A liquid crystal display in which: after a back-light has emitted three-color light rays of red, green and blue sequentially color by color, the back-light is turned off for a predetermined time, or the back-light is controlled so that, in three consecutive frames, the orders of light emissions of the respective colors carried out in respective sub-frames are not coincident with each other, thereby to reduce degradation in the image quality that occurs at the outline portion of an animation picture when it is displayed.

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display, and more particularly to a liquid crystal display using a ferroelectric liquid crystal or an anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal.
Along with the recent developments of the so-called office automation (0A), 0A apparatuses, typically exemplified by word-processors and personal computers, have been widely used. As such 0A apparatuses have become prevalent in offices, there have been ever-increasing demands for portable-type 0A apparatuses that can be used in offices as well as outdoors, and there have been also demands for small-size and light-weight of such apparatuses. Here, liquid crystal displays have come to be widely used as one of the means to achieve such an objective. Liquid crystal displays not only achieve small-size and light-weight, but also include an indispensable technique in an attempt to achieve low power consumption in portable 0A apparatuses that are driven by batteries.
The liquid crystal displays are mainly classified into the reflection-type and the transmission-type. In, the reflection-type liquid crystal displays, light rays that have been made incident on the front face of a liquid crystal panel are reflected by the back face of the liquid crystal panel so that an image is visualized by the reflected light. In the transmission-type liquid crystal displays, transmitted light from a light source (backlight) placed behind the back face of a liquid crystal panel is used to visualize an image. Although those of the reflection-type are inferior in visibility due to irregularity in the amount of reflected light that depends on environment conditions, they are inexpensive and widely used as display devices with mono-color (for example, black/white display, etc.) for such as calculators and watches. However, they are not suitable for display devices for personal computers, etc. which carry out a multi-color or full-color display. For this reason, in general, transmission-type liquid crystal displays are used as display devices for personal computers, etc. which carry out a multi-color or full-color display.
Here, currently-used color liquid crystal displays are generally classified into the STN (Super Twisted Nematic) type and the TFT-TN (Thin Film Transistor-Twisted Nematic) type based upon the liquid crystal type to be used. Although those of the STN type have comparatively low manufacturing costs, they are susceptible to cross-talk, and comparatively slow in response speeds; therefore, they are not suitable for display for animation pictures. In contrast, those of the TFT-TN type have higher display quality as compared with the STN type; however, since, at present, their liquid crystal panel has a light transmittance as low as 4%, a back-light with high luminance is required. For this reason, those of the TFT-TN type have greater power consumption due to the back-light, resulting in a problem in use of carrying battery power-source. Moreover, the TFT-TN type have other problems with the response speed, particularly slow in response speed for displaying half tones, narrow viewing angle, difficulty in adjusting the color balance, etc.
Moreover, in the conventional liquid crystal displays, a back-light of white light is used and the white light is selectively transmitted through color filters of three primary colors so as to perform a multi-color or full-color display; that is, those of the color-filter type have been generally used. However, in the color-filter type, a display pixel is constituted by a certain area including adjacent three color filters as one unit; therefore, the resolution is lowered to virtually one-third. Moreover, the application of the color filters reduces the transmittance of the liquid crystal panel, resulting in a reduction in the luminance as compared with the case without color filters.
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a liquid crystal display (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-281150, etc.) has been proposed in which a ferroelectric liquid crystal element or an anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal element, which has a high response speed to an applied electric field, is used as its liquid crystal element, and the same pixel is allowed to emit light rays with the three primary colors sequentially color by color so as to provide a color display.
FIGS. 1 and 2 are graphs respectively show the electro-optical characteristics of the ferroelectric liquid crystal and anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal. As shown in FIG. 1, the light transmittance of the ferroelectric liquid crystal varies depending on the polarity of an applied voltage. In the case of the plus application, the light-transmittance increases in response to the applied voltage, and in the case of the minus application, the light-transmittance becomes zero independent of the magnitude of the applied voltage. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 2, the light-transmittance of the anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal increases in response to the applied voltage in both of the cases of the plus and minus applications, and in the case of zero of the voltage application, the light-transmittance becomes zero. Therefore, in the case when these ferroelectric liquid crystal and anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal are applied to a liquid crystal display, a voltage corresponding to pixel data is supplied to each pixel of a liquid crystal panel and the light-transmittance is adjusted so that a display is available.
In a liquid crystal display using a ferroelectric liquid crystal or an anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal having the above-mentioned electro-optical characteristics, a liquid crystal panel, which uses a ferroelectric liquid crystal element or an anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal element that is capable of a high-speed response in hundreds to several xcexc seconds order, and a back-light capable of emitting red, green and blue light rays in a time-divided manner are combined, and by synchronizing the switching of the liquid crystal element and the light emission of the back-light a color display is realized. In the case when the ferroelectric liquid crystal element or the anti-ferroelectric liquid crystal element is used as the liquid crystal material, the liquid crystal molecules are constantly maintained in parallel with the substrate (glass substrate) so that it is possible to provide a very wide viewing angle; therefore, no problem arises in practical use. Moreover, in the case when a back-light constituted by red, green and blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs) is used, it is possible to adjust the color balance by controlling currents flowing through the respective LEDs.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram that shows one example of the structure of a conventional liquid crystal display. To an image memory 52 included in a display control means 51 is supplied display data DD to be displayed on a liquid crystal panel 53 from, for example, an externally personal computer, etc. The image memory 52 temporarily stores the display data DD, and then transfers data of each pixel unit (hereinafter, referred to as pixel data PD) to a data driver 55, and the data driver 55 outputs the pixel data PD thus transferred. Moreover, the display control means 51 outputs a control signal to a scan driver 56, and the scan driver 56 controls the on/off operations of scan lines installed within the liquid crystal display panel 53. Furthermore, the display control means 51 supplies a driving voltage to a back-light 54 so as to allow an LED array included in the back-light 54 to emit light.
FIG. 4 is a time chart that shows one example of a conventional display control carried out in such a liquid crystal display. FIG. 4A shows timing of light emissions of the LEDs of respective red, green and blue colors of the back-light 54, FIG. 4B shows scanning timing of respective lines of the liquid crystal panel 53, and FIG. 4C shows color-emitting states of the liquid crystal panel 53.
As illustrated in FIG. 4A, the LEDs in the back-light 54 are allowed to emit light successively in the order of red, green and blue, for example, for each {fraction (1/180)} second, and in synchronism with this, the respective pixels of the liquid crystal panel 53 are switched on a line basis so as to provide a display. Here, in the case of a display of 60 frames for one second, one frame period is a {fraction (1/60)} second, and this one frame period is further divided into three sub-frames, each having a {fraction (1/180)} second. For instance, in the example shown in FIG. 4A, the red LED is allowed to emit light in the first sub-frame, the green LED is allowed to do so in the second sub-frame, and the blue LED is allowed to do so in the third sub-frame, respectively.
As illustrated in FIG. 4B, with respect to the liquid crystal panel 53, data scanning is carried out twice for each of the sub-frames of the respective red, green and blue colors. However, adjustments in timing are conducted so that the start timing (timing to the first line) of the first scanning (data-writing scanning) is coincident with the start timing of each sub-frame and so that the end timing (timing to the final line) of the second scanning (data-erasing scanning) is coincident with the end timing of each sub-frame.
During the data-writing scanning process, a voltage corresponding to pixel data PD is supplied to each pixel of the liquid crystal panel 53 so as to adjust the transmittance. Thus, it becomes possible to provide a full color display. In contrast, during the data-erasing scanning process, an electrical potential having the same voltage as that of the data-writing scanning process, but the reversed polarity thereto, is supplied to each pixel in the liquid crystal panel 53; thus, the display in each pixel in the liquid crystal panel 53 is erased so that it is possible to prevent a DC component from being applied to the liquid crystal.
However, in such a conventional liquid crystal display, there is a phenomenon in which, in the case of displaying an animation picture, the outline portion of the moving picture is observed as a rainbow colored portion. The following description will discuss the cause of this phenomenon.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory drawing that shows a model of an animation picture displayed on the liquid crystal panel by the above-mentioned conventional liquid crystal display. In FIG. 5, the axis of ordinate is the time axis, and the axis of abscissa represents a pixel on a certain line in the liquid crystal panel 53. Pixel numbers placed on the axis of abscissa are numbers that are assigned for convenience of explanation so as to identify pixels on the line shown in FIG. 5.
In this case, an animation picture displayed on the liquid crystal panel 53 is designed so that a white-color image corresponding to 8 pixels on the black background is allowed to shift six pixels for each frame in the increasing direction of the pixel numbers. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 5, in the red sub-frame (R-SF) within the nxe2x88x921 frame, red display data corresponding to pixel m to pixel m+7 are displayed. In the same manner, in the green sub-frame (G-SF) and the blue sub-frame (B-SF) within the nxe2x88x921 frame, green display data and blue display data corresponding to pixel m to pixel m+7 are respectively displayed.
Moreover, in the respective red, green and blue sub-frames within the n frame, red, green and blue display data, which correspond to pixel m+6 to pixel m+13 (not shown) that have shifted six pixels in the increasing direction of the pixel numbers as compared with those in the nxe2x88x921 frame, are respectively displayed. In the sub-frames within the succeeding frames, display data of the respective colors are displayed in the same manner.
When such an animation picture is observed, the observer views the image while shifting his or her view point following the shift of the image. Therefore, the observer has to shift his or her view point six pixels for each frame in the shifting direction of the image, as indicated by arrow A in FIG. 5.
The reason that the observer shifts the view point while viewing the animation picture is because the observer tries to always maintain the shifting image at the same position on his or her retina. Consequently, the observer recognizes an image as shown in FIG. 6.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory drawing that shows a model of an animation picture that the observer recognizes. In the same manner as FIG. 5, in FIG. 6, the axis of ordinate is the time axis, and the axis of abscissa indicates a pixel on a certain line in the liquid crystal panel. The xe2x80x9cresults of observationxe2x80x9d indicate an image that the observer actually recognizes, and they show that the closer the pitches of slanting lines, the darker the image recognized by the observer becomes. Here, arrow A corresponds to arrow A shown in FIG. 5, which indicates the shift of the observer""s view point.
Within the nxe2x88x921 frame, the red display data corresponding to pixel m to pixel m+7 is displayed in the red sub-frame, and from time t0 at which the red sub-frame starts and to time t1 at which the red sub-frame ends, since the view point is being shifted following the shift of the image, the red display data thus displayed is observed as if it were flowing in a direction opposite to the shifting direction of the view point (in a decreasing direction of the pixel numbers).
Then, from time t1 to time t2 at which the green sub-frame ends, since the view point has been further shifted, the green display data is observed as if it were further flowing in the decreasing direction of the pixel numbers as compared with the red display data. In the same manner, the blue display data is observed as if it were further flowing in the decreasing direction of the pixel numbers as compared with the green display data. As a result, as illustrated in FIG. 6, in the nxe2x88x921 frame, the display data of the respective colors are observed as if they were being drawn in the decreasing direction of the pixel numbers, with an increasing influence as the sub-frames further proceed.
Within sub-frames in the following frames, the display data of the respective colors are observed as if they were being drawn in the decreasing direction of the pixel numbers.
In the case when such an animation picture is observed, since the respective display data of red, green and blue are separated in the time direction, the image observed has degradation in the image quality on its outline portion, as illustrated in xe2x80x9cthe results of observationxe2x80x9d in FIG. 6. More specifically, even in the case of, for example, a white display, there are a portion having only a blue display, a portion having only blue and green displays, a portion having only a red display and a portion having only green and red displays, with the result that, in these portions, the image being observed is subjected to color aberration, and observed not as a desired white color, but as rainbow colors.
The present invention has been devised to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its objective is to provide a liquid crystal display which has an arrangement in which, after display data of the respective colors have been displayed in each frame, a back-light is turned off for a predetermined time so as to narrow an area having color separations, thereby making it possible to make less conspicuous the phenomenon causing rainbow colors at the outline portion of an animation picture to be observed.
Moreover, another objective of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display in which a back-light is controlled so as to differentiate the order of display-data colors to be displayed in respective sub-frames within three consecutive frames so that display data of the three colors, that is, red, green and blue, are always provided at the outline portion, thereby making it possible to avoid the outline portion of an animation picture from being observed as rainbow colors.
A liquid crystal display in accordance with a first invention, which is provided with a liquid crystal panel having a plurality of liquid crystal pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix form, a back-light, placed on the rear face of a liquid crystal panel, for emitting a plurality of different color light rays sequentially color by color, and a back-light control circuit which emits the back-light sequentially color by color, and turns the back-light off for a predetermined time cyclically.
A liquid crystal display in accordance with a second invention, which is provided with a liquid crystal panel having a plurality of liquid crystal pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix form and a plurality of switching elements placed correspondingly to the respective liquid crystal pixel electrodes, a back-light, placed on the rear face of the liquid crystal panel, having a plurality of light sources respectively emitting different color light rays, and a light-source driving control circuit for controlling the driving processes of the respective light sources of the back-light by allowing each light source of the back-light to emit light rays sequentially color by color in synchronism with display data for each light source emitting color in one frame, applied to the respective liquid crystal pixel electrodes, while driving the switching elements to turn ON/OFF corresponding to the display data, so as to carry out a color display, wherein the light-source driving control circuit controls the driving processes of the respective light sources so as to allow them to successively repeat a turn-on period for turning on light sources color by color in turn, and a turn-off period for turning all the light sources off.
The first invention is provided with the back-light, placed on the rear face of the liquid crystal panel, for emitting, for example, three-color light rays of red, green and blue sequentially color by color. After the back-light has emitted the three-color light rays respectively, the back-light control circuit turns the back-light off for a predetermined time. In this manner, the one frame is provided with a period of time in which the back-light is turned off.
The second invention is provided with the light-source driving control circuit for controlling the driving processes of the three-color light sources, for example, of the back-light. Thus, the light-source driving control circuit drives the second-color light source after having driven the first-color light source, and then drives the third-color light source. Further, after having driven the third-color light source, it turns all the light-sources off.
Color separations, which take place at the outline portion of an animation picture, are generated during a period of time in which the light rays of the respective colors, red, green and blue, are emitted. Therefore, the time during which the back-light is turned off is provided so that an area having color separations can be narrowed; consequently, it is possible to make less conspicuous the phenomenon in which the outline portion of an animation picture is observed as rainbow colors.
A liquid crystal display in accordance with a third invention, which is provided with a liquid crystal panel having a plurality of liquid crystal pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix form, a back-light, placed on the rear face of the liquid crystal panel, for emitting at least three color light rays, and a back-light control circuit which allows the back-light to emit at least three color light rays sequentially color by color so as to differentiate the order of the light emissions within at least three consecutive frames.
A liquid crystal display in accordance with a fourth invention, which is provided with a liquid crystal panel having a plurality of liquid crystal pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix form and a plurality of switching elements placed correspondingly to the respective liquid crystal pixel electrodes, a back-light, placed on the rear face of the liquid crystal panel, having light sources of three colors, and a light-source driving control circuit for controlling the driving processes of the respective light sources of the back-light by allowing the back-light to emit light rays sequentially color by color in synchronism with three color display data in one frame, applied to the respective liquid crystal pixel electrodes, while driving the switching elements to turn ON/OFF corresponding to the display data, so as to carry out a color display, wherein the light-source driving control circuit controls the driving processes of the respective light sources so that, in each frame within consecutive three frames, among a first light-emitting order including the first, second and third colors in this order, a second light-emitting order including the second, third and first colors in this order, and a third light-emitting order including the third, first and second colors in this order, the respective light sources are driven in such a manner that the light-emitting order of each frame is different from the light-emitting orders of the other two frames.
In accordance with the third invention, the back-light that emits three color light rays of red, green and blue sequentially color by color is placed on the rear face of the liquid crystal panel. Further, the back-light control circuit controls the back-light in such a manner that the order of the light emissions of the three color light rays from the back-light is different in each of three consecutive frames.
In accordance with the fourth invention, the light-source driving control circuit controls the driving processes of the three-color light sources of the back-light. Here, the light-source driving control circuit assigns any one of the first light-emitting order including the first, second and third colors in this order, the second light-emitting order including the second, third and first colors in this order and the third light-emitting order including the third, first and second colors in this order to each frame within three consecutive frames in a manner so as not to overlap with each other, and the respective light sources are driven in accordance with the order of light emissions.
In three consecutive frames, this arrangement makes it possible to avoid the orders of the light-emissions of the respective colors from coinciding with each other, with the result that the three-color display data of red, green and blue are always allowed to exist at the outline portion of an animation picture. Therefore, since no color separations take place, it is possible to prevent the outline portion of an animation picture from being observed as a rainbow colored portion.
Additionally, in this case also, since the observer views the animation picture while shifting his or her view point following the shift of the animation picture, the later the sub-frame in each frame, the greater the influence of the phenomenon in which the display data is observed as if it were drawn in a direction opposite to the shifting direction of the animation picture. Therefore, there is degradation (fuzziness).due to the difference in brightness in the animation picture. In other words, during a period of three consecutive frames, the three-color display data of red, green and blue are always allowed to exist in the outline portion of the animation picture; however, since there is a difference in the lengths of the time of existence (light emission time), a monochrome display consisting of bright white and dark white is observed in an area having the degradation in the image quality, for example, in a white display. However, as compared with the case in which rainbow colors are observed, this case is more advantageous since the degradation in the image quality is less conspicuous.
In a liquid crystal display in accordance with a fifth invention that relates to the liquid crystal display of the first invention, the back-light control circuit allows the plurality of different color light rays of the back-light to be emitted sequentially color by color so as not to have the same light-emitting order of colors in the consecutive plurality of frames.
In a liquid crystal display in accordance with the sixth invention, which is provided with a liquid crystal panel having a plurality of liquid crystal pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix form and a plurality of switching elements placed correspondingly to the respective liquid crystal pixel electrodes, a back-light, placed on the rear face of the liquid crystal panel, having light sources of three colors, and a light-source driving control circuit for controlling the driving processes of the respective light sources of the back-light by allowing the back-light to emit light rays sequentially color by color in synchronism with three color display data in one frame, applied to the respective liquid crystal pixel electrodes, while driving the switching elements to turn ON/OFF corresponding to the display data, so as to carry out a color display, wherein the light-source driving control circuit controls the driving processes of the respective light sources so that, in each frame within consecutive three frames, among a first light-emitting order including the first, second and third colors in this order, a second light-emitting order including the second, third and first colors in this order, and a third light-emitting order including the third, first and second colors in this order, the respective light sources are driven in such a manner that the light-emitting order of each frame is different from the light-emitting orders of the other two frames, and the driving processes of the respective light sources are controlled so that, in each of the frames, after the period for driving the third light source, a turn-off period for turning all the light sources off is provided.
In accordance with the fifth invention, the back-light for emitting the three-color light rays sequentially color by color is placed on the rear face of the liquid crystal panel. After the back-light has emitted the three-color light rays respectively, the back-light control circuit turns the back-light off for a predetermined time. In this manner, the period of time for turning the back-light off is provided in each frame. Moreover, the back-light control circuit controls the back-light so that the orders of the light-emissions of the respective colors are different from each other in three consecutive frames.
In accordance with the sixth invention, the light-source driving control circuit for controlling the driving processes of the three-color light sources of the back-light is provided. Here, the light-source driving control circuit assigns any one of the first light-emitting order including the first, second and third colors in this order, the second light-emitting order including the second, third and first colors in this order and the third light-emitting order including the third, first and second colors in this order to each frame within three consecutive frames in a manner so as not to overlap with each other, and the respective light sources are driven in accordance with the order of light emissions. Moreover, the light-source driving control circuit turns all the light sources off, after having driven the third light source, in each frame.
In three consecutive frames, this arrangement makes it possible to avoid the orders of the light-emissions of the respective colors from coinciding with each other, with the result that the three-color display data of red, green and blue are always allowed to exist at the outline portion of an animation picture. Therefore, since no color separations take place, it is possible to prevent the outline portion of an animation picture from being observed as a rainbow colored portion. Moreover, since the period of time for turning the back-light off is provided in each frame, it is possible to minimize the difference in the light-emission times of the three color light rays, and consequently to narrow the area having degradation in the image quality due to differences in brightness.
A liquid crystal display in accordance with a seventh invention that relates to the liquid crystal display of the second or sixth invention is characterized in that the turn-off period is set to be approximately a xc2xc frame time.
In accordance with the seventh invention, after the back-light has emitted the three-color light rays sequentially color by color, the period during which the back-light is turned off is set to be approximately xc2xc frame time. Here, the xc2xc frame time refers to a xc2xc of a period of time required for displaying one frame. In this case, the light-emitting time of the back-light is xc2xe frame time.
Color separations, which occur at the outline portion of an animation picture, are generated while the respective color-light rays of red, green and blue are being emitted. Since the turn-off time of the back-light corresponding to xc2xc frame time is provided in this manner, it is possible to narrow the area having color separations to xc2xe, and consequently to make less conspicuous degradation in the image quality occurring in the outline portion of the animation picture.
In a liquid crystal display in accordance with an eighth invention that relates to the liquid crystal display of the second or sixth invention, the turn-off period is set to be approximately xc2xd frame time.
In accordance with the eighth invention, after the back-light has emitted the three-color light rays sequentially color by color, the period during which the back-light is turned off is set to be approximately xc2xd frame time. Here, the xc2xd frame time refers to a xc2xd of a period of time required for displaying one frame. In this case, the light-emitting time of the back-light is xc2xd frame time.
As compared with the seventh invention, since the turn-off time of the back-light is made longer so that it is possible to further narrow the area having color separations, and consequently to make less conspicuous degradation in the image quality occurring at the outline portion of a moving image.
The above and further objects and features of the invention will more fully be apparent from the following detailed description with accompanying drawings.


A benzenesulfonamide derivative represented by the following general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, a lower alkoxy group or a halogen atom; R.sup.2 represents a C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 straight- or branched-chain alkyl group, a C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 cycloalkyl group which may be substituted with one or more C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl groups on its ring, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl group substituted with one or more C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 cycloalkyl groups, 1-adamantylmethyl group, 2-norbornylmethyl group, or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl group substituted with one or more phenyl groups whose benzene ring may have one or more substituents; R.sup.3 represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group; and n is an integer of from 2 to 4, and a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof. The present compounds have thromboxane A.sub.2 antagonistic activity, leucotriene antagonistic activity and the like and useful as a platelet aggregation inhibitor, antithrombotic agent, antiasthmatic agent and antiallergic agent.

For example, the U.S. Pat. No. 4,258,058 discloses Sulotroban represented by the following formula and its derivatives: ##STR2## and the U.S. Pat. No. 4,443,477 discloses Daltroban represented by the following formula and its derivatives: ##STR3## as benzenesulfonamide derivatives having thromboxane A.sub.2 antagonistic activity. However, compounds structurally similar to the compounds of the present invention have never been known so far.
Thromboxane A.sub.2 is a potent physiologically active substance which is biosynthesized from arachidonic acid in living bodies. The substance has platelet aggregation activity and contracting activity on smooth muscles such as bronchi and coronary arteries. Although the substance is rather important in living bodies, it is considered that its excessive production may cause various disorders such as thrombosis and asthma. Leucotriene is also a potent physiologically active substance biosynthesized from arachidonic acid. This substance induces various pharmacological effects such as contraction of respiratory tract smooth muscle, hyper-secretion of respiratory tract and hyper-permeation of blood vessels, and is considered to be significantly involved in pathopoiesis of asthma and allergic inflammation.
For these reasons, drugs having thromboxane A.sub.2 antagonistic activity are expected to be useful as preventive and therapeutic agents for diseases associated with thromboxane A.sub.2 such as, for example, ischemic heart diseases such as angina pectoris and myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular diseases, thrombosis, and asthma. Drugs having leucotriene antagonistic activity are also expected to be useful as preventive and therapeutic agents for diseases associated with leucotriene such as, for example, asthma and allergic inflammation. Although several thromboxane A.sub.2 antagonists and leucotriene antagonists have been under clinical trials, they are not commercially available at present. Accordingly, further researches have been desired.
An object of the present invention is thus to provide medicaments having thromboxane A.sub.2 antagonistic activity and leucotriene antagonistic activity and useful as drugs for preventive and therapeutic treatments for ischemic heart diseases such as angina pectoris and myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular diseases, thrombosis, and asthma, or useful as drugs for preventive and therapeutic treatments for asthma and allergic inflammation.
The inventors of the present invention conducted various studies under these circumstances and, as a result, found that the novel benzenesulfonamide derivatives of the present invention have inhibitory activities against thromboxane A.sub.2 synthetase in addition to thromboxane A.sub.2 antagonistic activities and leucotriene D.sub.4 antagonistic activities. The inventors also found that they are highly useful as platelet aggregation inhibitors, antithrombotic agents, antiasthmatic agents and antiallergic agents. The present invention was achieved on the basis of these findings.

Benzenesulfonamide derivatives and use thereof


A stator core for supporting an electrical coil includes a plurality of groups of circumferentially abutting flat laminations which collectively form a bore and perimeter. A plurality of wedges are interposed between the groups, with each wedge having an inner edge and a thicker outer edge. The wedge outer edges abut adjacent ones of the groups to provide a continuous path around the perimeter.

Annular linear flow electromagnetic induction pumps for impelling liquid metals generally comprise an annular flow channel or duct which is surrounded by a column composed of a multiplicity of alternating annular stator coils and magnetic stator iron. This type of electromagnetic pump, commonly known as a single stator, annular linear flow induction pump, and its use in a liquid metal cooled nuclear fission reactor, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,859,885, issued Aug. 22, 1989, and 4,882,514, issued Nov. 21, 1989.
However, a more versatile linear flow electromagnetic induction pump design than those shown in the above patents comprises a double stator system. This electromagnetic pump system comprises the single stator arrangement as shown in the aforesaid patent, which is additionally provided with a second or inner stator arrangement concentrically contained and enclosed within the pump's central linear liquid flow duct or channel. A second stator column is also composed of a multiplicity of alternating annular stator coils and stator iron. In combination, the outer and inner, or double stators act upon the liquid linearly passing through the annular flow duct.
This double stator arranged pump design provides greater pumping capacity per pump unit size, or alternatively equal capacity provided by a smaller pump unit. Accordingly the double stator pump has the advantages of greater efficiency and versatility, among others.
The disclosures and contents of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,508,677, 4,859,885 and 4,882,514, are incorporated herein by reference.


A balloon expandable atherectomy cutter for removing plaque from an artery includes an elongated cutter assembly having a plurality of blades which, with respect to the axis of rotation of the cutter, are radially separated from each other and axially aligned with each other. The assembly is mounted on the distal end of a rotatable catheter and is rotatable about a quide wire to cut plaque from an artery as it is rotated. An inflatable balloon, is mounted between an ovoid space formed between the blades. An inflator is connected with the balloon to inflate the balloon and urge it against the distal portion of the blades. In the operation of the cutter, when the balloon is deflated the blades establish a first radius of rotation which cuts through the plaque of a stenotic segment as the cutter is advanced into the artery. When the balloon is inflated, the blades are urged by the balloon into an expanded configuration wherein the blades establish a second radius or rotation, larger than the first radius, in order to cut plaque from the stenotic segment as the cutter is withdrawn from the artery.

It is well known that any significant reduction or restriction in the flow of blood through the arteries of the body can cause complications which may have serious consequences. In any event, it is extremely important for the health of the patient that any stenosis, or blockage, which is causing such a condition be eliminated. One well known and frequently used procedure to accomplish this task is popularly known as angioplasty. For a basic angioplasty procedure, a dilatation balloon is positioned across the particular stenotic segment and the balloon is inflated to open the artery by breaking up and compressing the plaque which is creating the stenosis. The plaque, however, remains in the artery and is not removed. Unfortunately, in some cases, it appears that the plaque which remains in the artery may cause another stenosis to form.
As an alternative to angioplasty, atherectomy procedures have been developed to resolve the problems caused by blocked arteries. However, unlike an angioplasty procedure which only opens the stenosis in the artery but does not remove the plaque which caused the stenosis, in accordance with an atherectomy procedure the plaque which is creating the stenosis is mechanically cut from the artery and then removed. The cutting devices which are used for this task must, of necessity, be rather small. On the other hand they must have sufficient structural strength to cut the plaque during performance of the atherectomy procedure. Additionally, they must be operationally reliable. Many examples of such cutting devices can be given. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,166 which issued to Farr et al. for an invention entitled "Rotatable Cutter for the Lumen of a Blood Vessel", and which is assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, discloses such a cutter. U.S. Pat. No. 4,589,412 which issued to Kensey for an invention entitled "Method and Apparatus for Surgically Removing Remote Deposits" is but another example.
One problem which must be confronted in any procedure, whether it be an angioplasty or an atherectomy procedure, is the size of the entry site that can be used for introducing the medical device into the artery. Standard practices accept an entry site which has a diameter of only approximately twelve French, i.e. about four millimeters. Thus, any device which is to be positioned in the artery must pass through an introducer whose outer diameter is not larger than twelve French. The inner diameter of such an introducer is generally, however, on the order of only nine French. The consequence is that any device which is effectively insertable into the artery of a patient must be capable of assuming a configuration wherein the greatest dimension across the device is no more than approximately seven French. It happens, however, that to properly clear a stenotic segment it is sometimes necessary to create a lumen which has a greater diameter than seven French. To do this by an atherectomy procedure, the cutter being used must be capable of expanding beyond the seven French restriction imposed at the entry site.
Several examples of expandable cutting devices which are specifically useful as medical devices for atherectomy procedures can be given. U.S. Pat. No. 4,966,604 which issued to Reiss for an invention entitled "Expandable Atherectomy Cutter with Flexibly Bowed Blades", and U.S. Pat. No. 4,986,807 which issued to Farr for an invention entitled "Atherectomy Cutter with Radially Projecting Blade", both of which patents are assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, pertain to expandable atherectomy cutters. There is, of course, still a need for other expandable atherectomy cutters which can meet the specific needs of a specifically desired protocol.
The present invention recognizes that several factors need to be considered when determining the most desirable structure for an expandable atherectomy cutter and its method of use. First, there is the need to satisfy the personal preferences of the particular surgeon who is to perform the atherectomy operation. Clearly, different surgeons can have different approaches to the solution of the same problem. Further, there is the need to provide a structure which is best suited for performance of the particular task. It happens that atherectomy procedures can be performed in the coronary arteries, the carotid arteries, the renal arteries, and in the peripheral arteries. Each set of arteries is different and presents different challenges to the atherectomy procedure. The present invention provides such a structure for consideration and use by the operating physician.
In light of the above it is an object of the present invention to provide a compressible/expandable atherectomy cutter which can be reconfigured within an artery by manipulations performed externally of the patient. Another object of the present invention is to provide a compressible/expandable atherectomy cutter which can be configured into an operational rigid cutting configuration. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a compressible/expandable atherectomy cutter which is capable of making a reliable transition between a compressed configuration and an expanded configuration. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a compressible/expandable atherectomy cutter which expands into a structurally predictable configuration. Another object of the present invention is to provide a compressible/expandable atherectomy cutter with is relatively simple to use, relatively easy to manufacture, and comparatively cost effective.


An entry system (10) and an associated method are provided for a vehicle (12) that has at least one securable entrance. A lockable entrance cover (18, e.g., a door) closes the entrance to the vehicle (12). An interrogation communication arrangement has components (26 and 36) at the vehicle (12) and at an authorized person (14). The interrogation communication arrangement is operable for communicating and causing automatic lock release of said entrance cover (18). A beam interrupt sensor assembly (40) provides a beam (48) of energy and causes operation of the communication arrangement when the beam is interrupted.

The present invention relates to passive vehicle entry systems, and specifically related to systems that cause unlocking as an authorized person is about to actuate a handle.
Passive vehicle entry systems are known. Such systems permit automatic unlocking of a vehicle door, or the like, for an authorized person wishing to gain entry into the vehicle. Specifically, the authorized person does not need to manually turn a key in a vehicle lock, manually actuate a hand-held transmitter, or manually input a code onto a vehicle touch pad.
A passive system includes an identification transceiver carried on the authorized person and a base transceiver located at the vehicle. The base transceiver interrogates the identification transceiver, and in response to the interrogation, the and in response to the interrogation, the identification transceiver outputs a signal that conveys an appropriate security code. In response to reception of the signal conveying the security code, the base transceiver unlocks the vehicle door. Thus, the authorized person may simply operate a door handle and open the door. Such systems are often referred to as radio frequency identification (RFID) systems, or contact-less identification and authentication systems.
One issue that exists is that output of the interrogation signal from the base transceiver at the vehicle requires power consumption. Transmission of the interrogation signal is only required when the authorized person is intending to enter the locked vehicle. Thus, for a vehicle locked and left unintended in a parking lot, transmission of the interrogation signal is unnecessary for a rather long length of time.
It is known in the art to control transmission of the interrogation signal such that the interrogation signal is transmitted only at a time when the person is intending to enter the locked vehicle. One example of such a system is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,682,135 in which movement of a person""s hand adjacent to a door handle is detected via a passive infrared receiver array. As the hand of the person moves within the vicinity of the handle, a series of pulses are output from the receiver array. The series of pulses is interpreted by a microprocessor, which in turn activates a vehicle base transponder.
In accordance with one aspect, the present invention provides an entry system for a vehicle that has at least one securable entrance. A lockable entrance cover closes the entrance to the vehicle. Interrogation communication means, which has components at the vehicle and at an authorized person, is operable for communicating and causing automatic lock release of the entrance cover. Beam means provides a beam of energy and causes operation of the communication means when the beam is interrupted.
In accordance with another aspect, the present invention provides an entry system for a vehicle that has at least one securable entrance. A movable entrance cover closes the entrance to the vehicle. The entrance cover has a latch mechanism for holding the entrance cover in a closed position, a manually operable handle for causing the latch mechanism to release the entrance cover from the closed position, and a lock mechanism for preventing release of the entrance cover from the closed position. First transceiver means, at the vehicle, is operable for emitting an interrogation signal and for receiving a response signal. Control means, at the vehicle and operatively connected to the first transceiver means and the lock mechanism, controls the lock mechanism to permit release of the entrance cover upon determination of receipt of an authorized response signal. Second transceiver means, carried by a person authorized to access the vehicle, receives the interrogation signal and emits the authorized response signal in response to receipt of the interrogation signal. Beam emitter means, located adjacent to the handle of the entrance cover, emits a beam of electromagnetic energy. Beam receiver means, located adjacent to the handle of the entrance cover and positioned such that the beam emitted from the beam emitter means can impinge upon the beam receiver means, outputs a signal, indicative of whether the beam is blocked from impinging upon the beam receiver means, that controls operation of the first transceiver means.
In accordance with another aspect, the present invention provides a method for automatically actuating a lock mechanism to permit release of an entrance cover that closes an entrance into a vehicle. A beam is provided that extends adjacent to an actuation handle for the entrance cover. The beam is interrupting while reaching to actuate the handle. The beam interruption is detected. An interrogation signal is emitted from the vehicle in response to the detected beam interruption. The interrogation signal is received at a transceiver located at a person authorized to access the vehicle. An authorized response signal emitted in response to receipt of the interrogation signal. The response signal is received at the vehicle. The lock mechanism is actuated to an unlock condition in response to receipt of the response signal.

System and method for automatic vehicle unlock initiated via beam interruption


The present invention provides methods for treating industrial water systems. Pursuant to the method, the industrial water systems are treated with an effective amount of a hindered amine. In further embodiments, the hindered amine also acts as a steam tracer.

The present invention generally relates to the treatment of industrial water systems to prevent corrosion damage. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for treating an industrial water system to neutralize carbonic acid formed within the water system.
The primary considerations in the operation of industrial water systems, such as boiler systems, are maximizing energy efficiency and reliability, and eliminating unscheduled outages caused by water related problems. One economically attractive method is increasing the amount of condensate returned to the boiler as feedwater. Returned condensate, being condensed steam, is extremely pure and has a high heat content. Increased condensate return can improve boiler system economics through water and energy conservation.
As more condensate is returned, less make-up water is required, saving on water and make-up water treatment costs. The high purity allows for greater boiler cycles of concentration, thus reducing water and energy losses to blowdown. The high heat content (148 Btu/lb at 180.degree. F.) can provide substantial energy savings.
Corrosion in condensate systems can limit the quality and/or quantity of returned condensate. Iron and copper corrosion products can deposit on boiler heat transfer surfaces. This corrosion reduces heat transfer efficiency and could cause tube failure. In addition, corrosion caused by carbonic acid also damages components and piping in the condensate system.
Gases in the steam that dissolve in condensate to form a corrosive solution cause the condensate corrosion. Common gases found in condensate systems are oxygen, carbon dioxide and ammonia. Carbon dioxide and oxygen are most corrosive to ferrous metals, while oxygen and ammonia are extremely corrosive to copper and copper alloys. Either carbon dioxide or oxygen cause corrosion; however, the presence of both accelerates the corrosion rate significantly (10-40% faster than the sum of corrosion rates occurring from either gas alone).
Carbon dioxide can be found in steam due to the decomposition of bicarbonate, carbonate, or internal treatment chemicals in the boiler. The major source of carbon dioxide in steam is the break down of feed water bicarbonate and carbonate alkalinity in the boiler. At boiler temperatures and pressures, the following reactions occur: ##STR1## The first reaction proceeds 100% to completion. The second proceeds to approximately 80% completion. The liberated CO.sub.2 is carried with the steam into the condensate system. It becomes apparent that high alkalinity feed water will produce extremely corrosive condensate.
Carbon dioxide is not harmful until it dissolves in condensate. When the steam condenses, the carbon dioxide reacts with water to form corrosive carbonic acid. Since condensate is extremely pure, even small quantities of carbonic acid can significantly lower condensate pH and increase corrosivity. Corrosion rates increase with increasing temperatures. Since condensate is hot, this causes condensate to be even more aggressive to metal surfaces.
Reduction of alkalinity in the feed water decreases the carbon dioxide within the steam. This reduction of alkalinity can be accomplished by a mechanical means such as a well controlled lime softening program, dealkalization, demineralization, or degasification processes. Alternatively or in addition to the mechanical means, a chemical treatment program, such as neutralizing amines, may be used to neutralize carbonic acid in the condensate. When the neutralizing amines are used in addition to the pretreatment program, naturally, a better pretreatment with mechanical means results in a lower required amine dosage.
Organic amines are added to boiler feed water to volatilize into the stream and neutralize the carbonic acid in the condensate system. A variety of amines are used for this purpose. Blends of amines having different vapor/liquid partition coefficients are also used for better protection of the entire condensate system. Blends are advantageous because amines with smaller vapor/liquid partition coefficients will condense in the initial parts of the system and those with larger coefficients will protect the end of the system.
While the organic amines previously used in feed water systems have provided some protection against corrosion, such organic amines have several disadvantages. For instance, amines are difficult to handle since they are toxic, odorous, and flammable. Further, the copper corrosion problem becomes much more severe when the system contains oxygen, so the use of amine containing boiler blowdown for cooling tower makeup is normally undesirable.
In addition, neutralizing amines can and often do participate in the corrosion mechanism of copper and copper alloys by forming soluble complexes with the copper ions. Nathan, Corrosion Inhibitors, National Association of Corrosion Engineers, pp. 212-213 (1973). The source of the copper is usually the condenser and feedwater heater tubes within the boiler systems. Ammonia or substituted ammonium compounds attack the copper alloys and form copper complexes. Corrosion Basics, National Association of Corrosion Engineers, p. 169 (1984).
Therefore, a need exists for a new chemical treatment program that effectively neutralizes the carbonic acid formed within the feed water, while not participating in the corrosion mechanism.

Hindered amines for treating industrial water systems


A playback apparatus for reading a record carrier includes a drive unit for sending out audio sectors that were recorded on the record carrier, an ID extractor for extracting the ID codes of the audio sectors that were sent out by the drive unit, a retrieval controller for receiving the ID codes extracted by the ID extractor, and a sector data extractor for receiving data fields of the audio sectors that were sent out by the drive unit. The sector data extractor is controlled by the retrieval controller to extract the data fields of appropriate ones of the audio sectors when the ID codes thereof are recognized by the retrieval controller as belonging to a selected one of the audio programs.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a playback method and apparatus for reading audio programs that were recorded on a record carrier.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a co-pending U.S. patent application, entitled "Record Carrier, and Recording Method and Apparatus for Recording Audio Programs on a Track of a Record Carrier," and filed by the Applicant, there is disclosed a record carrier, such as a compact disc, which includes a number of tracks having a number of blocks. As shown in FIG. 1, each block (B) includes a plurality of interleaved compressed audio programs, and is grouped into a number of consecutive sub-blocks. Each of the compressed audio programs is segmented to form a number of consecutive audio sectors (AS(i,j), i=0 to 5, j=0 to k-1) that is equal in number to the sub-blocks. The audio sectors AS(i,j) of the compressed audio programs are arranged among the sub-blocks such that a jth one of the audio sectors AS(i,j) of each of the compressed audio programs is disposed in a jth one of the sub-blocks.
The compressed audio programs are assigned with an ascending order of program numbers, and the audio sectors AS(i,j) in each of the sub-blocks are arranged in the ascending order of the compressed audio programs to which the audio sectors AS(i,j) belong. As shown in FIG. 2, each of the audio sectors AS(i,j) includes a SYNC field 10 for storing a SYNC word, an ID field 11 for storing an ID code that is unique for each of the audio sectors AS(i,j), a data field 12, and an error management code field 13 for storing an error management code.
Referring to FIG. 3, the ID field 11 includes a track number (TN), a block number (BN), a program number (PN), a sector number (SN), and connection information (CI). The track number (TN) indicates the track (T) of the record carrier to which the audio sector AS(i,j) belongs. The block number (BN) indicates the block (B) on the track to which the audio sector AS(i,j) belongs. The program number (PN) indicates the compressed audio program on the block (B) to which the audio sector AS(i,j) belongs, e.g. i=0 to 5 as shown in FIG. 1. The sector number (SN) indicates the sector number of the audio sector AS(i,j) in the compressed audio program to which the audio sector AS(i,j) belongs, e.g. j=0 to k-1 as shown in FIG. 1. The connection information (CI) contains flags for facilitating continuous playback of the compressed audio programs when the record carrier is read. The flags can include an end of program (EOP) flag, an end of block (EOB) flag, an end of track (EOT) flag, and an end of disc (EOD) flag. Particularly, the last audio sector of each of the compressed audio programs, i.e. AS(i,k-1), has an EOP flag. The last audio sector of each block (B), i.e. AS(5,k-1), further has an EOB flag. The last audio sector AS(5,k-1) of the last block (B) in a track further has an EOT flag. The last audio sector AS(5,k-1) of the last block (B) in the last track of the record carrier further has an EOD flag.
By virtue of the interleaving arrangement of the audio sectors on the record carrier, a high density of compressed audio programs can be recorded on tracks of the record carrier while retaining the constant linear velocity, i.e. 1.5 Mbits/sec, of a compact disc drive with a compressed audio bit rate of about 224 Kbits/sec, thereby obviating the need for the compact disc drive to alternate frequently between stalling and advancing states to minimize degradation of the compact disc drive when the compressed audio programs are read from the record carrier.

Playback method and apparatus for reading interleaved audio programs recorded on a record carrier


Disclosed are a cipher control method which supports to maintain a cipher mode between a network system and a terminal. The method of controlling an encryption includes: attempting a connection for operating a communication channel between a terminal and a network system; providing cipher information about a cipher algorithm operation of the terminal to the network system; determining whether the terminal is a problematic terminal operating an abnormal cipher algorithm by the networking system; and when the terminal is determined to be operating abnormal, instructing the terminal to perform a communication channel operation based on a normally operable cipher algorithm by the network system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cipher control, and more particularly, to a cipher control method which supports to maintain a cipher mode between a network system and a terminal, and a network system and terminal for supporting the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A portable terminal supports a mobile communication function and has been used in many fields due to easy convenience and portability. The portable terminal performs camping on a network system for supporting a communication function, such that a communication channel is formed between the portable terminal and the network system. Here, a portable terminal currently performs a cipher mode setting to perform a communication based on a specific cipher algorithm after forming a communication channel. To achieve this, a portable terminal stores a cipher algorithm for supporting a cipher mode, encrypts a message transmitted through the stored cipher algorithm and decrypts a received message.
Meanwhile, when a new cipher algorithm is introduced, a cipher algorithm of the portable terminal is updated to the new cipher algorithm, such that the portable terminal communicates with the network system based on the updated cipher algorithm. This function is needed for securing the portable terminal from hacking and transmitting/receiving a message more effectively.
However, a cipher algorithm operation of a portable terminal may occasionally cause an unexpected problem. That is, the cipher algorithm stored in the portable terminal may not be worked properly. Such a defective problem may be caused by various factors. For example, there is a problem in the cipher algorithm itself stored in a portable terminal, or there is a case where incorrect data may be stored in a portable terminal due to a data error caused when updating an updated cipher algorithm. However, the portable terminal cannot appropriately identify whether there is a problem in the cipher algorithm stored or installed therein before performing communication. Moreover, because a step of exchanging cipher information related to a cipher algorithm is performed in a link layer, a high layer of the portable terminal merely recognizes the problem as a signal transmitting/receiving problem caused in the link layer even there is a problem in the cipher information. As the result, unnecessary message transmission/reception that is continued for operating a channel can be performed as the terminal is unable to recognize its problem.

Cipher-controlling method, network system and terminal for supporting the same, and method of operating terminal


A serial data decoder is described employing a bank of parallel primary Huffman decoders 70 each operating to decode a stream of variable length code words with embedded control code words into a stream of fixed length index values. The fixed length index values are fed to a secondary decoder which operates under control of the fixed length index values representing control code words to decode the fixed length index values representing the variable length code words into output data.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to serial data decoding. More particularly, this invention relates to serial data decoding of a stream of variable length code words within which are imbedded control code words.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known to provide systems using streams of variable length codes to represent image data in a compressed form. An example of such a system is that proposed by the Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG). The JPEG system is primarily intended for use in compressing still images within general purpose computer systems. In such general purpose computer systems the necessary encoding and decoding can be performed with appropriate software. Whilst such an approach can be flexible and inexpensive, it will not be able to process data at a high enough rate to meet the requirements of providing real-time encoding and decoding of moving image data.
In order to meet this requirement dedicated hardware may be provided. British Patent Applications 9121122.7 and 9121123.5 (Sony Broadcast & Communications Limited) disclose one possible hardware decoder for serial data decoder for containing variable length codes. Although such hardware decoders provide high speed operation, they can be disadvantageously complex. One situation which can lead to such disadvantageous complexity is when control code words are embedded within the variable length code words. These control code words may be used to control the parameters by which the variable length code words are to be decoded. A hardware decoder capable of modifying its own operation in dependence upon decoded control code words whilst maintaining a high speed of operation would pose significant practical difficulties to implement.

Serial data decoding for variable length code words


A server is a projection image control device that can be connected to one or more projectors installed in an aircraft, and comprises a memory and a processor. The memory at least temporarily stores operation information about the aircraft. The projection image control processor determines the display direction of a projection image on the basis of operation information, produces a command to cause the one or more projectors to display a projection image in the determined display direction, and outputs this command.

Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a projection image control device, a projection image control system, and a projection image control method, for controlling the display of an image or video projected by a projector or another such image projection device.
Description of the Related Art
Recent years have seen the use of projectors (image projection devices) with which light emitted from a lighting apparatus equipped with an LED (light emitting diode) or another such light source is modulated according to image information or video information to form an optical image, and the optical image thus formed is enlarged and projected onto a screen.
With these devices, it is known that an image or video can be projected onto a screen that consists of a ceiling, a wall, or any of various other kinds of surface in a defined spaced within an aircraft or another means of transportation. The image or video is viewed from many different directions, but the display direction of the projection image or video is predetermined.

Device, system, and method of controlling projection image

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


A process of synthesizing a compound of the formula I: ##STR1## is described. A compound of the formula II: ##STR2## is reacted with diphenylphosphinic chloride to activate the carboxylic acid group, and then reacted with methanesulfonyl chloride to produce a compound of formula IV: ##STR3## Compound IV is then reacted with Na.sub.2 S in water to produce a compound of formula I.

The present invention relates to the synthesis of carbapenem side chains, and in particular, to side chains or portions thereof containing a pyrrolidine group, which is bonded to the carbapenem nucleus through a thioether linkage. Typically, the pyrrolidine is a portion of the side chain, and is substituted at the two position with any of a variety of substituents.
Conventionally, these intermediate compounds are prepared from a 4-hydroxyproline derivative of the formula: ##STR4## Such synthetic schemes typically require the extensive use of protecting groups.
Similarly, a method of converting trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline to a thiolactone of the formula: ##STR5## has been described. However, this thiolactone is unsuitably protected for large scale synthesis of carbapenem antibiotics.
EP 551 993 Al published on Jul. 21, 1993 relates to a synthesis which utilizes active esterifying agents and base, followed by treatment with hydrogen sulfide and base.
The present invention is an improvement over these other processes, utilizing an activating agent, namely, diphenylphosphinic chloride, which surprisingly improves the results which are achieved when commercial quantities are synthesized.

Process for synthesizing carbapenem side chain intermediates


A method for detecting piloting conflicts between the crew and the autopilot of an aircraft. According to the method, an automatic trajectory is programmed by checking whether the actual values of navigation parameters converge on said corresponding desired values within a predetermined convergence period; in the case where at least one of the actual values does not converge, within the convergence period, on the corresponding desired value, a predictive calculation is carried out, at consecutive future moments, of the value of at least one particular parameter selected amongst the navigation parameters; and in the case where the predicted value of the particular parameter is higher than a corresponding predefined threshold, an alarm is emitted for the crew of the aircraft to notify them about a piloting conflict being able to jeopardize the flight safety of the aircraft. A device for implementing the method. An aircraft including the device.

As known, most aircrafts, including civil transport airplanes, are provided with an autopilot enabling to check the trajectory and the speed according to instructions pre-established by the crew. Such an autopilot is a finite state automaton, each state corresponding to a particular piloting mode for the piloting control in the vertical plane and in the horizontal plane as well as for the speed holding.
It is further known that switching from one piloting mode to another one is generally achieved by a voluntary action of the crew on the control interfaces of the autopilot.
It is also known that, because of the existence of strong interactions between the different piloting modes, a simple action of the crew on the control interfaces of the autopilot could result in a cascade of mode transitions for the latter, such a cascade having consequences on the piloting control in the vertical plane and in the horizontal plane as well as on the speed holding of the aircraft.
Moreover, a voluntary action of the crew on other piloting controls (for instance the control lever of the airbrakes) than those associated with the autopilot, can also trigger mode transitions of the autopilot.
In some conditions, mode transitions can also occur automatically with no voluntary action of the crew, in order to protect the aircraft against flight field excursions.
Whatever the cause of the changes of piloting modes of the autopilot, the crew is notified about it by one or more visual alarms on the piloting interfaces, as well as by sound alarms.
Now, despite such visual and sound alarm systems, the crews may not become aware of at least one mode change of the autopilot of the aircraft (for instance because of a high or particularly stressful work load) and continue to act as if the autopilot was still in the desired piloting mode.
Moreover, even warned, the crews, being generally unaware of the triggering conditions for the mode transitions, find it hard to react to such mode changes, which may lead to critical situations where the crews become, for instance, aware that the autopilot carries out unwanted actions; however, such crews do not generally know the procedure to be applied in order to switch back to the desired piloting mode.
Furthermore, an undetected and un-notified defect of the autopilot can result in the trajectory of the aircraft becoming modified without the crew being notified.

Method and device for detecting piloting conflicts between the crew and the autopilot of an aircraft


A compliant foil fluid film radial bearing having a contoured profile bearing rotor to provide for the greater thermal expansion of the hot end of the compliant foil fluid film radial bearing at operating temperature. The rotor may have a uniform taper over its entire length, may be tapered for a portion of its length, or the taper may vary over the entire length of the bearing rotor.

Compliant foil fluid film radial bearings are currently being utilized in a variety of high speed rotor applications. These bearings are generally comprised of a bushing, a rotating element such as a rotor or shaft adapted to rotate within the bushing, non-rotating compliant fluid foil members mounted within the bushing and enclosing the rotating element, and non-rotating compliant spring foil members mounted within the bushing underneath the non-rotating compliant fluid foil members. The space between the rotating element and the bushing is filled with fluid (usually air) which envelops the foils.
The motion of the rotating element applies viscous drag forces to the fluid in the converging wedge channels. This results in increases in fluid pressure, especially near the trailing end of the wedge channels. If the rotating element moves toward the non-rotating element, the convergence angle of the wedge channel increases, causing the fluid pressure rise along the channel to increase. Conversely, if the rotating element moves away, the pressure rise along the wedge channel decreases. Thus, the fluid in the wedge channels exerts restoring forces on the rotating element that vary with and stabilize running clearances and prevent contact between the rotating and non-rotating elements of the bearing. Flexing and sliding of the foils causes coulomb damping of any axial or overturning motion of the rotating element of the bearing.
Owing to preload spring forces or gravity forces, the rotating element of the bearing is typically in physical contact with the fluid foil members of the bearing at zero or low rotational speeds. This physical contact results in bearing wear. It is only when the rotor speed is above what is termed the lift-off/touch-down speed that the fluid dynamic forces generated in the wedge channels assure a running gap between the rotating and non-rotating elements.
Compliant foil fluid film radial bearings typically rely on backing springs for preload, stiffness, and damping. The fluid foils are preloaded against the relatively movable rotating element so as to control foil position/nesting and to establish dynamic stability. The bearing starting torque (which should ideally be zero) is directly proportional to these preload forces. These preload forces also significantly increase the rotor speed at which the hydrodynamic effects in the wedge channels are strong enough to lift the rotating element of the bearing out of physical contact with the non-rotating members of the bearing. These preload forces and the high liftoff/touch-down speeds result in significant bearing wear each time the rotor is started or stopped.
Conventional compliant foil fluid film radial bearings operate with extremely small running clearances and moderate, as opposed to low, drag and power consumption. The clearances between the non-rotating fluid foil's minimum film region and the rotating element are typically less than 100 micro-inches at operating conditions.
In some instances, the compliant fluid foil elements may comprise a plurality of individual compliant foils to form a plurality of wedge shaped channels which converge in thickness in the direction of the rotation of the rotor, while in other instances the compliant foils may be formed on a single sheet enveloping the rotor within a cylindrical or lobed bushing.
One of the high speed applications in which these compliant foil fluid film radial bearings are utilized is a gas turbine engine. Such an engine could include a gas turbine and a gas compressor at opposite ends of a shaft with the compliant foil fluid film radial bearing in between. Since hot combustion gases, as high as 1,750 degrees Fahrenheit are expanded in the gas turbine and atmospheric air is compressed in the compressor, there is a high degree of temperature variation between the turbine or hot end of the compliant foil fluid film radial bearing and the compressor or cooler end of the compliant foil fluid film radial bearing. In some instances the hot end of the compliant foil fluid film radial bearing will be as much as 500 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than the cooler end of the compliant foil fluid film radial bearing.
In most cases, the compliant foil fluid film radial bearing will be generally uniform from the turbine end to the compressor end and the bushing and rotor will also be a constant diameter. As a result of the temperature gradient from the hot end to the cooler end of the compliant foil fluid film radial bearing, the bearing's radial play (sway space or running clearance) may be severely restricted at the turbine end of the bearing. The restriction in radial play, the result of greater thermal expansion at the turbine end of the bearing, can cause the bearing to lose load capacity, have an excessively high touch-down speed, have excessive drag, have excessive power consumption, or be forced to operate at an unacceptable temperature due to self heating. All of the above will adversely impact bearing life and reliability.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,502,795 issued Mar. 5, 1985, and 4,555,187 issued Nov. 26, 1985, both entitled Foil Bearing Alignment, propose the use of shims between the compliant foil fluid film radial bearing and the axially extending bore to radially outwardly diverge the surface of the bearing along its axial length. Alternately, an axially varying underspring rib thickness is proposed as is a conical bearing bushing to correct or minimize bearing rotor misalignment and accommodate bearing rotor deflection or tilt.


In the diversity receiver which switches between receiver branches to receive phase modulated signals, this invention can achieve a diversity effect with a circuit of simple construction which by switching between receiver branches based on relative modulation phase error, and can attain diversity effect not only against fading but also against any factor which might affect the transmission lines.

As radio waves are used as the transmission medium in radio communications, level deviation or phase deviation of received signals takes place due to fading or interference to deteriorate transmission characteristics. Diversity reception has been known as an effective method to prevent such deterioration in transmission characteristics. The most typical diversity reception is postdetection diversity receiver which instantaneously selects a fading signal having the highest received signal level out of plural fading signals each of which changes independently. The reception system is based on the assumption that the higher the level of received signals, the higher is the S/N ratio (signal/noise ratio) and the smaller is phase deviation, and thus the transmission quality is expected to improve.
FIG. 1 shows a prior art typical 2-branch postdetection diversity receiver wherein two antennas 101, 102 are installed with a suitable interval distance between them in order to obtain fading waves independently, and are respectively connected to receivers 103, 104. As the detector of the received signal levels, IF log-amplifiers 105, 106 are used for intermediate frequency. The IF log-amplifiers 105, 106 are equipped with a means to output DC voltage proportionate to decibel of the received signal level. By comparing the output voltages from the two log amplifiers 105, 106 by a level comparator 107, the received signal levels can be compared. With the comparator output, output from one of the detectors 108 or 109 with the higher received signal level is selected by a diversity select switch 110. This allows an output terminal 111 to constantly receive detector outputs with a higher S/N ratio and smaller phase deviation.
However, the system requires plural receivers, and the size of the whole system inevitably becomes large. There has been proposed an antenna select diversity reception system as a simpler structure wherein plural antennas are switched to receive signals by only one receiver.
FIG. 2 shows a prior art typical 2-branch antenna select diversity reception circuit wherein two antennas 121 and 122 are placed at a suitable interval distance therebetween so as to obtain fading waves independently (not correlated) from each other. Either one of the antennas 121, 122 is connected to a receiver 124 with an antenna selector 123. The switching is conducted with the comparator data from a level comparator 126. More particularly, the received signal level of the receiver 124 is detected by a received signal level detector 125, which in turn is compared with the reference level by the comparator 126, and when, for example, IF signal envelope of the received signal becomes lower than a predetermined threshold value, the antennas 121 and 122 are switched.
To distinguish from said antenna select diversity reception, the receiver shown in FIG. 1 which switches detection outputs will be referred to as "post-detection diversity" hereinafter.
The following problems will occur if the received signal level is used as the data for branch selection in the postdetection diversity system.
The first problem is that the log-amplifiers 105, 106 are required to have a level detection performance over a wide range of signal levels. In practice, however, log-amplifiers could not quite meet such requirements as their level detection characteristics are often saturated in the extremely high or low levels or deviated from linearity in the intermediate range. In the ranges where the characteristics are saturated or deviated, the difference in output voltages decreases although the received signal levels differ between branches, to thereby hamper accurate comparison of received signal levels. As it is difficult to make level detection characteristics of log-amplifiers agree between branches over a wide range of levels, errors occur in the comparison result in the range where disagreement is excessive to thereby decrease the effect of diversity.
The second problem is that when the branch characteristics deteriorate, the diversity effect decreases. In other words, when distortion increases due to the deterioration caused by chronological changes or improper adjustment in the log-amplifier 108 or the detector 109 of either one of the branches in FIG. 1 and the detection characteristics of the branch is deteriorated, the S/N ratio decreases or phase deviation increases inconveniently if received signal levels alone are compared to switch to the detector 109.
The third problem is that the diversity receiver by means of comparison of received signal levels is ineffective when the transmission characteristics deteriorate due to reasons other than the drop of the level of received signals. For example, considering the effect on the interference on the same channel, the effect from the interference waves is generally less when the received signal levels are high and therefore the diversity effect can be achieved. However, as interference waves also change in level due to fading, C/I (desired signal level/interference signal level) becomes smaller if the received signal level is high as shown in FIG. 3(a) than when said level is low as shown in FIG. 3(b), and the probability of errors may increase. In such a case, even if the diversity reception by comparison of received signal levels is used, desired result cannot be achieved.
The fourth problem lies in the fact that when the levels of the signals received in both of the two branches are low, the received level comparator is actuated by thermal noises and precise comparator outputs cannot be obtained. For example, as shown in FIGS. 4(a), 4(b) and 4(c), even if the levels of the desired signals are substantially equal, the levels differ depending on the noise vector when thermal noises are greater. When diversity reception is conducted with the comparator outputs, the transmission characterisitcs may sometimes be deteriorated.
The antenna select diversity reception is not free of problems and the following problems tend to occur when received signal levels are used as the information for branch selection.
Similarly to the third problem in the postdetection diversity reception, the high levels of the received signals do not necessarily mean better transmission quality than the low levels thereof. In other words, even if the level of received signals is high, an error is sometimes caused while no error may occur at a low level. If selection is made based only with the levels of received signals, signals with errors might be selected.
The second problem arises from the fact that IF log-amplifiers are used to detect received signal levels in the antenna select diversity reception. The first problem mentioned in relation to the postdetection diversity reception will occur in the antenna select diversity reception, too.
The third problem arises when a mean of received signal levels is to be obtained as the output from a received signal level detector. For the purpose, a filter is generally inserted at an output of the detector, but delay inevitably occurs in the level comparator output. Because of the delay, when antennas are switched at a high speed, sufficient diversity effect cannot be achieved.
The fourth problem encountered in the case of post-detection diversity reception will also occur in the antenna selection diversity reception if the levels of the input signals are low in both of the branches.
An object of this invention is to overcome those problems encountered in the prior art and to provide a diversity receiver which can achieve diversity effect without the need to detect the received signal levels and which can achieve a remarkable effect not only against fading but also against all the factors which affect transmission circuits.

Phase likelihood comparison diversity receiver

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation


A safety belt reeling device has a housing and a belt reeling shaft rotatably supported in the housing. A safety belt is connected with one end to the belt reeling shaft so as to be reeled onto and withdrawn from the belt reeling shaft. A safety belt guide is movably connected in the housing between an assembly position and an operational position. The safety belt guide has a guide slot through which the safety belt is threaded during assembly of the safety belt reeling device and in which the safety belt is guided during operation of the safety belt reeling device. The belt reeling shaft has a belt slot and the safety belt is guided through the belt slot and is secured thereat. The safety belt guide during assembly is moved into the assembly position at the periphery of the belt reeling shaft and is secured in the assembly position such that the guide slot is aligned with the belt slot and such that the guide slot and the belt slot are directly adjacent to one another.

The present invention relates to a safety belt reeling device with a belt reeling shaft biased by a spring for winding, respectively, withdrawing the safety belt, wherein the safety belt is connected with one end to the belt reeling shaft. The device further has a safety belt guide which is movably connected to the housing and which encloses the safety belt with its guide slot into which the safety belt must be threaded during assembly.
A safety belt reeling device with the aforementioned features is known from German Published Document 26 14 472. This safety belt reeling device comprises a safety belt guide which is movably arranged within the safety belt housing in order to guide without constant deflection and with low friction, even when unfavorable winding, respectively, withdrawing conditions are present, the safety belt during winding, respectively, withdrawing within the guide slot of the safety belt guide without the safety belt laterally contacting the legs of the U-shaped safety belt reeling device housing. With a safety belt reeling device embodied as disclosed the safety belt must be fastened to the shaft body and must also be threaded into the safety belt guide.
The assembly of such a safety belt reeling device is difficult because first the safety belt must be threaded into the safety belt guide and the safety belt must then be fastened to the body of the belt reeling shaft. For threading the safety belt into the safety belt guide, the guide known from German Published Document 26 14 472 is provided with stays that delimit the guide slot for the safety belt. These stays have a lateral cutout for the lateral insertion of the safety belt. Furthermore, with respect to fastening the safety belt at the body of the shaft, it is known to insert the safety belt from one side into a belt slot provided within the shaft and to fasten at the other side of the belt slot the belt loop, for example, with an inserted pin. Since in the known safety belt reeling devices the belt guide and the shaft body are thus arranged at a distance to one another, the assembly with the prescribed assembly steps is difficult to preform and, due to the distance present between the belt guide and the belt slot, a twisted insertion of the safety belt during threading is always possible.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve a safety belt reeling device with the aforementioned features such that the assembly is facilitated and a twisting of the safety belt during assembly can be prevented.

Safety belt reeling device with safety belt guide designed for automatic assembly


A terminal clamp for a battery terminal post including first and second relatively movable jaws defining between them a passage for receiving a battery terminal post, and a screw-operated clamping arrangement for closing the first and second jaws about the terminal post, in use, to grip the post against the action of a resilient restoring force urging the jaws apart, the screw-operated clamping arrangement including first and second components in screw-threaded arrangement with one another, the first component being held against rotation relative to the jaws, the second component having a frusto-conical cam surface cooperable with corresponding part frusto-conical cam surfaces of the jaws, whereby rotation of the second component relative to the first component and the jaws causes rotational and axial movement of the frusto-conical cam surface of the second component relative to the part frusto-conical surfaces of the jaws either to close the jaws or to release the jaws.

The present invention relates to a terminal clamp for connecting an electrical cable to a terminal post of a vehicle battery.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,941, German Patent No. 3811629 and UK Patent Application No. 2287587 each disclose a screw-operated battery terminal clamp comprising a pair of jaws defining between them a passage for receiving a battery terminal post, and screw-operated clamping means for closing the jaws against a resilient restoring force, in use, to grip the post. In each case, the clamping means includes an inclined generally rectilinear cam surface on each jaw and cooperating inclined rectilinear cam surfaces on a component movable relative to the jaws by the screw action, either in a direction to cause the cam surfaces to coact to close the jaws about the terminal post in use, or to release the jaws to open under said resilient restoring force.
A problem encountered with such arrangements is that after being operated to hold the jaws closed, the cam surfaces may bind together so that release of the screw action is ineffective to release the jaws. It is an object of the present invention to provide a terminal post clamp wherein this problem is obviated.

Terminal clamp for a battery terminal post


A parking meter device that is devoted to a separate person or vehicle comprises a housing unit 10 that has an LED 11 that in use is clearly visible from outside the vehicle. The device includes a two-way radio circuit 12, a display 14 and a keyboard 15. The unit also includes a computer 19. In use, the user communicates, using the keyboard 15, with a remote central parking service provide via radio data network channels to demand a parking period. The parking service provider checks the authenticity of the demand and approves the parking request. During lawful, paid for, parking the LED 11 remains ON so that a patrolling parking attendant can easily monitor that parking approval has been given. The parking meter device is in effect a personal device and overcomes disadvantages and limitations inherent for usual side-of-the-road parking meter devices that are devoted to parking bays or zones rather than individuals.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to vehicle parking devices.
2. Description of Prior Art
At present for vehicle parking arrangements a stationary parking meter is provided for each parking bay, or zone, that must be charged with cash either before parking or at the end of a period of parking. The parking meters may in some instances be operated using a credit card or devoted pre-paid card. In all cases, each meter is committed to its own parking bay or zone, and being generally accessible, remains vulnerable to vandalism and robbery. Further inherent problems arise in adjusting or varying the parking tariff at each meter from time to time, as each meter must then be visited and adjusted. Maintenance crews and breakdown crews are also required to service and repair the parking meters as an on-going expense.


According to an embodiment, a signal processing device includes an integrator, a setting unit, and an analog-to-digital converter. The integrator is configured to integrate an electrical charge corresponding to electromagnetic waves. The integrator includes a capacitor configured to store the electrical charge corresponding to the electromagnetic waves and a discharging circuit configured to discharge the capacitor. The setting unit is configured to set a period of integration of the electrical charge with respect to the integrator. The analog-to-digital converter includes a comparator configured to compare an integration output and a threshold value and a counter configured to output, as digital data of the electrical charge, the number of times for which a value of the integration output becomes not less than the threshold value. The converter is configured to discharge the capacitor during the period of integration by supplying a comparison output of the comparator to the discharging circuit.

These days, a photon counting computed tomography (CT) device is known in which a detector that implements the photon counting technique is used. Unlike an integral-type detector, a detector implementing the photon counting technique outputs signals that enable individual counting of X-ray photons that have passed through a test subject. Hence, in a photon counting CT device, it becomes possible to reconstruct X-ray CT images having a high signal-to-noise ratio (SN ratio).
Besides, the signals output by a detector implementing the photon counting technique can be used in measuring (differentiating) the energy of the X-ray photons. Hence, in a photon counting CT device, imaging can be done by dividing projection data, which is collected by bombarding X-rays of one type of X-ray tube voltage, into a plurality of energy components.
As a detector implementing the photon counting technique, an "indirect-conversion-type detector" is known in which the incident X-ray photons are temporarily converted into a visible light (a scintillator light) using a scintillator and then the scintillator light is converted into electrical signals (an electrical charge) using an optical sensor such as a photomultiplier tube. Herein, the optical sensor individually detects each scintillator photon obtained by conversion of radiation by the scintillator, and then detects the radiation falling on the scintillator and measures the energy of that radiation.
In order to accurately obtain the photon energy of radiation, the quantity of electrical charge that is generated inside the detector due to the incoming radiation photons needs to be analyzed at a high speed and over a wide dynamic range. Conventionally, a method is known in which an integrating circuit, a sample hold circuit, and an analog-to-digital (AD) converter are used. According to that method, with respect to a wave-height pulse that is proportional to the quantity of electrical charge output by the integrating circuit, sampling/holding is performed and is followed by AD conversion using the AD converter.
However, in the conventional technology, a capacitor disposed in the integrating circuit for the purpose of integrating the electrical charge decides on the upper limit of the electrical charge that can be integrated. Hence, it is difficult to achieve a wide dynamic range.
It is an object of the invention to provide a signal processing device and a signal processing method that enable achieving a high count rate and a high resolution.

Signal processing device and signal processing method