A Raman amplifier inputs pump light into an optical fiber (transmission path) through which an optical signal passes, to amplify the optical signal. An optical receiving unit is provided downstream of the Raman amplifier and monitors the power of the optical signal amplified by the Raman amplifier. A calculating unit determines Raman amplification gain based on the power of the optical signal monitored by the optical receiving unit, and calculates the power of a noise component included in the optical signal based on the gain. The calculating unit, in real-time, calculates the power, which varies in complicated manners depending on conditions, and outputs information concerning to the power to another apparatus at a frequency on the order of milliseconds.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical amplification apparatus for light amplification, an optical communication apparatus, and an optical communication method.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the increase in communication traffic in recent years, demand for optical communication apparatuses have increased. Besides optical repeaters introduced into main networks, recently optical communication apparatuses have been actively introduced into local networks, and optical networks have also been established in subscriber loop systems. Such optical communication systems play important roles in worldwide information networks.
In optical communication systems, optical amplification/repeater systems that include wavelength-multiplexed optical amplifiers (erbium doped fiber amplifiers (EDFA)) on each transmission path are used to realize long-distance transmission having greater capacities at a lower cost and with higher reliability. When repeater associated loss in optical amplification/repeater systems is large due to increased transmission path length, for example, the power of signal components included in an optical signal input into an optical amplifier decreases, resulting in deterioration of signal/noise (SN) ratios and potentially leading to degradation of transmission characteristics.
As a countermeasure technique, distributed Raman amplification (DRA) is used to input pump light into a transmission path so as to amplify, by utilizing the Raman effect, optical signals passing through the transmission path, thereby increasing the power of the signal components. As a result, SN ratios increase and transmission characteristics improve; hence, distributed Raman amplifiers have been in practical use as an effective technique.
In optical communication systems, the longer the distance between repeater points is, the greater optical loss in a transmission path becomes. Optical loss in a typical transmission path is on the order of 0.2 dB/km, and transmission path loss increases commensurately with the distance between repeater points. When various optical elements are arranged on a transmission path, further optical signal loss occurs as a result of the transmission loss associated with each of the optical elements. The greater the repeater associated loss, the smaller the power of the optical signal becomes.
In optical communication systems, optical amplification techniques (EDFA, Raman amplification, or the like) are typically used. The larger the gains by the optical amplification techniques, the more noise components (spontaneous emission light) there are. Thus, when optical amplification techniques having larger gains are employed in transmission paths exhibiting larger repeater losses, the ratio of signal component power relative to the power of noise components included in optical signals decreases. When optical signals are provided by wavelength-multiplexed light, smaller numbers of signal wavelengths lead to smaller ratios of signal component power relative to the power of noise components included in the optical signals.
Power controlling apparatuses, used in optical communication systems, not only simply amplify optical signals but further control the power of the optical signals to be constant. A power controlling apparatus typically uses a branching coupler and a photo diode (PD) to monitor a total power (signal component+noise component) of an optical signal and to control, per channel, the power of a signal component based on information received from a monitoring system or the like concerning the number of signal wavelengths.
The purpose of a power controlling apparatus is to control the power of signal components included in an optical signal. However, when power control is performed based on the total power of a monitored optical signal, if the power of the noise components is large relative to the power of signal components, the control deteriorates (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-232433). Failure to control the power of the signal components at a normal level, may potentially lead to a problem such as deterioration of transmission characteristics.
For example, increased power of the signal components included in an optical signal leads to deterioration of the signal components due to non-linear characteristics of transmission paths, thereby increasing the possibility of reception errors occurring. On the contrary, decreased power of signal components included in an optical signal leads to the occurrence of deteriorated transmission waveforms due to the effect of SN ratios, thereby increasing the possibility of reception errors occurring. As such, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2006-189465 discloses a power controlling apparatus that is configured to estimate the power of a noise component included in an optical signal and to subtract the estimated power from a total power of the optical signal to thereby calculate the power of a signal component included in the optical signal.
However, since power of the noise components occurring in the optical signal varies in a complicated manner depending on conditions of transmission paths, a problem arises in that accurate calculation of the power of the noise components is difficult. For example, gain characteristics in Raman amplification vary depending on fluctuation of design parameters or optical characteristics of transmission paths. Variations of gain characteristics in Raman amplification further lead to variation in the power of the noise components caused by Raman amplification.
For example, optical characteristics of transmission paths vary depending on: contamination at a connecting portion of an optical connector that connects optical fibers with each other; optical loss such as that due to bending loss of an optical fiber; manufacturing tolerance (e.g., loss coefficient and effective cross-sectional area) affecting characteristics of the transmission path fiber itself; variations in loss due to fusion bonded portions in transmission path fibers; aged deterioration; and ambient air temperature.
The technique according to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2006-189465 is configured to monitor a power of pump light at a Raman amplifier, to calculate Raman gain based on the monitored result, and to calculate the power of noise components from the calculated gain. However, as pumping efficiencies of Raman amplification vary depending on the type of transmission path, in practice, accurate estimation of the pump light power to be input into a transmission path is difficult. Further, when loss at the output side of a transmission paths increases as a result of, for example, application of a certain load to a fiber or connector, even when there is no variation in the monitored pump light, the power of pump light actually input to the transmission paths decreases, thereby resulting in decreased gain and optical noise.
In these situations (such as variations in transmission path loss, pump light power monitoring errors, temperature characteristics, and aged deterioration), inherently proportional relationships between pump light power and gain are not constant, thereby making accurate estimation of optical noise power difficult. Thus, characteristics of noise component power with respect to pump light power are not constant. As a result, with the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2006-189465, a problem arises in that the power of noise components cannot be calculated with high accuracy.
It is conceivable to exclude, from being subject to system support, optical signals having fewer channels where the ratio of the power of noise components relative to the power of the signal components becomes larger. Although this enables a decrease of the ratio of the power of the noise components relative to the power of the signal components, optical signals subject to system support are limited, thereby significantly reducing convenience.
It is further conceivable to prepare a database of the noise component power that occurs according to system conditions, respectively. However, the noise component power occurring in Raman amplification varies according to system conditions (gains of Raman amplification, repeater loss, transmission path type, loss coefficients of transmission path fibers, effective cross-sectional areas of transmission paths, transmission path lengths, and the like).
As a result, a problem arises in that an extensive database must be maintained to realize power control with greater accuracy. Further, maintenance of such an extensive database causes another problem in that the process of selecting appropriate values from the database takes time, making retrieval of the power of the noise components in real-time difficult.

Optical amplification apparatus, optical communication apparatus, and optical communication method


There is disclosed a system and method for irradiating extracellular macular deposits through a cornea of an eye utilizing laser pulses. In an embodiment, the method comprises generating laser pulses of between about 1 femtosecond to 1,000,000 femtoseconds in a wavelength range from about 200 nanometers to 30 micrometers; and irradiating the extracellular macular deposits with the laser pulses for a preset temporal duration, energy, wavelength, spectral distribution, energy fluence, and power density. In an embodiment, the laser source generates a laser pulse in the range of about 0.001 nJ to 100 mJ of optical energy. By focusing the laser at a depth targeting extracellular macular deposits, the irradiating laser pulse is configured to ionize, remove, deplete, denature, and destroy the extracellular macular deposits without damaging the retinal pigmented epithelium cell membrane or mascula.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a highly pervasive degenerative condition of the retina. AMD currently affects approximately one million Canadians; and the likelihood of developing AMD for people over the age of 75 years of age is 1 in 4 [1]. The initial symptoms present themselves as blurred or distorted vision and as the disease progresses the vision worsens as the central area of vision degenerates to the point of total blindness. There are two distinct stages to the progression of the condition [2]. The first stage of AMD, known as dry AMD, is characterized by the formation of lipoprotein deposits called drusen. The drusen develop on the outer layer of the retina between the Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE), the last layer of the retina, and the Bruch's membrane, the first layer of the choroid. These drusen cause cellular stress on the RPE cells leading to increased photoreceptor death. Eventually, dry AMD progresses to the final stage of the condition known as wet AMD where blood vessels of the choroid extend into the retina. This rapid neovascularization of the retina leads to leaky blood vessels that exude blood into the retina leading to more rapid photoreceptor death. The wet stage, in particular, results in total vision loss, thus, deemed more severe than the dry form. There is strong evidence to suggest that all reported cases of wet AMD occur due to the progression of the disease from the dry AMD stage. Thus, the most efficient way of preventing the severe wet form of AMD is to treat the condition while in the dry stage, hindering the progressing of the disease past the less severe stage.
To date, extensive research on the treatment of AMD using laser technology has been performed. Previous attempts to treat AMD using laser therapy include photodynamic therapy and photocoagulation treatment [2]. In photodynamic therapy, a photosensitizer is administered and then excited with a laser source. Due to the excitation of the photosensitizer material, it stimulates the production of free radicals that induce cell death of the desired tissue. In the treatment of AMD, the photosensitizer is injected into the leaky blood vessels where it is absorbed by the endothelial cells of the blood vessels. Once the photosensitizer is excited, cell death is induced in the endothelial cells, slowing the progression of the exudative blood vessels within the retina. In photocoagulation the laser is used to cauterize the leaky blood vessels in the retina. These previous methods of treatment are both hindered by the same shortcomings: lack of specificity and targeting only the final stage of the condition, when a significant amount of vision loss has already occurred. Both forms of treatment target the exudative vessels in the retina but are characterized by large-scale collateral damage within the retina. While the laser in photodynamic therapy can be targeted at certain areas of the retina, the photosensitizer is not tissue selective in which cells uptake the sensitizer. Thus, any cell containing the photosensitizer that the laser beam hits will be exposed to free radicals and go through apoptosis; leading to excessive cellular death around the desired target. Photocoagulation leaves large-scale lesions on the retina, and a potential side effect of these lesions is the loss of peripheral vision. Therefore, an attempted treatment for the loss of central vision can potentially lead to the loss of the patient's peripheral vision. To date, there has not been a successful treatment developed to prevent the progression of AMD by targeting the early dry stages of the condition.
In recent years, researchers have made some advances in the treatment of AMD. More specifically, Dr. Guymer et al. at the Macular Research Unit, Centre for Eye Research at the University of Melbourne, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Australia discovered that by exposing the macula to nanosecond (billionth of a second long) laser pulses, significant macular regeneration was observed. According to this Australian group, the laser treatment eliminated drusen in the treated eye and in so doing, reverses the degenerative process of AMD and save patients' sight. Fourteen patients have been followed to the 6-month mark. Of these, 10 patients had improved visual function or drusen removal. The researchers attribute the regeneration mechanism to the improvement of the transport properties of the Bruch's membrane hydraulic conductivity where the laser radiation triggers retinal pigmented epithelial cells to change. The Australian group asserts that the key to such a treatment is the use of nanosecond-long laser pulses to cause retinal pigmented epithelium cells to be destroyed without damaging adjacent health cells.
The Australian group claim to be blasting cells within the RPE layer using a nanosecond laser. This blasting of the retina induces the formation of micro-bubbles within the RPE cells causing cell death without rupturing the cell membrane, in order to stimulate rejuvenation of the RPE layer. The Australian group report not only improvement of the retinal function in AMD patients, but also regression of the disease [3]. Within the claims of their retinal rejuvenation mechanism they state that damaging the cells within the RPE induces a reparative cellular response, which results in improvement of the transport capabilities of the Bruch's membrane. Within the claims of a patent application for retinal rejuvenation it is stated that the group is killing RPE cells, inducing the migration of RPE cells into the targeted region and stimulating an improvement in the transport capabilities of the Bruch's membrane [3]. In a different publication it is stated that the laser pulses stimulate a natural cellular reparative process in the RPE cells, leading to the RPE functional rejuvenation without inducing cell death [4]. Thus, it is not clear whether the reparative process kills the cells or not. However, both of these suggested tissue repair processes are unlikely, as it is an established fact that the RPE cells of the central retina have no inherent biological rejuvenation systems and they do not reproduce [5-8]. This leads to the conclusion that the rejuvenation mechanism is still poorly understood, thus, it is still not clear if this treatment mechanism results in the regression of the disease.
Furthermore, the claim that nanosecond-long laser pulses can deliver a significant amount of energy without heat delivery, and thus thermal damage, is likely incorrect. Nanosecond laser pulse will damage healthy cells and the neuro-retina layer as the energy is deposited over a long time (longer than the electron energy relaxation time).
Therefore, what is needed is an improved system and method for laser-based treatment that addresses some of the limitations in the prior art and renders laser-AMD treatment to be more effective.

System and method for femtosecond laser pulse treatment of macular degeneracy, retinal drusen treatment, and colloidal bodies of retina removal


Connection resistance (Rc) resulting from the resilient deformation of a lock arm (26) is produced in the process of connecting two housings (10, 20), and connection resistance (Rb) resulting from a resilient restoring force of a grommet (30) held in contact with a panel (P) is produced with the two housings (10, 20) properly connected. In the process of connecting the two housings (10, 20), the connection resistance (Rb) resulting from the resilient restoring force of the grommet (30) increases after the lock arm (26) is resiliently restored.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a connector mounting structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
A known panel-mountable connector has a fixed housing mounted in a mount hole of a panel, a movable housing to be connected with the fixed housing and a waterproof grommet attached to the movable housing.
A lock arm formed in one housing interferes with a lock in the other housing and resiliently deforms in the process of connecting the two housings. A resilient restoring force of the lock arm causes a frictional force and produces a connection resistance. The lock arm resiliently restores when the two housings reach a properly connected state and engages the lock to hold the two housings together.
The grommet is held resiliently in contact with the panel around an opening area of the mount hole to display its waterproof function when the two housings are connected properly. Thus, connection resistance resulting from a resilient restoring force of the grommet is produced in the process of connecting the two housings in addition to the connection resistance resulting from the lock arm.
The connector may be structured so that the connection resistance resulting from the resilient restoring force of the grommet suddenly increases before the lock arm is restored resiliently to engage the lock. If a connecting operation is performed slowly, an operator may misjudge that the two housings have reached the properly connected state when the connection resistance resulting from the resilient restoring force of the grommet suddenly increases. In this case, there is a possibility that the operator finishes the connecting operation before the lock arm is restored resiliently to effect locking.
The present applicant proposed a connector disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,835,094 to solve this problem. This connector has an inertial locking structure for assuring a proper connecting operation. According to this structure, while the two housings are being connected, the lock arm collides with the lock to increase the connection resistance temporarily, thereby controlling the connecting operation.
If an operation force exceeding this connection resistance is given to the two housings, the lock arm is deformed resiliently to disengage from the lock. Thus, the connecting operation proceeds in a single a stroke. While the connecting operation proceeds at a stroke, connection resistance resulting from the resilient deformation of the lock arm and resistance resulting from the resilient deformation of the grommet are produced. However, the connecting operation proceeds with a force exceeding these connection resistances and the two housings reliably are connected properly.
The inertial locking structure requires an operation of giving the operation force exceeding the connection resistance resulting from the collision of the lock arm and the lock, and this operation places a burden on the operator. Thus, if the number of connecting operations performed by the operator is small, the burden on the operator is small even if the inertial locking structure is employed. However, the burden on the operator can be large.
The present invention was developed in view of the above situation and an object thereof is to enable a connecting operation of two connector housings to be completed without placing a burden on an operator.

Connector mounting structure, connector, a grommet and mounting method


A scalable method for efficient dynamic allocation of buffer resources in a store-and-forward device, such that high utilization can be maintained with small average buffer occupancy by providing asymmetric congestion control with opportune random detection. Also provided is tolerance of transient onset of congestion and fairness toward bursty traffic with ready reaction to declines in congestion.

Congestion in a network link occurs whenever the amount of offered traffic exceeds its capacity. Buffering resources are often used to accommodate the transient excess traffic and to preserve reasonable utilization of the communication link. Buffering resources in a store-and-forward device, such as a packet switch or router, are typically structured as one or more queues. When there is transient overload due to bursty traffic, a queue could be filled up to its maximum queue length and incoming packets could be subject to a large queuing delay. In addition, the chance that several consecutive packets are dropped due to buffer overflow is high.
Several passive queue management (PQM) approaches have been attempted or proposed to better manage congestion problems in the queues of store-and-forward devices. Unfortunately, in most PQM approaches, such as tail drop, LQD (Longest Queue Drop) and RND (Dynamic Soft Partitioning with Random Drop), bursty flows result in inefficient handling of flows because of the reactive nature of PQM.
In contrast, active queue management (AQM) is a proactive approach to queue management, wherein packets may be dropped before a queue becomes full to avoid congestion. Existing AQM schemes, such as RED (Random Early Detection) and its variations, SRED (Stabilized RED) and CHOKe (CHOose to Keep for responsive flows, CHOose to Kill for non-responsive flows) and BLUE are typically designed to respond early, yet gradually, with onset of congestion, so that packet marking/dropping is not concentrated on a burst of consecutive arrivals, either from a single source or a plurality of sources. This is intended to enhance fairness to bursty traffic as well as to minimize the chance of synchronizing the reaction of responsive flows, such as TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) flows. Unfortunately, these schemes tend to be sluggish upon decline of congestion. As a result, there is unnecessary marking/dropping of packets in the event of congestion decline, and throughput is accordingly limited.
Few existing AQM schemes have been designed for managing per-flow queues to provide isolation among flows so that misbehaving flows may be identified and be subject to punitive measures. Existing AQM schemes that have been originally designed for managing aggregate queues may be used to support per-flow queue management, but are not scalable enough to support systems with a large number of flows. Some that have been designed for managing per-flow queues are also not scalable because they tend to require excessive memory and computation overhead, while others are not very effective in avoiding marking/dropping of consecutive arrivals because there is not sufficient hysteresis in their packet marking/dropping mechanisms.

Method for active queue management with asymmetric congestion control


A method and an apparatus confirms airtightness of a closed space in a housing provided with a steam movement control device. The apparatus includes an air feed passage and an air exhaust passage, which communicate with an interior of the housing. The air feed passage connects to a gas injection device, which supplies a gas at a predetermined pressure. The air exhaust passage connects to a pressure gauge. In the method, while gas at a predetermined pressure is injected into the housing through the air feed passage, pressure measurement is performed in the air exhaust passage from the housing, and a measured pressure value is compared with an injection pressure value. When the measured pressure value is substantially equal to the injection pressure value, airtightness in the housing is maintained. When the measured pressure value is lower than the injection pressure value, airtightness has been lost.

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for testing airtightness of a closed space, which closed space is provided with a steam movement control device which is used as a humidifier, a dehumidifier and a humidity regulator, by controlling a direction of steam movement with specific waterproof membranes and their arrangement.
The inventor has already disclosed a steam movement control device in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 322060/1993. The steam movement control device has one ventilation hole communicated to an interior of a housing (closed space) and the other opened to atmospheric air. Multiple small chambers, which are separated by air and water vapor permeable, waterproof membranes, exist between the two ventilation holes. Steam movement is controlled so as to eliminate, add, or control humidity in the housing by applying air and water vapor permeability of waterproof membranes with temperature fluctuation speed between outdoor air and the housing.
The steam movement control device is, as shown above, attached to the housing (closed space). The steam movement control device functions on the condition that the airtightness of the housing (closed space) is maintained. Leakage which underruns the moisture control ability of the steam movement control device is tolerated because the leakage can be compensated by the moisture control ability of the device itself.
However, methods to confirm the airtightness of the housing (closed space) have not been established yet. At present, the airtightness is, at best, maintained by adopting a temporary drip proof or airtight structure. There are no methods to check the airtight state of a housing with a steam movement control device attached.
This invention was devised in consideration of the actual state of art. The purpose of this invention is to offer a method of and an apparatus for testing airtightness of a closed space, which airtightness is a prerequisite for installation of a steam movement control device.
The method of testing airtightness according to this invention is intended for a closed space which has two ventilation holes; one of which is communicated to an interior of a housing, and the other is opened to atompspheric air, and between said two ventilation holes small chambers are separated by air and humidity permeable, waterproof membranes and which is provided with a steam movement control device to control steam movement between said two ventilation holes. The configuration is that while predetermined pressure gas is injected into the closed space from an air feed passage to said closed space, pressure is measured in an air exhaust passage from the closed space and a measured pressure value is compared with an injection pressure value, and it is recognized that when the measured pressure value is substantially equal to the injection pressure value, airtightness in the housing is maintained, and when the measured pressure value is lower than the injection value, airtightness leaks.
The airtightness testing device which corresponds to this airtightness testing method is equipped with an air feed passage and an air exhaust passage communicated to the interior of the closed space. The air feed passage is connected with a gas injection device which feeds the gas at a predetermined pressure and the air exhaust passage is connected with a pressure gauge.
The airtightness testing method according to this invention is that while predetermined pressure gas is injected into a test space which communicates to inside of the closed space through a ventilation passage, pressure is measured in the test space and the measured pressure value is compared with a pressure value before injection, and it is recognized that when the measured pressure value is higher than the pressure value before injection, airtightness in the housing is maintained, and when the measured pressure value is substantially equal to the pressure value before injection, airtightness leaks.
The airtightness testing device which corresponds to this airtightness testing method is composed of a test space which communicates to the inside of the closed space through a ventilation passage, a gas injection device which supplies gas at a predetermined pressure and a pressure gauge to measure the pressure in the test space.
The said airtightness testing device is equipped with a closed space connection part which consists of a double tube, which tube is made up with an inner tube forming an air feed passage and an outer tube forming air exhaust passage. This closed space connection part is connected in detachable way to a connection hole which is formed on the closed space, and the inner tube protrudes from the end of the outer tube. Thus, the openings of the inner tube and the outer tube are distant from each other. In this case, the inner tube is formed with retractility to make the inner tube protruded from the outer tube opening at the extended state.
In the airtightness testing method, even when the airtightness of the closed space is recognized to leak, if the degree of leakage underruns the moisture control ability of the steam movement control device, the leakage does not necessarily be assumed to be a failure as the steam movement control device can function.

Method of and apparatus for testing airtightness of closed space provided with steam movement control device


An example engine driven welder/generator system is disclosed that includes a turbo charged gasoline powered engine connected to an electric welder/generator. The welder/generator is configured to provide an output to an auxiliary welding system. The turbo charger system enhances operation of the gasoline engine by powering a turbine with engine exhaust to drive a compressor to increase intake of air, resulting in compressed air providing more powerful explosions in an engine combustion chamber once fuel is added and ignited. The resulting engine drives the welder/generator to provide a more consistent torque curve, while generating less noise per unit of power output in comparison to a diesel engine.

Conventional welding-type power supplies provide power for welding-type tools. Some such power supplies are coupled to a diesel-powered engine that drives an electric generator. In some cases, the diesel engine can be expensive to operate due to fuel cost, and can add byproducts into the environment. A system that provides more efficient engine operation at a lower operating cost without the drawbacks of a diesel powered machine is therefore desirable.

Methods and systems for a turbo gas engine driven welder


A beehive support structure has a lowermost section forming a nest floor which is supported so that it can be slid out. Above the lowermost section, the structure is adapted to support one or more honey floors. The frame-support structure can be adjusted as regards various geometric parameters, such as width, depth and height, of the various floors.

Many beehives in commercial use comprise a plurality of generally square or rectangular-shaped, hollow, box-like compartments or "floors", which are manufactured for modular stacking in a tower arrangement. Typically, the bottom most compartment is the "nest floor" where the queen bee resides and in which procreation occurs. This compartment is closed only at the bottom, and is open at the top. One or more upper compartments, known as "honey floors", and having neither a floor nor a ceiling, are arranged above the nest floor so as to be contiguous therewith. Depending on the size of the nest, the amount of honey being produced, and the time of year, the number of honey floors may be either increased or reduced.
In the specification and claims, the term "commercial beehive" refers to the type described above.
From time to time, it may be necessary to access the nest floor for periodic treatments, or to replace it completely. In accordance with the prior art, in order to gain access to the nest floor all of the honey floors must be removed. This, of course, causes great disturbance to the beehive activity.
It is also noted that, while commercial beehives are generally of similar construction, their width, height and length dimensions may differ from region to region.

Universal beehive support and beehive construction


A covert surveillance system for viewing images from a remote location is provided. The surveillance system provides a mirror, lens and camera arrangement within a small enclosure which allows full 360 degree pan, tilt, zoom, focus and iris control from a remote location. The system receives control commands such as rotate left, zoom out and tilt down via a radio receiver, and controls the camera accordingly. Images viewed by the camera are transmitted to a remote receiver for display on a monitor, or for recording. Continuous camera rotation is achieved by use of a specialized conductive drum which provides continuous electrical contact between camera signals and camera control. In one embodiment, the surveillance system is mounted in place of a photo detector in a street lamp, making the camera virtually undetectable.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to visual surveillance systems, and more particularly to a covert surveillance system which provides remote control of sophisticated camera functions such as zoom, focus, pan, tilt, etc.
2. Description of the Related Art
The purpose of a covert surveillance system is to monitor events from a remote or secret location. The equipment for this task ranges from simple television camera systems in banks or stores and metal-detecting devices at airports to airborne heat-sensing devices used by environmental officials to detect water polluters, and secret military satellites with a wide range of detection devices. The choice of surveillance system is dependent on the type of activity which must be monitored.
One of the most popular types of surveillance systems is the closed-circuit television. The closed-circuit television is used to watch banks, convenience stores, police stations, prisons, and other locations requiring constant security. Such systems have been installed in neighborhoods on an experimental basis to allow police departments to monitor high-crime-rate areas. Surveillance systems are in place in such diverse locations as the White House lawn, along portions of the U.S.-Mexican border, and in office buildings, amusement parks, and airports.
One of the problems in using closed-circuit televisions to monitor criminal activity is that the criminals are often aware that they are being watched. In locations such as banks, convenience stores, and prisons, notice of surveillance can often act as a deterrent to crime. However, if the purpose of the surveillance equipment is to capture criminal activity covertly (without tipping off the suspect), the camera for the surveillance system must be hidden.
Referring to FIG. 1, a prior art surveillance system 100 is shown which includes a camera 102 mounted to a motor 104 which rotates about a rod 106 suspended from a ceiling 108. The camera 102 is enclosed within an opaque globe 110 which hides the camera from view. The globe 110 has two lens portals 112 through which the camera 102 can view. In one embodiment, the camera 102 provides continuous video images to a remote monitor (not shown) via a coaxial cable. Other versions of the surveillance system 100 provide one way viewing globes 110 which allow the camera 102 to "see" through the globe at all rotations, while hiding the camera from external view.
While the surveillance system 100 "hides" the camera from external view, the presence of the surveillance system 100 is apparent. The globe 110 may be used to "hide" the momentary direction of the camera 102, or possibly to protect the camera from external vandalism, but its presence is not disguised. Thus, the surveillance system 100, while adequate to record activity within a particular location, is not useful for situations where the act of surveillance must be concealed.
A prior art surveillance system that is intended for covert monitoring is shown in FIG. 2. A periscope camera 200 is shown extending through a top surface 202 which is intended to be mounted on the roof of a vehicle, for example. The top of the camera 200 has a non-functional antenna 204 which is used to disguise the camera 200 as a cellular antenna, when the top of the camera 200 is flush with the surface 202. When in use, the camera 200 extends through the surface 202 and captures the desired images via a mirror 206. The captured images are transmitted to a lens and image capture device (not shown) within a box 208 which is mounted below the surface 202, and thus out of sight. The camera 200 is useful for instances where a van, or other type automobile, can be parked near the desired viewing area. However, when the vehicle itself would raise suspicion, the camera 200 does not provide an adequate solution.
Now referring to FIG. 3, an alternative prior art covert surveillance system 300 is shown. The surveillance system 300 includes a dummy electrical power line transformer 302 which is intended to be connected to a power line (not shown) on a power line pole. Within the transformer 302 is a surveillance camera 304 which views images through a window 306. The images are typically transmitted to a remote location for viewing and recording.
A problem associated with the surveillance system 300 is that it requires a power line technician to install it on a power line pole. This is often inconvenient, untimely, or expensive. In addition, the viewing window 306 is often observable by sophisticated suspects, thus defeating the covert purpose of the surveillance system. Furthermore, the viewing area of the camera 304 is restricted by the window 306, making the camera 304 useful in only one direction. And, the surveillance system 300 is useful only in those areas which have above ground power poles. In neighborhoods which have underground electric utilities, the surveillance system 300 is not applicable.
What is needed is a surveillance system which may be mounted in an undetectable location, which allows viewing in multiple directions, and which allows a user to remotely control sophisticated camera functions such as zoom, focus, aperture, pan and tilt. In addition, what is needed is a surveillance system which may be used in a variety of neighborhoods, parks, street corners, etc., without being noticed by sophisticated suspects.

Apparatus within a street lamp for remote surveillance


In a method for processing a time code such that time code data composed of a hour minute second frame accompanying picture information of a predetermined system is mapped onto picture information of another system, when converting the picture information of the predetermined system into that of another system, mapping the time code when converting the system of the picture information including the steps of converting time code data accompanying picture information of said predetermined system into a total frame number x, calculating a total frame number y of the converted time code data for said time code data from said total frame number x and generating the converted time code from the total frame number y.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for processing a time code. The method and apparatus are arranged to map the time code used for an operation such as editing when converting picture information of a predetermined system into that of another system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Today, there are two known standard TV signal systems, NTSC (National Television System Committee) system having 525 scan lines/field frequency of 59.94 Hz (simply called 525/59.94) and PAL (Phase Alternating by Line) system having 625 scan lines/field frequency of 50 Hz (simply called 625/50). In order to exchange a TV program among countries, it is often necessary to convert a signal from one system to the other.
For example, in order for the USA or Japan to broadcast a TV program produced for Europe, it is necessary to convert a PAL system video signal, recorded with 625/50, into an NTSC system video signal of 525/59.94.
Conventionally, when editing the video signal of the NTSC system program converted from the PAL system program, a user has to manually edit the video signal as he or she is watching the picture on a monitor. Because the time code added to the PAL system video signal (source side) is not mapped to the NTSC system video signal (target side), such editing takes substantial time and lowers editing accuracy.

Method and apparatus for processing time code


There is provided a temperature control device for a battery of a vehicle which has a battery housing having a battery which is arranged therein and which is intended to have its temperature controlled, and a battery heat transmission device, which are arranged with spacing from each other so as to form an intermediate space, wherein a temperature control medium can be introduced into the intermediate space. The temperature control device further has a delimitation device, an air chamber which is arranged between the battery heat transmission device and the delimitation device, an air inlet opening for supplying ambient air to the air chamber and an air outlet opening for discharging air from the air chamber. In order to increase the efficiency of the battery cooling, it is proposed to construct the air inlet opening so as to be able to be closed. There are further provided a vehicle having such a temperature control device and a method for controlling the temperature of a battery which is arranged in a battery housing of a vehicle by means of a temperature control medium.

In vehicles, accumulators are used as rechargeable stores for electrical energy. In addition to the use as a starter battery, electric and hybrid electric vehicles have traction batteries which are used to electrically drive the vehicle.
These batteries are generally temperature-sensitive and should be operated in a narrow temperature range. Whereas heating the battery can be necessary at cold ambient temperatures, at higher temperatures, for example, above 30° C., it is usually necessary to cool the battery since the battery itself produces heat during operation thereof.
An additional cooling circuit which is independent of the motor cooling circuit is generally used for cooling the battery. At moderate ambient temperatures, that is to say, if a small battery cooling is sufficient, there is activated a first cooling step, at which a temperature control medium, that is to say, in this case, a coolant, is directed to the battery by means of an electric pump, where it absorbs heat. Subsequently, the heated coolant reaches a first heat transmission device, in which it dissipates the absorbed heat to the ambient air. The energy necessary for operating the electrical pump is relatively small.
At high ambient temperatures, however, the cooling effect which can be achieved therewith is not sufficient so that an additional cooling (second cooling step) of the coolant to lower temperatures, for example, to temperatures below the ambient temperature, is necessary. To this end, there can be activated a second heat transmission device, for example, by means of a corresponding valve arrangement and control, which can be arranged, for example, parallel with the first heat transmission device in the cooling circuit. This second heat transmission device is cooled by means of a refrigerating medium, that is to say, the heat absorbed by the coolant is discharged to the refrigerating medium. For example, the refrigerating medium of the air-conditioning system of the vehicle can be used to this end.
If a high level of cooling power is required, that is to say, if the second heat transmission device of the second cooling step is active, the compressor of the air-conditioning device has to provide a suitable refrigerating medium pressure so that ultimately the desired coolant temperature can be reached. To this end, significantly more energy is required than for operating the electrical pump of the first cooling step.
In order to cool the battery, the coolant is generally introduced into an intermediate space, for example, under the battery, which is formed, for example, by the battery housing and a plate fixed thereto. Such a (cooling) plate can also act as a heat transmission device and is referred to below as a battery heat transmission device as a result of the arrangement thereof near the battery. The battery heat transmission device may be produced, for example, from aluminum and serves inter alia to additionally cool the coolant by the battery heat transmission device being flowed around by the travel wind so that heat can be discharged to the ambient air.
However, this cooling action of the battery heat transmission device is provided only as long as the temperature of the coolant is higher than the ambient temperature. If, however, the second cooling step is active, that is to say, the coolant has a temperature below the ambient temperature, the battery heat transmission device in this case brings about no additional cooling of the coolant but instead a heating action. In this case, a large portion of the possible cooling power is lost and is not available for cooling the battery because heat is transmitted from the ambient air to the coolant by means of the battery heat transmission device. As a result, more energy for cooling the battery is required.

Temperature control device for a battery of a vehicle, vehicle having such a temperature control device and method for controlling the temperature of a battery of a vehicle


One-part, ambient moisture-curable polyurethane adhesives are produced by reacting with a polyol selected from the group consisting of polyether diols, triols and tetrols based on propylene glycol or ethylene-capped propylene glycol and mixtures thereof with an organic polyisocyanate for a sufficient time to form a reaction product including an isocyanate-terminated prepolymer and unreacted isocyanate, admixing with the reaction product talc or another additive containing free water which reacts with the unreacted isocyanate to extend the chain of the polyurethane and provide hard segments therein, allowing the water-isocyanate reaction to proceed until a predetermined amount of unreacted isocyanate remains and introducing the resulting adhesive into a substantially hermetically sealed container or package.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to one-part polyurethane adhesives which are curable upon exposure to ambient moisture and to methods for making same.
One-part polyurethane adhesives typically are produced by reacting a polyether diol, triol, tetrol or mixtures thereof with a polyisocyanate, with or without a catalyst, in a reactor for up to eight hours to produce an isocyanate-terminated prepolymer. Various additives are blended with the prepolymer to provide a product having the desired characteristics and the resulting product is packaged in substantially hermetically sealed containers for use.
II. Prior Art
Because of the reactivity of water with isocyanates, it is common practice to take steps to avoid the inclusion of water during processing. To accomplish this, the processing is typically carried out in a sealed container under a blanket of inert gas, such as nitrogen, and fillers and other materials used in the formulation are dried to a substantially anhydrous condition prior to use. In another approach exemplified by Coyner et al. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,919,173 and 4,038,239, an alkaline earth metal oxide, such as calcium oxide or calcium carbonate, is included in the formulation as a de-watering agent for scavenging water from the polyol and water of hydration or physically bound water in fillers, plasticizers, pigments, etc.

Ambient moisture-curing polyurethane adhesive


A method and apparatus for handling a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) OPTIONS capability query message in a communication network. A SIP proxy node receives a SIP OPTIONS message from a querying node. It sends the message to a plurality of devices, and receives a response from at least two of the plurality of devices. Each response includes an identity of the responding device and an indication of the capabilities of the responding device. Each received response is stored in a memory, and a reply message is generated. The reply message includes the identities and capabilities of all of the responding devices. This reply message is then sent to the querying node. This allows the querying node to receive capability information relating to all of the callee's devices rather than just the one that responds first.

The use of Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) signalling is widespread in a variety of communications systems and architectures. One example is the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) architecture developed under the Third Generation Project Partnership (3GPP) to provide IP Multimedia services over mobile communication networks. IP Multimedia services provide a dynamic combination of voice, video, messaging, data, etc. within the same session.
The IMS uses Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) to set up and control calls or sessions between user terminals (or user terminals and application servers). The Session Initiation Protocol is a text-based protocol specified by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) in RFC 3261, similar to Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), for initiating interactive communication sessions between users. Such sessions include voice, video, chat, interactive games, and virtual reality. Extensions to SIP are also specified in several other IETF specifications.
SIP makes it possible for a calling party to establish a packet switched session to a called party (using so-called SIP User Agents (UA) installed in the User Equipment (UE)) even though the calling party does not know the current IP address of the called party prior to initiating the call. The Session Description Protocol (SDP), carried by SIP signalling, is used to describe and negotiate the media components of the session. Whilst SIP was created as a user-to-user protocol, IMS allows operators and service providers to control user access to services and to charge users accordingly.
FIG. 1 illustrates schematically how the IMS fits into the mobile network architecture in the case of a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) access network. As shown in FIG. 1a control of communications occurs at three layers (or planes). The lowest layer is the Connectivity Layer 1, also referred to as the bearer plane and through which signals are directed to/from user equipment, UE, accessing the network. The entities within the connectivity layer 1 that connect an IMS subscriber to IMS services form a network that is referred to as the IP-Connectivity Access Network, IP-CAN. The GPRS network includes various GPRS Support Nodes (GSNs). A gateway GPRS support node (GGSN) 2 acts as an interface between the GPRS backbone network and other networks (radio network and the IMS network). The middle layer is the Control Layer 4, and at the top is the Application Layer 6.
The IMS 3 includes a core network 3a, which operates over the middle, Control Layer 4 and the Connectivity Layer 1, and a Service Network 3b. The IMS core network 3a includes nodes that send/receive signals to/from the GPRS network via the GGSN 2a at the Connectivity Layer 1 and network nodes that include Call/Session Control Functions (CSCFs) 5, which operate as SIP proxies within the IMS in the middle, Control Layer 4. The 3GPP architecture defines three types of CSCFs: the Proxy CSCF (P-CSCF) which is the first point of contact within the IMS for a SIP terminal; the Serving CSCF (S-CSCF) which provides services to the user that the user is subscribed to; and the Interrogating CSCF (I-CSCF) whose role is to identify the correct S-CSCF and to forward to that S-CSCF a request received from a SIP terminal via a P-CSCF. The top, Application Layer 6 includes the IMS service network 3b. Application Servers (ASs) 7 are provided for implementing IMS service functionality.
A SIP proxy, such as a CSCF, is defined in RFC 3261 as an intermediary entity that acts as both a server and a client for the purpose of making requests on behalf of other clients. A proxy server primarily plays the role of routing, which means its job is to ensure that a request is sent to another entity "closer" to the targeted user. Proxies are also useful for enforcing policy (for example, making sure a user is allowed to make a call). A proxy interprets, and, if necessary, rewrites specific parts of a request message before forwarding it."
RFC 3261 describes an OPTIONS method that can be used to query the capabilities of another party such as another user device or a proxy server. This allows a SIP client to discover information about the supported capabilities, methods, content types, extensions, codecs etc. of the other party. This can be done without "ringing" the other party. The response, containing details of the supported capabilities, is returned in a SIP 200 OK message.
It is becoming more common for a user to have access to a network using one (or more) of a variety of devices. For example, Bob might connect to an IMS network (or other network that uses SIP) using any of a mobile device, a personal computer, a fixed line telephone and a set top box. When Alice wishes to 'ping' Bob to ascertain his device capabilities, by sending a SIP OPTIONS message, the SIP OPTIONS is sent to each of Bob's devices. When Alice receives a SIP 200 OK message from the device that is quickest to respond, the capabilities contained in the SIP 200 OK message are the capabilities that Alice registers. Subsequent SIP 200 OK messages that are received from Bob's other devices are discarded.
A problem with the signalling described above is that the response to the querying party (Alice) only reflects the capabilities of the device that is fastest to respond. The capabilities of Bob's other devices will not be known to Alice, as the subsequently received SIP 200 OK responses are discarded. Alice therefore does not have a complete knowledge of the capabilities of Bob's various devices. If, for example, Bob owns an audio device and a messaging device, and the audio-device is the fastest to respond to the SIP OPTIONS message, Alice's device will believe that Bob's device is capable of audio only, when in fact Bob also has a registered device that is capable of messaging. Alice might therefore choose not send Bob a messaging communication.

Capability query handling in a communication network


A heat dissipation fan that has a casing, a stator and a fan. The stator is pressed onto a sleeve secured in the casing. The stator has a coil and two pole disks respectively abutting opposite sides of the coil. A low-friction member is mounted in the sleeve. The fan is rotatably mounted in and around the stator inside the casing. A permanent magnet is mounted in the fan to make the fan a rotor. A shaft securely attached to the fan extends from the fan and passes through the low-friction member. The permanent magnet has an axial height shorter than that of the coil of the stator. The permanent magnet has a horizontal central line axially displaced from a horizontal central line of the coil of the stator. Accordingly, the fan with the shaft will not move axially during the operation of the heat dissipation fan. Power loss will be avoided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heat dissipation fan, and more particularly to a heat dissipation fan with low power loss.
2. Description of Related Art
With reference to FIG. 4, a conventional heat dissipation fan in accordance with the prior art comprises a casing (40), a stator (50) and a fan (60). The combination of the stator (40) and the fan (60) constitute a motor with the fan (60) serving as a rotor for the motor. The casing includes a sleeve (54) secured in the casing (40). The stator (50) is pressed onto the sleeve (54). The stator (50) has a coil (53), two pole disks (51,52) and a circuit board (55). The coil (53) has two sides, and the two pole disks (51, 52) respectively abut opposite sides of the coil (53). The circuit board (55) is securely attached to the stator (50) and is electrically connected to the coil (53).
The fan (60) is rotatably mounted in the stator (50) inside the casing (40). A permanent magnet (63) is securely mounted in the fan (60) to make the fan (60) the motor rotor. The fan (60) rotates due to the interaction between the magnetic forces in stator (50) and the permanent magnet (63). A low-friction member (541) like a lubricating bushing or a ball bearing is pressed into the sleeve (54). A shaft (64) securely attached to the fan (60) extends from the fan (60) and passes through a passage (not numbered) defined axially through the low-friction member (541). A neck (not numbered) is defined near the free end of the shaft (64). A locking disk (542) is mounted in the neck to securely hold the shaft (64) in the low-friction member (541).
Because there is a gap defined between the low-friction member (541) and the locking disk (542) and another gap defined between the low-friction member (541) and the fan (60), the shaft (64) will move up and down in the passage in the low-friction member (541) when the heat dissipation fan is in operation. The axial movement of the shaft (64) in the passage causes power loss in the fan motor.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides an improved heat dissipation fan to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.
The main objective of the invention is to provide an improved heat dissipation fan that has low power loss. The heat dissipation fan has a casing, a stator and a fan. The combination of the stator and the fan constitutes a motor with the fan serving as a rotor for the motor. The casing includes a sleeve secured in the casing. The stator is pressed onto the sleeve inside the casing. The stator has a coil, two pole disks and a circuit board. The two pole disks respectively abut opposite sides of the coil. A low-friction member is mounted in the sleeve. The fan is rotatably mounted in the stator inside the casing. A permanent magnet is securely mounted in the fan to make the fan the motor rotor. A shaft securely attached to the fan extends from the fan and passes through the low-friction member. The permanent magnet and the coil in the stator have fixed heights. The height of the permanent magnet is smaller than that of the coil. The permanent magnet has a horizontal central line displaced axially from a horizontal central line of the coil of the stator. With such an arrangement, the fan will not move relative to the low-friction member due to the magnetic attraction provided by the coil on the permanent magnet. The fan with the shaft will not move axially during the operation of the heat dissipation fan. Consequently there is no power loss due to axial movement of the shaft in the low-friction member.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

No. 6, East Section, Chiao Nan Li, Industrial 6th Rd.


When the number of standby time values which exceeds the upper limit, stored in the standby time control section, is determined to be smaller than the predetermined number and the frequency of use of the printer is considered to be middle, the average value of the standby time values is calculated. The average value (time) obtained is subtracted from the sum of the upper limit and the lower limit of the standby time so that the resultant value is set as a sleep time. Thus, the suitable sleep time between the upper limit and the lower limit according to any variable operating condition of the printer can be set.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printing system having a printer which enters a sleep mode if receives no signal representative of printing data for a predetermined period of time more than a sleep time, and more particularly to a printing system with a printer, capable of always setting a sleep time suitable for variable operating condition of the printer by controlling the record of standby time interval between a print start time in a present printing operation and a print end time in a printing operation executed just before the present printing operation in the printer.
2. Description of Related Art
Heretofore, for one of printers for printing in accordance with the print data transmitted from a personal computer and the like, for example, there has been known a printer capable of entering a sleep mode by cutting off the power supply to a part of a hard ware of the printer if it does not perform a printing operation for more than a preset period.
The sleep mode is an effective function for power saving in printers. Because it can avoid wasted power consumption caused by a toner fixing heater if continuously heated even when the printer does not perform printing for a long time.
The printer with the sleep mode, generally, is arranged so that it is released from the sleep mode on receiving a signal representative of print data from, for example, a personal computer and then starts a warming-up process. It, however the print data is transmitted from the personal computer to the printer in a sleep state, the printer could start a printing operation after a lapse of a remarkably long time from the signal transmit time, so that it takes a long time to complete the printing operation.
To avoid the above problems, for example, Japanese patent application unexamined publication No. 7-251550 discloses an image forming apparatus adapted for reducing power consumption by entering a sleep mode after a definite time from the completion of printing, in which the time T from the completion of printing to the entry in the sleep mode is set based on the interval between the completion of printing and the arrival of a next printing signal. In such the image forming apparatus, the time T to enter the sleep mode is changed based on the signal arriving interval so that the time T is shortened if the arriving interval of printing signal is long or lengthened if the same is short. This apparatus can avoid a long first print time when it is frequently used, and enter a sleep state promptly when it is not much used, resulting in the reduction of power consumption.
In the image forming apparatus mentioned above, although the time T from the completion of printing to the entry in a sleep state is determined based on the interval of the arrival of the next printing signal in consideration of the records of signal arriving intervals, the time T is merely roughly set. For instance, the time T is set to 10 min. for the arriving interval of the next printing signal of more than 30 min., to 15 min. for the signal arriving interval in the range of more than 10 min. and less than 30 min., and to 30 min. for the signal arriving interval of less than 10 min.
In the above way, the time T can not always be set to the most suitable value when the arriving interval of the next printing signal varies every moment according to operating condition of the image forming apparatus. In this regard, the apparatus is desired to flexibly change the time T in correspondence with the signal arriving interval even if it varies from moment to moment so that a first print time be prevented from becoming long and the apparatus promptly enter a sleep mode to thereby reduce power consumption of the apparatus, which increases efficiency.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances and has an object to overcome the above problems and to provide a printing system that controls the record of standby time data from a print end time in the printing operation to a print start time in the next printing operation, so that a suitable sleep time be always determined according to an operating condition of the printer even if the condition varies every moment.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
To achieve the objects and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a printing system having a printer which enters a sleep mode when it does not receive print data for more than a sleep time, the system comprising means for storing and controlling each standby time value in plural times printing operations, the standby time being a period between a start time of a present printing operation and an end time of a printing operation executed just before the present printing operation, and means for calculating a sleep time based on the standby time values stored in the standby time control means by putting weight on late values among the standby time values stored in the standby time control means.
The above printing system can set a suitable sleep time according to the operation condition of the printer in recent years. Accordingly, the most suitable sleep time can be determined based on the last record of standby time values even if the printer operating condition varies every moment.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing system having a printer which enters a sleep mode when it does not receive print data for more than a sleep time, the system comprising means for storing and controlling standby time values in plural times printing operations, the standby time being a period between a start time of a present printing operation and an end time of a printing operation executed just before the present printing operation, and means for calculating a sleep time on the basis of the standby time values stored in the standby time control means by considering whether a number of standby time values exceeding a preset standard value, among the standby time values stored in the standby time control means, is larger than a predetermined number.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing system having a printer which enters a sleep mode when it does not receive print data for more than a sleep time, the system comprising means for storing and controlling standby time values in plural times printing operations, the standby time being a period between a start time of a present printing operation and an end time of a printing operation executed just before the present printing operation, and means for calculating a sleep time on the basis of the standby time values stored in the standby time control means by considering an average value of the standby time values stored in the standby time control means.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing system having a printer which enters a sleep mode when it does not receive print data for more than a sleep time, the system comprising means for storing and controlling standby time values in plural times printing operations, the standby time being a period between a start time of a present printing operation and an end time of a printing operation executed just before the present printing operation, means for judging whether a number of standby time values exceeding a standby time upper limit, among the standby time values stored in the standby time control means, is less than a predetermined number when a sleep time is set between the standby time upper limit and a standby time lower limit, means for calculating an average value of the standby time values when the judgement means determines that the number of the standby time values exceeding the standby time upper limit is less than the predetermined number, and means for calculating a sleep time based on the average value of the standby time values calculated by the average calculating means, the standby time upper limit, and the standby time lower limit.


The method entails using capillary electrophoresis or capillary isoelectric focusing to separate intact microbes. The capillary system can be a conventional capillary tube or a microfluidic device.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to separation, identification, quantification and evaluation of intact microbes and cells by electrokinetic separation systems that employ small passageways with a fluid therein and electrical forces to cause movement in the passageway, such as capillary electrophoresis, capillary isoelectric focusing, or microchip fluidic systems. The method of the present invention is especially well suited for diagnosis of disease and for use in industries such as food, biotech and military where the presence or absence of microbes is key to an analysis.
2. Art Related to Invention
Microbes or microorganisms are small complex organic systems which are capable of reproduction, some on their own and some only in a host. They include bacteria, fungi, algae, viruses, yeast, spores, and protozoa.
The process for separation and identification of microbes is largely dominated by 19th century procedures of growing and isolating pure cultures. This is a slow and tedious process that works only for a small fraction of microbes. There are many microbes that still cannot be isolated and identified in this manner. Furthermore, such a process does not allow for the rapid differentiation between various microbes in a complex mixture nor quantification and evaluation of the microbes.
Electrokinetic separation techniques are well known. Capillary electrophoresis, capillary isoelectric focusing, isotacophoresis and gel electrophoresis are conventional techniques which are typically used to separate and isolate chemical compounds. They have never been successfully employed for separation, identification, quantification and further evaluation of intact microbes and cells.
Microchip fluidic systems are a relatively new electrokinetic separation technique. Examples of this technique can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,046,056 issued Apr. 4, 2000; U.S. Pat. No. 6,045,676 issued Apr. 4, 2000; U.S. Pat. No. 6,042,710 issued Mar. 28, 2000; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,033,546 issued Mar. 7, 2000. The devices employed in microchip fluidic systems are often referred to as microchip capillary devices, microfabricated devices, and microfluidic devices. Such devices are usually made from silicon, quartz, glass or polymers such as poly(dimethylsiloxane). In essence, they are miniaturized capillary systems which have a number of advantages over conventional capillary systems, the primary one being size.
Electrokinetic techniques have been employed to analyze the contents of lysed cells, however, these methods have not proven to work with lysed microbes and mixtures of lysed microbes to allow unambiguous identification of microbes. One of the problems is that different microbes often have similar intracellular structures, thus once the microbe is lysed, each microbe looks alike.
There is a need for a simple, quick analytical technique which would allow for separation, identification, quantification and evaluation of microbes.

Method for separation, identification and evaluation of microbes and cells

Abstract: The method is employed to maintain the microbes intact to identify and/or quantitate the microbes. The identification of the microbe allows for the diagnosis of disease associated with the microbe.


A method of treating cystitis comprising contacting the urinary bladder and associated structures in a mammal having cystitis with a solution containing hyaluronic acid having a average molecular weight of not less than 2.times.10.sup.5 Daltons in a concentration effective to treat the cystitis. The solution may further contain an agent effective to treat the associated cause of the cystitis in a concentration effective to treat the associated cause of the cystitis.

In mammals, the unique tight junctions of urinary bladder surface epithelial cells are the fundamental mechanism by which the urinary bladder maintains impermeability. The glycosaminoglycan layer on the luminal surface of the urinary bladder wall may be an important defense mechanism for protecting the transitional epithelium from urinary irritants (Chelsky, M. et al. 1994., Journal of Urology, 151:346). This glycosaminoglycan layer consists of mucopolysaccharides attached to a core protein that, in turn, is bound to a central hyaluronic acid string. This highly viscous, highly hydrophilic glycosaminoglycan layer may protect the transitional epithelium of the urinary bladder from irritants in the urine including, but not limited to, pathogens, microcrystals, proteins, calcium and carcinogens (Nickel, J. C. et al. 1993. Journal of Urology, 149:716). This glycosaminoglycan layer also may prevent small, uncharged molecules such as urea from diffusing to and across the transitional cell epithelium. Thus, the glycosaminoglycan layer lining the urinary bladder may act as a barrier between the environment within the lumen of the urinary bladder and the transitional epithelium of the urinary bladder, and may protect this transitional epithelium from inflammation, infection, trauma, stone formation and carcinogenesis.
Cystitis is an inflammation of the urinary bladder and associated structures for which there is no universal effective treatment program (Fleischmann, J. D. et al. 1991. Journal of Urology, 146:1235). Symptoms resulting from cystitis include, but are not limited to, urgency for urination, increased frequency of urination and suprapubic pain usually relieved by voiding. Other symptoms can include, but are not limited to, arthritis, spastic colon, low grade fever and irritability. Mammals with cystitis can be significantly disabled, and mammals with advanced cystitis can require major surgery in order to function.
Cystitis can result from, among other causes, infection, trauma, allergy, malignancy, uroliths, acute causes and undetermined causes. Infection associated cystitis includes, but is not limited to, inflammation of the urinary bladder and associated structures associated with bacterial, fungal, yeast, viral and parasitic causes. Trauma associated cystitis includes, but is not limited to, inflammation of the urinary bladder and associated structures associated with mechanical, chemical and surgical causes. Mechanical causes include, but are not limited to, cystoscopy, traumatic fibrosis, ultrasound, radiation therapy, catheterization and spinal cord damage. Surgical causes include, but are not limited to, tumor resection, cystotomy, urinary bladder ablation, urethrostomy, and cystocentesis. Allergy associated cystitis includes, but is not limited to, inflammation of the urinary bladder and associated structures associated with hypersensitivity reactions and drug reactions. Acute causes of cystitis includes but are not limited to, inflammation of the urinary bladder and associated structures associated with venereal disease, irritation by a foreign body, injury, and radiation therapy for cancers of the pelvic region. Malignancy associated cystitis includes, but is not limited to, inflammation of the urinary bladder and associated structures associated with cancerous growth. Undetermined causes of cystitis include, but are not limited to, inflammation of the urinary bladder and associated with interstitial cystitis. Other causes of cystitis are known to those skilled in the art and are included as cystitis.
It has been suggested that abnormalities of or deficiencies in the glycosaminoglycan layer lining the transitional epithelium of the urinary bladder may be a primary defect in cystitis. (Eldrup J. 1983. British Journal of Urology, 55:488). These abnormalities or deficiencies may enable increased permeability of the transitional epithelium (Parsons, E. L. et al. 1990. Journal of Urology, 143:690) and this increased permeability may enable urinary solutes to gain access to the subepithelial tissue and to induce an irritative, inflammatory response that contributes to the symptoms of cystitis.
There is no standard treatment for cystitis. Among the treatments used for interstitial cystitis are hydraulic distention of the urinary bladder, oral amitriptyline or sodium pentosanpolysulfate, intravesical instillation of dimethylsulfoxide, oxychlorosene sodium, silver nitrate, heparin, or a composition comprising an angiostatic steroid and pentosanpolysulfate. However, the efficacy of these treatments is variable.
Hydraulic distention of the urinary bladder is done under general or spinal anesthesia for one to two minutes at a pressure of 80 to 100 cm H.sub.2 O. In one study using hydraulic distention of the urinary bladder to treat interstitial cystitis, less than 55% of the patients treated reported relief immediately after treatment and only 2% reported relief six months after treatment (Hanno P. M. et al. 1991. Semen Urology,9:143)
Instillation of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) into the urinary bladder for six to eight weeks resulted in a 53% response rate to DMSO versus an 18% response rate to placebo, with the average length of response being six months (Perez-Marrero, R. et al. 1967. Journal of Urology, 98:671). Pharmacological effects of DMSO include membrane penetration, enhanced drug absorption, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, collagen dissolution, muscle relaxation and mast cell histamine release. Side effects include increased vesicle irritability and garlic-like breath odor. Equivalent results to instillation of DMSO have been reported with oxychlorosene sodium (Messing, E. M. et al. 1978. Urology, 12:381). However instillation of oxychlorosene sodium requires anesthesia because of intense discomfort.
Sodium pentosanpolysulfate is a low molecular weight synthetic glycosaminoglycan (U.S. Pat. No. 4,524,066 to Wolf) characterized by very low viscosity and high electronegativity. U.S. Pat. No. 4,820,693 to Gillespie (Gillespie '693) discloses a composition and method for arresting angiogenesis and cell, capillary or membrane leakage comprising either oral or intravesical administration of an angiostatic steroid and pentosanpolysulfate. The molecular weight of pentosanpolysulfate is between 1.5.times.10.sup.3 and 5.times.10.sup.3 Daltons (The Merck Index, 11th Edition. 1989. p. 7093 at 7090). The molecular weight of the pentosanpolysulfate claimed in Gillespie '693 is between 1.6.times.10.sup.3 and 6.times.10.sup.3 Daltons, and is preferably about 2.times.10.sup.3 Daltons. U.S. Pat. No. 4,966,890 to Gillespie (Gillespie '890) discloses a composition and method for treating cystitis comprising either oral or intravesical administration of an angiostatic steroid and pentosanpolysulfate. Gillespie '890 teaches that pentosanpolysulfate can be used in place of heparin and that pentosanpolysulfate, in combination with an angiostatic steroid, cures cystitis by arresting angiogenesis, cell membrane leakage and capillary leakage or exchange in the urinary bladder.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,180,715 to Parsons (Parsons '715) also discloses the use of pentosanpolysulfate for treating cystitis. Parsons '715 provides data to show that oral pentosanpolysulfate at doses in excess of 100 mg per day are most effective for treating cystitis. Parsons '715 teaches that pentosanpolysulfate can be used in place of heparin and that pentosanpolysulfate acts to block bacterial adherence to the transitional epithelium of the urinary bladder.
Pentosanpolysulfate, as disclosed in Gillespie '693, in Gillespie '890 and in Parsons '715, is a low viscosity glycosaminoglycan. As cystitis may be related to a defect in the high viscosity glycosaminoglycan layer on the luminal surface of the urinary bladder, intravesical administration of the low viscosity pentosanpolysulfate does not provide adequate protection to the transitional epithelium of the urinary bladder and associated structures. Therefore, what is needed is a method for the treatment of cystitis that provides adequate protection for the transitional epithelium of the urinary bladder and related structures with minimal adverse side effects.

Method for treating the internal urinary bladder and associated structures using hyaluronic acid


The present invention provides for a detection system for detecting an object, comprising optical elements including a radiation source of an electromagnetic nature and at least one detector detecting radiation reflected off the object from the radiation source. The system is configured so that trigonometric relationships are established between all or selected of the optical elements and the object. Using the angle of radiation from the radiation source and the angle of reflection into the detector, the system determines the range or distance, and/or velocity of the object relative to the system. While the use of one detector is sufficient to provide an angle measurement for the system to determine the object range and/or velocity, an additional detector may be used to increase accuracy and flexibility. The detectors of the system may have be normal-looking, or side-looking detectors, either of which detects intensity variations. Each detector uses a mask and a baffle in accordance with the concept of constructive occlusion, which improves the response characteristics of the detector. The mask occupies a predetermined position within the detector to enable the detector to provide a tailored response profile. The baffle is configured within the detector to partition a diffusely-reflective cavity within the detector. An LED array or a scanning light assembly may be used with the system as the radiation source.

The present invention relates generally to systems that determine an object's range and/or velocity, in particular, a system with optical elements having distinct radiation and detection properties for determining an object's relative distance or range, and/or velocity to the system.
There are many uses for object detection systems. To improve building or vehicle security, object detection systems may be used to detect approaching thieves or vandals. To improve personal security, object detection systems may be used to detect the range of an assailant within which personal security devices may be deployed. In particular, aerosol repellents, such as the now widely-available "pepper sprays," or electronic debilitating devices, often prescribe an optimum range for effective use. Beyond the field of surveillance and security, object detecting systems may also improve levels of performance, productivity and/or safety in various industrial environments where collisions between objects and/or people are to be avoided. The risk of accidents or injury in the transport of heavy loads or even the parking of an automobile may be substantially reduced with the use of object detection systems.
Conventional object detection systems or devices, in particular, those using optics, use lateral effects diodes. These diodes are typically expensive and have relatively poor performance levels.
It should therefore be appreciated that there exists a definite need for a relatively simple and inexpensive object detection system, which can determine a distance or a range of an object with flexible operating parameters. It is also desired that the system be operative on the detected object within a minimum range, even substantially up to the point of contact between the object and the optical elements of the system, and that such optical elements of the system be relatively small in size, for example, on the order of an inch, or fractions thereof. It is further desired that the system be capable of detecting the velocity of a moving object and be relatively free from interference due to environmental impurities such as dirt or dust. The present invention addresses all of these desires and more.


Embodiments herein relate to methods, a user equipment and a chatbot agent for associating/connection a user identification information to a chatbot capable framework user-specific identify. The method comprises: establishing a session with the chatbot agent over a chatbot capable framework, receiving a request to connect or associate the user identification information to the framework user-specific identity; providing the user identification information to the chatbot agent; receiving a message including information on the operator of the chatbot agent and further including the user identification information; and sending, to the chatbot agent, a confirmation message confirming that the user identification information be associated to the framework user-specific identity and further confirming that the user identification information be stored in a database of the operator.

Chatbots are becoming increasingly popular as an interactive medium for the provision of information. A chatbot is a computer or software agent designed to have conversations with human correspondents. A chatbot is also called an "internet bot", a "web robot", a "www robot" or simply a "bot", a virtual assistant, a virtual client, an automated agent, etc. The computer agent or bot, by means of a processor, includes an application that runs automated tasks (e.g., scripts) over one or several platforms. In a simple example, a chatbot performs tasks that are both simple and have structurally repetitive, at a higher rate that would be possible for a human being alone. Chatbots for different chat applications can be developed using a chatbot framework. The bot logic is created once and then deployed to the chatbot platform of choice. A chat platform API (Application Programming Interface) may vary in functionality available for the chatbot framework and the bot needs to be designed for the chat platform.
With today's technologies, a user may have access to chat platforms and associated chatbots from a plurality of devices, such as a laptop, a PC, a mobile device, etc.
RCS (Rich Communication Suite) offers a delivery channel for rich messages towards end users from other end users but also offer A2P (Application to Person messaging) from companies to communicate with their customers. A telecom operator may use the MSISDN (Mobile Subscriber ISDN Number) to route RCS messages towards the end user device.
Companies may build A2P messaging agents on a variety of different chatbot frameworks, where RCS is one framework; others are Google Actions and Amazon Web Services. An automated agent or a chatbot can be deployed in several of these frameworks with the same business logic to run the conversations with the end user. Today a user can find these agents on smart speakers or in their smart assistants in their mobile phones such as Google assistant, or in the RCS message flow or on Facebook messenger, Kik, Slack and Skype, etc.
An end user could use different identities for communicating on these different frameworks and yet another identity (MSISDN) is used by the telecom operator to communicate with its customers through RCS or SMS messaging.
Today, known solutions require the end user to download an application (app.) for a specific chatbot capable framework to associate user identities to a chatbot. This is troublesome for a telecom operator desiring to deploy/offer services to its customers through an automated agent on chatbot capable frameworks other than the one the operator is using. In addition, the chatbot capable framework provider needs to add features in the app. to connect the operator.

Methods and apparatuses for associating user identification information to chatbot capable frameworks


A copolymer includes (i) a plurality of ethylenic moieties A having a structure according to the following formula:

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to (ethylene, vinyl acetal) copolymers and to lithographic printing plate precursors including such copolymers.
2. Description of the Related Art
Lithographic printing typically involves the use of a so-called printing master such as a printing plate which is mounted on a cylinder of a rotary printing press. The master carries a lithographic image on its surface and a print is obtained by applying ink to said image and then transferring the ink from the master onto a receiver material, which is typically paper. In conventional lithographic printing, ink as well as an aqueous fountain solution (also called dampening liquid) are supplied to the lithographic image which consists of oleophilic (or hydrophobic, i.e. ink-accepting, water-repelling) areas as well as hydrophilic (or oleophobic, i.e. water-accepting, ink-repelling) areas. In so-called driographic printing, the lithographic image consists of ink-accepting and ink-abhesive (ink-repelling) areas and during driographic printing, only ink is supplied to the master.
Lithographic printing masters are generally obtained by the image-wise exposure and processing of an imaging material called plate precursor. The coating of the precursor is exposed image-wise to heat or light, typically by means of a digitally modulated exposure device such as a laser, which triggers a (physico-)chemical process, such as ablation, polymerization, insolubilization by cross-linking of a polymer or by particle coagulation of a thermoplastic polymer latex, solubilization by the destruction of intermolecular interactions or by increasing the penetrability of a development barrier layer. Although some plate precursors are capable of producing a lithographic image immediately after exposure, the most popular plate precursors require wet processing since the exposure produces a difference of solubility or of rate of dissolution in a developer between the exposed and the non-exposed areas of the coating. In positive working plates, the exposed areas of the coating dissolve in the developer while the non-exposed areas remain resistant to the developer. In negative working plates, the non-exposed areas of the coating dissolve in the developer while the exposed areas remain resistant to the developer. Most plates contain a hydrophobic coating on a hydrophilic support, so that the areas which remain resistant to the developer define the ink-accepting, printing areas of the plate while the hydrophilic support is revealed by the dissolution of the coating in the developer at the non-printing areas.
Many lithographic printing plates contain polymeric binders such as phenolic resins which can be baked in order to increase the run length on the press. Over the last few years, printing plate materials which provide a high run length without baking have become more popular because the post-bake oven can be eliminated leading to reduced energy consumption and less floor space. The trend towards higher printing speeds on web presses and the use of recycled paper require plate coatings that are characterised by a high abrasion resistance. Unbaked phenolic resins such as novolac, resol or poly(vinyl phenol) have a poor abrasion resistance and cannot provide a high run length in such conditions.
In the prior art, the run length of lithographic printing plates based on phenolic resins has been improved by chemical modification of such binders. Examples thereof are described in for example WO 99/01795, EP 934 822, EP 1 072 432, U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,488, EP 2 102 443, EP 2 102 444, EP 2 102 445 and EP 2 102 446. Phenolic resins have also been mixed with or replaced by other polymers such as poly(vinyl acetal) resins in order to improve the abrasion resistance of the coating. Suitable poly(vinyl acetal) resins are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,262,270; U.S. Pat. No. 5,169,897; U.S. Pat. No. 5,534,381; U.S. Pat. No. 6,458,511; U.S. Pat. No. 6,541,181; U.S. Pat. No. 6,087,066; U.S. Pat. No. 6,270,938; WO 2001/9682; EP 1 162 209; U.S. Pat. No. 6,596,460; U.S. Pat. No. 6,596,460; U.S. Pat. No. 6,458,503; U.S. Pat. No. 6,783,913; U.S. Pat. No. 6,818,378; U.S. Pat. No. 6,596,456; WO 2002/73315; WO 2002/96961; U.S. Pat. No. 6,818,378; WO 2003/79113; WO 2004/20484; WO 2004/81662; EP 1 627 732; WO 2007/17162; WO 2008/103258; U.S. Pat. No. 6,087,066; U.S. Pat. No. 6,255,033; WO 2009/5582; WO 2009/85093; WO 2001/09682; US 2009/4599; WO 2009/99518; US 2006/130689; US 2003/166750; U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,877; US 2004/81662; US 2005/3296; EP 1 627 732; WO 2007/3030; US 2009/0291387; US 2010/47723 and US 2011/0059399.
Poly(vinyl acetals) are typically prepared by acetalisation of poly(vinyl alcohol) with aldehydes. Poly(vinyl acetals) used for lithographic printing plate coatings typically comprise both a hydrophobic acetal moiety, which provides the ink-acceptance, and an hydroxyl substituted aromatic acetal moiety, which produces the solubility differentiation in an alkaline developer upon exposure.
Such poly(vinyl acetals) are typically prepared by the acetalisation of poly(vinyl alcohol) with a mixture of aldehydes, e.g. an aliphatic aldehyde such as butyraldehyde mixed with a phenolic aldehyde such as hydroxybenzaldehyde. The physical and chemical properties of such poly(vinyl acetal) resins are highly dependent on the degree of acetalysation, the ratio of the aliphatic and the aromatic acetal moieties, the stereochemistry and the random or block nature of the acetal resin. Small shifts in process conditions during the preparation of the known acetal resins may produce significant differences in the structure of the obtained resin and thus in significant differences of their properties. For example, incomplete dissolution of the poly(vinyl alcohol) reagent may lead to an irreproducible degree of conversion, i.e. a lack of control of the composition of the final product. Also the competition and the transacetylisation which often occurs between the mixed aldehyde reagents is difficult to control so that the right balance between the hydrophobicity of the resin and its solubility in an alkaline developer cannot always be obtained.

(Ethylene, vinyl acetal) copolymers and their use in lithographic printing plate precursors

Abstract: wherein R2 and R3 independently represent hydrogen, a halogen, or an optionally substituted linear, branched, or cyclic alk(en)yl group, or an optionally substituted aromatic or heteroaromatic, and (ii) a plurality of acetal moieties B having a structure according to the following formula:

Abstract: wherein L represents a divalent linking group; x=0 or 1; and R1 represents an optionally substituted aromatic or heteroaromatic group including at least one hydroxyl group. Use of these polymers in the coating of lithographic printing plates provides a good abrasion resistance while the balance between the ink acceptance, arising from the ethylenic moieties, and the solubility in an alkaline developer, arising form the acetal moieties, can be controlled efficiently.