectric body 2. Four flexural vibration travelling waves are excited in the vibrator 3 by virtue of the driving electrodes. In FIG. 17, A.sub.0 and B.sub.0 denote two sets of driving electrodes each of which consists of divided portions each corresponding to 1/2 of a wavelength of a travelling wave exited on the vibrator 3. C.sub.0 denotes a region corresponding to 1/4 the wavelength of the travelling wave in the vibrator 3. D.sub.0 denotes an electrode corresponding to 3/4 wavelength of the travelling wave in the vibrator 3. Accordingly, the sets A.sub.0 and B.sub.0 of driving electrodes are positionally shifted from each other in a circumferential direction by 1/4 of a wavelength (i.e. 90.degree.) of the travelling wave excited in the vibrator 3.
In the electrode sets A.sub.0 and B.sub.0, two adjacent portions are alternately polarized in opposite directions along a thickness-direction of the electrodes. The piezoelectric body 2 comes into contact with the elastic substrate 1 by an opposite side of that shown in FIG. 17. The opposite side has driving electrodes which are not divided.
When the two sets of the electrodes A.sub.0 and B.sub.0 are used, each divided portions are short-circuited as indicated by a shade in FIG. 17. When the two sets of electrodes A.sub.0 and B.sub.0 are respectively supplied with AC voltages V.sub.1 and V.sub.2 having a 90.degree. phase difference from each other as expressed by Equations (1) and (2), a flexural vibration travelling wave as expressed by Equation (3) is excited in the vibrator 3. EQU V.sub.1 =V.sub.0 .times.sin (.omega.t) (1) EQU V.sub.2 =V.sub.0 .times.cos (.omega.t) (2) EQU .xi.-.xi..sub.0 .times.{cos (.omega.t).times.cos (kx)+sin ( t).times.sin (kt)}=.xi..sub.0 .times.cos (.omega.t-kx) (3)
where V.sub.0 : the maximum amplitude of applied voltage; .omega.: angular frequency; t: time; .xi.: amplitude of the flexural vibration; .xi..sub.0 : the maximum amplitude of the flexural vibration; k: the wave number (=2.pi./.lambda.); and x: the position of the coordinate in the travelling direction of the waves.
From Equation (3), the travelling direction of the wave can be switched simply by changing the phase difference between the voltages V.sub.1 and V.sub.2 to +90 or -90. Thus, the rotation direction of the rotor 6 can easily be changed.
FIG. 18 is a schematic view for describing the operation principles behind the ultrasonic motor 700. A driving force is transmitted from the vibrator 3 to the rotor by way of the friction body 5. The interface between the vibrator 3 and the rotor shown in FIG. 18 is described by using a simplified linear model, although in practice it has a more complicated shape as will be appreciated.
When the flexural vibration travelling wave is excited on the vibrator 3, the given points on the surface of the vibrator 3 move along an ellipse having the line of apsides (long axis) w with a minor axis (short axis) u as in shown in FIG. 18. The rotor 6 contacts the vibrator 3 at the apsis of the ellipse (for example, point A) via the friction body 5. The rotor 6 contacts the vibrator 3 only at the crests of the flexural vibration travelling wave, and receives a horizontal displacement component of the vibrator 3 by the resultant friction, thereby moving in an opposite direction relative to the travelling direction of the flexural traveling wave at a moving velocity v expressed by Equation (4). EQU v=.omega..times.w (6)
Since the crests of the wave are continuously moving, the contact points A of the vibrator 3 and the rotor 6 also move continuously with time. Thus, the rotor 6 is smoothly driven to rotate. The rotation direction of the rotor 6 can easily be changed by changing the travelling direction of the flexural traveling wave as mentioned above.
FIG. 19 shows an equivalent circuit 710 of the rotor 3 of the ultrasonic motor 700. The equivalent circuit 710 is expressed by a capacitance 14 (electric capacitance C.sub.e), a transformer 15 (transforming coefficient N) for transforming electric energy to mechanical energy, a capacitance 16 (mechanical elastic constant C.sub.m), a coil 17 (mass L.sub.m), and a resistance 18 (mechanical loss R.sub.m).
When a voltage V is applied to the piezoelectric member 2, a total current 19 (i) flows into the piezoelectric member 2 based on the frequency and magnitude of the amplitude of the voltage V. The total current 19 is divided into an electric branch current 20 (i.sub.e) flowing into the capacitance 14 and a mechanical branch current 21 (i.sub.m) flowing into the transformer 15. The mechanical branch current 21 is converted linearly by the transformer 15 into a displacement velocity v.sub.d of the vibrator 3 in a circumferential direction. The displacement velocity v.sub.d in the circumferential direction is expressed by Equation (5): EQU v.sub.d =d.xi..sup.' /dt (5)
where, .xi.' denotes a displacement of the vibrator 3 in the circumferential direction. Accordingly, by detecting the total current 19 or the mechanical branch current 21, the displacement .xi.' of the vibrator 3 in a circumferential direction is obtained by using an appropriate proportional constant.
As mentioned above, the rotational speed (moving velocity) v of the rotor 6 is proportional to an instant value of the amplitude of the flexural vibration of the vibrator 3, and the instant value of the amplitude of the flexural vibration (the displacement velocity) is proportional to the mechanical branch current 21 of the piezoelectric member 2 included in the vibrator 3. Accordingly, information of the rotational speed of the ultrasonic motor 700 can be obtained by detecting the mechanical branch current 21 flowing in the piezoelectric member 2.
FIG. 20 is a block diagram of a conventional driving circuit 720 for driving and controlling the speed of the ultrasonic motor 700.
A voltage-controlled oscillator 22 generates an AC signal 721 for driving the ultrasonic motor 700. The AC signal 721 from the voltage-controlled oscillator 22 is divided into two signals. One signal is shifted in phase by a predetermined amount (by +90.degree. or -90.degree.) by a phase shifter 23 and a resultant phase shifted signal 722 is input to a power amplifier 24. The power amplifier 24 amplifies the signal 722 to a level which is sufficiently high to drive the ultrasonic motor 700 based on supply power supplied from a direct current (DC) power supply 25. The other signal is directly input from the voltage-controlled oscillator 22 to another power amplifier 26. The power amplifier 26 amplifies the signal to a level which is sufficiently high to drive the ultrasonic motor 700 based on power supply supplied from the DC power supply 25. Then, the waveform of the amplified signal 723 from the power amplifier 24 is shaped by a coil 27, and then the shaped signal 724 is input to one driving electrode set 28 on the piezoelectric member 2 (not shown in FIG. 20). The signal 724 is also coupled to a capacitor 29 which has an equivalent capacitance of the piezoelectric member 2 under the electrode set 28. Similarly, the waveform of the amplified signal 725 from the power amplifier 26 is shaped by a coil 30, and then the shaped signal 726 is coupled to the other driving electrode set 31 on the piezoelectric member 2. The signal 726 is also coupled to a capacitor 32 which has an equivalent capacitance of the piezoelectric member 2 under the electrode set 31.
By applying the pair of the signals 724 and 726 to the electrode sets 28 and 31, respectively, a traveling wave of a flexural vibration is excited on the vibrator 3. The rotor 6 is rotated in the opposite direction of the flexural traveling wave, as mentioned above, so that the ultrasonic motor 700 is driven. In the piezoelectric member 2, a total current i flows, which depends on the frequency and the magnitude of a voltage signal applied to the piezoelectric member 2 according to the signals 724 and 726. The total current i is linearly converted into a voltage signal 727 by a resistance 33 coupled to ground. The voltage signal 727 is then applied to an input of a subtracter 34.
Electric currents i.sub.e ' equivalent to the electric branch current i.sub.e which flows in the electrode sets 28 and 31 depending on the frequency and the absolute value of the amplitude of the voltage signal applied to the piezoelectric member 2, are input to capacitors 29 and 32. These currents are applied together to a resistance 35 so as to be converted linearly into a voltage signal 728. The signal 728 is applied to another input of the subtracter 34. The output of the subtracter 34 is a voltage signal 729 which is proportional to the mechanical branch current e.sub.m and also proportional to the rotational speed of the rotor 6, as discussed above.
The output signal 729 of the subtracter 34 is converted into a DC voltage signal 730 by a rectifier 36, and is input to a microcomputer 37. The microcomputer 37 compares a value of the DC voltage signal 730 with data stored in the memory 38 so as to identify a current rotational speed of the ultrasonic motor 700. The data stored in the memory 38 is a predetermined (average) relationship between a rotational speed signal and a corresponding rotational speed. The microcomputer 37 then compares the current rotational speed with a target speed signal 732 given by a speed setting unit 39 so as to output a control signal 733 to the voltage-controlled oscillator 22. The frequency of the driving signal 721 is controlled so as to adjust the current rotational speed of the ultrasonic motor 700 to the target speed 732.
As a conventional ultrasonic motor, a disk-shape ultrasonic motor 700 using a traveling wave is described above. There is another type of ultrasonic motor having a ring-shape and which uses flexural vibration travelling waves having vibration modes of first or greater order in a radial direction and third or greater order in a circumferential direction. The ring-shaped ultrasonic motor operates by a similar principle and is driven by a similar driving circuit as mentioned above. A conventional standing wave ultrasonic motor in which the rotor is loaded by a vibration piece to rotate, also uses a similar driving system.
The conventional circuits for driving and controlling an ultrasonic motor such as the above-described driving circuit 720 have the following problems:
The relationship between a rotational speed signal for indicating a rotational speed and an actual rotational speed of the ultrasonic motor may vary among individual ultrasonic motors, due to variations in material constants such as in connection with piezoelectric ceramic and metal used for the vibrator 3 and the rotor 6, as well as due to tolerance variations in connection with assembling the vibrator 3 and the rotor 6. Such variations in the relationship between the indicated rotational speed and the actual rotational speed among the ultrasonic motors will detrimentally affect accurate control of the rotational speed and stable rotation of the ultrasonic motor 700.
Furthermore, in order to reduce driving power consumption, a voltage level of the DC power supply 25 is set at a minimum voltage which is capable of driving the ultrasonic motor 700 at a maximum rotational speed determined by the specification under a standard load. The driving range of the ultrasonic motor 700 is limited by the predetermined voltage level of the DC power supply 25 which supplies power to the power amplifiers 24 and 26. When the load on the ultrasonic motor 700 increases, a frequency of the driving signal will be reduced in order to obtain more power for driving the ultrasonic motor 700. Nevertheless, the driving frequency of the ultrasonic motor 700 cannot be shifted in order to increase the rotational power beyond the driving range which is limited by the voltage level of the DC power supply 25.
In a case where the voltage level of the DC power supply 25 is increased in order to increase the available driving power, the driving of the ultrasonic motor 700 is predominantly controlled by the driving voltage rather than the frequency of the driving signal. This makes it difficult to set the vibrator 3 to a low impedance state by shifting the frequency of the driving signal. Accordingly, the mechanical branch current does not flow efficiently, resulting in an increase in power consumption of the ultrasonic motor 700 under the standard load.
As shown in FIG. 21, a characteristic curve illustrating the relationship between the rotational speed and the driving frequency of the ultrasonic motor 700 exhibits hysteresis with respect to a sweeping direction of the driving frequency.
FIG. 22 shows the admittance characteristics of the vibrator 3 in a driving state as indicated by a curve 80, and in a stationary state (or when the ultrasonic motor 700 is stopped) as indicated by a curve 81. A resonance frequency of the vibrator 3 in the stationary state is higher than a driving frequency range of the vibrator 3 in the driving state. A changing ratio of the admittance curve 81 is very high (i.e. unstable) at frequencies lower than the resonance frequency. In addition, a frequency range which is capable of being driven is very narrow in the stationary state. Accordingly, in order to start driving the ultrasonic motor 700 stably and to drive it efficiently, it is required to sweep the driving frequency from a frequency sufficiently higher than the resonance frequency of the vibrator 3, when the ultrasonic motor 700 is started driving. Nevertheless, the conventional driving circuit 720 does not always start driving by sweeping the driving frequency from the higher side of the resonance frequency. Therefore, the conventional driving circuit 720 cannot start driving the ultrasonic motor 700 and drive it efficiently.
In the driving circuit 720 (FIG. 20), the rotating ultrasonic motor 700 is stopped by cutting off the supply of the driving signal 721, so that the vibrator 3 immediately comes to stop. However, the rotor 6 cannot stop immediately because of inertia of the rotor 6 itself, the transmission axis 7, an external load, and the like. Accordingly, a slip between the vibrator 3 and the rotor 9 occurs so as to generate audible noise and undesirable vibration, resulting in difficulty in driving the ultrasonic motor 700 silently.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


In a semiconductor device, a first interlayer insulating layer made of an inorganic material and formed on inverse stagger type TFTs, a second interlayer insulating layer made of an organic material and formed on the first interlayer insulating layer, and a pixel electrode formed in contact with the second interlayer insulating layer are disposed on a substrate, and an input terminal portion that is electrically connected to a wiring of another substrate is provided on an end portion of the substrate. The input terminal portion includes a first layer made of the same material as that of the gate electrode and a second layer made of the same material as that of the pixel electrode. With this structure, the number of photomasks used in the photolithography method can be reduced to 5.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device having a circuit structured by an inverse-stagger type or bottom gate type thin film transistor (hereinafter referred to as "TFT") using a semiconductor film, and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device. In particular, the present invention relates to a technique which is preferably applicable to an electro-optical device represented by a liquid crystal display device and an electronic device on which the electro-optical device is mounted. In the present invention, the semiconductor device is directed to all of devices that function using the semiconductor characteristics, and the electro-optical device and the electronic device on which the electro-optical device is mounted fall under the category of the semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
At present, in a note type personal computer (note personal computer) and a portable information terminal, a liquid crystal display device is employed for displaying an image or character information. Since an active matrix liquid crystal display device can obtain a high-fine image as compared with a passive liquid crystal display device, the active matrix liquid crystal display device is preferably employed for the above purpose. The active matrix liquid crystal display device is structured in such a manner that TFTs which function as active elements are arranged in a matrix in correspondence with the respective pixels in a pixel section. Each of those TFTs are normally formed of an n-channel TFT and controls a voltage which is applied to liquid crystal for each of the pixels as a switching element to conduct a desired image display.
There is the inverse-stagger type (or bottom gate type) TFT in which the active layer is formed of an amorphous semiconductor film. The amorphous semiconductor material is preferably formed of an amorphous silicon film. Since the amorphous silicon film can be formed on a large-area substrate at a low temperature of 300° C. or less, it is considered to be a material suitable for mass production. However, the TFT the active layer of which is formed of the amorphous silicon film is small in the field effect mobility to the degree of about 1 cm2/Vsec. Under the above circumstances, the drive circuit for conducting the image display is formed in an LSI chip and mounted by a TAB (tape automated bonding) system or a COG (chip on glass) system.
The active matrix liquid crystal display device thus structured is widely applicable to not only a note personal computer but also a 20-inch grade TV system, and demands for high precision and high aperture ratio have been increasingly raised in order to improve the image quality while a screen size has been large in area. For example, a document of "The Development of Super-High Aperture Ratio with Low Electrically Resistive Material for High-Resolution TFT-LCDs", S. Nakabu, et al., 1999 SID International Symposium Digest of Technical Papers, pp. 732-735 has reported a technique of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device which is UXGA (1600×1200) in pixel density and 20 inches in size.
In order to supply and spread the above-mentioned products on market, there are required to improve the productivity and lower the costs while enhancing the reliability. In the active matrix liquid crystal display device, the TFTs are formed on a substrate by using a plurality of photomasks through the photolithography technique. In order to improve the productivity and also improve the yield, a reduction in the number of processes is considered as effective means. Specifically, it is necessary to reduce the number of photomasks required for manufacturing the TFTs. The photomask is used to form a photo-resist pattern on the substrate with a mask during an etching process in the technique of the photolithography. Therefore, if one photomask is used, there added processes for resist coating, pre-baking, exposing, developing, post-baking, etc., processes for forming a film, etching, etc., which are conducted before and after the former processes and processes for separating the resist, cleaning and drying, etc., resulting in a complicated work.

Thin film semiconductor device having a terminal portion

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A system and method for determining the position of people and/or objects, whether mobile or stationary, is presented herein. The system uses fixed and/or portable FM transmitters to transmit synchronized signals. These signals are acquired by a Receiver device which uses the signal timing to perform Time Difference of Arrival calculations to determine the Receiver's location. Then, using some arbitrary communications method, such as wireless communications, the Receiver device can forward its location to some arbitrary type of application system.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to location determination of one or more wireless devices.
2. Prior Art
Location determination technology—the ability to identify the location of electronic devices—has evolved toward more accurate location determination. The evolution of this technology has been driven by the need to solve several important problems, such as the location of emergency service workers (emergency rescue/fire personnel), the location of people who are in danger (such as users of E-911 cellular service), and accurate indoor location determination.
Unfortunately, large steel and concrete buildings, subways and large malls may be difficult or even impossible to cover using traditional wide area location technologies, because low signal-to-noise ratio and signal multipath effects in these environments often decrease tracking accuracy or even prevent signal acquisition.
Multiple story buildings pose additional obstacles for tracking, as they require three-dimensional positioning. Even if the longitude and latitude of an individual in a fifty-story building were known with great accuracy, that knowledge would be insufficient because the emergency team may have to search every floor. For an accuracy of 200 meters, the location fix may cover many multi-story buildings. Under these conditions, a rescue team could spend hours just searching for the caller.
Present techniques for locating electronic devices (e.g., cellular phone, PDA or computer, etc.) in both indoor and outdoor environments (such as shopping malls, urban canyons, or office buildings) require either: 1) satellite (global positioning signals "GPS") signals; or 2) GPS and assistance via cellular signals to penetrate building structures, when required; or 3) triangulation using the cellular system, or 4) some use of broadcast and/or RF signaling, or 5) some combination of these techniques.
Presently, two major approaches to GPS precision location dominate. The first, a mostly outdoor location fix technology, is the satellite vehicle-based Global Positioning System that receives a feeble code division multiple access "CDMA-like" signal from several satellites in which a receiver (using complex search routines and hardware) determines its position via the delay calculated using the received GPS signal phase, the GPS almanac and ephermis. This procedure takes several minutes in weak signal environments. The second is a system that extends the above system through use of additional information supplied via a cellular wireless network.
Snaptrack has disclosed a 'communication' system for providing GPS aiding information useful in the above second system (e.g., see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,841,396 and 5,874,914). Communication systems require two-way signaling and information transfer. The concept is known as Assisted GPS. The SnapTrack implementation uses a communication system to send the GPS almanac, ephermis, and transfer of time from the base station to the mobile. In one mode, intermediate results are returned to the base station (and network) for further processing. With these quantities (GPS hints), the correlating receiver knows what and when to look for the appropriate satellites and can add the successive correlations of several tens of measurements, effectively pulling the feeble buried signal out of the thermal noise.
MeshNetworks has disclosed a method for location determination based upon range measurements between the portable device to be located and several fixed reference stations (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,768,730 and 6,728,545). This invention uses these range measurements to solve simultaneous (spherical) equations to obtain a 3-dimensional location. The accuracy of this approach is suspect, due to the fact the RF transmission is performed at (relatively) low power and is not reliable at great distances or indoor environments.
Hall, et al., has disclosed a Method and apparatus for geolocating a wireless communications device whereby the time difference of arrival for a signal received at two or more receiving sites as transmitted from a wireless communications device, is determined by a frequency domain technique. To determine the mobile location based on the determined time difference of arrival values, a seed or initial location is first assumed for the wireless communications device and the distance difference of arrival (the time difference of arrival multiplied by the speed of light) is calculated. The calculated time difference of arrival is then used to adjust the distance difference of arrival by continuously iterating the position of the wireless communications device until the calculated distance of arrival and the calculated time difference of arrival (as multiplied by the speed of light) are within a predetermined margin.
Many location determination inventions (too numerous to explicitly reference herein) have been disclosed based on Time Difference of Arrival, Time of Arrival, Enhanced-Observed Time Difference of Arrival (E-OTD), Angle of Arrival (obtaining multiple Lines-of-Bearing and solving for their intersection), and range measurements (solving for intersecting arcs or spheres). These are often combined or augmented with GPS technology. Most of these employ existing cellular infrastructure and/or other technologies which operate at frequencies too high for reliable penetration of indoor environments.
FM and other broadcast signals represent an improvement over higher frequency GPS/cellular RF signals in that they have been proven to penetrate the concrete, steal, and glass of the typical urban structure.
The Rosum Corporation has disclosed a method and apparatus for determining the position of a user terminal (e.g., see U.S. Pat. No. 6,859,173) by using a combination of broadcast signals and cellular radio signals. The method determines a first pseudo-range between the user terminal and the television signal transmitter based on a known component of the broadcast television signal; it determines a second pseudo-range between the user terminal and the mobile telephone base station based on a known component of the mobile telephone signal; and it determines a position of the user terminal based on the first and second pseudo-ranges, a location of the television signal transmitter, and a location of the mobile telephone base station; wherein the mobile telephone signal is selected from the group consisting of a EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) Evolution) signal; a Code-Division Multiple Access 2000 (cdma2000) signal; and a Wideband Code-Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) signal.
Trimble has disclosed an invention addressing the location of emergency service workers (e.g., see U.S. Pat. No. 5,552,772) whereby they use a wide array of location determination methods, one of which is a set of unsynchronized FM sub-carrier signals to perform range measurements or TDOA measurements. To obtain TDOA measurements from unsynchronized signals, the invention specifies the existence of an independent "observer module" that observes the difference in synchronization between the various reference stations and informs the receiver of the differences. The receiver then uses the synchronization difference values, combined with TDOA measurements, to derive its location.
Trimble has disclosed a portable hybrid location determination system describing an apparatus and method for determining the present location of a mobile user that carries the apparatus inside or outside buildings and structures within a region R. The apparatus includes a radio location determination (LD) signal module that receives radiowaves from at least three radio LD signal sources, such as FM carrier or subcarrier signals, and an outdoor LD signal module that receives outdoor LD signals from at least three other satellite-based or ground-based outdoor LD signal sources, such as GPS, GLONASS or Loran-C signal sources. The radio LD signals and outdoor LD signals are used to (1) determine the location of the radio LD module, (2) determine the location of the outdoor LD module and (3) determine an indicium representing signal strength or signal quality for the radio LD signals and for the outdoor LD signals. The radio LD signal indicium and the outdoor LD signal indicium are compared with threshold values for these indicia, and at most one of the radio LD module location and the outdoor LD module location is selected as the present location of the apparatus user. The radio LD module and the outdoor LD module can be combined in a hybrid portable LD system, or the two modules can be separated from and move independently of each other.
Texas Instruments has disclosed an invention addressing the location of cellular telephones (and other potential applications) by the use of broadcast signals, such as AM, FM, non-DTV, etc. (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,806,830). In this disclosure, both synchronized and unsynchronized broadcast signals are used. For unsynchronized signals, TI also uses an independent "observer module" to measure the deviation from synchronization. A drawback is that the solution may not provide sufficient geographic dispersion of the broadcast stations to obtain reliably accurate fixes. Further, this solution will not provide reliably accurate 3-d fixes because the probable location of the transmission stations does not provide the necessary angular geometry to accurately measure elevation.
There continues to exist a need in the art for a method and apparatus for location determination of people or object that addresses the problems cited above, such as poor indoor location performance, RF signal degradation, and the introduction of errors due to weak signal or multipath. Specifically, it would be desirable to have an method and apparatus that performs reliable and accurate 3-dimensional location determination for both indoor and outdoor locations. Such a method and apparatus may be used in cellular telephone networks (in support of E-911 or other location-based services), by emergency first responders (fire, rescue, police, swat, etc.), or for any other location determination application.

Method and apparatus for location determination of people or objects


The present invention relates to methods for degrading or converting a cellulosic material and for producing substances from the cellulosic material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods for degrading or converting a cellulosic material and for producing substances from the cellulosic material.
2. Description of the Related Art
Cellulose is a polymer of the simple sugar glucose covalently linked by beta-1,4-bonds. Many microorganisms produce enzymes that hydrolyze beta-linked glucans. These enzymes include endoglucanases, cellobiohydrolases, and beta-glucosidases. Endoglucanases digest the cellulose polymer at random locations, opening it to attack by cellobiohydrolases. Cellobiohydrolases sequentially release molecules of cellobiose from the ends of the cellulose polymer. Cellobiose is a water-soluble beta-1,4-linked dimer of glucose. Beta-glucosidases hydrolyze cellobiose to glucose.
The conversion of lignocellulosic feedstocks into ethanol has the advantages of the ready availability of large amounts of feedstock, the desirability of avoiding burning or land filling the materials, and the cleanliness of the ethanol fuel. Wood, agricultural residues, herbaceous crops, and municipal solid wastes have been considered as feedstocks for ethanol production. These materials primarily consist of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Once the lignocellulose is converted to fermentable sugars, e.g., glucose, the fermentable sugars are easily fermented by yeast into ethanol.
WO 2005/074647, WO 2008/148131, and WO 2011/035027 disclose GH61 polypeptides having cellulolytic enhancing activity and the polynucleotides thereof from Thielavia terrestris. WO 2005/074656 and WO 2010/065830 disclose GH61 polypeptides having cellulolytic enhancing activity and the polynucleotides thereof from Thermoascus aurantiacus. WO 2007/089290 discloses a GH61 polypeptide having cellulolytic enhancing activity and the polynucleotide thereof from Trichoderma reesei. WO 2009/085935, WO 2009/085859, WO 2009/085864, and WO 2009/085868 disclose GH61 polypeptides having cellulolytic enhancing activity and the polynucleotides thereof from Myceliophthora thermophila. WO 2010/138754 discloses GH61 polypeptides having cellulolytic enhancing activity and the polynucleotides thereof from Aspergillus fumigatus. WO 2011/005867 discloses GH61 polypeptides having cellulolytic enhancing activity and the polynucleotides thereof from Penicillium pinophilum. WO 2011/039319 discloses GH61 polypeptides having cellulolytic enhancing activity and the polynucleotides thereof from Thermoascus sp. WO 2011/041397 discloses GH61 polypeptides having cellulolytic enhancing activity and the polynucleotides thereof from Penicillium sp. (emersonii) WO 2011/041504 discloses GH61 polypeptides having cellulolytic enhancing activity and the polynucleotides thereof from Thermoascus crustaceous. WO 2008/151043 discloses methods of increasing the activity of a GH61 polypeptide having cellulolytic enhancing activity by adding a soluble activating divalent metal cation to a composition comprising the polypeptide.
Degradation of chitinous biomass involves individually or a mixture of hydrolytic exo- and endo-acting enzymes (Fukamizo, 2000, Curr. Protein Pept. Sci. 1(1):105-24; Horn et al., 2006, FEBS J. 273: 491-503). The enzymatic hydrolysis of chitin involves hydrolytic cleavage of glycoside bonds that connect the beta-(1-4)N-acetylglucosamine bond units in a chitin substrate. Examples of enzymes involved in the hydrolysis of chitinous biomass include chitinase, chitosanase (GH46, GH75 and GH80), or lysozyme (GH23 and GH24). The efficiency of such enzymatic hydrolysis can reportedly be improved by the presence of a chitin binding protein (CBP) (Vanje-Kolstad et al., 2005, J. Biol. Chem. 280: 11313-11319; Vanje-Kolstad et al., 2005, J. Biol. Chem. 280: 28492-28497; Horn et al., 2006, supra; U.S. Patent Application 20070218046; Vanje-Kolstad et al., 2010, Science 330: 219).
There is a need in the art for improving the efficiency of cellulolytic enzyme compositions in the saccharification of cellulosic material.
The present invention provides improved methods for degrading or converting a cellulosic material with an enzyme composition in the presence of a chitin binding protein.

Methods for enhancing the degradation of cellulosic material with chitin binding proteins