In a decoding method, photoelectric conversion is performed on light reflected by a code image, a read signal indicating intensity of the reflected light is produced, and the produced read signal is differentiated to produce a derivative signal. The inflection points of intensity of the reflected light in the read signal are detected from the derivative signal and peak levels, each of which is an extreme value of the intensity of the reflected light, the peak level corresponding to a width between the detected inflection points, are detected. A difference between the detected peak levels is then obtained and threshold values for decoding the read signal are set from the obtained difference. This enables the read signal to be decoded even when the code image is spotted with a stain or its printing quality is inferior or even when the read signal is read in its defocus state.

A binarization processing in image recognition is an important technology which exerts an influence on any accuracy of decoded output result. The following will describe typical image recognition.
In a patent document 1, a face authentication device has been disclosed which performs processing thereof while sorting in descending order of differential intensity. According to this face authentication device, a differential intensity image is produced from a gray-scale image, which is a face image, by differentiation, and processing for sorting pixels in the descending order of differential intensity is performed within a predefined area containing the extracted face parts in the produced differential intensity image. A threshold value is then set for a region selected only by a specified number of pixels, associated with the facial parts, as a region with intense concentration change and the rest region as a region with non-intense concentration change and the differential intensity image is output as a binarized image by use of the set thresholds.
In a patent document 2, a binarization system capable of performing binarization by differentiation has been disclosed. According to this binarization system, a code symbol, namely, a multi-level image signal is imaged by an image sensing device composed of CCD, CMOS or the like; to detect a zero crossing point by a zero crossing point detecting part, a second derivative is performed by a second derivative part; and a point (the zero crossing point) on which this second derivative signal is excessively changed from positive to negative or from negative to positive is detected by a sign changing point detection part. The next binarization threshold calculating part samples and holds a brightness value of the multi-level image signal output from a code reading part based on a trigger signal from the zero crossing point detecting part to output it to a binarization part as a binarization threshold value.
In a patent document 3, an optical character reader (OCR) capable of performing binarization by A/D conversion has been disclosed. In the OCR, an image processing is carried out by performing the A/D conversion on image data of an original imaged by CCD so that the original is as white background and the character is as black portion. For example, the dynamic range is extended by setting the difference of a maximum value (white side) and a minimum value (black side) in original read data as the reference voltage of A/D conversion and by performing the A/D conversion based on this reference voltage, accuracy of the binarization is enhanced.
In a patent document 4, optical disc play-back equipment capable of correctly performing a seek operation has been disclosed. In an optical pickup, the optical pickup is moved in the radial direction of the optical disc while an objective lens thereof is shifted respectively to the most inner peripheral position and the most outer peripheral position of its shift range. In this moment, a threshold value generating circuit obtains a first threshold value and a second threshold value being optimum for binarizing a signal before binarization in respective states, and sets an average value of the both threshold values to a threshold value register as the final threshold value. At the time of seek operation, the signal before binarization is binarized by the final threshold value. Thus, the first threshold value and the second threshold value are respectively obtained at the most inner peripheral position and the most outer peripheral position of the objective lens in its shift range in which the optimum value for binarizing is maximum or minimum and the average value of the both is set to a predetermined threshold value.
Next, the following will describe a process of the binarization processing in the image recognition in detail, taking as an example a code scanner which processes code symbol image optically.
This code scanner irradiates a laser beam or the like onto a code image 51 formed on an object 50 to be read as shown in FIG. 12, receives reflected light thereof and performs any electrical transactions thereon to read information contained in the code image 51.
For example, the code image 51 is composed of bars (For example, wide bars WB in which their widths are wide and narrow bars NB in which their widths are narrow) and spaces (For example, wide spaces WS in which their widths are wide and narrow spaces NS in which their widths are narrow). In addition, it is assumed that in this example, the object 50 to be read is spotted with a stain N.
Next, the following will describe an example of the binarization processing by such a code scanner. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a waveform example of a read signal D1 in which a vertical axis indicates a signal level (intensity of the reflected light) and a horizontal axis indicates position. As shown in FIG. 13, the information contained in the code image 51 read by the code scanner is read as the read signal D1.
This read signal D1 contains a wide bar waveform WB1 which has a downward large convex shape, a narrow bar waveform NB1 which has a downward small convex shape, a wide space waveform WS1 which has an upward large convex shape and a narrow space waveform NS1 which has an upward small convex shape, which respectively correspond to the wide bar WB, the narrow bar NB, the wide space WS and the narrow space NS in the code image 51. Accordingly, when the object 50 to be read is spotted with the stain N as shown in FIG. 12, the read signal D1 contains any noise N1.
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a waveform example of a derivative signal D2 in which a vertical axis indicates a signal level and a horizontal axis indicates position. The code scanner differentiates the read signal D1 to produce the derivative signal D2. As shown in FIG. 14, this derivative signal D2 has a waveform in which inflection points of the wide bar waveform WB1, the narrow bar waveform NB1, the wide space waveform WS1 and the narrow space waveform NS1 in the read signal D1 are their extreme values.
FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a waveform example of a binarization signal D3 in which a vertical axis indicates bar/space (the bar in a case of "0" and the space in a case of "1") and a horizontal axis indicates position. The code scanner produces the binarization signal D3 by using the inflection points of the derivative signal D2 as standing points thereof or falling points thereof.
As shown in FIG. 15, this binarization signal D3 contains a wide bar signal WB3, a narrow bar signal NB3, a wide space signal WS3 and a narrow space signal NS3, which respectively correspond to the wide bar waveform WB1, the narrow bar waveform NB1, the wide space waveform WS1 and the narrow space waveform NS1. Further, the binarization signal D3 contains also a noise signal N3 which corresponds to the noise N1 in the read signal D1.
Thus, when the object 50 to be read is spotted with the stain N, the binarization signal D3 contains the noise signal N3 so that it is impossible to decode the information contained in the code image 51 correctly.
Next, the following will describe an example of the binarization processing by the code scanner when the code scanner and the object 50 to be read are away from each other by a distance more than a predetermined distance (a focal distance) and a light-receiving surface of the code scanner deviates from an image forming surface of a lens to an optical axis direction (defocus state). FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a waveform example of a read signal D4 in which a vertical axis indicates a signal level (intensity of the reflected light) and a horizontal axis indicates position.
This read signal D4 contains a wide bar waveform WB4 which has a downward large convex shape, a narrow bar waveform NB4 which has a downward small convex shape, a wide space waveform WS4 which has an upward large convex shape and a narrow space waveform NS4 which has an upward small convex shape, which respectively correspond to the wide bar WB, the narrow bar NB, the wide space WS and the narrow space NS in the code image 51, which is similar to the read signal D1 described on FIG. 13. Incidentally, in this example, even when the object 50 to be read is spotted with the stain N as shown in FIG. 12, the read signal D4 contains no noise N1 like the read signal D1, because the code scanner and the object 50 to be read are away from each other by a distance more than the focal distance.
FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a waveform example of a derivative signal D5 in which a vertical axis indicates a signal level and a horizontal axis indicates position. The code scanner differentiates the read signal D4 to produce the derivative signal D4. As shown in FIG. 17, this derivative signal D5 has a waveform in which inflection points of the wide bar waveform WB4, the narrow bar waveform NB4, the wide space waveform WS4 and the narrow space waveform NS4 in the read signal D4 are their extreme values. All the width lengths between the inflection points become almost the same length.
FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a waveform example of a binarization signal D6 in which a vertical axis indicates bar/space (the bar in a case of "0" and the space in a case of "1") and a horizontal axis indicates position. The code scanner produces the binarization signal D6 by using the inflection points of the derivative signal D5 as standing points thereof or falling points thereof.
As shown in FIG. 18, this binarization signal D6 contains a wide bar signal WB6, a narrow bar signal NB6, a wide space signal WS6 and a narrow space signal NS6, which respectively correspond to the wide bar waveform WB4, the narrow bar waveform NB4, the wide space waveform WS4 and the narrow space waveform NS4.
Since all the width lengths between the inflection points are almost the same length as shown in FIG. 17, the wide bar signal WB6, the narrow bar signal NB6, the wide space signal WS6 and the narrow space signal NS6 all have almost the same length as each other. This disables the information contained in the code image 51 from being correctly decoded.

Decoding method and decoding processing device


The present invention relates to a method for expressing a target protein on an exosporium forming the outermost surface of bacterial spores. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for expressing a target protein on the surface of cells and spores using an exosporium as a matrix for surface expression, and methods for the production of a protein array, the production of antibodies, the separation of a certain substance from a mixture, bioconversion, and the improvement of a target protein, which are characterized by using the cells or spores having the target protein that was expressed on the surface by the above expression method. The method for expressing the target protein on the surface of the spore outer membrane of the gene carriers according to the present invention has effects in that a variety of the target proteins can be expressed and the level of surface expression of the target protein is increased compared to the existing technology, and also the structural stability of the gene carriers having the target protein expressed on their surface, the viability of the host, and the rapidity of the screening method, are greatly increased.

Surface display technology, where a protein, such as peptide and polypeptide, is attached and expressed on the surface of organism, can be applied to a variety of bioengineering fields according to the properties of the expressed protein or, the properties of host cells, on the surface of which the protein will be expressed (Georgiou et al., TIBTECH, 11:6-10, 1993; Nature Biotechnol., 15:29-34, 1997; and Lee et al., TIBTECH, 21:45-52, 2003). This surface display technology was developed using various cellular organisms, such as bacteriophages, bacteria, yeasts or mammal cells, as host cells.
In order to express a foreign protein on the surface of cells using the outer membrane protein of a certain organism, a suitable surface protein and the foreign protein should be linked with each other at a gene level to biosynthesize a fusion protein, and stably passed through a cell inner membrane and attached, and then maintained on the cell surface. For this purpose, a protein having the following properties is preferably selected for use as a matrix for surface expression. Namely, (1) it has a secretion signal capable of passing through the cell inner membrane, at the N-terminal end; (2) it must have a targeting signal which can be stably attached on a cell outer membrane; (3) it can be expressed on the cell surface in large amounts within the range having no adverse effect on the growth of cells, such that the protein can show high activity; and (4) it must be able to be stably expressed regardless of its size such that it can be used in various reactions (Georgiou et al., TIBTECH, 11:6-10, 1993). Such a matrix for surface expression needs to be genetically engineered such that it is inserted into the N-terminal end, C-terminal end or central portion of the outer membrane protein on the surface of the host cells (Lee et al., TIBTECH, 21:45-52, 2003).
Phage surface display technology became very important, since it is advantageous in most rapidly obtaining monoclonal mutants from a large amount of a library (106-1012 mutants) and thus applied to the ultra-high speed screening of antibodies. However, in the phage surface display technology, the level of surface expression of the screened antibodies from a library expressed on the surface of phages was very low. Also, in a surface expression system for gram-negative bacteria, the insertion of a foreign polypeptide resulted in a structural limitation such that stable membrane proteins could not be formed (Charbit et al., J. Immunol., 139:1644-58, 1987; and Agterberg et al., Gene, 88:37-45, 1990). Also, the stability and viability of the surface of host cells were reduced. E. coli hosts, on which the surface expression technology have been most intensively studied, was developed using a cell surface protein as matrix for surface expression, but had a disadvantage in that if the cell surface protein is over-expressed in a fused form with a foreign protein, the cell surface becomes structurally unstable and thus the viability of the host cells is reduced (Georgiou et al., Protein Eng., 9:239-47, 1996).
Meanwhile, spores are formed in vegetative cells during the growth terminating stage to break the vegetative cells, and then be exposed extracellularly. These spores are structurally uniform, stable, and have resistance to adverse effects of surroundings, such as ultraviolet rays, radiations, heat, toxic compounds and solvents, and thus can be used in various fields. Furthermore, when the environment suitable for cell growth is reached, the spores are germinated again and continued to grow to make it easy to amplify and collect.
There are a large number of cases where a spore coat protein is used as an expression matrix to express target proteins on the spore surface of microorganisms. Examples of such cases include: a case where β-galactosidase for which lacZ as a reporter gene codes is expressed on the surface of spore in a fused form with the outer shell coat protein (CotC) or inner shell coat protein (CotD) of Bacillus subtilis (U.S. Pat. No. 5,766,914; U.S. Pat. No. 5,837,500; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,800,821); a case where bacteria and viral/pathogenic antigens are surface-expressed using coat proteins, including CotC, CotD, CotA, CotB, CotE, CotF, CotG, CotN, CotS, CotT, CotV, CotW, CotX, CotY, and CotZ, as a matrix for spore surface display (US 2002/0150594 A1); and a case where target proteins are expressed on the surface of Bacillus subtilis spores, using coat proteins, including CotE, CotG, CotA, CotB, CotC, CotD, CotF, CotH, CotJA, CotJC, CotK, CotL, CotM, CotS, CotT, CotV, CotW, CotX, CotY, CotZ, SpoIVA, SpoVID, and SodA, as a matrix for spore surface display (WO 02/46388).
However, if the spore coat protein is used as the expression matrix, a fusion protein with the surface expression matrix should be made for the surface expression of target proteins, but there is a disadvantage in that the expression level of the fusion protein is low since one of various coat proteins is used as a matrix for surface expression. Also, the level of the surface expression of the target protein using the surface expression matrix and the fusion protein is limited since the target protein is expressed depending on a degree at which the surface expression matrix is inserted into the surface of cells and spores. Furthermore, if the target protein is over-expressed, there are problems in that the structural deformation of the spores can be caused or the inherent physical and chemical properties of the spores can be greatly changed, so that the viability or resistance to environment of the host cells can be greatly reduced.
Accordingly, the present inventors have conducted intensive studies in an attempt to solve the problems occurring in the above-mentioned spore surface display technology of the prior art, and consequently found that if a target protein was expressed on the cell or spore surface using the structurally stable exosporium of Bacillus subtilis as a matrix for surface expression, the target protein fused with the exosporium can be surface-expressed without changing the inherent structure of cells or spores even when the target protein is over-expressed, so that the viability or resistance to environment of the gene carriers (cells or spores) is not changed, thereby perfecting the present invention.
Since the exosporium is present on the outermost surface of a spore, it can show the effect of surrounding the whole spore by a target protein upon spore surface display without influencing the structure of the coat protein of a spore. Moreover, it can also be used in the cell surface expression of bacteria, including gram-positive or gram-negative bacteria using an exosporium protein. It has not yet been reported that a target protein can be expressed on the surface of cells or spores using the exosporium of the Bacillus cereus group was not yet reported. The Bacillus cereus group, which generally includes Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus anthracis, possesses a loose balloon-like exosporium, which has also been found in some other bacilli and clostridia (Desrosier, J. P. and J. C. Lara, J. Gen. Microbiol., 130:935-40, 1984).
If this exosporium is used in the surface expression of a target protein, the target protein will not influence the spore coat protein and thus will not cause the structural problem. Also, the amount of the target protein expressed on the spore surface is increased, and the viability or resistance to environment of a host cell will not be changed even when the amount of the target protein expressed on the outer membrane of the spores is increased.

Method for whole surrounding surface display of target proteins using bacterial exosporium

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology


A spread spectrum receiver (124) for receiving and decoding a data frame having one of a plurality of coding rates is coupled to a rate determination device (132). The rate determination device (132) is coupled to receive a data frame coded at one of the plurality of coding rates and to receive symbol data from the receiver (124). The rate determination device (132) is adapted to determine a probability based at least upon an rate-based symbol repetition constraints within the data frame, wherein the probability is an indication of the rate at which the data frame is encoded.

In a spread spectrum communication system, downlink transmissions from a base station to a mobile station include a pilot channel and a plurality of traffic channels. The pilot channel is demodulated by all users. Each traffic channel is intended for demodulation by a single user, though more than one channel may be intended for a given user. Therefore, each traffic channel is spread using a unique code known by both the base station and the mobile station. The pilot channel is spread using a code known by the base station and all mobile stations. Multiplication of the pilot channel and traffic channel symbols by unique code sequences comprised of chips having duration much less than the symbol duration spreads the spectrum of transmissions in the system.
One example of a spread spectrum communication system is a cellular radiotelephone system according to Telecommunications Industry Association/Electronic Industry Association (TIA/EIA) Interim Standard IS-95, "Mobile Station-Base Station Compatibility Standard for Dual-Mode Wideband Spread Spectrum Cellular System" (IS-95). Individual users in the system use the same frequency spectrum but are distinguishable from each other through the use of individual spreading codes. IS-95 is an example of a direct sequence code division multiple access (DS-CDMA) communication system. In a DS-CDMA system, transmissions are spread by a pseudorandom noise (PN) code. Data is spread by a sequence of chips, where the chip is the spread spectrum minimal-duration keying element.
Other spread spectrum systems include radiotelephone and data systems operating at various frequencies and utilizing various spreading techniques. Among these additional systems are third-generation spread spectrum communication systems (3G), wideband code division multiple access systems (W-CDMA) and CDMA2000.
As allowed in IS-95 and the other direct sequence spread spectrum communication protocols, the forward link frames can be at one of four possible rates: full-rate, half-rate, quarter-rate and eighth-rate. In existing receivers, a rate determination algorithm is used to determine that rate at which the forward link frames are encoded. As is generally practiced, the received frames are decoded at each of the four possible rates using a Viterbi decoder. Typically, the inputs to the rate determination algorithm include the cyclical redundancy check (CRC) data appended to the full and half-rate frames, estimates of the channel symbol error rates based on re-encoding the Viterbi decoder output, quality bits associated with the distance between merging paths in the decoder trellis, and the total Euclidean distance between the output of the receiver and the decoded codeword.
This process is inefficient. It suffers from added current drain associated with the multiple decodings and may require a faster clock and additional circuitry. The frame needs only to be decoded once to obtain the coded data, but at the correct rate. Decoding at the wrong rate results in unusable data. Various approaches have been suggested to predict the frame rate prior to decoding, but in most instances these approaches are computationally complex and are not sufficiently reliable.
Thus, there is a need for a spread spectrum receiver that provides-pre-decoding rate determination.

Method and apparatus for frame rate determination without decoding in a spread spectrum receiver


A control apparatus of a synchronous motor with a load commutated inverter includes a positive/negative judgment unit for discriminating positive/negative of the motor voltage of each phase of the three-phase AC input of the synchronous motor, an estimated phase setting unit for calculating and setting the estimated phase of the motor voltage based on the discrimination result by the positive/negative discrimination unit, and a speed estimation unit for estimating the speed of the synchronous motor by integrating the change of the estimated phase by a predetermined number of times and dividing the integrated result by the product of the predetermined number and the operation cycle. When driving the synchronous motor with the load commutated inverter, in a condition the synchronous motor slips at high speed, restart is made easier.

Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to FIG. 1. Consider a case where a synchronous motor is driven without sensor by a load commutated inverter (LCI). There have been a method of detecting a motor terminal voltage of a synchronous motor, which synchronize the phase of the detected motor voltage using a phase locked circuit, that is PLL (Phase Locked Loop), and calculates the phase of the synchronous motor and a frequency of the terminal voltage (Hereinafter referred to as a motor PLL). If this frequency can be detected, the speed of the synchronous motor is also uniquely determined.
Therefore, the motor speed of the synchronous motor can be controlled by performing firing phase control on the rectifier side based on the frequency calculated by the motor PLL and performing firing phase control on the inverter side based on the phase calculated by the motor PLL. The motor PLL converts the motor voltage of the 3-phase synchronous motor into two axes of D-axis and Q-axis (hereinafter referred to as DQ conversion), and performs proportional integral control (hereinafter call PI control) by operating the motor phase so that the output of the Q-axis follows zero. When the Q-axis output is zero, the integral term of PI control corresponds to the frequency of the induced m motor voltage. Since the relationship between the frequency and the synchronous motor is uniquely determined, the value of this frequency corresponds to the speed of the synchronous motor. When PI control can be calculated from low speed, the integral term is calculated from near zero, so that the frequency can be continuously tracked from low speed to high speed area. (See, for example, Patent Document 1).

Control apparatus of a synchronous motor

TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION


A dense composite material of the present invention contains 37% to 60% by mass of silicon carbide grains, also contains titanium silicide, titanium silicon carbide, and titanium carbide, each in an amount smaller than the mass percent of the silicon carbide grains, and has an open porosity of 1% or less. Such a dense composite material is, for example, characterized in that it has an average coefficient of linear thermal expansion at 40° C. to 570° C. of 7.2 to 8.2 ppm/K, a thermal conductivity of 75 W/mK or more, and a 4-point bending strength of 200 MPa or more.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dense composite material, a method for producing the same, and a component for semiconductor production equipment.
2. Description of the Related Art
A cooling board for dissipating heat is joined to an electrostatic chuck whose temperature becomes high in a semiconductor process. There may be a case where alumina is used as a material for the electrostatic chuck, aluminum is used as a material for the cooling board, and resin is used as a joining material. There is a large difference in coefficient of linear thermal expansion between alumina and aluminum. For example, the coefficient of linear thermal expansion of alumina is 7.9 ppm/K (RT-800° C.): Uchida Rokakuho Publishing Co., Ltd., "Seramikkusu no Butsuri (Physics of Ceramics)"), and the coefficient of linear thermal expansion of aluminum is 31.1 ppm/K (RT-800° C.: "New edition of Thermophysical Properties Handbook" edited by the Japan Society of Thermophysical Properties). In such an electrostatic chuck, since soft resin is used as the joining material, it is possible to relax stress caused by the difference in coefficient of linear thermal expansion. However, since resin is an organic material, it has characteristics that it has a low heat dissipation property, is likely to decompose at high temperatures, and is likely to degrade with time. Therefore, such an electrostatic chuck is hard to use in a high-temperature process for a long period of time. Accordingly, it has been confirmed that a metal junction is effective as a joining material having a high heat dissipation property that replaces the resin. In the metal junction, for example, aluminum, solder, silver solder, or the like is used as a joining material. However, unlike resin, metal is not soft, and it is not possible to relax stress caused by the difference in coefficient of linear thermal expansion between the electrostatic chuck and the cooling board.
In the case where a metal junction is employed for joining an electrostatic chuck and a cooling board to each other, the cooling board needs to have characteristics that it has a small difference in coefficient of linear thermal expansion from the electrostatic chuck, a high thermal conductivity in order to maintain the heat dissipation property, high denseness in order to pass a cooling liquid or cooling gas therethrough, and high strength to endure processing, installation, and the like. An example of a material that satisfies such characteristics to a certain extent is a composite material disclosed in Patent Literature 1. This composite material is a TiC base Ti—Si—C-based composite material having a phase including 1.0% to 20.0% by volume of Ti3SiC2, 0.5% to 8.0% by volume of SiC, and the balance being TiC. Since the difference in coefficient of linear thermal expansion between TiC and alumina is small, it is considered that the difference in coefficient of thermal expansion between the Ti—Si—C-based composite material containing the TiC base as a main phase of Patent Literature 1 and alumina is also small.

Dense composite material, method for producing the same, and component for semiconductor production equipment


A female optical connector includes a connector body, a hollow pusher, an optical fiber, lenses, and two elastic shielding plates. The connector body includes a coupling surface. The coupling surface defines a receiving hole with an opening. The connector body further includes an end surface, a first surface, and a second surface in the receiving hole. The end surface faces the opening and is interconnected between the first surface and the second surface. The hollow pusher extends from the end surface and is received in the receiving hole. The hollow pusher is spaced apart from the first and second surfaces. The lens is received in the receiving hole and optically coupled to the optical fiber. The elastic shielding plates have fixed ends fixed to the first surface and the second surface at opposite sides of the receiving hole, and opposite free ends overlappable to cover the opening.

Optical fiber coupling assemblies are preferred for use in data transmission between electronic devices due to their high transmission speed and signal integrity. The optical fiber coupling assembly includes two optical fiber connectors, such as a male optical connector and a female optical connector, for coupling the optical fibers together to allow optical transmittance between the optical fibers. The connectors include lenses each being aligned with a corresponding optical fiber. When coupling the two connectors together, a lens in the male optical connector is aligned with a corresponding lens in the female optical connector to ensure the optical transmittance. However, when the connector is detached from the other connector, the lenses are easily contaminated. This decreases transmission efficiency and destroys the signal integrity.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a male optical connector, a female optical connector, and a related optical fiber coupling assembly, which can overcome or at least alleviate the limitations described.


In an expansion device for an x-ray apparatus, in particular with a rotary piston x-ray tube with a sealed coolant and/or insulation volume under a minimum pressure and pressing with this minimum pressure against an elastic pressure element, an elastic pressure element with a linear force-displacement characteristic curve (in particular in the form of a gas pressure spring with a linear elastic characteristic curve) is provided to prevent an excessive pressure load given a temperature rise.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns an expansion device for the coolant/insulating fluid in an x-ray apparatus as well as an x-ray radiator with such an expansion device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a medical x-ray apparatus, to reduce the heat that accumulates due to the generation of x-ray radiation it is necessary to provide cooling for the x-ray tube arranged in an x-ray radiator. For cooling it is known to surround the x-ray tube with a coolant which can (as, for example, insulating oil) exhibit insulation properties. The coolant and/or insulation must exhibit a pressure that is high enough to prevent an outgassing, since otherwise the cooling capacity and/or the ability to withstand electrical voltages are reduced, but is low enough to prevent damaging of the x-ray tube due to overpressure.
For this purpose, expansion devices are known that ensure a defined minimum pressure for the coolant and/or insulation means and allow an expansion (caused by a temperature increase) of the coolant and/or insulation within a defined range. Particularly in the case of x-ray apparatuses with rotary piston x-ray tubes rotating in coolant and/or insulation, negative pressure can be created due to the rotation movement. Such known expansion devices are formed by a reservoir in which the coolant and/or insulation means is located and a sealed air chamber (such as, for example, an airbag or a metal bellows) is provided to ensure the minimum pressure. An expansion of the coolant and/or insulation compresses the sealed air chamber, leading to an excessive, exponential increase of the pressure. If the pressure rises too high, the x-ray apparatus is deactivated (triggered by a pressure switch).

Expansion device for fluid coolant/insulation in a x-ray apparatus


The present invention relates to mucosal allergen-specific immunotherapy with a seasonal allergen, wherein the therapy is initiated after start of the pollen season of the seasonal allergen. Preferably, the seasonal allergen is provided in solid dosage form and is administered daily. Furthermore, advantageously, the same dose may be used throughout the treatment period since up-dosing is not required.

Currently, the treatment of allergic disease is based on allergen avoidance, pharmacotherapy for symptom relief, and allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT). SIT is the only treatment modality with the potential of altering the natural course of the disease by increasing immunological tolerance, thereby entailing sustained reductions in symptoms.
Subcutaneous allergen injections have been the main approach for conducting SIT, which include weekly to monthly subcutaneous injections to allergic patients with a selected allergen over an extended period of time (SCIT immunotherapy)
However, recently another route of administering the allergen has been proven effective, namely sublingual administration, which offers several advantages compared with the subcutaneous route, including increased convenience, compliance, and safety. For example, the risk of severe systemic allergic reactions following sublingual allergen-specific immunotherapy is considered as being low as the oromucosal administration of allergens does not lead to absorption into the vascular system to any significant extent. However, other mild to moderate side reactions are still seen in some patients, e.g. in the form of local allergic reactions, oral itching and sublingual oedema. Sublingual allergen-specific immunotherapy (SLIT) is today carried out by administering the allergen in liquid dosage form (droplets or spray) or in solid dosage form (tablet).
For reasons of safety, specific-allergen-specific immunotherapy has conventionally been performed with a dosing regimen that is divided in two consecutively treatment phases, namely an up-dosing phase where increasing doses are administered until an effective and safe treatment dose has been reached, which dose is used throughout the maintenance phase. Typically, the up-dosing phase in SCIT comprises weekly injections over a 4 months period and the maintenance phase comprises monthly injections. With SLIT, the up-dosing phase may be conducted over a shorter period and doses are administered more frequently.
Current knowledge suggests that success of allergen-specific immunotherapy depends on the cumulative dose of allergen administered (Kopp and Heinzmann, Applikationsformen der spezifiscien Immuntherapie, Allergo J 16, 570-5, 2007). Therefore, faster up-dosing phases, such as over a 5 days-period (Rush up-dosing phase) or over even fewer days (Ultra-Rush up-dosing phase) with higher doses of allergen have been applied in some circumstances. Up-dosing is also applied with sublingual administration of allergen in liquid dosage form (table 2 in Kopp and Heinzmann 2007).
With respect to allergen-specific immunotherapy with seasonal allergens, such as allergens derived from pollen, there is an additional precaution to make in conducting SIT. Currently, to avoid an exaggerated allergen load it is required to start the allergen-specific immunotherapy at least 2-4 months prior to the pollen season. This requirement of initiating immunotherapy prior to the pollen season is based on the fact that during the pollen season the immune system of an allergic subject is already "primed" by pollen in the air and this may lead to the occurrence of more adverse events related to treatment when treatment is initiated during this period. For example, in current approved SLIT, the sublingual administration of the allergen in tablet formulation comprises no up-dosing phase, but the immunotherapy has to be initiated 4 months before the pollen season (table 2 in Kopp and Heinzmann 2007).
However, many subjects have their first visit to the physician concerning their allergic complaints when they experience the symptoms, i.e. during the pollen season, and today, these subjects can only be offered symptomatic therapy. Usually, subjects are told to return after the pollen season to start immunotherapy, but this rarely happens because they forget the appointment once they do not experience the symptoms anymore. Presently, these subjects can only be offered symptomatic therapy based on the recommendation described above.
Therefore, there is still a need for improved allergen-specific immunotherapy, where more patients can benefit to safe and effective treatment.
Seidenberg et al. (Clinical and Experimental Allergy, 36, 1201-1212, British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Annual Conference—July 2006, Abstract S17) describes immunotherapy treatment of children with a liquid allergy vaccine comprising a seasonal allergen that is administered sublingually and includes an up-dosing phase that is initiated shortly before the start of the season or during the season.
DE Utility Model 20 2007 004 567.0 discloses allergen-specific immunotherapy with seasonal allergen by parenteral administration, wherein the dosage regimen comprises an up-dosing phase that is initiated after start of the pollen season.
WO 2007/051476 discloses the use of an allergen for the manufacture of a liquid vaccine formulation for preventing or treating allergy in a subject by oromucosal administration in a dosage regimen comprising no up-dosing.
Ronald Dahl et al (in sublingual grass allergen-specific immunotherapy provides sustained clinical benefit with progressive immunologic changes over 2 years, J Allergy Clin Immunol vol 121, No 2, p 512-518, 2007) discloses allergen-specific immunotherapy with a solid dosage form comprising a seasonal allergen that is administered sublingually in a daily dosing regimen where immunotherapy was initiated 4-8 months before the anticipated start of the grass pollen season and treatment was continued after end of the grass pollen season.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Mucosomal allergen-specific immunotherapy with initial dosing after start of pollen season


An improved USB connector extension/retraction device for a USB flash drive includes a moving cover for coupling with a flash memory unit (which has a USB connector), a resilient bar element, and two springs. The moving cover is assembled with a railed housing to form the USB connector extension/retraction device. The moving cover can be pushed forward and secured in position so that the USB connector of the flash memory unit is extended out for use. When not in use, the USB connector is retracted automatically so as to be hidden for protection. In addition, the USB connector extension/retraction device allows the USB flash drive to have a reduced volume.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to USB flash drives and, more particularly, to an improved USB connector extension/retraction device for protecting a USB connector of a USB flash drive.
2. Description of Related Art
As computer technology continuously improves and evolves, computer peripherals are also enhanced in design so as to have increased efficiency and reduced volume for high portability.
Nowadays, USB flash drives are the mainstream of portable storage devices for use with computers. USB flash drives are highly popular because of their large storage capacities and small volumes, which translates to increased portability. A USB flash drive typically has a USB connector to be inserted into and thus coupled with a computer so as to transmit, read, and write data to and from the computer. However, the USB connector protrudes from the main body of the USB flash drive and may be damaged when the USB flash drive is dropped to the ground. Therefore, referring to FIG. 1, a commercially available USB flash drive 10 has a protective structural design based on back-and-forth movement and composed mainly of a cover 20 provided around the main body of the USB flash drive 10 such that the main body of the USB flash drive 10 can move back and forth inside the cover 20 and be secured in place for protection. More specifically, by pushing a rear end of the main body of the USB flash drive 10, the main body is moved forward so as to be secured at a predetermined position, and in consequence a USB connector 101 of the USB flash drive 10 is exposed outside the cover 20 for insertion into a computer. When the rear end of the main body of the USB flash drive 10 is pushed again, the main body, which is biased by a spring, retracts automatically so as to hide the USB connector 101 inside the cover 20 for protection.
While the aforesaid structure is capable of protecting the USB connector 101, a good number of components are involved so that the volume of the USB flash drive 10 as well as the labor and cost required for assembly is increased. Hence, the USB flash drive 10 is undesirably thick and cannot be reduced in length.

USB connector extension/retraction device for USB flash drive


A power converter apparatus that includes a substrate, plate-like positive and negative interconnection members, and capacitors is disclosed. Pairs of groups of switching elements are mounted on the substrate. Each of the positive interconnection member and the negative interconnection member has a terminal portion. The terminal portion has a joint portion that is electrically joined to a circuit pattern on the substrate. The switching elements are arranged in the same number on both sides of the joint portion of at least the positive interconnection member of the positive and negative interconnection members.

In a semiconductor device (power semiconductor module) having a semiconductor circuit that converts an alternating current to a direct current or in a power converter apparatus (inverter apparatus) having a capacitor module that forms a DC smoothing circuit in the power semiconductor module, its interconnection inductance is required to be reduced.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2005-347561 discloses a structure and a configuration that reduce the inductance in each of the internal wiring of a power semiconductor module, the internal wiring of a capacitor module, and the external wiring from the capacitor module to the semiconductor module. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, a plurality of insulated substrates 72 are provided on a base 71. A switching chip 73 and a diode chip 74 are provided on each insulated substrate 72. A P-type conductor (positive conductor) 75 and a N-type conductor (negative conductor) 76 are laminated, while being insulated from each other, on the top surface of each of the switching chip 73 and the diode chip 74. An insulation case (not shown) is arranged over the base 71 to cover the insulated substrates 72, the switching chips 73, the diode chips 74, the P-type conductor (positive conductor) 75, and the N-type conductor (negative conductor) 76. The P-type conductor 75 and the N-type conductor 76 include flat plate-like main conductors 75a, 76a and belt-like sub-conductors 75b, 76b formed at ends of the main conductors 75a, 76a, respectively. The sub-conductor 75b of the P-type conductor 75 and the sub-conductor 76b of the N-type conductors 76 are adjacent to each other while being insulated from each other, and form external terminals P2, N2, respectively. The above described publication also discloses an inverter apparatus in which a capacitor module is located on an insulation case of the a power semiconductor module. The publication further discloses an inverter apparatus having branched conductors each provided on one of the main conductors 75a and 76a of the P-type conductor 75 and the N-type conductor 76. The branched conductors connect the main conductors 75a, 76a to the capacitor element of the capacitor module.
The publication discloses a configuration in which the P-type conductor 75 and the N-type conductor 76 of the power semiconductor module are laminated while being insulated from each other, and the P-type conductor and the N-type conductor of the capacitor module are laminated while being insulated from each other, so that the inductance of the internal wiring of the power semiconductor module and the inductance of the internal wiring of the capacitor module are reduced. The publication also discloses a configuration in which the external terminals P2, N2 are formed at ends of the belt-like sub-conductors 75b, 76b, and the sub-conductors 75b, 76b are located close to and parallel with each other, so that the inductance is reduced.
In a power semiconductor module, when the amount of current through a switching element is great, a plurality of switching element connected in parallel are used instead of using a single switching element in some cases. In this case, in order to reduces the inductance of the entire internal wiring of the power semiconductor module, it is important to consider the relationship between the switching chips 73 and connecting points between circuit patterns on the insulated substrates 72 and connecting conductors 75u, 75v, 75w, 76u, 76v, 76w for supplying currents through the main conductors 75a, 76a to the circuit patterns. However, the above described publication discloses no configuration for reducing the inductance of the entire internal wiring of a power semiconductor module that uses a plurality of switching elements that are connected in parallel instead of using a single switching element.


The invention concerns a device for lengthening a person's own hair using artificial and/or genuine hair and for the permanent fastening of artificial and/or genuine hair. The invention is characterized in that a tube (12), which can be shrunk when energy is applied, is disposed above a thickened portion, secured in position, in particular a knot in a strand of a person's own hair (16) and above an extension piece of artificial and/or genuine hair. An energy-application device, in particular in the form of heating irons (20), transfers thermal energy in a deliberate manner to the shrinkable tube (12). The method in which the device is used is characterized by the following steps: knotting a strand of the person's own hair, sliding onto the knot in the hair strand a fastening element which can shrink when energy is applied; sliding an extension strand of artificial and/or genuine hair into the tube; and shrinking the shrinkable fastening element by the application of energy.

Biosynthetic achievements including the extension of and permanent attachment to tufts of a person's own hair, i.e. hair that is growing naturally out of the scalp, using genuine and/or artificial hair. Such techniques are used on the one hand for medical applications, though primarily for cosmetic applications. A person's own hair can be lengthened, not to mention thickened, in that a person's own hair and the genuine and/or artificial hair fastened thereto is cut to the same length. In technical fields, a great many systems are known for lengthening and thickening a person's own hair; such systems are described in the 21/94 edition of the "Top Hair Special" magazine. In accordance therewith, a person's own hair can be extended by using artificial or genuine hair by means of special binding and knotting techniques and by various adhesive techniques.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,107,867 describes a hair extension method in which strands of the hair to be extended are joined using a heat-resistant adhesive in order to form a graft on a strand of extension hair, whereupon a coating consisting of a plastic material that is fusible when heat is introduced is applied to this graft. Strands of the person's own natural hair are then threaded through a shrinkable tube portion, the graft of extension hair pretreated in the above-described manner is also inserted into the shrinkable tube and this shrinkable tube treated by application of heat. Either a heating iron, which is described in further detail, or another suitable device can be used. On the one hand, the application of heat causes the tube to shrink, on the other hand the fusible adhesive melts and produces a permanent connection between the natural genuine hair and the strand of extension hair. The tube is intended to protect the connection from environmental influences, but it is also intended to act as a hair care product. If heat is re-applied to the shrinkable tube, the hair extension can be removed once again.
This and other techniques in which adhesives are used make it necessary for a person to after-treat his/her own hair once the hair extension has been removed. Residual adhesive sticking in a person's own hair has to be removed by using a suitable solvent, usually acetone. This results in damage to a person's own hair, particularly as the hair extension methods need to be repeated at regular intervals, approximately every 6 weeks. When solvents are used for such a frequent treatment of the natural hair of the head, a person's own hair may be destroyed at the connecting points.

Apparatus and method for lengthening and thickening hair and for fastening hair pieces


Methods of manufacturing rotor blade components for a wind turbine and rotor blade components produced in accordance with such methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method generally includes providing a mold of the rotor blade component; coating at least a portion of an interior surface of the mold with an elastomeric material; inserting a foam material within the mold; and, removing the rotor blade component from the mold, wherein the elastomeric material forms a cover skin around at least a portion of the rotor blade component. In an alternative embodiment, the method includes providing at least one support member defining a profile for the rotor blade component on a mold surface; coating at least a portion of the support member with an elastomeric material; and, allowing the elastomeric material to cure on the mold surface so as to form the rotor blade component.

Wind power is considered one of the cleanest, most environmentally friendly energy sources presently available, and wind turbines have gained increased attention in this regard. A modern wind turbine typically includes a tower, generator, gearbox, nacelle, and one or more rotor blades. The rotor blades capture kinetic energy of wind using known airfoil principles. For example, rotor blades typically have the cross-sectional profile of an airfoil such that, during operation, air flows over the blade producing a pressure difference between the sides. Consequently, a lift force, which is directed from a pressure side towards a suction side, acts on the blade. The lift force generates torque on the main rotor shaft, which is geared to a generator for producing electricity.
The lift force is generated when the flow from a leading edge to a trailing edge creates a pressure difference between the top and bottom surfaces of the blade. Ideally, the flow is attached to the top surface from the leading edge to the trailing edge. However, when the angle of attack of the flow exceeds a certain critical angle, the flow does not reach the trailing edge, but leaves the surface at a flow separation line, which decreases potential energy production.
Hence, in order to increase the energy conversion efficiency during normal operation of the wind turbine, it is desired to increase the lift force of the blades while decreasing the drag force. To this purpose, it is advantageous to increase the attached-flow region and to reduce the detached-flow region by moving flow separation nearer the trailing edge of the blade. As such, it is known in the art to change the aerodynamic characteristics of wind turbine blades by adding various add-ons and/or components on the surface of the blade. For example, such add-ons may generally include leading edge extensions, trailing edge extensions, vortex generators, blade root enhancements, bumps, winglets, airflow modifying elements, and/or any other suitable components.
The rotor blades and many of the add-ons are constructed of a fiberglass composite material due to their large size and typically require specialized tooling and/or molds for their manufacture. For example, the blade halves of a conventional rotor blade are typically formed in large molds that are custom made for the particular size and shape of the rotor blade being produced. More specifically, various rotor blades and/or rotor blade components may be constructed using Resin Transfer Molding (RTM), such as Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM). With the VARTM process, composite parts are made by placing dry fiber reinforcing fabrics into a single part, open mold, enclosing the mold into a vacuum bag, and drawing a vacuum in order to ensure a complete preform infiltration with resin. The mold is then heated to allow the part to cure. The VARTM process makes it possible to produce relatively inexpensive, large, and complex parts in one shot.
Various issues associated with previous methods for manufacturing rotor blades, however, have been identified. For example, many of the RTM processes are time-consuming due to the required cure time for each part. In addition, since rotor blades are constantly moving and flexing in the wind, add-on parts also need to be flexible enough to move with the blade. However, thin fiberglass composite parts are typically inherently brittle and can resist movement of the rotor blades. In many instances, the thickness of the fiberglass parts can be increased to provide a more durable part, but such a modification also adds weight to the rotor blade.
Accordingly, there is a need for improved methods of manufacturing rotor blade components. For example, a method of manufacturing a light-weight, flexible rotor blade component that reduces production costs and increases the speed at which the components may be produced would be advantageous.


Systems and methods for generating previews of list data in space constrained user interfaces are disclosed. In the available display area of a particular display device or user interface, a segment of a list of items are displayed. Values in the on-screen and off-screen portions of the list are analyzed and processed to generate previews of the list. One preview includes generating a box plot of the distribution of values in the list. An adaptively sized slider can then be generated relative to the box plot to indicate which part of the distribution is displayed in the list items that fit in the available display area. Another preview includes generating a composite row in the available display area that summarizes the data in one or more of the off-screen portions of the list. Such previews can include the sum or average of the values in the off-screen list items.

The present disclosure is generally related to computing and information systems, and in particular to systems and methods for analyzing data to provide summaries and previews on space constrained display devices.
Unless otherwise indicated herein, the approaches described in this section are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
Computer systems have long been used to gather, retrieve, analyze, and display various types of data. In such systems, everything from raw data to refined visual representations of analytical data are output through various types of output devices to be consumed by users. For example, data can be output on display devices, such as computer monitors, touchscreens, projectors, wearable displays, printers, and the like. To make the such devices and their associated computing devices more portable and energy efficient, many manufacturers are producing smaller sized devices. While there are certain advantages in terms of portability and power consumption in making display devices smaller, the reduction in size inherently imposes constraints on the available area in which to display data.
The size limitations of a display device restrict the type and amount of data that can be legibly displayed at any given time. To adapt to the size limitations, various techniques exist for minimizing the amount of display area required while maximizing the effectiveness of the data. For example, some systems analyze raw data to generate analytical data, such as statistical data, filtered data, and the like. The analytical data can then be summarized and displayed in one or more concise and readily consumable summaries or visualizations (e.g., chart, graph, etc.). Such summaries are often useful for giving quick insight into the data, however, to completely understand the information contained in the data, users often need to delve into the details.
The details are often provided as alphanumeric values for various dimensions and measures of the data set in list form. Due to space limitations and the need for a minimum text size for the information to be legible, only segments of such lists may be displayed on the display device at any given time. To view different segments of the list, users may navigate, by what is known in the field as "scrolling" through the list. Scrolling through the list can offer access to details in the data, but such techniques inherently require that some, if not the majority, of the data in the list be hidden off-screen. Accordingly, displays devices, and other user interfaces, that limit the size of the list segment displayed often occlude the details in and nature of (e.g., distribution of the data in the list) the off-screen list data that might help a user better understand the information contained in the list.


The present invention relates to a method for producing security paper which includes a security feature. The method comprises forming paper in a wet state, which paper incorporates on or more security features, applying to the paper a sizing agent, thereafter applying to one or both sides of the sized paper a coating comprising an unpigmented polyurethane. The unpigmented polyurethane may optionally comprise a functional additive provided that the presence of the functional additive does not increase the opacity of the paper by more than 1%. After the polyurethane has been applied the paper is dried. The coating composition provides a film, when cast on a glass surface, having a Konig hardness of from 15 to 130 seconds.

Field of The Invention
This invention is concerned with paper for security documents, and more particularly to those documents which are subject to considerable amounts of handling such as banknotes and driver's licenses.
It is important that security documents, e.g., banknotes and drivers' licenses, be durable; in other words, resistant to tearing, fold damage and soiling. Moisture and chemicals absorbed by such security documents during handling can lead to physical degradation. It is desirable that the substrate for such security documents be resistant to absorption. And it is, of course, a prime requirement for such security documents that the print which is applied to the substrate should adhere well, especially under severe conditions involving mechanical abrasion or accidental laundering.


According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, mobile stations are provided with a preferred roaming selection list at a predetermined memory location in a subscriber identity module (SIM). The preferred roaming selection list identifies and prioritizes network operators to which that mobile station can be connected. Pointers are provided in the preferred roaming selection list to memory locations in the SIM where lists of networks associated with each entry in the list are stored. The memory locations are specified to be compatible with existing standards. The preferred roaming selection list can be modified over the air interface, e.g., via SMS class 2 messages, or by the user via the keypad of the mobile station.

The present invention relates generally to radio communications systems and, in particular, to techniques which allow mobile stations to roam in areas having overlapping radio communications systems in which different types of communication systems and/or different frequency bands provide alternative radio communication coverage.
The cellular telephone industry has made phenomenal strides in commercial operations in the United States as well as the rest of the world. Growth in major metropolitan areas has far exceeded expectations and is rapidly outstripping system capacity. If this trend continues, the effects of this industry's growth will soon reach even the smallest markets. Innovative solutions are required to meet these increasing capacity needs as well as maintain high quality service and avoid rising prices.
Throughout the world, one important step in the advancement of radio communication systems is the change from analog to digital transmission. Equally significant is the choice of an effective digital transmission scheme for implementing the next generation technology, e.g., time division multiple access (TDMA) or code division multiple access (CDMA). Furthermore, it is widely believed that the first generation of Personal Communication Networks (PCNs), employing low cost, pocket-sized, cordless telephones that can be carried comfortably and used to make or receive calls in the home, office, street, car, etc., will be provided by, for example, cellular carriers using the next generation digital cellular system infrastructure.
To provide an acceptable level of equipment compatibility, standards have been created in various regions of the world. For example, analog standards such as AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone System), NMT (Nordic Mobile Telephone) and ETACS and digital standards such as D-AMPS (e.g., as specified in EIA/TIA-IS-54-B and IS-136) and GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications adopted by ETSI) have been promulgated to standardize design criteria for radio communication systems. Once created, these standards tend to be reused in the same or similar form, to specify additional systems. For example, in addition to the original GSM system, there also exists the DCS1800 (specified by ETSI) and PCS1900 (specified by JTC in J-STD-007), both of which are based on GSM.
However, the most recent evolution in cellular communications services involves the adoption of additional frequency bands for use in handling mobile communications, e.g., for Personal Communication Services (PCS) services. Taking the U.S. as an example, the Cellular hyperband is assigned two frequency bands (commonly referred to as the A frequency band and the B frequency band) for carrying and controlling communications in the 800 MHz region. The PCS hyperband, on the other hand, is specified in the United States of America to include six different frequency bands (A, B, C, D, E and F) in the 1900 MHz region. Thus, eight frequency bands are now available in any given service area of the U.S. to facilitate communications services. Certain standards have been approved for the PCS hyperband (e.g., PCS1900 (J-STD-007), CDMA (IS-95) and D-AMPS (IS-136)), while others have been approved for the Cellular hyperband (e.g., AMPS (IS-54)).
Each one of the frequency bands specified for the Cellular and PCS hyperbands is allocated a plurality of voice or speech channels and at least one access or control channel. The control channel is used to control or supervise the operation of mobile stations by means of information transmitted to and received from the mobile stations. Such information may include incoming call signals, outgoing call signals, page signals, page response signals, location registration signals, voice channel assignments, maintenance instructions, hand-off, and cell selection or reselection instructions as a mobile station travels out of the radio coverage of one cell and into the radio coverage of another cell. The control or voice channels may operate in either an analog mode, a digital mode, or a combination mode.
Historically, frequency bands in each cellular service area have been assigned to only one service company. For example, the A frequency band of the Cellular hyperband is usually reserved for use by non-wire line communications service companies, and the B frequency band is usually reserved for use by wire line communications service companies. Thus, if the service company providing cellular service to the subscriber is a wire line company, the Cellular hyperband mobile station is configured with the B frequency band as its "home" frequency band. Reciprocal billing arrangements between service companies allow subscribers to place calls over non-home frequency bands in the event the mobile station is roaming. These non-home calls, however, typically require payment by the subscriber of some form of a surcharge and are therefore undesirable. Furthermore, in the absence of an agreement between service companies, roaming subscribers may not be able to make a call without operator assistance. For the service provider, use of foreign frequency bands by subscribers results in a potential loss of revenue that the provider would like to avoid. Accordingly, cellular hyperband mobile stations have been configured to operate in a particular one of the available frequency bands within the Cellular hyperband.
The expansion to multiple hyperband communications capabilities as a result of the FCC's licensing of the PCS frequency bands has necessitated the development and placement into service of mobile stations that are capable of accessing both the Cellular and PCS hyperbands. To further complicate matters, different standards are being implemented in overlapping networks, e.g., an analog AMPS cellular base station on a first operator's network providing overlapping coverage with a PCS1900 base station connected to a second operator's network. Given this intermingling between standards and communication technologies, the number of different roaming permutations that must be addressed is significantly higher than those presented previously which, for example, only raised the issue of which frequency band to select. Thus, it would be desirable to provide techniques for determining which of a plurality of different types of networks a mobile station should connect with as that mobile station moves between various different types of overlapping service areas. Further, unlike existing roaming solutions, flexibility in re-prioritizing roaming options (both by the subscriber's operator and the subscriber) is desired.

Mobile telephone for roaming using dual mode/band equipment including SIM cards


An image data generating device generates image data that have a configuration including two or more text lines, one or more columns contained in each text line, and two or more rows contained in each column, and that are formed of a plurality of image data constituent elements. The image data generating device includes: a first data buffer that retains a first plurality of image data constituent elements contained in an upper text line of two vertically adjacent text lines out of the two or more text lines; a second data buffer that retains a second plurality of image data constituent elements contained in a lower text line of the two vertically adjacent text lines out of the two or more text lines; and a data analysis section that determines whether or not one image data constituent element out of the first plurality of image data constituent elements is present in a lower row of each column contained in the upper text line and whether or not one image data constituent element out of the second plurality of image data constituent elements is present in an upper row of each column contained in the lower text line. The data analysis section decides whether to decrease a spacing between the two vertically adjacent text lines on the basis of the determination result, and determines a decreased width in a case where the spacing is decreased.

Characteristics of printed Thai characters (also called the Siamese characters) that notate the Thai language will be described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 illustrates a specific example of printed Thai characters, and printed single-columns 101 to 106 that will be explained below are described in FIG. 1.    (a) The printed single-column 101 is a printed single-column that includes two characters printed in the third and fourth rows.    (b) The printed single-column 102 is a printed single-column that includes two characters printed in the second and third rows.    (c) The printed single-column 103 is a printed single-column that includes three characters printed in the second, third and fourth rows.    (d) The printed single-column 104 is a printed single-column that includes three characters printed in the first, second and third rows.    (e) The printed single-column 105 is a printed single-column that includes a single character printed so as to bridge the third and fourth rows.    (d) The printed single-column 106 is a printed single-column that includes a single character printed so as to bridge the second and third rows.
Printed Thai characters, including the above specific examples, possess the three characteristics listed below.
1) Each printed single-column included in a text line is formed of four rows. In the following explanation, these "rows" will be called "printed rows" as appropriate.
2) Each Thai character is basically printed in one of the printed rows, but some exceptional characters are printed in a plurality of printed rows, so as to bridge the third and second rows or the third and fourth rows.
3) A printed single-column includes at most three Thai characters. In addition, the third row always contains any given character. In other words, a printed single-column absolutely includes a character printed only in the third row or partially printed in the third row.
Because of the above three characteristics, when the Thai language is printed, an actual spacing may not be created evenly between the current text line and the text line preceding the current text line by characters printed in the two text lines. Here, the actual spacing refers to a space on a print medium (paper, display device, etc.).
The above uneven space will be explained with reference to a specific example in FIG. 2. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the actual spacing between the second preceding text line (first text line) and the preceding text line (second text line) is equal to a preset text line spacing. However, if no characters are contained in the fourth row of the preceding text line (second text line) and no characters are contained in the first and second rows of the current text line (third text line), the actual spacing between those two text lines becomes much larger than the preset text line spacing.
By eliminating or decreasing such wasted spaces, the consumption of printed paper can be reduced. If a medium is a display device, the number of characters displayed on the screen can be increased. Patent literature 1 describes an exemplary technique for decreasing space parts between text lines by making use of the characteristics of the Thai language, reducing the consumption of printed paper.
The technique described in Patent literature 1 divides each print text line for the Thai language into three rows, or upper, middle and lower parts, and prints these parts separately from one another upon printing.
When a print text line is divided into the three parts, or the upper, middle and lower parts, as described above, they are typically printed so that the upper and lower parts have the same height as the middle part. In fact, however, characters printed in the upper and lower parts have a shorter height than those printed in the middle part. Accordingly, the technique described in Patent literature 1 focuses on the point that the upper and lower parts each contain a larger vertical space. Specifically, the technique described in Patent literature 1 decreases the heights of the upper and lower parts to about half that of the middle part by cutting out space parts when printing the upper and lower parts. In this way, the height of each text line is decreased from three times (upper part+middle part+lower part) to about two times (upper part with about halved height+middle part+lower part with about halved height) the height of the middle part. It is thus possible to decrease the height of each text line.

Image data generation method, image data generation device, and image data generation program


A charge control apparatus of a train set having a plurality of trains, wherein the train has a generator, a battery and a motor supplied with power from the generator and the battery, power, generated by one of the generator and the motor, is able to charge to the battery, and a plurality of trains, driven by an operation of the motor, are connected and each battery is mutually independent, comprises an acquiring unit configured to acquiring charge information indicating charge condition of the battery from each train; and a charge amount control unit configured to control a charge amount of each battery using the charge information of the train.

In recent years, a railroad car equipped with a battery unit such as a secondary battery has begun to attract notice for reducing an environmental load. For example, a hybrid driving system, where a diesel engine is as power of an electric generator and the electric power is stored in a secondary battery while a motor is driven using electric power generated by the electric generator and the power of the secondary battery is used at a start or at acceleration etc., has been proposed. The secondary battery of the foregoing hybrid driving system can store not only the generated electric power, but also the electric power generated by a regenerative brake.
As the secondary battery for a rail car, a nickel hydride battery or a lithium-ion battery is often used. In these secondary batteries, an excess charge/discharge is a cause of deterioration. For this reason, it is proposed that a charge control system such as that if the secondary battery charges more than a predetermined first threshold by measuring an remained amount of the electric power stored in the secondary battery, then the charge is not executed moreover, adversely, if the remained amount is less than a second threshold, which is different from the first threshold and less than the first threshold, then the discharge is not executed moreover.
Further, it is proposed that such a control system is as that when discharge current exceeds the permissible current for the secondary battery, then output is limited, and adversely, when the charge current exceeds the permissible current for the secondary battery, changing to the other braking method such as a generative brake, a regenerative electric power charge is evaded.
As just described, in a system using the secondary battery, various proposals for restraining an excess charge/discharge are considered. In addition, a proposal such as that the secondary battery is provided with disperse in a train set which is constituted by a plurality of rail cars in which power sources are dispersed, is conventionally considered. According to the proposal, the charge/discharge of the secondary batteries can be controlled. The above mentioned technology is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-61880, and contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Further, the above mentioned technology is disclosed in JR EAST Technical Review No. 34 pages 23-32, and contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Battery charging control apparatus of a train


An imitation candle having an exterior wax shell and an interior illumination source is structured to reduce cracking of the exterior wax shell by incorporating a bonding layer into a central cavity in the shell between the interior illumination source and the wax shell. The bonding layer terminates well spaced from terminal edges of the shell to transfer stress between the illumination source and the shell caused by differing coefficients of thermal expansion to points removed from edges of the shell to retard crack genesis.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to wax imitation candles and more particularly to an imitation candle resistant to cracking at low temperatures.
2. Description of the Problem
Many people find candle light pleasant. The flickering of light and movement of shadows across a floor or on a nearby wall can be almost hypnotically soothing. As a result, candles have remained popular for generations since the invention of more practical electrical lighting, especially for decorative and mood setting purposes.
Consequently, numerous manufacturers have attempted to meet a demand for a candle like luminary using electrical illumination. A now popular imitation candle is taught in International Publication Number WO 03/016783 A1. This imitation candle uses an internal LED as a light source within a solid appearing body. While a classical image of a candle is of a long, thin, tapering rod, which stands upright in a candle stick and which leaves its flame exposed as it burns down, this imitation candle comes as a relatively short to circumference block or cylinder which is self supporting. Such candles commonly leave the outer wall of the candle intact as the candlewick burns down. When this happens, the candle flame is no longer directly visible when viewed from the side. This results in a diffuse, flickering glow visible through the paraffin wall of the candle, which is imitated by the external shape of the imitation candle.
While the imitation candle of WO 03/016783 appears to be a solid body to users it is in fact hollow. This provides space for the installation of batteries, the LED, LED excitation circuitry and possibly light directing internal components. In addition, the contour of the void's internal surface may be chosen for light transmission issues. While the imitation candle can readily be made in plastic, fabricating it in more realistic wax has presented particular problems.
Wax is highly susceptible to compressive and tensile stress. Waxes also tend to have high coefficients of thermal expansion. Differential heating and cooling of sections of a cast wax body introduces stress. Stress tends to be focused along sharp corners and edges of a wax body. Stress can occur during manufacturing and shipping of the wax shell imitation candles when the imitation candles are subjected to rapid cooling or great temperature extremes, respectively. The cavity adds the problem of internal edges, as well as reducing the strength of the body compared to a solid wax body. In addition, the insert on which battery, excitation circuitry and the LED are mounted will typically be constructed by plastic with the wax body being formed in part on the insert body. Wax will typically have a higher coefficient of expansion than the plastic does, which results in additional stress as temperature of the body decreases and contributes further to the problems of the inherent weakness of wax.
Wax bodies, such as candles, are formed by a process of casting. Where it is desired to incorporate a plastic module in the wax body the plastic module may be fixed in position in a mold and hot wax poured around the module, adding wax as earlier poured wax cools and shrinks, until all voids around the module are filled. Alternatively, a wax shell can be formed that produces the outer visible surfaces of the candle while leaving a space for the module. After the shell is produced a second pour is done to secure the module in position. The amount of wax in the second pour is less than in the first, with the attendant advantages of quicker cooling and faster production speeds. While true, solid wax candles have reasonable durability to withstand cold temperature induced stress, wax bodies made by either of the foregoing casting techniques have proven highly susceptible to cracking. Thin sections of the casting adjacent the module cool more rapidly than thicker sections. Leading edges of the imitation candle also cool rapidly. These sections of rapid cooling result in differential rates of contraction, which can easily result in formation of a crack to relieve stress. Once such a crack propagates into a thicker section of the body it can become a focal point for other stresses and can extend to encircle the imitation candle body.

Wax shell imitation candle with improved resistance to cracking


A gasket for a plate heat exchanger, wherein the gasket includes a body in the form of a loop for fitting to a plate of the plate heat exchanger. The body includes one or more peripheral connection areas spaced along at least one side of the loop, and a plurality of tabs for securing the gasket in position on the plate. Each tab is discrete from the body, and each tab includes a connection which is receivable by or engageable with one of the connection areas to connect the tabs and body together.

Plate heat exchangers are used to transfer or recover thermal energy from fluids in a variety of applications. The applications range from desalination or oil heating apparatus on ships, to chemical processing, engine cooling, and use in manufacturing plants for the pasteurisation of milk.
In commercial applications, a typical plate heat exchanger includes a series of thin corrugated metallic plates sealed against one another by gaskets. The gaskets are often made of a rubber and polymer mixture. Fluid passes over the surfaces of adjacent plates in the regions sealed by the gaskets. The large surface area facilitates thermal transfer between fluid flowing between pairs of neighbouring plates.
However, rubber gaskets are prone to degradation over time. They need to be replaced periodically to avoid seal failure and leakages. Commercial heat exchangers are relatively large and the seals are difficult to handle. A particular difficulty arises in placing and holding the seal in position on a heat exchanger plate prior to the seal being held in place by, for example, an adjacent plate.
To solve this issue, a gasket can sometimes be glued in place. In order to replace a glued-on gasket, the service technician must carefully prise it off, for example, to avoid damaging the plate. This is a laborious and time-consuming process, and further time may be required to clean the plate of any residue.
To address this issue, clip-on gaskets can be used which mechanically grip edges of the plate, rather than being bonded to it. The gasket still seals the plate normally when a series of plates are held together, but there are a series of integrally-formed clips or tabs around its edge. The clips are co-moulded with the main body of the gasket during manufacture, and make it much easier to position the gasket on a plate, and also to remove it during servicing.
Example views of existing clip types are shown in FIGS. 1A to 1F. FIG. 1A shows two types of 'T' clip, which extend out from the body to different extents. The T clips have arms or fingers which depend from the crossbar of the same/varying lengths. The arms fit over edges or protrusions on a plate to hold the gasket in place. This is illustrated in FIG. 1G.
Other types of available clips hold the gasket on the plate in similar ways. FIG. 1B shows a 'D' clip (part of the D shape being provided by the gasket body), with fingers extending into the middle of the D shape. FIG. 1C shows a clip with a 'pip' which is pushed through a hole in the plate. FIGS. 1D and 1E show variations of a bar-type clip which is pushed into or through a hole in the plate, positioned outside the sealing portion of the gasket. FIG. 1F shows slot-type clip which fits into a slot which extends inwards from an edge of the plate.
However, whilst using clips has benefits relative to a glued-on gasket, it makes the gasket manufacturing process more difficult, time-consuming and expensive. It also requires more rubber. It may also be necessary to provide appropriately placed holes or similar in the plate.
In the manufacture of a gasket, rubber is heated in a press and conforms to the shape of a gasket. The cold rubber is initially laid onto the lower of the press plates in a channel where the gasket is to be formed. Long cylindrical pieces of rubber are used to form the main seal. Numerous additional individual pieces of rubber have to be manually placed at each clip location next to the long pieces of rubber (as shown in FIG. 1H), which is time-consuming and increases the average time to manufacture each gasket. Furthermore, it takes time to sufficiently bond the individual pieces of rubber to the main gasket, so manufacture cannot be rushed or else the clips will have flimsy connections and break off easily.
If any of the clip locations are accidentally left empty when the press is activated, then the entire resulting gasket will need to be scrapped because it will not have enough clips to properly hold it on a plate. Each gasket also needs residual edging (or 'flash') removed before it can be used in a plate heat exchanger. This is a time-consuming manual process, because careful removal is required to avoid damaging the clips. It is not practical to tumble the gaskets to remove the residual material because they would become entangled, and both the tumbling and subsequent untangling can break off the clips.
It is an object of the present invention to reduce or substantially obviate the aforementioned problems.


A charging apparatus (10) for charging a vehicle battery has a charging socket arrangement (12, 112) with a charging socket (15, 115) designed to receive a charging plug connected to a charging cable, and an adapter device (18, 118) for receiving the charging socket (15, 115). The charging apparatus 10 also has a charging cradle (22) for sealing off the charging socket (15, 115) from a body of the motor vehicle, and a reinforcing element (25) designed to receive the charging socket arrangement (12, 112).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a charging apparatus for a motor vehicle, in particular to a charging apparatus for charging a vehicle battery.
2. Description of the Related Art
Charging apparatuses for charging a vehicle battery for electrically driven vehicles are known and are configured so that a motor vehicle is connected to a stationary power supply system by means of a charging cable. The motor vehicle has a charging socket into for receiving a charging plug of the charging cable. Different countries have different types of charging cables and/or charging plugs, and therefore different types of charging sockets are required. This requires a large number of different structural elements and components, depending on country-specific specifications of the charging apparatus. It is therefore desirable from the manufacturers' point of view to provide a simplified charging apparatus.
Against this background, the object of the invention is to provide an improved and simplified charging apparatus for a motor vehicle for charging a vehicle battery.

Charging apparatus for a motor vehicle for charging a vehicle battery

Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft


A compound used as storage medium of high-density optical disc is disclosed, which has structure represented as following formula: wherein each A1, A2, A3, and A4 independently is selectively substituted aryl or heteroaryl, said aryl or heteroaryl is selectively substituted by one or multiple functional groups; R1 and R2 independently is H, halogen, alkyl or aryl; B is Ar or n is an integral ranging from 1 to 4; and n′ is an integral ranging from 0 to 4.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the compounds for recording media and high-density optical recording media thereof, and, more particularly, to a dye suitable for the recording layer of high-density optical recording media.
2. Description of Related Art
While the high definition television video (HD-TV) and digital camera become more and more popular, the requirements of them are much higher nowadays. For example, the storage capacity of HD-TV for recording a 2-h long movie is about 22 GB, which is much larger than the capacity of DVD-R (4.7 GB). This shows that the traditional DVD-R without enough storage capacity is no longer a good recording medium. So it needs to develop some novel storage media such as HD-DVD to improve or replace the traditional DVD-R.
The commercial laser-reading wavelength of HD-DVD is now 405 nm, which is a more precise laser beam suitable for high-density recording capacity. However, the reading wavelength of traditional CD-R or DVD-R is 780 nm or 650 nm, which is pretty different from those of HD-DVD. Therefore, the traditional organic materials, such as cyanine, azo and phthalocyanin, used as a radiation-absorbing dye in recording layer are not suitable for novel HD-DVD anymore.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide compounds for recording media and high-density optical recording media thereof to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems.

Compounds for recording media and high-density optical recording media thereof

Industrial Technology Research Institute


Disclosed herein is system, method and architecture facilitating goal setting and achievement and providing positive social and economic motivators for goal achievement. Progress toward a goal is tracked and a determination may be made based on the progress whether or not to initiate one or more actions to stimulate progress and/or increase the likelihood of success in achieving a goal and/or achieving a milestone in a path of progression toward the goal.

People continue to set goals that they wish to achieve. A person feels a sense of accomplishment when a goal is achieved. Although set, not all goals are achieved. There are a number of reasons that a goal is not achieved, e.g., it was never achievable, initial motivation waned, etc. Positive goals and the achievement of such goals are beneficial. Thus, it would be beneficial to foster such goals and to facilitate achievement of such goals.

System and method of event publication in a goal achievement platform


An image capture device may include a sensor, a microphone array, and a processor. The microphone array may include a first microphone, a second microphone, a third microphone, or any combination thereof. The first microphone may be configured to face a first direction. The second microphone may be configured to face a second direction. The second direction may be diametrically opposed to the first direction. The third microphone may be configured to face a third direction. The third direction may be substantially perpendicular to the first direction, the second direction, or both. The processor may be configured to determine a microphone capture pattern. The microphone capture pattern may be determined based on data obtained from the sensor. The sensor data may include image data, audio data, image capture device orientation data, location data, accelerometer data, or any combination thereof.

Dual-lens cameras are used to simultaneously record from a first-person perspective using a forward-facing lens and of the user using a rear-facing lens. Images from the dual lenses may be stitched together to create a spherical image. Typically, one audio stream is recorded. The audio may be sufficient for the forward-facing lens, however it may be insufficient for the rear-facing lens, for example when the user is narrating the scene being captured.

Microphone pattern based on selected image of dual lens image capture device